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00:00He talked to Rodgers more than once, but he made it clear to Rodgers that their plan was, as long as McCarthy was healthy, and he is now, that he'd be their quarterback going forward.
00:09So McCarthy confirmed this week to their media that he was cleared last week.
00:14So he's doing everything during their offseason program now, and that's great.
00:18They did make the trade for Sam Howell to be their number two quarterback, so they know the way this is going to look.
00:23There's no question about it.
00:25But you're right, Scott.
00:26They're only given an eight-and-a-half win total by the Oddsmakers.
00:29Now, the over is minus-135 because they should be some around nine wins, and the under is plus-115.
00:37So, yeah, they're picked, by the way, to finish fourth.
00:41They're plus-145 to finish fourth.
00:44They're plus-225 to finish third.
00:46And to finish in second, they're plus-320.
00:49So nobody respects them, despite that offense that's very underrated.
00:53They're loaded at running back, loaded at receiver.
00:56Defensively, Brian Flores, one of the top defensive coordinators in the National Football League,
00:59great defensive mind, gets the most out of the least.
01:02He's phenomenal.
01:03But nobody respects them.
01:04Everyone's going to expect that the Lions are going to win it.
01:07With all their defensive problems they had to finish late last season, you know what happened against Washington in the playoffs.
01:14And, of course, the Packers are the perennial, really good team in the regular season.
01:19And Matt LaFleur and the rest of the team does not do well in the playoffs.
01:22But no one really respects this team.
01:24And Chicago, by the way, you know, you and I have talked about Chicago and Ben Johnson.
01:28They're kind of the sexy team.
01:29A lot of people, a lot of bettors think they're not going to finish in fourth.
01:33That's why the Vikings are number four right now.
01:34Yeah, I think they will still finish last.
01:38You know, that guy got that job for a reason.
01:42Because they stink.
01:43Not because they're good.
01:45All that they said last year.
01:47When they got him.
01:49When they got the quarterback, they thought that they were going to the Super Bowl.
01:54There were a lot of people that said the Bears, they were betting on the Bears.
01:58There were so many tickets on the Bears to go to the Super Bowl.
02:00It wasn't even funny.
02:01The Bears haven't sniffed a Super Bowl since 85.
02:04And I'm telling you, you cannot even compare them to this Viking team with O'Connell and Flores.
02:12Those are two great coaches.
02:14Their offense kicked ass.
02:16Their defense kicked ass.
02:18And now they got their dream quarterbacks, knee better, ready to go.
02:23I don't understand this at all.
02:25I don't understand where these people come from with these idiotic predictions.
02:29Honestly, they're stupid.
02:31Yeah.
02:32Listen, Scott.
02:33You and I talked about this leading into last season with Matt Eberflues.
02:36He was the favorite for Coach of the Year.
02:38You know how that worked out.
02:39It was an absolute disaster.
02:40Now, when you look at J.J. McCarthy, it's a torn right meniscus.
02:44That's a brutal injury.
02:45But he's good to go here.
02:48Their hope is he can regain what he put together late before he got hurt.
02:52He got hurt in the first preseason game at home against the Raiders.
02:55By the way, he played great in that game.
02:57I know it's the preseason.
02:57He looked really good.
02:59He came on late.
03:00Now, their plan was to go with Sam Darnold anyway early in the season.
03:03You know how Sam Darnold did.
03:04He did very well and parlayed that into a good free agent contract with the Seahawks.
03:08But McCarthy is their guy.
03:10Their plan the entire offseason was they want to go forward with J.J. McCarthy.
03:15And look, I told you before last year's draft, Scott, there's some teams that didn't like McCarthy.
03:20Some teams I talked to had a third-round grade on the player.
03:22But the Vikings really liked him.
03:24He's their guy.
03:25And I agree with you.
03:27They're not a fourth-place team.
03:28In fact, I like them in that third slide at plus 225 to finish in third place.
03:34I'm actually going to go rogue and say they finish in second.
03:39Wow.
03:40I think they have a better season than anyone thinks.
03:43And not only that, I would rather have that young kid than that old man, Rodgers, any day of the week.
03:50Now, I have to have Rodgers.
03:51And we'll talk about him later.
03:53But I have to have him.
03:54I have no choice at this point as a season ticket holder and a Steeler fan.
03:57I have no choice.
03:58It's already a done deal.
03:59So it's inevitable.
04:00But if I were them, I think they did the right thing, actually.
04:04And going with the guy that they drafted that they wanted, that they believe in, that has a bright future.
04:12And we'll see what he's made of.
04:13Then some 41-year-old Walsh quarterback, it's unbelievable to me.
04:17It's staggering.
04:17Let's talk about the Broncos.
04:18I think Sean Payton did a great job with the Broncos last year.
04:23My guess would be that it's only going to get better from here because they got surprising work out of Knicks.
04:30And he turned into a stud.
04:32And they got a good coach.
04:33And they got players.
04:34And now they've gone out and got a deeper running back room.
04:38Yeah, I like this move.
04:39So, Scott, a couple things here when we talk about the Broncos.
04:42See, the expectations were little last year.
04:44We know that.
04:45But depending on which book you look at, anywhere for a four-and-a-half to five-and-a-half win total.
04:49Obviously, they went way over that.
04:50They made the playoffs.
04:51So, they're not shocking anyone anymore.
04:54Like, you talked about the job that Bo Nix did with Sean Payton, the head coach, calling the plays.
05:00They work very well together.
05:02They're pretty loaded at wide receiver.
05:04Now, what I found interesting is they drafted a running back, an R.J. Harvey, in the second round.
05:08And, Scott, as I've told you, the second round is a starter round.
05:12So, Harvey, if he's ready to go, pass protection.
05:15He knows the playbook very well.
05:16He executes while in training camp.
05:18He'll be expected to play quite a bit this season.
05:20But they weren't finished.
05:21They were not happy with the running back room last season.
05:24They said goodbye to Williams.
05:27Devontae Williams signed with the Cowboys.
05:31Aldrich Estame from Notre Dame is a bigger back.
05:33He didn't really impress.
05:34Gillum, like Laughlin's a change-up.
05:36So, they went with J.K. Dobbins this week.
05:39They signed him to a one-year deal, Scott.
05:40If you look at Dobbins' career, remember, he was a former first-round pick for the Ravens.
05:45Over his career, his five years of play, he's had a torn ACL.
05:50He's had a torn Achilles.
05:51That's not stopped him.
05:52He's been an excellent back, very explosive.
05:55He wound up surprising a lot of people, Scott.
05:57He led the Chargers in rushing.
05:59So, why didn't they bring him back?
06:00They went with O'Marrion Hampton in the first round at running back.
06:04They brought over Najee Harrison, the Steelers.
06:06So, they're set there.
06:07So, they didn't bring him back.
06:08But I like this move.
06:09And also, Scott, Javante Williams did a nice job catching the football.
06:15But this is where Dobbins could actually help them.
06:17Dobbins is kind of sneaky in the screen game.
06:20I like this move.
06:21This is a sneaky, free-agent move in June.
06:25We'll talk about the fancy props in a couple of weeks when we look at the running back position.
06:30But I like this move.
06:32No, they're not going to win the division.
06:33It's too strong, the AFC West, but they absolutely could challenge for a playoff spot because Bo Nix is another guy that a lot of clubs didn't like last season, but he did very, very well.
06:43So, you spoke of what the Chargers have done.
06:47And I know that in the past, you've talked to me about that you like Harbaugh now, year two, and what they have.
06:54They're loaded.
06:55And you just mentioned Najee and everything else and the kid Hampton.
07:00They're lethal.
07:01Do you still stand by, is it Kansas City, and then L.A., then Denver, and then Vegas?
07:10How do you see it playing out?
07:12You put the Chargers ahead of the Broncos, don't you?
07:15I did.
07:15I did.
07:16Actually, oh, yeah.
07:16In fact, my upset special is going to be the Chargers to win the AFC West.
07:21I like those odds because you're getting plus money.
07:23Somewhere around plus 175, plus 200 last time I looked.
07:27And then I like Harbaugh as the coach of the year.
07:29He is so good, Scott.
07:31If you look at his resume, University of San Diego, Stanford, as you know, the 49ers made the Super Bowl in 2012 with Kyle Kaepernick as quarterback.
07:42He's done a great job here, did a great job at Michigan, won a national championship.
07:47Everywhere he's gone in his football coaching career, college or pro, he's won.
07:51He puts together what we call a turnaround program.
07:55You know they're going to run the football with Greg Roman, his guy.
07:58That's coming.
07:59You know that.
08:00And their defense overachieved with Jesse Minter, who was a defensive coordinator at Michigan, he brought him over, did a great job.
08:07And I know it's L.A.
08:08It's tough to win there.
08:10It's tough to draw a crowd because they share the stadium with the Rams.
08:13But they shocked me.
08:15I got that one wrong.
08:16The total last year, Scott, was eight and a half.
08:19And they went over it.
08:20I give them credit.
08:21Adam Kablin, our NFL insider on C2C.
08:23So, let me go back to this for a second.
08:26Yep.
08:26You're taking the Chargers to not only do better than the Broncos and the Raiders, you're taking them to win the West at plus a buck 90 over Kansas City.
08:37And then, do you believe that, you know, so what, Kansas City you see as a wild card or something?
08:45And do you think their run of going to Super Bowls is over?
08:50I got the Chiefs finished in second.
08:52There'll be a wild card, one of the seven teams to make it in the AFC.
08:56Look, Annie Reid's phenomenal.
08:58And you and I have been talking off the air about this.
09:01At some point, that rain's going to be over.
09:03You just can't do it every year.
09:05And I know the Chiefs have owned the Chargers for a number of years.
09:09Scott, you know, previously before Harbaugh got there, how many times did the Chargers choke games in the fourth quarter?
09:16They're not doing that anymore.
09:18Their coaching's terrific.
09:19And the last time we talked about it, I'm going to talk about it again.
09:22Justin Herbert is very gifted.
09:24He hasn't quite played as well as a lot of us thought he could.
09:27But the coaching is great.
09:28I love the scheme that Greg Roman has, their offensive coordinator, the run scheme, the most sophisticated in the National Football League.
09:35It helps Herbert.
09:36There's no question about it.
09:37I like their backfield.
09:38Hampton, Maren Hampton's very explosive running back.
09:41The coaching is phenomenal.
09:43That's the other part about this, man.
09:44The secret sauce to the Chargers is their coaching staff.
09:48And they're going to surprise a lot of people at plus 190 to win the AFC West.
09:54Wow.
09:54All right.
09:54Let's go on to the Steelers.
09:57Has the Aaron Rodgers signing changed anything in terms of their team odds?
10:05No, it hasn't, Scott.
10:06It's so funny because, you know, a lot of people expected things to change.
10:10Their win total is still eight and a half.
10:11The over is still plus 100, Scott.
10:14So people still think.
10:16It's clear the money is on it to go under.
10:18The under is minus 120.
10:19It's the same as last week.
10:21To win the AFC North, it's plus 600.
10:24That hasn't changed.
10:24To finish in third place at minus 135, which is pretty much, to be honest with you, where they should finish.
10:31The Browns are the clear winner of the fourth place crown.
10:35And to finish in second place, they're plus 310.
10:37To make the playoffs, to make it, they're plus 145.
10:41No, 175.
10:43You know, here's the problem, though, with that one.
10:45This is what's tough.
10:47Tomlin never has had a losing record.
10:50I know they have not won a playoff game since 2016.
10:53But you know it's got, the chances are they're going to be around 9 and 8.
10:58But I'll say it again.
10:59They're just not good enough.
11:02But here's another thing.
11:03Number two receiver is a question.
11:06The running game is a question.
11:08Their left tackle, Broder Jones, you and I have talked about him before, is in question.
11:12Those are some serious issues for me.
11:14Their defense, you know, is going to be good.
11:16I'm not worried about T.J. Watt.
11:17But in his contract situation, these things usually work out.
11:21But they have some questions on offense.
11:23And then with Rodgers, at 41 and a half years old, once again, Scott, I give the guy credit.
11:29He didn't miss a game last season despite playing with two injuries.
11:32It's really hard.
11:33He's just not the same player he once was.
11:35So, when they won 10 games last year by December, and they made the playoffs, they blew it in December, obviously, lost the division to the Ravens.
11:46No one thought they were going to do anything last year with Wilson and Fields to begin with.
11:51And they won 10 games before December.
11:53And this guy, Tomlin, always wins.
11:56He's a regular season juggernaut.
11:59And now, all of a sudden, you're going to go against him because they get Aaron Rodgers?
12:05Scott, last year in May and June, when you and I saw seven and a half wins, we said, that's going over.
12:10There's no way that they're not going to get eight wins.
12:13Okay?
12:13That was a lock.
12:15This year, it's harder because they haven't cured the question marks at running back.
12:19Left tackle is a problem.
12:21Number two receiver is a problem.
12:23Remember, they traded Pickens.
12:25They still haven't solved it.
12:25Now, Rowan Wilson is healthy, finally.
12:27But he's more of a number three.
12:29So, that does worry me.
12:31So, you think the kid from Iowa is too young to do well?
12:33He's ripped.
12:34He's a power running back.
12:36You think he's too young to be effective?
12:38I know.
12:40He fits what they want in a power running game.
12:43I get that.
12:44He's got to prove it.
12:45He is a rookie.
12:46You're talking about Caleb Johnson, the rookie running back from Iowa.
12:50He's a power back.
12:51I know he fits it.
12:52He's got to show it, though, in training camp.
12:54To me, they're a very mediocre team, maybe just above average.
12:57I don't see them getting the playoffs.
12:59I know it's blasphemy.
13:00When it comes to Tomlin, he's terrific.
13:03But, Scott, this is the thing, man.
13:05They've got to take the next step, and they're not taking the next step this season.
13:08I just don't see it.
13:09Oh, you're just so disappointing.
13:12You went to see the Pirates play the Phillies, and I thought you'd turn the corner, and then you'd turn right around and go right back to the butcher knife in my chest and stab me right in the chest like Chucky.
13:23Look at you just stabbing me in the chest.
13:26All right, let's talk about the AFC East and preview the Bills, the Cook problems with their relationship with this crazy agent of his, the same guy representing this steward guy in Cincinnati, this lunatic young agent.
13:41Is he going to get Cook his money or not?
13:43I'm not worried about the situation with James Cook.
13:46Again, here's it, Scott.
13:47We're in June here.
13:49Let's see what happens when he's got to report to training camp.
13:51That's when you know it's really, really serious.
13:54Look, their over-under total is 11.5, Scott.
13:56The over is minus 155 because they are so much better than any team in the AFC East.
14:02It's ridiculous.
14:04They're the biggest lock to win their division.
14:06The under is plus 130.
14:07To win that division, they're minus 275, Scott.
14:11That's a lock.
14:12I mean, I know that's a lot of juice to give up, but I love them at that.
14:17And to make the playoffs, it's a lock.
14:19So, Scott, if you look at their issues, they had to dress the receiver position, okay?
14:22They let Amari Cooper leave.
14:24He had the wrist injury from last season, okay?
14:26So he's not going to be back.
14:27Josh Palmer, the Chargers, is pretty talented who could run.
14:30Big play guy.
14:31Elijah Moore, very sneaky transaction.
14:34I like that signing at receiver.
14:35Former second run pick from the Jets.
14:37Joey Bosa comes over.
14:39I know he's dealing with an injury.
14:40He'll be ready to go by training camp.
14:41Michael Height, who I like a lot, who's another edge rusher to come over from the Rams.
14:46T.J. Sanders, a second-round deep tackle.
14:48Ogun Jobe, I know he's suspended for six games, but he'll be there.
14:51And Maxwell Harrison's the first-round corner.
14:54Like him, the only guy they really lost, of note, is Rasul Douglas, who started a corner.
14:58But Harrison replaced him.
14:59They're going to be right there, Scott.
15:01They're going to make another huge run in the AFC, those bills.
15:03Let's save the Dolphins for next week, believe it or not, because I want to ask you one last
15:08question.
15:09Does Josh Allen win another MVP, or did getting married screw him up?
15:16To Haley Steinfeld?
15:17No, I don't see it.
15:19It's going to come down to him and Lamar again.
15:22You know that.
15:23This is going to be what we're seeing year to year to year between those two.
15:26Yeah, I really enjoy watching Lamar lose in the playoffs every year.
15:30It's fun for me.
15:31It's always just my favorite time of the year.
15:34Adam, fantastic work again, my friend.
15:36Have a great weekend.
15:37You got it.