New England Patriots release Cam Newton; Mac Jones to start at QB
Sign up for our mailing list so you never miss an episode or special bonus surprises!
In this episode, we react to the New England Patriots' surprise cut of presumed starting quarterback, Cam Newton, and the ascension of rookie Mac Jones to the starting quarterback role. We'll discuss where Cam Newton's next destination might be, and what the expectations for Jones are moving forward as the starter.
We'll also discuss which teams we believe will be the biggest risers and fallers in the 2021 NFL season, and which head coach we think will be fired first
Hosts: Joe Malkin, Bob Kelly
Producer: Craig D'Alessandro
Tweet your questions to @MTPshow with hashtag #askMTP, email us at Craig@MTPshow.com, or leave us a voicemail on our website to be featured on the show!
Visit Missing the Point’s website
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
TikTok
BOXO CRAFTS HOLIDAY BOX
Save 15% on your first order with the promo code: MTP
Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/MTPshow)
On this episode, we give a reaction to Cam Newton being cut by the New England Patriots rookie Mac Jones being named the starter and which teams will have the biggest rises and the biggest balls from the 2021 NFL season. This is missing the point, Episode 84. But it's all relative.
Joe Malkin:Welcome to missing the point. My name is Joe Malkin. I'm joined by the real became Bob Kelly. And of course our executive producer Craig D'Alessandro a nice, interesting pre show talk there tonight. A little bit of everything, a little baseball, a little high school football, a little NFL a little virus talk. But what we're really here to talk about tonight, we came in not knowing what we were going to talk about until about 12 hours ago, we had no idea what we were going to be talking about. And now we do the New England Patriots have cut Cam Newton. And that makes a Mac Jones or as I like to call him by his full name. Michael McCorkle Jones is the starting quarterback for the New England Patriots and Bobby not being a Patriots fan. You and I were on the same page with this one. And that's kind of rare for us in in the sports world, especially in the football world, especially in the football world, though I agree with you more on Dallas Cowboy things and then you think I do, but yeah. So you know, this is like one of those things I you know, it's not the level of I'll always remember where I was when I heard this news. But I do remember where I was this morning when I heard this news. And it was wonderful news and I in a meeting and then my phone blew up. And one of the first things I saw was Mr. Mark Angelo saying, You were right. I was wrong. Because Mike was a big proponent of cam and number one first. Yeah, right. And, yeah, it is in writing as well. So, you know, it wasn't even about being right or wrong. It was it was such an interesting situation. I mean, I don't think Bobby we've seen a story like this in the NFL in a long time, not of this fashion. Anyway, we haven't, you know, we have quarterback controversies. They have a quarterback controversy still in San Francisco, you know, there was there wasn't really a quarterback controversy in Jacksonville that was kind of settled when Gardner Minshew was traded to Philadelphia. Denver, Teddy Bridgewater, rightfully won the job over drew Locke, although drew Locke is not a bad NFL quarterback.
Rob Kelly:I'd say the last time or so Camden's close to a Hall of Fame quarterback right? Close. He's MVP he's on that border warmer Walter Payton man Yeah, he's done that border while he's there. He's gonna be talked about at least the last time two guys of this magnitude like a first round pick and a Hall of Famers were in a battle like that was probably Aaron Rodgers by far right. I think so. That would be like the last The only other one I can think of is like with that magnitude, bro. I just never understood why this was even like saying, you know what I mean? Like, listen, everyone can say what you want, okay, me look right this year, whatever. Here's he's not the same quarterback he ever was. And when you see Mac Jones play, go, just go watch highlights of this dude. I know that. Yeah, Alabama was amazing. But he's a quarterback, man, he can make some roads. And I guarantee all patriots fans out there as an outsider. By week two, there's going to be at least four to five plays, where you're going to get a throw, that you just had no prayer of getting with Cam Newton. And you're going to notice it and you're going to be like, Oh, all right.
Joe Malkin:What I worry about most with that Bobby is though is that he's gonna throw a bad pic or he's gonna miss a read or he's gonna he's gonna do something that a rookie in the NFL is going to do but and I'm not saying the leash on him is short. The leash on fans in New England is short. And that's Mac Jones has an uphill battle to fight in this town. Whether people realize it or not. I know right now everybody thinks he's you know, the golden boy. He's the guy taken over for cam after that bridge between him and Tom. Tom was great. He's going to be the next time he's not going to be the next Tom Brady. He's the closest thing right now we're gonna get to Tom Brady because we know that Jared Stidham is not that who is now injured but I fear for that. Bobby that because rewinding a little bit, I agree with you that it was clear from the beginning. Who the starting quarterback was I think a lot of people were on the cam train because cam was is the 32 year old veteran former MVP former Walter Payton Man of the Year former Super Bowl he lost but former Super Bowl quarterback Cam Newton
Rob Kelly:should have dove on that fumble, bro. Yeah, I know.
Joe Malkin:And then oh, well, he should have done it last year to win a patriots uniform. So against buffalo. I mean there ain't me if he dives on that ball. But nonetheless, you're not wrong, right? Like, I can see if Matt Jones wasn't here. And it was Cam Newton. Jared Stidham and Brian Hoyer which we'll get to that in a minute to then it's absolutely Cam Newton but you said it like when you watch Mac throw the ball and granted he had two of the best receivers in college football last year he makes throws in a hell of a conference. I mean, the SEC is like the triple A of the NFL.
Rob Kelly:Well even even beyond that I go back I said it and I go back to the story made two weeks ago to Jacoby Meyers in that practice, man that was that was a dime double coverage and you squeeze it in there Jacoby caught a touchdown. I think that was even like the entire practice squad game wasn't it? It was against giants,
Joe Malkin:I think I think it was it was like sweeping cameras out.
Rob Kelly:But like bro, that was the same day you're bright. So to me, that's where it happened. Because that just throw that like a quarterback make someone that's that that that has has a cannon or something like that can make the throws and got to go back to what you were saying about how like New England fans have held on to this the cam idea and like why people thought he was injured because he was that veteran. And it's that Boston culture and and it's that patriot call surrounding Boston culture is the Patriot culture is because they still think that Cam Newton is going to be that quarterback and they want to win that Super Bowl next year. And it needs to be now Now. Now. Listen, the Patriots now have something that more than half the league would die for because it's a first round quarterback with a good resume core around them with a great defense with one of the best coaches in the history of the week. I got you on a veteran. Listen, it's time it's time to put away this boardrooms for next year. Because you could win one in three years. If you play this guy now go nine, but 10 seven, this year nine and eight, whatever the fuck it is. And then you just develop them behind the best coach ever. It was just no brainer to me why you wouldn't start this right now. Why would you delay this another year, and still probably go nine and eight with Cam Newton when you could probably do that with Mac Jones. And you're now the next year might be one of the Super Bowl favorites. Or like close to it. Right.
Joe Malkin:I feel like a lot of people would have felt held hostage if as fans if cam was kept around here. Yeah. You know, it's so interesting because the camps on Cam Newton are so split. I know so many people that don't like them. I know so many people that still I love his personality.
Rob Kelly:I love it. Yeah, I love that shirt.
Joe Malkin:It's great. He's a little he's a little extra. He dresses a little differently. But he is a Walter Payton Man of the Year Award winner.
Rob Kelly:As I said Brett is a great guy, great guy
Joe Malkin:off the field. He has never been accused of or caught doing anything he shouldn't be doing. He's allegedly a great family man and a good husband. The only thing you can look back on in his career off the field or prior to his NFL career is that he was on that Florida team in oh eight with the pouncy brothers and Aaron Hernandez stole the computer. Yeah, and stole the computer and you know that short? Okay, great. You want to go back to the great.
Rob Kelly:I mean, 18 1919 years old is 19 years old.
Joe Malkin:I mean, and they are still adults, but at some point, you know, I mean jameis Winston stole crab legs from a Publix when he was like a second year quarterback at Tampa.
Rob Kelly:Like were you an adult when you were 19 I fucking wasn't I fuck it wasn't.
Joe Malkin:I was an adult when I was 25 I'm 33 I was an adult when I was 32. So I mean, the you know,
Rob Kelly:I really do wish Cam Newton the best and and I hope he is 32 and I do think he has something left. I just don't think he has something left for this offense at this time because you're right Bobby, like bring bringing the kid start the kid and let them figure it out because this season's gonna be so fun who's not only there's just so many storylines now I mean you're gonna have Mac Jones going toe to toe with Tom Brady on Sunday Night Football and week four and and i just don't so I feel like it's again because good is having done it in so long and I'm jealous of that fact but like this feeling of hope and a first round quarterback and getting to see him go play and it's a special feeling. And like you don't get that that often. And for them to have it now with a kid that looks great man. Like I you guys on the front Hate. I love that jobs. I've always loved Mac Joe's. He's got a cannon, bro. And I think he's perfect for the system pass fans should be pumped man. And you guys, like I just said, I'm the first to be like, Fuck the Patriots. This is the best decision I could have it. If they went into the season with Cam Newton, I would have been talking shit to you guys all year. But now it's a different mindset where it's like, I can't talk shit. Because what's the kid doing? You know what I mean? It's a different. It's a whole different feeling than I got. We're gonna play Cam Newton, we're still gonna fucking win fucking guys. Now it's like, Alright, let's go to the future. You know, it's just a different, it's a different mindset.
Joe Malkin:And well, no, but you're right, because and the thing is, too is I look at this team. And you mentioned earlier, you know, it kind of off the cuff. But I know our listeners will notice that is that you said you know you can kiss the Superbowl hopes goodbye this year. Well, you know, that's where a lot of people are gonna say, well, Tom Brady did it in his first year. And nobody expected that Drew Bledsoe went down and everybody was like, well, there goes that season. No, they, they have a better chance to share to win the Super Bowl. Right? Well, then they brought in those white doughy kid from Michigan, and didn't know what you were going to get out of them. So you know, it's awesome point though, is like it's been 20 years since we've had that rush of what is coming next. What is what's going to happen against Miami in in 12 days. What's gonna happen against Tampa in a week for what's going to happen against Dallas in week six, like what's gonna happen, man, like, it's so cool to have that feeling because last year it was so coming from a fan perspective. It was so frustrating weekend and we got watching Cam Newton. And again. I don't think he's a bad NFL quarterback. I just don't think what Ron Rivera and now we're going way back what Ron Rivera had with Cam Newton and Carolina was exactly what Cam Newton needed for his career. It was like Tony Dungy and Peyton Manning in Indianapolis. It was like, you know, Tom Brady and Belichick. It just it worked. It worked. And whatever it was, they made it happen because they simplified it and allow them to run the offense and I think
Rob Kelly:left which Jacksonville? Yeah,
Joe Malkin:I think Mac is just a better quarterback IQ. Then cam cam has a better athlete, and Mac has the better football IQ and that's okay. But that's what the Patriots need. We've seen him. We've seen it so many times where you and I were talking about on the discord today, where we talked about Belichick and the Patriots trading away sixth and seventh round picks for these guys that come in and are impactful. drafting Julian Edelman in the seventh round, impactful drafting Tom Brady who Yes, I understand. won a ballgame. I understand he was big in college, especially senior still drafted compensatory pick six route 190/9. Overall,
Rob Kelly:he'd be he'd be he'd be, he'd be first round pick nowadays, right? regardless of whatever, even just based off that bowl game alone,
Joe Malkin:unless he was playing for Michigan for john, for Jim Harbaugh, because he stinks. But besides that, you know, it just I look at the Patriots roster. And you're right. And what's funny is we always talk about how the Patriots get rid of guys like a year or two before they're ready to go. Or before their careers are over. But then they go somewhere else in flame out. And my theory was when we were talking about earlier today, which I didn't type because I'm saving it for right now. Was I think Belichick knows what he's gonna get out of these guys based on their football IQ, and they're not the best football players. But they're good system guys. schemers. Now granted, Tom Brady doesn't fit into that because Tom Brady took everything he figured out in 20 years and went down to Tampa and won a Super Bowl. But yeah, I'm ready, man. I think this was the right decision. And then to elaborate on this, not only did they cut Cam Newton, but shortly after that. Well, a few hours after that, they cut Brian Hoyer. So right now Matt Jones is the only active quarterback in the New England Patriots roster.
Rob Kelly:They're bringing her back though right now bringing her back here. We'll
Joe Malkin:be back tomorrow. They're just going to cut them restructure.
Rob Kelly:They've done this to him multiple times. haven't done it just a couple years ago when they cut him signed him again.
Joe Malkin:Yeah, they did it to Nate Ebner. They've done it to to Brian Hoyer. They've done it to Brandon Bolden. They've done it everywhere. I just find this situation. Today was NFL cut down day August 31 4pm. Eastern Standard Time was cut down day for all 32 NFL teams and some NFL teams still don't have their final roster and that's fine. They just had to be down to 53 by four o'clock and then they couldn't submit the Patriots didn't submit their 53 man roster until about seven o'clock eastern standard time. So you know with Mac being the starting quarterback Cam Newton Gone. Bobby just Cam Newton catch on somewhere else. And if he does Where?
Rob Kelly:by Jeff asked me that,
Joe Malkin:because I'm because I have a theory.
Rob Kelly:early reports are that if he's interested or if anyone's interested him, it's two teams. It's his old team, the Panthers is taken him, or my Dallas Cowboys as a backup, which I'll say earlier, Mike was like, Oh, well, you already spinning it. You'll take care. But was it camp socks? I don't like him. I don't think he's the starting quarterback in this league anymore. I don't think he makes the throws. I don't think he did this. But I can tell you one thing. I do. 100% No, one fact. And that is that he is better than Cooper rush. And that is his backup quarterback. So the Cowboys right out. So I would take it, let's say even if he just comes in and scores 17 points, 20 points again, better than I think Cooper rush is going to be because I just think He's the worst quarterback I've seen as our backup ever.
Joe Malkin:Well, something's got to happen to Dak. And we obviously no one wants to have an attack. But would you rather have your and now we don't know really what's going on in Chicago yet either. But would you rather have Andy Dalton or Cam Newton is your backup quarterback now?
Rob Kelly:There's actually so at least that leads me to something real quick so that I said that to my buddy earlier. I was like, bro, whoever thought that would be a world where I would watch Andy Dalton shit the bad for a half a season. And he was awful for the Cowboys. Yeah, his staff were okay. No, he was fucking terrible. All right. He goes to Chicago and is starting over Justin fields the guy Mike wanted, which I think is fine. And the Pats cut Cam Newton format like I never would have thought that world is happening that Mack Jones guest Cam Newton. But fucking Andy Dalton is starting over fucking Justin fields. My the answer to the question is Kevin, I would rather have Newton because I think he just adds more to that cowboys offense. So what ended Oh, Never did I think he fits more like that Dak mold, which is another point about the Cam Newton biotech thing after but like, that's why I think noon didn't fit into what
Joe Malkin:I was gonna get to the Belichick Newton thing right now because my theory is, you led me right to it when you said two teams are interested in Carolina and Dallas. So last week, the final full week of august Cam Newton was granted a medical visit by the New England Patriots, meaning he can go on and on on a visit to his doctor, whatever. You know, there was speculation It was his first kid his wife. Was it for him? Was he going to get the vaccine when she allegedly was not going to get what was it? Why was he going to Carolina? My theory is Bobby. He was told by the New England Patriots that they were thinking of going with Mac Jones. And Bill has a lot of respect for cam rightfully so. I mean, Cam Newton has kept his head down for the most part, and done his job and and did what he had to do.
Rob Kelly:To be fair, I've never heard bill say he was someone more than he said he loves cam.
Joe Malkin:I know, I know, Ochocinco might have been a close second. But you know, my theory is that he knew he was getting cut, or at least he knew that Mac was going to be the starting quarterback. And Bill offered him the backup job. I think cam declined that. And they let him seek out either a trade or find a team. He can go to post cut down day. He went to Carolina Now granted, he has made a home in Carolina. He has his family is there, his kids are there. So it's very possible he went down for one of their doctor's appointments or something. But I think he went down for a medical visit with the Carolina Panthers. So that when the Patriots did come, he will be signed as the backup of the Carolina Panthers. Because you would rather be a backup for a team that's a half hour away from your home then for a team that's a plane ride away from your home. And he doesn't know that system anymore because it's a matt rule system. But he'd be backing up Sam darnold down there very different offenses and what he would run but why not be home Why not be in a place that you know where your family has grown up? And if you can come in as a backup for Sam Donald if something happens to him then there you are, but you know he's gonna make some pretty good money he's gonna make at least a league minimum.
Rob Kelly:Yeah, and you know, it's a different feeling to than getting demoted to backup then going somewhere that bringing you in to be the backup, you know, it's a different you're like, it's the capitalist candidate in the company to be the backup cowboys nation would welcome him with such open arms and I promised that they would love them. He would be on the sideline every Sunday and this star with this dark visor on, you know what I mean? Like they would feed it into that versus getting demoted to backup and rookie beating you up. So I don't disagree with that. I don't disagree with the premise. I don't know if it was like a covert visit to Carolina. It seems really sneaky.
Joe Malkin:Why don't we was sneaky I don't think it was Colbert. I think it was
Rob Kelly:will be covered from the league. The league wouldn't be able to know about it.
Joe Malkin:Well, no, but for the Patriots to say hey, yeah, you can go on this. Like, yeah, maybe it's tampering? Who knows? So maybe I'm just talking out of my ass but I mean, if there's an agreement between the two teams like maybe they were quote unquote Bobby working out a trade so he was going down for a medic to work out some contracts language or something
Rob Kelly:or Yeah,
Joe Malkin:yeah, sure.
Rob Kelly:Have you signed if he signs with Carolina? I'll completely give you this. I'll be I brought Yeah, you're right. Full Circle real quick, real quick. So Brian, or by the way is that best backup quarterback possible to be behind Matt Jones, because he knows that system man. And that's why I think so I think that practice really was what did it and I'm gonna keep going back to that practice that cam was out with the whole issues he was dealing with. And Mac Jones came in and just read it up against the giants. And I think that we'll check started running plays that he used to be able to run when Brady was his quarterback, and Mac Jones was connecting on those fucking plays and I think that will check was like bro I completely forgot what this feels like. And it's amazing so we're gonna go with him now and this is already over like I honestly feel like that practice was it because you're gonna see more Belichick system this year I don't think he was comfortable running that cam system and I really don't i don't think cam was comfortable running his Yeah, it was a weird mash man it didn't work and like I get that they respected each other I get it but listen Chad Ochocino didn't work here either. Like some guys the systems just don't match and it just makes more sense to have Matt Jones as quarterback with Cam Newton is not hitting a 1520 yard seam road down the middle of the field. Mac Jones is and we all know how much go by which I fucking was taking routes so it's a whole different ballgame with not just the quarterback
Joe Malkin:bill so weird. No Bobby, cuz like he. We We both did this in our time, right? Like we dated people that were completely wrong for us. It's what he did. It's like we love the we love this person. Bill is like I love Chad. I love Chad. Chad's great. And I was like, oh, but it's not working out. I love cam cams the best I love cam but it's not working you
Rob Kelly:know? So I have a theory to like so goes right along with that that like I think the cam here was trying to be like a fuck you to Brady being like with a you know what I can do? All right, you think you can leave me for something better? I'm gonna bring in Cam Newton do something completely different and I'll still wanted to. And I cam got there. And he was like wow, I don't know. And now he's getting now he's getting the girlfriend that looks just like Brady again cuz he's like, you know, I actually kind of liked that way better. So I'm just gonna kind of get the same thing and try to do a white kid.
Joe Malkin:It just it just so it's so it's so weird because we everybody harps oddness. This idea that, you know, Cam was brought in to be the, the two middle fingers to Brady from Bill. And you know, it's such a good story because it's it could totally be true. But last year was so weird. I think it's I'm starting to think it was more of just Alright, this is a savvy veteran who's gonna come in, do a job. He's a good quarterback. And we're gonna see where we get with him. And, and go from there. And I think that they did I think they got everything out of them that they could and seven and nine for a Bill Belichick team is rough. But I think that's kind of what he expected. He never seen to be too nervous about it. And it always seemed like a throw it out throw I don't want to say throw away here but it always seemed like it was
Rob Kelly:though so I have to stare you know, I do you know where I think this was a covert throwaway. I think Bill did just enough that people would never say he threw away their shirt. He's like, Nah, bro. I didn't start I tried. I tried Cam Newton. I made a couple of trades. I did some things we tried. was and that was not bill Bell with jack trying to win.
Joe Malkin:Yeah, he never brought in wide receivers. He never gave cam anything to work with.
Rob Kelly:He led all his veterans walk as Bill was being bill Dont'a Hightower would have been there last year because I don't I know it's COVID I get it. I know.
Joe Malkin:Well, but eight guys, eight guys opted out. Right. And I think and I thought this from the beginning and I know this is revisionist history and we're never gonna know and it's just speculation and people can rip us for it, whatever. But I do feel like the Patriots had the most guys in the league opt out for a reason. And I think it was bill in New York. Organization saying, Hey, listen, tough time. If you feel as though you need to take a year off, go do it. Here's the stipulations. Here's what you're going to get paid based on your contract based on your years, they had all these stipulations within it, and said, Come back, come back next year when things have slowed down when we can get back to normal. And let's go after it.
Rob Kelly:When we get rid of Cam Newton,
Joe Malkin:why I don't even know if it was that because I still buy into the camp. That bill wasn't sold on Mac.
Rob Kelly:I just don't think he wanted to go three and 13 I think he looked at who he had and was like, if cinnamon harder. Were the two quarterbacks the Patriots, we're going three and 13 for foreign club last year. You know what I mean? There's no doubt about that. Cam Newton was worth about seven wins. You know what I mean? Like he's athletic enough that he's gonna get you some wins.
Joe Malkin:He's still counting for 20 touchdowns. He ran the ball and 12 times he threw a touchdown.
Rob Kelly:He had good games he had those games you're like bro that looks like Cam Newton see at the Seattle Game News until he got stuffed but old camera Got it? Okay, what a guy okay, I'm
Joe Malkin:gonna Got him. It was also a bad play call on
Rob Kelly:last season's I see that's,
Joe Malkin:but yeah, so that's obviously I mean, but now we're here we have Mac Jones is here. There's, you know, there's theories that this was a McDaniels pick that they Cam being cut was a Kraft oversight. You know, it was a bill it was. And that's the thing. I'm really I mean, we can speculate all we want, then we can look at this stuff. And that's what we do. That's why we have a podcast. That's why sports talk radio is a thing, because we speculate and talk about it. And we could be 1,000% wrong on everything, but we're never going to be 100%. Right. And I'm with you, Bobby. I think it was I think it was Bill saw that Mac is the better quarterback right now and that he has a better chance to win. Whether it's have a winning record in the regular season or win in the postseason with Mac Jones than he does with Cam Newton.
Rob Kelly:I think it would be hilarious of any writer out there who wrote that Cam Newton got caught because he wasn't vaccinated to go as Bill Belichick if Cam Newton got cut because he was vaccinated and look at his face when you do it, because he's going to look at you like you are out of your goddamn mind. That is not why he got he got cut because was a way I guess I didn't weed him missing practice is why he ended up getting caught because back Jones came in and he was a baller and bells I brought we don't this isn't happening like we're not doing this anymore. And it's speculate that is not for football reasons when it comes to Bilbao check to me is blasphemous. Except except for Brady, because that was like a breakup for some reason. I've never seen Bilbao which I do anything. Except for football reasons. This guy brought in wide like, stud wide receivers that we thought were gonna be awesome in New England and caught them for days. Like, you know what I mean? Like he doesn't care. Yeah, he doesn't care, man. He he is doing things for the t a n t. That's all good shit about isn't give a shout if you're back saying I'm back or whatever. But he's not Urban Meyer coming out being like, Oh, yeah, of course. No,
Joe Malkin:he doesn't give a shout out to my next my next talking point. Because right before we came on, to record this, it was a there was a report that came out from ESPN and Bleacher Report from Urban Meyer, the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, saying that he the vaccination status of his players played into whether they made the team or not now that it's gonna see this is where it gets taken out of hand, because people go Oh, so he's just cutting the unvaccinated players. No, No, he's not. But if there was two guys at the same position that were the same. He got the one that wasn't vaccinated at risk reward.
Rob Kelly:That's what he's looking at right now. You know, like, you're vaccinated, you're less risky to get COVID where if you are vaccinated, you're less risky to get COVID less risky to miss games less, you know, make sense. It does make sense, but I just I could never see that. And by the way, it does kind of seem like where being right on with Urban Meyer is head coach in Jacksonville because he doesn't seem like he's doing so I think we're spot on about Urban Meyer, but it really seems like already, he doesn't know how to manage NFL personality rec reports that his team doesn't like them. Or you know, it just doesn't seem like it's going well and Jax is already and for him to come out and say that it's like bro houses GM or his owner, his boss. He just didn't need to do that. You know what I mean? Like we're rebuilding team we're doing that we you don't need to come out and say that that's just unnecessary. Don't do that again.
Joe Malkin:But well, here's the other thing that I always say about the media too is that I don't think he just came out and said it. I think he was asked like Did the vaccination status of your players factor into this initiative? Good said, Yes.
Rob Kelly:I want to know the exact question as to how is that worded?
Joe Malkin:Right? Because they do that all the time to build they do that all the time in the media, at every level of you know, alright, so the question was asked, Did this factor into this? Urban Meyer could have answered? Yes. I haven't seen the interview. I heard it. So I don't know. And then they say, Urban Meyer says this. It's like, well, you asked the question, but did you elaborate?
Rob Kelly:I mean, it's like, that's like the Patriots Cam Newton because he's unvaccinated? No, no, that's not what happened. That's not what happened. I'm sorry.
Joe Malkin:You can't be a human being with two eyes that knows anything about football or not. I mean, you can plainly see when something is good or bad when you're watching it. So if you watch it for more than five seconds, and if you watched Mac Mac Jones against Cam Newton, this preseason, you can clearly see that Cam Newton was behind. And that's okay, that's fine. That's fine. That that's the reason. And then, but you know, some people are gonna come out. And you know, one thing I did want to bring up, I brought it up a few minutes ago, was Cam Newton on Twitter this afternoon, and on his Instagram story, put up I really appreciate all the love and support during this time, but I must say dot dot dot, please don't feel sorry for me. exclamation point. exclamation point. Hashtag. I'm good. winky face. One finger, one Pinkie, one thumb. Love. And I'm with him. Because you know what I think that means? I think it means he knew. I think it means he knew that he was gone. And maybe he has a place to go. So
Rob Kelly:I'm going to go right off that too. So So Roscoe belcheck. As a benefit to keeping his decision at quarterback under wraps for the opener, he counted. Paraphrasing, wouldn't it be better for our team to know who's playing Where? So? Yeah, no, they knew this wasn't a you know, I completely agree with that completely.
Joe Malkin:I mean, it's just
Rob Kelly:it. Yeah, when you look at it, of course, he's gonna have that mindset too. Because like, he knows us. He knows he's about to get paid a lot of money to go be a backup somewhere that he's one player away from coming in, and being and that's, I feel like cabinet that's when he could have a resurgence is coming in. It's like a backup type. Because like, he's that kind of guy, but he's gonna feed off those vibes. He's going to be like, yeah, I'm here to say like, that's why I honestly wouldn't mind him in Dallas. Listen, I think he's a trash quarterback right now. Like I said earlier, I think I think he sucks. I just think Cooper rush sucks a lot more like a lot of
Joe Malkin:athletes below average quarterback right now. And that's fine. And that's fine. And in, you know, it's just so funny when you bring up what Bill said and Luke cam said and how he's going to be where he goes, like, before the Patriots signed him to the contract in over the winter. There was small rumblings that he was going to go be reunited with riverboat run in Washington and make $25 million. But they went insane. Ryan Fitzpatrick for like 10. So, and Ryan Fitzpatrick is 37 campuses. 32. So there are a few few years of difference there. But if you also something fun to do in your spare time, is golookup. The Career of Ryan Fitzpatrick so far. This guy is outstanding. He is he's, he's awesome. I mean, he scored he's the second highest score ever on the wonderlic test, which is which you can also take for free if you want to have it. Yeah, he went to have it. That's right. And he parked his car.
Rob Kelly:When he went to fuck a Harvard guy. He fucking used to go down the Dorchester and get a fucking pizza, bro. We got to go get some beers with Ryan fucking Fitzpatrick guy. Come on.
Joe Malkin:We look. I looked at Ryan Fitzpatrick's career the other day. The guy is outstanding. He's in the top 25 in touchdowns. Career touchdowns, career yards, and I think maybe completion percentage. He's close to 61% and career completion percentage. I mean, the guy has had an almost Hall of Fame career. And he's not a Hall of Famer.
Rob Kelly:But it's I have a funny question for you who's better? Ryan Fitzpatrick or Trent Dilfer
Joe Malkin:or Ryan Fitzpatrick?
Rob Kelly:Yeah, better quarterback right
Joe Malkin:and Trent Dilfer has a Super Bowl.
Rob Kelly:Yeah, that's what I mean. So, like, you look at those quarterbacks, so, who's better? Brian Fitzpatrick or Tony Romo? Oh, Tony Romo. Yeah, okay. dk would say Fitzpatrick you know, yeah,
Joe Malkin:he would just don't put Tony Romo on the fuel gold team.
Rob Kelly:Whenever you see you see Jay not to go off on a Romo tangent real quick. Don't bring that up. It was no worse than that last fire from the record that just hidden it, don't give it. bring that in. That's one of the worst memories of my entire life. My buddy literally looked at me right before he goes, What if he misses it? And I looked at it was like, Why did you say that? And then, anyway, so do you see what Jerry said about Roma? He's like, Rome was a first ballot Hall of Famer. Jerry I loved all right. I think he was an amazing quarterback. I still to this day believe Tony Romo ended up in New England, Tony Romo might have three or four Super Bowls.
Joe Malkin:I agree with that. Clooney Romo was more athletic than Tom Brady.
Rob Kelly:Right That's what I mean he would have fit so everything we said that Brady and and Jones said he can make those kind of throws, but he's just he's that more athletes they drew brees, athletic remakes of spins and shit and like
Joe Malkin:Tony Romo's the best comps for Tony Romo in our lifetime would be Drew Bledsoe.
Rob Kelly:He can move more than but sure,
Joe Malkin:but that's where this one comes in. Tony Romo is a combination between Drew Bledsoe and Matt Stafford
Rob Kelly:Okay, I think Stafford more or you think Bledsoe had lead feet Brett Bledsoe has lead feet, man.
Joe Malkin:Hang on. All right. You said that. Stafford is more on do you think Matt Stafford is a better NFL quarterback and Tony Romo?
Rob Kelly:I think it's close. But I think Romo is better. Oh, I
Joe Malkin:thought I was gonna get Ivan Stafford's better. It was really interesting. Had a fantasy draft recently. And we were looking at La ram wide receivers. And I'm like, Man, you got to take these guys. They're gonna have a good year. Stafford and somebody was like Stafford's on his way down? I said yeah, but so is golf. Like who would you rather like there's so there's still more upside the Stafford than there is golf like I'm not taking a Detroit wide receiver which are Gotha
Rob Kelly:people got to think about the mindset more than they do because like I always think that because like when you look at the people are talking about staff are like Oh, he's going Oh, these guys down the game up to my bro going from Detroit and that system to Sean McVeigh in the Rams and that system is going to be like an awakening for Matthew Stafford. He wasn't Matthew Stafford went number one in the draft for a reason. Matthew Stafford is a stud quarterback. He's the same type of guy where he can make those furs and this guy got the lions to the playoffs multiple times the Detroit Lions. I think he's the only he's the only quarterback in lions history with multiple playoff appearances.
Joe Malkin:I'm not sure he might have a good question for our Stacie Craig to look up. But I agree. I like masturbate. It's so interesting when you look at NFL quarterbacks cuz people always paid attention to bring this full circle to kind of where we started. People always pay attention to the really good quarterbacks or the flashy guys, like people know who Cam Newton is people know who Russell Wilson is. People know who Aaron Rodgers is. People love Tom Brady. His people know who Peyton Manning is. People know who these guys are because they're flashy. A guy like Matt Stafford, yeah, we know who he is. But you know, he goes to LA. I think he's gonna be better in LA at 33 years old than he is that he was in Detroit at 32. Because of what you just said, I just, it's an awakening man. I'm excited to watch him play in Southern California. There's so many intriguing stories about the NFL this year. And I think that's what's that's what's so great about it this year, especially after such a dud. I don't want to call Asher dead, but it was a dud.
Rob Kelly:It was a weird year. It was a weird year.
Joe Malkin:I mean, the guys that ended up in the Super Bowl, the teams that ended up in the Super Bowl probably should have those two quarterbacks should have ended up in the Super Bowl. And they did. And this year, I mean, you have Mac Jones, a rookie quarterback starting in New England, you have Matt Stafford starting in LA, Justin Herbert starting in LA, who knows what Houston is going to do. Miami could make a move for dushaan.
Rob Kelly:Now that was debunked today, Flores came out and said it's not happening to his my guy. He said to his my guy,
Joe Malkin:that's a good thing. Because I think two needs that confidence too, especially with everything swirling around in the media. And you know, and I think that was the big thing for Mac Jones and I was talking to someone today. And she mentioned why Cam Newton was cut. And this and I think this was the most plain black and white reason, but it's very intelligent. She said he was cut because you can't go from Mac Jones to Cam Newton. But you can go from Cam Newton to Mac Jones. So if Mac Jones is your guy, Cam has to go. If cams you die, the rocky stays. And it's so simple and it's so simplified, but it's the absolute truth because cam cam is cam does deserve respect. And he tweet he put that on his Instagram a couple days a couple of weeks ago and I think that might have been the point where I knew I didn't know he was going to get cut but that's where the firt the first entered my mind, but I never really thought he was gonna get cut until it happened.
Rob Kelly:made sense though. He said exactly what you said like you can't have cameras your backup when he just lost a job to a rookie and when he thought it was his job. I don't know if he actually ever did because it just seemed crazy. It even brought it back in the first place. I just never saw that comment.
Joe Malkin:I love your comp of this situation. You said it earlier and now I kind of want to dissect it as you just rolled that off is like The best comp to this situation is Farve and Rogers at because five got beat out in that camp and oh five, five is still good.
Rob Kelly:Fargo is still pretty
Joe Malkin:short, short, but the situation is comparable, but not the quarterbacks. It was just that at that time it was Yeah, it was just time to move on. And I mean, I guess it would have been a better comp if it was brainy and Mac Jones. You know what I mean?
Rob Kelly:How about how about Brees was even younger? I'm trying to think of a different comp that I don't think there really is ever one. I mean, we had an MVP quarterback who's over the hill. Could the Patriots commit to rebuilding for next year? Could they commit to the new era? And just move forward and not and just and just go and build was like fuck yeah, we can. And he did it. And it's I think it's a rejoicing for patriots.
Joe Malkin:If it definitely is, for a lot of patriots fans and for all the right reasons, not the wrong reasons you don't want to see cam do not have a job bla bla bla bla bla bla bla, but it's time it's time to get to where we need to be. It's really, it's so when all the when the Patriots made all the signings that they made when they brought in Matthew Jude on when they brought in Kendrick Bourne Nelson Agholor when they started making Hunter Henry, Jonnu smith when they started making these contract offers, and all of these contracts are for four, five years, four to five years. And then they go out and draft a rookie quarterback. If this was backwards, it if they signed if they drafted Mac and then made all these signings like two weeks after that would have been the gift the dead giveaway right there, Max the starter but done right right there because why are you going to sign all these guys to four year contracts and spend all this money when you can go out and get guys?
Craig D'Alessandro:Did you want that thing about the lines?
Rob Kelly:Yeah, yeah. How many? How many? So who, who has the most playoff victories for quarterbacks lions history? Oh,
Craig D'Alessandro:not Matt Stafford. I
Rob Kelly:can tell you that because he didn't have any who was the guy before was a Blanda Is he the quarterback there
Craig D'Alessandro:before? So the last big last playoff victory for the Detroit Lions. We have to go back to 1991. And the quarterback for the lions was only right. I think it was Scott Mitchell.
Unknown:I got I guess cowboys.
Craig D'Alessandro:Eric Kramer,
Rob Kelly:Eric Crowe.
Joe Malkin:Cosmo Kramer.
Rob Kelly:So anyway, so yeah, the four year deals, Bro, I think you couldn't be more on point with that. Because that's the window. I think that will drags out for years. I think that's what he wants to do. He signed everyone to four year deals. He drafted knack. He's like, I'm gonna get this kid to Super Bowl with him for years. And then I'm going to retire it and that's my legacy. And like, I got two quarterbacks to Super Bowl. What's up? It doesn't matter who's better. I did it. Fuck you guys.
Joe Malkin:And then there's the and then there's still the whole Josh is the next guy conversation. And it's like he's not
Rob Kelly:anymore, though. I feel like his flame is so down, man. But maybe it's because it wasn't the right offense. Maybe it wasn't the right offense.
Joe Malkin:Maybe it wasn't the right offense, but maybe the flame is is rising again, because it's his guy. He loves Mac Jones. That was part of the conversation during the draft that you know Belichick does, too. Because Bella check and what's his face down there in Alabama? This is like the third time today that Nick Saban that a name has just escaped me. But belcheck and Saban are boys, so why not? You know, so I think that he wanted them to an extent. I think Josh man wanted a more I think they knew they needed to bring in a quarterback in the first round. So but I think this is more Josh's speed. And I think that that lends itself there's a plan here, there's there is a plan. And I'm not going to be like, Oh, it's an it's a conspiracy theory of some evil plan. And there's a plan. And there's a there's a vision for the future. And I think that cam was not never a part of that future vision. But I think Bill gave him every opportunity to be part of that future. And I just don't think he was able to grasp it.
Rob Kelly:Yeah. And so this kind of leads into where I want to go where we want to go next is I think this puts the Patriots in a completely different mindset this year that they're going to be having a dead end quarterback, I said this guy's a lot last year, having a stop gap at quarterback is such a different mindset than having your guy, your rookie quarterback that you believe in to get behind as your guy. And I think that's going to drive the Patriots to share a lot and I think that my Mike's prediction is going to be spot on. So I want to talk about the risers and followers for this next upcoming year. So we're gonna pick everyone doo, doo, doo teams. Alright, so two teams that we think are going to either win more More than three games then within the last year, and then three teams or two teams that will lose more than three games last year. So the first one I gotta say, Man, so this Matt Jones saying, I think the Patriots man, I really do. I think the past cotenant seven spot on 10 seven this year and they are gonna make the playoffs. I listen, I really believe in max challenge when you guys drafted him. I told you guys that I was like, Listen, Max. Max is a stud. And you guys just got to steal because you did. You got him at 15 or just steal for him. Murray's rumored to go to all fucking week. You guys got about 15 like, it's time Mac Jones era. You guys go to the playoffs this year.
Joe Malkin:100% I'm so happy to have you on the dark side with us. I really am.
Rob Kelly:It feels better. It feels better. Because Listen, you guys not listen. I hate on it. Deep down in my heart. It feels better when you guys are better because he a you're more tolerable when the Patriots are going to
Joe Malkin:say we're less insufferable because we're not bitching and moaning about Oh, Tom Brady wouldn't have done that. But
Rob Kelly:yeah, past 10 seven, it's happening. I really think it's gonna happen.
Joe Malkin:Yeah, my riser is gonna be Dave Chicago Bears for a few reasons. I think they're, I think Alan Robinson The second is an underrated wide receiver. I think David Montgomery is writing about where he should be as a running back. I think Matt naggy might be able might be figuring it out. That Chicago defense is ridiculous. But it's unbelievable. That defense is unbelievable. I think at some point Justin fields will be starting. I think it's silly. I think it's silly for Andy Dalton to even start week one,
Rob Kelly:same thing. What do you do? That quarterback room
Joe Malkin:is weird. The quarterback room is so weird. And I think if anything's going to be the downfall, it's going to be the fact that they have a lot of personality in that locker room. I mean, they have Andy Dalton who has been around forever. They have Nick foles, who's now really been around forever. And they have Justin fields who's a rookie. I mean, they're almost in the same situation as the Patriots were where they should have cut one of those guys, although I think the cut falls I don't think they cut falls. I'm pretty sure they didn't cut it. They did. They did cut falls, right? No, no, that's Nick folk. We're talking about. Alright, we are going to talk about the kicker as we leave but Craig, when producers aren't paying attention now they didn't cut it. They didn't cut Nick. Folks. They have three quarterbacks in that room that are NFL ready. One NFL ready.
Rob Kelly:Yeah, right. That's such a weird dynamic. But
Joe Malkin:there's no way they didn't there's no way that price didn't try and trade. One of those guys, there's no I want that. You wouldn't trade Dalton
Rob Kelly:SDK SDK. We're here to enlighten us on this because there's so we I don't understand it.
Joe Malkin:I think Dalton would be the backup. And they should have done something with falls. Now, from what I understand Nick foles. Has they basically surely these contracts? And I know you both understand that reference. They basically surely these contracts and screwed the bears that like the GM screwed the bear and screwed himself, because they can't get rid of Nick foles contract. It's all dead money. And he he gets to decide where he goes essentially. And who like who needs a quarterback. You know what I mean? Like, teams have stacked themselves up. So why go somewhere, Nick foles has actually had one of the most brilliant careers from a financial standpoint, because he's made teams believe in Him, which is I think he's a good NFL quarterback. I don't think he's a starter. But he's a good I mean, I'd take them over Cam Newton at this point.
Rob Kelly:I would say well, I have a he
Joe Malkin:Yeah, right. Like that would be great. I think that would be a great way for goals and they might have to pay him a little bit but you know, I don't it would definitely be nowhere near deck money. So my riser is the Chicago Bears I think was 17 games. I think they can go 11 and six realistically, I don't think the Vikings or the lions are going to really stop them I can see them getting four wins right there. And they could split with the Packers I think the packers are a good team but there's so much going on there and there's so many moving parts I think they can steal a game at Soldier Field away from Green Bay so so I see them 11 and 610 and seven and absolute Where's 10 and seven would be two wins better than last year but I really like this bears team and I'm not saying that because Dave's here and re and I had them I think we had them going 10 seven in the prediction show and making the playoffs as a wildcard episode in the show notes below. Thanks Craig. But Bobby you're who's gonna stink.
Rob Kelly:So I want to exam the bears real quick. So I completely agree if best case scenario for them as they start out one of the three and Dalton's on the bench and feel just fine. Because then I do think that they can get to do that with a weapon and say 10 and seven range now. It's so weird to say I still can't i can't get used to it. I really can't. So one other one other riser. I gotta say you're on two risers. Yeah two risers two risers I think the other riser is going to be you guys sound terrible and I thought about it for a long time. My Dallas Cowboys man and I mean that from the bottom of my heart, man, I think the boys are going to be much better this year. I think the defense is going to be a different animal.
Joe Malkin:Well there's a new DC right
Rob Kelly:right and new DC does a new mindset was adding Micah Parsons adds I don't know if you guys watched any of his preseason the highlights but he he's fucking unbelievable. Caitlyn kazi is awesome. They added some secondary pieces. And just having Quinn they're, like you said, is such a game changer, man. We went from one of the worst defensive coordinators I've ever seen to maybe one of the best. So
Joe Malkin:Dan Quinn was good in Atlanta as a head coach. And it's so interesting when you look at coaches because there's guys that clearly can't be head coaches like Josh McDaniels very well, it could be one of those guys, that is just a perennial career offensive coordinator. And that's fine. That's what Charlie Weis was Romeo Coronel has taken over some spots but Romeo Coronel is a defensive coordinator. We've seen it a lot in the belcheck tree and Dan Quinn might be just that but I remember when he got signed when he was hired as the DC and I sent you a message and was like this is the best hire this is the best lining the Cowboys are gonna make all year and I believe that over Mike Parsons being drafted. And I'm not saying that because I think Dan Quinn is a better coach than Michael Parsons is a player Michael Parsons is an absolute animal out of ages loves it.
Rob Kelly:He loves the juicy in that hard knocks episode where they're trying to take him out. And it's his first preseason game that he played seven plays. He's on the phone with the coordinator and the coordinator is like, bro, great job. You're done for the night like great debut. Mike is like, Oh, come on. Let me get two more series two more. Two. He didn't even just say one more. He's like, coach, come on, let me get two more series, like, but that means that you just love this shit and have the skills and the love. It's gonna be so
Joe Malkin:he's an animal. And that's what Dan Quinn needs his defense. I mean, those Falcons teams had some pretty good defenses, not the one in the Super Bowl that they lost the Patriots, but they had some good defenses while he was there, but he's a defensive guy. Let him do his thing on the defensive side. I don't think Mike McCarthy is as bad of a head coach.
Rob Kelly:I think Aaron Rodgers gave him the short end of the stick and I think while I agree with Aaron Rodgers on a lot of things, I disagreed with him pushing Mike McCarthy out and I do think that Aaron Rodgers whines too much he handed keys to the city maybe do you think it looks better on McCarthy now given what's happened with Rogers than it did at the beginning of beginning of last year or even at the end of the year before Rogers was lighter knob Rogers is the man he's MVP best quarterback ever. How did McCarthy and then one one Super Bowl blow up since then. Rogers has blown two NFC Championship games or two playoff games. So they both championships Yeah, they were two NFC Championship games and put his team in dismay. Now it's kind of like alright, did Mike McCarthy have a point they look at Rogers and beg bro, you're such an asshole like this ox.
Joe Malkin:Right. And we've seen Rogers alienate previous partners, girlfriends coaches, gmms family, his brother
Rob Kelly:burns bridges. It's what he does. Yeah,
Joe Malkin:I just think he's a weird dude. And that's fine. And, you know, burning bridges, depending on the bridge is okay. But you know, when he got back to Green Bay finally and gotten in front of the microphone and just started calling people out. I don't think what he said was wrong. I don't think what he said was wrong, but I just think it was ill timed. And but yeah, no, I'm with you. I think McCarthy is better for it because of it. I think he got the short end of the stick. I think when he was hired Prior to the season last year, I think he kind of knew it was gonna be a crapshoot with everything going on. I don't think he expected his defense to be as bad. He definitely didn't expect to his star quarterback to go down with a broken ankle. And I don't think he expected his offense to hold the ball like they had just played in a tub of Crisco. But what but that is what happens. And they were still on their way to three and four. And they were still on the way to three and four. But I'm with you all agree with you on the second riser. Because as I look at last year's teams, I just I think everybody is going to be pretty close to what they were I think. I think Dallas I'm winning. I think Dallas is nine and 810 and seven I think they're better than the cap. They're better than the Eagles they're better than the giants. I don't know if they're better than Washington because i think i think Washington's defense especially their front seven will chase you know, is is barbaric and I think with Ryan Fitzpatrick at the helm with a guy like Terry Maclaurin and Antonio Gibson in the backfield. I think it's dangerous. I think that's a dangerous team. And I think it's gonna be the cowboys and Washington. Up top of the NFC East fighting for it.
Rob Kelly:Yeah, I say they're pretty even. I agree with that. I think this is I don't know, Mike sent that thing about the preseason. I think that those two teams are actually when you will get the NFC East or the NFC this year, what's going on. I don't dancies nearly as good as it was last year. I think teams like the Seahawks, the boys, the Redskins teams, I haven't had a lot of turmoil last year coming into this year, and having that full year those are gonna be the teams that you're gonna see job I think, like the Packers, the saints, those classic teams that were always up at the top, we're gonna take a little bit of a dive, which leads right into the followers. For me, those are my two. I'm gonna say right off the bat Packers in the saints, man, I think the Packers fall back down the earth, I think they're they finish right? We said the bears are going to be tight inside. They're going to go from one of the top teams to good. You know what I mean? There's going to be good. There's going to be a lot of games this year where you're gonna see Rodgers yelling on the sideline at people, there's gonna be a lot of shit going down. But they'll rattle off three in a row at some point. So I think 10 to seven is a good place. And then the other is the saints, man, I like jamis. But I just don't think what were they last year? They were 13 to three or 12? And four? Yeah, they're nine one team and most
Joe Malkin:still about 500.
Rob Kelly:Yeah. Is that right? And then that's jamis 989. That's where I would expect them. But those are definitely two followers. I don't expect I expect them both. Be right on the fringe. I guess the saints would be out. But the Packers would be right on the fringe of the playoffs right with the boys skins.
Joe Malkin:I'll be right there. But they're definitely following the saints and Steelers are my two and the saints. For the same reasons you had. I think they're dynamic. I think they're gonna be fast. I think they're gonna win games. Because of taysom Hill more than they're gonna win games necessarily because of jameis Winston, I think James was still a good quarterback.
Rob Kelly:It could be real about taste. No, he's not a quarterback. He is not a full time quarterback.
Joe Malkin:He and I think that's why jameis Winston is the starting quarterback. I think taysom Hill and what he did at BYU was impressive. I think he is a I think he is a an above average NFL player. Also what he is what Tim Tebow should have been 12 years ago
Rob Kelly:spot on that it Tim Tebow looks at taysom Hill and he has dreams about that should have been my career. This is
Joe Malkin:the problem. I don't think he did. I don't think he does. Because Tim was Mr. TiVo was too proud of wanting to be a quarterback wanted to be a quarterback wouldn't sit take no for an answer. And that's fine. You know,
Rob Kelly:proud Christian boy.
Joe Malkin:Yeah, follow your dream, do what you want. But, you know, it just it blows me away with him after he was cut by Jacksonville last week that, you know, I look at Tim Tebow and say, Man, you had your chance. And people like Oh, he's just following his dream. He just wants another chance. It's like, well, there's guys that deserve another chance that never get it. And why does Tim get him his butt? You know, player x doesn't get theirs. He had an opportunity when he was drafted as a quarterback.
Rob Kelly:He should have embraced it, man.
Joe Malkin:Yeah, we're gonna make you this like, Yeah, sure. He went out and one of the worst thing that happened was that he won that playoff game against against Pittsburgh. Because when that happened, then it was really cemented in his head like, Man, I'm an NFL quarterback. And it's like, well, you're not you. You guys went nine and seven and you know, pulled off and upset against a probably a better Steelers team, but you're a great athlete, and you're a great football player, Tim Tebow. Tim Tebow was a great college football player. He's a great athlete. He belonged in the NFL longer than he was. But I think he was the he caused his own demise because he would not take on another position when teams wanted him to. And then you know, he goes and plays baseball and then he gets cut by the Mets of all teams. And then he comes back and goes to play tight end for his college coach. That's like people like oh, let them lose dream. It's like well, he's 10 years past that. He should have
Rob Kelly:done that 10 years ago, but he shouldn't he never should have been tight. Like that's the thing is like, he failed that boat. He never should have been tight. It should have been both. He should have taken that role from the very beginning and been slash kordell Stewart kordell Stewart bro You know what I mean? Like go in there be the guy that can light up Why be this guy be that guy. I don't know how we got to listen to rap but I like it. I love it.
Joe Malkin:Yeah. So So anyway, how we got on it was because I said that. Oh taste no taste some health thing.
Rob Kelly:Yeah, tasting though.
Joe Malkin:I see. I see New Orleans as a nine and nine and eight. Maybe 10 and 17. I think I think they're still good enough.
Rob Kelly:Like I think if they get to 10 wins Sean Payton's the coach of the year.
Joe Malkin:I think champagne is a good coach. I don't think Peyton is like one of the best of all time. I think he's a very good above average coach. I think he's in the top tier of coaches, especially currently in the league. And then I look at the Pittsburgh Steelers and I think they're going I think they're going through Antonio brown levy on Bell 2.0. I think there's a lot of personality in that wide receiving core Juju and with Chase Claypool. And it's not a bad thing to have personality, but you have what one of the best things they did was drop James Connor and bring in nachi Harris, I think Nagi Harris is gonna have a breakout year and he's gonna have a good rookie season for Pittsburgh, but an aging Ben Roethlisberger a lot of guys that are gonna want the ball. I think Pittsburgh's a nine and 810 and 17. Partly because I think Cleveland is better than the 11 and five than they were last year. I think Baltimore is an 11 and fy 11, and 612 and five team this year, and I think everybody keeps saying Cincinnati is a mess. I don't know if they're that much of a mess that if they have a healthy Joe burrow that they can't put together some wins and win six to seven games. One of which they could win over Pittsburgh, who knows? So those are my two followers as well.
Rob Kelly:I'm working on Pittsburgh, you know, you know my hate on Pittsburgh, but I guess for the same reason as last year's. They moved on with that running back. That was the best possible thing they did. Like you said Pittsburgh best when they have that started running back that they can just lean on. That's what they do. They shouldn't move down from Ben. It was time it time was the last year he was so bad at the end. Just cut ties wasn't bad. It's time to go. You're amazing. Oh, it's time to play fucking Mason, who gets to ship your hand off the natural Harris 300 times this year. So I would have moved on President. Yeah, I think it's time to go man.
Joe Malkin:You know, there's just I've had a lot of people in my life recently retire, and mother who are much older than Ben Roethlisberger. But I gotta tell you, Ben Roethlisberger. If you ever hear this episode, a lot of the people that I know that have retired recently, are much happier doing what they're doing now, then, because they had done what they did for so long, that they're just a lot happier and more relaxed, and you will be to just stay out of the back alley of bars. So those are our risers and fallers. Cam Newton cut by the New England Patriots. One one other big story and you guys went through it a couple years ago down in Dallas trying to find a kicker. Not that Nick fault is a bad NFL kicker Nick folk did a great job. We're gonna
Rob Kelly:end on kicker as amazing. Right, Nick fog was not cut
Joe Malkin:by the New England Patriots today. However, all reports point to rookie kicker out of Michigan Quinn nor Dean will be the leg for the New England Patriots going into the season. A guy that missed a 40 yard field goal against the Eagles. And everybody thought that was the end of it. He
Craig D'Alessandro:missed an extra point.
Rob Kelly:He doesn't sound promise.
Joe Malkin:But Nick foles has missed extra points. And Nick foles has missed easy field goals. And I you know, I'm always one where you want to find the next guy and one of the most criminal things in recent history that a lot of patriots fans don't realize is now one I believe that the Kickers, I almost changed my fantasy football team name. Last night two, kickers are people too.
Rob Kelly:Because you also think pitchers should hit so
Joe Malkin:I do. I do think pitcher pitcher should hit and kickers people do that's the way it goes. I got ripped apart ones on Tick Tock for making that comment. That picture should hit your stupid. Like, I mean, I
Rob Kelly:I never called You stupid. I never called You stupid.
Joe Malkin:No, you didn't. You didn't. But they're like, Oh, they can't hit. It's like, well, if you give them time to learn how to hit when they have to hit every day, they're going to get better. It's just it's a natural progression. I know that people get so short minded, especially in sports, but kickers have won and lost Super Bowls. And kickers are more important than you think they are. And the Dallas Cowboys have Greg's airline, and Greg's airline has a hell of a leg, but Greg's airline has also missed some big kicks he did in LA Warren Well, they were in St. Louis, but he did for the Rams beforehand up in Dallas. But Quinn Nardin is the kicker Oh, well, I didn't get to the most criminal thing that the Patriots did the Patriots fans don't realize is that Atlanta Falcons kicker young lady who was on the Patriots practice squad. Three years ago, what and the Patriots cut them. And the next day when he cleared waivers. He was signed by Atlanta. And this was in a period where they could have used a kicker Now again, Nick folk did his job. Nick Hawk if you're listening, thank you. But it's time for Quinn Norton. I love when positions turn over in the NFL, especially when guys have been around.
Rob Kelly:Yes We started with the quarterback turnover. And guess what patriots fans. You get any rookie kicker to what? So I this is factual kind of cool. Who do you think real quick who has best odds for the first coach to be fired? Who do you think of this go? Oh,
Joe Malkin:this is a good game. I don't know why we didn't think to play this game. So I would say if he wasn't if the carpet wasn't rolled, the red carpet wasn't rolled out the way it was, I would say Urban Meyer
Rob Kelly:it's not urban kicking hard.
Joe Malkin:I don't think I know Yeah, well, that's what I mean. I don't think it'll be Urban Meyer because I think they're gonna let him develop Trevor Lawrence for a year and see see what happens.
Rob Kelly:Someone that's been somewhere a few years, few years.
Joe Malkin:You think so? So?
Rob Kelly:It's not I think so. No, Vegas right now has naggy number one.
Joe Malkin:I don't think so. I don't think so. Because I think that's so Vegas. Vegas has naggy who do they have a number to
Rob Kelly:Fangio and other side have McCarthy number one I like to
Joe Malkin:know You know, I think Fangio is first let's go with Vic Fangio. Because in Denver. I don't think Denver has done enough to put a team around Teddy Bridgewater, I mean, they got courtland Sutton, they have no offense, they have some good young receivers. So I think there's I think there's possibility there and I think Teddy Bridgewater is a better quarterback than people give them credit for. I don't think he's good to the point where he's gonna go out and light it up against Kansas City, but I think he has I think he's got a shot against San Diego against the chargers and I think he's got a shot against against Dave's favorite coach team. The Las Vegas Raiders. We know that Dave would say that it will be Jon Gruden, but I think Vic Fangio is a good candidate. I don't think Matt naggy is I think a lot of the new head coaches my guy last year was Zach Taylor. I thought it was gonna be Zach Taylor and with the bangles but me you and Mike were right. You were like there's a rookie quarterback. So I'm not gonna say a rookie coach with a rookie quarterback or a young coach with a rookie quarterback, but I think Vic Fangio is gonna be the first one.
Rob Kelly:And I'm surprised that McCarthy's out there. I don't think McCarthy I don't think there's any chance. Mike McCarthy gets fired if you're putting money on Mike McCarthy to get fired. Yeah, it's not happening because he's not getting fired. I think it could be either Kliff. Kingsbury kind of start off slow. Cardinals and now but it's the Cardo start off, two and six. with Kyler and Hopkins and AJ green. If disaster happens. King Kingsbury is taking the ball. I don't think there's any doubt about that. They're not gonna it's not gonna be you know, a Kyler is not going to end they're not going to waste a year. So I think that's a good one. Mike Zimmer,
Craig D'Alessandro:though.
Rob Kelly:I think I think he could lose his locker room because of the year they have last year. I think that's possible.
Joe Malkin:He's been close to he's been close Mike Zimmer in Minnesota. So three guys that aren't going to be replaced by rookies are Bobby, myself and Craig. And I don't think we're going to be the first three to leave MTP either, so I don't know what Vegas is. Odds are on that, as Craig looks at me confused. But what I can tell you is that this is the end of the episode. My name is Joe Malkin. He's Bob Kelly. Craig is our EP. When should he started the new game of when producers aren't listening in the middle of a football show. Greg, thank you for joining us on MTV.
Rob Kelly:Sorry, what was that? Exactly kickers are people two
Joe Malkin:kickers are people to Bobby had fun. This was a good one. I hope you all enjoyed it. And we will catch you next week on missing point.