NFL: The InsidersThe Insiders Podcast: Quarterback Injuries and the New Dynamic Kickoff
NFL Network Insiders Tom Pelissero, Ian Rapoport & Mike Garafolo discuss the latest news from around the NFL including Geno Smith’s & Justin Herbert’s injuries. Plus, highlights from the Hall of Fame Game and Steve Wyche previews the 2024 HOF class enshrinement ceremony. Bridget Condon & Gregg Rosenthal sit down with Saints Safety Tyrann Mathieu to talk about the Saints' new season.
Training camps rolling on across the NFL.
There's Aaron Rodgers earlier today in Forum Park, New Jersey, Daniel Jones and the Giants out on the field as well, owner John Merris certainly sounding optimistic about his quarterback. There you got the Saints Derek Carr in Irvine, California. And right here in Atlanta, that guy Kirk Cousins just led a successful two minute drill down the field, followed by young Wayku hitting the field goal and then the foghorn going off. Here inside Mercedes Benz Stadium, Welcome inside with the Insiders, presented by Rocket Mortgage. I am Tom Pelisero here in Atlanta. On the other end there, that's Mike Garatfola, who was at Jets camp earlier.
We'll talk to him about that.
In the middle it's Ian Rapaport and Ian, I'm just gonna ask you where are you and what are you doing here?
Okay?
So I am currently in Boston in Logan Airport in Boston. I was supposed to be in Pittsburgh right now. Instead I'm not light canceled. So instead the plan, if my plane will stop being delayed, is to fly to Philly because that's close and then drive to Pittsburgh to see you tomorrow.
How would that work. I don't know. None of the planes have landed, but maybe.
I did that same drive I believe four years ago. Stayed in somewhere in Pennsylvania. You'll be just fine. Just stay awake. So we got some more action on the field right behind me here. We're gonna go around the NFL throughout the course of the show. Steve which is in Canton. He'll give us an update from the Hall of Fame. We got real live highlights from a football game that occurred last night. We'll also revisit some of the hold ins and holdouts. What is the latest on Brandon Ayuk, what's the latest on Jamar Chase. We will get into all of those, and we will talk to Mike about his visits to Jets camp and the latest with Aaron Rodgers, how that offense is coming along. Let's begin out on the other coast where in Seattle. There's been a little bit of uncertainty here in recent days about the status of quarterback Geno Smith did not practice again today, the third consecutive day that he has not been on the practice field.
He is dealing with knee and hip issues.
He got rolled up a couple of days ago, according to reporters on the scene, did at least make an appearance a couple hours into practice today, but was not dressed out for practice. I have not since a great deal of concern Mike at this point about the status of Geno Smith, but several days work here and it's been Sam Howell, not Gino Smith running that offense.
Yeah, it doesn't sound like from the evaluations that he got that there's any reason for long term concern, medium term concern, whatever. It's just some short term stuff that he is dealing with that is keeping him off the field right now.
So Gino Smith is going to have to work his way.
Back and see being worked through the issues that he's dealing with to get back on the field if he wants to get out and fend off hol who were seeing right there, who they were certainly high enough on to be the top bidder. When it came to the Commanders trading how Away this offseason. It's not that they wanted to get that to make this a quarterback controversy or anything.
It's just that they believed that if.
They had to go to how they were confident in him. They liked what he had shown and put on film to this point. So Gino Smith working through some aches. Smith in the second year of a three year, seventy five million dollars deal, set to make twenty two and a half million dollars this upcoming season. So yeah, Gino Smith will keep an eye on them so you can get himself back out on the practice field soon.
My understanding is Gino Smith had the MRI and his knee earlier, and then I believe today Missed practiced to get the other MRI that he was getting on his hip. So, you know, a little banged up, but really should be fine. Like you guys, I don't sense in a long term concern. To me, the biggest thing here is that they have Sam Howe. And you know we make a big deal of quarterback trades, especially when they happen in the craziness of free agency. But this really does give Seattle a security blanket if something happens to Gino Smith. They have someone who can run, has flashed a lot. I know it's someone the general manager, John Schneider, has has liked a lot, and I know you know that was part of Sam Howe, but thought he would be drafted by the Seahawks just because of the responses he got from that organization. Started a lot of football games, but a lot of snaps last year didn't work out as a starter. But at least if Gino doesn't play for whatever reason, they have someone they can turn to and really run the offense like it should be run, just like Gino does.
Ian for guy who is delayed at an airport. You're looking sound pretty good, But can we go back to the wide shot of Ian? Would you mind putting the handle down on your roller bag right there?
We don't need to see.
That's fair, that's fair, that's fair.
We almost nailed it, almost nailed the shot on I was not not been on the field and will not be for a little bit here. As we talked about yesterday, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert diagnosed with a plantar fascion issue in his right foot, so his plant foot. The plan for Herbert is he's going to miss the next couple of weeks being a boot, and then it will be a gradual return to play protocol. The Chargers say that he is expected to be ready for their Week one game against the Raiders. Jim Harbaugh addressed the status of Herbert and the plan moving forward after practice.
Not qualified to know when it happened. He is evaluated last night and you know, diagnosed last night, and then now we're following the instructions.
Of the doctors.
Mike I was at that practice on Wednesday. Didn't notice anything out of the ordinary with Justin Herbert. He took the normal It seemed like number of reps. He didn't appear to be limited in any way. But obviously we're talking about plantar fascion. This is not an acute injury. This is something we've seen linger with other players. What you make of what we know right now on.
Herbert, I remember Eli Manning had a planner fascion issue back when I was covering the Giants one You're actually collapsed on the field. Looked like he had torn as achilles. Tom Cofflin's heart dropped down to his feet. Turned out as a planner fascia issue. He wound up not missing a game. He had that iron Man streak that he went on for a while and playing the following week.
It was the right foot, which.
At the time Giants backup quarterback David Carr, now our colleague at NFL Network, explained to me that for a quarterback, a right handed throwing quarterback, the right foot is actually the better foot to have it on because when you plant, you really put the weight on your left foot. So anyway, long story short on Justin Herbert, he's going to be in that boot. The plan is for the rest that he's undergoing to help quiet this thing down and be something that he can manage here for the rest of the season or as long as it'll be bothering him before he can really put it to the side. Whether or not he's ready for Week one, and I know the Chargers are confident, but whether or not he's ready.
Depends on how this rest goes from what I am told.
So keep your fingers crossed, Chargers and see how this goes for the next couple of weeks and that he heals up and starts to recover and feel a lot better.
Easton Stick actually flashed a little bit when he got the opportunity last year after Justin Herbert got hurt, the Chargers re signed him in the offseason. He will now be running the first team offense, at least for now. Max Duggan, who once took TCU to a national title game, Currently sitting at number two on the depth chart. The Giants quarterback Daniel Jones alsos over the season injed injury last year. It was a torn ACL. He's been fully cleared throughout the course of training camp. He's been doing everything. Is he enters a really important year, the last fully guaranteed year on that contract extension that he signed back in March of twenty twenty three. From what owner John Marra has seen so far, he seems like he's encouraged.
How do you feel about Daniel Jones that contract and where things stand now at quarterback?
Yeah, Anderson, I'm still happy we gave him that contract because I thought he played really well for us in twenty two. Last year, he got hurt, and you know, let's be honest, when he was playing, we weren't blocking anybody. So let's give him a chance with a better offensive line with some weapons around him to see what he can do. I was nervous about giving up too much to go and get a quarterback, but I was prepared to let him do that if that's what they wanted to do. We made a decision to stay with Daniel and had a weapon for him. I think that's going to work out for him.
Seeing as we know from watching Hard Knocks, the Giants did want to bring back Tyrod Taylor's to backup quarterback.
The Jets outbid them. They brought it a.
Guy in Drew Lock who has started a fair number of games, but to the extent that anybody believed Drew Lock would be challenging for that starting job if he's fairly apparent that the Giants plan continues to be giving Daniel Jones his best and maybe last shot.
Yeah, great episode of the fifth episode of Hard Knocks. I have an awesome cameo in there by the way. Anyway, from the sound of John Mattin, that really, to me sounds like an owner who absolutely not only believes in his quarterback, but is very much at peace with not trade. But you know, you got to appreciate the candor of John Maron essentially saying that he was nervous about giving up so much to trade it for a quarterback.
And he's right. They didn't pluck anybody last year.
This is I think it's very obvious to say a year for Daniel Jones that will go a long way in deciding which way his career is going to go. He's probably got the best offensive line that he's had, He's probably got the best pass catchers that he's had. Obviously doesn't have Sake one Barkley, but certainly has a running back room in a variety of ways that can help him. It's got the contract, he has to go out and prove it, and you know, John Maras sounds as optimistic as you would think and want an owner to sound. In August. It is simply just on Daniel Jones, who has done it before. It is on him to go do it this year again with a pretty good supporting cast.
Twenty twenty three was certainly the year of the starting quarterback season. Any injury to Sean Watson, another one who had such an injury that one was to his shoulder, played the best game he's played, you know, win over the Ravens, and then found out he was going to need a season ending surgery. There have been times for the course of training camp where it seems like they've scaled things back on to Sean Watson did not throw it all today, but Kevin Stefanski said that is all part of the playoffs.
Done a nice job throughout the days that he's throwing. I thought he's doing really well. He's focused, locked in. Even today. It's proud of him for being in the huddle. Given coaching points. I think that's so such a huge part of this as the starting quarterback is Even on a day like this where he gets an off day throwing, it's not an off day from a leadership perspective, and he did a nice job.
Some good news on a human level. Deontay Foreman, who had suffered what appeared to be a very significant, potentially injury in practice earlier this week, has rejoined the team. He was diagnosed with basically a blow to the head that caused neck pain. As precaution, he was airlifted via helicopter to a local hospital. All signs seemed positive, though remains to be seen when exactly the Foreman is going to get back onto the field. He did put out a statement earlier today saying thank you all from the bottom of my heart to everyone who reached out to me and or prayed for me today. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared, slash nervous earlier, but God was with me and those prayers definitely worked. Another injury that occurred during training camp earlier today, Cam Robinson, the Jaguars tackle suffering a shoulder injury. There was not a whole lot of information immediately after practice from Doug Peterson, but certainly we're talking about Jaguars offense that is trying to find some consistency here in twenty twenty four. That guy protecting the blind side of their new fifty five million dollar a year quarterback, Trevor Lawrence pretty pretty important to Jacksonville's plans, and so we'll certainly be keeping tabs on that. Our handful of holdouts and hold ends that are ongoing right now, including Ceedee Lambason Reddick, Trent Williams who are not with their teams can be fined on a daily basis. Brandon Ayuk, Jamar Chase executing at this point still hold ins, which, as I've explained many times, not a real thing. You don't get fined until the team says, hey, you gotta practice or else we're gonna find you. Let's start with one of these holdouts, Mike you were at Jets camp earlier today, or Hassan Reddick has been absent under circumstances. I really can't think of a lot of examples of the acquire him in the offseason. They clearly thought that they hadn't understanding he's going to come in and play on the current contract. Son Reddick has had other ideas. He's still not there. What's going on.
The Jets felt like they had an offer that they put out to Hassan Reddick before the trade, which he didn't accept the time and felt like, well, what's a good starting point, like we'll continue to have conversations, and then he just didn't show up and he missed mini camp and now he's holding out a training camp, which leading up to training camp when it was a storyline is he going to show up? I remember somebody close to him saying, this guy's serious about his money and back and.
Right now it doesn't feel like he was getting either.
So the Jets policy has been we're not going to negotiate while you're away, but if you come in, we'll talk to you. We've got some ideas for what we can do financially. And he's like, well let me hear them, and they go, well, come in and we'll tell you. And it's like a standoff and who's going to blink right now?
So the Jets in the.
Meantime moving forward with some edge guys that can potentially get to the quarterback in Will Anderson and or excuse me, sorry, not Will Anderson. He plays for the Texans. Will McDonald, that's the name I meant to say. And Jermaine Johnson the other one. So these guys are showing out a training camp. They like what they see from those guys, but they'd love to have Usson Reddick in there. This is a team that's been looking for and edge presence for years and was hopeful that Redick would help that to be the case. So we'll see where this goes from here. Right now, it is a standoffee, and.
Let's talk about some of those hold ins. We know the wide receiver market has exploded through the course this offseason, justin Jefferson setting the top of it at thirty five million dollars for here Ceee Lamb again holding out, But Jamar Chase, Brandon Ayuk are in camp. They're just not practicing. Give me the latest on those situations.
We'll start with Brandon Ayuk because you know we saw I think it was a day ago when he walked down to the field and gave a bro hug to Kyle Shanahan. I know that's what it was because Kyle Shanahan told us that it was a bro hug, and that's just what people do.
So that's where we are.
We are at a point of reading into what it means when he bro hugs his coach. He has wanted a contracts extension, he has not been able to reach one with the forty nine ers. This situation, I would say, could turn any which way from you know, extension all the way through all the other options, and I will say some twists and turns along the way, we will see where it goes. I do know that whatever happens to Brandon Ayuk, he is going to make a lot of money at some point. Similar for Jamar Chase, and I would say this is actually a little more odd interesting, whatever you want to say. Because owner Mike Brown came out and said he leaves to be tough, challenging a long shot for Jamar Chase to get that contract extension that he wants, and still Chase was like, you know what, I'm just not going to be practicing. Zach Taylor has declined to call to hold in, has really declined to weigh in at all. Either way, it is clear Jamar Chase deserves a contract extension. What we don't know is he going to get it this year or is he going to wait until he's in the final year of his deal, just like his buddy Justin Jefferson did so.
Ian's in an airport.
I'm kind of happy, ready for somebody to pull that fire alarm since we also can see that in the shot right now, Ian, we had this wonderful map.
It's you in like a red barn prop plane right here.
I don't see the part where you get stranded outside Foxborough.
I think we might have to update that.
I'm also surprised if your flight was going to be delayed, why didn't you just stick around Jillette Stadium because I think that they've.
Got a pretty good they got a pretty good.
Event tonight right all there, I am yep, look at look at Metallica, Look at my guys. Actually, uh, I was kind of listening on the way out and there was you know, there was some tail getting going on as I was leaving Jillett Today, those are some hardcore dus pounding some beers about five hours before the show. So I could do it, and I would be I would hang, look at it, look at me in the mush pit.
I could hang.
I just don't know that after that partying, I would actually make my plight.
There I am again, time out, time out?
Name me three? Three metallic songs not named after saying man.
Yea three, I gotta go three?
Not how about what I'll give you?
Master a puppety one.
Okay, that's the one I was hoping you would get. All right, three, that's it. That's all.
That's all them Ian very disappointing.
When I get to your next train today.
Nobody forgetting that wrong. You are unforgiven. Okay, all right, there you go, you.
Got it all right.
We'll save the rest of the metallica punds for later. As Ian rides the lightning all the way to Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Coming up after this, let's get to Canton, Ohio. Steve Whitch is out there for all of the Hall of Fame festivities, including that game that we saw last night. We didn't see those quarterbacks. We actually saw some fireworks on offense. We'll break it down to get to the highlights. Right after this on The Insiders presented by Rocket Mortgage. Holy crap, we've got a football highlight the Hall of Fame game. Canton Ohio, c J Strout, Caleb Williams not out there, although at least the mascot came to say hello. Devin Hester, Andre Johnson, Julius Pepper's Patrick Willis members of these seven member Hall of Fame class that will be inducted on Saturday. Right here on NFL Network, we had new kickoffs. It's the dynamic kickoff rule, making its debut for the first time. I'm sure thirty special teams coordinators all tuning in to see what exactly is everybody else.
Going to do. Here was the very first one. It's Steven Simms.
Receiving the kick in his own five yard line, getting up ended at the twenty six. You see the setup zone, the close space to try to reduce the space and the speed reduce the injury, specifically concussions that we've seen on that play in the past. There were no big plays on that last night, but at least we got to look at exactly what it might look like, including I always love a good punter running off the field holding a t and in one case, actually waving to the crowd while doing so. Special teams coordinators all over the league again examining this play. Guys like Frank Ross of the Texans. This is gonna take a little bit of getting used to.
Here.
There's Frank going over with the Miko Ryan. Let's see some offense though. How about that second quarter Brett Rippin to Colin Johnson, that was the connection of the night. Caleb Williams Romadoon say they're loving it. Bears pulled within ten to seven. Later on in the second quarter, Texans still up ten to seven. Case Catum to cam Akers for a four yard strike. How about cam Akers with two torn achilles that he has come back from. He made a very early case to be a part of that roster. Ensuing Bear's possession more. Brett Rippon to Colin Johnson highlights. This one didn't actually count if I remember correctly, got overturned, almost haulted in though so nice. We'll show it twice even though it didn't actually count on the scoreboard. Let's go forward to the third quarter. Now, Bear's still trailing seventeen to fourteen, third and five from the Texans nine. Who else Rippin' Johnson. I don't know how the career is gonna go for these two gentlemen.
Here.
We have seen Brett Rippin start a game in the NFL all before, but they had their moment on the biggest stage of all Bears win twenty one to seventeen in a game that was shut down then because of a torrential downpour, some rough weather there in Canton, Ohio.
But our guys Steve Witch toughing it.
Out for us in Canton, Ohio, welcoming him in to the Insiders presented by a Rock and Mortgage. See, let's start out with the dynamic kickoff rule. It's a little walking. We saw a couple of flags. There's still a lot to be determined and how the strategy is going to work out.
But you saw it live for the first time. What were your impressions. Yeah, I mean, first off, you still saw the physicality of the play.
I mean, yes, there were not a covered teams running down thirty yards for the big hit, but there were still very physical tackles in that tight space.
So that's going to remain part of things.
The other part of the tom those you saw all the kicks go into the center of the field and talking with some coaches before the game and of training camps.
You're gonna see once we get.
The regular season those kickoffs going to the corners, to the deep edges, so that you guys that sidelined as an additional defender. Teams do not really want to show what their strategy is right now. What this new kickoff, no dynamicness about it except for the holder actually running off the field with the tee. But otherwise I think we can see a lot throughout the rest of the preseason.
I've seen the same thing, Steve. I've been to seven camps. Now.
Every special teams period includes some of those directional kicks where basically they're trying to cough and corner it, put it down there, landed, and then cut the field in half to keep the returner from having options in terms of what direction he's going to go. There's a lot more happening, Steve, over the next forty eight hours or so in Kanton, Ohio. Give me the breakdown of what all we're going to see. What you're excited about.
Well, first off, Tom, I'm in the hotel where the Hall of Famers are staying and it's just like a moshpit of greatness. And when these seven members go into the Hall of Fame to class of twenty twenty four, that's only three hundred and seventy seven people who have played or coached the game that are going to be enshrined in Canton.
But what's really been cool today is.
Talking to some of the guys who are going in. Patrick Willis, who's a very quiet guy, said he's finally starting to feel the butterflies about giving the speech how real this really is. And then Andre Johnson, the first Houston Texan and the only true offensive player in this class is going into the Hall of Fame, said he came out of the Nicheke luncheon, which is a Hall of Famer's only luncheon where it's a very candid conversation, saying, now he is starting to understand it what.
Some of these great people, some of these great players, tell him.
You are now part of the family, but you've earned the right to be here. And as he was telling me this, Bruce Smith, the great Bill's pass rusher, came up to him and said, dude, you were a beast.
You've earned every bit of this.
And Andre Johnson took a step back like, oh man, just to hear something like that, I know.
What this really means.
So we know tomorrow shortly afternoon Eastern time, they're going to give.
Up there and give their speeches and then it's on to the parties.
By the way, the University of Miami party two new entrants, Andre Johnson and Devin Hester.
That's going to be big.
But also tom something to watch for Steve McMichael, who the Chicago Bears you cannot be here to be enshrined because he has als he'll be at home. Richard Dent, who's part of the party to here representing him, said they have a significant surprise for everybody on how he is going to be notified and that his bus will be revealed.
We're really looking forward to that, Steve, Thanks very much.
Look forward to a lot more coverage from you throughout the weekend there in Campton, Ohio, and there'll be a lot more coverage right here on NFL Network.
Big weekend for the you.
As Steve mentioned right there, coverage beginning on NFL Network and ESPN Saturday at noon Eastern time. You can also stream it on NFL Plus. Aaron Rodgers will bend up in Canton, Ohio one day. That's what happens when you win for NFL MVPs. But ken you're in a second Super Bowl ring with the New York Jets. Our guy Mike Garafalo is at Jets camp earlier today. He's got the break down next on the Insiders Patriots training camp rolling on in Foxborough, where all eyes have been on Drake may Those certainly seems as if Jacoby Brissette remains at the top of the depth chart. Forerset himself sat down with our guys in Foxborough earlier today.
I'm probably the perfect person to mentor to guys in my room, but I'm also the perfect person for this job to start, you know. And I don't take that lightly like that.
You know.
I came here to play first, and every time I step out on that field and my teammates see me, I want them to know, like, yeah, it's everything that comes with me. It comes with me. But I'm here to start, and I'm here to play and win game, and that's my plan. I'm competing with the whole room, you know. I wanted to be abundantly clear who's the guy, you know. I don't want anybody to question anything about that. But you know from Drake he's done a good job. He's gotten better each and every day, and you know that's all you can ask for all of us. You know, I'm out there trying to get better each and every day. I want my teammates to see me going out there and see our room getting better. Eat you every day because at some point we're all gonna need each other. And you know, in the standard can't change when one of us goes in and one goes out.
Welcome back to the Insiders, presented by Rocket Mortgage. Tom Pelasero here at Atlanta Friday night. Likes the Falcons practice rolling on here, which is the touchdown pass right there to uh Drake London. Sorry, I'm trying to multitask. That's he and Rappaport in an airport somewhere. That is Mike Garafolo, who was at Jets camp earlier today. Ian you were around that team, you were talking to Jacoby Brissett. You mostly here to be paying attention except when you checked your watts. Right in the middle of that really great answer he gave, what do you make of where we are right now with the quarterback competition?
True?
Story.
I got a Twitter alert during that interview and it was yours Tom, so it's actually your fault. But anyway, I thought it was really interesting for really listening to Jacoby Brissetta. I didn't read it there, but anyway, I thought it was really interesting listening to Jacoby Brissett today because you know, a lot of the questions were about mentorship, and I wanted to kind of make the point that he is not a coach.
He is a player.
He is there to compete, and Brissette picked right up off that and was basically, like, I am the starter. It's important that my teammates know I'm the starter. It's important that I prove that I'm the starter. And obviously, because he's a good person, he will teach, he will help, he will guide, but he will also compete like crazy. And it does seem like he's got the leg up in the Patriots quarterback competition right now.
Not saying Drake May can't be the starter.
Obviously, if things go really, really well in the preseason games, maybe things change, But to me, it makes a lot of sense for this Patriots organization. We have a quarterback and Drake May has not played a ton of games either in high school or college. And you have a savvy veteran like Jacoby Brissett who also has played excellent football in this scheme a couple of years ago in Cleveland with his now offensive coordinator Alex van Pelt starting Jacoby Brissett to begin the season. It makes a lot of sense, and that appears to be the direction it is going.
I think that answer today that you're talking about, Ian, was him saying, you know, hey, I know where Drake May was drafted.
I'm gonna do what I can to kind of help him along, but you.
Better come get this job out out of my hands. You better go take it from me. I'm not giving it up. I mean, that was definitely him planting the flag and making it clear that he's not just a placeholder in his mind either.
He thinks he's a guy.
Who has put on tape the ability to play winning football and feels like he could help this team.
Play winning football.
So I thought that was really interesting in a good interview by you, even when.
You weren't listening and looking at me. Watch.
Thanks Ian, best of luck.
I hope to see you in La Troupe, Pennsylvania tomorrow I'm flying in, you're driving in. Look forward to seeing you there elsewhere in the AFC East Jets training camp rolling on at Fding Park, they'tways stay timing and let's go ahead. Bend over, grab the bag, put the handle back up and get the hell out of here. Aaron Rodgers on the field course coming off the Tour Achilles last year, Our Mike Folo was there and it is time now for Built for Success presented by Rocket Mortgage. You look at some of those parts that they have put around Aaron Rodgers, both the guys who are already there like Garret Wilson Emburs Hall, as well as some of the recent editions like Mike Williams is coming off his own season ending injury, and the left tackle Tyron Smith, who is certainly a big part of what they hope is going to be an improved protection unit for Aaron Rodgers. For now, they're gutting it out too through some heat, and so was Mike who was in Florin Park earlier today. I can never do that because I got to keep the hair, I got to keep the height on it. Mike doesn't really have that problem. So glad that you were able to maybe catch a shower, be back here, put on the same shirt again.
Mike, you were out there, how about you saw.
Oh no, no, no, no shower, no shower power hour.
We'll call it. That's encouraging. Yeah, do you have a question or should prefer a.
Shower hour if you're going to be on the show now, just talk about the Jets? How about that.
The Jets?
Aaron Rodgers, I would say that I'll take it premire with fine. I would say that Judy Batista was there with me today and we both sort of had the same observations and we've kind of been seeing it now. It's also been these moments where he's been talking to Garrett Wilson and gesturing and the two of them look like they're fighting more than having a conversation. It's those moments that I'm talking about when I say to you that I feel like this year's Rogers compared to last year's. His hands are in everything. You know, he's talking to Garrett Wilson, he's talking to offensive lineman. Morgan Moses was telling us that, you know, he's giving the offensive lineman not pointers on their technique, but telling them what's coming offensively.
And Hey, if this happens, look for this and all this stuff, and then guys in the defense are saying the same thing. He's telling us what he's seeing.
I just feel like, you know, and I haven't asked Aaron this. We didn't get a chance to talk to him today, but just feel like maybe after last year, he feels like these opportunities are more fleeting, particularly at this point in his career, and.
He wants to do some great things with the Jets.
Had that ta taking away from him after only four snaps last year, and he's really making it about lifting the whole team like last year felt like more. Yeah, he's helping the offense and really was invested in helping Zach Wilson come along. But now you see him just hands in everything and really trying to get this team to be a.
Winning team top to bottom on the roster.
I just feel like that's the case, and I feel like that's going to continue, and should he stay healthy, there's no reason to believe the entire team.
Can't be lifted by Aaron Rodgers.
There's also never a day at Jets camp without some type of a controversy. Mike or Judy Batista actually broke this story earlier today. You're an insider, your reporter. Did you figure out who on the crew took a bite out of a donut and then put it back in the box.
We ran a thing with our producer taking a bite out of it. You know, he shot the video and pretended like it was security footage.
That was quite funny. We're not we don't have it here, We're not gonna run it.
My theory.
There it is.
There's Cody Thick, all right, So yeah, let's just stick with this.
Let's just sick with it. Let's go with the stick.
There's Cody taking a bite enjoying it, which if you enjoyed it, you wouldn't put it back.
N Listen. Man, it was a long day, it was a hot day. He definitely got to us at a little bit today.
There's the point in camp where a weekend inside training camp and everybody's starting to lose it a little bit. Cody would have been my guest though, just for whatever it's worth. I mean, all the Saints they're in California for training camp. Tyron Matthew hoping this is the year he can help that hometown team get back to the playoffs.
How are they gonna do it? Let's ask the honey Badgery himself.
When he joins the Insiders next, presented by Rocket Mortgage. Saints haven't made the playoffs since back in twenty twenty.
Is this the year that they can turn the tide? Well, they've already changed one thing.
Doing training camp out in Irvine, California to get out of that heat in the humidity in New Orleans, one of their leaders, Tyron Matthew, the veteran defensive back, joined our Bridget Condon and Greg Rosenthal.
Kyan A lot has been talked to this week about how you stepped up as a veteran. How have you kind of moved into that role early this season in training camp?
Yeah, I mean we've got a lot of young guys on our team. I mean we're really talented bunch. So I think a lot of that is, you know, just veterans kind of you know, pulling that wait along and getting these young guys to kind of realize their responsibilities on you know, their potential.
Yeah.
I follow you on Twitter, great follow underrated Tyron Matthew, and I couldn't help but notice you get a little upset earlier this week about some safety rankings that were at one. You know, Chauncey Gardner Johnson, who was once on the Saints. He seemed to be talking about he didn't like the rankings, and I love that you stuck up for yourself right away, Like how do you feel about where you're viewed in the league and those Madden rankings and what he had to say.
Yeah, I mean, I've been doing this a long time. You know, I will say that I'm usually like, I'm kind of in that range for a while, but I mean the number speak for himself, you know what I mean. I think I'm like one or one or two in like interceptions since twenty thirteen, you know what I mean. I've been an all decade, All Pro player. So I mean when.
Guys like that chirp, it doesn't really bother me.
But every now and then, you know, I got to take that low road and kind of remind them you know who I am.
Does it give you a little extra juice? You play the week week two? You got that circle now? Oh?
Yeah, for sure.
I mean listen, man, he used to play for the Saints, and you know obviously, uh you know, I've played against the Eagles a bunch when it's a great team. I think Nick is going to do a great job getting those guys ready. But uh, you know we're gonna be ready to roll.
Twenty twenty three was your fifth season with at least three or more interceptions.
How do you know what I'm saying?
Yeah, I got right here, man, How do you keep that up? Is there something you make sure you do in the off season to get those numbers?
I mean, I'm highly motivated. It doesn't really take a bunch for me to get going. And two, man, like, I've always been around really good, great coaches.
You know.
I think when I came to this league, I had bowls and you know, I spent the year of Romeo Cornell and you know, now I'm here with you know, Dennis Allen, who's you know, his defense are usually like top five, top ten. So a lot of that credit goes to coaches and the way those guys kind of moved me around and kind of just let me do what I'm good at.
I think about the arc of your career and it's fascinating think about how you came into the league slipping in the draft and then the injury that you suffered obviously with Arizona, and then to bounce back and have these types of seasons and to get these big contracts. How does it feel to you now you're in your hometown, what is this? You're twelve twelve, You're twelve in the NFL. How is your perspective on just the journey that you've been on it as a player?
Yeah, I mean, you know, I've had some rocky moments, man. I think it kind of goes back to that quote like why you shouldn't give up, right, And you know, I've had my fair share of adversity and kind of obstacles to overcome, But you know, I just kept my head in it. You know, I try to stay as close to the game as possible. But like I said, man, between coaches and playing with great players, you know, I think the motivation is there, the challenge is always there.
There's been a lot of questions about this offense, offensive line, how it's going to look under new offensive coordinator Clint Kubiak. For you guys on defense, how do you like, how do you manage the expectations of the offense. But knowing that you guys are slid on defense and can kind of be that backbone.
Yeah, I mean obviously, you know you want to challenge those guys, you know, as much as we can. I will say that, you know, I think the scheme that those guys are in, it fits all of those guys really well.
You know.
I think defensively, you have to be really good with your eyes.
You got to.
Understand leverage, and then you got to figure out, you know, where's Shahid, Like where's Chris a Lovey, Where's album Kamara? Where's Taysom Hill in the formation? So it's a lot to look at, and I can see why, you know, teams like the Niners in the Rams right, Like those teams are usually at the top of the list when it comes to offensive play because it's just so much to look at, like so many moving pieces.
I'm jealous of you. I went to school in New Orleans and you're living my dream moving back to New Orleans at the height of your career. Like, what's the best thing about being back in New Orleans and living there?
Man?
I tell you, man, it's kind of easy to get that home cooked meal. So you know, between my sister and my mom and you know, just everybody, man, everybody's trying to feed me. So, Uh, I got to wash my weight, you know what I mean a lot, but uh, it's good to be back home.
Send some of that food our way real quick. Before we let you go, one word to describe what you think the Saints team will be this season.
Oh, We're gonna have way more attitude. We've got to have way more attitude this season.
Yeah.
I think it's personal, not just for us, you know, I think for our coaches as well, Like we want to put a good product out there, and uh, we're gonna get back to that old nasty you know, just playing with an attitude.
Appreciate it.
Thanks much.
Going up after this, let's head to the Trope, Pennsylvania where the quarterback competition rolls on.
Is it justin fields?
Is Russell Wilson who is still limited in practice? We'll dig into it next. And the Insider is presented by Rocket Mortgage as the only player ever to lead the league in sackson three different seasons. No surprise, TJ. Watts been voted one of the NFL's ten best players. He comes in at number eight on the list. Here's everybody else in the top ten for now that is alphabetical, but We are mere ten minutes away from finding out the exact order. That's right coming up after this show, the top one hundred players of twenty twenty four are going to be ranked ten through number one. Find out who is player's favorite as the number one player for the twenty twenty four NFL season. That is tonight eight pm Eastern Time. Right after this show, Welcome Back to the Insiders, presented by Rocket Mortgage, Tom Pelliero with Mike Garrifolo, Mike, I am Headed, and Ian Hypothetic will be there too to let troupe Pennsylvania tomorrow to see the Steelers. You were already there a few days ago. What am I walking into in terms of that quarterback competition or whatever you want to call it, and really the entire state of the Steelers.
Here, you're walking into rust doing more than he did the day that I was. A day I was there, he was still working his way back from that CAF injury, had the hat on. This is the day I believe we were there where he was doing some work and running through a mock game in his own mind, where he was on the field kind of you know, calling plays off a wristband and pointing to people and so you know, he's getting back to top shape here. And it's a good thing because Justin Fields has been impressing. They they being the players, they being the coaches, they being the personnel. Folks there can see the upside, can see everything about Justin Fields that makes him sensational when it all clicks and when he does it with either his arm or his.
Legs or both.
So Russell Wilson, not quite as shifty as he once was early his career, still got you know, enough ability to play quarterback in this league. But you know Justin Field's going to do some things. You know, he's showing them that upside there, and also seems like he's really grasping the mental part of this thing. He's always been coachable. I've always heard that he's always to learn, and he is showing that as well. So this one I think is going to be It's wide open, you know, Mike Tomlins said, Russell Wilson was in the pole position, but this is a several lap race and I can't wait to see a play out in the preseason.
He's had some soft tissue injuries in recent years here.
He's not the youngest guy anymore. All these reps.
Russell Wilson is losing, you know, have to be weighing on his mind too, when he's looking out there and seeing somebody else running the offense that he's been mentally envisioning for several months now, that he is going to be the guy running. Okay, coming up after this, let's talk about Patrick Mahomes. Why not, He's going to be on that top ten list later on tonight. You're not gonna want to miss what Patrick Mahomes did in practice today. Seriously, stick around, you gotta see it.
It's The Insider's presented by Rocket Mortgage.
Football is back.
An NFL Network has every NFL preseason game, including twenty one live twenty one Live.
It's time for football.
The NFL preseason starts August eighth through August twenty fifth on NFL Network and blackout restrictions apply. Also streaming on NFL Plus. Subscription required for NFL Plus. Josh Allen on the field, and yes, this is the Bills. Josh Allen. Why is he wearing a black helmet? Unclear? Maybe a little bit of advanced marketing testing the waters. It's a pretty sweet look though it looks like something out of any given Sunday. Right there, Deebo, Samuel and the forty nine ers, they're rolling on in Santa Clara. He's signing autographs, he's signing penance, he's signing footballs, he's.
Signing a baby. I don't know the.
Ins and outs of the sharpie market there, but I would think that ink on a newborn skin might lead to a rash.
You might have to get some cream for that.
Meanwhile, say Joseph Missouri, Patrick Mahomes, is there anything he can't do?
Well? How about this?
We all remember this game from the playground right when we were kids. Spin around on the on the baseball bat and then just kind of see what happens. He is blindfolded here, he is dizzy. They're getting him a line to go the correct direction. He goes two for three here, which is probably better than a lot of us could do that first one, missing the Mark Mahomes coming right back. It's like we're going you know, we're out of stuff, right, We're out of things we can coach with the guy. How about how about we spin around blindfolded and just see what the hell happens. Tom Pilicero, Mike Carrafola back here on The Insiders presented by Rocket Mortgage. How did that go, Mike? When you did that back in the day, for us, it was like you spent around the bat and then it was trying to run and inevitably you fell into the side of the house.
I have two thoughts on that. One.
If the new kickoff thing doesn't work out, maybe that's how we'll determine who gets possession or where you get the possession to.
Stuck it a series.
The other thing is that I feel like now I go on spinny things with my kids. I don't know if this is an aging thing. I get dizzy way faster and it lasts way longer.
Just watching that right now is making me busy.
I'll shout out to Mike for last summer when me and my kids were out there at the Jersey Shore. I don't do rides. Mike took every ride with my kids, including that backwards tilt the world looking thing, which I greatly appreciate it, Mike. Next week, The Insiders is live one hour earlier Monday Tuesday Wednesday on at six pm Eastern Time, so make.
Sure you get here an hour earlier that normal. We'll be live.
I will be live from Indianapolis, from the forty nine ers camp and the Seahawks camp, So a lot of farm to come. Mike, what are you most excited about?
Raters?
Are you?
So we're gonna be all over the place.
Yeah, go ahead, finish, that's right.
Yeah, well we'll be seeing all the teams across the NFL.
You know what else I'm excited for.
Right after this, we're gonna find out the order of the top ten players has voted on by the players. It is the culmination of everybody's favorite moment in August. That's right, the NFL one hundred list. Stick around. Catch that starting in mere seconds here join us on the entires one hour earlier next week, we'll see it
