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[Assistant] With young draft picks just the way they built the Legion of Boom and the Seattle Seahawks when they went on their Super Bowl run and became special there.


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[Assistant] I'm a huge Paris Campbell fan. I thought this was a no-brainer. I just look at him and go, you know, this is Percy Harvin, uh, this is DJ Moore last year who the Carolina Panthers took.


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[Assistant] To me, he fits exactly what the Baltimore Ravens want to do. They got tight ends, they want to run the ball. Oh, here's a screen, Paris Campbell, run and go for 50. Oh, here's a speed sweep. Come across, like Tyree Kill. Oh, he turned the corner, ran for 50. That'll fit with what they want to do with Lamar Jackson. You got a lot of evidence of


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[Assistant] Paris Campbell catching short passes and really making a lot of big plays with Yak.


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[Assistant] Uh, with the ball in his hand. So to me, that just made too much sense. They definitely need a wide receiver. There were some other positions I kicked around in the conversation altogether, but, uh, I just thought the need of receiver was way too high. That they need somebody that's, again,


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[Assistant] A little bit of a get out of jail free card. It can't always be between the tackles or four. Between the tackles or four. Okay, make a throw Lamar. Between the tackles or four. You gotta have somebody to take the pressure off your team a little bit, and I think Paris Campbell can do that.


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[Assistant] Very fair point, because like you said, you get some easy completions, it's a run game threat, you know, you get the right matchups in the slot, you can still send them down field and do those type of things, and yeaah, I'm a big fan of Paris Campbell. There's questions about his hands, that's the thing.


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[Assistant] But it's not a drops. It's not a drops concerns. I get this. It is more about...


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[Assistant] His aggressive nature to snatch it, tuck it and run. You know, I think the people I've talked to, the concerns there were he's a little too careful in looking at it. Did you see that when you watched him? A little bit. It's not like, you know, you'd like a guy who, like DK Metcalf, who has a few drops.


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[Assistant] It's like an Odell Beckham Jr. and Antonio Brown. You know, a lot of the times they catch the ball, they're already running as they're catching it because they're going, you know, Hey, there's not a lot of separation in the NFL. I need every inch or second I can get. Let me start running up field and just snatch this thing out of the air and rip it down. And I think that's where some of the hesitation comes with Paris Campbell.


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[Assistant] Yeah, well, okay, so 20, I'll start with 25, the Eagles. I got them taking Jawan Taylor. I do think they have a need to replace a Jason Peters very soon. Jason Peters has been hurt two years in a row. I mean, two, you know, two years ago, he missed the Super Bowl run. Last year, he was kind of in and out of the lineup. I think we're getting to that time. What is it, year 14?


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[Assistant] For Jason Peters, that was. He's in his mid to high thirties. It's been a while. It's up there, right. So they need to start thinking about that. Certainly. Hey, I did think Josh Jacobs there. I've heard that, you know, they're in the market for a speed receiver.


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[Assistant] I thought all of that, but I just think the need at offensive line is greater than anything. So that certainly was on my radar. You know, the Colts, Jonathan Abram, no brainer there.


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[Assistant] Yeah, no, and I think there's some teams that we could probably go back and go, ooh, they could be in the running for a Jonathan Abrams, certainly.


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[Assistant] I think that, you know, he does everything well. I think he's probably a little more strong safety than free safety, but can play free safety. You know, I think just the biggest thing is


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[Assistant] Really, when you go back and look, I don't know if a team, the Giants have a need of safety. Maybe they're a team that dabbles in that, okay? Uh, after that, when we talked about the top 20, I just felt like there was teams that had greater needs at other positions. The Carolina Panthers. I thought, ooh, there's another team that maybe could be in the Jonathan Abram conversation.


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[Assistant] Brian Burns. Right. Which I just thought was a greater need for their football team there and the way they play defense, which is more zone oriented and things like that. And they have some players at safety where I just thought that made more sense. But you know, hey, sometimes it's just about what a team needs and things like that.


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[Assistant] Great example would be Derwin James from last year. Yeah. Derwin James, I didn't have a friend in the NFL or a person I talked to in front office coach who didn't think Derwin James was one of the 10 best players in the draft.


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[Assistant] Yeah, I think he would have been right in the top 12, top 15 debate, maybe even higher to teams that ran a 4-3 that felt like, ooh, we want a guy who can shoot in gaps and be disruptive that way. Uh, yeah, I don't think there's any doubt about that.


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[Assistant] He is, uh, extremely athletic, got great power. He's not a guy that's gonna be awesome against double teams. You don't want him in a 3-4 defense. To me, that's why I went with the Chargers. The Chargers


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[Assistant] I've been around Gus Bradley, they have a lot of the Tampa, Gus Bradley was with me in Tampa, they have a lot of the Tampa thoughts, we want disruptors, people who are explosive, quick off the ball, and that's what Simmons is, and I think he fits that


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[Assistant] It is. The, the, the, the, the Patriots, it came down to, okay, are we going Gronk replacement or are we getting Nikhil Harry or Deebo Samuel?


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[Assistant] Tight end is just too important to this offense where I think Jay Sternberger obviously is the third best tight end in this draft. I think he's the most similar to Gronk. I mean, kind of a big lumbering looking guy when you watch him on film, but damn.


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[Assistant] Marquis Hollywood Brown from Oklahoma, who now you'll know I don't have in the first round. Listen, I'm not gonna take a 160 pound wide receiver who has Liz Frank injury in the first round. I'm just not gonna do it. And nor do I think Marquis Hollywood Brown is a great route runner.


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[Assistant] Uh, I think he's a little bit more of a straight line guy. So that scared me a little bit. AJ Brown, I think the value is there for me for the Packers.


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[Assistant] He's Randall Cobb-ish, right? Uh, he's much better than Randall Cobb was coming out, but a guy that can be in the slot.


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[Assistant] He can separate, he can tap, catch the ball over the middle, break tackles, make people miss, gonna be able to catch screen passes, do those type of things, but also has enough top end speed that you can put him outside and go.


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[Assistant] Oh, we can trust you to beat, you know, Kyle Fuller, the Bears, one on one. So I think that's the value there with the, with the Packers. They need another offensive weapon in my opinion. Again, I even thought Josh Jacobs, as you're seeing here, is not in my first round. It killed me not to have him in the first round.


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[Assistant] But I think like Josh Jacobs, my justification for the Raiders not taking him with their last pick.


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[Assistant] Uh, or the Colts or the Eagles. First of all, the Raiders and the Colts pick at the top of the second round. So if they want Josh Jacobs really bad, there's a good chance he could maybe be there. I went with that.


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[Assistant] You know, uh, so that jumped out to me. The one I really want to talk about, because this is like one of my man crushes of the draft, is the Seattle Seahawks pick at 29 with Darnell Savage.


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[Assistant] His explosiveness is Earl Thomas-ish. It is, it is a rocket up his ass, Paul. I mean, for me, he was one of the best pure secondary prospects in the whole draft. I, I really, the guy could play corner and I'd go, he's one of the best corners in the draft.


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[Assistant] The way Maryland used him, uh, free safety, the speed is off the charts, he ran 4-3-6 at the combine, he plays like he ran 4-2-6.


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[Assistant] I think he's just a, they have Malik Hooker, who's a little bit more of the


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[Assistant] Three safety range guy. He had the Achilles tear two years ago. I think you'll see him back. I think Jonathan Abraham may be a little bit more of the safer.


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[Assistant] Uhm, I even thought about it, you know, with the Rams at 31 going, ooh, that's another team that has safety needs. But Savage to me, for the Seattle Seahawks, they got all these long corners.


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[Assistant] They need a guy who can kinda be a safety slash nickel type guy


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[Assistant] Savage did these things at Maryland. And Paul, when they put him in some coverage situations, I mean...


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[Assistant] His ability to put his foot in the ground and burst on the ball, it's every bit as good as Greedy Williams or some of those guys. His tackling, he might not be like a knock your head off guy like Jonathan Abram.


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[Assistant] But he, he gets you down every time. And if you think you're gonna take a 70 yard touchdown to the house with him on the field, good luck. Cause he is gonna run your ass down.


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[Assistant] He's one of my favorites. He's one of my favorites. And I really think that would fill what Seattle needs. They need that extra guy. I think they need the nickel guy. And that's where they're gonna use him. He can be.


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[Assistant] Go up and fly up and tackle in the run game. Go up and tackle the wide receiver bubble screen. Oh, oh, we need you to play man to man on a slot receiver. Well, you're plenty freaking fast and got great hips and can do all that. I think he's a really good fit. Or if they just want to play him at free safety and say beat Earl Thomas and just be a ball hawk in the back end, I think he's going to be great at that as well.


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[Assistant] Yeah, I, I mean, again, the names I see, you know, Roccasin from Temple, who's a fine football player. I've seen guys like Lonnie Johnson from Kentucky, who's a fine football player. DeAndre Baker from Georgia, fine football player. They run four-five.


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[Assistant] 4-5-5, 4-5-6, that's not a- Can't do it in the first round? That's, I mean, there's just no fucking way. I'm taking a quarterback that run- Oh, you run 4-5-5. Go cover Tyree Kill. The guy that's three tenths faster than you? Go cover Odell Beckham Jr. who's, you know, two tenths faster than you? That to me does not logically speak to


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[Assistant] But I would think the guys that I just mentioned there are more nickel type cover corners rather than outside type corners. And I think there's better players on the board at other positions for these teams than going, oh yeaah, we'll take the corner who runs 4-5-5. If you take a corner who runs 4-5-5, you know, I just don't want to hear it when you go,


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[Assistant] He just, he can't run with any of the good receivers two years from now. Cause if you come out with that bullshit ass excuse, I'm calling you out right now. I'm just telling you, don't even, oh, we're the, we're the Steelers and we picked Lonnie Johnson at 21 and he can't cover Obadel Beckham Jr. No shit. He ran four or five something.


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[Assistant] And that's not fast enough to be an outside corner covering Odell Beckham Jr. Right.


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[Assistant] It is, it's that fine of a line. Again, that's over, you and I have talked about this a lot lately.


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[Assistant] First corner is about eliteness. It's not about, oh, he's a complete player. Hey, every now and then you draft a complete player. If you just feel like, oh, this need is so bad that I have to take this guy and he fits where we need it so badly. He's not that special.


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[Assistant] Yeah, it's about unique traits in the first round and, you know, to me, yeah, out of the corners, Greedy Williams is the only guy that's got it.


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[Assistant] It's Josh Jacobs, yeaah. It hurt me. To where I went back and was like, gosh, this guy's so good.


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[Assistant] You know, and again, I mentioned some of the teams. I wouldn't be shocked if the Eagles or the Colts or the Raiders at 27 took a Josh Jacobs. But the Colts and Raiders, my logic was, again, running back position. Okay, we know that you can find guys later on the draft.


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[Assistant] And I just thought those teams had some greater needs to wear. And also, like I said, they pick in the top five of the second round to where if they really like them, I think they're going to have a chance to get them right there again. So that was one for sure. Hey, Hollywood Marquis Brown, like I said,


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[Assistant] Uh, again, I'm not as high on him as other people, but I get what people like. He's a straight speed burner, and that's gonna fancy some teams who need that element.


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[Assistant] That was another tough one. I'll tell you, I'll be totally transparent here. I had first had him at 31 to the Rams. Okay.


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[Assistant] And then... You went Garrett Bradbury. I went Garrett Bradbury, because I think their need is greater there. Before the Chiefs made the trade with the Seahawks, I had the Chiefs taking Bradbury. Okay. So that's where I was like, ooh, the Chiefs take Bradbury, that's what they need out there.


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[Assistant] And then the Rams, I went, ooh, I don't know if I like any of the guards or anybody else to fill that void. So I had them going Jerry Tillery because they had a defensive tackle. But then the Rams, the Seahawks and Chiefs made the trade. And that had to make me reshuffle things. And I said, well, okay, the Seahawks, okay, I think it's Savage is the guy. And it kind of just shuffled things around.


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[Assistant] Yes, I think that the big thing I think there with Wilkins is maybe fits that scheme a little bit more as far as shoot a gap.


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[Assistant] Being able to play a little of the nose tackle situation as well.


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[Assistant] You know, it was very close to me as far as Tillery, Wilkins. Yeaah, I gave Tillery maybe the slight advantage there because I felt like he could do some special things disruption wise. But I think Wilkins is probably a more of a for sure thing too as far as stopping the run than Tillery where there's questions about


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[Assistant] Taking on double teams and maybe off balance at a degree. That was a very tough one for me. I just visioned the Seattle and I'm the Seattle in this scheme. I thought Wilkins fit the scheme a little bit better than


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[Assistant] That is versatility is definitely valued behind the scenes because it gives you wiggle room.


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[Assistant] You know, a little bit. Like a Josh Allen, we'll talk about him at the top of the draft. Well, if it doesn't work at defense end, we can move him to outside linebacker, or he can stand up and be Anthony Barr middle linebacker type. You know, so that gives a little wiggle room and like a safety net for that type of player where, yea, you get a little valued, a little bit extra, or maybe win a tiebreaker with somebody else. But for me, again,


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[Assistant] You know, I am not a believer in we pick the best player on our board. So, you know, I, there was a sign next to me in New England and I'll never forget it. It was in big letters. We're not, we're not collecting players. We're, we're building a team. And that to me always rang true.


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[Assistant] You're telling me you got four great defensive tackles on your football team, and here you are at pick 20, and you're the number four player on the draft.


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[Assistant] Which is a defensive tackle, you're gonna take him just because he's the highest guy on your board? Okay. Well, let me just tell you, you're gonna have other deficiencies along the rest of your roster if you start building teams like that. Right. And you have to take in...


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[Assistant] I think the other thing is they don't care what the public thinks or anything like that. Bill is going to trust his evaluation, his gut, and I think that's a little bit what happens with all these mock drafts and these rankings of players.


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[Assistant] There's like a mold that's set, like this is one through five, and everybody just reshuffles them one through five, eh. I'm a draft expert, I have this guy three and this guy one. And nobody ever brings any other new guys to the conversation.


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[Assistant] That's my problem with, you know, guys like Darnell Savage and some of these other guys who don't get thrown in the, Jay Sternberger at the end of the tight end. All we talk about is the Iowa guys. That's all we talk about, first round picks.


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[Assistant] No, Sternberger is a possible end of the first round pick. If he doesn't go at the end of the first round, he's going in the first 5 to 10 picks of the second round. I feel confident with that. But yea, it's that stuff.


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[Assistant] Uh, I think that trust your evaluations more than anything. I try to cancel out the outside noise.


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[Assistant] You know, if you throw it on the screen again, just, uhm, the Raiders pick at 27, if anybody back there in the control room, you know, if you want to throw that graphic up. I got the Oakland Raiders taking LJ Collier at 27, okay? He's a defense end from TCU.


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[Assistant] The guy that's name has not been thrown out there in the mainstream quite enough for my liking.


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[Assistant] You know, could they use a Josh Jacobs? Certainly, everybody's got them Josh Jacobs. Josh Jacobs, right.


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[Assistant] Yeah, okay, but they have some decent running backs there already. Their biggest need at that part of the draft, they need an edge guy. Okay, they got Quinn and Williams, I gave them Noah Fant, right? They needed some sort of difference maker to come off the edge of their defense.


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[Assistant] To me, that's a guy that fills a need who, okay, maybe isn't the 27th best player in the draft, maybe he's somewhere between 30 and 42. But you draft him a few spots earlier because you have a desperate need at that spot. That's where it gets hard in the process.


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[Assistant] I, and I put my, I always felt myself, and like, I, you know, I was in so many meetings with the Grudens, and John Gruden especially, like I know he's gushing about Josh Jacobs.


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[Assistant] But he just, I look at Josh Jacobs and go, oh, this is just Gruden's company. He's Alvin Kamara. That's who I've compared him to, except I think he's more explosive. That's huge praise. I know.


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[Assistant] Okay, at Pittsburgh, number 20. I don't think he's better than LJ Collier or Jalen Ferguson, but...


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[Assistant] They look for edge guys that can play outside linebacker and defense end. Their guys are going to have to drop back into pass coverage.


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[Assistant] More of that type of player than an LJ, Kyle, or Jalen Ferguson, who I like as an edge player a little bit more, but they don't fit their scheme. So, I went and went, damn, I don't like him as much as these guys, but I think his skillset fits this team better.


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[Assistant] It's the name of the game. FIT is the name of the game. Who's a better example again than the New England Patriots?


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[Assistant] Every year we go, who's this guy playing defense end? Who's this guy playing middle linebacker? Who's this? It's some guy that fits with what they want to do. And they think he fits the way they make up their team or their schemes on a week to week basis. And that's what matters, you know, a whole lot. Couple interviews coming up. Yeah, baby.


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[Assistant] Yeah, that's why we said Screwphilsons today. No time for the old man. No time for that guy. Did I hear Ed Oliver maybe? Ed Oliver, I'm pumped to talk to him, certainly. One of my favorite players in the draft. You have him going third to the Jets. Third to the Jets, so I want first dibs on him.


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[Assistant] If he comes to New York, I'm going to peer pressure him to saying that. And then, um, I want, uh, and then we got Devin White. Who's, uh, I got going number five to Tampa Bay, the house that Chris Sims built.


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[Assistant] You're right. I'm showing some, who says I'm a quarterback and I only like quarterbacks and offensive guys. I'm all about the, the defense of big ugly guys.


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[Assistant] No, I would like to, I certainly would like to get either one of them. And that's going to be an interesting discussion too, you know, number two. Yeaah, I think the 49ers will take Nick Bosa, but certainly wouldn't be shocked.


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[Assistant] And I mean, they gotta be evaluating. Ooh, Nick Bosa, Quinnon Williams, that's a very close pick there. You know, so that's something to watch out for as well. Because I do think Quinnon Williams is the better all-around player than Nick Bosa, but not a lot. And I think there's a little bit more of a need for the edge guy over the d-tackle to where you go, okay, we take Bosa.


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[Assistant] So, uh, I'm excited about that. Okay. I got a guy coming on Big Timer here. Yep. Ed Oliver. Okay. Houston. I played against Houston. I beat them in college twice. So I'm going to use that against them too. But either way, here's the Ed Oliver interview. Really excited to talk to him.


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[Assistant] Yeah, I hear that. I use brawn shaving cream. So I'm all in on it already. Yes, all in on it. And I feel like when I used to get it low on the sides, my barber used to use brawn to really shave it down. So, uh, that was, that was a go-to. Okay. So you're going to get cleaned up and freshened up though, right before the draft on Thursday, right?


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[Assistant] Yes! I like it. I mean, I really, that's where I wanna start. First of all, uh, I have a man crush on you, just so you know. Uh, you're a freak of nature in a lot of good ways, I mean that. Okay? So that's where I wanna start. Alright, first of all, how big were you when you came out of the womb? I wanna know your birth size. Nobody's asked you that today.


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[Assistant] That's, that was like Chris Simsville. So somewhere along the lines, you got a lot bigger and stronger. Okay, here's the next thing.


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[Assistant] At what point, how old were you when you realized you were a freaky, different kind of athlete? What age was it? What specific event that had finally hit you to go, okay, I got a chance to be something here maybe later on in life.


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[Assistant] Yeah, no, it's not right, it's not, uh, but that's why you were gonna go in the top five of the NFL draft, certainly. I mean, okay, so, a lot of the talk about your size, things like that, I know you played out of position at Houston, do you even have to worry about what you eat right now? Like, are you just like, such good shape and you work out so much, you can eat anything, or do you pay attention to your diet?


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[Assistant] Okay, you watch a little bit. Do you have to, are you the type of guy that's gotta like work on staying above 280 pounds or do you have to actually like eat less to make sure you don't go above 290?


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[Assistant] You will blow up, okay. Yeaah. Yeaah, I had a feeling that, that would, that, that might happen, uh, because that is, because you're a freakin' hater. Alright, here's some other fun questions I'm dying to know. Like, give me your max squat. What's the most you ever put on your, your back, uh, squatting?


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[Assistant] Damn, that's, that's insane there. Okay, and then what about bench press?


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[Assistant] 465. Okay, you think, are those records for, for Houston Cougar football or at least towards the top?


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[Assistant] That, that really is crazy. I mean, absolutely insane, really. Okay, so here's the next thing. Alright, you go through, you made a lot of draft visits, right? Uhm, you got a clue on who you think's gonna draft you at this point? You don't need to tell me names, I don't want to get you in trouble or anything, but...


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[Assistant] Yeah, that's right, you are, and okay, so right off of that, what's the first thing we're gonna buy, mom, when you become really rich on Thursday night? And what's the first thing we're gonna buy yourself on, uh, you know, when you get a little cash in the bank account?


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[Assistant] Okay, okay, so you're going with a truck. I don't think you can go wrong with buying mom a car. I'm just, I'll just put that out there.


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[Assistant] Okay, okay, I won't judge, I don't know your mom, you're right, I'm just saying, I feel like all women are suckers for Mercedes, you just can't go wrong there.


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[Assistant] No, it's, it's a definite hunch. I mean, in fact, it's a, I mean, it's kind of look like it's a force of nature coming. Uh, do you, do you find yourself kind of being thrown in the Aaron Donald conversation a lot? Because I mean, I feel like that gets talked about a lot. What's that do to you when you kind of hear that kind of talk?


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[Assistant] No? Okay, I thought you did. I've known some defensive tackles that like to dip all day long, so I'm sorry if I offended you there.


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[Assistant] You wore number 10 in college. Like, you're not gonna be able to do that in the NFL. Yeaah, the 1-0. I liked it. You looked really good at it. But, when you go to the NFL, you're gonna have to change. What number do you think you're gonna go? You're gonna go 90s? 70s? I'm gonna go 91. You're gonna go 91?


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[Assistant] 9 plus 1, 10. That's your number. So is there a reason behind you wearing number 10?


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[Assistant] I'm up here in New York, and all I'm saying is this. Uhm, I won first dibs. When you come to New York, okay, we'll call Braun up. We'll get you freshened up.


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[Assistant] Alright, cool. I like that. You the man. I want to wish you like the best of luck for the draft, man, and the best of luck with your career altogether. Big fan of your game, man, and keep it going, and good luck Thursday night.


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[Assistant] Ed Oliver, freak show. About to be rich. I hope he comes here to New York. I think he's gonna be the perfect personality for this town. The Jets fans are gonna rally around this freaky guy in the middle of their defense. So that would be cool. Certainly.


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[Assistant] I mean, can you imagine being 287 and running around the way he does? Right? I guess insane. That's why he's a top five pick. He has the traits. He has the traits. I mean, it's insane actually that he has the traits. I mean, he really is. Uh, he's special, but we're gonna, we're gonna talk to another special guy coming up right now. Devon White, middle linebacker from LSU.


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[Assistant] I mean, talk about a bowl in a china shop. That's what this guy is. Middle ball, middle linebacker, ball hawking, game wrecking type guy. I loved watching film of him and you have him going number


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[Assistant] I'm gonna tell him a few places to go, a few dinner spots, tell him where not to go so he doesn't get in trouble. I'm also an expert in that as well. So, I'm gonna do both. But here's Devin White from LSU. Hopefully the number five pick to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers so I look smart.


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[Assistant] And he's here on behalf of Braun, which I want to give a lot of props to because you look freshly shaved, very nice, well done, everything clean, tight, looking good for Thursday night. Give us, give us what, what Braun's doing for you. Let me hear it right off the bat. Let me hear your sales pitch. I know you can play linebacker. Let's see if you can sell a product. Can I sell a product?


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[Assistant] Don't worry. Uhm, you're a linebacker. You've proven that to me already just with some of the stuff we had to orchestrate here trying to get FaceTime, Skype all worked out. You were middle linebacker in call and defensive calls out. So, uh, you're able to be the quarterback of the defense. That's what you already sold me that. Okay. You're good there.


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[Assistant] That is what I call next level thinking and I mean who said football players are dumb and middle linebackers are dumb and just so you know I played football too I don't expect you to know me but I played a little bit in the NFL quarterback and just want to let you know my last win


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[Assistant] That's absolutely disgusting that you're only 21 years old. But also, do you know who also was born on February 17th?


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[Assistant] Okay, that's all. I figured you might know that one. So greatness is there to be had on your birthday. That's the first cool thing about it. Alright, here's the, here's the other thing I want to just get into right away. Uhm, like,


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[Assistant] When you were growing up, what point did you know that you had a chance to be like a special athlete, maybe play professional sports or professional football? Was there a moment or a grade where you said, I got a chance?


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[Assistant] Like, no joke, Devin, and I've said this on the podcast many a times, you were one of the most fun watches, uh, anybody I've studied coming out in the draft this year. I mean, you are a true ball-hawking middle linebacker. And that's where I kinda...


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[Assistant] You know, wanna, wanna start. I mean, who did you grow up idolizing playing middle linebacker? Who do you model your game after as, as a, a linebacker?


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[Assistant] Like, give me two more names so we can make a complete Mount Rushmore there. You got Ray, you got Patrick Willis, who would be two other defensive guys or linebackers that you'd put up there at least somewhat in that class. Could be playing today or retired, I don't care either way.


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[Assistant] Oh, okay, you damn homer, you. Okay, you with the LSU guys. Alright, I got you. I don't know if I'm gonna accept some of those LSU answers, but either way, they are ballers. Okay, they really are. And, uh, I respect their game. That's kinda where I wanted to go with you next, Devon. I mean, LSU right now...


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[Assistant] It's kind of insane the amount of players that have come out of that school the last 10, 11 years. I mean it's, it's one pro baller and all pro after another.


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[Assistant] Who do you think is the most famous alumni of LSU right now, have you had a pick?


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[Assistant] Yeah, you say all the way. Odell, you think he surpassed even like Shaquille O'Neal as almost like all time famous LSU alum? You think he's reached that status?


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[Assistant] A smart one to jump on. Okay, that's, you know, you talk about LSU, alright, I'm just interested, I always like to ask guys this type of things, with all the guys that you were there around, not naming yourself, who was kind of the freakiest athlete the last few years you've had around LSU? Who's the first person that comes to your mind there?


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[Assistant] Yep, I'm also with you on the Leonard Fournette bandwagon. I love me some Leonard Fournette. I love anybody that brings in like,


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[Assistant] Bring it kinda crap. And honestly, that's what I like about your game, man. You got no fear. You are like a bull in a china shop. You just hit everybody. You run around like a crazy person.


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[Assistant] Uhm, I want to go back to what you were saying in the weight room. I mean, first of all, I'm going to tell everybody out there, this is again, Devin White, the best linebacker in the draft. He is definitely going in the top 10. He's six foot, 237 pounds. He ran a four four two. That is not.


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[Assistant] Normal for somebody that big to run that fast, you have a 39 and a half inch vertical. So I want all these things. I mean, give me, first of all, like, you obviously can dunk, like, can you do some cool, cool dunks or are you just like a hammer it down, power dunk kind of guy?


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[Assistant] Yeah, I had a feeling you might say that. Okay. Now you talked about weight lifting. Uhm, let me hear. I asked Ed Oliver, who I interviewed before you, and I know I think he's somewhere in that room, because you two are both some of the freakiest guys in the draft.


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[Assistant] Squat. I wanna hear max squat, power clean, and bench press. Like, you know, I don't know if you've done the max, but what do you think you're close to or a ballpark number for me?


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[Assistant] Uh, have this one attribute. You guys got unbelievable legs and ass. Uh, that's the one thing I jumped out of me right away. As soon as I saw the end zone version of you playing linebacker, I said, okay, I like this kid's body. I like this kid's legs and ass. I knew you had a chance and you're confirming those thoughts for me. So thank you very much. So because


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[Assistant] Uhm, alright, now, I wanna just ask you this. You talked about best players at LSU and the people you've been around. You've been in SEC football. SEC is clearly the best conference in college football right now.


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[Assistant] Who would be the best player you played against, uh, in your years at LSU?


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[Assistant] I can understand that. He's a phenomenal athlete. So he was even more impressive to you or more of a pain in the butt to you than even like Tua at Alabama.


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[Assistant] Yeah, okay, I like it. I'm glad you gave me something different. I wasn't expecting that. And he is a phenomenal athlete, so I understand that. And I actually respect the man a whole lot for the way he's handled himself, uh, as far as that situation's concerned. Okay, so you went on a lot of draft visits.


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[Assistant] You got any clue right now as to what team you think is gonna pick you? I know you don't have to tell me, but...


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[Assistant] Do you got any idea where you might end up as of tomorrow night in round one of the draft?


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[Assistant] Yeah, I know you are and you're gonna make something happen. You're not gonna have to try. I believe in your ability. Alright, out of all the visits, I don't know how many you took. I know it was a pretty long list of teams. What was some of the coolest things you did on your visits? Any cool meals? Any cool outings with players? Anything jump out as far as that's concerned?


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[Assistant] I want First Dibs as your hype man in New York, man. I'm just, we'll go around, we'll get you to know the city, we'll make some fun, we'll have some fun, and we'll get everybody to know this beautiful, brawn, handsome face you got working here.


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[Assistant] Oh, okay, I can work on that. I can, I can do that. My little girl rides horses, okay?


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[Assistant] You will be rich enough to have your own horse. I don't have my own horse yet. But damn, it's an expensive sport. I can tell you that. And my girl, of course, picked that. So I can help you in that department. So that sounds like a deal. Uh, we're gonna meet up. If you come with the Giants, I'm gonna come find you. So I hope you are ready for that.


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[Assistant] Alright, you the man, uh, I really just want to say good luck to you in the draft. Uh, I hope you end up where you want to end up and really good luck with everything in the future, playing, getting used to your new hometown city. Chris Sims here and I will be rooting for you, man. Good luck.


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[Assistant] Yeah, I think the one that jumps out to me there is number six, the New York Giants. I got them taking Drew Locke. All signs are pointing towards them taking Daniel Jones. I would never do that at number six. Drew Locke is the second best quarterback in this draft for me.


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[Assistant] And again, you know, again, all these guys are gonna sit a year behind Eli Manning regardless and have a chance to grow. That's the situation the Giants are in right now.


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[Assistant] Yeah, I think the one that, I mean, of course, Dwayne Haskins to the Dolphins, I think that's the perfect situation for him. He gets to sit behind a Ryan Fitzpatrick. I think Dwayne Haskins is a talented football player. The other guy I want to just talk about quickly, Cody Ford at 14, okay? Not getting enough attention in this draft process for me.


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[Assistant] He is a franchise Jason Peters, Trent Williams type left tackle, a desperate need for the Falcons. I feel like there's been other guys who get more talk in this draft of the tackle position.


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[Assistant] For me, Cody Ford, Sy's ability to take on the power rush, the footwork of 328 pounds, long arms, man, he was put on earth to be a franchise.


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[Assistant] Yeah, and I think the one I'd like to talk to about in that group is number 19, Dexter Lawrence. We didn't get to talk about that a whole lot. Dexter Lawrence, I think, is one of the best defensive players in this draft.


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[Assistant] 340 pound dancing bear. Okay, that's what he is. I've never seen anybody as nimble on their feet, as quick and explosive as they are at that size. Again,


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[Assistant] You know, and I think the one there, Paris Campbell, of course, is going to catch some people. We didn't, we already talked about him.


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[Assistant] Houston Texans, just to hit that quickly, uh, with Andre Dillard. Andre Dillard is a special, special athlete at the tackle position. Coming out of Washington State, probably get the best feet out of all these tackles in the draft.


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[Assistant] They need to protect Deshaun Watson. That is a desperate need, uh, and a guy that is certainly capable of being a franchise left tackle himself.


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[Assistant] Yeah, I think the one I'll talk about here, Joann Taylor. I know I'm gonna be the low guy in anybody's mock draft or anything like that with Joann Taylor, but again, I was...


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[Assistant] Not as impressed with Jawan Taylor's film, who everybody I look at has him going in the top ten, whatever it may be. Uh, listen, I just was not overly impressed with power, uh, necessarily the twitchiness of the guy's body at times.


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[Assistant] To me, he was, yes, about the fourth best offensive tackle. Uh, the Eagles are in a position where it can go a lot of different ways.


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[Assistant] I thought their greatest need was tackle, but I wouldn't be shocked if they went with a big time receiver. I wouldn't be shocked if they went with Josh Jacobs at running back as well. Uh, but I had them go and tackle because I think it's, it's coming to the end for,


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[Assistant] Yeah, he's got a Gronk replacement. I think he'll really fit with what they want to do. Uh, very impressive. And 31, I want to talk about that a little because we didn't get to hit that the first time. Garrett Bradbury.


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[Assistant] I'll be interested to see where he goes, Paul. He is a special center. This might be too low for him, I mean, when all is said and done.


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[Assistant] I mean, maybe the Minnesota Vikings go with him at number 18. They could. They are the guys I thought that could play center.


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[Assistant] And maybe they could use it for a tackle, which is what I had them doing with Greg Little out of Ole Miss, but Bradbury is your perfect modern day center, athletic as hell, uh, got unbelievable power for a guy that's as athletic as he is. And you get, I got to see it against everybody. I mean, I got to see him against the Clemson kids and Lawrence and Wilkins and said, whoa,


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[Assistant] He by, he holds, he held his own. And then some. So, uh, that was a true need for the Los Angeles Rams. Their weak spot of their team last year was


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[Assistant] Guard and center, not named Roger Saffold, who went and left to go to the Tennessee Titans, so they have a need there at that position, but, you know, Bradbury,


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[Assistant] I've got bigger plans, I'm going into New York City, 62nd and 1st, okay, Treadwell Park, please join me, anybody in the area, come on in, we're gonna be making Instagram videos, reacting to the draft live, doing all that, but having a little bit of a draft party. So, I'm pumped about that.


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[Assistant] Friday podcast, we're not going to have the normal Thursday podcast. Friday, we're going to do a Friday podcast, me and the Ben Meister, and we're going to recap all the cool things that went on in round one and what we liked and didn't like.


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[Assistant] And other than that, you know where to find me on Twitter, on Instagram. I'm sick of saying it. So if shit you don't know by now, then you just don't know, okay? And if you want to watch these two beautiful faces, vtube.com slash NBC Sports. Alright, everybody enjoy the draft. Hope you like the mock. Give me some feedback.


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


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[Assistant] What's up with you? I'm good. You doing alright? I'm good, great. Trying to talk to you. Yeah, sir. Getting ready.


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[Assistant] Oh man, I'm, you know, I'm really excited. You know, I'm trying to, I don't know. I don't know, I'm just...


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[Assistant] I'm gonna be a part of, you know what I mean? Just meeting all the coaches and seeing each, how each facility is different and like being the people, you know, meeting everybody, you know what I mean? It's, I don't know, it's just, I think I'm a sucker for that.


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[Assistant] You know, at first I was just going to play it cool, but now I'm not going to play it.


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[Assistant] Uh, basketball, of course. And why it has to be basketball. The whole family, whole family play basketball.


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[Assistant] Like I said, like you said, I'm so thankful that Hyundai gave me the opportunity to even tell my story. Uh, yeaah, we went back home, you know, I had the opportunity to go back home to Jersey.


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[Assistant] And it actually brought me down memory lane. I started thinking about everything. I'm like, oh my goodness. And then got to rekindle moments with my best friend.


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[Assistant] You know, wasn't going to play football, just going to straight basketball. Uh, I don't know, meeting a coach my first day down there.


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[Assistant] Basically, basically, you know, that, that was me. And then when years go by, it's hard to get better. And then by my junior year,


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[Assistant] I led the state in sacks. You know, all state defense was in, first team, second team, all tri-state, whatever, all state. But no offers came to show. And then my miss came, they offered me a scholarship, submitted there, and then.


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[Assistant] So my, and then what's crazy was somebody decommitted from Kentucky. Right. So left a spot open and then I played against one of the coaches brother.


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[Assistant] I mean, I need to look at this guy, you know, long, athletic, he can pass runs, bend the edge, you know, all that.


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[Assistant] Go stop by him, you know, go stop by and see him. If he passed the I-Checks, give him a scholarship. So he came middle school.


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[Assistant] And he looked at me, he's like, oh, you passed the eye test. First thing he said. Then he said, you know, he offered me his full scholarship. Man, I couldn't believe it.


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[Assistant] You know, I'm glad, I'm actually glad those teams actually swept on me. You know what I mean? Yeaah.


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[Assistant] You know what I mean? I just gotta, you know, I know my purpose now. You know what I mean? I have my family. You know, that's the reason why I want to be great.


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[Assistant] So as long as I got them, I'm always going to keep a tip on my shoulder and be the hardest working dude out there.


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[Assistant] I feel like that shit ain't even had to do it, cause I can work on that. Like it's not even, I can do it. You know what I mean? It's, you know, it just, it is what it is. Alright.


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[Assistant] It's pretty, it's pretty crazy, but in the, in the NCC, I feel like, who's the best person out there playing it? Oh, Alvin Kamara.


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[Assistant] He's handsome, he's rich, you know, he seems to be worldly. I feel like I could get along with him. He's gonna be, then because he's marrying me, he's divorcing Giselle, so he's got extra money, right? So, I'm living the life. I'm marrying, I'm marrying Tom.


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[Assistant] You know, hey, I don't, I have no personal bias here or anything.


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[Assistant] This is just realistically where my list and my evaluation is. I'm not, you know, it pissed me off that some people tried to say I did it for clicks. Okay, that's not. I didn't wait 31 picks.


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[Assistant] But it's just been a constant conversation and it's engulfing my life.


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[Assistant] Uh, again, yes, I think that there's players that are better, uh, eight of them, apparently that are better than Tom Brady at this point of his career. But yeah, I mean, I'm walking around the office here at NBC today. I still have, you're getting it here. Well, I have people that are not number nine, huh? Oh, you know, and some get disgruntled at me too. He's like, well, we can talk.


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[Assistant] That also is maybe like chaps my butt a little bit out of this conversation is you can go on and like regional sports network in Boston week after week at the end of the season.


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[Assistant] I was bang, they were, uh, this, this, Chris, this looks like the end for Tom Brady, huh? And they're just not gonna, he's just not as special as he once was, huh?


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[Assistant] The Patriots play a different style of football this year, all those things. You talked them off the ledge. I really did. And then when in the, you know, they win a Super Bowl 13-3 and I guess right automatically he gets put back at number one or number two, whatever. So hey, we'll continue to have a good conversation about this. Yes.


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[Assistant] I believe it would be the 85. I think it's the 85 Bears. You know, that's for the defensive part of it. I've also heard them like just absolutely rave about those 92, 93 cowboy football teams too. So that would be the teams I think would maybe be towards the top of the list.


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[Assistant] Let's see, let's start off with Dustin New, 12, 14, okay? You are, your list, okay, your list are complete shit.


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[Assistant] Okay, so first of all, did somebody in the back mistype that response, or was that his response? Nope, that was it. Your list are complete shit.


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[Assistant] Your list? So he's talking about all lists? Or is he just talking about this one list and he's improper with his grammar? We don't know. He didn't write that. I'm not sure either. But, uh, thank you, Dustin. It's so nice of you, uhm, to say that. I really appreciate it. And I'm sure your lists are just as shitty. Thank you.


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[Assistant] Okay, we got Philafoo, and it says, oh, it's got a clown face, and it says, stop free-basing cocaine. Whoa. First of all...


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[Assistant] You're right, you're such a square. You're right, you're right. I've never done cocaine, I wouldn't know what you'd do with it, okay? But either way, I can tell you that I don't do cocaine, alright? And I don't know if cocaine would really, would that affect my list? Either way, I mean, to me, it would just make me, make me speak faster and be like, come on, cocaine is true!


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[Assistant] I don't even want to smoke it if it's middle or bottom shelf, I'll just pass and wait for the top shelf. So he, there's our first correct one. Our first correct one goes to the Iron Maiden 2112.


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[Assistant] He seems like a connoisseur, right? And that's what I am. That's right. Okay. And then Trev210 says, this is why you don't do drugs, kids. They all thought you were affected. They all thought you were


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[Assistant] You know, how Ten got forgot about so quickly with Drew Brees, and actually I've had so many people actually agree with me on Drew Brees, uh, you know, let alone people on PFT, but I've gone on radio stations, so I feel like that reaction hasn't been nearly as harsh as the Brady reaction, which I expected. And again, hey, I'm just pointing this out there. Brady is...


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[Assistant] Of course gonna go down, you know, he's an all-time great, if not the greatest quarterback of ever. You know I view that ranking a little different. It's not always about rings and that discussion. But I do think one of the things of this conversation is yeaah.


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[Assistant] People are trying to, they're, they're, they're taking the quarterback with the team and the circumstances they're in and the offense they're in and they're going, oh, he's the best and I want to go, no, but some of the things you're defending about the player are not the player.


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[Assistant] They are the support system, or they are the scheme. And I'm trying to break it down just about the player. Not everybody gets fortunate to be drafted by a team that's got great coaches and great players around them. You know, that's, that's...


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[Assistant] You know, that's what's happened. That's, you know, oddly enough, that's what you see like with the NBA. I think that's what people realize too. That's why you see like super teams because LeBron James is sitting back there going,


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[Assistant] Why should I sit here and be in career, you know, purgatory, okay? When, you know, guys like Magic Johnson...


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[Assistant] Just got lucky to be drafted by a team that had other Hall of Famers and they put other Hall of Famers around them. So some of these NBA players said, no, I'm going to go out and make my own moves so I don't have to hear about this. And you know, football, you can't always do that. And sometimes you're stuck in a tough situation. You can be the most talented guy in the sport. And if your support system sucks,


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[Assistant] And he just went off running with it where he was an MVP conversation. You think that can happen in New England after Brady leaves? Well, I, I do think it could. I think that's one of the, like, if you ask me two reasons Tom Brady continues to play. One is to pass Michael Jordan to be the number one sports icon in American history. Okay. Which is a great reason. Number two, he's scared to death that if he does leave,


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[Assistant] With the football team. He never, he didn't play college while he was a backup quarterback. You know, Jimmy Garoppolo never started a game and the first game he started in the system, we went, whoa.


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[Assistant] Whoa! Holy cow! Whoa, they're gonna beat the Cardinals on the road? First game of the year?


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[Assistant] And he's going to throw for high 200s and big touchdown passes. Oh, and in the second game, he's got three touchdown passes in the first half and he's driving down like the machine they are, the New England Patriots, and they're going to go down and score another touchdown. He hurts his shoulder. Didn't matter because the third stringer came in and they won with him the next week. Okay.


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[Assistant] Again, it's not an indictment on Tom Brady. That's why everybody takes it so personal. Brady is awesome. He is...


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[Assistant] Truly the guy I tried to model my career around, but I'm just trying to give everybody some realness about the situation and the world we're in right now is just quarterback, quarterback, quarterback, he's the only guy on the field doing anything, everybody else, the quarterback's making the tackle, he's calling the plays, he's blocking.


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[Assistant] You know, just with that offensive line and only having Hopkins to throw to, I would go, man, that would be tough sledding for Tom Brady in that offense with that lack of protection. You need a guy like Watson who can make plays and do things and add, extend plays, all those things, whatever it may be. But who is, who is it that said that, that comment right there? Ian Ballard. Ian Ballard. That was a really good way of, uhm,


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[Assistant] They can tell what quarterback is playing good, great, okay, yeaah, they see the stats, okay, that's what it is. Hey MVP conversation, come on everybody, let's get serious. It's the same thing every year. It's the quarterback who's on the best team that has the stats that are impressive to go along with it.


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[Assistant] Oh no no, Mahomes is really having the MVP here, but Drew Brees, I think what he's done through his career, he just deserves it once. If everybody will remember, man, there was a lot of people that that was their baseline for Drew Brees, that he deserved it.


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[Assistant] You know, who's to say Patrick Mahomes doesn't get hurt this year and his career's altered forever? He never has a year. He never wins an MVP. I agree. And we're gonna look back and go, man, we gave it to Drew Brees in a year where a guy did special things because of why?


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[Assistant] Last year was a phenomenal year for Ben Roethlisberger. And, you know, you know, proved to me one that, oh, you know, people always want to say, Le'Veon Bell, Antonio Brown, oh, they help out, you know, okay, Le'Veon Bell wasn't there last year. The run game sucked last year in Pittsburgh. 31st run team in football.


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[Assistant] You know, so everything was on Big Bed, on a weekly basis. James Connor did some good things, we know that.


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[Assistant] But teams weren't playing the Pittsburgh Steelers going, oh gosh, we got to stop the running back. It was going, no, we got to stop Big Ben and Tony O'Brown and some of the plays that they make. And for me with Big Ben, I think the biggest thing to start out with


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[Assistant] Is yes, great size, uh, you know, thrower of the football and awesome quarterback under pressure. He's still one of the best down the field throwers in the sport. And I put a lot of into that definitely because


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[Assistant] Explosive plays are the number one, are the number two stat in a football game as far as determining who wins the game. As turnover margin, the next thing that determines it is 20 plus play, 20 plus yard plays that happen in a game.


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[Assistant] Uh, and that, a lot of the times, is predicated through Big Ben making big plays in the pass game.


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[Assistant] And I, you know, again, you can like Big Ben wherever or dislike him. Hey, Big Ben, yeah, he looks like he's a lot of jerk moments off the field, in the locker room, everything like that.


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[Assistant] But when you talk about on the field and his ability to make game-changing plays and do special things, and you go back and look at the highlights, listen, Antonio Brown isn't as wide open as we'd all like to think and remember all the time. Go look at Big Ben's highlights, man.


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[Assistant] Every throw is on the screws. Coverage is pretty good. Perfect throw, perfect spot.


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[Assistant] He's a guy that cannot make any system work. And yeaah, I just look at him with his decision making and everything. It's still at a very high level. Are there a few moments, like the Denver Broncos game, he throws the interception in the end zone, where you go, what the hell is that? Yes, definitely. I'm not like, excusing him from that.


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[Assistant] That was Antonio Brown's fault. Hey, that's what he says. But there is a lot of things that


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[Assistant] You know, sometimes you're going to make a bonehead play or two again when you're a quarterback that has to play the way Ben Roethlisberger does, which is basically carry the offense.


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[Assistant] Yep, he doesn't hold on to it at all. He's got a great offensive line. They're one of the best pass protecting O-lines in football, so that has to be noted. And back in the old days of Big Ben, he would take sacks because


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[Assistant] But within that too, sometimes you go, aw man, throw it away, don't take the nine yard sack, damn aw. He used to do that, now he has found a fine line of making magic happen and when to play the quarterback position to its truest form. Now hey, the Broncos game we talked about, he screwed that up at the end, right? There was also some other things earlier in the game where I could point to and go,


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[Assistant] He did throw a pick, okay. But then, man, the Steelers dominated the football game. I mean, we gotta remember the Chargers returned a punt.


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[Assistant] The Steelers intercepted a pass in the end zone and two of them collided into each other and the ball popped in the air and Tyrell Williams caught it for a touchdown. I mean, it was a little bit of a fluky stuff there too, but I'm not going to sit there and go, oh, they didn't win that one because Ben Roethlisberger.


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[Assistant] And this is a great, another talking point too, okay? This is just about quarterback play in general. Like, guys like Big Ben Roethlisberger,


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[Assistant] Okay, when those years where he did get banged up because, you know, people like in the late, you know, 2008, 2009, 2010, the Pittsburgh offensive lines were like the worst in football. They were horrible. And they went to two Super Bowls and it was because of Big Ben and his ability to hang in there and make plays and do things like that.


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[Assistant] Guys that have to play that style of football are more apt to getting hurt. And I think that's something that, you know,


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[Assistant] We need to realize as fans as at times, you know, when you're having to play a style of football, that's a little, let's just say more dangerous, right? Like Ben Roethlisberger back in the old days or maybe like a Mahomes or Aaron Rodgers does, you know, when your team is, man, you need to make the plays all the time and you got to do it and we can't win the game.


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[Assistant] And there it's gonna lead you into some vulnerable positions where a good quarterback on a team that's got a great support system around him and everything's good, when things get chaotic around him, he can just go, ah, I'll just take the sack and get down because we're good and the next down, the next down we can convert. And I know my coach will call a good player, we'll execute together.


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[Assistant] The great quarterbacks that are stuck on these crappy teams, they have to kind of go above and beyond and kind of push the envelope about like what's actually smart at times. And I think that's why you can see some of those guys get banged up in those conversations.


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[Assistant] And you put it next to each other like that. It's a thing that on Pro Football I talk with Mike a lot. I always argue that Big Ben


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[Assistant] Career wise, I think, you know, is a lot better and needs to be talked about in more of a glowing fashion than he is. And I think because of the off the field stuff we mentioned. Yes. And some of the things he said in the locker room and things like that.


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[Assistant] And not let all those other things influence you. I mean, it's a special career. For me, it's a borderline top 10 in the NFL history career. I mean, that's, that's where it's around.


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[Assistant] Of course the game was different. And you've heard my dad sometimes mention, I mean, the coaches used to say to him, if you don't throw one or two interceptions, then you're not being aggressive enough. You know, and that's the way it was around the NFL. It was be aggressive. So interceptions were not as taboo as they are now.


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[Assistant] You know, but the other thing too, I'd be interested to hear like from a John Elway or maybe I'll ask Dan Marino or Jim Kelly or my father.


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[Assistant] How many of the yards and touchdowns are due to the time of we are in like right now in the NFL? I would love to hear that from one of those guys. Like what would Dan Marino say? Would he go, I think you add 20,000 yards on to all these guys playing right now? What is it?


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[Assistant] Yeah, Ben's leadership is certainly in question. I mean, about how he handles a locker room, it's not beautiful. No, it's not. You know, uhm, I can't say a lot of glowing things about him, but


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[Assistant] Being a better teammate, being a better lever, leader definitely with that and maybe just limit a little bit of those like we said bonehead interception mistakes that he makes. Definitely. I got no defense for that. That is certainly a flaw of his game.


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[Assistant] They were screwed in a game against the New Orleans Saints where two fourth down penalty pass interferences that were not pass interference calls, uh, were given to the Saints, one for a touchdown. But, you know, you're going to blame Big Ben for going 33 of 50 for 380 and three touchdowns and no interceptions. And we're going to sit here and go,


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[Assistant] I mean, again, you want to talk about super talent. I mean, this guy is a superstar, could be face of the NFL type talent. We have all forgotten about him a little bit because of the Patrick Mahomes factor.


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[Assistant] Before Patrick Mahomes, this was the new, cool, young, sexy, Invo quarterback where everyone was like, oh my gosh, I can't wait to see this guy. And of course he tore his ACL in the midst of a really special rookie season. You know, last year got off to a slow start, but man.


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[Assistant] It's really just playing the position, situations. Little bit like I was talking about Big Ben early in his career. You can't try to make magic every time. Sometimes the defense wins and just take the sack for a three yard loss.


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[Assistant] 20 other plays where he said, ooh, he could have been sacked but he broke out of it and made an unbelievable play or throw for 30 yards down the field.


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[Assistant] And you go, oh gosh, nobody in football could have gotten out of the gym he just got up, but it's just going to go on the stat sheet as a 20 yard completion where I want to go like only three people in the game would have got a 20 yard completion here. Everybody was covered. The protection was shit and he escaped. Now with all that, like we talked about, like I was saying with Big Ben,


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[Assistant] Just have a little bit better. Sometimes you can have a feel of, okay, I'm in a bad situation, but I think I can wiggle myself out of this.


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[Assistant] Okay, then there's the other times at the quarterback where you just go, oh my gosh, this situation's really bad. And he's so great, he still goes, I think I can wiggle myself out of this. And those are the times I want to go, no, just throw it away. Get the ball out of your hand. Sure.


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[Assistant] You know, just take the sack right there and let's play second and 14 instead of second and 22 because you broke the tackle and went back a few more yards and things like that. Things like that. Or, oh man.


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[Assistant] The Blitz came, our offensive line messed up how we were supposed to protect it. Nowhere is a place you could throw the ball away and that could cause an intentional grounding and just have it be an incomplete pass. Those are the things I look at the Sean Watson for like the next level of play, the little nuances.


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[Assistant] All three radio hosts of Arban, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, uhm, Uhm, Uhm, Uhm, Uhm, Uhm, Uhm, Uhm, Uhm, Uhm, Uhm, Uhm, Uhm, Uhm, Uhm, Uhm, Uhm, Uhm, Uhm, Uhm, Uhm, Uhm, Uhm, Uhm, Uhm, Uhm, Uhm, Uhm, Uhm, Uhm, Uhm, Uhm, Uhm, Uhm, Uhm, Uhm, Uhm, Uhm, Uhm,


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[Assistant] I mean, it really was. And the other thing we have to take into account with Deshaun Watson, okay, you know, besides the magic he is capable of making with scrambling and extending plays.


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[Assistant] Their run game is pretty good there in, in, in Houston.


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[Assistant] It's very good because of Deshaun Watson. And again, that's not gonna go on the statistical, you know, book or anything like that. But hey, a team plays the Houston Texans and they go, oh, they love to pull that left guard.


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[Assistant] And run the ball between the right guard and right tackle with Lamar Miller. Ooh, I'd really like to shift our linebackers over there. Oh, okay, that's good. Oh, shit, we can't do that. Because if he keeps it on a read option and they design a run play out the back door, we're screwed. And that, of course, makes, again, like the Cam Newton theory,


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[Assistant] It makes defenses do things they don't want to do. But Watson, his arm...


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[Assistant] His, he does take care of the football, you know, his ability to be precise on short routes, deep routes, whatever it may be. All around. All around, special, yes. And I think that with the offensive line hopefully getting better there, you know, I do think they need more offense there. That's the New England scheme they run there, right?


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[Assistant] But anybody that's ever listened to me and back to my Bleacher Report pod and all that, it's New England, like, kindergarten version.


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[Assistant] It really is. It's like they took the first week of New England's installation of training camp and just said no.


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[Assistant] We're good. That's all we need right there. And because Billy O'Brien is a little bit more old school, I want to run the ball. We're just going to be tough and physical and do that, where he didn't take every trick of the world that Josh McDaniels and Bill Belichick have and everything. But they do need to do more. If they want to get the most out of Watson and their team,


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[Assistant] I do think they need to help Deshaun Watson out with more easy plays, slam dunk completions that can't always be, gosh, just Deshaun make


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[Assistant] Make it happen or, you know, oh, everybody knows we're throwing DeAndre Hopkins. Just stand in there and make an amazing throw, even though everybody knows you're throwing.


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[Assistant] I do. I think Deshaun Watson on a given year, right? I mean, again, you know, things gotta fall the right way and hopefully they can have a Will Fuller that stays healthy for a complete season or find that really good number two receiver and have an OLI around him.


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[Assistant] That yeaah, this could be a guy that he has a phenomenal year and Patrick Mahomes has a less than year where, I mean, what I said here and be shocked if I could hear last, next year going, no, Deshaun Watson's, you know, the best quarterback in football right now or the second best quarterback. No, I don't think that's far-fetched. I think he's that type of talent.


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[Assistant] I mean, we've seen it enough now, whether it's Clemson, whether the way he jumped into the league and took over games right off the bat.


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[Assistant] Alright, here's the first thing. Just with some relevant news, right? Anybody out there see social media this weekend, right? Cam Newton. Cam Newton gets stuck in France. Apparently he was late for


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[Assistant] Perfect, because this is something that came up a little bit last week with Dad in general anyways, because we were talking about cash carriers, right? And so when I saw this, I was like, oh, this is a good convo for Dad. I mean, yes, $1,500 is a little excessive. I don't know of Big Phil, you walked around with $1,500 in your prime.


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[Assistant] It is a very, I don't know dad, why is it popular in the NFL? I think certain players do carry around more cash than maybe the normal, you know, Joe and Johnny on the street.


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[Assistant] You are still a cash carrier. But, but, dad brought this up too when this first came out over the weekend where I thought it was really funny where he talked about


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[Assistant] Uh, how come it is that when people are sitting at their gate and they go, we have a $200 voucher for you and you'll get points. And people are like, oh, I'll take that deal. And you see people go up and do that. But here's a guy who's sitting in the seat.


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[Assistant] I'm in extra leg room, 10 hour flight, 1500 wasn't going to get me to move the seat, I know that.


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[Assistant] You know, some guys got stuck not in anything to do with what they're doing with bad teams, bad support system. But that doesn't mean they're not playing their position still at a high, high level and making the most out of maybe the crap that they're given on a given game by game basis. And I think that's what sometimes people forget in the conversation.


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[Assistant] Alright, so here. I'll beat him back down throughout the rest of the party. Alright, good. Yeaah, good job, thank you. Uhm, alright, this is one, just a good football conversation. I had somebody in the NBC lunchroom ask me this the other day. It's one of the workers here, great guy, always wants to come up to me and talk football, but he asks a question pertaining to you.


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[Assistant] He asked me, he goes, who's the best team your dad played against? I think I know the answer. I know we've I've heard you tell people this a little bit.


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[Assistant] But I just thought, ooh, that's kind of a good end of the June, uh, you know, end of June conversation. And so I'll start there. Who, when I talk about, so I, you know, looking at your career dad, you played the Super Bowl winner from 84 to 93.


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[Assistant] Uh, and in some of those years, you played both the winner and the loser of the Super Bowl. You know, of course there were 81, 82 Redskins. I know you played against them. I don't think you played the 83 Raiders that year. I didn't even look. And I don't think you played the 81 Niners or the 80 Oakland Raiders, but other than.


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[Assistant] Almost, it seems like almost every year, right? I get you. But so, starting there, I really am interested who is the best team you played against in your 15 year career.


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[Assistant] I know, you're right. Every time I think of a game, it was a big loss, but you're right. I mean, they had Munchak, Bruce Matthews on the offensive line. You know, the defensive line was stacked. The secondary was good. Uh, I mean, they were always fun to me watching them, you know, when I was growing up, but you think they were that, they were a Super Bowl caliber team in your mind?


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[Assistant] Now, do you think that, that defense, that Eagles defense you're talking about, late 80s, early 90s, is that as good as the Bears' 85 defense, I mean, when talent-wise?


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[Assistant] Well, nobody talks about the defenses of some of those 49ers teams and how good they were. The offense gets all the headlines.


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[Assistant] Alright, so I know you got to go. I want to ask you about one more team there. Just because, I mean, since we're talking about every Super Bowl team of that era, the team that gets forgotten about and, you know, won three Super Bowls in a, you know, what is it, a 10 year span, they're Washington Redskins.


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[Assistant] You know, where do those teams rank to you all the time? Or you know, where, how did you view them? When you look back in the history now, where do you, you know, what do you look at where you go, oh, they were amazing at this or, or whatever else, what jumps out to you?


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[Assistant] I think a lot of those guys, because they came from nothing, they're very generous. I mean, sometimes too generous. You know, my dad has a saying, and I should have said this to him.


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[Assistant] You know, he doesn't tip, he over tips. You know, I think he's very wary of the fact that he came from nothing and, you know, the farms of Kentucky and then his parents started to work at a factory, a Ford factory there and all those things to where, you know, he tries to give back. And I think the majority of NFL football players are like that. I never heard the, uh,


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[Assistant] Stealing of the signals of the Eagles thing, though. That was really interesting. That was interesting. You hear that happen to my college team, Texas, one year. You left a playbook. They, Oklahoma, left a fake first ten plays on our sidelines. It was fake.


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[Assistant] Oh, well, they call it blue. And then you can really, you can coach yourself as long as it's not too much stuff all at once. If there was six, seven calls there, I could believe even somebody as unintelligent as my father can figure out those.


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[Assistant] Good luck, Captain Andrew, as they say, right? 39 touchdown passes this year, second in the NFL, only to a guy like Patrick Mahomes. Andrew Luck's season, uh, was off the charts. Again, you know what it shows you too.


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[Assistant] But when you start to give a support system around him, Andrew Luck, we talked about it a few minutes ago, a guy who's, oh, he gets injured a lot, right? He's, oh, he gets the injury. Ben Roethlisberger?


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[Assistant] Well, and like I talked about with Aaron Rodgers, why is that? Andrew Luck, the first few years of his career, if he didn't just stand there and just wait for people to kill him, to throw the bomb, or make the place happen themselves,


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[Assistant] Then the Colts weren't going to win the game. So he had to play a dangerous style of football. But what we saw last year is a guy that, ooh, now he's got one of the best offensive lines in football. And I saw him avoid some of those car crash hits that got him hurt early on in his career because he realizes


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[Assistant] Gosh, I actually have a support system here. I don't have to win the game with every time I drop back to class and do all that. Andrew Luck.


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[Assistant] One of the best deep ball football throwers in the NFL. Extremely smart, okay? You talk about a pure pocket passer. Yeaah, he's a pure pocket passer. But don't forget,


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[Assistant] Yeah, at 240 pounds, he's like, he ran four, five, nine coming out in the combine, right? He can go.


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[Assistant] And we saw that a number of times last year where he tucks the ball away, okay, and can, can rip off a 10, 15 yard gain and do that and stress your defense out. I mean, accuracy, timing is all top notch. Now this is a guy that's, the arm is not like a big time arm. I'm not, you know, he's not, his arm isn't like,


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[Assistant] He's not throwing like, at least for, for me and what I've seen through my life, like lasers all over. I'm not like, woo, man, that thing was like vapor trails. I could barely see it on the TV, right? Like sometimes you see my homes, you're like, that just looked like a brown blur that went across the screen.


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[Assistant] And no, that's not the way he is, okay? Uh, I do think that at some point, uh, Ahmet is, he's gonna have to correct his motion a little bit. I don't think it's gonna last the test of time. And I don't necessarily think it's always conducive to bad weather. Something I talked about a little bit in the AFC divisional playoff game against his Kansas City Chiefs. I'm sitting there watching.


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[Assistant] You know, Andrew Luck throwing the snow and wind, and you know, the ball was getting the best of it a little, I mean, the wind was getting the best of the ball on some of the throws. I went down and watched Patrick Mahomes, and it was like, shoo!


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[Assistant] And I was like, holy cow, okay, the elements are not affecting Patrick Wilhelms, but that is something that worries me. I don't even know why I went off on that, but just a big broad picture. That's what worries me about Andrew Luck. But overall, I mean,


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[Assistant] You know, the plays he's, he makes, you know, the clutchness that he brings to the table on a week to week basis. They started out 0-4, they went 1-5. Once they kind of got their feet underneath them as far as Andrew being totally healthy, getting the grasp of the new Frank Reich system, the defense started to play better. Man, they took off.


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[Assistant] I think, you know, when I look at him, decision maker, accuracy, you know, aggressive nature to throw the ball down the field, you know, one of the best


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[Assistant] In the pocket in the NFL as far as not only just hanging in there waiting for that guy to come open, that's gonna be a game changing type play, uh, but just never being affected even though when he knows the ball's gotta come out of his hands.


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[Assistant] He's unaffected by the pass rush. So tough that way. And yeah, I think he's a special, special player that is definitely deserving to be in this top five quarterback.


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[Assistant] They're, they're kind of like, uh, can't miss TV. I mean, you know, I don't know. Andrew Luck at home at Lucas Oil Stadium, I don't care what the game is or what the score is. Yeah, they're down by 21 points in the fourth quarter. I'm always like, well, it's only a matter of time before Andrew Luck brings them back and we're going to have a fun finish.


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[Assistant] I mean, they did the right thing, as far as...


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[Assistant] Keep, once he had the injury, they kept him out of everything. These calf injuries are a pain in the butt. They are the type of thing that if you don't let them heal completely, they will continue to, you know, happen again and again and again as the year goes on. So, we, we don't need to see, you know,


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[Assistant] Andrew Luck throw passes in June. I'm pretty sure he'll be okay once August comes around and the regular season starts rolling.


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[Assistant] I was, I was definitely scared. I mean, especially with, you know, you started to hear the stories about the surgery and the guy, you know, there was so many things along the lines, let alone then he starts to throw a high school football and you're going, game, we're going to the training camp. He hasn't even thrown NFL football yet. So yes.


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[Assistant] You know, I did, I tried to remind people, hey, let's not forget that before the injury, this guy was right there in the top five quarterback in football conversation. You know, and yeah, I had to see it to believe it. And early on in the year,


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[Assistant] You know, there was some good, but I was like, ooh, I don't know if he's totally back. But as the year went along, I just saw more and more of the Andrew Luck that I know and remember.


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[Assistant] Uh, they ran the ball a little bit better than they have in years past, but again, I don't think it was anything special. Let me just make sure. I mean, 39 touchdowns through the ball quite a bit, right? The 20th ranked rush offense in football too. I mean, so.


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[Assistant] You know, it's not like the run game was there to help them all the time. Not that that's a determining factor either way, but I think either way we know that games start and end with the Colts with Andrew Luck's ability to provide for that team and the way teams game plan for the Indianapolis Colts is all around Andrew Luck and what he does as well.


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[Assistant] He set the bar, I think, to where, you know, why we look at guys like Dwayne Haskins a little bit and go...


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[Assistant] You know, oh, they're not ready. They're immature. Yeah. And a little bit to me is because of Andrew Luck. He came into the league and he was like, okay, he's 22 going on 42 and he's so mature and he's ready to handle the offense and all of that. And yeah, he's wise beyond his years. And really you talk about a guy that


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[Assistant] I think they've helped them out with, you know, getting a guy like Devin Funches in the building, right? Their receiving core is solid, but I have, and we're not sitting here going, oh, this is one of the best receiving cores in football, but yet we consistently, the last 10 weeks of the season went,


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[Assistant] Oh, this is one of the best passing games in football. And that's because of Andrew Luck and the things he can bring to the table and his talents that way. And I, you know, this is a team that, you know, watch out for this year. The AFC South is so damn good. Uh, but the Colts are certainly a team that looks like they're on the rise.


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[Assistant] Gosh, I mean, one man ban. I mean, you talk about a team or a guy that is responsible for more of the production on their football team than any other quarterback in the sport. I mean, that's where Russell Wilson's amazing. I mean,


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[Assistant] You know, whenever they need a big play, it's almost always predicated on Russell Wilson making it happen, whether it's scrambling, a designed run, big time passes, you know, he's just a special, special talent, right? I mean,


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[Assistant] Gosh, he's got a kind of a unique way in which way he throws the football. Uh, but Russell Wilson,


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[Assistant] You know, okay, maybe not as surgical as other quarterbacks as far as like what they do in their offense and everything like that. It's not always like, oh gosh, look at this. It's a 10 play drive and he's seven completions in a row. No, they don't play that style of football. It's man.


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[Assistant] That's all good. Typical mass hole right there. Uh, but, but either way, I think, yeaah, you know, with what they do with Russell Wilson, okay, and the big time plays, uh,


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[Assistant] Yes, what I was getting to is the precision part of like his game, the surgical part. No, they don't, they're not that way. You know, again, we got to put yourselves into like what Russell Wilson's asked to do. You know, it's, it's always like, oh, we're going to run the ball. He plays for a defensive head coach who doesn't want to open things up and do things like that. He kind of wants to play the game close to the vest.


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[Assistant] Uh, and I'm not making an excuse for them either way, but I think that's the reason sometimes there's some ugliness to their offense in general. But man, clutch moments.


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[Assistant] When there's nothing there to be delivered in the pass game, which is a lot up in Seattle, okay? I mean,


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[Assistant] Daryl Bevel is not famous for his past game schematics. Neither is Brian Schottenheimer. Gave him a good run game, but... Right, right. Gave him a good run game. Exactly right.


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[Assistant] You know, in the pass game, I'm not sitting here going, oh gosh, wow, those are a lot of easy completions. No, a lot of it is, is Russell Wilson making unbelievable throws or extending plays and making unbelievable throws that way. And listen, if I had to talk about a negative with Russell Wilson, do I think


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[Assistant] There's a few plays every game where I go, ooh, that guy like 15 yards over the middle. And of course, maybe some of it is because of his size. And I'm being assured I go, ooh, he's open. Like he should have hit him there. But at the same time,


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[Assistant] You know, you gotta remember the culture in which he was brought up in, which was, take care of the ball, we got a great defense, we're gonna run the football. He plays it safe, really, through three quarters. He's really the kind of quarterback who doesn't really push the envelope until he has to.


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[Assistant] And then when he has to, we all go, man, look at this guy. You know, whether it's, you know, Super Bowl drives, game winning drives, whatever it may be, I feel like Russell Wilson always answers the bell when they need him to.


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[Assistant] Right, well here's another guy who, you know, up until last year has been behind one of the worst offensive lines in football the last two or three years. It's been Strugglesville, and he's been under duress. So I think last year, one, they wanted to get back to kind of their old school way of like, let's be maybe excessive with the run game, right?


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[Assistant] Two, I think early on in the year, they weren't sure how good the O-line was too. So they're, yeah, they're kind of trying to protect Russell Wilson here by going like,


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[Assistant] We can't ask him to drop back 35 and 40 times a game. He's going to get killed, you know, and they're improving that offensive line. It looks like everything is going in the right direction there. But yeah, they, they played a game last year where, you know, you've heard me say can be tough at times on a quarterback because it's run, it's run, it's run. And then it's okay. You know, you're in trouble.


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[Assistant] Make a big pass, that's, you know, that's not always easy. And you know, to add to that too, you know, some good talent around him in the pass game.


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[Assistant] But I don't think anybody's going against the Seattle Seahawks going, oh my gosh, we have to double this guy right here.


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[Assistant] Or we can't win. Or they're tied in. Like, no, nobody knows they're tied in. Okay? And we know Tyler Lockett. And we knew Doug Baldwin, who was really, really good for years and years. But even last year, he was injured. He wasn't himself. But it didn't matter. And it was just, oh, hey, Russell, make plays.


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[Assistant] So I think Russell Wilson is, yeaah, it's a little all over the place in the NFL. I mean, hey, again, we're evaluating for what they do on the field. I gotta remind everybody that. But yeaah, are there players and teammates in him that think he's an absolute dork and a nerd and a square?


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[Assistant] Without a doubt. And I think there's also teammates that think he's a total fake.


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[Assistant] I don't know that. All I can say is the guy's been stand up, role model, pretty perfect. I don't have the personal interactions with him that way.


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[Assistant] Right. Well, I mean, hey, the one thing I'll look at Russell Wilson, the thing that always like, you know, and again, yes, you look at the things we talk about here, gosh, I mean, he's never at any point been in an offensive system that I even remotely go, oh, this is,


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[Assistant] Top 5 in the NFL. Top 10 in the NFL. I mean, it's been as basic as it can get. And yet, you know, touchdowns, big plays, quarterback rating, all of those are always towards the top.


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[Assistant] Oh, he's towards the top of the list and you know, winning football games too. It's right up there. I mean, since Russell Wilson has been there in Seattle, they win football games and I think it's only going to continue this year. And I, cause I, I do think Seattle.


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[Assistant] First of all, he's in the prime of his career, and I think Seattle has turned over to their team to say, ooh, they can make a little mini run here and be certainly a playoff team year after year after year again.


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[Assistant] No, this one's not switched. I didn't make any changes. I have, and you know, you heard me say this, I didn't make one change to my top 10. Now other ones, my 10 I always felt like was the easiest, easiest part. I knew I was gonna take some criticism.


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[Assistant] Alright, peace out everybody, hope you enjoyed. Please, continue the comments. Hate, whatever, good discussions, I welcome it.


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[Assistant] I know I'm, I know I'm not the god of quarterbacks, okay? Uh, but I'm always into the discussion and hopefully explaining myself. So, uh, peace out, you the man. We'll talk soon. You know where to find me. If you want to watch, youtube.com slash NBC Sports.


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[Assistant] We're right into it. Yeah, let's go. Training camps are underway and we're gonna start with the people who haven't showed up. Wait, you look cool today, first off. I'm trying. You're like- Is it, is it, does it show? No, you're like- I'm putting in a lot of effort.


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[Assistant] Even though, clearly I put a lot of thought, yeaah. Well, you know, we go on the road and they basically put suits together for us and there's no thought process. They're like, listen, we don't want you to have to do anything. Just, here's what you wear, they'll slap some makeup on you and just go out there and talk about sports.


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[Assistant] Uh, let's start with people who, you showed up, which was nice, you're back. Let's talk about people who have not showed up, uh, training camp holdouts, and we'll start right at the top because, uh, Ezekiel Elliott's still holding out, uh,


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[Assistant] They say it's going to be an NFL like training camp situation. I hope so.


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[Assistant] I guess if you just basically look at the Pats example, that's essentially...


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[Assistant] Get figured out. Well then, let's move on to one that maybe is a little bit murkier with Melvin Gordon. Woah, like murky, right. So, this is a team again. Build to win right now.


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[Assistant] You know, there are plenty of parts. Receivers. Yeah. Uh, plenty of talent. Exactly. I think that's where you go. Right. So if I'm Melvin Gordon, that's my angle. That's my leverage where it's you're built to win right now.


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[Assistant] The difference is, like, this is what we're talking about, because there's no games to talk about. So the minute, like, you say anything, this is a story because we can run with it, we can talk about it, we can take every word and split it apart.