What's up, guys. We've got a great show coming to you this week. A fantastic guess that you guys are familiar with the takeaways regression. As always, we get to all of your questions in the sixth pack. Let's go all right, welcome back in. We're going into the second week of training camp. Now, maybe it doesn't really feel like it because you're not turning on the TV and seeing guys running into each other. Uh, you don't see Tom Brady and his new buccaneer's helmet, Joe Burrow and his d Bengos helmet to a jungle below and his new Dolphins helmet. And I'm not all over the country right now. I'm actually sitting at home and teams are just getting out onto the field now. UM. For the strength and conditioning phase of training camp. That will go for nine days. They'll get eight days of work in with a day off mixed in. Uh, they'll have walkthroughs. So that's the closest thing to football activity. UM. That that that will happen over the next over the next week or so. UM, it's the mm QB Podcast. To Albert Brier in case didn't already know, and we're gonna jump right into the takeaways with that. That that is the backdrop, um so far, agresh uh, And we're welcoming Andy Gresh of course from w p R Oh. So far, really all we've gotten is who's testing positive for COVID, who's going on the pup list. Um, it's been an interesting few days. So, like, I don't know, like, how does this feel for you? Like, because you're obviously on the radio every night and normally you would have something that you on football wives, now you don't. Yeah. I think for some of it, Bert, it is the overreaction of some because what fans are going through right now is what other what fans of other leagues have gone through, right like when the NHL reported they had their COVID positives, when MLB reported they had their COVID positives. So I think right now the NFL is going through that, and of course it's oh my god, look at all of these players who are testing positive and look at this result and that result, and this guy's opting out and that guy's opting out. We're really in that early reactionary phase for the NFL that we've already gone through with those other sports so a part of it makes me chuckle because we see what's going on in another sports, yet we were we still look at the NF fell in its own vacuum, like in some ways it's just happening for the very first time, when in reality, if you compare it to other sports, they're going through what everybody else has gone through. So I admit, bird, I sit back and chuckle a little bit because we don't even know the guys who have completely opted out just yet. And I know that's been a bit of a moving target. But until we have that list, then everybody is rubber stamped, and then everybody has sort of passed their tests, then we can really start to sink our teeth into what certain teams rosters are and aren't gonna look like. And that list, so everybody knows, is due on Thursday at four pm, so we will have the final opt out list outside of like the it's just outside of the the emergency situations which they are allowing for the league in the Union were at that out where if you have a family member gets sick or you get sick, like you might have a you know, a narrow path to opting out. Um, we will know the majority of the players we are opting out about I think forty eight hours from this recording, maybe closer to thirty six hours from when you're listening to this, and we'll jump right into the takeaways aggression. This actually all flows right into my first takeaway. So Gardner Mins, who goes in the COVID list, he never tested positive. He happens to live with two teammates who are also on the COVID list, the assumption being one of them got it, and because their roommates, they all wind up on the list. Matthew Stafford lands on the COVID list. The Lions just released a statement. Um, it confirms something that I had in the Monday Morning column, which was that he tested negative on Tuesday of last week. He tested negative on Wednesday of last week, tested positive on Friday, came back and he is past three COVID tests. He's clear to go back in the building now. So, um, the team's calling it a false positive. I think it's fair to make that assumption now. And you know, then you have Doug Peterson who tested positive as well. He's the second head coach jointing Sean Payton, to have tested positive for COVID. Obviously Peyton was months ago. Grass. My takeaway off of this is that we're gonna be dealing with this all year, you know, and and I just I I think it's gonna be interesting because right now I think that it's manageable. You know, what happens if a quarterback has a false positive on a Saturday and you think about the jobs that are on the line. You think about like, you know, if you're Damn Quinn in Atlanta or you're Doug Marone in Jacksonville, Like how that could actually affect you know, your your livelihood, you know, your career. Um, it's interesting because I just I don't know if it's gonna take on a field because I was too young to really remember the eight seven strike. Um, but I've I've heard people reference that. Um there, We're gonna be dealing with this all year, like and I just I don't know if there's any getting around it. We're gonna have false positives, We're gonna have guys who come into contact with people who have it. You know, people's you know, people's kids are gonna go back to school, people's wives are gonna go back to work. Like it's just I mean, I think this is sort of the reality of it. I think we're getting like a little window into it now where it's not gonna take someone getting deathly ill for it to create a problem for teams. The coaches that have the ability to adapt on the fly and have built flexibility into their roster, to me, bird are going to be the ones that are ultimately going to survive because when you think of these guys, all try to prepare for the unknown, right like I need a third tackle that's got a starting grade. I need, you know, the way you put together a roster and the way that that traditional NFL think is is that you try to prepare for the unknown, but you and guess what those unknowns are going to be from an injury front, from a cap standpoint, this is one where you might lose too defensive lineman on a Thursday night, and then what are you going to do defensively? And how do you have the ability to adapt? And that, to me is what is gonna make this year fascinating because I'm a I'm a with you and that this is gonna be something we're managing all year long and there will be a flare up and I think I said it to you last week here on this podcast. I think we're gonna get a forfeit this year. A team is gonna have to throw their hand in the air and just say we can't feel the team safely. We're just gonna have to let this one pass by. And it ain't going away anytime soon. And God Almighty Bird, I really hope that these NFL players are looking at what's going on in Major League Baseball right now and they're realizing the level of commitment they're going to need. Like I'll be honest with you, I'm surprised Peterson came up positive because, like Sean Payton, his was what February March, it was really on the very because, yeah, and Dad was a hotspot there in New Orleans, whereas we've all been telling people to wash their hands, to wear masks and try to take care of themselves. And it's just interesting to me that the head coach who's going to be preaching that message for a six month period to his football team if the Eagles get to where they think they can go, and that is the super Bowl, it's just interesting that he turned up testing positive for COVID when he's gonna be preaching the gospel. You gotta stay on the straight and narrow. Does that make the message more effective? Though? You know what I mean, like like the fact that he's been through it, Like if you're if you're the one, I mean, like if you're Sean Payton or Doug Peterson and they're saying, look, I didn't do anything wrong, like you know, like like I I, you can't be careful enough because it can still get you even if you're you're being responsible and you're doing everything right. Like I would almost think that would add some weight to the message where it's like, look, if you want to give yourself the best chance of being on the field on Sunday, I can't give you a hundred percent formula to do it, but I'm telling you you damn sure better do n You damn sure better give yourself that nine percent chance that you avoid it, because no matter what you do, you can't eliminate it altogether. I think it depends on the respect that the coach already has in the room. And for Peterson, what you laid out will work for him. But say that's last. Say it's Fred Kitchens rolling in there and the team's like, get out of your your room. You caught it, you dope, you know what I mean? Like, there are guys that are gonna think that way. I think because Peterson has the command and the respect of the players on that team, that they will sit and listen to him versus some coaches. And I'll leave some currently employed coaches off that list. I went to a last year example, so I didn't hurt anybody's feelers. Yeah, well, well you can leave Freddy alone. That's my guy. Uh good people, I'm sure he is. If you're out drinking a beer, tell the stories around campfire. I don't want it was my dad, come head coach. So all right, we'll leave. We'll leave Freddy there, We'll leave COVID there. I do want to talk some football um and I my second takeaway, So let's see. It feels like Alex Smith's building some momentum in Washington, and like you know, so he got cleared by his own doctor. He's still on pup. But Ron Rivera said some encouraging things. The other thing that I was able to kind of ascertain having turned over some rocks the last couple of days, he batted a thousand as far as attendance in the off season program, so he was there for all that. So everything that Dwayne Haskins and Kyle Allen got, he got. And here's the best part of it for the for for for Washington, God, I'm gonna call them the R word until like it's this is gonna be the same as a R ers were with. Yeah. So, like the thing I think that's good about the situation. If you look at their quarterback room now, right, They've got the first round pick in Dwayne Haskins, Right, They've got the young player who's shown some promise, who has experienced in their system in Kyle Owen with those guys in Carolina, right, and then you've got the experienced guy who not only can be a great resource for the younger guys in the room, he can start for you without question, right, Like he's been a playoff quarterback in the league for two different franchises. And on top of that, you know what else is great about this for Washington is for the football team is that the guy has been in these sorts of situations in the past. In two thousand and eleven, Colin Kaepernick took his job and or not, I was twelve. In two twelve, Colin Kaepernick took his job. They went to the Super Bowl. He was a he he hand of that one great right that team wound up in the super Bowl. In two thousand and sixteen, he was the chief starting quarterback when they drafted Patrick Mahomes. And if you ask Patrick Mahomes about Alex Smith, I'm telling you like you will get a glowing, glowing review of the job that Alex Smith didn't helping him along. And so I think this is perfect. Like, if I'm Washington right now, you know what I think. If we're bad at the position, we're gonna be. We're bad in a very good year to be bad at the position. Because Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields and Trey Lance are coming out next year. I think we're giving ourselves a good shot here. We've got three options that we sort of like. You know, so maybe Dwayne Haskins is the guy. If he's not, you've got a guy who's got a lot of experience behind him. And behind that guy, you've got another young guy you like who's got background in your offense. The best thing that could happen for the Washington football team would be for Alex Smith to get get back out on the field, from this standpoint, it'll be the story that will take away from the other story around that team. They need something good to happen. And let's be real, if Alex Smith gets back on the field, this would be the equivalent in nine eight or nine or whatever it would have been of Joe Thiseman going through what he went through and getting back out on the field. I mean, that's the level of injury that we're talking about here. And I think from the backup standpoint, Bert, there is no question. Look, Alex Smith has dealt with being the number one pick to that other quarterback for so many years that there's got to be a part of him that's like, hey, listen, you know, like not for nothing, y'all, but I've I've survived fifteen years in the NFL. Just because he didn't turn out to be Aaron Rodgers and a sure fire Hall of Famer doesn't mean he hasn't handled himself correctly. Can't play the position, he can play the position. He can still play at this point, but you know what you're getting with him, and you're right, the quarterback spot seems to be loaded there. I just look and see a really average football team. And I if Alex will tell you what the field, it would be great for the franchise. But if Alex Smith played a bunch, it would be bad long term for the franchise because we know he ain't the guy. Dude. The best result, the best result for for Washington is Dwayne Haskins comes in and lights the world on fire. Well, there you go. That's the best The best result, I mean, Alex is a great story. The best result is that you got a twenty two year old on your roster who you believe in. Now, look if that does happen. Where Alex Smith is really gonna add some value, hopefully, is helping Dwayne Haskins navigate what are going to be some choppy waters early on in terms of your the head coach of the quarterback. In a way, you're the spokesman for the football team. And he's a twenty two year old guy who we know has said some things I'm sure he'd love to take back. But he's going to be speaking on social issue. Is he's gonna be talking about that our word eventually when it gets changed and having to sort of champion that and asked quite an answer questions. And that's maybe where Alex Smith might be able to help the young and early on is to be able to maybe coach him up on how to handle that crap because you know it's coming and it's tough. Because I mean, I like the other part I look at this is like so one tie that I've one one thing that I've tied to the guys who really had success as young quarterbacks. Okay, And if you look at the last three years, it's really it's it was Carson Winz before he tore his a c L the year the Eagles won the Super Bowl. It was Patrick Mahomes right in two thousand and eighteen, and then it was Lamar Jackson last year. But those guys had all three of them like one thing, that one very specific thing they had in common that I don't think you'll love this one. Okay, great offensive tackles, really really good offensive tackle play. Okay, So like look at it, though, who did who did Carson Wentz have. Carson Wentz had Jason Peters and Lane Johnson, Patrick Mahomes had Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz, Lamar Jackson had Ronnie Stanley and Orlando Brown. There it is. And that's one of the things where I just have some reservations, like with how far your quarter young quarterback can take you because you lost Trent Williams, and let's be honest, you don't really have a replacement for Nope. So so that's sort of where that's at. UM. Then that was sort of in a side anyway, all right, Topic topic number four, Rashad Bateman, receiver from Minnesota. I think a guy who is going to be looked at. It's probably a top half of the first round guy. The cop I got for him was Corey Davis, who was the fifth overall pick. That was just four years ago now UM to the Tennessee Titans. Three years ago to Tennessee Titans. UM. So he he has opted out. Caleb Farley, the corner from UH the corner from from Virginia Tech opted out. And so this brings up an interesting questions, which is, and we're gonna talk about this with our guests, how many guys opt out? And I'm just I like, I can tell you definitively agents are all over these kids right now. It's a problem for college coaches and these kids should consider their options. And so I'm gonna run down a list of names really quick, just so are just so our listeners have them of guys who I think are top half of the first round, Guys that could that that that that that probably are thinking about it. Okay, you've got the three quarterbacks, Trey Lanson North Dakota State, just A Fields in Ohio State, and of course Trevor Lawrence at Um at Clemson. On top of that, l s U receiver Jamaar Chase, Clemson running back Travis at t n Penn State line Micah Parsons Miami defensive en Gregory Rousseau Oregon offensive tackle Piney Sewell, Alabama receivers DeVante Smith and Jalen Waddle Alabama corner Patrick certain Um, which that name sounds familiar, right Crash, that's Patrick's Jr. Ohio State corner Shawn Wade, Florida State defensive tackle Marvin Wilson. I threw Alabama linebacker Dylan Moses in there, Bresh. I think they're gonna be more of these. I think that there's a I I think there's a limit to the number of kids who should seriously consider this. I think if you're a guy who's at the level of the two kids who just did it. I think you like, like, you've got legitimate look, there's a legitimate reason why you should consider it. I'd also say this, I feel like every September they're like sixty guys who are looked at as as future first round picks, right like, like sixties seventy guys. That guy is gonna be a first round pick this year. The truth is they're gonna be thirty two of them. I I just think like, I think you have to be the elite of the elite to sit out the year. That's my takeaway here. It's like you have to be you have to have a very established resume. Otherwise I do think you run the risk of being the guy who thinks and has people telling him, oh, you're going in the first round or second round, and then you wind up going in the fifth or sixth round. There's no question the evaluation of the player matters. But I think there it's a little more than football that maybe we need to take into account or think about in terms of talking to some of these kids. You know, if you're in a pack twelve institution and we know that the athletes are starting to rise up in the pack twelve. And let's say that situation completely turns chaotic. YEA, at one point if you're a good, good player on a pack twelve team and it's hey, this is getting a little too crazy for me. I gotta look out for myself. You raise your hand, you step out the door, you walk out the back, and there you go. I I look at that as something the kids are gonna have to consider. There are you know what kind of schedule am I gonna play? Because you know, let's let's say, for example, and I'll choose a team that I know, right, Look, I I do those d mask games on TV. Let's say there's a kid there who's a first round pick, right, you play six games for funzies this year and run the risk when it may not really improve your draft stock that much. They're gonna be a lot of variables in this, and I'm with you. I think not only Bert are we gonna have some elite guys back out, Like I don't only expect Trevor Lawrence to bail out. Because if Trevor Lawrence wins another you know, they get another national title, he puts another ring on his finger. I mean that that elevates him to a legendary status within the game. But you're gonna see guys who maybe get off to a good start and they start to hear, hey man, you're you're projected to be a first round pick. Maybe those guys get walky in the middle of the year and be like, hey, you know maybe I mean, there's dude, this is gonna be Coaches are gonna be pulling their hair out this year because all it takes too is one say, you know, one team in the SEC all of a sudden has an outbreak and you just played that team, and you're a projected, you know, top twenty pick, and you've got four games left to go, and you're like, hey man, I gotta be as healthy as I can. If we're starting to see it with kids doing this for bowl games, I would expect there's gonna be a land rush here pretty soon, a college kids who will do it. And to your point, and you're writing on this, it should be the elite of the elite, but we're gonna have a lot of kids who are gonna opt out with delusions of grandeur. Here's what I think, Here's what I like, what I've learned. One thing I've learned cover in the NFL for fifteen years, right, and especially about the draft, is a lot of times the difference between going in the second round in the fifth round is like that. Right, So you have your kids who are you're just freaks like market. Michael Parsons at Penn State's a good example of that, right, Like I would say Jamaar Chase at l s U, like his level of production so great, was so great like that. It's just there are some certain guys where it's just undeniable how good they are, how talented they are, how they will have a place in the NFL. But I'm just telling you, Grash, the difference between going and like two overall is not big. It's one great workout arguably. Yeah. And so I just and and and I just like that's the thing is so I sort of like look at this, and I'm like, you know, it's you better begin You better have like a pretty, You better have like a pretty. And I'm not talking by the way. One thing I want to make clear, I'm not talking about the kids who have like at risk parents or who have a serious health fish that's a different category. Right, kids got something like seriously that he like that is totally different and valid. You know, but if a kid's just gonna come out for the draft, I just I just don't think that you do, not like, I don't think you want to give that, you know, that NFL team the space to say, well, it's close, we really like this kid, but he hadn't played in two years and we don't know how he's developed. And remember, people get hired and fired on these sorts of decisions, and so you know, I just think like with the first with no doubt about it, top half of the first round got absolutely should think about it, no question about it. Would never begrudge Kaled Farley or Shod Bateman because those guys are in that category. I just think with the other guys, it's just like like with with a guy who's gonna go who's outside of the first round right now, I think it's a much much more difficult decision to make. And all your Ohio state kids you stay in, you see, because Albert wants another national title. Then you can lead. Okay, we'll move on there. Then uh take away number four, Antonio Brown. Since we last talk, here we go. We're fired up, fired up boy, come on and you give me the details on this route. Antonio Brown has been suspended but for eight games by the NFL on paper, gresh on pray paper, I would say that this helps him and that there is at least some clarity on this situation. And if a team is gonna sign him, they know what they know the deal now, they're not guessing, right like, And you're not taking on that sort of risk for a guy who might be suspended for the whole year. I think he lands on a roster. I do. I think he's too good a player. I do think he wants to play. Look, if you'd asked me this question two weeks ago, I would have been iffy on it. But right now I look at this, and I look at like Seattle and they've turned over rocks on him. And Pete Carroll has always been willing to take risks, and they're the kind of team New England has been forever grass that can bring in a guy and just and and and and if it doesn't work, two weeks later, wash their hands of him to no effect. Right like. So, I don't know if it's in Seattle, Seattle will be the team I put my money on right now, I think I think Antonio brown is probably gonna play in the NFL in November, in December. I love it how you're gonna fall for the old up and anna and the tailpipe trick, and there's gonna be a team that'll do it. You know, it's the old I'm not falling for anything, by the way, all of the things. I think he's gonna play, But but it's gonna You're right, you're not the one signing him. However, there's gonna be some GM that's gonna wipe out on that banana peal who's then going to allow Antonio Brownie in and maybe for a week or two he'll be okay, and then he'll Antonio brown it up like he always does, and we'll screw it up. And look, when you go to New England, Okay, you and I have been around this organization all of our working lives. When you screw up there, you are so unlikely to get another chance, regardless of how talented you are. And look, I get it, this guy's got boatloads of talent, but he ain't worth it. He Tom Brady couldn't save him. That is the closest thing to Jesus and cleats in the National Football League, and that guy couldn't figure out how to be able to save Antonio Brown. So I do kind of agree with you. There will be someone that will bring him in and then he'll go away for eight weeks and then guess what's gonna happen in week nine. It's gonna be the Antonio Brown Instagram party, and he's gonna go out and have eight catches for a hundred yards and two touchdowns, and you'll go do something stupid, and then you'll be writing about him in week twelve because he's sitting on the sidelines, crying, blaming everybody first problems, even though he already got rid of his agent. Do you want to do a little storytime? Well, please do all right, So I'll do a little storytime here. Remember this conversation I had with a let's just say it's a. It's a guy who is a head coach in the end FL for a long time, and early in his career, he took risks. He took risk in the draft, he took risk in free agency, and he wound up getting burned for on a few of them. And I remember having this discussion with him about those sorts of things, and he said to me, you know, there came a time when I've just figured out I like, I can't like when I take these risks, I have to do it when the guy is lower than whale bleap. And his point was, when the guy is lower than whale bleep, who controls the situation? I do. I control the situation because now he doesn't have a hefty signing bonus. Now he doesn't have a he doesn't have a guarantee. Like if I'm bringing him in, if I'm buying low on him, I've got all the upside, I've got the potential upside, and I control the situation. And the more I thought about that discussion, the more I realized, that's exactly what Bill does. Bill buys low, bought low on Randy Moss, but low on Corey Dillon bought low, and Albert Haynesworth bought low on Shadow Josinko. He very rarely buys low on people or buys high on people. He buys low on people. And so this coach kind of explained to me, He's like, we got a lot better once that happened, because what ended up happening was we take these risks, and sometimes they worked and sometimes they didn't. But that guy had to ingratiate himself into the locker room. He wasn't coming into the locker room at a place where he could screw things up. He was coming into the locker room in a place where he had to prove himself to everybody else and not the other way around. And he knew he had to show who he was to the coaching staff in a positive way or he'd be gone. And so I just thought it was a really interesting way to look at it. Where my guess is Pete Carroll would look at it that way. Well, Bird, I guess I would say this that uh uh, Well, you know, Albert, we we thought we had him too, and uh he uh uh became too much of a problem. Key difference, key difference, key difference. He was set to make ten million bucks in New England, and I think money is power in the NFL. He already collected a signing bonus, and I just think, like in a lot of these cases, something that can come down to I'm on my last shot, I sat out there forever. I'm not saying it will work. I'm just saying, like I think Seattle, a team like Seattle can look at this and say, yeah, like let's kick the tires. Let's bring him in even now. Like you say, like, let's bring him in now and give him three work, three weeks to make it work, and then he's gotta go away because they'll be suspended. But we'll get like a three week trial and if we think he's got it lined up, then okay maybe. And I like, look like the moral questions obviously different, and like if you've got a moral issue with bringing him in that you know what I mean, Like that's totally fair. But I do think that there's a football there's a logical football reason why you might do it, and quickly, it's got to be the right situation, the right coach. You know, Doug Morone's not convincing Jacksonville to bring this guy in because they're gonna make a decision on him maybe at the end of the year. But if you're entrenched and you've got a nice long term contract, maybe that is a hell you would be willing to die on because the because the talent is so good, I say good luck to you. Okay. Our final topic, my final takeaway. So the Steelers. I guess been more specifically, maybe Ben himself revealed um that he had three torn tendons in his elbow um last year, which sounds painful. Um. And I guess he had said that or the team had said that, like they couldn't find a previous case of it in the quarterback. He's lost weight, um. You know. To be fair, I mean we we we poked fund himent funding him and everything else. He actually did look good. Um, he looks like he's in good shape. I gosh, I like, I think the Steelers are sort of like lying in the weeds. And this is why I wanted to be this last topic, because that's that's that's your squad, right, there's sort of lying in the weeds. Is like a team that could be like thirteen and three or fourteen and two. And here's the reason why tom One kept them pretty level last year with a horrific quarterback situation. And I just think, like a team goes through that, and I think that there's like a long term benefit for having gone through that, where the team had become reliant on Ben over the years, maybe different parts of the team realize we're pretty good, Like the offensive line the receivers are getting, Like, I think you've got some promise in the receiver group that Juju smith schooser is gonna have to break, you know, come back around, and Deonte Johnson's gonna have to develop, um, you know. And then that defense, like the defense has been bad for a long time, and that was a really good group last year and now you got like promising young eyes like t J. Watt and Minca Fitzpatrick and Devin Bush who should get better. I thought that trade was awful at the time, and I mean they look brilliant now because not only did they get Minka in their system for what was it the thirteen twelve games last year, whatever the ten, whatever the number turned out to be, he is now that guy on the back end bird that helps give them the identity that they lost when Paula Malu left, and they got him like he was in the middle of the second year of his rookie contract, but they have him cheap for the next couple of years too. I just really like where the Steelers are organizationally. Obviously, they've been good at developing talent for a long long time, but I think it's fair to say that there was a lull there on defense. Um, you know, really coming out of like the Paulo Malo, like Taylor, the Ryan Clark, you know that that group, James Ferrier, like that, that whole Aaron Smith, that group, Lamar Woodley. I keep going like that group. That was a really really good defense. They won two super Bowls with that defense. They never really got it back to that level. And I do feel like that defense has got a shot now to get close to where that group was. And he had Ben back into the mix, and like if he is what he was two or three years ago now all of a sudden, I think you're cooking with gas well and in talking about Ben, because to me, that is a big key because we know that a quarterback can have an effect on a on a defense as well by keeping the offense on the field pounding it out. It'll be interesting to see what James Conner chooses to do here this year given his medical situation. And it looks like he's gonna play okay. But look, I mean and if you've got him and you maybe managed the carries a little bit, you make sure you take care of him. But if Roethlisberger has evolved, the way like you know, Tom Brady has evolved a little bit, even though Brady still wants to throw it, you know, six hundred times a year, if it means when in football games. I think he's at the point in the league to where he's like, hey, man, the w is what really matters. So I don't care how we get it done. And if Ben adapts to that and stays upright and is healthy and they can run the ball. I don't know about thirteen fourteen wins, but could they be an eleven win team this year? Yeah, they could be. And Bird I I think they're a team that is in part flying under the radar the result last year, there's no question. But there, you know, Roethlisberger is now in that spot to where you start to look at him and say, okay, what is left? All right, that's a really good point, Crash. Ben. Ben is getting older. I believe he's thirty eight. Now. We've gotten so used to seeing quarterbacks like Manning and Brady and Breeze get into their forties and still play. We've started taking that for granted. But it's a fair question, and I actually think we may have lost Crash. There there's a vicious storm or being through the northeast right now. So there have been some technical snaff foos here and there in this week's podcast, but we appreciate Crash coming out always from w p r oh Gresh will be back with us next week and we will get to our special guest right after this. We're gonna welcome back one of our favorite guests. I thought he'd be able to give us pretty unique perspective. We talked a little earlier in the podcast about the prospect of guys opting out um, and I thought he'd be able to give a good perspective because you know, A, he played a major college level. B he covers both levels of the sports, so he knows both of them intimately. And see he played in the NFL. So we're gonna welcome back Brady Quinn Um, Brady, what's going on? How much? Albert? I hope you're doing well. Thanks again for having me on. You got it? But all right, so like let's start here, and I want to start with sort of the top line here. You know, this looks like it's gonna be a pretty good quarterback group. Trevor Lawrence coming out. We've talked about him on the pod in the past, justin Fields. So I know you did a couple of his games at least last year right at Ohio State. UM. Trey Lance at North Dakota State seems to be picking up some steam. So you know the news happened. The news came on Tuesday. Rashod Bateman, Uh, the stars from the University of Minnesota opted out the two thousand and twenty season. UM. And you know, on top of that, we had last week Caleb Farley, who start defensive back at Virginia Tech, opt out of his fourth season in Blacksburg. So, Brady, I want to start with the quarterbacks. And I know, you know you were sort of somebody who you don't have to wait a decision like this, but you don't have to wait a decision on whether or not you're gonna declare for the draft. UM. You know, if one of these kids came to you and asked you what they should do, and I know it's different in every case, what do you think the first thing you tell them would be. I think the first thing I tell them is that you know their situation is very specific to you know, how they foresee what they want to accomplish. In college football. So I think for Trevor Lawrence, you know, he's got to decide. He's already won the national championship. He doesn't want to high eisman. You might want to want when another one after the way you know last year when, But you know, I think for him it's about answer. The question is does he want to try to go win another? And then you know, how does he view himself after this year? You know, obviously he's gonna leave and he's gonna go to the next level. I think that's a given. But the question becomes, you know, does he feel like he has more approved? Does he feel like um, you know, I'm sure they've they've talked to whether it's agents or potential agents, I should say, because they're preparing him for uh, you know what happens after the season to sign with an agent, prepare for all that. You know, what's the feedback you're getting. Are you definitively looked at as a top five, number one overall quarterback? Can you improve your stock? Um? That's one question. I mean, you go back to the beginning of last college football season, Trevor Lawrence to get off to a hot start, right, that was some of the conversation was like, where's Trevor Lawrence and talk of this whole Heisman campaign, and obviously he ended up not winning it. He wasn't able to overcome some of that. So those those are the questions that you're trying to answer. I think, not only for himself in his own head, but I think if I'm looking at it from his perspective, for me, there would have to be postseason aspirations. If you told me that they're only gonna play in all the ACC conference schedule and one not conference game, and I'm the number one quarterback going into it, and there's nothing else in the line, and the only thing I really have is a risk, and I can't improve my stock anymore, it might be hard for me to come back. It really might be knowing that the season could be canceled. You can get injured. I'm sure he's got an insurance policy, but that could play a factor into how teams are looking at him, especially if Justin Fields plays plays well, and maybe he looks like he's a comparable prospect. All those things start kind of factoring into it. And I think for Trevor Lawrence, you know, he probably has the most to lose only because he's the guy that's kind of sitting as that. You know, I can't miss prospect. Yeah, number one overall prospect a quarterback. So how the decision making me different if you're justin fields then? And know one thing that's interesting, I've heard quarterbacks like coaches, some of the gurus say well, you want to have a certain number of throws at the college level. So I'm wondering if like the equation changes based in the fact that like a fields or a lance at North Dakota State hasn't played as much, and whether your own development might kind of come into the picture there. You know I did I go I kind of go back to my decision to come back to my senior year. Um, for me, it was about what I still want to accomplished. I wanted to graduate. I want to you know, try to finish and win a national championship with my teammates, the guys I came in with. But if if I was running an offense that I didn't feel like it was going to help me advance or prepare me for the next level, I may have looked at that and thought, why am I going to spend another year here running a college offense, and if it's only about these aspirations when I want to go to the next level and get there. So if Charlie Weiss wasn't there, if the system that he was weren't running wasn't in place, I don't know if I would have came back. Um, I'm not sure it would have been enough, because I think all those things play, you know, the way you wait at average. You waited average, all of them, and they all factor in on it. So for justin fields, like the fact that he had one season starting it was a great season. The bore he played, the better he got. I think even an agent or other people would tell him, we want to see more from you, you want we want to see you continue to develop, you know, playing from the pocket. We want to see how you can carry the team at times if you don't have a rushing attack, because they did pretty much for the majority of last year. Same thing with Lance. I mean, you're gonna look at all these guys and say they'd want to see more from them, and see it was just one outlier year. Did they take a step back? They have a quote unquote sophomore slump in their second year playing those things becoming extremely important for the evaluation of of all these players moving forward. How much do you think, like for for any of the three, like your responsibility to your teammates kind of comes into it, And I know I don't feel like a lot of people think about that. But it's different for the quarterback, right, Like Rashad Bateman can leave Minnesota and yeah, it soun he's a great player, you know like it. I'm sure if you're p J Fleck, you're you're probably like really disappointed now that you're gonna lose the guy who's like an All American caliber receiver. But it maybe doesn't affect everybody else the way a quarterback leaving does. So, you know, for Trevor Lawrence, for Justin Fields, for Trey Lance, all of whom have you know, aspired to win at the highest level at their levels of college football. Like, how much do you think your responsibility to the guys around you plays into that? I think if it factors into their mind big time. I mean probably not their parents, probably not you know, a potential advisor agent who's trying to direct them, um, but it definitely factors into their mind because you're viewed as the leader. I mean when when time is a diversity hit, or you know, you're off trading the summer and preparing for the season, everyone's looking at you. Everyone's waiting for you to break them down when they're done. Everyone's waiting for you to put together some sort of passing you know, Skelly or you know, throwing routes on air. You know that all falls on you, so you know, you you do kind of look at it as you take ownership of it. It's your team. You know, this is a byproduct of you and your leadership skills. So I think that definitely weighs heavily on them, and that would be the hardest thing I think for me, uh, even if I was in Trevor Lawrence's position, to opt out for that reason is you know, it almost looks like, you know, you were a hypocrite um to say all the things you probably have in the past as a leader and then to not be there for your team when they needed you to. Like I'm sure they'd understand, but it's just different because of how important the position is and and everything that you've set up to that point, it doesn't seem genuine that when you look back on it. If you're not able to go up, you're into the bargain to everyone else you've been kind of talking to, so um, you know you're right. And I think for first of batement to like, you know, for all these players that we don't know their background, we don't know if you know, they don't want to risk it because you know that the payout of what they're gonna make is life changing for their family and and for the other people that are around them. You know, that plays a factor into it. For some of these guys, they might feel like I still have more to gain and I need to come back to improve my draft stock and all that too. So that's another way of looking at it. I just think there's there's so many different angles and in ways that I think guys can can look and make decisions on it um. And even outside of that, I think players now more than ever Albert there, are in touch with their fan base. I mean, these kids when they decide to commit to a school and they get there and they play early, they get all these followers and social media and they care about that and so think about not just their teammates, that fan base that they feel connected to like that social media part of them is like meaningful now and so that even becomes a part of like not only are they potentially like leaving their own teammates, they're leaving that fan base, They're leaving their their social media fan base moving forward. So, like you mentioned, I thought one of the things that was interesting that you mentioned there was just the idea of chasing a championship and how big that is. And um, you know, you played at a place where I think this is fair to say, right a Notre Dame, like being an athlete, there is something that can kind of follow you for the rest of your life, right like, And there are probably benefits that you still feel from being the Notre Dame quarterback right now, right like, and you probably will for a long time. Do you think that the idea of like I can win a chance, like like Trevor Lawrence can become the first two time national championship quarterback in the history of the Clemson program, Justin Fields can win a championship at Ohio State, Like I want you to expound a little bit on what you were saying there about just the idea of it being just like a round robin, big ten or a c C season versus having a chance to chase a championship and even like maybe some of the economic impact that could have on you the rest of your life. Yeah, so I guess I'll kind of tell you a short story and then hopefully that will help you understand. So I remember when I was being recruited by Notre Dame. One of the things kind of appealed to me and stood out was, you know, they would put up, um, you know, a jersey, and they would put all the former all Americans that have worn your jersey at the school. So when you came in for your official visit, they have this list of all these these players, right well there was anyone for number ten and Notre Dame. And I thought to myself, Wow, like how cool would that be to try to, you know, go and have a you know, a story career Notre Dame and this number. So the next time a kid comes around the world that number, he's looking at me on that list, and then he's trying to build on that list, or he's trying to beat you know what I did on that list. Like it's just something about that appealed to me. And so I'm sure for a lot of these guys, like they have those goals and aspirations, like it's it's hard to look at this this finite period of time in your life where you have the opportunity to accomplish a goal and you know that that that next thing is going to be there for you in going to the NFL, but you might feel like my work's not finished, like my I haven't accomplished my goal. Like I think if you look at the common dominators amongst all UH quarterbacks and really guys who achieved at a high level, I think in general, like they all are. They have to do list. They have like goals and things they're looking to check off and say I accomplished that I did that, Like that's how they're wired, That's how they're geared. I get up every day and have that. I'm sure these guys do too, And so this is something that I think they probably look at it and say, like I'm getting anxiety thinking about leaving because I haven't accomplished what I set to do, and so if I haven't accomplished what I set to do, it feels like a failure and I need to do it in this amount of time that I have because I can never go back and do it. So there is that like mindset that I think a lot of times quarterbacks and players, but probably more so quarterbacks was were like this, like we're obsessed over it and and so that's that's a hard thing about, you know, even contemplating not playing and leaving, and at least in the case of if it was justin fields or looking at trade lance like those guys you know, and trade lance has been accomplished, and so as Trevor Lawrence, but justin fields hasn't so or more wanting to accomplish more too, Like those are all things that you look at and you say, I can do that right now? Am I really gonna be able to sit on the sidelines and watch these guys play? But I know I could have had an opportunity to do that, Like that would eat away at you forever. And then you start and you really don't think about in the time, but you start thinking about the historical impact of what that would mean coming back to your school and then you know, seeing a Trevor Lawrence statue or seeing you know, his heisman, or seeing whatever the case is, or justin fields for that matter, then you start thinking about that, and you start thinking about the impact. Like for example, if you go back to Columbus, Ohio, I mean, if you want a job, you're that this is this is where Brady Quinn's from for everybody. So so I can tell you firsthand how many Ohio State alums and football players which want to Look, it's a great city. I was lucky to grow up there and I be from there. But if those guys want a job, they come back, they're hired, and they can be really successful. Bobby Owings incredible successful in development back there in Columbus. You can go on down the line and looking at some of these guys and their careers they've built for themselves. It's back in Columbus or somewhere else amongst the alumni base. And and so you know, I don't want to get into a whole long winded discussion about like what's being discussed at the Pack twelve and the we are United, that whole BS movement, but like it's short sided because they don't see how big, like the brand they're at now is. And if these guys, I'm not saying that they're gonna ruin it or taint the reputation at that school, but you're taking for granted the opportunity you have in front of you to go win a national champions at Ohio State, to go be historic and what you're able to accomplish or Sam thing at Clemson or Sam thing for Tree Lance. So like, why don't you take us through your decision, like because I just like sort of like to know what that was like, like because I I I'm assuming you put your name into the board right like like in like did you get a first round grade back? Like what what's like and what what went into because I'd assume for any kid like that amount of money sitting there, it's got to be like like how do I walk away from this? So like like how did you ultimately like come to that decision? And how hard was it to come to that decision that you that you did want to go back to school. I think it's actually one I wish I would have given a little bit more thought too. Um, But I was naive. You know, I didn't grow up in a family who had anyone that played in the NFL before, and so um, you know, knowing knowing what I had there in front of me and what I hadn't accomplished Like again, like I had that checklist, and I was like, I didn't win a national championship. You know what did it want a chance to do that with the guys that came in with him and I came in with the guy was my best friend who was the best man in my wedding. We went to school together. Like him and I would have these conversations and like, I just felt like I had some unfinished business at the college level, finishing my college degree at Notre Dame. That was one of the reasons why I went there. I mean the first thing I said to myself was where else can I get the best education and play the highest level of football the Notre Dame. You know, I had a chance to look at Stanford, UM, I had the chance to look at Northwestern, other great schools, but the football program was in the same level. So you know, for me, it really had a lot to do with that. You know, I talked about the offense and Charlie and wanting to continue to expound on that, and they did. I mean, he really did, you know, take off some handcuffs and let me have more freedom to change protections and routes and audibles all that. I mean, we went to a no huddle the entire second half of that that season, my senior season, and I was just calling plays. I mean I'd be out there and I would have five different places I could look at and call based on the techniques, based on the coverage and everything I saw I was seeing. So it was helpful in that regard for me too as a quarterback to develop. Um and and so you know that played into it. And then I think, look when you when you get back that grade, yeah, you look at it, but you also, um, you also look at okay, like what you played the scenario? What if I came back? Like, now, what kind of insurance policy am I getting? How can I protect myself if I really want to stay and do this and finish all these other things that I had for myself. Uh. And then look, we could have used the money. I mean, my family wasn't in a great financial position at that point. Um, it would have probably helped them had I left a year earlier than winning another year and trying to push some of that stuff off and strained to make it through another year of financial difficulty. But um that you know that that's that's what you get away, and that's the reality. And I was I was fortunate enough to have too hard working, great parents who valued the education and value the fact that if I didn't get my degree then it would only become that much harder in the future. Um, and who were able to, you know, work so hard to make it through and make it through another year. Uh, to allow me to have a chance to go back to school and really do the things that I wanted to do. So UM, yeah, I think where your grade comes back at factors in. But like I said, I used that more as leverage for an insurance policy. So then once I got that insurance policy, I was like, all right, now I have the peace of mind to go out there. I don't give a crap if someone knocks my head off. I know I at least have the peace of mind of a piece of paper that says I'm insure for X amount of dollars. Do you like? You said? Like? It sounds like the start you like you might think about that a little differently, now, Um, what was the like if there is a regret from having gone back to school, what have been? Um? I think in one knowing, I mean now I'm going back to school right now. So knowing that, like I'm going back, you can do it, and I'm probably doing it at a really difficult time in my life. UM, probably looking at I mean, look where I wanted to draft, how that ended up playing out? Um? You know you always look back and say what if? Like how could I have changed things? How? How would have things been different? Um? You know where I would have Where would I have been taken amongst that class of quarterbacks that was like Jay Cutler, Matt Liner. Uh, yeah, I grew So you know, would I have benefited from maybe not being a first round pick, not making that money initially, but being in a maybe a better situation or maybe you know, depending on where I ended up, you know, being a better, better, more stable organization where I wasn't facing a coaching change to it too, you know, years into my career, um, and a new general manager right away, and then getting traded the year after that. You know, it's like, you know that that lack of um stability I think hurting that way. So those are things you contemplate. I also think it was emotional decision. You know, I'm from Columbus, AI, As you said, the last game of that junior season, we end up losing to Ohio State. Like there was a part of me as a competitor that like eight me up inside, like if I was Trevor Lawrence and and if and if, like if I was in his shoes, it would eat me up inside to have ended my career the way it did. Now, granted it didn't end any better versus L s u In in the Sugar Bowl, but still like there that was a part of me that that's why I wanted to come back because I don't want to end it that way. So um that also factors into and that's why I think I'm looking back like I allowed that to no doubt play a decision in my mind. I was so heartbroken after the Fiesta Bowl. Then I think it led to like, no, screw this, no matter what, I'm coming back because I feel like I want to. I want to write this ship. And I knew I was staying was gonna be good, and so I was hoping I was gonna have another chance against them. So your dream would have been like to beat them in the National Title Game. It was like it was like kind of like rolling through your head. It would have been redemption that next year, no doubt about it. I mean again, like that game was more meaningful to me than than probably any other in my life, just because I know how higher state fans are and I grew up from Columbus, so uh that that would have been like that dream scenario. Yeah, I want to ask you real question, like like I'm gonna ask you about these guys as players too, Like before we get there, I wonder if, like the toa thing and you're down there in Miami, I wonder if the toa thing kind of would affect your decision making too, just because he had about as bad and injuries you could possibly have as a football player and he still went fifth overall. You know, we've seen where quarterbacks are immune to a lot of conditions that other players are like affected by. And I just wonder if, like, if you're one of these guys, if you look at you say, shoot, even if I get hurt, like look at what just happened with Tah, you know what I mean. Like, so I sort of wonder if you would look at Tah and say, at least at quarterback, like other positions are different, because you're probably a little bit more reliant in your athleticism and the rest of it, shelf life shorter other positions. But would you look at the two, would you look at Tuah and say, I might be okay. Yeah. I think that would almost provide like a safety net for your decision to come back where you're like, well, what's everyone concerned about if I get hurt? Not only one, do I have insurance policy if I don't go five, but even if I do get hurt, it's you know, it shows you that you know, these guys are gonna be fine, Like they're still going to view them as like if you set a position that isn't gonna rely necessarily on its legs. Now, you know, justin fields and Trey Lanston to run a little bit more in Trevor Lawrens, even though I think we've underestimated how good of an athlete he is, we started to see that in the playoff and towards the end of last year he's a much better athlete that people give him credit. Um, So I think that'll play into the factor that that will factor into it. And I I also think there's like this stigma. I mean, if you're a quarterback and you sit down and do that. Everyone's gonna be going like wait, what, Like, now you've got to answer that question, like maybe the face of this franchise and that's how you're viewed even in college. Are you really going to be able to look everyone in the eye and be like, Yeah, this is a hundred percent of business decision. There's no other way of looking at it. You can use COVID as that veil to kind of hide it. But to the best of my knowledge, none of these guys have any sort of health concerns. Maybe if a family member did, maybe that would play a factor. But again, that's still gonna be a question you're gonna have to answer. Do you think of these guys as players? I love him, I really do. I feel like all three are gonna go Top five. Um. I haven't had as much chance to watch Trey Lance, but from what I've seen, it's weird. He reminds me of Dak Prescott, just the way he runs, the way you kind of take off and create obviously you know, decision making. Same thing with something that we saw Dak during this time in Missippi State. He's always taking care of the football. Um, he probably is in my opinion. The third of these guys, if I was going to rank them, Trevor is the number one just because a we we've seen him accomplished so already so much and his you know, two years starting. But it's also the way he plays. I think if you look at fields and go, okay, how's he gonna transition the NFL. I don't have any of those reservations with Trevor Lawrence, Like from the throws I've seen him make from his pocket movement, Like there are some things like there's a couple of throws I put on my Instagram a long time ago, back when I had social media, and I just took my head and I go, man, like, that's what you drill. That's what you you you work on even as a pro. Is the ability to move your feet one you know, one step, moving feet two steps and get the ball out, you know, so you so you can catch back up to the timing and rhythm of that play, because that's so important to the NFL level. And he does all of that, Like he can make the awkward you know, body throws for a guy who's taller and longer armed, longer leg which is not easy to do. Like he can make those throws um and and he's a better athlete than we give him credit. Like he can take off and run and hurt you with this leg. So he checks every single box off that I think you've you looking at? Is he in the is he like you hear him like on that lway Manning Luck? Like there are very few guys like do you look at him that way? And I know maybe like and I saw him back when he was I think going to be a junior in high school, and like Mac Jones was, there's the quarterback at Alabama. And I I don't know if I've told you the story before, but I was an under armed camp up in Baltimore and I remember watching him to throw, thinking, this guy looks so much better than everyone else. You just you viewed him as a prodigy and he's kind of always been that when he got in high school and now since he's got into college football and and so yeah, like he looks he looks like that sort of prospect that will fall online. The next question becomes where does he go and what organization is he gonna be a part of? You know, La obviously went to a good place. You can make the case. Luck, you know, went to an organization that I think it's viewed as a good organization, the Colds, But I don't know how how well they built out around him during his time there, which led to a lot of injuries and led to a shortened career. And I don't think we ever saw maximize what he was capable of. But there's no doubt he was. He was on a track record to maybe be a Hall of Famer. So yeah, I mean that's where I'm out on him fields. I think the more I watch him, the more I like him. I think the one thing I'll be curious to see because um, you saw it a little bit versus Clemson and then a little bit versus Wisconsin. The more people who tests that are impressured him. And when when he had to be being must pass situations, he struggled a bit like and look, a lot of young guys our first year starting will do this, but he struggled to find a second and third guy in some of his reads of progressions. And so that's what I'd like to see from him this year is like being able to sit back there, scan the whole field and let it rip, you know, not ever having to rely on him and have to take off and make something happen, you know, being able to play from the pocket. I know he's big and strong and athletic. I just want to see him do that more consistently because they they've got such an embarrassment of rich as a wide receiver. Someone's gonna be open, Like I can promise you someone will be open at Ohio State next year. Yeah. And and he's like, I mean, physically he's everything you want, right Like, physically he's he's I mean, maybe he's not Lawrence, but he's not far off. No, he's not far off at all. I think the biggest thing he lacks is he hasn't had the championship. He hasn't he hasn't had the experience. Um. But he's pretty darn close. Um. And so you know, we'll we'll see how he continues to progress if you can close that gap this year. Okay, last thing for me then, And I just want to make this a general thing because we've seen some of the I think like kind of like how like the NFL season is going to be sideways, right Like, like we've seen guys coming on the COVID list going off the COVID list I think it's fair to say we're probably gonna see a little bit of that, probably all year long. Even if things go really well, there's gonna be sort of a different field of this year, Like how important you think the quarterback is going to be this year and keeping everything together and keeping everything level? Um, Like I've sort of thought about this, like what teams are going to be at the most well the biggest advantage and how like maybe having that studying presence in the locker room is really gonna mean something for you know, a team like a Seattle, like h New Orleans, like Kansas City, Like, how do you think all of this is gonna sort of change the role of the quarterback or maybe kind of put more on his plate than he already had. Yes, so obviously, you know we viewed as the most poor position, and and reason being is because at least for that that one third phase, you know that player, that singular player has the most control to adapt and change. And so when things don't look like they're going like you've got a bad play call of this is a bad look for this, you can change that. You can get them out of it. You can you can find a way to find a solution, And I think that's what this year is gonna be all about. It's gonna be about how do you adapt to change, how you adapt to adversity. And so those those teams that have that veteran presence that you're talking about a quarterback are going to be the teams that excel. And there are gonna be the teams that I think not only adjust to the change on their roster due to COVID, but potentially even their coaching staff. Like, let's not forget to you know what happens if you're in Tampa Bruce Arians who obviously in the at risk categories had past health conditions. We'm just something happens to them. And now Byron lefe Verts is calling the players instead. I mean, you've got Tom Brady out there, like, hell, he's played a lot of football. I will be able to figure it out. You know. If you don't have that guy out there, it's a different story, right, And then then then do those guys in the locker room or do those guys on the team like have faith in that guy to be able to make those those changes and adapt. So it's a delicate thing, and I think this season more so than ever will test those quarterbacks who have played a ton of football and who have you know, got the ability to adapt and to change and the fly in game in particular. Uh. And I think that's where it's gonna be showcased, is the teams that the teams that aren't trying to you know, are aren't trying to break in a new quarterback. I think are the ones that obviously are going to be able to excel and we might see some of the biggest margins of difference in the wins and losses than ever before for that reason. Al Right, he's former Notre Dame NFL quarterback Brady Quinn. You can catch him. And why don't you do this, Brady, because there's so many places now, Um football season is coming. Where can everybody catch you? Yeah? So I'm on Sirius x M NFL Radio Monday through Wednesday from eleven to three pm Eastern, UH, Fox Sports Radio Sunday Night's eight to eleven pm Eastern with Jonas Knox. I do digital work for CBS Sports HQ, so either online or on their app, you can see me there. And then hopefully if college football season gets kicked off, I'll be on the Big New Kickoff pregame show for those games, and then potentially even some NFL games once the season gets started, Big New Kickoff, Same cruise back, right, correct, same cruise back. We've already got a lot of debates, a lot of things going on. As I said to you, uh, there's some big differences between myself and maybe some one of the person on our show in regards to uh play, the pay for play, not name images and likely which I think I think this individual doesn't understand the difference, but uh, but the pay for play aspect of college football. I think I know who you're talking about, and you're also you know, you know, you know what based on someone we just talked about, maybe you can go to lineer and you can kind of you guys can figure out who would have gone first in two thousan six for us. Next time we have the on you can give me the answer. I'm sure he would have said himself and look, based on the career he had, probably, but I think even he did a man, it was like, all right, well, well I was if I ended up in a different situation. Though Arizona wasn't too bad, you know, But I've been partying a little too auch out there. I don't know. Well, I wouldn't blame him based on the celebrities those guys were at the end. I appreciate you, Brady. Thanks for come now any tough all right? Thanks to Brady once again. Um, I knew he'd be good on that topic. He delivered like he always does. People who listen to the podcast, you guys are super familiar with him. We're gonna jump into the six pack now, you guys know this works. Since the pandemic started, we went back to doing the six pack. I mean Tuesday, we put a call out for questions on Twitter. We gather the questions. I picked six if I picked yours, that means you get to like a hit a little heart button there on Twitter and you get an answer here on the podcast. Question number one coming from Benjamin Rancene. That's at b Rancen. Rancen. Are we going to see coaches who would normally be on the hot seat given more of a grace period this year since the season will be so volatile? Benjamin, I would say yes. Now, there have been a few coaches that I would say people think got a stay of execution last year. Dan Quinn was one, Matt Patricia was another. Um certainly Doug Morone was the third. Those three guys, the team's actually put out statements after explaining why they were moving forward with the sitting head coaches. So, um, we have situations like that. I think if all things are equal, un and this is barring, like you know, a tire fire in one spot, something really goes wrong, locker room quits on a guy, whatever it might be. I do think coaches are gonna get more of a grace period um for two reasons. Number one is the obviously what you mentioned, this could be a very volatile season. We don't know what we're gonna have as far as players hitting the COVID list on Fridays and Saturdays. What happens if you got to take your quarterback off the field for a couple of weeks, Like there's just there's so many different questions that relate back to the pandemic, and so I think this could have again like sort of like the N seven strike year feel, and that obviously I think would be at least a crutch for some coaches who could be in trouble at the end of the year to stand on the number two reason. I think this is one that people probably overlook. There's gonna be a revenue shortfall. Teams are going to lose a lot of local revenue this year. That's gonna be one place where this is really going to be felt. So we'll teams be less willing to eat years on guys contracts. UM. A lot of times when coaches fire, coaches get fired, UM, they'll have they'll walk away with two or three years left on their contracts. I think teams are gonna be a little less well going to do that this year. Question number two, this is from Heather Phillips. That's at Miss Heather five six, seven eight. What are the Patriots realistic chances of winning the division and going to the playoffs and even making a run at the Super Bowl. I don't see them getting by Kansas City and maybe even a team like Pittsburgh. I throw Baltimore and there another top contender in the a f C. Obviously, Tennessee was in the championship game last year. Houston has been in the playoffs for the last five years. Are they in that group? Maybe? You know, I'd never doubt Belichick, but they've lost a lot of manpower. Now they've lost I mean basically their entire linebacker crew crew from last year. Dante high Tower opted out. They lose Kyle Vannoy and Jamie Collins. When the Patriots have been good on defense, they've generally been really good at linebacker. This year, they probably won't be um in the secondary. They lose Pat Chung, they lose drawing harm, and that's a lot of snaps at the safety position. I just there's a lot of defensive infrastructure going out the door. You lose Brady on offense, it was Marcus Cannon on offense. I'm fascinated to see the way this works. And I don't think they'll be bad. Like I don't think they're gonna be like five and eleven because I think Politick is too good. I think that organization is too well run. Like right now, gun to my head, I'd say like nine and seven and they're in it until the end and maybe maybe sneak in as a six or seventh seed. A lot of pressure on the Buffalo Bills to go win the division. Question number three is from Charlie worked at Millsbury Shoe. Most likely scenario for a B eight four and a landing spot. I mentioned it earlier when I was talking with Grash. I really do think Seattle is the most likely landing spot. Does it happen, I think he gets another shot again the reason why you're buying low on him right now. And we sort of this conversation got cut off because the technical difficulty earlier. But I really feel like most coaches can look at it and legitimately say to themselves, this guy has to like kind of earn trust to the locker room based on what happened in Oakland. He's gonna have to earn the trust of the coaches based on what happened in New England. Um, and he's gonna be coming in in all likelihood on a low money deal. And so you look at the risk reward. And again this is if morally you can get a round some of the stuff that happened there. But um, you know, you look at the risk reward. The risk at that point becomes very very low if you've got the power in the hammer to cut him whenever you need to cut him, and the reward, of course, I mean, we know how good a player he is, so it's just be interesting to see him in the mix in Seattle with some of the young players they have on offense, like really promising guys like DK Metcalf, Will Distlely coming back off of injury, um, you know, Chris Carson obviously still there in the backfield, Seattle will be super interesting. Question number four, This is from Pete Dickerson at Pete d s C. Are there any teams likely to keep four quarterbacks in the roster based in the COVID test situation which could sideline more than one QB at a time and ruin their season outcome? Pete, Yeah, I think that's definitely possible. You would keep the fourth quarterback in the practice squad though, and I think a lot of teams will have a practice squad quarterback. I also think that if a team is going to do a quarantine quarterback situation, that's where you could see four quarterbacks in the roster. How would that work, Well, you have three quarterbacks on the roster and then you have a fourth guy who's basically working from home, and it would have to be like a mature guy who you know is gonna take care of business, who has background and what you do, So that could be like a Drew Stanton going and playing with the Bucks. He obviously has background with Bruce Arians from Arizona, like Josh McCown. Going back to Philly maybe for another year and being the quarantine quarterback, there definitely something to consider. Question number five, This is from a walker at a Underscore walk one five. Do they finish the season? I'm confident they're gonna start the season. I'm less confident they're gonna finish this season again. And I can't say this enough. I can't emphasize this enough. However we're doing in the country will reflect be reflected in how well the NFL is doing. If the country and they probably screwed that up the way I said it, however the country is doing, it will be reflected in the NFL. If the country isn't a better spot when it comes to the virus, when we get to September, October, November, I think they can pull this off. The protocols are good. These mini bubbles I think will work. Um. I think if we get it now, it's gonna be a rocky season and there's gonna be all kinds of stuff you don't normally deal with. But can they get to the season. Yes, if it's as bad as it is now or getting worse. I think then it becomes a challenge. So to me, this all depends on how we're doing in the country and the reason why. When you're not in a bubble, you are going to be dealing with some things that are out of control. You can be completely responsible about everything. Well, you still have coaches and players whose kids are going to school, you have still love coaches and players whose wives are going to work. It's a lot of touch points outside of the building that you're still going to be exposed to. And so I still think this is going to come down to how we are doing as a country when we get to the fall. I'm praying that we get both college and pro football. I would love to see that question number six final question from Jackson Brown, the fourth that's at Go Blue Forever Um. He has two questions, so I'll answer both of them. It's a two part question, as an old journalism trick. Question Number one, how does the NFL handle possible postponement of games? I do not think. I think unless we have a mass number of games, if there was a single outbreak, a single team outbreak, I think we'd probably be more likely to see forfeiture than we would be see to see postponement because you have to add a week to the season. Maybe they wind up doing that, maybe like like take away the Super Bowl bye week and add a week eighteen where postponed games could be played. I don't know how you that would all work. Um, I just don't think it happens. I think the more like the scenario is that if a team has an outbreak that where it can't play, then I think we do see forfeitures rather than postponements. Second question, second part of the two part question, which is totally unrelated of course, again old journalism trick. Why do you why do people still think Josh Allen is better than Sam Donald? I think it's because we don't know what Sam Donald would do in a better situation, and his situation has been really sideways the last few years. Josh Allen isn't a situation that is getting progressively better. Um. It was a little bit of a tear down in his rookie year. Year two, they started at the offensive line fixed. Mitch Morris was there um as the big ticket free agent signing from Kansas City. They added a couple of receivers in Josh Brown and Cole Beasley. They're adding Stefan Digs this year. Devin Singletary is going into his second year the coaching solid the program solid. He hasn't had turnover in his play color or his head coach. So Josh Allen has been in a pretty healthy situation coming up. We don't know what Sam Donald would look like if everything was completely healthy. Hopefully we get to see it at some point. Appreciate you guys coming out as always, watch your feedback, need your feedback, will value your feedback and use your feedback if you give it to us. Um. You can get to me on all my social media channels at Albert Brier on Twitter at Albert are Breer on Facebook at Albert Underscore Brier on Instagram. And listen to all of our podcasts, not just this one. We've got the weekend review podcasts, which all of us at the m m QB are a part of. Jenny and Connors podcast now drops twice a week. Gary's podcast comes to you on Monday mornings with our old buddy Andy Benoit. You can get us all on one feed now, the mm QB NFL Podcast feed. You can find it on Spotify, Stitcher, tune in, Google Play, Apple podcast, wherever you get your shows, same time next week. I'll see you guys that