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[Assistant] When we return the 4 p.m. Eastern games from week 3 of the 2020 NFL season, including Tom Brady making what likely will be his last trip ever to his house of horrors in Denver. More PFTPM.


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[Assistant] P.F.D.P.M. and Chris Simpson. Buttoned as we go through our picks for the games to come. Four o'clock Eastern games, Chris.


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[Assistant] I've got the Colts, 27 to 13. We both like the Colts to cover. Let's move on to the next game. Carolina Panthers taking on the Chargers. The Chargers second game at their new stadium. They lost the first one, but it went to overtime and they look pretty good. Justin Herbert gets the start. LA is a six and a half point favorite. Who do you like and why?


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[Assistant] First start that he knows about more than a minute before kickoff. First start he can actually plan for. I've got the Chargers 24-13. I think the absence of McCaffrey is gonna hurt this team. It's gonna make it easier to focus on the passing game, easier to game plan against.


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[Assistant] Detroit Lions taking on the Arizona Cardinals. Last year, week one, the Lions were up 17. They blew the lead. The game ended up in a tie. This year, the Cardinals, five and a half point favorites,


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[Assistant] I just wonder whether or not Kenny Gallade's been holding in. He's missed the first two games of the season with a hamstring injury. One of the ones that you can, if you so choose, say, I'm not going to go out there and play on this until I get my contract, something that we thought he would get before the start of the season, but he did practice this week there. Hopefully he's going to play. I don't think it matters.


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[Assistant] You're not busting my Kyler Murray bubble. I'm riding that bubble. I'm gonna blow it until it pops. And we've got 31-21 on the board for me. I like the Cardinals to win this one. I like what Kyler Murray's gonna be able to do. We know what


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[Assistant] The Cardinals look good in Santa Clara week one. They, they doubled up Washington 30 to 15. I have no reason to think that this is going to be a correction for the Cardinals. The Lions are teetering on the edge of falling apart. I think the Cardinals win this one by 10, 31, 21. Alright, next up.


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[Assistant] Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tom Brady going back to Denver for the 18th time in his career. He's eight and nine all time playing in Denver. This time it's not Peyton Manning, it's not John Elway, not that John Elway was ever there when Tom Brady was playing, but you get my point. It's Jeff Driscoll.


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[Assistant] So, a better matchup from the standpoint of trying to win the game. Tampa Bay's favored by 6 on the road against the Broncos. Who do you like and why, Chris?


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[Assistant] So you've got the Broncos covering. I'm going to go the other way. I'm taking the Bucks, but I'm going 20 to 13. I've got a seven point spread, so I think the Bucks will cover. This is just one of those gut feel type games. I feel like


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[Assistant] The Buccaneers are ascending. The Broncos have to be feeling lost after seeing Von Miller out and now Drew Locke and Cortland Sutton. It's a lot to overcome. And you know what? We haven't talked about this dynamic.


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[Assistant] But now that, that the five coaches who got whacked for not wearing their masks are gonna be forced to wear their masks.


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[Assistant] I think of all the five, Vic Fangio is the most likely to be affected by it to the point where he's going to be pissed off and distracted and why do I have to do this? And you know, I, and he's already made some questionable coaching decisions so far this year. I could see him being discombobulated and out of sorts with his face covered for the entire game.


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[Assistant] Not that that's a clear factor, but I could see it at the worst possible time contributing to a bad decision because he's just pissed off he's gotta wear this damn mask on his face. Unlike the others. I think Kyle will adapt to it. Fine, I gotta do it. I'll do it. I don't know. Oh really?


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[Assistant] Alright, next game, the last of the four o'clock games. Dallas at Seattle. Seattle a five point favorite. Who do you like, Chris?


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[Assistant] Wasn't that the final score of Super Bowl XIII, 35-31 Steelers over Cowboys? I believe it was.


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[Assistant] Yes, definitely. And you've got the... You okay? Any cough button? Yeah, I'm fine.


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[Assistant] You've got the over on that too, cause the over under is 56. I'm gonna go Seahawks, uh, and you've got, if you've got 35, 31, you've got the Cowboys covering by one. I've got the Seahawks covering by a few, 30 to 21. I just think that,


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[Assistant] The Cowboys are gonna run into an elite team this week, and even though the fans aren't there in Seattle, taking the show on the road, uh, to Seattle, uh, I, I, and, and, you know, after, after


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[Assistant] Somehow, winning a game last week, they should have lost. I just think Seattle is going to systematically dismantle the Cowboys, uhm, defensively. And, uh, offensively, the Cowboys aren't going to be able to do enough to match it. 30-21, I like the Seahawks in that game. So I like the Under, and I'm even thinking about,


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[Assistant] Two games to go. Huge primetime games plus our best bets. We'll do those next on the joint edition of PFTPM and Chris Sims on Button.


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[Assistant] A couple of huge primetime games to cap week three of the 2020 NFL season. Chris Sims, Mike Florio here for the joint PFTPM Chris Sims Unbuttoned podcast where we do our picks straight up against the spread and our best bets are coming after we get to these two huge primetime games. Green Bay, New Orleans. Saints, a three point favorite.


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[Assistant] I don't know how in the hell the Saints are a three point favorite after what we saw on Monday and after what we've seen from the Packers so far this season. Chris, who do you like and why?


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[Assistant] Yeah, and I look at this one as, uh, like you said, where's the pass rush gonna be? The sound isn't going to be there to disrupt the Packers offense. We saw what that meant in week one when the Packers went to Minnesota and won easily, and Aaron Rodgers had one of the great games of his career. Right. I think a lot's gonna happen like that in this one.


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[Assistant] I, I, you know, you're right about the Saints, like how many times can you do lather, rinse, repeat, lather, rinse, repeat, and get so close to a Super Bowl and reset to 0-0 and just expect. Yeah, we're gonna be great all over again and maybe we took the cheese in that regard and maybe we shouldn't have. So based upon what we saw, we


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[Assistant] Of any of the games this week that fall into that realm of it could go either way, this is one that I think could be a blowout. And I think the Packers could win this game convincingly. And this is a chance for Aaron Rodgers. After all the talk about Tom Brady and Drew Brees, Tom Brady and Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers can go to the place where Tom Brady struggled two weeks ago. And...


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[Assistant] And play like you did two weeks ago, and all of a sudden we're gonna be talking about Aaron Rodgers and not the other two guys. So I like the Packers in this one, and I like the Packers to win big, and I think it could be worse than an eight point spread. It could be the kind of thing, Chris.


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[Assistant] That gets the conversation going Monday as to whether or not the saints are done.


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[Assistant] Alright, Monday Night Football, Kansas City, Baltimore, Ravens, a three and a half point favorite against the defending champions. Who do you got?


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[Assistant] It's 27-24, which means I like the Chiefs to cover. I think this one is going to be close. The score of the game two years ago and overtime was 27-24 Chiefs.


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[Assistant] I just think that this Ravens team right now, a little edge, a little chip on the shoulder, the chiefs just, they get caught in neutral.


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[Assistant] Too often. You can't get caught in neutral against a team like the Ravens. Right. But I still think at the end of the day it will be close because of Patrick Mahomes. He will tighten it up late and then the Ravens will have the chance to win the game. Maybe even in overtime. Maybe we get to stay up a little bit later on Monday night. Alright, best bet's time. Christopher, you're up first. What do you got?


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[Assistant] Yeah, and look, we have talked in the past about we can't double up on the best bets, but we've decided we can. So I'm taking the Titans as well. I don't know why they're only two and a half point favorites. This one could get out of hand and I like the Titans.


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[Assistant] Okay, my, my first pick was an obvious one. My second pick is almost obvious. It's a clear gut feeling type thing based upon everything we've seen and discussed so far this year. Packers giving, or getting three, not even getting.


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[Assistant] Give, getting, not giving, getting three from the Saints. To me, that's a no-brainer. Packers win straight up and it could get ugly. I like the Packers, that's my second one. What's your third one? You got kahunas. That's a, that's, you got kahunas. Why? I just, that's, ah!


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[Assistant] I decided to go with the tried and true. New England at home. I don't care what the spread is. New England at home. And that image this week of Bill Belichick in the ratty old sweatshirt, that's the message. That, you know, they're pissed off that they lost to the Seahawks. They are dialed in. They are focused. It is...


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[Assistant] No days off, no hours off, no minutes off, it's all work and they're getting ready for the Raiders and they want to reestablish themselves as one of the best teams in the conference and I think they get it done and they give the Raiders


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[Assistant] Uh, a, a defeat, and, uh, the, the Patriots moved to two and one. And then that'd be the first defeat of the year for the Raiders, so it makes it even more important for the Patriots. I think the Patriots win that one by more than six points. That's my third best point.


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[Assistant] Yeah, we did well last week. You were 14 and 2 and I was 13 and 3 straight up or something like that, so it was a good week. Alright, enjoy the games. We'll see you on Friday for PFT Live. See ya.


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[Assistant] We had to use, I had to use the pool water to, you know, help my toilet situation last week with no power. But, all good here, electricity good, and you know, I'm really like,


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[Assistant] I'm with you. I am with you. And we're, I'm gonna have to drop out in a second here cause our voices are off again. But. Already in the.


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[Assistant] I remember that. I do remember hearing that talk. I mean, remember, there was a boxer, I can't remember who it was, I wanna say it was...


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[Assistant] Man, but there was a boxer that was drinking his own pee after training sessions.


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[Assistant] Because of how many of my friends have told me, Oh, I just pee in the pool all the time. So like I got a bunch of, you know, kids and cousins coming here today for my little boy's birthday. It's 10 year old birthday.


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[Assistant] I guess you're right, but, but I remember like, I don't know.


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[Assistant] Maybe some parents said it to me when I was like 13, 14 years old to scare, you know, us or our friends or whatever it may be, but I didn't find out that it wasn't a real thing until like, like just a few years ago where I was like, oh wait, they don't really have that technology. And people were like, no, you idiot. They don't.


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[Assistant] Yeah, I'm gonna have a few, you know, I got some nieces and nephews and uh, he's got one or two friends coming over. It's gonna be all family except he's got two friends. But yeah, I'm gonna have to say something. Last time I was here, last time one of my nephews was here, he peed in my pool.


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[Assistant] I feel like it is too. I was a little worried about it when we like, we spitballed what we were going to talk about today on the podcast, but, uh, I think it is relevant right now because we got so many good teams that play it, you know, and I think what has made it even more relevant here as of late is,


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[Assistant] Is Jamal Adams and him going to Seattle and how important that position is for that scheme. And then, yes, I talked to Gerwin James yesterday, who's in that same scheme, play in that same position. And you know, as Rodney and I talked about on the show today, you know, those two.


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[Assistant] Hands down are the best two safeties in football. There is a clear gap to me between those two and then whoever else you want to put a 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.


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[Assistant] And that's why I'm intrigued by it. And you know, it's something that I've been talking about for a lot of years and I'm glad I feel like it's finally caught some national attention here just as of late. Uh, and it's just a good conversation about how you want to build your team, you know, approach your defense and what style you want to play with.


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[Assistant] Yeah, well, I know what you mean. You know, there's similarities there. The uniforms, you know, they got a lot of personalities on both teams, superstar players, and I get you there. You know, listen, I was excited to watch it. I really was. You know, all I, you know, as you know, I know Training Camp Tour this year.


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[Assistant] All I've been able to do to this point is text with some coaches and GM.


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[Assistant] About it. And I thought it was really well done and I enjoyed watching it. Is the two head coaches. Right away. I mean, those two have unbelievable people skills and communication skills to where not only is it fun to watch on TV, but Anthony Lin, Sean McVeigh,


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[Assistant] I mean, they motivate me when I'm sitting on my couch at night, where I'm going, damn!


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[Assistant] I'll play right now for those two. You know, they're just have a great way about them. So that is something I find very refreshing. Their realness, their ability to handle and talk about tough situations and not shy away from it. Really kind of just take it head on. Uh, that's the first thing. Uh, you know, what, what about you? What jumped out to you?


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[Assistant] I think that was maybe the star moment of the whole show, and that was the opening, right? I mean, he's sitting there talking to the whole team. You know, it gave me chills, first off.


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[Assistant] You know, and, and two things there, like, yeaah. You know, you're, I mean, that, that's right. This year is gonna be, yeaah, battle in X is an O, battle in the team we gotta play, battle in this virus. That should be part of it this year. That's why I will continue to bang the drum if,


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[Assistant] If it's, you know, the Saints versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Saints, everybody's healthy and the Buccaneers have been overrun by COVID-19.


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[Assistant] There's no like makeup day. There's no, we're going to reschedule this, you know, the week before the playoffs. No, you lose Tampa Bay. Sorry.


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[Assistant] New Orleans did everything right. You didn't. That's not their fault. They shouldn't have to be taxed to have to reorganize their schedule. So, to me, I like that. And to, from what I saw on that show,


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[Assistant] You know, from those two organizations, they seem like they're approaching it like that. Like, we're not going to lose to the virus on a weekly basis, that's for sure. And then, you know, I just found that to be very motivational. You want to hold up the trophy at the end of the year? Yeah, we're going to have to win games, but we're also going to have to beat this virus. Other thing, too, I thought was interesting was Anthony Lin talking about


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[Assistant] Man, this team doesn't really know each other, they haven't been around each other, but


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[Assistant] He said in a lot of ways he felt like this team was as close as he had ever seen because I think of all the Zoom calls and hey, you know, the social justice calls and of course the dealing with the virus. I think you've really gotten to know people and they put their heart out there on certain topics and things, which was an angle I didn't think about.


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[Assistant] And I'm sure that has a little bit better effect on team building than I've given a credit for this whole time.


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[Assistant] Yeah, that, that, I mean, that's, that's an issue. You know, I mean, again, it's a guy that...


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[Assistant] He was really talented. You and I talked about him during the draft. I mean, to me, he was one of the hidden gems of the draft. A first round talent who had an injury history, and that's why he wasn't drafted there.


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[Assistant] As a rookie, man, to miss the first 10 days, you know, the nuts and bolts of


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[Assistant] The scheme and things that are done, those little walkthrough reps that we see them doing and all that, man, they go a long way. Now I'm sure he's joining the meetings by Zoom and at least listening that way. So at least he's getting to hear the coach talk football and implement things that way.


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[Assistant] Man, I mean, I just thought the show was well done. I really did. And...


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[Assistant] They're going above and beyond as far as being cautious during this thing. I mean, you're seeing the thought process of what McVeigh and Anthony Lynn have done to make sure


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[Assistant] Things are done on a prop, uh, you know, on a daily basis properly and to where his players feel comfortable. And I think just seeing that and their approach.


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[Assistant] Has taken my level of confidence up one more notch to go. Man.


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[Assistant] These damn NFL head coaches, they're staying on it and I'm happy about that. They're the type of human beings that will stay on it. And uh, you know, it makes me feel more positive.


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[Assistant] It's funny to see big tough guys like that. You don't get to see them be scared of much and they're not scared of like anything.


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[Assistant] Yeah, I would, I would. I don't think he'd be scared of that kind of stuff. Now, you know.


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[Assistant] That's what's weird is needles and like spiders probably scare Aaron Donald. Like zombies and Godzilla don't, you know?


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[Assistant] So it's kind of unique about offense and defense alignment. Uh, but I know it is, it's really what I enjoy about the show is to get to see those human elements.


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[Assistant] Get to see Anthony Lin and Sean McVeigh. Who?


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[Assistant] Take their coaching home. I mean, McVeigh in his spare time is coaching his damn dog. So that just shows you these guys live it. Anthony Lynn talking about his barbecue and he's not going to be able to barbecue as long and he's got to do it on a gas grill. You know, it just, they have their little hobbies and they still approach it in a way of like perfectionism.


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[Assistant] For, like they do football, and uh, I think that was cool. Don't shit in porta-potties. I learned that, you know? That was a great line at the end. Who does that? What? Come on!


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[Assistant] Probably, probably. It seems like somebody did it before a meeting though, which is like, you know, you had plenty of time to walk inside and go to the nice bathroom. You didn't need to go in there, but it again shows the realness of McVeigh though. Even that, just to me, those little things go so, such a long way with your football team.


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[Assistant] Because you saw what it did. It filtered over to practice. They're in stretching. They're laughing about it still. Right? So that's how you want to talk about energy and keeping people lively on a daily basis. Well, it's on the leaders to do that more times than not. And McVeigh...


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[Assistant] Has really rare leadership, you know, ability. He's special that way.


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[Assistant] Well, uh, it wasn't real common in my days. They didn't even have those fancy nets, you know, at that point.


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[Assistant] I, uh, dad knows this, I, we used to stack garbage cans.


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[Assistant] You can see that guy can throw the football and you can hear it from his teammates and you can hear it from how the coach was talking as he was throwing the football. But you know, that was something I'm glad you brought it up.


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[Assistant] You know, the guy has a special arm. He is gifted and he can throw the fastball with ease. And I don't think it was as easy as he made it look. And I think that's, you know, should be fun for Chargers fans to look forward to.


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[Assistant] Do what you gotta do. It's alright. It's the world we're in right now. It's the COVID-19 podcast. That's how you do it.


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[Assistant] So wait, alright, so alright, go ahead, the teams that do it, you wanna, you wanna talk about that?


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[Assistant] That's a good one, dad. I'm telling you, I, you know, Ahmed was kind of wondering where you might want to go with this conversation before we got on air.


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[Assistant] And I said, I go, I have a feeling he might talk about, you know, that this might be a good year to be running the Seattle scheme. So, and I think you make a lot of good points. You're right. There is less moving parts, less to worry about, you know, yeah, here's the defense. This is what we do. Go play fast. And with the, with new England.


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[Assistant] Seattle scheme because there's not as many rules and things and moving parts.


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[Assistant] I would agree with that, certainly. Alright, but here's, here's the other aspect that I, I mean, and you know, hey listen, this is where I'm intrigued by the no fans thing, Dad, and I haven't talked to you about this, so I wanna hear your, your two cents about this. You know,


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[Assistant] One, we watched the PGA Championship on Sunday. I know you were watching.


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[Assistant] Jason Day. I mean, he basically, I'm paraphrasing, but he got off the course and basically said, I don't think some of these guys would be on the leaderboard if there was 200,000 fans here like a normal Sunday. You know? Yes. LeBron James. I'm watching the NBA every night.


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[Assistant] He's not the same. I, you know, I don't know if it's, maybe there's a health issue, I don't know. He's still playing good, but not LeBron James good.


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[Assistant] And to me, this is where I'm kind of trying to take it is, you know, some of the greatness of LeBron James is the fact that he's a showman for one.


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[Assistant] So that probably motivates him a little bit, just showing every, hey, I'm the best player in the world. Hey, all you LA stars there, look at me, blah, blah, blah. I think he's a guy that does thrive in that kind of environment.


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[Assistant] Also, he thrives in environments where a lot of other guys don't when it is loud and crazy and BOO! You suck LeBron, you suck! And he can still call the play out and get everybody orchestrated and make the right basketball play.


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[Assistant] I just wonder like if that's going to affect, does it take away from some of Tom Brady's greatness now that, you know, he's so cool and calm with the pressure on and people booing and whatever else where maybe the other quarterback that doesn't do as well in that, you know, scenario.


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[Assistant] You, you, you think your mindset's different? Like in 1989 and you're going to play Reggie White and Buddy Ryan and the Eagles and the vet has no fans in it? Like, you know. Well, it would have been.


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[Assistant] I think there's something there, you know, I do. Now listen, you don't want the coach, you know, making a noise when you're dropping back to pass and anything like that because you know, how many times I had a coach tell me this guy was open and then we watched the next day and I go,


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[Assistant] He goes, sorry Chris, he wasn't open, huh? No, no shit coach. No, there was three guys there. So that could lead to dangerous things. But I think the other point you make there and dad, you chime in.


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[Assistant] Oh, I said, I went, wow, that is really, uh, something like, wow, that's really shocking. Uhm, so thoughtful of a guy who, you know, didn't even show up for his first child's birth. You know, I'm shocked that he was that thoughtful. Something like that. Uh, so I took a shot at you.


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[Assistant] I would have missed, I was prepared to miss Charlotte's birth, too, for OTA, so, I mean, I, you know, the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree there, big guy, so I get it, don't worry.


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[Assistant] Oh well, I mean, I'm glad to hear it. I really am. And I think it's appropriate. And listen, I've never really wanted to sit there and go, oh, this guy is so much significantly better than the rest of the crop that he deserves that much more.


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[Assistant] But I think this is one of those rare cases that I would say that's pretty true. I really, I really do believe that. Let alone, uhm, it, it matches up.


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[Assistant] And so between all those factors, I think Shanahan one loves the player. He drafted him in the fourth round. He's certainly been much, you know, maybe better than they expected. And of course they were expecting good things, but he's clearly the best tight end of football. It's not even close anymore. He won. It's over.


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[Assistant] You know, and I think there's a little gap between him and number two, really, because...


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[Assistant] He is an amazing blocker. I mean, he is a road grader in the run game. Then, when you get into, you know, the Shanahan offense and all that, yeaah, we know he can catch the ball, he can catch a five yard pass and run for 60 yards down the sidelines and outrun everybody, but he fits within the scheme too.


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[Assistant] And we know with Shanahan, you know, Shanahan, you know, in that offense, Ahmed.


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[Assistant] With him and Kyle use check the full backslash tight end himself. You know, they're very important in


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[Assistant] You know, the misdirection aspect of what Shanahan creates to get people open. Of course, Shanahan likes to run the ball, so he needs a tie down that can run block.


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[Assistant] And then Chenahan is one of the best play action pass game designers in the game. So now you know, you got a guy like George Kittle. Wait, is he blocking? Wait, is he sneaking out to go on a pass route after the play action pass? So the talent and then the need within the scheme all match up. And I think that's why.


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[Assistant] A month ago, maybe six weeks ago, the agent and there's something that was talking about, you know, entertainer type money or, you know, he, cause he's an entertainer too. And I was like, Whoa, okay. Let's pump the brakes. He's entertaining.


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[Assistant] But I mean, he's not singing a song during the halftime show. Let's relax, okay? I mean, Gronk was entertaining too. So, uh, I think 15 million's appropriate and, uh, good for him and Shanahan and the 49ers organization.


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[Assistant] Well, the tight end market has been suppressed for the last few years. And I think that's the first thing we gotta talk about. There wasn't a lot of growth there, and I blame New England for that, and Gronkowski.


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[Assistant] You know, New England got out in front of that very early on. They are, they realized, whoa, he's going to be the best tight end in football. Whoa, he might be the best tight end we've ever seen in our lives. Let's sign him now and get him for the low.


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[Assistant] And because of that, the bar never got pushed up because the teams could always do, well, this is Gronkowski and you're not as good as him, so you can't leap him by too much, right?


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[Assistant] Kittle now will break down that barrier once again, and we'll see if, you know, some of the other young tight ends can come up and capitalize, but...


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[Assistant] You know, I think the names you just rotted off, they speak the point.


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[Assistant] I mean, George Kittle is more important to the 49ers than Jarvis Landry is to the Cleveland Browns, and I'm not trying to disrespect Jarvis Landry. I think he's the man. But like, they have other guys that are really good on that offense too, and not that the 49ers don't, but we know who the number one guy is.


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[Assistant] That's their go-to guy. Receiver's cool. Running back's cool. Yeaah, everybody, there's a lot of good players there.


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[Assistant] But the, the, the big time plays and the big time creative plays by Shanahan.


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[Assistant] More times than not are orchestrated around


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[Assistant] Tittle and his strengths and everything he does like that. So, you know, man, you just think about him, Ahmed.


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[Assistant] He's full back, he's tight end, you know, the blocking. He's, you know, going up behind the line of scrimmage and kicking out the backside defense to end on the inside zone play. The next play he's doing that and faking it and going out on a pass route. You know, so they do so much stuff with him. They throw him screen passes.


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[Assistant] Uh, let alone, like you said, he has an influence in the locker room. He's a guy.


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[Assistant] He's the poster child for the type of guy any team would want to...


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[Assistant] You know, structure their organization around loves football, works hard, puts it all on the line on the field every Sunday. And when coaches have a few guys like that, that's when they go, Whoa, it's infectious to the rest of my football team. And everybody jumps on that bandwagon. And then you end up in the Superbowl or one of the better teams in football.


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[Assistant] I think, I think honestly, if you went just from the pure value talk that you're talking


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[Assistant] Really, Tyreke Michael Thomas and DeAndre Hopkins.


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[Assistant] And I think that'll continue in Arizona with DeAndre Hopkins, but those three to me have more formulated around them than even a guy like Julio.


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[Assistant] Oh, they're double teaming you, we'll go to one of the other guys. Oh, it's man to man, we'll come back to you. But, like,


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[Assistant] Hopkins, uh, Tyreek, Michael Thomas, George Kittle, they are such a focal point of so many play calls where they are the first read. And we're doing this motion in this formation just to get you the ball.


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[Assistant] Or, we're doing this formation and moving you here and here to, you know, be a, uh, uhm, you know, what do I, what do I wanna say? You know, a guy that takes attention away from somebody else we're trying to get the ball. Blanking on that word. What the hell's that word?


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[Assistant] Yeah, so, so that to me, like, when you put it in that aspect, uh, almond,


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[Assistant] His value is greater than some of those receivers that are on that list.


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[Assistant] Uh, I think it's uh, huge for them. You know.


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[Assistant] Hey, I already think this is one of the five most talented rosters in football. And if you gave me.


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[Assistant] One issue with their team, I think the most glaring one to me was...


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[Assistant] Okay, Dexter Lawrence is over here, but your other starting defense end is either unproven or below average.


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[Assistant] Or it's Alden Smith who hasn't played football in three years or Randy Gregory who still hasn't been reinstated to the football. So that to me was like a huge risk question mark about their team.


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[Assistant] And how they were gonna make that happen, because I really think, you know, unless Alden Smith gets back to the form he was, which I'm not expecting him to get to that, that point, you know, I looked at that and went, man,


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[Assistant] Right now, they're, they're below average defense to end on the other side, uh, across from Dexter Lawrence. So, this is big from the, the aspect of, I don't think Everson Griffin's gonna have to play 70 or 80 snaps a game.


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[Assistant] This is perfect. You know, my dad just talked about Mike Nolan, that new scheme there down in Dallas. Yeah, it's not going to be the Seattle scheme.


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[Assistant] Mike Nolan's got a little knowledge of the Seattle scheme, but he's really a 3-4 guy. He's gonna be more of a multiple defenses looks, things like that. You know, more of a Belichick type approach, okay? And, you know, they're, they're, that's where it's, they're a team where I look at and go, yeah, they're really talented.


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[Assistant] You know, but is the coaching change going to hurt them in a year like this? You know, because Mike Ball, Mike Nolan, I was with him in Denver. Yeah, I was with him in Denver. He was the D coordinator there. His defense is complicated. There's a lot to it.


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[Assistant] And uh, you know, I wonder if that hamstrings him a little bit to be more simple. And if that's the case and he has to be more simple...


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[Assistant] Man, now you got a guy like Everson Griffin who can just, hey, here's our front four, you guys rush and I'll teach you guys how to cover in the back end and you keep, keep it simple and feel more confident about your ability to pressure the quarterback without having to do it with disguises and creative blitzes and things like that.


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[Assistant] I, I, I don't think it's imperative. You know, they have guys there. Now they're young and like, hey, we still haven't seen the LJ Collier guy from two years ago, their first round pick. He got hurt last year. He didn't really get to show himself. So they have some guys that I think


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[Assistant] They realize, ooh, they could contribute for us this year. But I still, like, to what you're asking, think they need one more guy.


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[Assistant] I do. One more, some sort of proven commodity. I don't know if they would flirt with Ezekiel Anza in that conversation again. You know, cause you might be able to get him for a good number. He was there. He got hurt most of the year last year and never really got to contribute. But,


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[Assistant] What I guess, what I guess I'm basically saying is, I do think Seattle will make a move to find someone else.


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[Assistant] Maybe it is Dejebi on Clowney when all said and done. I'm still, I still think there's a possibility of that happening too. Uh, but I would be shocked if they don't add somebody to that pass rush up there in Seattle.


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[Assistant] Yeah, I, I get what you're saying. You know, hey listen, I'll always argue too though, just to play the flip side or devil's advocate, you know.


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[Assistant] Shanahan and Sean Payton's offense would still be really damn good without George Kittle or Michael Thomas. You know, it might not be as good. I get it.


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[Assistant] You know, they've had a history of showing they can move the ball with no matter who the fuck is playing receiver or tight end.


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[Assistant] Right? You're, you're very right. You can make that argument to go...


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[Assistant] No, you know, he's every bit as important to Michael Thomas and that and everything that goes with it. You're, you're right. But like I said, I think the tight end market has kind of, you know,


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[Assistant] But they got out in front of it last year. They knew what it was about to happen. And he hadn't made any money.


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[Assistant] So they got him for 9 million a year or something like that to where he's a guy that I think after last year and then this year, and if he waited, he could like go, Hey, I want like 13, 14 million a year closer to George Kittle. But you know, the Raiders were smart and got it done quick.


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[Assistant] Or you throw your fans can throw out their favorite, you know, their players.


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[Assistant] No doubt about it. You know that for sure. So we'll let that out of the bag right now. Aaron Rodgers will be my quarterback. There is no doubt.


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[Assistant] So, yes, we'll go there and, you know, I'm sure people out there can imagine some of the other ones that might be on there. Uh, but, but yeah, okay, that's cool. I'm down for that.


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[Assistant] Uniform design and things like that because you're so artistic with your background and your gamer chair and all that. Right.


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[Assistant] You know, don't be afraid to throw some of your ideas out there for your uniform look and all that.


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[Assistant] I, I, I think so too. And I mean, you know, I always think of somewhere like, uh,


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[Assistant] I think of my family in Kentucky, I do think about them a little bit, but hold on, we're missing somebody here that I gotta look at.


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[Assistant] I know, I look at like Oregon, Oklahoma, Kentucky.


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[Assistant] Those, those jump out to me. I even think of like, I do, I do like like,


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[Assistant] You know, Maine or something like that too, but.


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[Assistant] Like, everybody up in this area is on New England. So, you know, like,


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[Assistant] You and I technically live in New England, even though we're like much, much closer to New York City, but it's shocking.


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[Assistant] You like that? I do like that. I like the name and everything. That's a good one. I mean I'll think about this as we go forward.


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[Assistant] Little livelihood, some fans, some craziness up there. I think that would, that would sound good.


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[Assistant] You're giving out Emmys at night now and all kinds of shit. I mean damn. Big time Ahmed Fareed. Wooo baby.


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[Assistant] You know, driving the traffic today, talking to my dad. I mean, answering the front door and hosting a podcast. Pretty freaking impressive, man.


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[Assistant] Alright, well, it was a good show. And now I gotta go beat Daddy Daycare. My little boy turns 10 today, so I gotta party with him for it.


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[Assistant] Yo yo, what's up? Come on man, subscribe on YouTube to Chris Simms Unbuttoned Podcast. I need you, please hit the subscribe button, please!


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[Assistant] But what's up everybody, Kristen, Paul Burmeister, happy to be with you. And man, Pauly B, am I glad I'm done trying to figure out this damn mock draft. Okay, I am. It's stressful. It is trying to piece it all together. And as we talk about all the time, I want to be right.


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[Assistant] So I'm not into like making slash, I want to be right. So, uh, I feel good that it's, it's over with and now I get to just talk about it.


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[Assistant] And, uh, yeaah, yesterday show's over, I went in the kitchen, I had a bunch of stuff around me, and I really sat there for...


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[Assistant] There, there is. There definitely is. Okay? There, there's two guys here, alright? That's a great question. The first guy would be two of them.


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[Assistant] What owner do you think is gonna get antsy if Tua's sitting in the, you know, still available and picked 10 and 11 and 12? Which one? So that was big. I'll say the other one.


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[Assistant] Isaiah Simmons. I know I like him. I also know NFL people. And I know that NFL people are going to be concerned that he didn't play one position. That he's like, you know, good at everything.


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[Assistant] I went really off of what I think is going to happen. And then when I got stuck with the team where I said, ah, I'm not so sure, I haven't heard any inklings about this team.


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[Assistant] I rely just then on me to piece it together and go with my big board and figure out what makes the most sense. So there's a little combination there, okay? And, you know, I'll explain some of these things as we go along throughout the process here.


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[Assistant] Two trades that I thought were, you know, definitely going to happen at some point. So, uh, I just, I took a shot in the dark and let's see if I can, I can nail it.


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[Assistant] I'm going to talk to CD Lamb. So I'm very excited about that. That'll be available on NBC Sports slash YouTube page or, you know, anywhere you download podcasts. I'll be there.


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[Assistant] Because as you know, I got friends in the NFL and that conversation comes up a lot.


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[Assistant] And I remember it coming up a lot, just whether I was playing or, you know, working for New England. That scares teams sometimes. It's the Minka Fitzpatrick conversation out of Alabama, where it's just like, ooh, okay, yeaah, he's good at all, but where does he fit for us? And I can envision that being a little bit of an issue for some teams when it comes to Isaiah Simmons.


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[Assistant] Well, and you know, again, here's another one. Let's not waste our time on this one, cause it's Chase Young. You know, I just, you know, it's gonna be Chase Young.


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[Assistant] Teams are gonna be fighting to get in position to get Herbert and Tua at the top three, and they're gonna be able to trade down and help their football teams. I don't think it's gonna happen right now, okay, Paul? I think they're gonna, they're looking to trade down, I think they're stuck. Who is there to trade down, or who's, who's trying to trade up right now?


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[Assistant] And I know that's not my top DB. You know I like C.J. Henderson and Terrell better. But I do have reasoning behind it.


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[Assistant] Well, I think you hit it, Paul. When you said, it's like, they can't miss this. They can't mess this up. Right? And...


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[Assistant] You know, as much as I want to sit there and go, hey Detroit.


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[Assistant] Maybe you should just take Derrick Brown from Auburn, you know, and that might actually drum up some interest to where teams might want to trade down or trade with you. You know, there's a part, but they, I know they don't have a great need there.


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[Assistant] But their biggest need on their football team is at the corner position. And Okuda is the most well-schooled, like, NFL-ready one right now. You got to see him do everything at Ohio State. Like we've talked about, Paul, it's a fairly complex defense they played at Ohio State.


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[Assistant] Uh, I did not. I did not. I just felt like it was a little too high, I guess, at that spot at number three. You know, to me, when you're picking number three at wide receiver, it's gotta be like,


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[Assistant] But they played in defenses where they just said, you cover that guy. And that's all they did. There was really nothing else to it. They just got it done with pure ability. And yeah, there's some refining that needs to be done with those two players as compared to Okuda.


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[Assistant] The team again that I'm sure is looking to trade down a few spots and create, you know, get some assets.


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[Assistant] And again, I just would argue and go, okay, but who's tried to trade up to number four? Who are we trying to get? I don't know if that market exists. And I go Jedrick Willis from Alabama here.


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[Assistant] Right, I mean this is a phenomenal athlete, and again, you know.


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[Assistant] Yeah, I think he's the best athlete in the group. I mean, he's got special feet in the way he can move in pass protection or the run game.


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[Assistant] And the biggest thing is, I think he's just the most refined and cleanest as far as running NFL schemes in the run game.


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[Assistant] Let alone the long arms and the size and everything that goes along with it. So yes, you know, all those top three tackles to me, Mackay Beckton, you know, Thomas from Georgia, Wills, they're phenomenal and I won't be mad if any of them win it for.


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[Assistant] To me, this is just the safest one of all of them. And I think, you know, the one that's most well-schooled and ready to go right away.


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[Assistant] You know, I love him. I think he's the second best quarterback, whether Tua is healthy or not. I think he's number two behind Joe Burrow for me. Now, I'll say this, Paul.


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[Assistant] And I think there's a part of them that maybe think so, okay, maybe we could pass, but I, you know, for me, I don't think you could take that chance, you know, if I'm Miami.


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[Assistant] But now, you know, I think love in a lot of ways is viewed as a guy that's a late first round, you know, early second round type talent to where I think teams will be reluctant to spend that pick on him. You know, and hey, listen, if you're totally sold that he's the guy and you have no doubts about that,


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[Assistant] On and off the field. The good stuff is like, oh my gosh, it's freaking amazing. That's Aaron Rodgers.


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[Assistant] You know, the bad stuff is just, oh gosh, that's really raw. He needs to work on that. And that's why I think it would be hard for me. And then listen.


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[Assistant] You know, the anticipation stuff, he wasn't an offense that really asked about anticipation. You know, it's not that type of offense. A lot of what he was asked to do was, hey, just jam it in there. And that's what he did. You know, he showed me enough on film, Paul.


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[Assistant] That he can throw with anticipation. I saw plenty of corner routes and deep crosses where he put great touch on the ball and let the receiver run under it. So again, that goes back into like my wide receiver route running crap. It's, it's too much like,


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[Assistant] It is, it's still on the mind, and I get it, and there's a lot of rumors out there that Tom Tolesco and the Chargers like Tula. There is, you know, but...


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[Assistant] Most people would tell you in the NFL that they're hearing Tula needs to get another ankle surgery. So I just don't see that happening. And I want to say this also, Paul, I mean,


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[Assistant] I think the one issue they're missing is an offensive line. And that's why I'm going Andrew Thomas from Georgia to play tackle for them this year. They need the tackle position. It's been one of the worst offensive lines of football over the last few years.


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[Assistant] Yup, and I'm going Derrick Brown here, defensive tackle from Auburn. I mean, you know, to me, this is a top five talent. And this is to me where I feel like,


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[Assistant] I mean, they got Kawhon short and they don't got much else. I mean, I think they only got two on the roster right now. So this is like a desperate need and it's also like, wow, this could be the best player on our board falling to us at number seven. I wouldn't be shocked.


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[Assistant] Like, he's that type of talent. So Derek Brown all the way for the Carolina Panthers here.


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[Assistant] We're scoring. Can you keep pace with us? And it makes sense with the quarterback they have, Cliff Kingsbury, offensive, we know, you know, wants to shoot it out. That's what he grew up and knows that knowledge. So yeah, this is my shocker, but I'm going CD Lamb here. I think it makes sense for the Arizona Cardinals.


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[Assistant] So I think it's really set up for him. And uh, yeaah, it kind of makes me excited to see the Arizona Cardinals if this does happen.


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[Assistant] Yeah, and you know, I, I, I looked at this and you know, I hear people say, oh, you know, corner, corner certainly something that I look at.


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[Assistant] But I also wanna say, you know, with that scheme, the Seattle scheme, you don't always need the best pure man-to-man corners to make that work.


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[Assistant] I just think he's a special top 5 type talent.


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[Assistant] You know, I like Kinlaw's body better. Uh, he might have a little bit better pure strength.


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[Assistant] At kick number 10. Okay, and you know Jerry Judy's not one of the five best receivers in the draft for me.


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[Assistant] Uh, I'm trying to be right here. And I'm trying to put myself in the shoes of John Gruden and my experience with him. And I will say, as a quarterback, nobody spent more time with John Gruden on a roster than me.


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[Assistant] And this guy has a, I'm not saying this guy's Jerry Rice, okay, so I'm pumped to breaks there, but he's got a style like him.


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[Assistant] And he is a really refined, awesome route runner like him too. And I just think Gruden's going to value that and really like this guy. Plus he's polished, ready to go, like we talked about with some of the other picks. So I'm going Raiders with Jerry Judy there.


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[Assistant] It's a very real conversation. I mean, that's the story of the draft a little bit, right? With some of these teams that need receiver. Like, are they gonna reach and take the receiver here? Or are they gonna wait till like you're saying the second or third round and go, oh, we're gonna get some good ones. Now, you know, again,


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[Assistant] I would say with the Raiders, it's such a desperate need at wide receiver. Like they gotta


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[Assistant] And we don't know how this unfolds, but if a runner receiver start to go here in the teens into the early twenties, and then all of a sudden at the top of the second round, you know, another four or five receivers come off the board, all of a sudden you're going, oh shit.


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[Assistant] I don't know if I can say that about a franchise left tackle. And that's where I'm going to go with Mackay Beckton. I think this is one where, hey, you want to get the run game going with Le'Veon Bell. You want to make Sam Darnold like the man in New York. You got to help him out a little bit.


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[Assistant] But, you know, it sounds like he's a professional and got his weight under control. The film is absolutely phenomenal. And Joe Douglas...


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[Assistant] The Cleveland Browns are in the final two teams of the Trent Williams sweepstakes, right, from the Washington Redskins. So, I kind of played the angle that they still have a lot of money and salary cap left, that they're gonna make that happen. Okay, that's kind of the, I kind of just pieced that together. And then, I also went,


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[Assistant] You know, they didn't have like the, what, the second leading rusher in football last year in Nick Chubb. I mean, the offensive line wasn't so bad that I was like, oh my gosh, Baker, Mayfield and the Browns have no chance. They're just so horrible up front.


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[Assistant] No, it wasn't that bad. I mean, it's not great, but it's like in the middle of the road. So I'm going with Isaiah Simmons here, alright?


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[Assistant] I think he could be the guy that they fall in love with here. And like I said, they lost Joe Showbert.


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[Assistant] They got a very good defensive line. They got nobody at the second level who could just go sideline to sideline and go get the ball carrier.


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[Assistant] Right? A lot. It came up with me with Clyde Edwards-Helaire. I asked him who the two best players. One of them was Isaiah Simmons. So...


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[Assistant] I think I saw enough physicality and of course all the athletic abilities there. It's a real positional need. Joe Woods just took over as defensive coordinator. He came from San Francisco where he knows how fast linebackers can help a defense out.


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[Assistant] And I just think that Isaiah Simmons would fit the fancy of the Cleveland Browns and be a great fit for what they do there.


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[Assistant] You start to see all these top level athletes and then you get on the field and you get this guy like Isaiah Simmons, you go, man, we got good athletes on our team, but we don't got anybody like that guy.


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[Assistant] I think the Kahn family is going to be one of those that takes that Tua cheese that we talked about. I do. You know, I think they're going to be sitting there on the board, sitting there going, oh my gosh, Tua's there. You know, this is Jacksonville. I know they have Gordner Minshew and they like him, but Tua.


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[Assistant] I-I-I mean, I'm gonna still say the Saints are king, okay? I'm not gonna lie.


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[Assistant] So this is an all-in type of pick right now to make sure that Brady can play the next two years.


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[Assistant] Has NFL starting capabilities at that position. Great size, big strong.


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[Assistant] Since John Elwes took it over, I mean, all the AFC championship games, you know, two Super Bowl appearances, winning one of them.


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[Assistant] Alright, that's a pretty damn good 1-2 punch right there.


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[Assistant] I don't think you're like desperate and going like, to me at least, where I go, oh my gosh, if we don't get a receiver, we're not going to be able to move the ball this year.


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[Assistant] I don't look at it that way. I do think they're one of those teams that I'm hoping is going to re-evaluate and go, we can get another good receiver in the second round.


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[Assistant] You know, before that, he was in San Francisco. Who did he have? Patrick Willis, Tobaro Bowman. You know, if you want to make this 3-4 scheme work, you need a beast at middle linebacker.


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[Assistant] And I think Patrick Queen is ultra talented and made to be that guy.


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[Assistant] And then the next day I switched the other way. So that's very close. And, you know, I think Patrick Queen a little more explosive as an athlete, Kenneth Murray a little bit better size, and


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[Assistant] But I go, okay, you got Tak McKinley, who you drafted in the first run a few years ago. And you didn't just pay Dante Fowler Jr. all this money. There's only so many pass rushers you can play at one time. So I think this is corner, and I think it's corner all the way.


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[Assistant] And this is where I think CJ Henderson from Florida comes into play, right here. I think he's, you know.


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[Assistant] One, a perfect scheme fit for the Atlanta Falcons where, like a Richard Sherman has that great length, right? Can jam you at the line of scrimmage, then bail out, and you can never really get on top of them or get a big play. But!


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[Assistant] You know, I think the Seattle scheme is starting to realize too, you can't play the Seattle scheme every play. It's going to get picked apart at some point.


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[Assistant] And I don't think there's as much as I like Ruiz from Michigan. I think you'd be reaching right now. And again,


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[Assistant] You know, Paul, I know we've discussed. I think Caleb on Chase on is like a top 10 talent. I do. I think people are undervalued in this case. He's still a kid too.


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[Assistant] He's just gonna get bigger, stronger and faster. I mean, I think he's 20 years old. He's like one of the youngest guys in the draft, so.


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[Assistant] I don't think he's even reached his potential yet, which is why it's scary to me. And the Jones family in Dallas, they're into specimens, as we know.


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[Assistant] I mean they got a collection of just one stud after another all across their football team and they need another pass rusher. It's an issue on their team right now and I think they do that. I did think of the, you know, you're Xavier McKinney, I'm not going to lie.


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[Assistant] Love it. Antoine Winfield Jr. is my favorite safety in the draft. I think he's the best true...


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[Assistant] Free safety in the draft. Unbelievable speed, sideline to sideline. But, you know, I've compared him to Earl Thomas.


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[Assistant] He will come up and smack you in the mouth in the hole in the run game. I mean, he's got two rockets up his butt.


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[Assistant] So he's an aggressive open field tackler. He can really read and react and diagnose plays and get down build in a hurry.


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[Assistant] He shows all the emotions and just the correct way to play for what I would want for being my franchise quarterback. So that's cool to hear. I like that you added that tidbit. Makes me feel better.


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[Assistant] Yeah, you know, and this is, uh, you know, again, I think this is where the 49ers are going to go wide receiver. I'm not necessarily confident on who that could be. You know, at this point in right now, we're sitting here and we got, you know, uh, Jefferson from LSU on the board.


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[Assistant] There is so many talented players in this division that it is unbelievable. When you just pray, you know, I mean...


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[Assistant] This is my second favorite receiver in the whole draft. Justin Jefferson, LSU.


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[Assistant] You know, as I've said many times, I think this is, you know, the better version of Jerry Judy, really. He's faster, he's bigger, he makes more plays down the field, but certainly,


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[Assistant] Just an awesome, well rounder receiver. Can be a star on the outside, can be a star in the slot. But it's a desperate need for this football team. They gotta get Carson Wendt some weapons.


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[Assistant] I think they're gonna go all in on Jared's film. Uh, I would be shocked. I just haven't been led to any other thought to this point. Uhm, so I really...


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[Assistant] I think they'll look in other rounds to help out the receiver room. You know I think the biggest thing here that jumps out to me


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[Assistant] We'll do whatever the hell we want type of pick here because they don't have a desperate need on their football team. You know, and I have heard from some people that I trust.


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[Assistant] You know, like we said earlier, I wouldn't be shocked if the Broncos took him at 15 over Patrick Queen. Uh, he's in that conversation, but.


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[Assistant] Okay, I'm just going by this, and I have no inside info here. Again.


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[Assistant] I think there's a greater chance of being one you like there at that position as compared to pass rusher in the second round. And I think pass rushers are just too special of a commodity. Plus Zimmer and Spielman


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[Assistant] And that's why I'm going to go Yetergros Matos here as the pass rusher. Yetergros Matos from, from Penn State.


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[Assistant] He just doesn't fit the type of defense ends that play in that scheme.


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[Assistant] Epinessa is not that type of guy. That's not their cup of tea. So that's what led me to Yetergros Matos. Plus,


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[Assistant] Yeah, Miami's off once again, and you know, who knows what happens here, but I really think the next thing I look at is offensive tackle. They gotta, they gotta fix that position.


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[Assistant] And he's just an absolute phenomenal athlete. You know, so long arms really, to me, it was one of those things where the player is there.


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[Assistant] Uh, there's just not too many people on planet Earth that can move the way he can or build the way he can. It's a huge need. And this is really kind of where I saw Josh Jones.


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[Assistant] Yeah, he didn't make my top five offensive linemen, but he was like number six, and


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[Assistant] Early second, that type of guy. And I think with the desperate need the Miami Dolphins have at the position that they take him off the board right here.


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[Assistant] Who's probably the best interior pass rusher in this whole draft. Plays really hard.


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[Assistant] I think this is where we're going to see the Wisconsin kid, Zach Vaughn, come off the board. That's who I'm going to pick.


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[Assistant] plenty on film to where you see him take on blocks and you know set the edge or fill the hole in the run game or whatever it may be. He's just a phenomenal football player.


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[Assistant] Maybe a T. Higgins, but then I went, oh wait, they have Devin Funches. And then I went, wait, you have Aaron Rodgers too.


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[Assistant] They gotta get some people with some tush hogs in there.


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[Assistant] You know, so I think that's a very real possibility. I think the biggest thing I look at though, if there's no trade,


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[Assistant] You know, the corner, the quarterback position I think needs to be addressed for this football team to a degree. I mean, Richard, Richard Sherman, I would bet this is his last year in San Francisco. And then after that, you know, they got some good players, but nobody great.


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[Assistant] I don't know if there is desperate a DB as maybe I thought until I deep dived into it. I'm, I'm going for...


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[Assistant] Most exciting player available here. I'm going Clyde Edwards O'Lear at pick 32.


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[Assistant] Everybody enjoyed the draft Thursday. I'm gonna be on Twitter, on Instagram.


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[Assistant] Yo, yo, what's up? Come on, man. Subscribe on YouTube to Chris Simms Unbuttoned Podcast. I need you. Please hit the subscribe button, please.


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[Assistant] I agree. I mean, first off, we should probably start with yours. So I mean, who gives a shit about Big Phil? I mean, I mean, every week do we have to hear from that guy? By the way, we're not going to hear from him today. That's why I could talk like this. But I still think it would be good. I mean, I really think it would be fun. I'd like to meet your dad. I'd like to hear his take on some football things.


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[Assistant] Okay, so he's able to evolve, that's good. Listen, I'm always down to hear that, you know, what do I want to say? How a ex-coach, high school coach, whatever, is looking at the game now and I would love to hear some of his takes and maybe prove him wrong.


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[Assistant] Other weird thing that happened to me on the last podcast. So I got done with the podcast. Yeah, this is uh oh too. I don't even know. We'll see if this makes it through the cut.


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[Assistant] I think I like sprained a testicle last podcast. Like, no joke. Like, I don't know what it was. I got done. And I've had something in that region.


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[Assistant] It also says, like, if you've been partying too hard and doing things like that, all of a sudden, like, some of those tubes can get knotted up. And I was like, well, I did have a hard partying weekend being my 40th weekend, and I started to think like, oh no, did something happen?


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[Assistant] Thank you Hobbit 23, what is that? Hobbit 23, 43. 43, 23, 43. Yes, thank you for being a loyal listener.


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[Assistant] From the buck standpoint. You know, listen, I'm pro, I'm pro Leonard Fournette. I think he's a lot better than what people want to give him credit for. So why did no one want him? Well, I, you know, I think they were doing their due diligence there for a little bit plus the price tag.


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[Assistant] The one thing I learned over the last few days, and I knew, you know, he had some issues, but I guess he's a little bit more of a headache than, than I gave him credit for, I guess. So that was part of it. And I know Florio had reported yesterday that he knew a lot of teams were kind of doing their investigating into Leonard Fornette.


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[Assistant] Uh, and that's what I was led to believe, you know, really last night when I talked to two different people in the NFL where they were like, yeah, yeah, he's a headache. We thought about it, but he's a headache. So I think that was part of the issue.


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[Assistant] Right. Perception becomes reality. 100%. At a lot of the times in the NFL. And then especially, hey listen, a lot of the teams, you heard them say, I'm content with our running backs. We like this. So, a lot of those teams are going to go, okay, yeaah, we might see the talent, but we've heard some things in the locker room. I don't want to risk that.


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[Assistant] Either way, Tampa had a real need at the position in my opinion. Ronald Jones, listen, I've seen him in person when he was on USC and he went to Notre Dame. There's a lot to like. I certainly think he could be a successful NFL running back. I think Leonard Fornette is special though. I do. And I think he's got a special skill set.


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[Assistant] They understand Leonard Fernet's gonna have to come in there, learn some things. So it's gonna be about how quickly Leonard Fernet can pick up the offense.


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[Assistant] How quickly can Tom Brady come to terms with, Oh, I trust him on second down and second and 12 and he's in the backfield. He'll know what to do if the defense throws a crazy blitz at us. He gets blitz pickup. Those are all things where he's going to have to earn his role from there. But I just think if he gets all that down.


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[Assistant] I just think it's going to be an incredible combo again. And I don't want to say like Kansas City with


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[Assistant] Well, a little bit like this, just, it's similar to me this way. Kansas City, Tyree Kill, Sammy Watkins, Travis Kelsey, down the field.


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[Assistant] Oh, and now we have Clyde Edwards-Helaire underneath. Oh, you wanna play deep coverages? Oh, here's a deep. Well now, it's gonna be...


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[Assistant] Hey, we know Bruce Sarians. It's gonna be aggressive throws down the field. O.J. Howard, Mike Evans, aggressive, aggressive. Chris Godwin. Oh, you wanna start to play coverage? Oh, you better watch about this freak freight train coming through the hole right now. If you wanna play coverage, coverage, coverage, coverage. So I think that's where he's gonna put defenses in a bind a little bit.


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[Assistant] You know, we'll see where he goes, but I would think this is one of those things that straightens Leonard Furnett's career out.


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[Assistant] And he's gonna know he's gonna have to be on his P's and Q's when you're going to a place like this. The microscope is on Tampa. You know Tom Brady. You better be on your details and things like that. Or this could quickly become...


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[Assistant] Whoa, he is a headache. Tom Brady didn't trust the Bruce Arians who's willing to deal with personalities. I mean his ass will be out of the league if he doesn't make this situation at least somewhat right.


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[Assistant] Uh, and yeaah, I do. I love the talent of the player, and I think it's gonna be a nice addition to the football team.


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[Assistant] I have pictured evolving Leonard Fournette as the guy. I do, yeaah. You know, and again, I know the analytics community, you know, that part of the world, they don't love Leonard Fournette. You know, again,


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[Assistant] Having seen Leonard Fournette in person and having seen


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[Assistant] Some of the runs he has made when there's a hole there and there's yards to actually be had.


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[Assistant] He can do a lot with it. He can do things that really only the elite running backs in football can do in my opinion. You know, I think too much right now. People are bagging on him. And again, we're boiling it down to one guy a little bit, like, oh, look at what he did in Jacksonville. I don't know. Look what he did in Jacksonville. He ran, had 2000 yard seasons out of three seasons.


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[Assistant] Nothing special around him on the offensive side of the ball. I mean last year there was quarterback issues. Nobody was going into the games going,


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[Assistant] We gotta stop Gardner Minshew. The game went into, we need to stop Leonard Fournette. He's never had that, right? It's always been the case. Right. It was even worse his rookie year with Blake Bortles and company. I mean, that's what they did. It was going to be pound the rock, pound the rock, defense, defense, get turnovers, pound the rock.


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[Assistant] You know, one play action pass with Blake Bortles. Please, can he hit this one throw, this one depth? Oh, he did. Wow, we're gonna go down and score a drive. We're gonna score this drive. Blake does not listen.


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[Assistant] You know, like I said, support matters. I don't care who you are. You need a team around you to help you out and he didn't have necessarily a real good offensive line or a passing attack that, you know, took the pressure off of him.


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[Assistant] I do, I thought that that might be one of the teams. You thought he might go to New England. I did. I thought that was a legit chance because of like, you know, yea, what you're saying. You know, yea, they can rely, they can err on, ooh, this guy's got a little bit of a shaky locker room, you know.


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[Assistant] Em, you know, MO? Well, not up here, he won't. You know, because we'll ship his ass out in a hurry. And yeaah, I thought they might dabble with that when, you know, you hear Sonya Michelle. I mean, he's been injured his whole career.


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[Assistant] You know, Lamar Miller, they just signed him and he's coming off a pretty serious injury last year. Damien Harris broke something on his hand, so I thought there might be a spot for him up there, but obviously that didn't happen.


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[Assistant] I mean, I'm honored. Like, no joke. I get excited to see that stuff.


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[Assistant] Like, here we go. You know, it's, yeaah, it's 4.1 yards per, you know, or 4.2 yards career average, right? It's nothing special. You know, average, career average yards rushing are probably right there in Leonard Fournetteville.


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[Assistant] You know, they're freaks of nature, and Joe Mixon is a freak of nature. Another guy...


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[Assistant] That again, I don't think the uniform does him service.


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[Assistant] Well, let's not go down the uniform path here. Well, I know, but I'm just saying how he looks in the uniform. The size of the human being. Sure. You know, he's, yeaah, you know, for me, he's, he is extremely talented, and I think you're gonna continue to see that even more this year. Because of Joe Burrow, second year in the Zach Taylor offense.


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[Assistant] You know, Joe Mixon can catch the football too. I mean, he was at Oklahoma. They don't run the ball that much. They throw it every play. So he can catch the ball.


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[Assistant] And I think that's where he's gonna make another huge step this year. Plus, he's got more weapons around him too, and the offensive line a little bit better. Yeaah, I think he's one of the five best running backs in football. Me and Rodney Harrison every week sit there and go, ooh, oh, man, Joe Mixon. I mean, he's amazing. He is...


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[Assistant] You know, Alvin Camaro's gonna end up getting more money than Joe Mixon on this contract. It's purely on stats. He's not as good as Joe Mixon. No.


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[Assistant] Not for me, I'm sorry. Joe Mixon is special. I mean, you know, Alvin Kamara's had a great opportunity and again, I love Alvin Kamara before the whole world comes at me with hate. Okay, he's a really awesome player. Anybody listen to me, what I was saying about him in the draft when he was coming out three years ago, I was telling people then, I think he's a first round type running back. Alright, but either way,


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[Assistant] You know, you put Joe, he's had the benefit of having Breeze. Having one of the three, four best offensive lines in football every year. Having a Michael Thomas that the team has to worry about. You know, let alone, nobody's better at designing.


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[Assistant] Cool pass plays for the running back than Sean Payton. He leads the universe in that. And, you know, so the stats, the fact that he was drafted there, the optics of the situation are not going to allow Alvin Kamara to sign for less money than Joe Mixon.


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[Assistant] Even though, I believe if you ask 20 people in football who's a better player, I think they, I think the majority would go with Joe Mixon.


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[Assistant] Yeah, a lot of it is predicated on one, he's talented and a really good player, and then two,


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[Assistant] There's a niche for him within the scheme that's really important to the overall scheme and the overall success of the football team. So that's where he's really important.


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[Assistant] Plus he's always gonna have good fantasy numbers, plus the Saints win. So then, you know, I think, of course, the Saints fan base is like, we can't not have Alvin Kamara. This is what happens when you draft a good player and then put statistics behind him. You're almost like no chance of like, I have to sign into the second contract.


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[Assistant] So, you know, I've heard Alvin Kabara was asking for Christian McCaffrey money. There's no way he's gonna get that. He's not as good as Christian McCaffrey.


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[Assistant] Everything is based off of Christian McCaffrey in Carolina. He is the offense. So, you know, that, from that standpoint, no. That's what, 16 million a year. 16 million a year. Joe was 12. I had heard that he was offered a little more than Joe Mixon. And that's where I would go, just take it.


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[Assistant] You know, take it. Now the weird thing about the whole running back conversation right now is David Johnson and Leveon Bell were given these weird contracts and they're making 13 million dollars plus.


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[Assistant] And they've been done shit in two years. Right? So, that's where it's weird and I'm sure he's looking at it like that going, wait, I'm better than David Johnson and Le'Veon Bell.


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[Assistant] And what the team is gonna have to say is, listen, the Jets and the Cardinals were stupid, and they did stupid contracts. Derek Henry, who's arguably the best running back in the game right now, you know, in that conversation, he just signed for 12.5 million dollars. And he led the NFL in the rushing for the second year in a row, right? It's the second year in a row? Or he's up there. It's right there, top one or two.


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[Assistant] Uh, I think that's kind of where he lies to me, is Joe Mixon, Derrick Henry, 12, 12.5 million. Yeah, I think that's about where it is and I hope that's what happens for the Saints because I love watching them play and I like


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[Assistant] I would agree. I think you're going to hear something done here in the next three, four days. I'd be shocked if it wasn't done here by Labor Day, you know, Labor Day on Monday. Because then it's going to become a distraction going into the preparation for the Bucks game. So, I'm with you and I think you're, yeaah, what you just said there is very real. He has leverage because of his importance to the team.


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[Assistant] And he's a really good player, and it's important to the scheme that way too.


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[Assistant] But also, yeah, Sean Payton, again, you go through all his history, all his running backs have gotten off. All of them. Pierre Thomas, Reggie Bush, you know, Darren Sprouls, Mark Ingram, you know, he's a master at finding mismatches and ways to, you know,


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[Assistant] Yes, I would. McCaffrey's first to me. I'm taking Joe Mixon second. Okay. Yeaah. He's second. Cook third? Or, uh, Camara third?


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[Assistant] Listen, I don't, I'm, this is, this is to me a lot closer than maybe a lot of people realize. Listen, I'm not saying I'm right or wrong or whatever. Let's just flush this out. Yeah. You know, I don't know here. This is cool. Dalvin Cook's only had one year of production, right?


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[Assistant] It's been one year. It's last year. That's all there is to look at it. So we can't always be just recent, you know, bias-y where we're just like, oh, he was good, he's the best one out of them. You know?


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[Assistant] I guess if you made me go right now, I think, I think I'd go Alvin Kamara, Leonard Fournette, and then Dalvin Cook.


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[Assistant] You know, I guess act like a jerk in the locker room, and then your offense isn't successful.


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[Assistant] You know, that's the optics of the situation right now. So, uh, it is. But, you know, Leonard Fornac can easily be one of those guys.


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[Assistant] Like, where we come out of this year and go, oh, he was a top four in rushing and football.


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[Assistant] And it was an unbelievable year, and he's gonna command $11 million price tag or $12 million price tag next year. I mean, I wouldn't be shocked by that. And everyone will go, I knew he was still good. And you go, no you didn't, I was the only one saying that. We'll play the tape back. But, but, I do think it's another great reference in


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[Assistant] See, here's a guy, cleared waivers, I get that, but he was talented enough here to where a team was gonna take him.


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[Assistant] Right, I mean it only lasted one day off of waivers.


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[Assistant] You know, and just again, that's where I'd like to accentuate the Earl Thomas, because I got a lot of pushback on social media last week with my Earl Thomas stuff.


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[Assistant] And, you know, I just, I'd like to add all of you people that were like really being somewhat like disrespectful and harsh about it. And go...


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[Assistant] If Earl Thomas was a top 5 or top 10 safety, he would be on a team right now.


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[Assistant] Yeah, he's done a bit of things that are a pain in the ass, but...


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[Assistant] He's been good, if he's that good, what he's done off the field wouldn't be an issue. You know, it just, it wouldn't. So that's where I just, uh, I think that says a lot too.


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[Assistant] Well, it's, it's, it's a case of Leonard Fornette being a top 5 pick, and he gets...


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[Assistant] Right, and then Earl Thomas, who set the expectations so high for so long, and was so awesome for so long, everybody's like, he's Earl Thomas, he's still awesome, and I just want to go, no, he's 30 or 31, and it's up there in years, and he's not awesome anymore. And that's, that's, you know, where the disconnect comes in sometimes.


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[Assistant] Here's how I break it down a little bit with the Eagles. I mean, first off, I do think there's a lot to like. I'm a little concerned with the injuries right now, alright, with the offensive line. I mean, here we go again. They're mixing and matching that.


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[Assistant] Alshon Jeffries not back yet. Jalen Rieger's are, he's banged up. Is he going to be ready for week one? Miles Sanders has a lower body injury. So I'm a little worried about that. And this is a team that seems to be dealing with this for the last few years.


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[Assistant] Uh, that bothers me now. You know, I think there's two things about their schedule that jump out to me.


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[Assistant] There's two different brutal stretches in my opinion. Weeks four through six.


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[Assistant] Uh, or yeaah. Weeks 4 through 6, when they gotta go to at the 49ers, at the Steelers, and then Baltimore at home, I go, whoa, that's a pretty tough stretch. And then when you look at a weeks 11 through 14,


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[Assistant] You know, where we're talking about playoff seeding or, you know, will they get in the playoffs? And you go at the Browns, Seahawks, at the Packers, Saints, at the Cardinals, which I know they're better than the Cardinals, but that ain't gonna be no cupcake with Kyla Murray in that offense.


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[Assistant] The next week at the Dallas Cowboys, I look at that and go, wow, that is a pretty serious stretch of football for them.


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[Assistant] The nine and seven variety right now. So that's gonna be an under. I'm gonna go with an under here. I mean, that's a tough one. To me...


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[Assistant] Yeah, easy playoff team. I think that 9 and 7, you know, you still get in the playoffs last year. Now we got an extra seed this year too. So that could go. But yeah, I mean, whether they go 9 and 7 or 10 and 6, I think it's all going to be predicated on, yeah, of course health. And I don't want to say that as to be like a scapegoat, but you know, really,


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[Assistant] Do they come, those two or three coin flip games that you have every year, do they come out on top?


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[Assistant] And I think that's really where, where I lie with it. This is a tough one, certainly. You know, and the fact that they're playing two tough divisions. Yeaah. You know, the AFC North and the NFC West this year for these AFCs, NFC teams. And that's where I look at it tough. So, and the fact that


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[Assistant] I think they're gonna be better, no doubt about it. Like, if the Eagles are playing the way they were playing down the stretch...


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[Assistant] You know, and how they beat the Giants last year. I don't think they're gonna pull those out this year, but we'll see. I mean, I'm like, I'm really, the Eagles are a team I'm a little stuck with. I don't know what to quite think of them. But yes, Brandon Brooks being hurt, now Andre Dillard, Jason Peters at right guard, who's gonna be the left tackle, uh, yeaah.


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[Assistant] Well, I'm going over, just so we can, we can get that. I mean, I look at them as being a 10 and 6, 11 and 5 football team. Clearly, I do. Whether, and then maybe, hey, listen, like we talk about, and what a lot of this comes down to is those two or three games, do you win at the end or do you lose at the end? That can be the difference between you going 10 and 6.


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[Assistant] Or 12 and 4, or 9 and 7, or 11 and 5, you know what I mean? So, but I think the thing I look at at the Cowboys is, this is,


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[Assistant] We know the team's talented. I think the new coaches are worth a win or two in themselves.


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[Assistant] I think Mike McCarthy, as you've heard me say, will have more complimentary game plans. The defense is going to be more game to game, game plan specific with Mike Nolan. So you're not going to always know what you're getting from them. I love all that. You got CD Lamb. Are you f***ing kidding me? In the top 20 picks? That's insane. A team that didn't need him, but now they got him. You know, their second round pick I really liked.


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[Assistant] Uhm, but. Well, you got Everson Griffin on the defensive side. Which was huge for them. Huge. I would say that was probably the last thing they needed for their roster was just go, you know, they need another guy on the edge there. And then maybe safety, that other safety, and that's why you hear old Thomas. I mean, after that, I don't look at a whole lot of weak spots of this football team.


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[Assistant] No, I mean, you know, that's where I want to push back with people with the Leonard Fournette conversation. I want to go, wait, here's Ezekiel Elliott with


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[Assistant] What, the second or third best offensive line of football? And he got 4.5 yards per carry and had an awesome quarterback and two awesome receivers?


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[Assistant] And yet Fournette, who has 4.3 yards per carry, with none of that around him, we, like, don't give him credit.


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[Assistant] You know, and yeaah, it wasn't as good a year as what it should be for Ezekiel Elliott. You heard me say that a lot of times. I think there were some holes where I go, damn, I think if Leonard Fournette had that hole it would have been a 60 yard touchdown. And instead it was a 20 yard gain from Ezekiel Elliott.


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[Assistant] So I need to see him capitalize on more that was there to be had. I think this is the biggest thing that jumps out to me though, with them. I don't look at their schedule.


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[Assistant] And ever look at any one stretch to be brutal, like brutal, where I just look at, you know, again, I know it's tough, but I'm not sure there's a brutal stretch.


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[Assistant] I never see more than maybe back to back weeks of me going.


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[Assistant] Okay, it's questionable whether Dallas is definitely the best team on the field.


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[Assistant] You know, the Rams, hey, that'll be an interesting one. Falcons, you know, that might be their toughest stretch, is really right off the bat.


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[Assistant] Because the Falcons are going to be raring to go. And they're going to try to, you know, we know the Seahawks are going to be good. And then you got the Browns. And the Browns, of course, are talented as hell. So, I think that's probably the stretch I look at to go. That's the most brutal, but I just think there's too many positives with this Cowboys team. Yeah, I think they're going to win the NFC's this year.


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[Assistant] You know, I wrote down 6 and 10, 5 and 11, 7 and 9.


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[Assistant] So seven and nine was like, okay, I went through the schedule and I looked at it and went, this is like best case scenario, seven and nine.


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[Assistant] And I don't think I really expect best-case scenario to happen in a year like this. New coaching staff. Listen, this isn't Mike McCarthy who's been a head coach. It's the guy who's gonna be a first-time head coach to what you're saying.


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[Assistant] And now it's a new system with a second year quarterback who's in his second system. And a Saquon Barkley who's a third year running back in his second system.


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[Assistant] To me, the way this year set up with the pandemic and everything, it's just, it's not in their favor from that standpoint. I think that's the thing. And then the other thing I'll say for a team that just goes through all of that, like, they got a tough start of the schedule.


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[Assistant] Here we go. Steelers at home? I mean, we're all looking at the Steelers going watch out for them this year. At Chicago? You know, again, I'm not saying Chicago's significantly better, but to go to Chicago with that defense?


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[Assistant] You know, yeaah, that's not gonna be easy. Of course the 49ers, and then at the Rams, like I know the Rams aren't gonna be, you know, I don't know how awesome they're gonna be, but you gotta go out to LA, and then you gotta go out to Dallas. So when I look at those first five games, I go,


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[Assistant] Look at it and go, it's very realistic that the Giants could start off 1 and 4. I mean, I mean, realistically, it could be realistically, they're 0 and 5. It really can. To me, the way it's set up is, they got size, the offensive line should be better, the defensive line is big and physical. Pass rushers, okay.


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[Assistant] I still got questions about the secondary. I know they signed James Brad


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[Assistant] There you go. Right. So that, that, that to me, and who do, who are they talking about signing at safety? Wasn't there somebody that was out there the other day that I heard Pete with the Giants? Uh, I'm blanking on who I heard.


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[Assistant] But I, I mean, yeaah, they're, they're shaky there. Yeaah. Right. Hey, they've improved the linebacker position and all that, but I just don't know if the defense is gonna be markedly better to where I go, oh, this team will be better. No, I think they're implementing a new system too. You know, they're gonna be trying to play that New England scheme. So I just think when all that lines up, I just look at it and go, ehh.


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[Assistant] I feel bad for my G-men. Oh, Logan Ryan, which is a great pick because he can do like a great signing. He can do everything. So that makes sense.


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[Assistant] Really, if he did the same thing he did last year and then just didn't have the fumbles, I think everybody would go...


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[Assistant] You know, I saw Dave Gettleman, he made a few quotes earlier in the week about, yeah, the guy did some special things last year. And he did some things like no rookie quarterbacks have ever done before.


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[Assistant] But the fumble narrative has overtaken all the positive things he's done, and I do think he's, with the improved offensive line, hopefully Saquon stays healthy, you know, Jason Garrett being there, and with Evan Ingram


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[Assistant] Slayton at Receiver, Golden Tate, and then, uh, Shepard. Yep. You sit there and go, okay, I know that's not like world beaters, but that's a pretty good group to where I think it's something to work with and they'll be good by, you know, committee there. Alright, they were 4-12 last year over under 6.5.