The Atlanta Falcons signed Todd Gurley for an estimated $6 million, a day after the Los Angeles Rams cut him. Santiago Leon and Jeff Fawver fleshes this out with other free agency moves:
- Tom Brady move to the Tampa Buccaneers and the impact it will bring
- The Atlanta Falcons future in the NFC West
- Will the Patriots tank or work with they got?
- Where will Cam Newton end up?
- Will Jameis Winston get signed anywhere?
- The expectations for the Kansas City Chiefs
Transcript
Santiago Leon
Sports cast March 20 2020 if you haven’t yet please subscribe and all our channels YouTube, iTunes and Periscope and and also if you’re on iTunes please leave a rating and review. It will help us out tremendously and visit us on the sports cast dotnet the sports cast dotnet big news this morning Todd Gurley signs with the Atlanta Falcons after being released by the Rams. Originally the Falcons reported they want to do a trade instead of like whole free signing, but this had to happen. That’s why they were signed on why devonta Freeman was released. All of a sudden, and join us to iron this out. Mr. Jafar, you are back into the sports guys.
Jeff Fawver
Hey, thanks for having me, Santiago.
Santiago Leon
What a crazy week Jeff obviously, you know, with Tom Brady, Gurley and things like that. There’s a lot of movement in the free agency world. It actually brought a lot To the sports world because it was completely dead last week. Let’s go into LA and Atlanta. You know, Todd Gurley one of the greatest running backs, well, not the greatest one of the best running backs in the league last year, not so much due to some injury concerns. What are your thoughts about him being released and now going to Atlanta.
Jeff Fawver
It’s all about the injuries. When you look at Todd Gurley when he’s healthy, he’s one of the very best in the NFL. I mean, you could even make the argument that he’s the best in the NFL whenever he’s truly healthy. But the issue there is, that’s kind of a big, big if his knees apparently he’s been struggling. I don’t know if it’s arthritis or just various knee injuries. But the issue there is, if you don’t bounce back from that you’re just never going to be the same player. But I will say this in sports in general, whether it’s football or any sport. We have this follow the bouncing ball mentality. So as soon as the player has a down year or they’re beat up or whatever it may be, we push them to the side and we move to the new hot ticket. Right. We move on quickly. Todd Gurley, if and I again, I know it’s a huge lift. If he does get healthy. Todd Gurley is spectacular, and he’s only 25 years old. So if there’s a chance that he’s going to get healthy. It’s not as though we’re talking about 32 year old legs or 34 year old legs. We’re talking about a guy that’s 25 so if he can get his knees right, there’s still some miles on his tread there and he could give Atlanta a nice boost in the run game.
Santiago Leon
There’s some other speculation of other reasons the reasons why was LA to save money. Do you believe in that reason, or do you think is more like the injuries?
Jeff Fawver
I’m sure money played a factor. Li Li They went all in. They went after Ramsey, they resigned Donald, they had sued for a while he enter then all these huge contracts. So LA and went all in to try to win a Super Bowl. And obviously it didn’t work, but that’s what they were trying to do. And when you do that, when you go all in case all these big contracts, there’s repercussions. So the repercussions, you can’t keep on loving them, and you have to make some tough decisions. So I think Gurley was 100% healthy, if he was still the guy that he was when they signed the extension. I don’t think they would have cut them. They may have asked him to restructure and he may have moved around some bonus money, but I don’t think they would have just let him go. So the money certainly is a factor but I think his inability to stay healthy is the biggest part of this.
Santiago Leon
Right now the Rams running backs are Malcolm brown and john Kelly and Darrell Henderson. What do you think the Rams are gonna do? They’re gonna stick with these three or they’re gonna try and look for something in the in the draft or or whatever. In free agency, well, what do you think they’re gonna do?
Jeff Fawver
Daryl Henderson was a really nice player coming out of Memphis. So I think they’ll have an opportunity. He’s really dynamic, you know, quick and fast. So, if I’m in their shoes, he’s a guy that I give a heart a long hard look. And to be blonde, the running back position has become so I hate to say the word devalued because I think it’s still a good running back and still make a difference. But at the same time teams was not willing to put a lot of resources into that position. So and the other thing is with the Rams, they have some work to do or defense, they have some work to do on the offensive line. I just don’t think that going outside to get another running back is going to be a big priority for them. So I think we’ll roll with the guys that they have the auto late round pick, or, you know, bringing a couple undrafted guys see If one of them start out, but I don’t see them using a high draft pick or making a trade or some free agent
Santiago Leon
let’s look into the Atlanta Falcons um, of course they let go Freeman got a girlie they do have Matt Ryan. They do have Julio Jones. They have Calvin Ridley. Is this Falcons team that was Gurley different are the contenders. How do you feel now?
Jeff Fawver
I’m not willing to say they’re a contender. But the Falcons were one of those teams that played a lot better the second half of last year. If you remember right, they went into San Francisco and they beat the 40 Niners now I know every team can have a letdown I’m not saying honest play their best game but but even so the Falcons and they also won at the Orleans. So the Falcons had some really nice wins the second half of last year. I wouldn’t write them off, but the only challenge for the Falcons is you already have the saints in your division. We’re in a really good position to win that division again. And then you have the Buccaneers that just got Tom Brady who you know i don’t think it’s he’s not tall prime Tom Brady anymore but the Buccaneers have a nice roster and a lot of weapons and he won’t turn the ball over so much so he’ll give them the opportunity to win a lot of games.
Santiago Leon
Head Coach Dan Quinn was a people were talking of him being let go. The locker room want him to stay the players want him to stay. Do you think Dan Quinn is the future of the Falcons? Are you thinking he only has a year left?
Jeff Fawver
If he doesn’t produce I’m sure his lead? Yeah, I think his leash will be pretty short. I will say this though. When you hear of these things where the coach may be let go. The way the team responds is a really big indicator. And when you look at the Falcons, when there was some turbulence there, and they were in a position where they thought they might lose their head coach They really played well. And like I mentioned earlier, they won a couple games that you wouldn’t expect them to win. So to me that that tells me that that coach still has a good grasp of the locker room because they want to perform for him. Had they just kind of packed in their season when those rumors started swirling, then they probably would have had to move on probably. But even with all that said, I mean, at some point he has to produce and I think if he doesn’t, if he doesn’t at least get them I don’t know if they have to make the playoffs or yet you know, if they have to at least be in contention for playoffs. I don’t know exactly what that cutoff will be. But he’s gonna have to improve on what they’ve been the last couple years.
Santiago Leon
Pretty tough conference. Of course they have the Buccaneers but with a Tom Brady and they got the saints which were conference champions last year. And the Panthers team that is sort of in the rebuilding stage, nothing to worry about there but they do have some few strengths as well. The Falcons got Hayden her Over in the trades with the Ravens as a plus for the Falcons.
Jeff Fawver
I like Hurst but I think it’s still a downgrade from Hooper. So there’s your I mean, there’s your good and your bad you’re good as you got a quality young tight end. But the downside of it is he’s probably not going to be better than the guy that you let go. So what do you, you know, what do you do there? I mean that it’s good that you’ve replaced them with someone and even a quality player. But at the end of the day, it’s I think it’s still going to be a drop off down to Hearst.
Santiago Leon
As Jeff mentioned, the brown sign Austin Hooper a record deal. The highest pay Titan in the NFL. The Browns have Hooper and the Joko Browns have strengthen What does that say to you for the Browns you think this will be enough for them to be contention even though last year there weren’t contention but fell through. Do you think This might be the like the missing ingredient. And also with case Keenum being signed to as a backup
Jeff Fawver
potential The, the, yeah, the browns. So here’s the thing with them is, it’s not an issue of talent. You know, it’s the whole video game argument, fuse the Browns on a video game. They’re pretty good, because they have individual talent. And if you look over the course of the Ross, their entire roster on both offense and defense, talent is not the issue. The issue in Cleveland has just they just can’t seem to get the head coach, right. They seem to lack discipline. Now, could that change with their new head coach? Absolutely. It could. I don’t know that yet. I’m not willing to say they’re a contender until I see him play a couple games. And the other thing is the division they play in. The Ravens are loaded. I mean, if you look at the Ravens Ross It’s just they have good players everywhere. So the Ravens are loaded. The Steelers defense is really, really good. And now they’re going to get Ben back to give some level stability on offense. And the bangles even though they’ve been really rough the last couple years, they’re gonna draft burrow, and they’re also going to be getting AJ green back. So that’s a pretty big talent infusion before you even talk about the free agency moves they’ve made and the players that they can draft this year aside from burl so that the vision is not going to make it easy for the Browns to just go in and win the division. Now. I think they’ll be improved last year, but last year, this time, I thought they’d be improved and then they will pretty much a train wreck in the beginning of the next season. So I do think the Browns will be improved, but I also think I’m not willing to put I’m definitely not willing to put them ahead of the Ravens and I think they’re gonna have to battle with the Steelers.
Santiago Leon
The stick with the browns. Kenan was signed. Is that saying that you know that Baker is on the hot seat or his case there to groom them like what is the Browns trying to tell us?
Jeff Fawver
I don’t think it means Baker’s on the hot seat but I do think it means that they want to have somebody that if the bottom completely false out on Baker that they at least have a respectable backup, they can win a couple games. So I think they’ll give Baker every opportunity to take the next step and be a quality quarterback. But if he’s just really, if he plays really poorly, then they all feel comfortable moving to case Keenum for the rest of this season until they find their franchise quarterback
Santiago Leon
case Keenum a experienced professional quarterback definitely will be a good backup. He’s like he’s a little bit better than Brian Hoyer. He’s He’s known to be as the backup around. Let’s get back into the NFC South. The biggest news of the week Tom Brady’s signing with the Buccaneers. I made it publicly known by Tom Brady this morning I via his social media accounts, two year deal, I think against that $30 million per year. Jeff, was this the biggest news this week?
Jeff Fawver
It definitely was. You’re talking about quite possibly the best quarterback in NFL history, finishing his career somewhere else. And I keep thinking, you know, he’s four, I believe he’ll be 43 when the season starts, right, and every single athlete hits the wall at some point, you know, at some point, it just, you know, you, you just can’t do it anymore. So the Bucs are taking a chance because at any point, Brady could hit that wall and just not be the same player anymore. The other side of that argument is the Buccaneers. I mean, they lost a lot of close games and a lot of one score games and jameis Winston truth 30 interceptions. So, Brady’s not gonna throw 30 interceptions. Now he might not throw 30 touchdowns either at this stage in his career, but I think the Bucs Are you know, they’re going to continue to add some talent on defense. They leave plenty of weapons on offense. I mean they have Evans they have Goodwin and arm so I think it’s gone.
Santiago Leon
It’s gone away. Yeah.
Jeff Fawver
Yeah. So um, but either way, just those two guys alone give him better, better players on offense and he had New England last year. So I do think they’ll be able to move the ball. You know, he’ll give them some stability. We just don’t know how much longer Brady can continue to play at a high level.
Santiago Leon
Yeah, and you know, someone like was telling me has Tom Brady passes prime? No, he hasn’t. He had a great year last season. I still I think he’s still in it. And I agree with Jeff. He’s gonna hit that wall eventually. Wouldn’t be the season. This Tampa Bay Buccaneers has weapons, just like Jeff said, they got Godwin. They got Mike Evans. They even, you know, have a great defense. But does this automatically put Tampa Bay as Super Bowl contenders?
Jeff Fawver
No. I mean, I don’t. So Tom Brady is not the player that takes over a game anymore. I mean, he now he could take over a quarter, you know, if you get them in a close game to the fourth quarter. But the Buccaneers are still going to have to lead from 40, Niners Seahawks, saints, maybe the Eagles depending on you know if they can stay healthy for a year. So there’s some work to be done for them to be in the Super Bowl conversation, because those are some good teams. I mean, I will say this is the one team that I think is going to drop off a bit as Minnesota. You know, Minnesota just keeps losing players the free agency. Granted, some of them weren’t real good players. But even so when there’s a lot of turnover, sometimes it’s hard to replicate what you’ve done. So I could certainly see the Bucs sneaking into the playoffs. And then obviously anything can happen. But I’m not ready to put them as a Super Bowl contender just yet.
Santiago Leon
Definitely to look at a lot of players I’ve been reading this morning that want to request trays to Tampa, the excitement and of course the fans are lining up to buy season tickets. I believe there’s about 10,000 people lining up for that. So Tampa Bay is definitely on the map in the sports world. Another question, Jeff, where does that leave the Patriots? Now they have stood them. Where do you leave a man like can bill check do it without Brady? Will they most likely draft a quarterback? I mean, where do you put the Patriots now?
Jeff Fawver
In my mind, so this year they have a lot of draft capital. So what wouldn’t surprise me as if they try to take as many good players as possible, just, you know, take best player available build up their roster the best that they can. And then next year at this time go all out to get a quarterback. Now, with Belichick as their coach, they’re never just going to completely punt on a season. But no matter how good he is, you still need a quarterback. So I think this year will be the year that they retool and add some, you know, add a youth infusion to their offense and their defense. And then next year, they’ll go hard after a quarterback which now again, next year’s draft is always supposed to be the better draft because that’s just how we think. But it does seem that the quarterback class next year is better than this year’s class. Now the only thing I’ve heard, you know, people just in discussion talking about is, you know, with the Patriots tank this year to get a really high pick next year. I don’t think they will I mean, I just don’t think that’s the Bella chicks makeup. I don’t think they would do that. But hey, stranger, I guess Stranger things have happened. You never know. I agree
Santiago Leon
with that. I mean, I’ve never heard that argument about tanking. But I agree that that doesn’t seem bill Bell checks, game plan, or even craft Robert Kraft splink game plan. I really like to see what happens. So can we crowned the Buffalo Bills as the AFC champion or not just yet?
Jeff Fawver
Yeah, let’s wait on that since we haven’t even made the training camp yet. But yeah, we haven’t even made it to all season activities yet. I like what the bills have done though their rosters really good. they’ve they’ve they’ve built the defense to where I think it will be an elite defense. But it all comes down to Josh Allen. I mean, I like that they got Diggs Diggs is a big, big, I mean just huge pickup because Diggs is a phenomenal route runner and he’ll give out on that Number one option. When I was watching their playoff game that they lost to the Texans, what really stood out is even against the Texas defense that wasn’t very good. There just wasn’t anyone that Allen consistently trusted to go to throw to, unless it was a running back out of the backfield. And if you’re going to win playoff games and you need, you need someone that can create a little fear and, you know, make a few big plays in the passing game. So I think Diggs was a phenomenal pickup and I ultimately, if the Patriots don’t make a move for a veteran quarterback, I think the bills will win that division, but I’m just not. You know, we have a ways to go before we talk about that.
Santiago Leon
Obviously, a few quarterbacks out in the window to look at Cam Newton. Jeff, let’s talk about him. Obviously a experienced quarterback led a team to Super Bowl Where do you think they’ll end up?
Jeff Fawver
I I can’t help but think he ends up in San Diego. And the only reason I say that the Chargers have been making moves like a team that’s trying to win right now. You know they got Chris Harris. If you look at their entire secondary is aside from Derwin. James is veteran players. They’ve loaded up their defense, they have plenty of weapons on offense. They respond to eckler. They’ve made multiple trades for offensive lineman, or I’m sorry, I guess what was blogger was a free agent. And Turner was a trade but but either way, they’re making all these moves that say they want to win now. You cannot play to win now. tyrod Taylor’s a quarterback. So even if they go and draft somebody really high, that still puts you at risk of letting a rookie quarterback derail what you’re trying to do. So In my mind, I think what they’re going to do is I think can’t live in Los Angeles with the Chargers, and then I think they still draft a quarterback really high to grow them behind him.
Santiago Leon
They’re definitely in a position to get a quarterback. They’re at the sixth spot in the NFL Draft order. Another quarterback not many people are you know, jumping into their you know, knocking out the doors James Winston a mysterious quarterback one I mean a player that can throw 400 yards a game, but then, you know, could throw eight interceptions in one game. Where do you think you’ll end up?
Jeff Fawver
That’s a tough one. He could certainly be another candidate in with the chargers. But man, I I really thought that he would have had a chance in Indianapolis but then they went with Philip Rivers. And when you look around the NFL right now, it seems as though most teams either have a quarterback or Other content with you know, waiting for the draft to get one. So it’s really, man, it’s hard to say where he’ll end up. I mean, he just turns the ball over. So now like you said he could throw for 400 yards, four touchdowns. He makes a lot of plays. But a lot of coaches just don’t want to deal with all the turnovers. And we also don’t know what he’s asking, you know, is he maybe pricing himself out of free agency? That I don’t know. But yeah, the the Chargers I guess could be a team there. Maybe the I mean, maybe the Panthers since they’re moving on from from cam or no, I guess the pants is just on Teddy Bridgewater. So that’s, I mean I don’t know where jamis went. I really don’t
Santiago Leon
get and buffalo as a backup. You just never know what this guy
Jeff Fawver
yeah That’s, that’s a difficult one. Because when you look at the teams that are close, so if there are teams that are a quarterback away, you know, teams that feel that their roster is good, but they just need a quarterback. I don’t know if they look at Jamison and say that he’s the guy that can put them over the top. I mean, maybe the Patriots would take a look at him. I don’t know. They maybe the Patriots would take a look at him and think that they could, you know, coach the turnovers album. But Bruce Arians is a really good coach and he could coach the turnovers out of them. So I don’t know who else would.
Santiago Leon
Let’s look towards the Kansas City Chiefs, obviously Super Bowl champions. I have not heard noise from them. But what have they done so far? And this offseason,
Jeff Fawver
Jeff? Well, they’ve really they’ve really just lost a couple players. Kendall Kendall fuller went back to the Redskins. Stephen was new ski sign with the Steelers. And Emmanuel agua signed with the dolphins. So they lost some guys, which always happens when you win the Super Bowl or they’re going to lose bat or two, he’s going to move on. I think with the chiefs, what they’re trying to do is they’re doing everything in their power to bring back Chris Jones. Find a way to keep Sammy Watkins. And they’re just going to add talent through the draft and then sign some low level free agents, which look when you win the Super Bowl, you shouldn’t be chasing after a bunch of free agents spending all this big money. I mean, when you look at most of the deals that are signed right now, pretty much every guy’s getting overpaid, at least a little bit. So if you just won the Super Bowl, the last thing you should be doing is tracing and chasing around other people’s castoffs. So not that you you know the teams that are making the free agency moves, they have reasons to do it. But I think the best thing that chiefs can possibly do is Bring back the rope guys and have minimal free agency involvement.
Santiago Leon
And of course, Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl about almost two months ago. We could have not had a show afterwards due to scheduling conflicts. But we’ll we’ll leave a time right now, Jeff, have your reaction of this past year Super Bowl win by the Kansas City Chiefs.
Jeff Fawver
Yeah, I mean Ever Ever since they moved the BA home got the feeling that they had the opportunity and that that was they were going all in to win a Super Bowl. You know what I mean? When you when you make that significant trade up and you get your franchise guy, you know, that’s when the franchise sets a new standard. Going into this year. Clark has made it very clear that anything less than a Super Bowl was going to be a letdown. You know, they were a player two away from being in the Superbowl back to back years. The games themselves The mean they want every game by double digits so they really I know they fell behind in those playoff games against both the Texas and Titans but we’re really once they got going both the Texans and Titans were just completely overmatched. Especially, I mean, especially the Texans you know, they’ll score the Texas 51 to seven after they got behind by 24. So they were just in a different galaxies and the Texans. The Titans had a you know, that magic carpet ride, riding Derrick Henry, but that has a shelf life. And then the niners are just tough, you know, the niners are really tough mahomes through some interceptions that he typically doesn’t. But down the stretch when they really needed him he was you know, he was money. So it’s really, as long as they keep mahomes upright and they give him quality weapons on the average year. They’re gonna be right there. You know, they’re going to be in that conversation again this year too. And they’re going to be for a while. It’s just a matter of as long as they can continue to replenish. good players on offense, protect them enough and do that without having the defense completely fall apart. You know, you look around the NFL. I mean, who are the best quarterbacks in the NFL right now? I think that with Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady, getting near the end of their careers. Drew Brees Ben Roethlisberger. Like all those good quarterbacks are near the end of their career. mahomes is the best quarterback in the NFL and he’s 24 years old. So they’re gonna be there for a while. So they’re just they’re in a good spot. I mean, nothing’s guaranteed. Obviously, anything can change but there They’re in a good spot.
Santiago Leon
The baton is being passed for sure. This might be the mahomes era now that Brady has, you know, gone to the NFC, who are the top teams in the AFC right now, this has named the top three right now.
Jeff Fawver
It’s it’s the chiefs of the Ravens. And then that third team is bright right now. And I know it’s super early. I mean, it’s only Bart’s I think you have to say the bills are probably the third best team in the AFC. Some people want to say the Titans. The Titans are fine, but I don’t think that the Titans can do for an entire season what they did during that last run, you know, just lean on Henry so heavily. And I also unlike Ryan tannehill. But the law of averages says that he’s not going to he’s not going to continue to perform at quite the level that he did. So I think that tannehill is going to step back A little bit. I think Derrick Henry is going to struggle to repeat what he did. So I think the titles are going to drop off a little. So I think it has to be the bills early. It could be I mean it could be the Chargers if they get a quarterback but as of right now today tyrod Taylor, there is no way that they can go through a season with tyrod Taylor,
Santiago Leon
for sure will be definitely eyeing the CFC loose a little bit opened. Of course, Mariga went to the Raiders, but we’ll talk about that a little bit later on when they’re fill out their spots. But yeah, the NFL is definitely changing. Still bright, still popular, I think probably more popular next season. When you see a Brady Tom Brady one of the greatest of all times go into a new team like Tampa Bay back back in the spotlight. Jeff, what is the best way to reach you to talk to you about Dak Prescott.
Jeff Fawver
Best way to follow along is absolutely follow her on Twitter. I also have my main set as the honey badger special partner.
Santiago Leon
There you have it. We’ll be having Jeff on again to talk to there’s a lot more going on in the NFL. There’s probably more business next week and the NFL draft is on April 23 to the 25th. It will not be in Las Vegas and most likely be remote somewhere either in New York or in a studio in Bristol or maybe Los Angeles. But we’ll definitely keep you up to date NFL is up and running. They don’t even know what is coronavirus is anyways, you can you could go on the sports cast dotnet the sports cast dotnet we’ve been updating the site every hour, this past week, and we’ll definitely seen some new developments and things like that couple players still out there. So like the red rifle, Andy Dalton, where’s he gonna go? So keep an eye on us on our Twitter is at the sports cast one, the sports cast one and we’ll definitely keep you up to date. Well, Jeff, always a pleasure. Any closing
Jeff Fawver
I just just can’t wait for all our sports to come back, man.
Santiago Leon
I agree.
Jeff Fawver
I agree. Stay. Let’s stay home. Eat a little too much. Just for a little bit and get past this whole thing and bring all our sports possible.
Santiago Leon
Exactly sooner, the better. Jeff, always a pleasure for you to be on the sports guest
Jeff Fawver
Thanks, man.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
Santiago Leon is the Founder and CEO of the Sports Cast. He covers NFL, NBA, and world soccer. He’s also founder of sleon productions, which he specializes in technology and serves clients with solutions to make their business grow.
