- 7/1/2025
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00:00A busy day yesterday for the Pittsburgh Steelers for a multitude of reasons at the end of our show
00:07bright and early on a Monday morning on the final day of June a blockbuster deal we have already
00:13told you about it we've had some time to reset and see that the Pittsburgh Steelers are making
00:19moves a big deal but is it really a big deal for Pittsburgh in terms of their hopes of finally
00:26winning a playoff game for the first time in nearly a decade DRS you would believe that if the Steelers
00:33are fully gung-ho on being fully in then TJ Watt the leader of their defense and one of the faces
00:39of this franchise would have to be there super happy and positive as well hasn't been the case
00:46this offseason in the Steel City TJ Watt did not show up to mandatory minicamp he wants a new deal
00:53for being one of the best edge rushers in all of the National Football League and as that new deal
00:59still has yet to be signed between Pittsburgh and Watt multiple teams according to ESPN's Adam Schefter
01:07have been discussing whether they can make a trade package enticing enough to lure TJ Watt away from
01:15the Pittsburgh Steelers just because teams are inquiring does not mean we are even close to
01:21having TJ Watt being on the trading block but the fact there was this report on a busy day in the
01:27Steel City tells you what Donnie it tells me that the Pittsburgh Steelers are not going to be moving
01:33on from TJ Watt and hear me out on this right because let's go over the background of TJ Watt one of the
01:37best sack artists we've seen over the past 25 years in the NFL let's also not forget like the favorite
01:43son on the Pittsburgh Steelers of Mike Tomlin it's TJ Watt TJ Watt doesn't want to go anywhere I don't think he
01:50gets moved at this point but also understand this if we were going to move TJ Watt what would have
01:55made sense for the Pittsburgh Steelers we're ramping up for this year oh we traded him draft night for
01:59a first round pick and maybe a you know 2026 third round pick but the reason I say this is you would
02:05get a legitimate number one back who you can use for like a defensive end to try to replace them
02:09move on and drop all that salary cap and then still have money to have like those extra free agents
02:13that might be left over or cut that you can sign it doesn't make any sense here Ben for the
02:17Pittsburgh Steelers to trade TJ Watt now without getting any draft compensation back and we're not
02:21going to have another you know NBA style deal like hey Fitzpatrick's going to get traded up for Jayla
02:25Ramsey that's not going to happen for TJ Watt at this point you have to match you're not matching up
02:29salaries here so I don't think it makes any sense whatsoever and I think it's a lot of bluster where
02:33they probably have a number in mind the Steelers TJ Watt does TJ Watt probably thinks it's a little
02:38disrespectful I just told Miles Garrett that I want that money going well we don't really fit you in
02:43there you make this amount of money we know how negotiations go but understand this like
02:46Mike Tomlin rules with an iron fist there if you think Mike Tomlin goes to that organization
02:50and says you know what general manager and ownership group with the Roonies I need this guy to go we
02:54just can't afford him that's not happening he's going to be back so for me it's interesting because
02:59you make moves for a win now season with Aaron Rodgers which you did you upgraded your quarterback
03:04position and that quarterback is not going to be there for five years the run window is now
03:08trading TJ Watt while you're trying to make a run that doesn't make any sense
03:12completely agree DRS and I think Miles Garrett is a very apt comparison for TJ Watt both recently in
03:20the last three years winning defensive player of the year of course as you saw in the career
03:26accolades for TJ Watt there are very few better a seven-time pro bowler he has been a pro bowl pick
03:32each of the last seven seasons he has been in the NFL for eight years all with Pittsburgh he is a six-time
03:39all pro performer he has led the National Football League in sacks three of the last five seasons
03:45last year second most sacks in the NFL behind Trey Hendrickson of Cincinnati but Watt still led the
03:51National Football League in forced fumbles causing havoc as he often does forcing six he has also
03:57finished top five in defensive player of the year voting each of the last five seasons that he has
04:03played at least 15 games there are very few better defenders in the National Football League
04:08than TJ Watt it is a question of money and again why Miles Garrett makes a lot of sense to compare
04:15this is not just the AFC North or former DPO wise but Miles Garrett during Super Bowl week back in early
04:22February demanded a trade from the Cleveland Browns seemingly wanting to play for a Super Bowl contender
04:28made a lot of sense TJ Watt hasn't demanded a trade there might be some speculation some trade rumors
04:35are circulating around Pittsburgh what did Garrett get at the end not a blockbuster deal for multiple
04:42first round picks but 40 million dollars per year he is the highest paid edge rusher in the National
04:48Football League DRS in fact there are now three edge rushers around the NFL that make more than 35 and a
04:54half million dollars per year Garrett at 40 Daniel Hunter of the Houston Texans and Mad Max Crosby of the Las Vegas Raiders
05:02when did each of those three players ink those extensions this offseason TJ Watt right now paid a little bit more
05:10than 28 million dollars per year of annual average value based on his salary still seventh most still a lot of money
05:18around the NFL but he is certainly deserving of being in that 35 plus million dollar per year
05:24company especially because of where the inflated buck has gone in these contract extensions
05:30for edge rushers that is this negotiating game by no means do we expect TJ Watt to be playing
05:37somewhere not named Pittsburgh in 2025 it's just a matter of time before he signs that contract extension
05:44also and only a few guys in the NFL can do this backup linebackers can't say hey did you see what
05:49Ray Lewis just got paid like no that doesn't work that way but when you're the high level here for
05:54contracts that can always get redone and keep in mind the NFL you can be cut at any time they can ask
05:59you to renegotiate your contract down here so when TJ Watt still has that you know hammer in his hand
06:03he can do this don't you remember Ben maybe let's just call it 10 years ago where it was Julio Jones and
06:08Andre Johnson every year they got a new contract why Julio got paid I want a dollar more than Julio boom
06:13next year the guy Julio Jones does it Andre Johnson rekindles that because why they were the two best
06:18wide receivers in football you can do that not the third best wide receiver on your football team
06:23TJ Watt's going to be at Pittsburgh yeah that would be a shocker now when we saw that trade go down
06:27yesterday from Adam Schefter he's like whoa look at the moving parts in this trade here you dropped me
06:32one of these in August late July TJ Watt has been moved to the Miami Dolphins let's just say on their
06:38trade yesterday that would be shocking TJ Watt's going to be in camp TJ Watt's going to be a
06:43great player for the Pittsburgh Steelers this year not another team in DRS we talked yesterday about
06:49that defensive side of the football for Pittsburgh we'll further that conversation in just a moment
06:54again the Steelers this year are trying to win a playoff game actually make a deeper postseason run
07:00for the first time since 2016 but with TJ Watt in the fold who has not won a playoff game despite the
07:07accolades during his eight years in Pittsburgh it has been that defense that has been top 10 in scoring
07:13each of the last three years that has been one of the main reasons for that consistent success
07:17in the Steel City and even playoff appearances so let's get to that blockbuster trade yesterday
07:23between the Steelers and the Dolphins first we learned that Jalen Ramsey was being dealt by Miami
07:29to Pittsburgh what was going back to the Finns oh it was Minka Fitzpatrick and then another trade
07:35or so we thought just a little bit later on Jonu Smith in a pick swap leaving Miami heading to
07:41Pittsburgh it was really one trade and there it is on your screen Jalen Ramsey Jonu Smith and a 2027
07:49seventh round pick headed to the Pittsburgh Steelers in return the Finns get Minka Fitzpatrick
07:56and a 2027 fifth round selection DRS it's been nearly 24 hours again since this blockbuster trade
08:04in quotes did go through and we figured out exactly what the details were how do you feel about it
08:10yeah I don't know what the Dolphins are doing in their offseason quite frankly here and I think
08:14they might be set up for a train wreck this season to attack about low is he going to survive is their
08:18head coach going to survive this season if it goes off the rails but understand this like if you are
08:22just looking at metrics like the trade looks fun on both ends of it but when you dig into some of the
08:26numbers let's just say pro football focus Jalen Ramsey was the 16th best cornerback in the NFL last year
08:32and he's 30 years old so you say he probably can get a couple more years at it than his prime you look at
08:36Minka Fitzpatrick was only 28th end but the 52nd right safety in the NFL so I don't really know
08:41what Miami's doing other than well Jalen Ramsey really wanted out we don't want to cut him we
08:45want to at least get a player back so I get that but I think the real winner was the Pittsburgh Steelers
08:49getting Jonu Smith just another weapon there for Aaron Rodgers now you have Friar Muth on one side
08:53Jonu Smith on the other Aaron Rodgers back there you got DK Metcalf on the outside solid running game
08:58like I like what the Pittsburgh Steelers are shaping up and if you say who won the trade I think
09:03was the Pittsburgh Steelers yesterday I do no doubt DRS in terms of notoriety in winning this deal
09:09the Steelers made a significant move but how significant of a needle mover is it for the
09:15Steelers and how does it change its outlook that's what we'll discuss up next live right here on this
09:22first day of July a month in which an NFL football game albeit preseason will be played the final day of
09:29June featured a big trade around the National Football League but a big deal maybe in terms
09:35of notoriety how big of a deal is it to shift the outlook this season for the Pittsburgh Steelers
09:42again Jonu Smith Jalen Ramsey 2027 seventh rounder making its way to Pittsburgh in return to Miami
09:49Minka Fitzpatrick and a 2027 fifth round pick so DRS didn't move the needle for the Steelers to get a guy
09:57who was a three-time all-pro performer in Jalen Ramsey not a pro bowler last year in Miami but a
10:03pro bowler the season prior in his first year in South Florida Jonu Smith was the only pro bowler last
10:09year for the Finns and a dismal season in Miami the answer and not so much these are the odds for
10:18Pittsburgh entering 2025 you see the movement on the left those numbers from June 5th the day that Aaron
10:26Rodgers officially came to terms with the Pittsburgh Steelers on the right where those odds are right
10:33now win total still eight and a half the under has a small bit of juice at minus 125 does it make them
10:39a surefire playoff team the odds makers say no plus 140 the Steelers still more likely to miss the
10:45postseason then make it same price in the AFC North a slightly better number to win an AFC championship
10:53but yesterday morning before the deal was done just based on the market moving ever so slightly
10:58a 19 to 1 price on the Steelers to win the AFC that moved back by a buck throughout the day after
11:06the deal was complete and the Super Bowl price actually a dollar longer now than it was earlier
11:12in the month of June so it's nice DRS to add Jalen Ramsey and Jonu Smith does it make a ton of
11:19difference for Pittsburgh the odds makers don't really say so no and it shouldn't make a big
11:24difference there at this point because those numbers were baked in once we got thought Aaron
11:28Rodgers was always going to be a Pittsburgh Steeler and he was it's almost like cheating to say I just
11:33want to see what shows up on opening night when they take on the New York Jets right like I I feel
11:38like if I can watch Aaron Rodgers mobile in the pocket playing well like you know what the Steelers have
11:43a chance now that chance doesn't mean a Super Bowl because I don't think they do have a chance at the
11:47Super Bowl but when we take a look at like how the Pittsburgh Steelers get down on a year-to-year
11:51season it doesn't matter who their quarterback is they're always usually going to have an aggressive
11:54really good defense to run the football and to keep things under wraps and that provides winning
11:59seasons so I ask the people out there which it's easy to hate on Aaron Rodgers but I think everybody
12:04can agree from what you saw last year to this year Aaron Rodgers is going to be an upgrade at the
12:08quarterback position again so a very good defense where they're adding components and we expect
12:12TJ Watt to be back the offense should be better just because they have a guy that's been around
12:17football that understands the game and if he's if he's healthy which is a risk at his age at this
12:22point as we just saw him come off that devastating injury for the Jets but he played decent football
12:26last year so I look at it and say that eight and a half is probably my favorite bet on the board
12:31of the Steeler bets to go over there because that means nine and eight season which is what Tomlin does
12:36every single year they try to win football games at all costs like even if they're let's just say
12:41they're out of the playoffs with three weeks to go they're still going to go full tilt those final
12:44three games to have a winning season that's what they do now you say well Donnie why don't you think
12:49the plus money if they win nine games there's probably a good chance they make the playoffs well
12:52if they win nine games I cash my ticket if they win nine games that doesn't mean they make the playoffs
12:57so that's the reason why I'm not taking the plus money I know what the Steelers are about they're no
13:01longer about winning Super Bowls that's far gone conclusions at this point but Mike Tomlin always has the
13:06chip pointed in the right direction which means just staying above good enough to say hey another
13:11winning season and we'll be in the mix again next year and that's what they'll do this year again
13:15but Donnie I think they are trying to sell a bill of goods to their fan base that all of these moves
13:21based on name and notoriety is that they are trying to win a Super Bowl is that they are trying to be a
13:27true contender in the AFC quarterbacks like Kenny Pickett Mitchell Trubisky Duck Hodges and Mason Rudolph
13:34led the Steelers to a winning record and a playoff spot Aaron Rodgers doing that even in year number
13:4021 at age 41 would not be a surprise completely agree with you I do think the Steelers will
13:47ultimately continue the track record of Mike Tomlin 18 consecutive years now entering year number 19 of
13:54never a losing record never fewer than eight wins even if they get to eight that's a losing record for
14:00the first time ever under Mike Tomlin will they be a playoff team heck I could see that plus 140
14:07but anything else on that board five to one to win the AFC North 20 to one to contend for an AFC title
14:13or 44 to one to win a Super Bowl wouldn't do it in fact DRS you can bet stage of elimination
14:20where a team is ousted do they make the playoffs yes or no do they win a playoff game do they make it
14:27to a championship game in a conference all that good stuff I would look at stage of elimination
14:33for the Pittsburgh Steelers and still feel the same way to make the divisional round for Pittsburgh
14:40that more than likely would mean winning a playoff game is plus 350 I still think that is is pretty
14:48far off for the Steelers despite all of these moves signing Aaron Rodgers adding Darius Slade trading
14:54for DK Metcalf Jalen Ramsey and now Jonu Smith I don't believe it really elevates the ceiling in
15:01the Steel City which of course is the most important thing here in 2025 under Mike Tomlin
15:07like it feels like like the high watermark this year is going to be winning 10 games and making
15:13the playoffs but I do think there is a disaster mode that could happen that's but it's hard to do
15:18like when is Mike Tomlin and the Steelers been in disaster mode it just doesn't happen like
15:21you know Duck Hodges of the world like they're still trying to win football games because all
15:25the calling card for them is let's not get too crazy on offense because we typically don't have
15:29the quarterback now Ben Roethlisberg was a very good quarterback throughout his career but you see
15:33like what Mike Tomlin really wants to do in games like hey buddy you're up 10 to nothing it's okay to
15:37go up 17 to nothing here don't settle for the field goal for 13 nothing and play with your defense but
15:41that works long term with just winning football games but again the high watermark is like 10 games for
15:46me winning but you could see like an option where it's five or six games out there and hey Mike
15:52love you you tried it with Aaron Rodgers we gave you all the tools you needed it's really time to
15:57go in a new direction here into the 21st century per se in Pittsburgh but I still do think Mike Tomlin
16:02wins he wins just enough and that's enough to get eight and a half wins plus 360 for Pittsburgh to be
16:09bounced out in the wild card round on the FanDuel Sportsbook Donnie I think that's a very fair
16:14conversation around Mike Tomlin even if it works this year with Aaron Rodgers and they get to 10 and
16:197 but are ousted in that opening round will there be a conversation about what is next because the
16:25development of the quarterback room when you add a 41 year old is not exactly there we welcome you to
16:33hour number two and the opening day of July it is a football month live right here on the early line
16:40on sports grid he is Donnie right side I am Ben Stevens as we have shared and as Donnie has
16:48correctly highlighted to all of you we were counting down the final weeks it what looks like we made it
16:56looks like we made it July I love when you sing a little bit yeah July football season but as DRS was
17:03correctly highlighting before he rudely interrupted me right there in this open trying to give him his
17:09flowers July is football month on the final day of July now on its first there will be an NFL
17:17preseason game played between the Lions and the Chargers the Hall of Fame game in front of that Hall of
17:24Fame in Canton Ohio so that means that starting this month now in July and for the next eight consecutively
17:33up until March of 2026 we will have at least one football game played every single month and
17:41starting next month in August that's a crap ton of football games as well so to welcome in July to
17:49welcome in this second hour and to welcome in this football month this week over the next three days
17:56DRS before we get to the holiday weekend 4th of July coming our way on Friday we are going to go
18:02division by division around the National Football League by the end of this week all eight divisions
18:08will be previewed around the NFL all four in the AFC all four in the NFC today we start with the AFC North
18:16AFC South and the AFC East plenty of previews to get you ready for football here in hour number two
18:24I love it man the NFL absolutely brings like it's not like look when we get to early September like
18:30college football plays the cupcake games the NFL doesn't do that the NFL's playoffs here where
18:34everybody gets involved here they don't have any secondary bowl games for the bad teams like the NFL is
18:40about their business here and that business starts on July 1st and we're ready to go and ready to see
18:45it happen now again I preface this by saying I'm excited it's July July 1st football season is here
18:51over the next two weeks there's really nothing to watch even at the next two weeks after that
18:55there's really nothing to watch then you get the horrible preseason which there's really nothing to
19:00watch so I'm sort of I'm I'm on that hang glider right now like yeah wind beneath my wings right now
19:06and I'm like oh man I don't even know how I'm gonna land this thing you know what I mean I'm just
19:10waiting for football come on well come on now we can't beggars can't be choosers
19:15right if we're so excited and excited about an NFL play season game we want to still be excited
19:21about football football is football football being there better than no football being there at least
19:28in my estimation so today is the start of July a month in which football will be played because we
19:35have the Hall of Fame game on July 31st that means the rookies start showing up to training camp for the
19:41LA Chargers on July 12th that starts showing up on July 16th and DRS by the time we get to July 23rd
19:50all teams a hundred percent of players will have reported to training camp of course unless they
19:57are holding out yeah exactly maybe uh let's see that don't Cincinnati Bengals probably have a couple
20:02guys here heck maybe even Jamar Chase goes like wait a second you're trying to renegotiate my deal
20:07already would even start my contract yet get ready for that at this point but yeah what's the
20:11opportunity let's start there Ben like do we have major holdouts that will continue into training
20:16camp because again we are going to talk about the AFC North like like what are the odds like TJ Watt
20:21doesn't show up to day one of training camp I think they're actually really high at this point I do
20:26he's going to be a stealer but I don't think this gets done over the next day or two and say hey
20:30no distractions heading into the season I could see him being a hold in maybe being at camp and on
20:37the sidelines but not working out in fact DRS it is a perfect place to start with our division by
20:43division breakdown and our futures focus here around the National Football League on that AFC North
20:49because you think the most critical and significant hold outs in the training camp where I'm thinking
20:55the guy doesn't even show up and probably even risk getting fined financially that of course Trey
21:01Hendrickson in Cincinnati and maybe their first round pick Shamar Stewart as well it is a huge
21:07conversation piece of course around the Bengals who have that second best price to win this highly
21:11competitive division year in year out plus 240 on Cincy but who is the favorite and even so in minus
21:19money that would be Lamar Jackson and his Baltimore Ravens a minus 140 price the Steelers have the
21:26third best number at five to one and the Cleveland Browns bring up the rear the fourth and longest
21:31price in the AFC North and a large drop off at 32 one DRS let's start with the flock Baltimore has won
21:39the AFC North crown each of the previous two seasons four of the last seven as well and Baltimore is not
21:47just favored to win the AFC North but as of last check with our Super Bowl 60 odds yesterday Baltimore
21:54Buffalo Philadelphia three co-favorites to win Super Bowl 60 yeah they have a really really tough schedule
22:02we'll talk to in just a little bit but just like updating the Baltimore Ravens this team's built for the
22:06regular season and it's not a knock to say they're not built for the playoffs because that's just on
22:10Lamar Jackson hey Lamar you want to bring your MVP game to the playoffs you'll wind up in the Super Bowl we just
22:15haven't seen that yet but we see MVP Lamar on every Sunday and sometimes I say Ben like you know
22:19like let's equate this again to college football where you're running a triple option set isn't nice
22:23to have a bye week before you play that team to get the extra time to prepare it just feels like teams
22:28like when they're on a week where they got to get ready for Lamar Jackson it's never enough time in
22:31the regular season where that's not your singular focus you got it ready for the team beforehand
22:35the team afterhand two to three weeks down you know guys getting injured at that point right but you look
22:40at this team you add Jair Alexander that defense is going to be phenomenal we know they have a
22:44punishing offensive line Derek Henley looks as good as ever Lamar Jackson coming in helpful and also
22:50you re-sign Bateman Andrews comes back for another year I know that devastating drop in Buffalo they
22:55still talk about it but Lamar Jackson doing the right thing as a team leader that's my guy I trust
22:59him to throw that pass again and I'll make that flowers in the slot there you add Hopkins as a veteran
23:04presence on the outside that granted out of these veteran guys hasn't really worked out all that well
23:08for Baltimore but I appreciate them trying and Hopkins may be able to find something that works
23:12for them this team is built to win a Super Bowl they're built to win in the regular season they
23:17just haven't shown up in the biggest moments in the playoffs so to have that said I love the Ravens
23:22just like I do every single year entering into the season Ben DRS there is no doubt in my mind that the
23:30Baltimore Ravens are going to have a say in who wins an AFC championship and thus who wins Super Bowl 60
23:36and that Lombardi trophy do I ultimately believe it will be the Ravens no because until I see Lamar
23:42Jackson perform in the postseason in those biggest moments and on those most significant of stages
23:49I'll bet them to win the AFC North heck I'd bet them even with a difficult schedule 21st out of 32
23:55around the NFL to win 12 or 13 games this year but Lamar Jackson has a three and five playoff record
24:03and Donnie there are times where quarterbacks we look at for their win-loss performances but it's
24:08not nearly their fault defense terrible skill positions awful some mistake made somewhere else
24:15really though Lamar Jackson has not been great in the last two playoff runs where Baltimore has been
24:20in a prime position to make a deep postseason run hosting the AFC championship game two years ago
24:27against Kansas City and Patrick Mahomes costly interceptions multiple turnovers last year against
24:34the Buffalo Bills we'll remember the Mark Andrews fumble we'll remember the Mark Andrews drop that would
24:39have tied the game late in the fourth quarter on that two-point conversion but Lamar an interception
24:45and a fumble in the opening half as well he has not lived up to the MVB caliber numbers in those most
24:52significant of stages DRS come the postseason and neither is the coaching staff like what were we
24:57doing a couple years ago like when you had that team with Kansas it's like they finally got on their
25:01own bill they're gonna smash this team instead of doing what they do in their DNA is playing physical
25:06football and offense they decided to shock the world and throw it all over the place and got
25:10themselves beat that's why we just trust them yet win a championship trust them in the regular season
25:16the rest of the AFC North next on this first day of July now a football month we start going division by division
25:25this week leading you into your holiday weekend for the fourth of July with football front and center and on your
25:33mind the Baltimore Ravens minus 140 the deserving favorites even in a minus money way in the competitive AFC North
25:40but DRS I think the team that will have the most impact on this division in 2025 is the Bengals at their
25:47best with Joe Burrow Jamar Chase and T Higgins all happy signed and back they can be a Super Bowl contender
25:54at their worst with a defense that has so many questions and the unhappy Trey Hendrickson and first round rookie
26:01Shamar Stewart they might give up 35 points per game and flutter somewhere around that 500 mark
26:09ultimately Donnie what is your outlook for the Bengals in 2025 I mean the outlook is favorable if
26:16that means there's a chance to make the playoffs right but we understand one thing if you don't
26:21have a defense that could come up with stops you know at a good clip you're not going to win a lot
26:25of football games but I do think though to be honest we are downgrading the Cincinnati defense just a
26:29little bit because you are like Luan Aramo obviously ran out maybe that it was stale it wasn't getting
26:34through to the players and they were a civil defense now it doesn't help if Trey Hendrickson ends up
26:38getting moves he's not happy will he show up to camp or not and also your other guy that you say
26:43you know Mr. Stewart that comes from Texas A&M hey kid are you going to end up playing this year
26:47or not when it's not even his fault like you get those two guys in you got bookends here and I don't
26:51understand one is a rookie yes but the other one is a sack artist that's half the battle and maybe a
26:56better design by Al Golden to come in and say you know what I'm going to play to our strengths here
27:00we'll get enough stops here to win because the one thing we know is if Joe Burrow is upright in that
27:04pocket and being able to deliver to Jamar Chase and T Higgins they're going to move the football
27:08I like Chase Brown in the back a little bit more electricity in there Yoshi Vash you know is that
27:13three option but Kosicki really came on and found his stripes there in that Bengals uniform and Joe
27:18Burrow really likes him so I think that offense is going to move the question is what are we getting
27:23out of the defense but it's a lot easier for a defense to sort of say all right where's our strength
27:27maybe in pass rushing and have a lot of leads in the third and the fourth quarter where you just can't
27:31run this team down so they are catching a lot of slack but again they're not eight and a half or
27:35seven and a half you see that win total on the graphic right there it's nine and a half ten and
27:39seven is a good season for a football team but that's not what we're asking for the Bengals Ben
27:43right we're asking what do the Bengals do with an unbelievable quarterback and a talented wide receiver
27:47where you're supposed to take the next step that means advancing in the playoffs getting to an AFC
27:51championship game and possibly winning a Super Bowl but with that defense the way it's constructed
27:56and you look like we talked just about the the defense here for the Baltimore Ravens it's really good
28:01the offense is really good we can't say that against the Bengals with offense is really good
28:05but the defense could be really bad I it's hard to pick a team like that Ben right DRS bottom 10
28:11Cincinnati last year in both scoring points per game allowed and yardage allowed as well Al Golden
28:18a very arduous task as he is trying to form and make this defense look better than it was a year ago
28:25but without Trey Hendrickson Sam Hubbard retired earlier this offseason as well and without being able to
28:31replace that with Shamar Stewart how exactly do you do it if Trey Hendrickson and Shamar Stewart
28:37sign their deals and are ready to go by week number one I am betting the Bengals at a 10 to 1 price to
28:43win the AFC championship in fact I think that price might shorten when those deals are inked am I overly
28:49confident that both of those things happen not necessarily by the time we get to early December there is no
28:56doubt that even with these large questions defensively for the Bengals they are still
29:02expected to be a double digit win team they are still expected at minus 152 to be a playoff team
29:07and who is the only active quarterback in the National Football League but better yet in the AFC
29:12to beat Patrick Mahomes in an AFC title game it's not Lamar Jackson it's not Josh Allen it is
29:20Joe Burrow so if he is healthy I trust the Bengals offense and if Trey Hendrickson and Shamar Stewart are
29:28there I will have enough belief in the Bengals to be at least an above average defense to be a true
29:34contender that is my thought on Cincinnati for the moment without Hendrickson nor Stewart I would still
29:42think DRS they can get to 10 wins and be a playoff team but with those two critical defensive pieces
29:47that elevates the ceiling to be a true conference contender around the AFC hey here's the issue I
29:53have with the Cincinnati Bengals again and Joe Burrow says the same things like it's nice to not have
29:58distractions and it looks like they're again going to have distractions the reason I say this is the
30:02Bengals aren't run like any other football franchise where you say you know what the fans get upset the
30:08ownership gets upset the general manager gets upset and the player gets upset like they all want to be
30:12pulling in the right direction when they want to make their money but they want to be in camp with the
30:15fellas on time and sort of build for that championship the Bengals are an organization
30:19that will say Trey you don't want to show up we don't care we're not going to pay you and you're
30:23not going to accrue a year into free agency per se the same thing with your rookie and Stewart here
30:27we don't care this is the contract if you don't want to play you go sit on the sideline when most
30:32organizations think we have to facilitate this either we move them to get players in here you can play
30:36or we sign them to get them in the camp the Bengals will be just fine if Hendrickson doesn't play an
30:41entire snap this year so they can prove their point on the next contract that somebody tries to do the
30:46same thing it's the wrong way to think about an organization and the fans always end up paying
30:50the freight for that and also the football team as well you tell me right now Hendrickson shows up
30:54tomorrow and Shamar's like you know what maybe I start to believe in him a little bit more right now
30:58but when I always have a team with question marks specifically Ben on a defense that can't afford a
31:04single question mark we're getting these here that's why I can't take the Bengals seriously
31:08to make a deep playoff run DRS we discussed the Pittsburgh Steelers a ton earlier in the show
31:15and an offseason of change for the Steelers their goal is not just to win nine or ten games and make
31:20the playoffs it's to be a contender in the AFC North and to be a true contender for an AFC
31:26championship heck maybe even winning a playoff game for the first time since 2016 I think it's fair to
31:32sum it up for people who maybe were not with us in the opening hour we both believe that with Aaron
31:37Rodgers and DK Metcalf and Jonu Smith and Jalen Ramsey and Darius Slay the Steelers can win 10
31:43games and maybe even make the playoffs but in terms of a deeper playoff run heck even one playoff victory
31:50I still think we're a little bit cautious it's a I'm telling you it's a really really fun division
31:57here with those three teams and they can go a lot of different ways the expectations on the Baltimore
32:01Ravens to be the best team here but I gotta tell you even though the price points are different here
32:05I do think the Bengals and the Steelers are jockeying for second place and either one of them
32:09can take that mantle and I said also like a cheat there like I just need to see the Steelers Ben
32:14in one full game which may be the Jets and the Jets aren't predicted to do a lot of things but you
32:18tell me the Steelers are moving the football in that game and playing good defense like that might be
32:22enough to like hey maybe they can do something but you give me a Steelers opening night against the
32:27Jets where Aaron Rodgers struggles this could get really fun and interesting for sure right away
32:32one final point on the AFC North before we move to the AFC East next one final point on the AFC North
32:41as we go division by division this week leading you into your holiday weekend now early in July in a
32:47month that officially has football Donnie the Cleveland Browns a 30 to 1 price to win the AFC North by far
32:54the longest the fourth of four prices in this competitive division every team here in this
33:01division has one of the 16 hardest schedules around the NFL that of course the bottom half in terms of
33:08difficulty in the National Football League the Steelers and the Browns in terms of being in the
33:15bottom 10 of the 10 most difficult Cleveland has the second hardest schedule entering 2025 in the Browns
33:22the RS with that win total of five and a half technically have the worst win total on the FanDuel
33:28Sportsbook as we speak five teams have a win total with a figure of five and a half three teams have juice on
33:36the under Giants Saints and Browns in that order because Cleveland's juice to the under is minus
33:43145 the Browns are thought of us as the worst team in the National Football League entering 2025
33:51with a very confusing and confounding quarterback room Donnie what is the ceiling for Cleveland this
33:59season here's the problem with it right and this is where I might get to myself in a little bit of
34:04problem when we get to the Giants it's like okay can I get 17 games started out of Russell Wilson
34:09regardless of what the record is they'll go over the win total because that means you're getting a
34:13decent quarterback play and the goal is to win football games but here's where you're running
34:16the problems we'll get to the Giants later let me just start with the Cleveland Browns you see the
34:20numbers because if you go to the FanDuel Sportsbook right now you can bet to see who the starting
34:23quarterback is going to be week number one the favorite in line is Joe Flacco that could never be
34:27the case but understand this when you're a general manager like the Haslam family right what are they
34:32looking at I don't don't you embarrass me we need wins and that's on you guys so the general manager
34:36goes like hey let me sell you on this rookie quarterback who we go three two three wins
34:40this year and we all get fired but we find about the rookie quarterback coaches don't want to do
34:45that general managers don't want to do that and let's say hey no cut contract five years build it
34:48right now okay we'll do it the fancy is a good coach but the fact that Joe Flacco when you have
34:53Kenny Pickett who's not a great quarterback by any stretch but he is younger with a chance to be your
34:57starting quarterback same thing with the two rookies they drafted here they might not be ready on day
35:02number one but here's the issue if Flacco is your quarterback day number one your future is
35:05nothing and let's just say Joe Flacco on a bad football team winds up at one and five after
35:10their first six games if you say you know what we're just going to ride out the entire season
35:14with Joe Flacco you hey see that five and a half number there is a legitimate chance we hang around
35:18that but you know what changes in NFL organizations when you're out of the playoff picture what do you
35:23start to do well we really don't want to win football games and we want to find out about these young
35:28quarterbacks we're going to put them in situations that lets you see if they can succeed or hope they just
35:32don't sink to the bottom that's where the issue comes in this could be Ben a four win team heading
35:38into December saying white flag is up we're not trying to win anymore but if they're not and
35:42they're in like preservation mode which I think the Giants are that four wins could turn into six
35:47wins late if you're playing the appropriate guys but I think this season is a complete throwaway
35:52because I do think should your Sanders and Dylan Gabriel Ben will get starts this season on the
35:57Cleveland Browns and that's not good for a five and a half total I do as well DRS and then you have
36:03to wonder with what the Browns did in the 2025 NFL draft selecting Gabriel first but in the third round
36:09and should or Sanders second in round number five if they are the worst team in the NFL and in position
36:16perhaps for the Arch Manning or Garrett Nussmeyer or Lenora Sellers sweepstakes what exactly is the plan
36:22in the land moving forward all right AFC East odds now DRS I think you can make a compelling point for
36:29the Baltimore Ravens the Bengals heck maybe even the Steelers to try to go after the divisional title
36:35within the AFC North in the AFC East it is only one spot minus 260 the Buffalo Bills as a favorite to
36:43win this division for a sixth consecutive season in fact DRS that minus 260 price is the best price
36:50of any team to win any of the eight divisions around the national football league the other
36:55teams are interesting in terms of where they are entering 2025 but there is no doubt the Buffalo
37:02Bills are winning the AFC East this NFL season yes I love the Buffalo Bills in the picture and the
37:08scope of the AFC East and understand this why they are true Super Bowl contenders their schedule is very
37:13good for them this year is it a great football team entering in there hey Coleman Shakir and Palmer
37:18wide receiver and Kikata tight end will cook it running back it's solid it's not earth shattering
37:22it's not we're talking Jamar Chase and T Higgins or AJ Brown or Devontae Smith but here's the product
37:27of the environment your goal here to see for me to win an NFL championship is how do you get to the
37:31playoffs we'll talk about the Eagles a little bit later so tough to get back you want that number
37:35one seed the Bills look like they are first in line for that number one seed and if they get that
37:39you have home field advantage all the way through which is to your advantage that's why I love the
37:44Bills because of how bad the AFC East is they're a good team but boy are they getting a leg up this
37:49year on the competition just by who they have to do we face position to be in position that is first
37:55and foremost in Western New York more on that next live right here on this Tuesday on the early line
38:01on Sports Grid but not just a Tuesday it is July 1st which means it is a football month and it will be
38:08for the next eight straight until March 2026 we go division by division this week on TEL to get you
38:16in that football state of mind entering the 4th of July holiday weekend we hit on the AFC North now
38:22time for the AFC East and DRS when you see the Buffalo Bills has a minus 260 favorite the best price
38:28of any team to win any of the eight divisions around the NFL you might already give them the divisional
38:35championship right now the Buffalo Bills have won this division each of the previous five years
38:40and with how the AFC East looks this year it should be six seasons in a row the Bills have the best win
38:49total around the NFL 11 and a half the over has the hefty juice at minus 160 and you said it DRS there
38:55is no better team of any of the 32 in the NFL to be a one seed in a conference and to have home field
39:02advantage the entirety of a playoff run to get to a Super Bowl than the Buffalo Bills who of course are
39:10trying to get back to the biggest of football games for the first time in more than three decades
39:15since 1993 yeah you got Rousseau on one side now you bring in Bosa there now he's always been you know
39:21a little bit nicked up and injured throughout his career but if he can catch lightning in a bottle now
39:24you got that pass rushing menace you can have and also a defensive minded team we always know that
39:29offense is going to move the football because they have an MVP certainly caliber quarterback
39:33in Josh Allen but again just to reiterate that point that Brent and I keep bringing up
39:38if you can have the war of attrition in the regular season you can win 11 games and be a good football
39:42team but if you're going on the road in the playoffs that is a hazard that you want to try to avoid so
39:47even if you aren't as talented as let's just say the Kansas City Chiefs or the Baltimore Ravens you know
39:52what helps you a lot playing the Baltimore Ravens at home oh no it doesn't oh did you watch the game
39:57last year correct me if I'm wrong who won that football game playing in there in Buffalo yes
40:01it was the Baltimore Ravens getting beat by the Buffalo Bills so for me that's why I really like
40:06the Buffalo Bills and there's a chance for them to excel no doubt about it the defense should be fine
40:10the offense is going to make enough plays because why Josh Allen makes enough plays they just have
40:15to put it together because you just want to avoid situations like the Buffalo Bills going on the road
40:20to Kansas City at Arrowhead saying boy wouldn't we love this game in our own building but
40:24they've had that in the past and still lost that game they have but nobody's ever going yeah what's
40:29that then a couple years ago Kansas City going to beat Buffalo right yeah they have that's what I'm
40:33saying yes like you would love it and say like it's an automatic win but it's really not but you do
40:37want to have the percentages in your favorite nobody's ever going to say like well we lost him at home let's
40:42go play him on the road in the playoffs no you want to play him right in your own building again to get
40:45that chance and that's what it's going to give them with that absolute schedule this year home field
40:49advantage is the key that's why I like the Bills yeah DRS it does not guarantee a Buffalo victory
40:56if the Bills host Lamar Jackson and the Ravens or Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs who have been
41:00their absolute playoff kryptonite Buffalo individually has been ousted by KC in four of the five last
41:08seasons of course each and every year that Buffalo has won the AFC East to win divisional title number
41:14six in a row whoop-dee-doo they might put it on the shelf up there in Orchard Park but for Buffalo
41:20the question is moving forward it's winning the AFC championship and it's winning a Super Bowl at least
41:26getting to Super Bowl 60 in Santa Clara and although Buffalo has been dominant in this division it has not
41:34always been the easiest ride or the expected one at that who was the late pre-season favorite right before
41:42the regular season got started in 2024 to win the AFC East not Josh Allen and the Bills Aaron Rodgers
41:50and the Jets in fact each of the previous two years DRS with Rodgers in Florham Park there was an idea
41:57of course the Jets were going to compete for this division and compete for an AFC title that never
42:03materialized even to a tongue of Iloa under the bright mind of Mike McDaniel that offense was going to be
42:09so lethal they were going to be a divisional contender that has not materialized either although two years
42:16ago they did battle it out in week number 18 for that divisional crown and of course the New England
42:22Patriots after dominating this division in the Tom Brady era 11 consecutive divisional titles prior to the
42:29Bills now winning five straight very different times but you see the Pats there at a five to one price
42:36now entering 2025 with the second best chance of winning the AFC East New England DRS despite back-to-back
42:45four win campaigns including when Bill Belichick was the head coach in 2023 now have a win total of
42:52seven and a half this year in Foxborough the over has the juice the Patriots thought of as maybe
42:58flirting with 500 or even a winning record that would be a lot for Mike Vrabel to accomplish
43:05in his first year as the head coach with the Patriots but it's a roster that has built things
43:11up defensively and of course some hope for what Drake may can provide a pro ball quarterback mind
43:17you in year number two yeah here's the thing like the defense is really good that's gonna be the
43:22call and card of so many Bill Belichick defenses in the past for the Patriots variable certainly a
43:26Belichick disciple he got it right they spent money in the right direction there he had Stefan Diggs at
43:31wide receiver because nobody was seemingly wanting to come to New England page at least you get digs
43:36and you pay him quite a bit Steven's in the back we love him here's the issue I have like Drake
43:40may have showed signs of life last year like hey you know what maybe he can be our franchise quarterback
43:44that we expected but the worst case scenario that you can say about a football team is they're really
43:49good the expectations are good except for their offensive line now maybe they remedied that they got
43:54Campbell early in the first round there he's going to be at their left tackle hopefully that is a bookend
43:58that he could be out there for the next 10 to 15 years and that would be great but the rest of the
44:02lineup there on that offensive line a lot of question marks that's the last thing you want
44:06where if you can't protect your young quarterback what happens not only gets beat up to a pulp in the
44:11pocket but he starts to sort of hurry up his reads and his progression his majority process sort of slows
44:16down here if and it is a big if that offensive line can play good football the Patriots probably been
44:22or one of the more intriguing teams in the NFL to see what their upside possibly could be in 2025 but if we take a look at
44:28odds market I do agree like the Buffalo Bills are on a pedestal all by themselves but I have no issues
44:33with the New England Patriots being a better football team theoretically than the Miami Dolphins and the
44:38New York Jets here I'm intrigued by the Patriots this year I am the Patriots to win the AFC East
44:44nah New England to be a 10-win team probably not a playoff team not exactly likely but a team that could
44:51be a thorn in the side and no longer a doormat as they were each of the previous two seasons
44:57that is for sure you saw that schedule there seven and a half the win total for New England the over has the
45:03juice one of the reasons DRS the Patriots are expected to win eight games not just an improving defense
45:09and a better head coach who has proven it in Mike Vrabel or the optimism around Drake May at the QB spot
45:14the second easiest schedule in the National Football League as well part of that is this division
45:21the Dolphins are not thought of as a playoff contender any longer in fact the win total is
45:27eight and a half but the under has the juice at minus 180 the alternate win total of six and a half
45:33the over has the juice at minus 180 basically to me DRS that's a seven and ten season this year in
45:40South Florida in the Jets who were a five-win team last year are one of those five teams around the NFL
45:47with a win total of five and a half it's no longer Aaron Rodgers it is Justin Fields the over has the
45:53juice in the first year under Aaron Glenn at minus 135 I think the Jets can be competitive heck maybe
46:00even six or seven wins but again we're talking about a division now in the AFC East where the
46:06Bills should be a 13-win football team the Patriots might be eight and nine and the two other teams
46:12probably sub 500 as well in both the Finns and the Jets yeah and if you're looking at all four teams
46:18right Buffalo's got a bright future it's Josh Allen they're expected to win the division that's great
46:21next two to three years they should still be very good you take a look then at the New England Patriots
46:25same thing you have your quarterback you're trying to break in to be a full-time starter in the NFL
46:28and a viable one that can lead you over the next let's just say five to ten years then you take a look
46:33at the Jets who I love what they did hey look it didn't work last year we had all vets we brought the
46:37coach the general manager the quarterback we are starting a fresh year and we're going to set that
46:41footprint just like I did let's just say in Detroit talking about Aaron Glenn as the head coach but the
46:46team that's rudderless right now it's the Miami Dolphins Ben like the juice that we had to at least
46:51like two years ago for the Dolphins what they could be at their high end young innovative coach fun
46:56environment great football team and here we go and now it looks like this has the chance to absolutely
47:02implode midway through the season where the general manager's gone the head coach is gone we're not sure
47:08about the quarterback and now he's injured and you know Tyreek Hill is off the reservation I want
47:13nothing to do with the Dolphins completely agree AFC South next division by division around the
47:21National Football League in a football month now in July we give you that football future focus here
47:27on this Tuesday on the early line all right DRS AFC North AFC East done and completed let's get to
47:36the AFC South the best division in the National Football League now one of the compelling divisions
47:42around the NFL sure I'll give you that as we take a look at the divisional prices right now the Houston
47:49Texans booked as the favorite plus 110 in the two years that D'Amico Ryans has been the head coach
47:55in H-Town and C.J. Stroud has been the starting quarterback the Texans have won the AFC South
48:01divisional crown each of those two in fact Houston has won this division six of the previous 10 years
48:08the team that won it prior to the Texans winning it twice in a row that was the upside of Trevor
48:13Lawrence of the Jacksonville Jaguars who enters year number five of his NFL career but under a first
48:19year head coach in Liam Cohen whose first task is kind of reinvigorating that career of T. Law the
48:27Colts an interesting team this offseason that we'll discuss in the Titans enter the second year of the
48:33Brian Callahan tenure there in Nashville of course a lot to prove now with a new quarterback in Cam Ward
48:40the first overall pick this past April in the 2025 NFL drought DRS if you were to use one word to
48:48describe the AFC South taking a look at these four squads and these four divisional prices
48:53what would that one word be Trevor Lawrence that's the single word Trevor Lawrence if Trevor Lawrence
48:59plays well this year proper now Trevor we'll go Trevor on that one but that is my thought process
49:05here if he's good Ben you know what happens in this scenario the Jacksonville Jaguars win this division
49:10as they should because I look at this and say Liam Cohen hey Len you see what I did with Baker may feel
49:15like I am going to put you in positions that we are going to succeed and you might say well how can
49:19you do that now moving to Jacksonville well look at the blueprint that you had in Tampa Bay let me
49:24load you up at wide receiver where these guys are going to be running wide open routes that can make
49:28dynamic plays like Mike Evans used to do with Chris Godwin and say now I'm going to replace that with
49:32Justin with excuse me Brian Thomas Jr and also Travis Hunter and then you have Deami Brown who's
49:37electric on the outside it could be a great third counter piece and then you have Travis
49:41ATN in the backfield still Bigsby you draft Byshaw Tootin here from college football from
49:45Virginia Tech to come in as well I look at this and say to myself like Jacksonville's upside is so big
49:51to me but also understand this this is a big like Trevor Lawrence already made it in the NFL not because
49:57he's had unbelievable success he got that monster second contract he's living the good life but I got to
50:02tell you if he's not successful this year I oh he's still young no no no there's no more excuses
50:07this is a winnable division with unbelievable talent and a coach that should put you in the
50:13right position to succeed there are no more excuses in Jacksonville that's the team I want
50:18to watch where their upside is better than any team in that division which includes the Texans
50:24we highlight the Houston Texans DRS and correctly so a team that in two years under Stroud and Ryan's
50:31that combo of quarterback and head man have won double digit games and have won this division
50:37and also won a playoff game in the wild card round despite being a home underdog two years ago
50:44against Joe Flacco and the 11 win Cleveland Browns last year as a home underdog against Justin Herbert
50:50and the 11 win LA Chargers Houston should be booked as the favorite Houston should be the team we
50:56highlight as that front runner but there is no doubt DRS that a few years ago it wasn't Houston
51:02it was Jacksonville and their young quarterback that had all that hope and optimism in the 2023 NFL
51:10campaign the Jags were eight and three entering week number 12 they dropped five of their final six
51:17they coughed up their divisional lead allowing the Texans to come through the back door and take that
51:21divisional crown of which Houston of course has expanded upon at this time last year it was the Texans
51:28with all of the offseason optimism around the NFL the addition of Stefan Diggs a reworking of their
51:35defensive line and the addition of Daniil Hunter Donnie they didn't really get that last year they
51:41were not the AFC contender we were expecting them to be could they rival the likes of Patrick Mahomes and
51:47Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson not necessarily despite even winning a playoff game in a second consecutive
51:54divisional crown before we get back to Jacksonville will the winner of the AFC South even if Trevor
52:02is great under Liam Cohen or CJ Stroud continues to improve entering year number three will the winner
52:09of the AFC South in your estimation have any chance of actually contending for even a spot in the AFC
52:16championship game of which you you would like to say yes because the reason being you win the division
52:22what do you get an automatic home game here entering into the playoffs which you should win
52:25which will put you in the divisional round with a chance and say you know what probably had a good
52:29season already a playoff victory let's hold that momentum but no I'm not looking at this division
52:34as one of those where it's the uprising like oh my goodness two of the best teams in football the
52:38Jacksonville Jaguars and the Houston Texans one of these teams will advance deep into the playoffs
52:43one of these teams I think has a great chance to win a playoff game to get the divisional round
52:47and maybe they can win the divisional round but I'm not look I am a betting man I'm not betting on
52:52that happening between these two teams which I like the upside on both but if we're just being real
52:56I don't think they're making an AFC championship game I don't they certainly would not be favored
53:01to do so and whoever that second round opponent could be if they were to win and take advantage of
53:07being on their home turf to start off the postseason drastically different schedules by the way for both
53:13Houston and Jacksonville the Texans the beauty of winning two consecutive divisional titles is you
53:19get to celebrate those accolades the downside is you play first place schedule around the AFC so DRS
53:27eighth most difficult for Houston this year in the NFL the Jags sixth easiest schedule around the National
53:35Football League entering 2025 and I think that one word or that one proper noun Trevor or Trevor Lawrence
53:43that is the biggest deciding factor in the AFC South he has not been healthy to end out 2023
53:50certainly was not healthy for a good majority of last year that has not been the case for T-Law
53:56throughout most of his football playing career I think the start that he missed week 16 or 17
54:02in 2023 Donnie was the first start that he had missed since prior to high school high school
54:08collegiately and early on in his NFL career availability one of the best abilities that
54:14Lawrence possesses yeah you got to keep those shoulders healthy man you got to be letting that
54:18football rip but I'm excited to see because Brian again Brian Thomas Jr. was so good last year that
54:22you always expect these guys to take the next step and then you added like Travis Hunter into that
54:27lineup as well the possibilities are endless there and again I really like Liam Cohen he's in a good spot
54:32so should Trevor Lawrence be you should be feeling good in Duval for that live right here on the early
54:42line on Sports Grid a football focus in a football month let's go elsewhere around the AFC South DRS as
54:49we continue our division by division breakdown I completely agree with your assessment if Trevor
54:55Lawrence is great this year under the brilliant offensive mind Liam Cohen and then the Jaguars give the
55:01Texans a run for their money in terms of winning that AFC South now the Indianapolis Colts in this
55:08compelling division might actually be the most compelling team a roster that has a lot of talent
55:15a head coach in Shane Steichen that in his two years in Indy is perfectly 500 17 and 17 two years ago
55:24nine and eight last season eight and nine but the quarterback situation is as bewildering as you
55:31will find in the injury to Anthony Richardson in the shoulder issue that sidelined him from throwing
55:38during minicamp should not of course be overly optimistic for anybody with the Colts entering 2025 but
55:46maybe that's okay because maybe you weren't overly optimistic about AR's prospect as a starting
55:51quarterback great face of the franchise in the National Football League because of it the offseason
55:57acquisition Daniel Jones is now the odds-on favorite to be that week one starter for Indianapolis if it
56:03is Daniel Jones DRS and you see the win total of seven and a half for Indy what happens this year in
56:10Indianapolis nothing good happens in Indianapolis and by the way the FanDuel Sportsbook updated those
56:14numbers which really caught me off guard looking at them over the past 24 hours like Anthony Richardson
56:18now is back to being the favorite at a minus 130 price to be the starting quarterback which I don't
56:22know what that means in the scope of were we overestimating his shoulder injury because we were
56:28always under the guise to say oh no this is going to work out we don't even know he's going to resume
56:32throwing we must be getting some information here like back channeling that he might be ready for
56:36training camp because you have to say this if you're a Colts fan and it's a shame for Shane Steichen by
56:41the way when he gets fired in Indianapolis he's going to be a great great offensive coordinator for
56:45whatever team he has and eventually he'll become a head coach again because I don't think this
56:49situation is salvageable because Daniel Jones is not the future of your team so I don't agree with
56:55like let's just say both of these two guys are healthy Richardson and Jones now again outside of
56:59self-preservation mode who gives me the better chance of winning it might be Daniel Jones he's not
57:04going to throw a lot of touchdowns hopefully doesn't make stupid decisions and can run the offense the
57:07way you see fit but if you are a Colts fan or even the general manager ownership group you have to be
57:12looking at saying like we don't care what happens just play Anthony Richardson till the wheels fall
57:17off because two things are going to happen he's our franchise guy or he's not and we can finally move
57:22on the fact that you would bring in Daniel Jones for competition I get that but that competition was
57:27supposed to be like hey you know what I've been a viable starting quarterback not a good one I'm going
57:31to be a good clubhouse guy I'm going to help sort of not mentor Anthony Richardson but just be good
57:36vibes in the locker room and not pressure him like I'm the starter and take those you know press
57:40conference like I don't know why I'm not starting so I thought that was good but the fact that is
57:43if they're both healthy and Richardson's not the starter like what do you look forward to for the
57:48Colts like it's just a barren season where I just would rather see Anthony Richardson play whether he
57:53gets hurt or not play well play great play terrible but at least you have the answers on your future
57:59it seems like if we're going to start Daniel Jones day number one when Richardson should have been out
58:03there what are we doing sadly DRS it's almost a similar theme for the Colts entering yet another
58:11season all three under Shane Steichen he drafted Richardson fourth overall in 2023 the question
58:18then could he actually develop at the NFL level only played four games last year now in his de facto
58:24rookie season could he be a true franchise quarterback played 11 games had some injury issues some effort
58:31issues and had the worst completion percentage of qualified quarterbacks in the NFL the only one sub 50
58:37at 47.7 percent so now you're asking the same question can he be the guy and you have no idea if he is
58:46even healthy enough to get a start I also do laugh that Daniel Jones has kind of become that stable
58:52footing what a change of situation and expectation can be for a quarterback the Tennessee Titans also
59:00fascinating to me five and a half to win total a little bit of juice on the over I have no idea
59:06what Brian Callahan's philosophy is as the head man in Nashville last year really didn't get a chance
59:13to answer that with Will Levis and Mason Rudolph as his two starting quarterbacks now with Cam Ward
59:19it's a prove it year under a new GM and Mike Borgonzie there is no doubt about it for the Titans
59:24no like nobody Callahan what's that Callahan auto parts from Tommy boy like who knows how long this
59:30guy's actually going to stick around in Tennessee at this point but again your only goal is Cam Ward's
59:35your future let's see how he plays this year but come on now you know what I mean stop yeah I mean
59:40competitive maybe I don't really have much of a hope for the Titans to get more than six wins even if
59:48they do go over five and a half you're hoping that Cam Ward as the number one overall pick performs well
59:54in his rookie campaign hour number three comes the way up next
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