התמלול המלא של Passing Time: Lions Enter Their Best Era! - Training Camp Preview - S2E55 - 7/22/26

00:02:20.800 You can you don't have to sweat like crazy when you walk out the door. 00:02:21.039 --> 00:02:22.879 It's inverse outfit weather. 00:02:22.960 --> 00:02:23.599 You know what that is? 00:02:23.759 --> 00:02:26.560 You know what inverse outfit is shorts at the bottom, sweatshirt on the top. 00:02:26.800 --> 00:02:28.719 It's t-shirt on the bottom, jeans on the bottom. 00:02:30.159 --> 00:02:34.319 More of the shorts and the and the and the long sleeve top, but like, yeah, it's it's the inverse. 00:02:34.400 --> 00:02:36.400 Uh, you you're you're catching along here. 00:02:36.560 --> 00:02:38.159 Uh it's the best kind of outfit. 00:02:38.400 --> 00:02:47.759 So um, so we're fired up and uh we're we're gonna kind of kick it out with some light-hearted stuff, um, and then get into the deeper stuff a little bit later on. 00:02:47.919 --> 00:02:59.439 So um B Mike's are the Lions right now, uh as we enter camp, are the Lions entering their best era of football? 00:02:59.759 --> 00:03:06.879 Hi, it's a it's a question mark right now, and for me, it's it's uh it that's hard to say yes. 00:03:07.120 --> 00:03:07.360 Why? 00:03:07.520 --> 00:03:22.960 Because you you remove a guy like Frank Ragnow from your offensive line, which you had one of the best offensive lines in all of football, and you replace it with a Graham Glasgow last year, and then you tried to rectify that with a Cade Mays this year. 00:03:23.039 --> 00:03:25.120 Um, it's a to be determined right now. 00:03:25.199 --> 00:03:28.719 So, in my opinion, are we entering the best era? 00:03:28.879 --> 00:03:29.840 I'm hopeful. 00:03:30.000 --> 00:03:33.599 I'm hopeful, but right now we still got some proving to do. 00:03:33.840 --> 00:03:37.039 Oh, Brian, you you were just you know, you're you're a hedger, right? 00:03:37.120 --> 00:03:38.879 You should go run a fund in New York. 00:03:39.120 --> 00:03:53.520 It would be called the hedge fund because um because you're not willing to commit either way, but there to me, there there is no doubt the lions are fired up, they're that they're pissing vinegar coming off of last season. 00:03:53.759 --> 00:04:08.400 Um and this is from the looks of it, probably when healthy, um, we're talking mid to late season, the best looking roster I've seen from the Detroit Lions. 00:04:08.879 --> 00:04:14.560 Yeah, I the offense for sure, like offensive side of the football. 00:04:14.719 --> 00:04:18.560 You look at that top to bottom and you're like, okay, uh, you know, I'm I'm excited. 00:04:18.639 --> 00:04:19.279 I'm excited. 00:04:19.439 --> 00:04:34.240 You know, you you talk about the Cade May, I talk about the Cade mazes and uh the question marks there, but what they've done to revamp that old line and and the tools um and weapons that they continue to to bring out there, it it's gonna be scary. 00:04:34.480 --> 00:04:38.319 Jared Goff is you know rolling into the prime of his career. 00:04:38.480 --> 00:04:40.399 Uh I'm in Rob Brown, I'm in Ross St. 00:04:40.560 --> 00:04:42.160 Brown is not backing down. 00:04:42.399 --> 00:04:46.720 He is, whether you want to argue or not, a top wide receiver in the league. 00:04:47.120 --> 00:04:47.439 No doubt. 00:04:47.680 --> 00:04:48.560 Don't argue that. 00:04:49.439 --> 00:04:50.800 Save your arguments for something else. 00:04:50.959 --> 00:04:51.199 Sure. 00:04:51.279 --> 00:04:56.079 Uh J Mo, like, can you look, can you find another a better wide receiver two? 00:04:56.480 --> 00:05:01.279 Um, you know, it's it's it's debatable that he might be one of the best wide receiver twos in the league. 00:05:01.519 --> 00:05:13.199 So um you look at that and then you add a Tesla who is gonna come into year two at looking looking strong, looking continuing to to to to grind out his craft, right? 00:05:13.360 --> 00:05:14.240 To get better. 00:05:14.399 --> 00:05:19.759 And uh a healthy Sam Laporta, uh a Bel Cow that will be Jameer Gibbs. 00:05:19.920 --> 00:05:21.839 You know, this this is looking good. 00:05:22.160 --> 00:05:38.800 Brad Holmes is transitioned now from drafting and building stars and and trading, you know, you got Goff trade, but building stars to now building depth around those stars, which is which is very, very interesting. 00:05:39.120 --> 00:05:55.199 You have Detroit's core, you mentioned Goff entering his quarterback prime, but you have and that's older for quarterbacks, but you have the core athletes on the roster entering the prime of their athletic careers right now. 00:05:55.439 --> 00:06:09.439 Yeah, um the expectation from us fans, you know, it's hard coming off a really uh tough season last year, but like the expectation isn't to make the playoffs like it was for decades. 00:06:09.920 --> 00:06:15.279 The expectation is to make the Super Bowl and win. 00:06:15.839 --> 00:06:17.360 Win the Super Bowl, right? 00:06:17.439 --> 00:06:20.160 Like, so that's that's great. 00:06:20.319 --> 00:06:34.720 I mean, this roster is it just feels deeper than any roster that we've had of the Dan Campbell era, and the Dan Campbell era has been the best era of Detroit Lions football in our in our lifetimes. 00:06:34.800 --> 00:06:40.639 And and Brian's going, you know, his doctor said he has to, he's of the age to get a colonoscopy now, right? 00:06:40.800 --> 00:07:02.079 So of our lifetimes, you know, if you are of that era um of you're just being recommended, no medical, no family history, but you have reached the age of you know, I don't know what they do, you fast, and they give you this magical elixir, and you get rid of everything, and then you get something shoved high and deep, right? 00:07:02.160 --> 00:07:02.319 Yeah. 00:07:02.959 --> 00:07:09.839 So uh in that era, Brian, we are we're in the we're in the golden age. 00:07:10.959 --> 00:07:12.879 And and it's hard to argue. 00:07:12.959 --> 00:07:20.240 I mean, if you see if you see a winning season from your 2026 Detroit Lions, then then yeah. 00:07:20.319 --> 00:07:30.720

Yeah, you're you're looking at um uh a Lions roster, a Lions team with a Lions coach, and a Lions ownership that is all heading and rowing in the right direction. 00:07:31.040 --> 00:07:32.959 When you see the winning season, you will know. 00:07:33.279 --> 00:07:34.000 When you see it. 00:07:34.160 --> 00:07:37.439 Um and I think you know, it's burned the boats. 00:07:37.600 --> 00:07:39.199 It's burned the boats this year. 00:07:39.279 --> 00:07:52.000 Um, and and the lions are um they they gave up some of the the media sessions, they gave up, you know, there's no hard knocks videotaping, it's uh there's no dual scrimmages. 00:07:52.319 --> 00:08:08.480 Yeah, you're not seeing the fluff, you're not seeing the the the frills, you're not hearing Dan talk all about you know highly about all of his players and the UDFAs that they brought in and the you know quarterback threes who are who are making you know making you uh you turn your head. 00:08:08.560 --> 00:08:14.959 You're you're you're hearing that this team is willing to get to work and they're they're they're doing it the right way. 00:08:15.199 --> 00:08:17.040 You know what it reminds me of, Brian? 00:08:17.199 --> 00:08:28.160 And you and you know, if you're listening to the podcast and you've gotten to know me over the one plus years, or maybe you know me in in RL, which the kids call real life. 00:08:28.399 --> 00:08:29.199 Real life, yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:08:29.519 --> 00:08:32.720 Um, this reminds me a lot of I'm a Michigan fan, right? 00:08:32.799 --> 00:08:35.440 So this reminds me a lot of Michigan football. 00:08:35.519 --> 00:08:39.600 Uh hired Harbaugh, the the hype train was crazy. 00:08:39.840 --> 00:09:01.919 He signed a couple recruiting classes, one being like the top one in the nation is the year they brought Rashawn Geary in and a bunch of these guys doing signing with the stars and doing all these fluff pieces, and then you know, the year of COVID, you know, uh Michigan goes like three and six, and they opted out of a bunch of games, they were just terrible. 00:09:02.159 --> 00:09:09.279 Um and Harbaugh was humbled, and he he just didn't think this was gonna happen. 00:09:09.600 --> 00:09:37.919 So he decided no fun signing with the stars, no Ric Flairs, no Ric Flair in the crowd, man, and he just kind of submarined it and locked it down, and what emerged was beating Ohio State, getting to the playoffs, winning a championship, and kind of holding to that same pedigree and integrity. 00:09:38.080 --> 00:09:53.279 And I kind of feel like the Lions went through the same thing in a different stage of life where they they they they started reading the clippings, started buying the hype, started showing up on you know every commercial, doing the things, and then they got humbled last year, and then it's been quiet. 00:09:53.440 --> 00:09:59.600 And I think what's gonna come out is is is a cage raccoon, you know, that you're gonna release to the wild. 00:10:00.399 --> 00:10:01.120 I like it. 00:10:01.279 --> 00:10:17.039 I like it, and I hope so because uh, you know, what we saw last year was not what we've come to know from the Detroit Lions that that hungry, gritty, wanting to to scratch and claw for every yard kind of kind of team. 00:10:17.200 --> 00:10:21.200 Um, it almost seemed like a team that was deserving, right? 00:10:21.360 --> 00:10:26.639 And they expected um it to be given to them because they they made it. 00:10:26.799 --> 00:10:42.240 Um, and now it's a team, like you said, is but that's been humbled and is needs to get back to their roots of blue collar, nose to the grindstone, getting after it, fighting for every yard, and uh doing it the right way. 00:10:42.320 --> 00:10:43.519 So I I love that. 00:10:43.600 --> 00:10:52.320 And this transitions perfectly into kind of the next topic I want to talk about is ESPN just put out a um kind of rankings for talent under 25. 00:10:52.399 --> 00:10:54.000 And Detroit's been well represented. 00:10:54.080 --> 00:11:02.799 They do this every year in this ranking, and this year, when I say well represented, they've been in the top five pretty much every single year here. 00:11:03.120 --> 00:11:05.440 And that's a you know, hey, cheers to Brad Holmes. 00:11:05.519 --> 00:11:07.360 Yeah, that means you're drafting well, kid. 00:11:07.519 --> 00:11:08.080 Alright. 00:11:08.480 --> 00:11:13.600 So this year, we're in the mid-20s, Brian. 00:11:13.919 --> 00:11:20.000 Does that sound alarming to you that we are in the mid-20s of talent 25 and under? 00:11:20.320 --> 00:11:27.440 It it it only alarming only alarming when you think of the youth, right? 00:11:27.600 --> 00:11:30.080 But your youth is it's not old. 00:11:30.480 --> 00:11:34.399 Your youth right now is like you said, in its prime. 00:11:35.120 --> 00:11:40.080 So what we need to do is continue to draft well, and I'm hoping that we are doing so. 00:11:40.240 --> 00:11:51.440 You know, you you got your Blake Millers, and you you got you know guys coming out of the woodwork that uh hopefully are gonna, you know, take on those roles um and take over for that youth movement. 00:11:51.519 --> 00:11:55.519 But right now, our our best guys like a Penny Sewell are 25. 00:11:55.679 --> 00:11:57.679 They're not under 25, but they are 25. 00:11:57.919 --> 00:11:58.639 Aiden Hutchinson. 00:11:58.879 --> 00:12:04.000 Aiden Hutchinson's Brian Branch can't qualify because he's he's not in the active caroster. 00:12:04.399 --> 00:12:05.360 Jameson Lum, yeah. 00:12:05.440 --> 00:12:06.320 Sam Laporta. 00:12:06.639 --> 00:12:08.480 They're all right there at that 25. 00:12:08.559 --> 00:12:10.960 They're not old, they're in their prime. 00:12:11.200 --> 00:12:28.080 And so when you are looking at a team that that has the youth as well as the experience, this is where it crosses, and this is where I think that we start to bypass some of those other teams that may have a youth and talent, but we have youth, talent,

and experience. 00:12:29.200 --> 00:12:41.120 So, would you rather have the NFL's best collection of 22-year-old talent and show up on one of these charts, or would you rather have some of these guys aging into their prime and maturing in football? 00:12:41.279 --> 00:12:43.120 Right now, that's a rhetorical question. 00:12:43.279 --> 00:12:45.120 Right, right now, what you want is this. 00:12:45.279 --> 00:12:52.879 You want guys that have been there, have seen it, both the good and the bad, and know how to come across and get out the other side. 00:12:52.960 --> 00:12:54.720 So yeah, amen to that, brother. 00:12:54.879 --> 00:12:58.720 All right, so we're gonna just this is gonna be a little bit different show. 00:12:58.799 --> 00:13:01.919 We're gonna we're gonna pop fire around here a little bit, Brian. 00:13:02.000 --> 00:13:04.559 Um, I want a couple little uh takes from you. 00:13:05.360 --> 00:13:14.639 Um I want a couple position groups here that you think are the biggest camp battles that we're gonna be podcasting about over the next few weeks. 00:13:15.039 --> 00:13:15.440 Sure. 00:13:15.600 --> 00:13:20.799 Uh well, number one, top of my brain right away is that left guard position, right? 00:13:20.879 --> 00:13:22.480 Is Christian Mahogany the guy? 00:13:22.559 --> 00:13:38.080 Is he gonna lock it down, or are you gonna get guys like Miles Frazier, Drew Scruggs, or Brian Barch or Ben Barch, sorry, to uh to push you know Christian Mahogany into either being a better version of himself or are they gonna overtake him? 00:13:39.200 --> 00:13:46.240 I I think we will be happy if mahogany wins it and he wins it going away, right? 00:13:46.559 --> 00:13:54.000 But you do hear things like Juice Scruggs can really move into center, he could play left guard, right guard. 00:13:54.080 --> 00:13:57.039 The dude can be a chameleon on the offensive line if we need him. 00:13:57.279 --> 00:14:01.840 Sure, and then you want that depth, but do you want that guy starting? 00:14:02.559 --> 00:14:04.320 You probably don't want him starting, you know. 00:14:04.639 --> 00:14:14.720 Maybe you I think the most likely thing you hear here is Miles Frazier is a beast, and he's really channeling hard for that guard spot. 00:14:14.960 --> 00:14:21.440 Yep, and that's and that's most the most likely scenario if a scenario like this comes up comes out, right? 00:14:21.600 --> 00:14:27.679 Is it Miles Frazier turns into what you know we a late round draft that is just blossoming, right? 00:14:28.000 --> 00:14:35.759 Got a year of experience, he got a training camp under his belt, he's healthy, and he is ready to to start mashing some faces. 00:14:35.840 --> 00:14:37.600 So, yeah, I like that a lot. 00:14:37.759 --> 00:14:41.919 So, um what about as we're entering camp, Brian? 00:14:42.080 --> 00:14:51.120 What are some matchups that you're just kind of like, man, like, and and maybe it's not a fair matchup, maybe it's not a matchup that like like you think who's gonna win this? 00:14:51.279 --> 00:14:55.840 Is it like the immovable force versus the unstoppable object? 00:14:56.000 --> 00:15:02.799 But just like if this guy goes up against this guy, I want feedback on this guy. 00:15:03.200 --> 00:15:05.279 Just to kind of you have anything that jumps up to you? 00:15:05.600 --> 00:15:19.600 I mean, the the first thing that we've talked about, and that I think that that jumps off the page right now is we've seen the Aiden Hutchinson, Panay Seul, Panay's right tackle, uh Aiden Hutchinson off the edge, but now Pine to the left. 00:15:19.679 --> 00:15:23.200 Does that mean a Derrick Moore Panay Sewell matchup? 00:15:23.279 --> 00:15:29.279 Are you gonna see uh Panay Sewell humble Derek Moore or are you gonna see Derek Moore win some reps? 00:15:29.440 --> 00:15:29.919 Yeah. 00:15:30.159 --> 00:15:43.600 Um, you know, the the the tough thing here, uh, you know, it I guess let me ask you this, and then I'm gonna I'm gonna respond to this because I don't want to give away what I think is a good good piece here. 00:15:44.080 --> 00:15:51.200 If Derek Moore wins 25 to 35% of these snaps, what's your reaction? 00:15:51.360 --> 00:15:54.080 Because there's a position switch in a rookie. 00:15:54.399 --> 00:16:00.159 I'm not gonna lie, I'm I'm concerned about Pene Sewell a little bit more than I'm impressed with Derek Moore. 00:16:00.320 --> 00:16:01.120 Yeah, okay, yeah. 00:16:01.360 --> 00:16:02.240 That's very fair. 00:16:02.399 --> 00:16:06.399 Because you took a guy that was a perennial all pro and you flipped him, right? 00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:13.279 Like you would everything was great over here, you know, like you had everything good and then you you you changed him up, right? 00:16:13.440 --> 00:16:13.919 Yep. 00:16:14.159 --> 00:16:28.080 Um or should you be thrilled that Brad Holmes unearthed another guy, traded up for another guy that's gonna come in and be a difference maker in potentially year one? 00:16:28.720 --> 00:16:46.000 If if that's the case, and you're saying that Derrick Moore is over overproducing, overplaying Panay Seul, he's outplaying Panay Sewell, I that that to me is that that's an amazing find, right? 00:16:46.159 --> 00:16:51.519 Brad Holmes, use your flowers, and uh, you know, let's get a look at a few more of those things. 00:16:51.679 --> 00:16:55.360 But uh I I just I I'll believe it when I see that. 00:16:55.600 --> 00:16:55.919 Yeah. 00:16:56.159 --> 00:16:56.559 Alright. 00:16:56.720 --> 00:17:03.120 Um, you know, put me down for I don't think you can mess Pinnae Sewell up. 00:17:03.279 --> 00:17:07.839 I think like and and you can always make that transition back, right? 00:17:07.920 --> 00:17:14.640 Like there they're that you can you can be weak at left tackle with somebody else if Pinnae is struggling over there. 00:17:14.799 --> 00:17:30.720 Um to me it's a it's a very good sign that Derek Moore has found a way as a rookie to be the guy that's been on all pro teams, uh

maybe playing slightly and learning again, but he's not he's not not played left tackle either. 00:17:30.960 --> 00:17:33.440 So um I think it's a good sign. 00:17:34.079 --> 00:17:34.799 We'll see. 00:17:34.960 --> 00:17:37.839 So um that being said, let's stick with the defense here. 00:17:38.160 --> 00:17:42.400 Calvin Shepherd, is the defense quietly changing? 00:17:42.559 --> 00:17:43.200 I hope so. 00:17:43.359 --> 00:17:53.359 Um, and and the reality is is I think Calvin Shepard needs to be able to morph and redesign itself into what they have. 00:17:53.519 --> 00:17:56.720 They can't force a square peg into a round hole. 00:17:56.799 --> 00:18:08.400 Um, if they don't have the guys that that can play primarily man, if they don't have guys that can play your base defense, then you have to be able to adjust and play with your strengths. 00:18:08.559 --> 00:18:11.119 And I this is gonna be crazy, right? 00:18:11.200 --> 00:18:22.240 This is gonna this is gonna be something that I think is might be might be hot takey, but bringing in a Drew Petsing, who if you go back in pods, I was not terribly excited about when the initial sign in there. 00:18:22.400 --> 00:18:29.680 Um, but bringing in a Drew Petsing and having that mentality in the coach's room where hey, I'm going to play to my strengths. 00:18:30.160 --> 00:18:31.759 I'm going to do what it is. 00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:35.359 If it if that means I have three tight ends, I'll run 13 personnel. 00:18:35.440 --> 00:18:37.759 If it means I have one, I'm gonna run 11. 00:18:37.920 --> 00:18:38.240 Right? 00:18:38.559 --> 00:18:49.200 So ultimately, I'm going to do what's best for my team with what we have, and I'm going to find the matchups from what I have in order to exploit the other team. 00:18:49.440 --> 00:18:58.160 I'm hoping that that type of mentality rubs off in order to have Kelvin Shepard to go, like, I don't need to run man 90% of the time. 00:18:58.240 --> 00:18:59.839 I don't have to stick into base. 00:19:00.160 --> 00:19:04.960 If it means that my personnel says I go to nickel, I go to nickel. 00:19:05.039 --> 00:19:06.480 If it says that I go to base, I go to base. 00:19:06.640 --> 00:19:08.000 If it says I go to man, I go to man. 00:19:08.079 --> 00:19:12.720 If it says I go to if this game says I have to go to zone, I'm going to zone. 00:19:12.880 --> 00:19:14.720 That's what I want to see from Kelvin Shepard. 00:19:14.880 --> 00:19:16.720 I want to see a chameleon. 00:19:16.880 --> 00:19:22.240 I want to see a master of all, not just one piece of that defense. 00:19:22.400 --> 00:19:26.720 And if that's able to happen, that's exactly what I think needs to happen from the Detroit Lions. 00:19:27.039 --> 00:19:28.559 And I think they've they've empowered them. 00:19:28.640 --> 00:19:33.200 I think they they have more depth, better depth than we've seen in years. 00:19:33.359 --> 00:19:37.759 Um, I feel like the personnel they're bringing in seemingly is more athletic. 00:19:37.920 --> 00:19:57.119 They're they're they're they're taking chances on guys with like profiles that are first round type profiles that haven't worked out in other places that are uber athletic, that they can plug in and maybe they can fit a role in this defense, and then they can bring this depth off the bench for certain situations. 00:19:57.279 --> 00:20:17.599 And and that's where the the mastermind needs to come into play because um it's gonna take a ton of organization, it's gonna take a ton of coaching, and it's gonna take a ton of responsibility by the players in order to put those pieces directly into the the puzzle that they need to be into at the right time. 00:20:17.839 --> 00:20:24.559 Um, because you know you take a misstep here and there or early on, and the crowd starts chirping. 00:20:24.799 --> 00:20:32.079 I don't want you to have to revert back to your old ways and um and and lose your confidence, right? 00:20:32.400 --> 00:20:35.680 Stick to your guns, find what works, and get after it. 00:20:35.839 --> 00:20:37.920 Oh, I like man, Brian's we're getting fired up. 00:20:38.400 --> 00:20:39.440 Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:20:39.680 --> 00:20:43.519 Um, so let's go, let's step away from the lines a little bit. 00:20:43.759 --> 00:20:45.359 Let's talk about next line. 00:20:45.599 --> 00:20:45.920 Okay. 00:20:46.240 --> 00:20:51.039 All right, so did the Texans accidentally validate Brad Holmes? 00:20:51.200 --> 00:21:12.000 So there's a report today that came out, and you can look it up, um, where the Houston Texans basically said uh Woody Marks and David Montgomery are the starting running backs, and they're gonna split time, and they are the new version of Sonic and Knuckles. 00:21:12.240 --> 00:21:15.119 So uh let's just step away from that. 00:21:15.200 --> 00:21:16.960 What's your instant reaction to that? 00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:25.359 You know, my instant reaction is that David Montgomery was still happy with Sonic and Knuckles. 00:21:25.839 --> 00:21:30.960 What David Montgomery was not happy was with was just Sonic. 00:21:31.359 --> 00:21:35.759 And so I think the the problem with last year is Wait, wait, he was Knuckles. 00:21:36.160 --> 00:21:36.960 I understand that. 00:21:37.119 --> 00:21:37.680 Okay, alright. 00:21:37.759 --> 00:21:39.599 Alright, well I'll I digress. 00:21:39.839 --> 00:21:40.720 I understand that. 00:21:40.880 --> 00:21:46.400 So what happened last year is you lost the Knuckles portion of that duo. 00:21:46.640 --> 00:21:47.839 Oh, okay, I see what you're doing. 00:21:48.079 --> 00:21:58.079 And we we were leaning more and more and more on Sonic because we have a star in the making, and you lost your duo, right? 00:21:58.319 --> 00:21:59.839 So I think David Montgomery. 00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:02.720 Is very happy with being a duo. 00:22:03.119 --> 00:22:09.519 What he doesn't want to see is a solo act, and he's not the the lead, the lead in that solo. 00:22:09.839 --> 00:22:10.480 Yeah,

okay. 00:22:10.640 --> 00:22:11.200 I get it. 00:22:11.279 --> 00:22:13.200 Sorry, sorry to front run you on that one. 00:22:13.359 --> 00:22:14.240 No, no, no worries. 00:22:14.480 --> 00:22:19.839 Um, I just think this is a very interesting story that came out today. 00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:21.119 You know, we're recording this. 00:22:21.200 --> 00:22:22.720 Uh, this is a Wednesday. 00:22:22.880 --> 00:22:25.119 Um, we're chasing midnight here, Brian. 00:22:25.200 --> 00:22:25.519 Yeah. 00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:28.079 Um, and Woody Marks. 00:22:28.480 --> 00:22:39.359 If you look at PFF, uh, and I did a quick pop on this, um, PFF ranked David Montgomery much higher than Woody Marks last year. 00:22:40.160 --> 00:22:42.720 Like, we you you look back on our pods, man. 00:22:42.799 --> 00:22:44.000 David Montgomery's the man. 00:22:44.640 --> 00:22:54.559 David Montgomery is an amazing back who is an amazing compliment to a guy like Jameer Gibbs, right? 00:22:54.799 --> 00:23:00.240 The problem is that we weren't giving him his due, we weren't sharing that role. 00:23:00.480 --> 00:23:12.799 Um, and uh I think you know, uh a guy as talented as David Montgomery wants to be featured, he wants to be given some of his flowers, and when he doesn't get them, he's gonna get disgruntled. 00:23:12.960 --> 00:23:14.160 And I think that that's what happened. 00:23:14.319 --> 00:23:22.000 So, I mean Isaac Pacheco came in, right? 00:23:22.160 --> 00:23:25.759 Mm-hmm or Isaiah Pacheco, sorry, I apologize on that. 00:23:26.160 --> 00:23:29.119 Um we were talking a lot about your son Isaac. 00:23:29.200 --> 00:23:45.279 Yeah, um he came in, and if he can be a, you know, I I think the lines are at a point where they Sonic is, you know, he put him up on stage and he sings so well, he does all the things so well, and it's hard to take him out, right? 00:23:45.440 --> 00:23:50.480 So, like maybe we just need a like a really uh backup knuckles, right? 00:23:50.640 --> 00:23:52.559 But we got something for him, right? 00:23:52.640 --> 00:23:57.680 Like the Brad Holmes went out, and there's not a lot of people trading for running back twos out there. 00:23:57.759 --> 00:24:10.079 You you can pull the list, please feel free to comment for for a different GM that's traded their second running back for assets that are actually impactful to the team, right? 00:24:10.240 --> 00:24:11.359 There's not a lot. 00:24:11.599 --> 00:24:26.480 Um, so that came back, and what I think is Montgomery maybe was viewing himself as a traditional RB1, a 25 carrier game workhorse. 00:24:26.960 --> 00:24:33.680 Um and the Lions were playing them very well like Jamal Williams. 00:24:33.759 --> 00:24:38.400 I mean, the the Lions had uh a really good role for him, he got upset. 00:24:38.720 --> 00:24:59.039 And I wouldn't be surprised if Pacheco, who's here on a is a is a one year, is a two year if he ends up going somewhere else after this year on a decent because the Lions will plug him in to the

right spots and teams will see a revival of a of a dead asset. 00:24:59.279 --> 00:25:12.240 So do you think, like based on that, do you think David Montgomery's career is on the downside, such as what happened to Jamal Williams when he left Detroit? 00:25:12.480 --> 00:25:19.680 I don't think it's gonna be Jamal Williams-esque, where you basically put him on the back of a milk carton, right? 00:25:19.759 --> 00:25:28.960 Yeah, but I think that the peak of David Montgomery's career was the 2024-2025 season. 00:25:29.200 --> 00:25:30.480 Yeah, I can see that. 00:25:30.720 --> 00:25:31.920 Um, I agree. 00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:35.359 I I do think that David Montgomery has more in the tank. 00:25:35.519 --> 00:25:44.240 Um, I think he has more to offer the Houston Texans than Jamal Williams had to offer the New Orleans Saints. 00:25:44.480 --> 00:25:56.079 Um, and I think right now, um I think Isaiah Pacheco is a lesser, like you said, a lesser back than David Montgomery. 00:25:56.319 --> 00:26:06.880 Um maybe a version of that, but I think Isaiah Pacheco also is going to be happy with his role. 00:26:07.039 --> 00:26:08.720 He's hungry for that role. 00:26:08.960 --> 00:26:21.359 He is not gonna be disgruntled with the role that we will be giving him in playing sparingly, but also contributing to this Detroit Lions team. 00:26:21.680 --> 00:26:45.039 And I I think the the the kind of the the word in the street with with the Pacheco contract was like he had other teams willing to give him a little bit more, whether that was money for one year or term, um, but he saw the Lions as a potential launching pad for continuing his career a couple more years. 00:26:45.200 --> 00:26:49.680 And and man, if it works out for him, that means it works out for the Lions, right? 00:26:50.079 --> 00:26:50.319 Absolutely. 00:26:50.559 --> 00:26:51.279 What a great sign. 00:26:51.359 --> 00:26:53.680 And and Brad Holmes talked about that. 00:26:53.759 --> 00:27:17.440 We we put this on a pod, you know, go back to like somewhere in our mid-40s podcast, we talked a lot about Brad Holmes' interview where he talked about free agents that leave Detroit, and because we've drafted so well, we've done such a good job with free agency that like we can't re-sign everybody, and that's a compliment to the real. 00:27:17.680 --> 00:27:29.279 I mean, really, he wanted to say to himself, but like to the franchise, to the organization, whereas some of these guys are gonna go on and get bigger contracts again or third or second contracts, where we can't retain everybody. 00:27:29.519 --> 00:27:30.799 We can't retain everybody. 00:27:30.960 --> 00:27:41.680 We do have to go in some of those contracts within our restraints and find guys that are cost effective, find guys that are hungry, find guys that want to prove themselves. 00:27:41.839 --> 00:27:45.200 And I think that that's where Brad Holmes makes his money, right? 00:27:45.279 --> 00:28:05.680 Not only does he make his money with some of those draft picks, but he also makes his money by signing some of these guys like Al-Kahim Mohammed, who comes out of the woodwork, who has been discarded by other teams, but is is put into a proper role and coached up by this great coaching staff in order to produce in a team like Detroit. 00:28:06.319 --> 00:28:08.799 And just drafts well, you know. 00:28:08.880 --> 00:28:20.319 He certainly some misses, but um man, I selfish plug, but I think Jimmy Rolder and Keith Abney are gonna be guys that we talk about. 00:28:20.400 --> 00:28:22.799 And I don't I didn't even want to bring those guys up. 00:28:22.960 --> 00:28:28.000 Um, but I am as high on that area of the draft as I've been in a long time. 00:28:28.480 --> 00:28:33.920 Um because Roller's a Michigan guy, Abney's an Arizona State guy, right? 00:28:34.000 --> 00:28:37.279 Like, so we're we're just talking about finding value in that draft. 00:28:37.599 --> 00:28:40.960 And um I I can't wait to revisit it, Brian. 00:28:41.119 --> 00:28:43.839 Yeah, I really like to recap after this season. 00:28:44.160 --> 00:28:46.720 Episode 75 is gonna be a great episode. 00:28:46.960 --> 00:28:56.799 But if you go back, like we were still looking at a couple drafts ago and going, man, we is um Ennis Raystraw going to produce. 00:28:56.960 --> 00:28:59.920 We know Terrier Arnold is no longer part of this team anymore. 00:29:00.079 --> 00:29:05.519 You know, that that draft class is still like hurting this team. 00:29:06.559 --> 00:29:09.599 I want you to go back and revisit draft classes, right? 00:29:09.759 --> 00:29:15.759 Like, and like draft classes are a lot like starting pitchers in Major League Baseball. 00:29:16.240 --> 00:29:23.759 So you can win a Cy Young and you can go, you know, 17 and 9, right? 00:29:24.240 --> 00:29:25.519 And win a Cy Young. 00:29:25.680 --> 00:29:35.519 You could be in my profession and um be a stock picker and a portfolio manager, and you can go 17 and 9, and and you're a Hall of Famer, right? 00:29:36.319 --> 00:29:38.640 Some people are so hard in their GMs. 00:29:38.799 --> 00:29:40.799 The draft is such a crapshoot. 00:29:41.279 --> 00:29:48.799 Um, even even in the first round, you know, you get past the top 10 picks, and it is it's hard. 00:29:48.960 --> 00:29:49.759 It's hard, right? 00:29:49.920 --> 00:29:54.240 So, like we but you know, revisionist history is so easy. 00:29:54.400 --> 00:29:59.440 Our armchair GMs, you you and me, we sit back, and it's just so hard. 00:29:59.599 --> 00:30:10.559 And I'm I'm not gonna say that I disagreed with them in the moment because you looked back at being able to move up and get a guy that was dropping a little bit but still had value, especially for the Detroit Lions. 00:30:10.720 --> 00:30:31.920 I got Terry on Arnold, and then backing that up with another guy that you knew our DBs at the time needed depth, needed uh resurgence, needed a youth movement, and then he gets up, goes back and gets uh an end of Strake

straw, who um we thought could could also combat for for a starting role, right? 00:30:32.160 --> 00:30:38.160 Um, and so all of these things were happening in the moment, and I was in in 100% support of that. 00:30:38.319 --> 00:30:42.480 Um, but now looking back, you're like, oh man, wait, we missed. 00:30:42.640 --> 00:30:44.720 So yeah, it's tough to hit them all. 00:30:44.880 --> 00:30:47.519 So um with that, let's let's transition here, Brian. 00:30:47.599 --> 00:30:49.039 I'm gonna let you lead this segment here. 00:30:49.519 --> 00:30:53.759 Um, but but Bill Bill's back and he's got some bullets. 00:30:53.920 --> 00:30:55.920 Hey, welcome, waking up from the dead. 00:30:56.000 --> 00:30:59.200 It only took us being off for a couple weeks, yeah. 00:30:59.759 --> 00:31:00.240 Sure. 00:31:00.400 --> 00:31:01.920 And uh he he jumps in. 00:31:02.160 --> 00:31:05.119 So what's Bill got to say? 00:31:05.359 --> 00:31:08.000 Oh, Bill's excited just for football, right? 00:31:08.160 --> 00:31:11.519 Bill's excited for training campus to start. 00:31:11.680 --> 00:31:25.200 He's looking at guys like Anthony Lucas and Eric Hunter to uh to compete, don't mind me, to compete for for those those spots, those edge rusher spots. 00:31:25.279 --> 00:31:38.079 Not because they have to start, but because they're pushing veterans to be better, the iron sharpening iron, kind of steel sharpening steel, um, and it's a great sign for depth across the board here. 00:31:38.319 --> 00:31:40.000 So good? 00:31:40.480 --> 00:31:41.440 I'm letting you leave this. 00:31:41.519 --> 00:31:42.160 Yeah, go ahead. 00:31:42.480 --> 00:31:42.960 Continue. 00:31:43.440 --> 00:31:52.559 Alright, um, he's also looking at guys like Levi Anzariga and questioning is is this a guy that's a cut candidate because of his contract? 00:31:52.720 --> 00:32:00.000 Is this a guy that um we are going to see on the 2026-2027 roster? 00:32:00.160 --> 00:32:02.640 Um, or are we gonna try to save a few bucks? 00:32:02.880 --> 00:32:09.440 Because if you look back when Levi was on the field, statistically we were so much better. 00:32:09.759 --> 00:32:19.920 So we have to ask ourselves, are we gonna see a Levi Anzrique who's healthy and productive, or is one of these younger guys gonna beat him out? 00:32:20.240 --> 00:32:23.599 I mean, he Levi shows a lot of athletic traits, right? 00:32:23.680 --> 00:32:28.319 Like, he's got a lot of things that you're like, man, don't give up on Levi, right? 00:32:28.400 --> 00:32:31.519 Yeah, like he can he can play multiple positions in the front. 00:32:31.759 --> 00:32:41.359 Um, he's explosive, he kind of is he's a multi-guy, and if you're transitioning this defense, like he really fits that. 00:32:41.759 --> 00:32:47.599 But if the death looks so good, we're not gonna be beholding him that either, right? 00:32:47.680 --> 00:32:48.319 Right, right. 00:32:48.960 --> 00:32:56.960 I just I want this defense to be as best as it possibly can, and statistics show that when Levi's in the field, we're better. 00:32:57.119 --> 00:32:59.440 So that's where I'm I'm standing. 00:32:59.599 --> 00:33:05.519 I would want to see Levi on the field, I want to see him producing, and I want to see him healthy. 00:33:05.680 --> 00:33:13.119 So, well, I mean, you know, you get some pass rush on the interior from him, um, solid against the run. 00:33:13.200 --> 00:33:14.079 Yeah, right. 00:33:14.480 --> 00:33:18.000 And I mean, yeah, he doesn't he didn't get a lot of snaps either, right? 00:33:18.079 --> 00:33:20.960 Like he, you know, we had depth. 00:33:21.200 --> 00:33:24.400 We had depth, but he was able to play inside and out. 00:33:24.559 --> 00:33:27.680 Um, but now we're looking at a healthy Ali McNeil. 00:33:27.759 --> 00:33:42.000 We're looking at Tyleek Williams in year two, we're looking at hopefully guys like Derek Moore and Aiden Hutchison who are healthy on the edges, and um, you know, where does that put Alevi in it? 00:33:42.079 --> 00:33:44.240 What kind of role does he carve out for himself? 00:33:44.480 --> 00:33:50.880 Yeah, I think if he's you know the first guy off the bench in the interior, uh that's a what a blessing he is, you know. 00:33:50.960 --> 00:33:53.200 But that there was some competition there too. 00:33:53.440 --> 00:34:05.680 Sure, but you lost guys like Roy Lopez and DJ Reader is gone, and you know, so so ultimately, hopefully we need a guy like Levi, and he is able to fill that void. 00:34:05.839 --> 00:34:06.720 So no doubt. 00:34:06.799 --> 00:34:08.400 So, where's Bill takes us next? 00:34:08.559 --> 00:34:11.199 He takes it down to the tight end position. 00:34:11.440 --> 00:34:23.199 And if you know Bill and you've talked to Bill, all Bill wants is a big bruising, blocking tight end that can rumble his way out there and catch a pass or two every once in a while. 00:34:23.280 --> 00:34:32.159 Um, he loves a Sam Laporta, but he also recognizes that Sam Laporta is is uh more of a pass catching threat. 00:34:32.239 --> 00:34:37.280 Um, and we want guys that allow us to put guys in binds and and run the ball. 00:34:37.519 --> 00:34:46.320 So Jackson Meeks, a wide receiver converted to tight end, is this guy going to be what Bill wants? 00:34:46.480 --> 00:34:47.519 No, he's not. 00:34:47.679 --> 00:34:54.800 He is a light in the pants, not a 270-pound rumbling blocking tight end. 00:34:54.960 --> 00:35:02.000 But but he is a guy that that makes you question like, what kind of role are we looking at at the tight end position? 00:35:02.239 --> 00:35:08.559 And what pos where does that put guys like Tyler Conklin or Brock Wright? 00:35:08.800 --> 00:35:16.639 You know, are is he is is a Jackson Meeks gonna compete with those guys for a tight end two or three spot? 00:35:17.360 --> 00:35:23.039 No, I I think you know, Jackson Meeks is gonna compete for a roster spot first and foremost, right? 00:35:23.119 --> 00:35:24.880 Like that's the first thing you look at. 00:35:25.119 -->

00:35:29.599 And if he makes the roster, uh he's gotta be a special teams guy. 00:35:29.760 --> 00:35:31.119 He and he will, and he did. 00:35:31.280 --> 00:35:31.679 Yep. 00:35:32.320 --> 00:36:08.079 That's what he's yeah, he's held his hat, and also he's gonna be a guy that like you sneak into certain situations, you know, let's just say third and six, and it's a passing down, and you need to convert, and you will show tendencies of like this is what we do on third and six, and maybe he can block well enough to get one of those tendencies, and you can show that, show that, and show that, and also you can break that tendency, you can send them out there, you can exploit a mismatch, and that's a guy on your team that maybe you don't necessarily have. 00:36:08.159 --> 00:36:13.119 Yeah, and we have to remember like Jackson Mix is a UDFA, right? 00:36:13.280 --> 00:36:25.840 He is um, he is not a necessarily sought-after guy who didn't necessarily make it as a wide receiver, but had some skills and in preseason made some catches and made everybody excited. 00:36:26.000 --> 00:36:33.440 Um, but ultimately, you know, he is not a he's not a uh a matchup nightmare. 00:36:33.599 --> 00:36:42.880 He's not a he's not a Tony Gonzalez or Rob Gradsky or a Travis Kelsey, he is a converted wide receiver, you know, a UDFA at that. 00:36:43.039 --> 00:36:44.400 Jackson Meeks, congratulations. 00:36:44.559 --> 00:36:46.960 We've given you more air time than any other podcast. 00:36:47.519 --> 00:36:49.840 Moving on to another guy that we're gonna give more air time. 00:36:50.239 --> 00:36:52.079 Oh, uh, what about our QB3? 00:36:53.119 --> 00:37:00.159 Luke Altmeyer, uh, who I watched um in the Big Ten, and the dude is just he's a gamer. 00:37:00.320 --> 00:37:09.679 Yeah, right, he's an absolute gamer, and this is what we're hearing coming out of practices and coming out of you know training and and working outs and the mini camps. 00:37:09.760 --> 00:37:14.719 And is he going to be compete with Teddy Bridgewater for uh for QB2? 00:37:15.199 --> 00:37:17.599 All by reminds me of John Kitna, man. 00:37:17.679 --> 00:37:22.559 He he will put his head down, he will rush for those tough yards. 00:37:22.719 --> 00:37:27.039 It won't be a slide with your feet, it'll be a dive with your face. 00:37:27.199 --> 00:37:31.360 Um, he makes some tough throws, he stands in the pocket, he just gets licked. 00:37:31.440 --> 00:37:32.800 He's not a big guy. 00:37:32.960 --> 00:37:48.800 Um, stands in there, gets up, does it again, and he has all those traits that like I think that like Dan Campbell's like, man, I can see why they called him and they and they probably begged him to say, hey, we didn't draft you, but we want you on this team. 00:37:49.039 --> 00:37:49.360 Sure. 00:37:49.599 --> 00:37:54.480 So if he continues to play well, where does that what what kind of bind does that put you in? 00:37:54.559 --> 00:37:56.079 Does that is that a roster spot? 00:37:56.159 --> 00:38:01.360 Is that a hopefully he gets to to our practice squad? 00:38:01.519 --> 00:38:04.239 Is it uh or do you carry three quarterbacks? 00:38:04.480 --> 00:38:13.199 Well, the new rule now with the with the emergency quarterback situation is like you can kind of carry three quarterbacks without hurting your roster. 00:38:13.599 --> 00:38:14.639 Correct me if I'm wrong here. 00:38:14.880 --> 00:38:19.039 I I'd have to look let me let me look into that further and we'll we'll update this. 00:38:19.199 --> 00:38:22.480 But uh I still think it it doesn't matter. 00:38:22.639 --> 00:38:25.679 It's kind of the Brock Purdy UCL rule, right? 00:38:25.920 --> 00:38:35.920 Like I think game time, yes, you can have three quarterbacks on the sideline without that third quarterback impacting the the roster. 00:38:37.199 --> 00:38:43.679 But he if you keep a third quarterback, he still competes or still holds a spot on your 53-man roster. 00:38:43.840 --> 00:38:44.800 Okay, all right. 00:38:45.119 --> 00:38:55.199 So um, you know, Teddy Bridgewater, you know, if we're counting on Teddy uh to get us through a series, great. 00:38:55.360 --> 00:38:57.119 And I I want to count on Teddy. 00:38:57.280 --> 00:39:00.800 If we're counting on Teddy to get us through a half, I want to count on Teddy, right? 00:39:00.880 --> 00:39:08.719 But if we're counting on Teddy to if it's to get us through a half season, like I want to turn the page to Luke Altmeyer and be like, all right, what do we got here? 00:39:08.960 --> 00:39:09.440 Fair enough. 00:39:09.679 --> 00:39:12.480 Because we're already kind of like saying, Yeah. 00:39:12.719 --> 00:39:17.280 But does that mean that one of your 53 is Luke Altmeyer? 00:39:17.360 --> 00:39:22.559 And the hopes that Jared Goff is not get hurt? 00:39:23.679 --> 00:39:28.320 Well our listen, our hope is Jared Goff doesn't get hurt. 00:39:28.559 --> 00:39:29.679 Regardless, right? 00:39:30.000 --> 00:39:37.039 Our this podcast, the season, is contingent on Jared Goff. 00:39:37.599 --> 00:39:43.920 Being healthy, playing a good a good top 10 QB season. 00:39:44.239 --> 00:39:44.960 If not better. 00:39:45.199 --> 00:39:53.199 It's crazy to say this, but like he's like by far the most important person on the Lions roster. 00:39:53.280 --> 00:39:54.800 And it's it's really not close. 00:39:55.039 --> 00:39:55.760 It's not close. 00:39:56.000 --> 00:39:56.800 It's not close. 00:39:56.960 --> 00:40:00.960 Like, you look at even like Jameer Gibbs, right? 00:40:01.119 --> 00:40:12.000 You know, you're your RB2 is Isaiah Pacheco, but even that you start to think about like we can make that work, we can pass more. 00:40:12.079 --> 00:40:19.599 Um the Chiefs won the Super Bowl when I when Pacheco was the was their RB1. 00:40:19.920 --> 00:40:20.159 Right. 00:40:20.320 --> 00:40:22.639 So like, yeah, not ideal, right? 00:40:22.719 --> 00:40:25.679 Like But like you can do that. 00:40:25.840 --> 00:40:28.400 You can make moves in order to fill

that in. 00:40:28.559 --> 00:40:30.400 Like, you lose Jerry Goff. 00:40:30.559 --> 00:40:38.239 Are we are we are we searching for Joe Flacco to to make to make it to Detroit and fill a role? 00:40:38.320 --> 00:40:42.079 Because, you know, I'm watching listen, man, I'm watching quarterback on Netflix. 00:40:42.159 --> 00:40:42.960 It's it's great. 00:40:43.039 --> 00:40:49.599 And Joe Flacco's, you know, to be a guy that I like, but you know, he is a journeyman at best right now. 00:40:49.760 --> 00:40:52.079 So yeah, and and old. 00:40:52.480 --> 00:40:53.199 He's old. 00:40:53.280 --> 00:41:06.400 And I think it's golf or bust with this line's roster, and he's in his prime, and um, it's one reason that we've invested so heavily in offensive line. 00:41:06.480 --> 00:41:06.960 Yeah, right. 00:41:07.039 --> 00:41:11.840 Like um, so, anyways, uh Bill uh rounding out a couple things. 00:41:12.079 --> 00:41:20.559 You know, he says Jadavian clown is still available, still there, wouldn't be mad about it, but knows it probably won't happen. 00:41:22.000 --> 00:41:23.440 So uh whatever. 00:41:23.760 --> 00:41:25.599 This reminds me of smoochy smoochie. 00:41:25.679 --> 00:41:28.480 You have to go back to to understand that in this podcast. 00:41:28.639 --> 00:41:32.159 So um Montgomery has a couple words on Montgomery. 00:41:32.320 --> 00:41:39.119 He's still convinced that Dave Montgomery was the was or training Montgomery was uh was not the right move. 00:41:39.360 --> 00:41:39.840 Yeah. 00:41:40.159 --> 00:41:50.559 Um doesn't like Bill doesn't like these um and the baseball's doing a lot, NFL's doing a lot, but these early signings. 00:41:50.639 --> 00:42:00.480 So like guys in a rookie deal, you come in a little bit early, you feel like you're getting a discount, they feel like they're getting a raise, we get a little bit extra term. 00:42:00.960 --> 00:42:03.280 Um what's Bill's take on that? 00:42:03.519 --> 00:42:10.719 Yeah, he wants to uh to sign a guy based on what their future predicts, not necessarily what they did in their past. 00:42:10.960 --> 00:42:20.239 And I think that's what that's what players and um their agents want to do is like, hey, this guy was an all-pro, Kirby Joseph. 00:42:20.400 --> 00:42:30.480 We gotta pay him like he's an all-pro, versus hey, in the future he could take a dip, and that's that's that's retrospect, right? 00:42:30.559 --> 00:42:40.960 That's that's very hard to predict, and not only that, but you want to make a player and their agent happy in the and in the process of of resigning these guys too. 00:42:41.119 --> 00:42:45.039 You know, you want to give them their value, but you don't want to overvalue. 00:42:45.199 --> 00:42:47.360 So that's where he's talking about. 00:42:47.599 --> 00:42:50.719 I mean, it's like so obvious to me. 00:42:50.960 --> 00:42:51.440 Sure. 00:42:52.480 --> 00:42:55.679 Obviously, I want production if I'm gonna pay you, right? 00:42:55.760 --> 00:43:01.360 Like, but obviously, you gave me production, and I feel like I need to pay you for that, right? 00:43:01.440 --> 00:43:05.199 And there's gotta be a blending of the middle, otherwise, another team will get that. 00:43:05.360 --> 00:43:14.960 So, what happens with guys giving contracts is you probably underpay for the first half of the contract. 00:43:15.199 --> 00:43:20.480 So, if you're reluctant to give them term, this this conversation doesn't matter. 00:43:20.719 --> 00:43:32.559 If you're giving them term, you are underpaying for their first part of their contract, and you are way overpaying for the later half of their contract, and we all know this. 00:43:32.719 --> 00:43:39.920 This is what happens, yeah, this is the way contracts work, is like the guy wants term for a reason. 00:43:40.079 --> 00:43:42.559 Yeah, he's like, hey man, like you gotta pay me. 00:43:42.639 --> 00:43:43.760 I'm in my prime. 00:43:43.920 --> 00:44:02.800 I know I'm my my agent knows that like once I hit 29, we know 29 year old wide receivers don't get money, so I want 29, 30, and 31 kind of guaranteed and bit and big dollars, and it's just like if we Don't give it to you, who will right? 00:44:03.039 --> 00:44:03.440 Right. 00:44:03.760 --> 00:44:09.519 But at the same time, right now, when we when we extended Amon Ross St. 00:44:09.679 --> 00:44:22.000 Brown, and he was the highest paywide receiver for all of six minutes, um, it it seemed like a lot of money, but now we're looking back at that value that we got Amon Ross St. 00:44:22.159 --> 00:44:25.679 Brown for, and we're like, we're happy we signed him early. 00:44:26.000 --> 00:44:30.559 Uh we're Hutchinson can be the you know put in that same boat, you know. 00:44:30.639 --> 00:44:36.639 We're we're we're happy that we signed him for this because now that edge money is continuing to grow, you know. 00:44:36.719 --> 00:44:39.199 So I don't know if he put Hutch there yet, right? 00:44:39.280 --> 00:44:42.400 Like he's still kind of gonna I think he will. 00:44:42.639 --> 00:44:47.920 I think he will earn it, but like I don't think you you know, Goff's contract looks pretty good right now, right? 00:44:48.159 --> 00:44:50.320 But then you question mark like Kirby Joseph. 00:44:50.400 --> 00:44:53.679 We did the same thing for Kirby, and you know, he didn't play last season. 00:44:53.840 --> 00:44:58.239 So for every Panay, you know, looks pretty good right now on paper, right? 00:44:58.320 --> 00:45:02.079 Like even Jared Goff looks pretty good right now, right? 00:45:02.559 --> 00:45:04.880 There there is no doubt on that. 00:45:05.039 --> 00:45:10.000 So like it it's not it listen, it's not a perfect science. 00:45:10.239 --> 00:45:12.400 No, it's it's hard. 00:45:12.719 --> 00:45:20.880 Art meets science, and there's a Venn diagram, and then and they they blend the middle, and it it's it's very, very difficult. 00:45:20.960 --> 00:45:26.400 And and GMs everywhere have to try to figure out the art and the science.

00:45:26.639 --> 00:45:32.559 And also, you go back like the Lions on a lot of these free agent acquisitions. 00:45:32.639 --> 00:45:33.760 Let's look at Pacheco. 00:45:34.159 --> 00:45:35.760 Um, it's one year. 00:45:36.000 --> 00:45:54.239 It's it's we didn't give them term, other teams probably would have given them term, so don't discount your GM because there's some instances where there's a lot of guys that were signing for one-year contracts and and we're re-signing for rock one-year contract, one year contract. 00:45:54.480 --> 00:46:04.320 Like, we are putting these guys on here, and like we're we're trying to retain them, but like we're not giving them term, which gives you optionality to give guys term in the future. 00:46:04.480 --> 00:46:06.960 Alright, so what do you do with Jameer Gibbs? 00:46:08.079 --> 00:46:16.480 Well, Jameer Gibbs, I think, correct me if I'm wrong, he's uh age 24, turning 25 this season. 00:46:16.719 --> 00:46:27.679 Um you give him absolute term and you pay the guy probably 22 to 25 million dollars a year. 00:46:28.079 --> 00:46:32.480 Um, ladies and gentlemen, the pendulum is swinging back. 00:46:32.800 --> 00:46:35.199 Running backs were here a long time ago. 00:46:35.679 --> 00:46:42.320 Think about Emmett Smith, Barry Sanders, Thurmond Tom, yeah. 00:46:43.039 --> 00:46:45.280 I mean, you go, it's here, right? 00:46:45.519 --> 00:46:50.079 And then all of a sudden the pendulum started swinging way in the other direction. 00:46:50.639 --> 00:46:52.400 Running backs were dime a dozen. 00:46:53.119 --> 00:46:55.840 Don't give them term, don't give them money. 00:46:56.159 --> 00:47:16.639 We'll plug in a rookie, we'll wear him down for a couple years, and you know, tip your cap to guys like Saquon and guys that have really like uh McCaffrey that have really in their later 20s have carried the torch and said, if you are a really good running back, you are still a difference maker. 00:47:16.800 --> 00:47:23.360 And that pendulum of getting running backs on the cheap is we're in the we're in the middle zone right now. 00:47:23.519 --> 00:47:29.920 Like it's it's not expensive yet, but real it's kind of like the housing market, right? 00:47:30.000 --> 00:47:33.760 Like you go back to 2011, you could buy a house for this, right? 00:47:33.840 --> 00:47:34.719 And we all remember that. 00:47:34.800 --> 00:47:41.119 And you get a mortgage rate for this, and now we look at houses, and it's it's like, man, like it's really expensive to buy that house. 00:47:41.199 --> 00:47:43.360 The the mortgage rates are really expensive. 00:47:43.679 --> 00:47:45.679 Are they relatively speaking? 00:47:45.840 --> 00:47:49.039 Mortgage rates are six percent, historically, they're eight percent. 00:47:49.280 --> 00:47:54.400 Um, housing was just depressed, and now it's it's catching up. 00:47:54.639 --> 00:48:03.840 Running backs are right there right now, and and and I think you you respect him, you give him the loyalty, and and he's 24 going on 25. 00:48:03.920 --> 00:48:18.000 Like, you still have five, six good years, and you pay the guy, and that's what I'm saying too, and not only that, but he is not a Bajan Robinson who you've leaned on for the last several years in order to be the Bell Cow. 00:48:18.400 --> 00:48:25.599 He was sharing a role with guys like David Montgomery up until now, and now you're starting to lean on him. 00:48:25.760 --> 00:48:31.440 So now are his best years where you're gonna you you might still have some longevity there, yeah. 00:48:32.000 --> 00:48:38.719 You know, Algier got some some some run over in Atlanta, and and too much run for some people's sake. 00:48:38.880 --> 00:48:50.320 Yeah um, but I know I got a little long-winded on that, but I just think that like Gibbs is foundational, and he's of the age to give term. 00:48:51.039 --> 00:49:00.320 So if you can get a few discounts now on dollar amounts for term, I think it's a fair trade-off, and they're dancing around that right now. 00:49:00.400 --> 00:49:00.800 Yeah, sure. 00:49:00.960 --> 00:49:12.639 Bijan Robinson and Jameer Gibbs and their agents, they're they're they're trying to figure it out who's gonna blink first, and yep, and and which one's gonna get paid because so the next one can get paid just a little bit more. 00:49:12.719 --> 00:49:14.960 So, yeah, it it's interesting. 00:49:15.119 --> 00:49:18.880 Um, I'm I'm pro give them the contract. 00:49:18.960 --> 00:49:23.039 I don't think this is a Miguel Cabrera type contract. 00:49:23.280 --> 00:49:32.880 I think this is a I still think it's almost like Kevin McGonagall type contract, you know, where he's young. 00:49:33.280 --> 00:49:43.519 Um you gotta, you know, it's Kevin McGonagall Plus, you gotta pay him a little extra, but like this is the prime, you're you're buying the prime of the career, and you gotta pay extra for that. 00:49:43.840 --> 00:49:44.559 Fair enough. 00:49:44.719 --> 00:49:45.119 Fair enough. 00:49:45.519 --> 00:49:46.159 Fair enough. 00:49:46.639 --> 00:49:48.880 So um let's go, Brian. 00:49:48.960 --> 00:49:52.320 Let's let's let's shoot the script, right? 00:49:52.480 --> 00:49:52.800 Yeah. 00:49:53.119 --> 00:49:53.519 Alright. 00:49:53.920 --> 00:50:00.400 Um let's just talk local Detroit stuff real quick, alright? 00:50:00.719 --> 00:50:02.880 So Iserman, out. 00:50:03.360 --> 00:50:06.000 Out thoughts. 00:50:07.519 --> 00:50:13.280 As as painfully as I as it hurts, I wanted Iserman to succeed. 00:50:13.440 --> 00:50:15.199 He didn't, and it's time to move on. 00:50:15.360 --> 00:50:15.920 Yeah, all right. 00:50:16.320 --> 00:50:16.800 Simple as that. 00:50:17.039 --> 00:50:17.760 Simple as that. 00:50:17.840 --> 00:50:34.719 Like, hopefully, for me, there is still the ability to mend ties with Dylan Larkin, um, that he can stick around and you know be whether he's the captain or or they he sees that we're trying to surround him with with good good talent. 00:50:34.880 --> 00:50:53.280 Yeah,

I kind of view Iserman as like he was like if you're building a house, he's a really good contractor that just was spending way too much time tinkering around with the foundation and the walls, and you wanted this, you just wanted to move in, man. 00:50:53.360 --> 00:50:56.719 And it's just like, dude, like you gotta you gotta figure this out. 00:50:56.800 --> 00:50:59.920 And it's like it wasn't, and it wasn't, and it was like, you know what? 00:51:00.159 --> 00:51:03.920 There's some other contracts because they're gonna move faster, they're gonna do good of a job. 00:51:04.239 --> 00:51:05.039 And we want to move our family. 00:51:05.360 --> 00:51:05.920 It's time to move in. 00:51:06.000 --> 00:51:07.199 We want to make the playoffs. 00:51:07.280 --> 00:51:08.239 So, all right. 00:51:08.480 --> 00:51:11.360 Um Detroit Tigers. 00:51:11.679 --> 00:51:13.440 Two two two questions for you, bro. 00:51:13.679 --> 00:51:14.239 Okay, two. 00:51:14.400 --> 00:51:17.119 Alright, so first playing great baseball. 00:51:17.679 --> 00:51:24.559 First, are they gonna percentages that they're gonna trade Terry Scuble? 00:51:25.840 --> 00:51:29.760 So I think they have to go. 00:51:30.079 --> 00:51:31.840 I think they have to trade school. 00:51:32.239 --> 00:51:34.480 That's not not expecting that? 00:51:34.719 --> 00:51:37.199 No, because I had my own vision here. 00:51:37.440 --> 00:51:38.639 I told you right before this. 00:51:38.719 --> 00:51:41.280 I'm like, all right, what if I say the same thing that you want to say? 00:51:41.440 --> 00:51:44.480 And I think that they have to they have to trade him. 00:51:44.639 --> 00:51:50.559 I think they have to get value out of him, and whether he wants if he wants to be in Detroit, we resign him in the offseason. 00:51:50.719 --> 00:51:55.519 If he doesn't want to be in Detroit, he's off to the LA Dodgers, and it is what it is, right? 00:51:55.840 --> 00:51:58.320 But you need to get value from him now. 00:51:58.480 --> 00:52:07.920 I don't believe the Detroit Tigers, as good as they're playing right now, are a World Series winning team, and because of that, you get value. 00:52:08.480 --> 00:52:13.119 Potentially a package that is franchise altering for the next five years, right? 00:52:13.440 --> 00:52:15.440 Like, so like that that's a that's a big deal. 00:52:15.519 --> 00:52:23.039 So not only that, but they got some young pitching talent that right now is being successful. 00:52:23.840 --> 00:52:36.079 I mean, you look at like really you take Derek Scuba out of the rotation, you got you got Melton, you got Montero, who are are pretty dominant right now, right? 00:52:36.239 --> 00:52:46.800 Like you got Maize, you got Jackson Job, who is a top, top guy, you got Reese Olsen, who's been injured all year long, right? 00:52:46.960 --> 00:52:49.039 And you're not even talking about your top paid guy in that. 00:52:49.440 --> 00:52:55.280 You got Framer Valdez, yeah, who's got multiple years of term on that contract, right? 00:52:55.360 --> 00:53:00.559 Like, so like you don't you could actually still make the playoffs. 00:53:00.960 --> 00:53:11.119 You you can thread the needles, and and the tigers did this in 24, where they traded assets, made the playoffs, and made themselves better for future years. 00:53:11.199 --> 00:53:14.239 That was the year they traded Jack Flaherty to the Dodgers. 00:53:14.400 --> 00:53:14.880 Yep. 00:53:15.039 --> 00:53:16.960 Um, anyways, that's that's interesting. 00:53:17.039 --> 00:53:24.800 So, with that being said, um, are the Tigers Are they gonna find a way to backdoor themselves into the playoffs? 00:53:26.000 --> 00:53:26.639 Yes. 00:53:27.039 --> 00:53:30.159 Yes, with the yes, so hey, we buried it. 00:53:30.239 --> 00:53:30.639 What do we? 00:53:30.960 --> 00:53:38.079 We're almost an hour into this podcast, and we buried the hottest take of the podcast right for the very end. 00:53:38.400 --> 00:53:51.519 I think with the line, uh sorry, with the tigers playing the baseball they're playing, they're they're relying on good pitching and not just Trick School pitching, they're relying on good pitching across the roster. 00:53:51.679 --> 00:54:00.800 Um, I think that their their detriment right now is in the bullpen, and but their hitting is coming on and their defense is starting to play like we know they can play. 00:54:00.960 --> 00:54:02.639 Yeah man, that's that's beautiful. 00:54:02.880 --> 00:54:08.559 Um and I I think they don't make the playoffs. 00:54:08.719 --> 00:54:08.880 Okay. 00:54:09.039 --> 00:54:11.760 Are you saying that just to be controversial with me right now? 00:54:12.320 --> 00:54:13.199 Partially. 00:54:15.199 --> 00:54:16.960 I think they're playing great baseball. 00:54:17.119 --> 00:54:17.519 Yeah. 00:54:17.760 --> 00:54:19.599 I think they're gonna sell Scooba. 00:54:20.159 --> 00:54:22.159 I think that affects the clubhouse. 00:54:22.400 --> 00:54:24.800 Do you think they can sell Casey Myes too? 00:54:25.119 --> 00:54:32.480 Well, Casey Myes right now is on the IL, the 10-day IL, and they gotta get that guy healthy. 00:54:32.639 --> 00:54:32.960 Sure. 00:54:33.119 --> 00:54:34.960 So Mys is an interesting one. 00:54:35.119 --> 00:54:38.159 If you lose Scoobol to free agency, you get a first-round pick. 00:54:38.480 --> 00:54:42.800 Also, if you lose my to free agency, you get a first-round pick. 00:54:43.199 --> 00:54:56.000 So, in bargaining for that, the team that trades for my has to understand that if they don't re-sign him, they get a first-round pick. 00:54:56.320 --> 00:55:01.119 So, what you get back in return is my plus plus, right? 00:55:01.199 --> 00:55:07.199 Like, yeah, you have to understand like if we just hold this guy, we're gonna, I think they should try to resign my. 00:55:09.039 --> 00:55:13.039 No, when we talked about starting pitching earlier, and then we got to six without even talking about my. 00:55:15.440 --> 00:55:18.480 So you get my plus a first right

now, right? 00:55:18.559 --> 00:55:27.760 So, and whatever team does that, they could send him a qualifying offer and they get a first round pick by just not re-signing him, so he gets a decent return. 00:55:27.920 --> 00:55:37.440 So I I would like to re-sign my if we can get him for a decent deal, especially if we're not gonna resign School. 00:55:38.320 --> 00:55:46.400 Um, my's is who he is, he's gonna be a 2-3 starter, he's a framber Valdez equivalent. 00:55:46.639 --> 00:55:51.599 And um, but man, we we've we found money with Melton. 00:55:51.760 --> 00:55:55.199 Yes, we we found money with Caden Montero. 00:55:55.360 --> 00:56:09.280 Yes, and what we saw glimpses of Jackson Job, it's like okay, and then Reese Olson when when healthy is he was arguably the number two last year, right? 00:56:09.440 --> 00:56:18.960 So so we got guys that allow crazy enough the best pitcher in baseball to be expendable. 00:56:19.679 --> 00:56:21.199 And the Tigers draft strategy. 00:56:21.280 --> 00:56:39.440 I don't know if you if you looked back and did the recap, but the Tigers drafted a lot of college arms, which is interesting because um in the past they've drafted high school arms and they drafted college bats. 00:56:40.239 --> 00:56:45.280 So it tells me that they're thinking they're gearing up for this window, right? 00:56:45.360 --> 00:56:46.880 We talk about windows all the time. 00:56:47.360 --> 00:56:58.400 I think the tigers think that they they have the start of something here, and they want guys to come up and be ready, and not in five years, but in one to two years. 00:56:58.559 --> 00:57:01.280 Yeah, and that's that's interesting to me. 00:57:01.440 --> 00:57:03.440 That's that's my take on the whole situation. 00:57:03.599 --> 00:57:04.320 Fair enough. 00:57:04.639 --> 00:57:10.239 So that being said, um, we appreciate your patience with the podcast. 00:57:10.480 --> 00:57:12.960 Uh life gets busy sometimes. 00:57:13.119 --> 00:57:17.039 Um, we went a whole year with basically never skipping a beat. 00:57:17.119 --> 00:57:23.280 I mean, I was having a kid getting called to sit in this chair and do a podcast. 00:57:23.519 --> 00:57:25.840 So um we took a three-week hiatus. 00:57:26.079 --> 00:57:26.559 We did, right? 00:57:26.719 --> 00:57:27.199 We did. 00:57:27.440 --> 00:57:32.800 So if you're still listening to this one, if you have my personal number, text me and be like, hey man, I listened to the whole podcast. 00:57:32.880 --> 00:57:34.320 I heard your message at the end. 00:57:34.559 --> 00:57:37.760 Two, if you don't have my personal number, just comment at the end. 00:57:37.840 --> 00:57:38.880 Hey, listen to the whole pod. 00:57:39.119 --> 00:57:39.760 It was good. 00:57:40.000 --> 00:57:47.760 I'm subscribed, I like, I listen, and I send to my aunt who might like, you know, talking about the Detroit Lions or maybe the Tigers. 00:57:47.920 --> 00:57:48.400 Yeah. 00:57:48.559 --> 00:57:51.679 Um, that being said, stay gritty. 00:57:52.079 --> 00:57:53.039 Go, Lions. 00:57:53.599 --> 00:57:54.719 See you next week. 00:57:55.199 --> 00:57:56.159 That's that's the plan. 00:57:56.400 --> 00:57:56.960 Let's go. 00:57:57.119 --> 00:57:57.920 Let's go.