บทถอดความฉบับเต็มของ Passing Time: Lions OTA Buzz - Super Bowl or Bust? Expectations for 2026! - S2E52 - 6/3/26

00:03:48.560 --> 00:03:57.360 So, I mean, this is gonna be the the engine that really drives this Lions team, and it's gonna be the biggest cog and whether it's it's gonna be successful or not. 00:03:57.520 --> 00:03:58.639 So yeah, we'll just we'll see. 00:03:58.719 --> 00:04:00.879 I mean, hey, Blake Miller, you're in the adult league now, man. 00:04:01.199 --> 00:04:02.240 Well, welcome up here. 00:04:02.319 --> 00:04:11.280 There's some big boys out there, and there's some guys hungry for contracts, for jobs, for second contracts, for next year that you got to go in there and you got to beat out. 00:04:11.439 --> 00:04:16.959 Yeah, and and yeah, Larry Borum is not gonna just sit back and say, Oh, yeah, you're a first-round pick, so it's yours. 00:04:17.120 --> 00:04:18.879 It is gonna be an all-out war. 00:04:18.959 --> 00:04:26.160 And as soon as there's some pads put on, um, we're gonna actually really be able to dissect who's gonna be in that spot. 00:04:26.240 --> 00:04:36.480 So and you know, uh the old saying, iron sharpens iron, it's it's kind of an old adage, but like the fact is, is you know, there was nobody pushing for that left tackle job last year. 00:04:36.560 --> 00:04:41.680 You know, it was it was show up and you know you've had this job for nine years and you can kind of run with it. 00:04:41.839 --> 00:04:46.240 Um and not only that, but it was like there was nobody behind him. 00:04:46.319 --> 00:04:53.839 There was it was whether you're you're a hundred percent healthy or or banged up or hurt, you're our guy, you're the best we have. 00:04:53.920 --> 00:04:54.639 So yeah. 00:04:54.800 --> 00:04:59.040 So uh we got a no-brainer now on the left side that we moved from the right side and Sewell. 00:04:59.199 --> 00:04:59.519 Yep. 00:04:59.680 --> 00:05:05.439 Um as long as he's healthy, he's a you know, a top three left tackle in the NFL. 00:05:05.600 --> 00:05:08.319 That might be doing him a bit of a disservice saying that. 00:05:08.480 --> 00:05:10.879 Yeah, um, so let's move it inside now. 00:05:10.959 --> 00:05:12.800 Um, left guard competition. 00:05:12.959 --> 00:05:14.560 Um, kind of what are you hearing? 00:05:14.639 --> 00:05:15.519 What are you reading there? 00:05:15.759 --> 00:05:18.399 Well, this is uh to me the biggest question mark, right? 00:05:18.560 --> 00:05:43.839 Um, I still recall when we got uh Rodrigo and he came in as a linebacker and he's shocked some folks in his rookie season and and played some good football, but we still, you know, going into that 2023 draft picked up an inside linebacker and were able to get Jack Campbell because we knew that Rodrigo, though, was good, we needed to improve that, right? 00:05:44.000 --> 00:05:46.879 I feel Christian Mahogany is very similar in that regard. 00:05:47.040 --> 00:06:00.319 He is he's good, he's a placeholder right now, though, and we need to ideally upgrade, but hopefully for a year we can we can lock this down, have some depth behind him, and create some competition so that those guys can get continue to grow. 00:06:00.480 --> 00:06:10.160 You know, you still have Miles Frazier who is gonna compete for that job, Drew Scruggs, who's gonna compete for that job, Ben Barth, who is still in the mix, maybe, you know. 00:06:10.319 --> 00:06:16.720 So you you got guys there that are gonna have to um you're you're gonna you're gonna have to see what cream rises in the top. 00:06:16.800 --> 00:06:25.279 So well, you know, one thing about that left guard spot is um you know you you look to your left and you have a perennial all pro right there, right? 00:06:25.600 --> 00:06:28.800 That is gonna help Christian mahogany tremendously. 00:06:29.040 --> 00:06:38.160 Yes, and then you look to your right and you got a guy that the Lions earmarked as, you know, a guy that's gonna be their future center for for the next three years plus to come, right? 00:06:38.480 --> 00:06:39.199 That's hope, yeah. 00:06:39.279 --> 00:06:39.839 Let's hope. 00:06:40.000 --> 00:06:51.680 Um, so you know what, like if you're looking around, you don't want your you don't want any part of your offensive line to be weak, but if you're looking around, you got a guy in mahogany that's already started a fair amount of games, you know what you got. 00:06:51.759 --> 00:07:02.160 You know, maybe it's you know it's that C plus, B minus type starter, but if you're surrounded by you know A's and B pluses, and uh that it's not a bad place to to sneak a guy in, right? 00:07:02.319 --> 00:07:02.720 Absolutely. 00:07:02.800 --> 00:07:09.360 And when you surround yourselves with A's and B minus or A's and B's, you know, it's gonna push you to be a little bit better, too. 00:07:09.439 --> 00:07:10.560 So yeah, no doubt. 00:07:10.800 --> 00:07:18.480 So um, you know, the way that you know Brian and I would probably handicap this is you know, there is a competition over there between mahogany, Frazier, and Scrugs. 00:07:18.720 --> 00:07:22.879 Um, in Vegas terms, probably minus 200, right? 00:07:22.959 --> 00:07:25.120 Like there's not a lot of money on that. 00:07:25.199 --> 00:07:26.480 He's probably gonna be your starter here. 00:07:26.720 --> 00:07:29.040 He's gonna have some competition, it's not guaranteed. 00:07:29.199 --> 00:07:32.720 Um, then you got Frasier coming in, probably right around plus 300. 00:07:32.800 --> 00:07:36.879 It'd be it'd be a surprise if Frazier you know took that job. 00:07:36.959 --> 00:07:50.160 Uh, and then you got Scrugs back there as a guy that really can play left guard, center, right guard, and it's just a depth piece, and it'd be pretty surprising maybe a plus 350 if he were to take that job, yeah. 00:07:50.560 --> 00:07:59.439 Um, which would be great if if if you know what you got in mahogany and you get another guy coming out and beating him out, that's a that's a that's a that's a win for the Lions, right? 00:07:59.759 --> 00:08:09.040 Ultimately, we know what we have with Chris Mahogany, and if

somebody comes in, like you said, beats him out, that is that is meaning we're getting better. 00:08:09.360 --> 00:08:10.000 No doubt. 00:08:10.079 --> 00:08:12.959 So going from the offensive line to the defensive line. 00:08:13.040 --> 00:08:17.600 Um, I know we didn't talk about Cade Mays or um Tate Ratlitch. 00:08:18.160 --> 00:08:22.480 Not a lot of, I mean that those are probably your guys, and it's underwear Olympics. 00:08:22.560 --> 00:08:26.240 So we're trying to give you some some of the newer names, some of the the angles here. 00:08:26.399 --> 00:08:31.600 Um so moving to the D-line, you know, Ryan you and I uh talked. 00:08:31.759 --> 00:08:36.000 Uh I I think three guys pretty much have their role secure. 00:08:36.080 --> 00:08:36.559 Yeah, right. 00:08:36.720 --> 00:08:38.960 You got Aiden, Tyleek, and Aline, right? 00:08:39.120 --> 00:08:44.000 And you're gonna need to expect Aleem to get back to form. 00:08:44.159 --> 00:08:53.519 Um, you're gonna need to expect Tyleek to take your two-step forward, and you're gonna need to expect Aiden to have uh a great season. 00:08:53.679 --> 00:08:53.919 Yeah. 00:08:54.639 --> 00:09:00.960 So then you got this other edge kind of spot opened up, and you got a few names out there. 00:09:01.120 --> 00:09:04.399 Um, do you think that Derek Moore can lock up that other edge? 00:09:04.559 --> 00:09:05.919 You know, I I I do. 00:09:06.000 --> 00:09:08.000 I think that there's a lot to like there. 00:09:08.159 --> 00:09:20.000 I think that he um might be a guy that may week one, meet week two, week three might not be the guy, but um as we get closer to the buy, and then after the buy, you might see a transition, right? 00:09:20.080 --> 00:09:28.799 So like week six, week seven, you start to see more of Derek Moore, maybe a little bit less of guys like DJ Wanham or Peyton Turner. 00:09:28.879 --> 00:09:37.279 Um, if Peyton Turner's healthy at that point, but ultimately guys that that are gonna be older are gonna be shifting out, and guys that are younger might be shifting in. 00:09:37.360 --> 00:09:40.399 So you you mentioned another guy that is getting some love. 00:09:40.559 --> 00:09:54.960 You know, Hassanin has been getting a lot of love, and he might be a guy that just is an underwear Olympic guy, you know, a crossfit uh guy, but he um basically he's a he's gonna challenge, he's gonna get in there, and he's gonna give it all he got. 00:09:55.039 --> 00:10:01.840 And and he's a player to watch, and and it sounds crazy because he wasn't a guy that was even cracking the the 53 last year. 00:10:02.000 --> 00:10:05.120 Um, but I think he's gonna find his way onto the 53. 00:10:05.360 --> 00:10:07.759 I think he's gonna see the field this year. 00:10:08.000 --> 00:10:16.720 I don't know how much, but he's a guy that's starting to get a lot of uh I don't know, his name's getting typed up a lot by a lot of different people watching. 00:10:16.960 --> 00:10:17.440 I love that. 00:10:17.679 --> 00:10:20.559 I I he's a guy that you it's easy to like, right? 00:10:20.639 --> 00:10:31.919 He's a guy that he's he's cut from the mold, you know, he's young in his football career still, um, still learning, but just wants, has has that want to, right? 00:10:32.000 --> 00:10:38.879 He wants wants to be able to be at his all and be at his best and pushes others along as along that way. 00:10:38.960 --> 00:10:41.440 And that's those are guys that you love in your locker room. 00:10:41.519 --> 00:10:51.759 You got those you love on the practice field, and it's it's gonna force other guys to be like, get up and get to his level, or you know, what you're gonna not make the roster. 00:10:51.840 --> 00:10:58.559 So yeah, I mean, I don't know if if you ever played a sport or or did something that is competitive, right? 00:10:58.639 --> 00:11:07.840 And and I can remember this um throughout my my playing days, but as a guy like that thinks they got a spot on lock. 00:11:08.000 --> 00:11:24.879 And if you got this younger guy coming up, and he, you know, when you're doing polls in baseball, if he's doing pulls faster than you, when you're doing extra work, extra reps after practice, whatever it might be, um, he's doing it faster, harder than you are, and you're like, man, like that coach, he's probably catching his eye. 00:11:24.960 --> 00:11:28.240 So I gotta maybe push myself a little bit more and a little bit more. 00:11:28.399 --> 00:11:45.519 And if Hasanin can if he can give you that, and and and DJ Moore sees that, if if you know DJ Wanham sees that, if if Peyton Turner sees that, if Aiden Hutt, if all those guys are seeing this guy just work harder, you don't want to stand out and look bad. 00:11:45.679 --> 00:11:52.080 So if he's just bringing that culture of just lunch pill hard work, that's a positive for everybody, right? 00:11:52.159 --> 00:11:53.360 Yep, that absolutely. 00:11:53.600 --> 00:12:04.320 Um, so it got me thinking here, like Brad Holmes, I think he knew all along that he was probably gonna draft a DN. 00:12:04.720 --> 00:12:11.519 Whether it was gonna be the first round, the second round, or trading up high third, or somewhere in that area. 00:12:11.600 --> 00:12:13.919 He knew that he was probably gonna sign a DN. 00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:17.679 And that's why I want to go back to to DJ Wanham. 00:12:17.919 --> 00:12:30.799 And I think he was the perfect signing for Brad Holmes, who knew that he was gonna give some draft capital that DN room, and he got a a very high floor, low ceiling guy that can go and start. 00:12:30.879 --> 00:12:33.759 He could start all the games and we'll be fine. 00:12:33.919 --> 00:12:48.960 Um, but also if he just turns into a really nice rotation player where he can spell guys um and let Derek Moore go out there, it's just for the price, for the for the term, it just made a ton of sense. 00:12:49.039 --> 00:13:01.120 And then you think about okay, then then they go out and they get Peyton Turner, a

former what, 25th overall first round draft pick, um, guy that tests well, looks well, underwear Olympic guy, who's the opposite, really. 00:13:01.200 --> 00:13:08.720 He's a super low floor, a guy that might not even, he's got no guaranteed money, yeah, might not make the con the the roster, right? 00:13:08.879 --> 00:13:21.039 Um, but also if they can unlock him, and whatever that first round potential was, you know, the RAS score, whatever, yeah um they have all the potential right there to push guys, right? 00:13:21.279 --> 00:13:25.600 It's like and it's a no-risk and high reward type of player, right? 00:13:25.679 --> 00:13:28.960 I mean, you seen Brad Holmes do this before. 00:13:29.120 --> 00:13:35.279 You've seen uh uh Mohammed come through and you know get 11 sacks. 00:13:35.440 --> 00:13:52.240 You know, you you've seen these guys be able to produce these these you know scrap heap type guys that you know we just uncover or give a new um uh a different window to look through and uh you know they start to perform. 00:13:52.320 --> 00:14:09.360 So yeah, I mean um so I I want to go on record here on a couple things, but you know, I already um if you go back a couple pods, I kind of went on record here, but I I think as you get into this season, Derek Moore is gonna be your starter. 00:14:09.679 --> 00:14:19.600 Maybe it's not week one, maybe it is, but uh as you go, but Derek Moore is never gonna be a flashy player, he is never gonna be a flashy line. 00:14:19.759 --> 00:14:33.519 Um, you know, maybe more like uh a Meek or a Rockison or a guy that does a lot of right things, but just is never that ultra flashy player that that that you could insert in your lineup and be fine with. 00:14:33.679 --> 00:14:35.279 I think that's gonna be Derek Moore. 00:14:35.360 --> 00:14:37.759 I think he's gonna be just a solid long-term. 00:14:37.840 --> 00:14:39.840 He's gonna have a 10-year career in the NFL. 00:14:40.000 --> 00:14:44.960 He might eke out a Brandon Graham year or something like that, you know, as you get down the road. 00:14:45.120 --> 00:14:48.000 Um, but he's gonna be a solid player. 00:14:48.240 --> 00:14:54.960 I want to go to the I want to turn the page to linebacker now, and I want to talk about a guy that's been getting a little bit of chatter. 00:14:55.120 --> 00:14:55.360 Okay. 00:14:55.440 --> 00:14:56.799 Um, and Jimmy Roller. 00:14:56.879 --> 00:14:59.759 You know, we didn't have we didn't have any third-round draft picks, right? 00:14:59.840 --> 00:15:00.080 Brian? 00:15:00.720 --> 00:15:03.279 We talked about it a lot on the podcast, right? 00:15:03.600 --> 00:15:07.200 We've given those up in order to get other guys and hoping that pans out. 00:15:07.360 --> 00:15:08.639 So we go to the fourth round, right? 00:15:08.720 --> 00:15:10.000 It's a very valuable pick. 00:15:10.080 --> 00:15:12.879 We sat on that clock for a very long time. 00:15:13.039 --> 00:15:13.200 Yep. 00:15:13.440 --> 00:15:13.679 Right? 00:15:13.919 -->

00:15:16.480 And we we take Jimmy Roller, okay? 00:15:16.639 --> 00:15:19.360 And we have a need at linebacker, right? 00:15:19.519 --> 00:15:22.000 So Jimmy Roller's been getting chattered. 00:15:22.080 --> 00:15:28.559 They're they're basically he's a guy that's gonna like he's gonna he's already gonna be a main guy on special teams. 00:15:28.879 --> 00:15:29.200 Okay. 00:15:29.600 --> 00:15:31.600 Um, stock up early on him. 00:15:31.679 --> 00:15:34.639 They're saying that he's running with the twos at linebacker right now. 00:15:34.799 --> 00:15:44.320 Um, as a fourth rounder, you know, making the team is probably what you know, handicapping at a 75% chance making the making the team. 00:15:44.480 --> 00:15:48.399 Yeah, um, coming out and starting a little bit in your first year. 00:15:48.720 --> 00:15:54.159 Probably maybe you take that and reverse it, it's probably a 25% chance. 00:15:54.879 --> 00:15:55.120 Okay. 00:15:55.279 --> 00:15:58.000 I think we got a guy in Jimmy Rolder who's gonna go out there. 00:15:58.080 --> 00:16:03.519 He's a lunch pail guy, he is a Jack Campbell type protege. 00:16:03.840 --> 00:16:09.759 Where I I think you're gonna get a guy that halfway through the year is a starter, and you you might not look back. 00:16:10.320 --> 00:16:13.279 And I would appreciate that because there is a need, right? 00:16:13.440 --> 00:16:15.840 Right now, there's a need at linebacker. 00:16:15.919 --> 00:16:35.279 Um, and I don't know what Kelvin Shepard and Dan Campbell and that defensive crew have decided or whipped up in the offseason in order to adjust to losing guys like Amique or Anzalone, um, but being able to bring in guys like Jimmy Roller um could ease that that those tensions. 00:16:35.360 --> 00:16:37.039 Are we gonna see more nickel? 00:16:37.120 --> 00:16:46.879 Um, are we gonna get out of our base defense more um because we don't have a guy like Anzalone who can cover and play that inside you know linebacker spot? 00:16:47.039 --> 00:16:51.519 Um or is Jimmy Roller gonna just come in and and be able to fill that void? 00:16:51.759 --> 00:16:58.480 I think the Lions would be smart to probably get out of that base defense a little bit more often with kind of the chess pieces they have in the field. 00:16:58.639 --> 00:17:12.640 But as the season progresses, if you I guess your tall tal is here one, if if you're starting to see him on the field a lot more, and if you're seeing him on the field a lot more, and all of a sudden the lions are getting more comfortable in that base defense, you know that they're liking what they're seeing, right? 00:17:12.960 --> 00:17:13.519 Yeah, absolutely. 00:17:13.680 --> 00:17:25.200 And now it brings me back though to the uh Rodrigo type question is is a Jimmy Rolder gonna be an upgrade from a you know Rodrigo type linebacker? 00:17:25.279 --> 00:17:28.720 Is he going to push Barnes um in his role? 00:17:28.880 --> 00:17:37.039 And you know, we just saw Jack get his money, so we know that he's pretty solidified in what we're gonna see there for the next you know several years. 00:17:37.279 --> 00:17:38.799 We're gonna talk about that contract here coming up. 00:17:39.200 --> 00:17:40.160 We'll talk about that. 00:17:40.319 --> 00:17:42.880 Um, but where is Jimmy Roller going to defend? 00:17:42.960 --> 00:17:48.000 Is he going to be that Sam like linebacker or is he going to play more that weak side? 00:17:48.079 --> 00:17:50.640 So yeah, and hopefully those guys are versatile. 00:17:50.880 --> 00:17:54.720 Um, and and it's funny, you you know, you gave that Rodrigo thing up front. 00:17:55.119 --> 00:17:59.680 Um, it's nice to have a guy like Rodrigo sit here that you know you can plug in. 00:17:59.839 --> 00:18:04.799 You can trust he's gonna play good football, he tackles unbelievably. 00:18:04.960 --> 00:18:11.039 It's just you know, he's got some some faults in his coverage ability and some limitations in his size. 00:18:11.279 --> 00:18:16.000 He's not long, he's you know, he's not quick twitch, but he is going to give you good football. 00:18:16.079 --> 00:18:23.359 Yeah, so yeah, so um long ways to go, but um, I would say stock up and um this guy's gonna battle. 00:18:23.519 --> 00:18:32.480 And you know, my my hot take is you know, we're gonna be sitting here uh middle of the year, and and I'm gonna say, hey, go back to episode 52, guys. 00:18:32.559 --> 00:18:37.440 Like, I'm I'm I was telling you that Jimmy Roller is gonna be a guy, and Jimmy Roller's gonna be a guy. 00:18:37.839 --> 00:18:39.759 So uh that's my guy, all right? 00:18:39.839 --> 00:18:41.519 All right, um, safety depth. 00:18:41.680 --> 00:18:44.720 Yeah, um, so you know, uh well documented. 00:18:44.799 --> 00:18:50.640 We got a couple guys that are gonna rehabbing injuries, and there's been a lot of like positivity. 00:18:50.960 --> 00:18:53.920 Uh actually there hasn't been negativity there, right? 00:18:54.079 --> 00:18:57.680 Like so, like I take that as there's been positivity, right? 00:18:57.920 --> 00:18:58.400 Like, okay. 00:18:58.559 --> 00:18:59.759 Is that how you view that? 00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:03.680 I look at it as like indifference, which is not great for me. 00:19:03.839 --> 00:19:14.160 Like, I don't I don't love the fact that there's no hype in the that safety room, but I also love the fact that there's no um like oh my gosh, we're taking steps backwards either. 00:19:14.240 --> 00:19:16.799 So yeah, so the those guys are gonna get healthy. 00:19:16.960 --> 00:19:19.039 Um, we're talking about branching Kirby. 00:19:19.119 --> 00:19:19.599 Yep. 00:19:19.839 --> 00:19:21.839 Um as they get healthy right now. 00:19:22.000 --> 00:19:26.480 Christian Aizen and Chuck Clark are they're getting most of the run with the ones right now. 00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:30.720 And uh I I think the lions are okay with that. 00:19:30.960 --> 00:19:44.720 Yeah, I mean, I'm hearing you know the the stories of uh Kirby Joseph is on the sidelines, he's

there, he's dancing, he's looking like he's in high spirits, but they're also talking about like, hey, it's May, right? 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:45.440 It's June. 00:19:45.519 --> 00:19:46.079 No, it's June. 00:19:46.319 --> 00:19:50.480 You know, it's it's it we're we're we're we're early in the process, right? 00:19:51.119 --> 00:19:51.839 Is my point. 00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:58.079 Where the OTAs are not where we need to be, you know, diving all in. 00:19:58.160 --> 00:20:04.400 It's it's the August, it's the September's, it's the Octobers, it's the Novembers, and ideally, it's beyond, right? 00:20:04.960 --> 00:20:09.599 That's where we want our guys to be healthy, that's where we want our guys to be ready and rare to go. 00:20:09.759 --> 00:20:10.559 It's not right now. 00:20:10.640 --> 00:20:11.839 Yeah, it's not OTAs. 00:20:12.240 --> 00:20:16.000 Um, and so you hear Dan Campbell, we'll talk about that too. 00:20:16.319 --> 00:20:20.079 You hear Dan Campbell say, hey, he's he's lessening the hype. 00:20:20.319 --> 00:20:25.839 He's not like, hey, we're things are great, no, but he's like, it's it's pajama, it's a pajama party. 00:20:25.920 --> 00:20:27.759 It's pajamas, it's practice in pajamas. 00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:34.079 Right now we're we're we're going through you know walkthrough and and seven on sevens. 00:20:34.319 --> 00:20:39.039 This is not it's it's it's exciting because it's football, but it's not real football. 00:20:39.279 --> 00:20:53.440 Let's let's get into Dan Campbell in a just like I'm sorry, give me like a 30 second, let me just get one more on the on the DB room, and let's get into like Dan Campbell's like I think he's a little bit of a changed man. 00:20:53.519 --> 00:20:59.039 So the last is you know, you got Keith Abney um getting cross-trained on multiple spots. 00:20:59.440 --> 00:20:59.920 Excited, right? 00:21:00.400 --> 00:21:06.640 Yeah, this is a guy that like value pick in the draft is one of the guys that you hear constantly. 00:21:06.720 --> 00:21:09.200 It's like, man, you got that guy in in the fifth. 00:21:09.359 --> 00:21:14.880 So yeah, and he is what they're doing is they're giving them a chance to make the 53. 00:21:15.359 --> 00:21:15.599 Right? 00:21:15.680 --> 00:21:27.440 Like that they're they're playing them at slot, they're playing them at corner, they're playing them at safety, and they're just trying to figure out if this is a guy that like one man goes down, you can you can go abne and say go. 00:21:27.599 --> 00:21:27.839 Yep. 00:21:28.079 --> 00:21:30.400 And then they're not gonna lose too many steps. 00:21:30.720 --> 00:21:35.680 So I think that's his path to making the 53, but probably playing some special teams. 00:21:36.160 --> 00:21:42.640 Um, but there's a lot of positive buzz there with you know underwear Olympic week one going. 00:21:43.119 --> 00:21:48.960 So getting back to Campbell, Ryan, do you notice a bit of a difference with him? 00:21:49.279 --> 00:21:49.839 Absolutely.

00:21:50.079 --> 00:21:50.400 Okay. 00:21:50.720 --> 00:21:54.960 He is doing things just a tad different. 00:21:55.440 --> 00:21:59.279 He's he and the rest of the staff are are. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:02.720 They're not revealing anything special, right? 00:22:02.880 --> 00:22:05.680 He's not hyping up anybody, any of his guys. 00:22:05.920 --> 00:22:07.440 He's being a little bit more reserved. 00:22:07.599 --> 00:22:09.200 He's like business. 00:22:09.839 --> 00:22:12.799 You know, you look at him and he's business. 00:22:12.960 --> 00:22:20.559 He's like, I I don't want to waste my energy or my time on anything that's not getting my football team better. 00:22:20.720 --> 00:22:20.960 Yeah. 00:22:21.200 --> 00:22:22.640 And I love that right now. 00:22:22.799 --> 00:22:28.079 You look at even the schedule release, simple, concise business. 00:22:28.240 --> 00:22:28.480 Yeah. 00:22:28.640 --> 00:22:34.000 It has nothing, no frills, no, no excitement, no, you know, cameos. 00:22:34.400 --> 00:22:40.240 It was pinning the schedule on the on the on the board, going back to work. 00:22:40.319 --> 00:22:40.559 Yeah. 00:22:40.720 --> 00:22:46.160 And I think that that is the mentality that he is trying to portray to his team. 00:22:46.319 --> 00:22:50.480 It's this hungry, businesslike mentality. 00:22:50.640 --> 00:22:52.799 It is what Detroit loves. 00:22:52.960 --> 00:22:56.000 It is the lunch pail and hard hat and ready to go. 00:22:56.240 --> 00:23:00.880 Yeah, it it you know, like obviously it's been well documented on this podcast. 00:23:00.960 --> 00:23:04.160 I'm also a very big Michigan fan, right? 00:23:04.240 --> 00:23:07.759 Like a Michigan football, Michigan, all Michigan fan. 00:23:07.839 --> 00:23:18.720 And it kind of like I'm just thinking about this raw and live right now, but it reminds me of following Michigan and like Jim Harbaugh. 00:23:19.279 --> 00:23:27.599 And in the earlier stages of Jim Harbaugh, he was doing like this signing of the stars, and he was bringing Ric Flair out. 00:23:28.079 --> 00:23:46.240 And you know, there's you know yellow corvettes lined up, and um it was announcing this this coveted, you know, uh recruit class coming in, and there was all the you know the sparklers and the pizzazz, and then the results of the field were the expectations were sky high. 00:23:46.400 --> 00:23:59.920 This was a good program with a great coach, and then the results in the field were like you know, nine and three, you're falling short, and then all of a sudden he just kind of went into the the submarine and the bunker and said, you know what, no more of that stuff. 00:24:00.160 --> 00:24:10.559 You know, it's just um then you saw Blake Quorum, you saw all the guys come out, he bought everybody these blue mechanic shirts, you know, with the name Blake. 00:24:10.720 --> 00:24:14.720 And it was just like if you went up to get your oil change, is it's what the guy's wearing. 00:24:15.119 --> 00:24:24.160 It kind of said, Hey,

we're gonna turn a new leaf, it's none of that fancy stuff, and we're just gonna go like, and he wasn't doing the extra press conferences, he wasn't giving any extra detail. 00:24:24.240 --> 00:24:31.039 It was just like this is and also he wasn't touring the United States doing recruit football camps like he was back then. 00:24:31.119 --> 00:24:36.160 It was just like, you know what, we're gonna go back to like boring, and I'm gonna hyper focus on this team. 00:24:36.240 --> 00:24:41.039 And then what came next was a national championship and a couple playoff appearances. 00:24:41.200 --> 00:24:54.319 So I think Dan Campbell might have like been basking in the glow of like all the hype, and everybody loved the Lions, and and he he liked that a little bit. 00:24:54.480 --> 00:24:55.839 Oh, but uh who wouldn't? 00:24:56.000 --> 00:25:00.799 I mean, you've taken a team that was less than subpar. 00:25:01.119 --> 00:25:02.559 I mean, they had nothing. 00:25:02.880 --> 00:25:09.680 Two, 15 wins, or even even better yet, the year before, an NFC championship game. 00:25:09.839 --> 00:25:12.480 You know, the brink of a of a Super Bowl. 00:25:12.799 --> 00:25:19.680 And you then get this past season humbled to to some extent. 00:25:19.920 --> 00:25:31.759 Nine and eight, which is still a winning season, he's still having success, but nowhere near the the expectations that the Lions have set for themselves. 00:25:32.319 --> 00:25:34.640 Not just the fans, but for themselves. 00:25:34.799 --> 00:25:38.240 So now they have to re-evaluate. 00:25:38.480 --> 00:25:46.079 Look at them, look at themselves deep in that mirror and decide what is truthfully what we want. 00:25:46.400 --> 00:25:51.440 What what you know what is our expectations moving forward and how are we going to get there? 00:25:51.599 --> 00:25:58.160 And it's it has nothing to do with uh with celebrations in the end zone after touchdowns, even though that's fun. 00:25:58.400 --> 00:26:03.200 It has nothing to do with hyping up a player in in May and June. 00:26:03.359 --> 00:26:08.000 It has everything to do with going to work, grinding in and out, and getting things done. 00:26:08.160 --> 00:26:08.960 Yeah, yeah. 00:26:09.039 --> 00:26:09.920 And you know what? 00:26:10.160 --> 00:26:15.920 Like, I know it's not football season, but I haven't seen Dan Campbell in commercials recently. 00:26:16.160 --> 00:26:26.640 You were seeing Dan Campbell and uh he was, you know, uh Applebee's and Sam Bernstein, yeah, law firms, insurance companies, and insurance companies getting out there. 00:26:26.880 --> 00:26:30.720 He was um it's been kind of quiet with Dan Campbell. 00:26:31.039 --> 00:26:37.279 And it's funny enough, I know it's not football season, but it's been pretty quiet across the board for for lines. 00:26:37.359 --> 00:26:42.880 I mean, you you don't see Aiden Hutchinson in Allstate commercials right now or or everything else. 00:26:43.039 --> 00:26:46.160 Um, right now it sounds like it's time to get to work. 00:26:46.319 --> 00:26:48.319 Yeah, interesting. 00:26:48.480 --> 00:26:51.519 That was a live kind of thought on that. 00:26:51.759 --> 00:26:55.519 Wasn't really meant to be part of segment one, but I think we're on to something here. 00:26:55.680 --> 00:27:01.680 But I also think it's it's amazing to think of you know, where have the the lines been successful? 00:27:01.839 --> 00:27:03.359 Where have the Pistons been successful? 00:27:03.519 --> 00:27:06.240 Where have the the Tigers been successful? 00:27:06.400 --> 00:27:11.680 You know, even maybe the Red Wings a little bit, even though they had some success with you know the checkbook as well. 00:27:11.759 --> 00:27:33.039 But it's those go back to work, put the hard hat on, you know, those type of bad boys, you know, lunch pail-like Detroit-driven type teams that have been successful, especially if it's in your DNA to draft and to sign based on those metrics, right? 00:27:33.119 --> 00:27:35.680 Like, I think that that's you love football. 00:27:35.759 --> 00:27:37.200 Like, love, love football. 00:27:37.359 --> 00:27:38.559 Are you a lunch pale guy? 00:27:38.640 --> 00:27:46.559 Like, if you're bringing those guys in, then all of a sudden, like you start drifting into like you know, you're drinking cabernet with your pinky up, it's like, what? 00:27:47.119 --> 00:27:50.079 Like, it there's there's we forgot who we were. 00:27:50.160 --> 00:27:51.839 Yeah, like they forgot who they were. 00:27:52.000 --> 00:27:57.519 They got they got too big for their britches, they were their pinkies were up, and they forgot who they were. 00:27:57.599 --> 00:28:04.079 So now it's time to go back, get hungry, cook that steak rare, and get after it, right? 00:28:04.240 --> 00:28:07.440 And get your camo can of bush light and do what you gotta do, man. 00:28:08.160 --> 00:28:09.440 Put that pinky down, my friends. 00:28:09.680 --> 00:28:10.720 All right, here we go. 00:28:11.039 --> 00:28:14.640 You've never seen a guy drink a camo can bush light with their pinky up, right? 00:28:14.720 --> 00:28:16.079 Like it just doesn't happen, right? 00:28:16.160 --> 00:28:18.720 Like you get you know excommunicated from the friend group. 00:28:18.960 --> 00:28:19.440 Absolutely. 00:28:19.599 --> 00:28:21.519 Uh so Brian, let's get into segment two here. 00:28:22.000 --> 00:28:24.559 Um, and and that was uh that was you know live. 00:28:24.720 --> 00:28:27.359 Brian Rob kind of uh ripping on that. 00:28:27.519 --> 00:28:33.839 Um segment two, Brian, do you want to talk a little bit about uh the new signing for the Detroit Lions, a re-signing for the Detroit Lions? 00:28:34.079 --> 00:28:35.759 Yeah, Jack Campbell extension. 00:28:35.920 --> 00:28:39.039 Um looking at a four-year, 81 million extension. 00:28:39.279 --> 00:28:46.640 Um, so this guy, Jack, he is going to be the centerpiece of the Detroit Lions now, what, through 2030? 00:28:46.799 --> 00:28:50.240 So, you know, a guy that's

gonna be a green dot for the long term. 00:28:50.319 --> 00:28:51.680 So yeah, that's exciting. 00:28:51.839 --> 00:28:55.839 Um, I guess the moral of the story is like we should be fired up. 00:28:55.920 --> 00:29:01.519 It's it's a first round pick that was highly scrutinized, that has just absolutely panned out. 00:29:01.759 --> 00:29:03.839 They played the contract situation perfect. 00:29:03.920 --> 00:29:08.240 They didn't pick up his option because that type of linebacker gets grouped in with DNs. 00:29:08.559 --> 00:29:09.119 That number goes. 00:29:09.519 --> 00:29:12.319 The Micah Parsons, the Mount, and though whatever. 00:29:12.720 --> 00:29:18.000 So they restructured and uh they gave him a really fair deal ahead of time. 00:29:18.640 --> 00:29:20.799 So lines like the pay early. 00:29:21.119 --> 00:29:24.880 Um, you kind of get that little bit of a discount when when you pay early. 00:29:25.279 --> 00:29:26.160 A little bit early, yeah. 00:29:26.319 --> 00:29:28.480 Do you want to talk about what that contract looks like? 00:29:28.720 --> 00:29:34.720 So we're looking at 81 million annually, 20.25 million per year. 00:29:34.880 --> 00:29:40.240 Uh 51.5 of that is guaranteed, and he is under contract through 2030. 00:29:40.480 --> 00:29:41.279 Okay, nice. 00:29:41.519 --> 00:29:48.559 Yeah, so um something I did see was the Lions do have a ton of guys, and we can dive into this a little bit deeper later. 00:29:48.640 --> 00:29:51.519 Um, at that 20 million a year mark. 00:29:51.680 --> 00:29:54.880 Um, it's more than the Rams right now, it's more than the Eagles. 00:29:54.960 --> 00:30:07.839 It's it's it's pretty exciting to see that one, we have talent on this team, and I and it's it's interesting to look back at that 2025 season and go, man, we underperformed. 00:30:08.000 --> 00:30:19.039 Um, but we have to continue to remember this is a very talented roster with all pros, pro bowlers, and guys that are making some money. 00:30:19.119 --> 00:30:21.680 So and relatively young, you know, and still relatively young. 00:30:21.839 --> 00:30:25.759 We take Jared Goff out, who's not old, um, but we you know, we brought him in. 00:30:25.839 --> 00:30:30.240 But this has been a draft and develop type roster, you know, is the whole philosophy. 00:30:30.319 --> 00:30:39.599 So a lot of these guys are like they're just getting into their second contract, and a lot of those second contracts are early second contracts, and and we're paying those our guys, you know. 00:30:39.680 --> 00:30:41.200 We're not that's what's interesting. 00:30:41.279 --> 00:30:48.799 We're not going out and making that flashy free agent signing because we've done so well with the guys that we have, yeah. 00:30:49.039 --> 00:30:53.680 So, um, but you know, it brings you to the question who's next? 00:30:53.759 --> 00:30:57.039 Is it is Jameer Gibbs gonna be the next guy? 00:30:57.200 --> 00:30:59.599 Is is Sam Laporta gonna get a contract? 00:30:59.759 --> 00:31:02.160 What where do we see Brian Branch down the road? 00:31:02.240 --> 00:31:06.559 Those are the kind of that those the big four from the 2023 draft class. 00:31:06.720 --> 00:31:11.039 Um, probably Jameer Gibbs in that process, but who's gonna blink first? 00:31:11.200 --> 00:31:13.599 Is it gonna be Jameer Gibbs or Bajan? 00:31:13.839 --> 00:31:20.880 So yeah, and I I think knowing the Lions, they're gonna wanna try to get out in front of that contract, right? 00:31:21.039 --> 00:31:24.160 No, no, but is Jameer Gibbs gonna allow them to do so? 00:31:24.559 --> 00:31:25.440 You're right. 00:31:25.680 --> 00:31:35.440 Um the the running back uh fell out of favor, and it's it's starting to like jog its way back into favor right now, right? 00:31:35.519 --> 00:31:39.920 Like sure it's not walking, yeah, it's not even like fast walking, right? 00:31:40.160 --> 00:31:46.079 It's it's getting right back into favor, and you're starting to see running backs starting to get a little bit of a bag. 00:31:46.799 --> 00:31:47.839 They're getting love again. 00:31:48.000 --> 00:32:01.200 I mean, there there's value there, but you also have to pump the brakes a second because I mean statistically shows you can still get a guy with value um at a at a lesser contract. 00:32:01.359 --> 00:32:05.279 Can you get a Jameer Gibbs though at that same kind of contract? 00:32:05.519 --> 00:32:12.000 No, I mean he's a he's a he's a one of three in the NFL right now, maybe. 00:32:12.319 --> 00:32:13.680 Maybe one of two. 00:32:15.039 --> 00:32:16.960 Can you name who you're gonna be? 00:32:20.960 --> 00:32:23.440 I don't put Saquon in in the game category. 00:32:23.759 --> 00:32:25.920 I think Saquon is now moving out of that. 00:32:26.000 --> 00:32:27.119 So what are we looking at? 00:32:27.200 --> 00:32:27.759 Two guys? 00:32:28.000 --> 00:32:45.359 It's probably really just like you got Bijan and Gibbs, and you got a couple guys on that second cusp of tiers that are like um, you know, is Ashton Genty had actually statistically a really good year on a really bad team. 00:32:45.599 --> 00:32:47.599 Like, is he gonna break into that tier? 00:32:47.680 --> 00:32:50.400 You got Omar and Hampton who's hurt a lot last year. 00:32:50.559 --> 00:32:54.960 You had Jermail Jeremiah Love, who is actually the highest paid running back in the NFL right now. 00:32:55.279 --> 00:32:55.759 Crazy. 00:32:55.920 --> 00:33:00.160 Well, I mean, that's that's the love coming back into the running back, right? 00:33:00.319 --> 00:33:01.359 Like, ooh, yeah, you like that? 00:33:01.519 --> 00:33:02.079 Yeah, yeah. 00:33:02.640 --> 00:33:09.599 Um, so and and actually the 2027 rookie class is offensively loaded. 00:33:09.839 --> 00:33:10.400 Loaded. 00:33:10.559 --> 00:33:13.599 Um, with quarterbacks, wide receivers, and running backs. 00:33:13.839 --> 00:33:18.000 I think um yeah, so but that makes you wonder. 00:33:18.079 --> 00:33:19.599 Do you do you push pause on that? 00:33:19.680

--> 00:33:21.920 Because you can get a guy on a rookie contract. 00:33:22.400 --> 00:33:25.039 That yeah, that's the battle, right? 00:33:25.119 --> 00:33:26.160 That's what that's what you're battling. 00:33:26.400 --> 00:33:27.440 So, all right, moving on. 00:33:27.680 --> 00:33:29.680 We'll get into those contract disputes later on. 00:33:29.759 --> 00:33:31.759 You know, you got Laporta with health issues. 00:33:31.839 --> 00:33:33.599 Do you sign him at a discount early? 00:33:33.759 --> 00:33:40.799 Uh you got Brian Branch with health issues, like that, those are like Bradholmes make or break moves, right? 00:33:40.960 --> 00:33:45.519 Because if he if he if he messes that up, man, like um you're gonna hear about it on this podcast. 00:33:46.559 --> 00:33:46.880 Yeah, yeah. 00:33:47.039 --> 00:33:48.240 So a couple big trades. 00:33:48.319 --> 00:33:54.640 We'll we'll we'll hit these quickly because I think uh the next couple segments are gonna be um fun for you to listen to. 00:33:54.720 --> 00:33:55.759 So uh big trades. 00:33:55.839 --> 00:33:58.240 Miles Garrett traded for uh Jared Verse. 00:33:58.559 --> 00:34:01.359 Um Miles Garrett from the Browns to the Rams. 00:34:01.680 --> 00:34:06.400 The Rams are absolutely selling out and maybe for one year. 00:34:06.720 --> 00:34:10.000 They're doing it like they got Matthew Stafford for one more year. 00:34:10.400 --> 00:34:11.360 They just re-signed him. 00:34:11.519 --> 00:34:12.719 Yeah, for one for one year. 00:34:13.280 --> 00:34:14.000 One additional year. 00:34:14.159 --> 00:34:15.840 Okay, so two two years. 00:34:16.000 --> 00:34:16.239 Yes. 00:34:16.320 --> 00:34:21.199 So they're looking at the next two years trying to get as many Super Bowls as they can get, right? 00:34:21.360 --> 00:34:21.840 Yeah, yeah. 00:34:21.920 --> 00:34:27.039 And so what they give up, I mean they gave up Verse, who's a you know, a high-end defensive. 00:34:28.079 --> 00:34:28.480 Yeah, young. 00:34:29.519 --> 00:34:35.360 Um, they gave up a 2027 first, a 2028 second, and a 2029 third. 00:34:35.679 --> 00:34:41.760 Um, when you think about Cleveland, they're not gonna be a contender this year, but I like what they're building. 00:34:41.920 --> 00:34:42.559 Oh my gosh. 00:34:42.960 --> 00:34:43.920 Tons of draft capital. 00:34:44.000 --> 00:34:50.159 They don't have a quarterback, um, but they're building everything else, and they're gonna wait to find their quarterback, right? 00:34:50.480 --> 00:34:51.360 That's that's fair. 00:34:51.440 --> 00:34:56.880 Maybe next year's maybe next year's the the the opportunity that they have draft capital in order to do so. 00:34:57.039 --> 00:35:00.000 If I'm a Browns fan, I'm like, I'm pretty excited, right? 00:35:00.159 --> 00:35:00.320 Yeah. 00:35:00.480 --> 00:35:03.280 Um this is a trade-up where I think really both teams win. 00:35:03.440 --> 00:35:03.760 Yeah. 00:35:04.000 --> 00:35:06.000 I think the Browns got what they want. 00:35:06.159 --> 00:35:17.599 You know, it sucks to part with a guy that's been the face of your franchise, but also a guy that didn't really want to be there, then got paid, and he's then he's like, my PR guy gets paid enough money to say I'm happy to be here now. 00:35:17.760 --> 00:35:20.400 Um he gets to go to a contender. 00:35:20.480 --> 00:35:22.159 Yeah, and and a contender. 00:35:22.320 --> 00:35:26.159 And the Browns might be a contender in three years, man. 00:35:26.400 --> 00:35:26.559 Right. 00:35:26.719 --> 00:35:27.199 That's fair. 00:35:27.440 --> 00:35:28.079 That's that's wild. 00:35:28.159 --> 00:35:35.840 So also AJ Brown traded to the Pats uh for a 2028 first, a 2027 fifth. 00:35:36.079 --> 00:35:42.320 Um currently the Pats hold two fifths, so it's the better of their two fifth round picks. 00:35:42.559 --> 00:35:46.960 Um I think this also kind of made sense for both teams. 00:35:47.519 --> 00:35:47.760 Sure. 00:35:47.920 --> 00:36:01.039 I I do question right now if the Pats are in a place, um, even though they're coming off a uh like a Super Bowl run of 2025. 00:36:01.119 --> 00:36:08.480 I just I don't I don't see them in that same realm moving forward, that same tier moving forward. 00:36:08.719 --> 00:36:10.320 I think I said the Browns. 00:36:10.480 --> 00:36:12.239 I I meant to say the Eagles. 00:36:12.480 --> 00:36:15.360 Um Diana Roussini actually broke this trade. 00:36:15.440 --> 00:36:17.280 I don't know how she got that knowledge. 00:36:17.440 --> 00:36:18.320 How did she get that knowledge? 00:36:18.400 --> 00:36:18.639 I don't know. 00:36:18.800 --> 00:36:20.320 Oh my gosh, that's crazy. 00:36:20.719 --> 00:36:23.039 But I I I don't want to agree with you, Brian. 00:36:23.119 --> 00:36:29.199 Uh it pains me, but I I think that I think the Pats are fool's gold a little bit. 00:36:30.480 --> 00:36:32.639 They played that fourth place schedule. 00:36:32.800 --> 00:36:35.679 Uh they they didn't play a tough schedule. 00:36:36.079 --> 00:36:40.719 Matter of fact, um, I don't think the Pats maybe make the playoffs this year. 00:36:40.880 --> 00:36:41.599 I'd be interested. 00:36:41.679 --> 00:36:44.000 I think there's a lot of drama going on, weird enough. 00:36:44.159 --> 00:36:44.480 Yeah. 00:36:44.719 --> 00:36:54.559 Um, I'd be very interested to see where Vrabo lands and if he continues to be the Pats head coach going into the season, if not beyond. 00:36:54.719 --> 00:36:56.000 Um, I I'm interested. 00:36:56.079 --> 00:36:57.599 I'm interested to see how that works out. 00:36:57.679 --> 00:37:05.760 I think their defense is going to have to carry them, and their offense is going to have to continue to like grind out seeing better teams. 00:37:05.920 --> 00:37:06.079 Yeah. 00:37:06.239 --> 00:37:13.599 And I think that last year they could rely on that defense against pretty poor offenses in order to pull them through. 00:37:13.840 --> 00:37:24.239 Yeah, it so I think it does make the Patriots obviously better year one, but they're getting

a guy that's 29, has shown to be a little bit of a diva. 00:37:26.159 --> 00:37:28.320 Yeah, I was being nice, you know. 00:37:28.960 --> 00:37:32.559 Has had a slow decline in production. 00:37:32.719 --> 00:37:33.599 He's a beast. 00:37:33.679 --> 00:37:34.800 I mean, I want to give him credit. 00:37:34.960 --> 00:37:39.519 Also, he's a still good, he's good, still a very, very talented player. 00:37:39.679 --> 00:37:47.039 Um, but there's not a lot of 29, 30 going on 30-year-old wide receivers that are just absolutely crushing it. 00:37:47.119 --> 00:37:55.280 It kind of seems like that peak, that pinnacle wide receivers, somewhere between that like 25 and 28 range, right? 00:37:55.440 --> 00:38:01.599 And then and and you could still be good well into your years, but there's not a lot of them that hold on to it, you know, into their 30s. 00:38:01.679 --> 00:38:04.960 So they're paying maybe slightly past prime. 00:38:05.199 --> 00:38:07.119 Um, also big contract number. 00:38:07.280 --> 00:38:11.280 Guys making, I think the cap hit on him is like 30 million dollars a year, right? 00:38:11.360 --> 00:38:13.360 So, like, it's just big cap hit. 00:38:13.519 --> 00:38:20.960 The Eagles just they defy the odds with their their moves, they are really Howie just knows how to work it, right? 00:38:21.039 --> 00:38:24.320 And like he's doing he's doing some really good work over there. 00:38:24.400 --> 00:38:27.280 So so um we'll patch that over. 00:38:27.360 --> 00:38:29.280 So we got two more segments coming up. 00:38:29.440 --> 00:38:32.559 Um, this is gonna go a little bit longer, but we missed each other. 00:38:32.639 --> 00:38:40.159 Uh I know if you're listening, still you you've noticed that we had to take um about a week and a half, two weeks off. 00:38:40.400 --> 00:38:44.960 Um Brian's kids are going crazy with travel sports. 00:38:45.039 --> 00:38:47.199 Um, he's a travel sports dad. 00:38:47.360 --> 00:38:51.199 Um, and I, you know, I I saw his picture on the back of a milk carton. 00:38:51.360 --> 00:38:53.679 I called the number and I got him back over here. 00:38:53.760 --> 00:38:55.280 So so we're back in business. 00:38:55.360 --> 00:39:00.239 So I'm sorry, you know, it's also I'm an educator, so we're the end of the year. 00:39:00.400 --> 00:39:09.199 I mean, parents, you know how that works right now is the chaos, the eighth grade graduations, the the fifth grade graduations, the first grade graduate. 00:39:09.360 --> 00:39:13.039 Well, I don't know why we're all graduating from the grade that we were just in. 00:39:13.440 --> 00:39:18.400 When I was in school, it was just we're moving on to the next grade, but no, but it's all graduations. 00:39:18.559 --> 00:39:20.239 So we're doing all these things. 00:39:20.400 --> 00:39:23.119 Um, and you know, life is crazy right now. 00:39:23.360 --> 00:39:29.199 So um we appreciate you being here and listening to us, even though we've been off for a bit. 00:39:29.280 --> 00:39:33.920 Um, but we'd love to get back at it and and uh tear away at some more Detroit Lions. 00:39:34.000 --> 00:39:36.639 So with that being said, let's go segment three, Brian. 00:39:36.719 --> 00:39:37.679 You had a couple questions too. 00:39:38.239 --> 00:39:38.480 I do. 00:39:38.559 --> 00:39:40.559 So first I'm gonna kind of skip around a little bit. 00:39:40.639 --> 00:39:42.960 Um, we just talked about some big trades. 00:39:43.119 --> 00:39:47.119 Okay, we we talked about the Miles Garrett thing, the AJ Brown thing. 00:39:47.280 --> 00:40:00.159 So we are coming off at an interesting spot in the from the 2025 season and 2026, a disappointing nine and eight season where you kind of have a feeling that like where are we? 00:40:00.239 --> 00:40:02.000 Is that window closing? 00:40:02.159 --> 00:40:07.280 It is are the Detroit lines still successful. 00:40:08.159 --> 00:40:18.880 Should we make a move like this in order to like push us into or back into that window, or would making a move like this pull us away? 00:40:19.840 --> 00:40:21.840 That's a you know, it's a great question. 00:40:21.920 --> 00:40:25.280 So you're coming into a loaded 2027, yeah. 00:40:25.440 --> 00:40:32.239 So I think those picks have more value, and I think both sides of this transaction is gonna realize that, right? 00:40:32.320 --> 00:40:46.800 Like the Lions know, Brad Holmes knows that like his 2027 first, second, third, all the way through, has a little bit more value going into this, you know, which which has seen to be like uh probably the best class since the 2024 class. 00:40:47.119 --> 00:40:49.119 But where but where's the value in that class? 00:40:49.280 --> 00:40:50.960 You you've already mentioned quarterback. 00:40:51.039 --> 00:40:52.320 Do we need a quarterback? 00:40:52.480 --> 00:40:53.920 Uh we don't need a quarterback. 00:40:54.159 --> 00:40:54.800 Running back? 00:40:55.119 --> 00:40:56.320 We we don't need a running back. 00:40:56.639 --> 00:40:57.440 Wide receiver? 00:40:57.679 --> 00:40:59.920 Um, we probably don't need a wide receiver. 00:41:00.159 --> 00:41:06.320 Okay, so where's the value that I'm that in that 2027 class for for specifically the Detroit Lions? 00:41:06.639 --> 00:41:20.000 You know, there there's other areas, but the thing of it is, is like there's a value for the Lions if they don't need a quarterback and they're in a spot to take a quarterback to to move back, right? 00:41:20.079 --> 00:41:25.199 Like so that they're they're they're they're nice, they're a lot of queens, right? 00:41:25.280 --> 00:41:40.719 A lot of lot of chess pieces in that draft that can um so that being said, um, the lions are sitting there, and I I think you you flex that muscle when you identify a big weakness. 00:41:40.960 --> 00:41:42.719 Kirby just can't go. 00:41:43.280 --> 00:41:45.679 Um safety plays really, really bad. 00:41:45.840 --> 00:41:54.719 You got a team that's struggling that says, hey, you know, we have a surefire all pro sitting back

here with a couple years of term. 00:41:55.039 --> 00:41:56.239 You make that move, right? 00:41:56.400 --> 00:41:56.719 Okay. 00:41:57.119 --> 00:42:00.159 Um one of your offensive linemen go down. 00:42:00.480 --> 00:42:05.199 And maybe it's you know, I don't know, what's the what's the weakest part? 00:42:05.280 --> 00:42:09.920 You know, you get a guard go a center go down. 00:42:10.000 --> 00:42:13.599 I don't know, whatever it might be, and you need to fill that gap, you make that trade. 00:42:13.679 --> 00:42:24.719 But like, Brian, I think you're you're gonna ask a more important question here on you know, does Brad Holmes have the balls to to make that trade? 00:42:24.880 --> 00:42:27.440 Does he have you haven't seen it exactly? 00:42:27.599 --> 00:42:43.039 And and I think you probably if you listen to sports radio, um, you've heard the the GM talk across all four of the major sports, and all four GMs, do they have the balls to make that F them picks? 00:42:43.199 --> 00:42:49.039 Do they have the balls in order to say, hey, we want to go all in for this year? 00:42:49.199 --> 00:42:55.360 Not not a longevity of success um or mediocrity. 00:42:55.679 --> 00:42:59.840 It's it's do we have the ability to go all in for this year? 00:43:00.159 --> 00:43:01.360 You haven't seen that. 00:43:01.519 --> 00:43:06.719 Um, and man, I I think you and I are gonna be a little different here. 00:43:07.280 --> 00:43:10.639 Um, and that doesn't I think I'm wrong. 00:43:10.880 --> 00:43:20.800 Um, but I I really like the long, long window, and I'm really hesitant to like mortgage the future for now, right? 00:43:21.519 --> 00:43:23.679 Um, but I think you might have a different take. 00:43:24.159 --> 00:43:31.679 I mean, it's it's hard because you know, when you take bites of the apple, at some point you wish that you could get there, right? 00:43:31.840 --> 00:43:38.880 The more the bites you get, the more opportunities you have in order to win that championship, right? 00:43:39.280 --> 00:43:40.400 Um, sure. 00:43:40.719 --> 00:43:45.840 Or you put all your chips in and tort in order to take a bigger bite. 00:43:46.079 --> 00:43:48.960 You know, so what are the what's the correct answer? 00:43:49.119 --> 00:43:52.400 It's you know, like both can be true. 00:43:52.480 --> 00:43:59.760 You know, it just has to be you know the right guy at the right time for the right money in order to. 00:44:00.159 --> 00:44:03.119 To impact our Detroit Lions in the right way. 00:44:03.920 --> 00:44:12.800 What I what I want to see with the Lions is like I want to see a philosophy on similar to like we just talked about the Eagles. 00:44:12.960 --> 00:44:13.280 Yeah. 00:44:13.440 --> 00:44:14.559 What did the Eagles do? 00:44:14.719 --> 00:44:14.880 Right? 00:44:14.960 --> 00:44:16.800 Like, so they're the Eagles are all in, right? 00:44:16.880 --> 00:44:18.000 They're trying to win, right? 00:44:18.159 --> 00:44:28.480 But they're also like looking at some of their stars, like AJ Brown, saying, like, all right, like you don't we we drafted Mikhail Lemon. 00:44:28.639 --> 00:44:30.559 We got Devante Smith. 00:44:30.719 --> 00:44:33.920 Um, we drafted Eli Stowers in the second round. 00:44:34.079 --> 00:44:35.920 We got pass catchers here. 00:44:36.320 --> 00:44:41.119 AJ Brown, you were you were uh a Botch last year. 00:44:41.440 --> 00:44:46.480 We're shipping you off and they're getting they're getting value and they're able to recycle that value, right? 00:44:46.639 --> 00:44:50.800 And like I don't think the the Lions haven't recycled that value. 00:44:50.880 --> 00:44:57.440 Where like if we're if we're all we're doing is we're trading draft picks to get better draft picks, right? 00:44:57.519 --> 00:44:59.679 So we're like condensing our draft. 00:44:59.840 --> 00:45:06.719 We'll we'll get a couple extra pieces here and there, but like we haven't proven to really know how to recycle some of the value, right? 00:45:06.800 --> 00:45:18.159 Like Taylor Decker's ornery going into last year, like, and he still has value, and you kind of like, man, like what's going on, and like you're starting to see your your B plus turn into a C plus. 00:45:18.400 --> 00:45:20.719 Like, why don't we make some bold moves? 00:45:20.880 --> 00:45:32.880 Okay, so you're you're saying like maybe in one or two years, uh, this is gonna be maybe a hot take, but an Aman Ross saying Brown might have value to ship off. 00:45:33.119 --> 00:45:35.679 I'm thinking more of like a Jameson Williams, okay. 00:45:35.840 --> 00:45:40.719 Right, like which is interesting because J Mo's a bit younger, right? 00:45:41.039 --> 00:45:53.119 He's stuck you can see his uptick as well, even though Amon Ra still has uptick as well, but they may be and just very varied differences in their career. 00:45:53.760 --> 00:45:59.280 But but Amon Ra is a culture guy, he's proven it time and time again. 00:45:59.440 --> 00:46:02.800 He's got the body type and the skill set that you can move him. 00:46:02.880 --> 00:46:06.000 He could be a slot merchant someday if he slows down. 00:46:06.320 --> 00:46:09.280 Jameson Williams is more of a A Brown. 00:46:09.519 --> 00:46:19.599 He he kind of has this the wide receiver eccentric, and he still has value because what you mentioned, he's a bit younger, he's got term. 00:46:20.000 --> 00:46:32.559 Some team, he's still a bit of a shiny object, and like if he's not working out, and you can go and you know, like the Eagles did, they get a Makai Lemon, and they're like, All right, like we'll do that, and then we'll we'll get some value in lieu of that. 00:46:32.719 --> 00:46:41.039 Yeah, like I would like to see the Lions make some of those proactive moves when they have a chance. 00:46:41.360 --> 00:46:47.599 And if that being said, like yeah, then go all in when you have the opportunity, knowing that you can pivot both ways. 00:46:47.760 --> 00:46:48.079 Okay. 00:46:48.960 --> 00:46:50.400 I don't disagree.

00:46:50.639 --> 00:46:57.679 Um, love to see us go in when the right guy and the right term comes becomes available. 00:46:57.840 --> 00:47:02.159 So I think there is some patience that is necessary in order to do that, do that. 00:47:02.320 --> 00:47:10.320 I am willing to to put in a guy or two in order to make that happen. 00:47:10.480 --> 00:47:20.320 If that is the right guy, and then if it brings in the right guy, so you know there obviously there's a there's a lot of variables that would go into this exactly right now. 00:47:20.480 --> 00:47:27.119 I don't think Miles Garrett for us was the right term at the right time with the right guy, um, though I would love it. 00:47:27.280 --> 00:47:33.760 Um, and I don't have a good answer for who the right guy is at that right term right now. 00:47:33.920 --> 00:47:39.840 Um, but when it comes to the the trade deadline this coming season, that that might become more clear. 00:47:40.079 --> 00:47:42.320 Yeah, that that that makes sense to me. 00:47:42.639 --> 00:47:48.719 So um, wow, I mean we're gonna we're gonna punt the over-unders. 00:47:48.880 --> 00:47:55.039 I think that could we'll push that in the next draft, but this has been some fun, yeah, some fun conversations, some fun food for thought. 00:47:55.119 --> 00:47:57.039 So, Brian, you had more questions though. 00:47:57.199 --> 00:47:59.840 Like we're just I did, we just scratched the first box, right? 00:48:00.800 --> 00:48:01.039 Right? 00:48:01.199 --> 00:48:02.559 Um, let me ask you this. 00:48:02.719 --> 00:48:06.159 Okay, what is a successful 2026 season? 00:48:06.320 --> 00:48:14.320 We're right now in OTAs, it's early, it's so early, but we're coming off a nine and eight season, which was disappointing. 00:48:14.639 --> 00:48:18.639 Are we gonna get back to a 15-win season and is that success? 00:48:18.800 --> 00:48:25.119 Is a NFC championship birth success, or are we still in it to win it? 00:48:25.519 --> 00:48:30.719 And is a Super Bowl championship or at least a Super Bowl appearance success? 00:48:30.960 --> 00:48:36.639 Where where do you find where do you put the standard for the Detroit Lions? 00:48:37.199 --> 00:49:01.679 I I think success this year is a feeling that uh we end the season either as a Super Bowl championship football team or with the taste in our mouth, like we had not last season, but the two prior seasons where we think we have a chance definitely the next year. 00:49:01.840 --> 00:49:12.880 Where we we we have a season, you know, where you maybe you win the north, um, or you make a deep playoff run and you come up short because it's tough. 00:49:13.840 --> 00:49:21.679 But you come up short and you look at your roster and you say, Man, like I like our young roster. 00:49:22.400 --> 00:49:26.880 We're one guy away, where we think we can be Super Bowl contenders next year. 00:49:27.039 --> 00:49:38.800 If we have that sort of taste in our mouth at the end of this season, very much unlike the taste that we had at the end of last season, um, I think that's a very successful season. 00:49:38.960 --> 00:49:39.280 Okay. 00:49:39.760 --> 00:49:42.079 I I like that too. 00:49:42.159 --> 00:49:50.719 I I I want to aspire for not just making the playoffs, but making the the championship game. 00:49:50.880 --> 00:49:51.199 Right? 00:49:51.360 --> 00:50:02.960 I want to to be in the conversation as the the season continues or goes into the the ending days, saying, nope, the Lions are right there. 00:50:03.360 --> 00:50:18.000 They we've talked a lot, or we're hearing a lot right now about the LA Rams and what they're doing and all in and their roster and what they have available to make it to a championship. 00:50:18.159 --> 00:50:24.480 If the Lions are meeting that standard, that's where I think we found success. 00:50:24.719 --> 00:50:26.719 Yeah, I mean, let's be honest. 00:50:26.800 --> 00:50:31.199 Like, in the NFL, two-thirds of the teams are all in, right? 00:50:31.440 --> 00:50:39.760 Like, I mean, I know the Rams made a bold move and they gave up, you know, what 27, 28, and 29 draft picks. 00:50:40.000 --> 00:50:46.480 So that tells me that like, you know, I don't know, the GM doesn't care. 00:50:46.880 --> 00:50:49.039 He needs to win this year or next year. 00:50:49.280 --> 00:50:53.119 Sean McVay is like probably willing to walk away. 00:50:53.679 --> 00:51:03.440 If if the cookie crumbles, like he's like, man, like, all right, like if Ty Simpson's the starting quarterback next year, I'm out, you know, because like I'm not gonna go through this rebuild. 00:51:03.679 --> 00:51:19.199 And I feel bad for Ty Simpson because like uh one, either Stafford they're gonna win a Super Bowl and Stafford's gonna sail off into the sunset, or like they're gonna win a couple, and then they have to basically burn that franchise down because they got they got no future equity, right? 00:51:19.440 --> 00:51:22.800 But they got championships, they do got championships, yeah. 00:51:23.119 --> 00:51:29.039 So um and they're the odds on favorites right now to to to win those championships. 00:51:29.199 --> 00:51:34.639 So um, you know, and and maybe Brian, you had more questions though. 00:51:34.719 --> 00:51:40.400 Like maybe your your your your final question, which would sew some of these other questions up a little bit. 00:51:44.159 --> 00:51:45.039 Top one, yeah. 00:51:45.119 --> 00:51:45.599 Yeah, yeah. 00:51:45.679 --> 00:51:46.400 So all right. 00:51:46.480 --> 00:51:51.599 So what's your biggest concern going into the 2026 season? 00:51:52.000 --> 00:52:07.360 So we've talked about what our expectations are, we've talked about moving players in order to bring in a guy that might turn the tables or get us over that that that next little edge, you know. 00:52:07.440 --> 00:52:11.199 But what is the biggest concern of the 2026 season? 00:52:12.239 --> 00:52:14.159 Um and how do you address it? 00:52:14.559 --> 00:52:28.719 Yeah, I I think, you know your

biggest concern as a Lions fan going into the 2026 season is um I think it's health. 00:52:28.960 --> 00:52:41.760 And I think you know you're you're crazy to not think it's healthier quarterback because the the Lions are the Toronto Argonuts if Jared Goff goes down, right? 00:52:41.840 --> 00:52:45.679 It's just you don't think Teddy Bridgewater can can carry that load? 00:52:46.559 --> 00:52:54.880 Teddy might be talented enough to like squeak into a wild card game, but you you the the season's over if Teddy Bridgewater is gonna be your quarterback. 00:52:55.119 --> 00:52:58.079 We talk about expectations, we talk about championship expectations. 00:52:58.239 --> 00:53:08.480 Yeah, Teddy Bridgewater, though, is a is I would say one of the top-tier backup quarterbacks that we could all we could ask for. 00:53:08.639 --> 00:53:12.880 He is definitely not a championship caliber quarterback. 00:53:13.039 --> 00:53:15.440 No, so you gotta keep your quarterback healthy. 00:53:15.679 --> 00:53:25.119 Um you hope I I think you know another concern is like they they made they paid one guy on a free agent contract, right? 00:53:25.199 --> 00:53:29.679 Because they're they're kind of hoard money for their developmental rookies. 00:53:30.000 --> 00:53:34.320 Um you hope that Cade Mays is is a good signing, right? 00:53:35.039 --> 00:53:41.679 Also, you hope your draft equity proves to be like at least like solid. 00:53:41.920 --> 00:53:52.320 Yeah, you hope Blake Miller does Blake Miller things and is consistent and solid, like you said, solid um in establishing himself as that right tackle. 00:53:52.559 --> 00:53:58.880 You you hope that Derek Moore can transition into a starting role or a contributing role. 00:53:59.039 --> 00:54:08.400 Um, you know, we have we have hopes that those guys fill spots and give us something in return. 00:54:08.639 --> 00:54:10.880 Yeah, and and you know, hopes based off of concern. 00:54:10.960 --> 00:54:21.280 So you like yeah, uh concern like Kirby Joseph being Kirby Joseph again, you know, Brian Branch like playing football towards the end of the season. 00:54:21.360 --> 00:54:23.679 That that's a that's a very big concern. 00:54:23.840 --> 00:54:28.719 I I do think that they signed a couple solid safeties, but you know, safety, we're we're thin there. 00:54:28.800 --> 00:54:35.119 If if those guys get hurt and we don't get our original starters back, you know, we're looking we're looking pretty weak there. 00:54:35.199 --> 00:54:39.920 You you Sam Laporta, you you you your concern is like is this back okay? 00:54:40.079 --> 00:54:45.360 Because they didn't do anything to they didn't go out and get in joku, like Tyler Conklin. 00:54:45.519 --> 00:54:46.719 Yeah, yeah, exactly. 00:54:46.880 --> 00:54:48.480 They didn't do anything to sew up that. 00:54:48.559 --> 00:54:52.480 So like you really hope Laporta is is gonna be solid, right? 00:54:52.559 --> 00:55:00.960 Like, um is David Montgomery a bigger loss than what we hope, you know. 00:55:01.039 --> 00:55:05.119 We put is Pacheco like you know, like I don't know. 00:55:05.199 --> 00:55:06.480 Like, is he just a name? 00:55:06.639 --> 00:55:22.480 Like that's that's my I would say Isaiah Pacheco is a name right now, but he's a name from seven years ago that you would have hoped can can produce something in this in this Lions offense. 00:55:22.559 --> 00:55:24.719 Um and I know that's we're not reliant on that. 00:55:24.800 --> 00:55:27.920 It's definitely not my biggest concern, but it's definitely a concern. 00:55:28.079 --> 00:55:32.079 Losing a David Montgomery is is is big. 00:55:32.239 --> 00:55:33.199 It is big. 00:55:33.440 --> 00:55:37.280 Um, not utilizing him this last year was big. 00:55:37.519 --> 00:55:44.639 Um, but I I do think that Jameer Gibbs is a star, and we're gonna need to lean on him quite a bit. 00:55:44.800 --> 00:55:52.000 So just as equally concerning as losing Jared Goff might be a Jameer Gibbs injury. 00:55:52.239 --> 00:55:55.599 Yeah, I mean, geez, that'd be that'd be very tough. 00:55:55.760 --> 00:56:00.639 And you know, Gibbs has been he's been healthy, you know, so far in his career. 00:56:01.119 --> 00:56:09.599 Um, you know, if Montgomery goes and Gibbs is a rocket ship and takes off, like all is well in line, right? 00:56:09.679 --> 00:56:14.320 You know, you get Pacheco to s to spell him, you know, five to seven carries a game. 00:56:14.880 --> 00:56:23.119 Um all is well, you know, and you know, Lalone, you know, uh contributed to the pod on the pod. 00:56:23.280 --> 00:56:26.000 Um, you know, Pacheco is a bit of a prom queen. 00:56:26.079 --> 00:56:28.000 You know, you and I talk about prom queens all the time. 00:56:28.079 --> 00:56:31.039 You know, you look back at the yearbook and they look like this, right? 00:56:31.199 --> 00:56:34.159 And then you run them at the pub and they look like that, right? 00:56:34.480 --> 00:56:40.480 It's just like I think that Pacheco isn't this, and I hope he's not that. 00:56:40.639 --> 00:56:43.679 Like maybe somewhere in the middle is a serviceable player. 00:56:44.000 --> 00:56:49.039 I hope with the the load that we give him, he makes it through 17 games. 00:56:49.199 --> 00:56:54.320 Like that's that's my that's my my hope for him, my can my caution. 00:56:54.480 --> 00:56:56.639 Yeah, um, but I would I I would agree. 00:56:56.719 --> 00:56:59.119 I think caution lies in that offensive line. 00:56:59.280 --> 00:57:04.000 I think the caution lies within the the center, maybe specifically. 00:57:04.320 --> 00:57:13.360 And I think that we if we can you know have those things work out, we're gonna be standing pretty pretty confident. 00:57:13.599 --> 00:57:18.639 Yeah, uh you know, off season's heating up, Brian. 00:57:18.800 --> 00:57:22.000 Um we're we're gonna hit an hour on this one. 00:57:22.079 --> 00:57:25.360 Um so if you're still listening, hey, hey, shout out Phil. 00:57:25.519 --> 00:57:32.239 If you're listening still, um by the time you're hearing this, seeing this, um hope you pass your test. 00:57:32.400 --> 00:57:34.480 Have fun in Arkansas, tear it up. 00:57:34.639 --> 00:57:38.400 Um, but the off season's heating up, expectations are heating up. 00:57:38.559 --> 00:57:40.400 Um, there's a lot of stuff going on. 00:57:40.559 --> 00:57:48.559 I think again, this is where I think passing time thrives on bridging some of these gaps and having some of these conversations. 00:57:48.719 --> 00:57:51.920 So if you've got something you want to talk about, let us know. 00:57:52.079 --> 00:57:52.400 Please. 00:57:52.480 --> 00:57:53.519 Um we apologize. 00:57:53.840 --> 00:57:55.519 A couple weeks of chaos here. 00:57:55.599 --> 00:57:58.719 Um, keep us on your algorithm, um, keep us rolling. 00:57:58.960 --> 00:58:00.559 Brian, keep promoting the podcast. 00:58:00.719 --> 00:58:01.679 Let's do it. 00:58:01.920 --> 00:58:04.239 Um, but that's that's it, man. 00:58:04.480 --> 00:58:06.079 You got anything else you want to? 00:58:06.639 --> 00:58:07.840 We appreciate you guys. 00:58:07.920 --> 00:58:13.280 Uh, again, like we said at the beginning of the pod, like, subscribe, pass this thing on. 00:58:13.599 --> 00:58:16.239 Allow us to get in your algorithm. 00:58:16.320 --> 00:58:19.440 And if you have something you want to share, reach out to us. 00:58:19.679 --> 00:58:21.280 Love to sh we'd love to talk to you. 00:58:21.519 --> 00:58:22.400 Stay gritty. 00:58:22.559 --> 00:58:23.199 Go lines. 00:58:23.360 --> 00:58:24.239 Go lines.