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00:00They're early on in full effect here on a Monday and a lot of doings across the sports landscape over the past weekend here.
00:05Did you watch Major League Baseball? Did you have some fun with that? Absolutely.
00:08Did you watch some NFL action? You get some news and notes? Were you watching the PGA Tour?
00:12But if you weren't paying attention, the Cleveland Browns are trying to go over their quarterback room to see who can survive and be a start in week number one.
00:19We'll get to those odds in just a little bit, but preseason game number one for the Cleveland Browns, they dropped 30 points in that game.
00:24A 30 to 10 result over the Carolina Panthers, which the big hype of the day was Shador Sanders is going to get the start as a first year quarterback and say, you know what?
00:34Let's see what you got there, Shador, in the backfield. Well, it was 14 of 23, a buck 38, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
00:40He had some missed throws. He had some very good throws. I thought he showed very good athletic ability, Joe, here on a couple of scrambles, 19 yards on the ground.
00:47But again, accumulated the two touchdowns, did not turn the football over with any interceptions.
00:51I liked what I saw from Shador Sanders in game number one, week number one of the preseason here, Joe.
00:57Yeah, and I thought his ability to be able to roll out, use his legs, extend plays, do those kinds of things.
01:04I mean, dare I say, Joe Flacco wasn't playing. We knew that. Kenny Pickett, Dylan Gabriel have the hamstring injuries.
01:12This was a great opportunity for Shador Sanders, who was listed as the fourth string quarterback on the depth chart.
01:19I don't think he's that anymore. That looked like a real NFL offense with a real NFL quarterback.
01:25The first time in a long time we can say that about the Cleveland Browns. It was a great effort by him, for sure.
01:32I got to tell you about this, too, because, again, looking at who's going to start and who's going to play on that football team,
01:38it seemed to be a fact that it's going to be Joe Flacco.
01:40He's listed as a minus 156 price here to be the starting quarterback in week number one, followed by Kenny Pickett at plus 150,
01:46then Shador 13 to 1 and Dylan Gabriel at 14 to 1.
01:49Well, sometimes you look at an organization, Joe, because, you know, the evolution of when I'm a kid, like,
01:54oh, I'll just put the best player out there and see what happens.
01:56Sometimes don't you have to do what's best for the franchise, but you can never trust a coach or a general manager.
02:01The only guy you can trust is the ownership group that would be calling the shots, because what's Kevin Stefanski want to say?
02:06Like, if I go through a year with Shador Sanders and he struggles and we end up with five wins, I'm going to get fired.
02:10If I start Joe Flacco and have seven or eight wins and still playing meaningful football in December, I'm probably going to survive.
02:15You have to take that, you know, question or let's just say answer out of the coach's hands here and say what's the best health for the franchise?
02:22Because for me, if I'm a fan, you know what I actually want to have happen?
02:25I don't want Joe Flacco starting week number one.
02:27I don't want Kenny Pickett starting week number one.
02:29Joe, I'd almost be happy if we had Shador Sanders and Dylan Gabriel and they go,
02:33this is a year to find out about our quarterbacks.
02:34We're going to rotate every single game, Joe.
02:37First game, Shador.
02:38Second game, Gabriel.
02:39Third game, Shador.
02:41Fourth game, Gabriel.
02:42Just find out what you have at quarterback, because Joe Flacco is not your future.
02:45If Joe Flacco gives you eight wins, that's a terrible season for the Browns,
02:48because then you can't even go into the draft and get your future quarterback.
02:51If you don't figure you have him now on your roster, give me your opinion on what you show out of Shador.
02:57And if he continues with this, why not just start him or Dylan Gabriel in week number one?
03:02Well, it's hilarious, Donnie, because you were, we talked about it on Friday.
03:07I think one of the questions you asked me was, of course, Stephen A. Smith coming out with the,
03:11oh, they're setting him up for failure, Shador Sanders.
03:15And our answer was, well, isn't that what the preseason is for, is to figure out what it is that you have in the locker room and in the quarterback room?
03:27I mean, listen, Joe Flacco is not going to show you anything more than what we already know he is.
03:33It's not like he's been away from the game forever.
03:36We already know what he is.
03:38He understands the playbook.
03:39He is the safe option.
03:40The whole point of the preseason is to figure out what else you have.
03:45Do you have another quarterback of the future there?
03:48And unfortunately, we didn't get to see Pickett or Gabriel.
03:52But if those hamstring injuries heal up and they're available for game two and game three of the preseason,
03:58I guarantee you, you're going to see Kenny Pickett and Dylan Gabriel get a whole lot of snaps.
04:02You let these things play themselves out on the field, Donnie, right?
04:07The play on the field will tell you everything you need to know about whether or not you have a quarterback of the future.
04:13I don't need to roll you out there just to roll you out there in the regular season.
04:17We've been doing it long enough where we can tell if you're going up against the backups of the Dolphins or whoever it may be.
04:25If you can't complete a pass, if you're blindsided by blitzes, chances are it's not going to get any better against the number ones in week one of the regular season.
04:33So I think they're doing exactly what they need to do.
04:36I would rather not see Flacco in the preseason.
04:41The goal for the Cleveland Browns, it should be the goal for any NFL franchise, is to win a Super Bowl.
04:46I can say right now, on August 11th, 2025, on the early line, Joe Flacco will never, ever win a Super Bowl for the Cleveland Browns.
04:54I can also say that Kenny Pickett will never win a Super Bowl for the Cleveland Browns.
04:59So what are we doing with the Cleveland Browns?
05:01Your goal this year is to find a quarterback.
05:03You drafted two of them last year.
05:05I don't know if Shadour Sanders can ever win a Super Bowl championship with the Browns.
05:09We've never seen him in a regular season game.
05:11Same thing with Dylan Gabriel.
05:12Now, granted, it is hard to win a Super Bowl, understandably.
05:14But I know for a fact those veterans on your roster aren't doing it.
05:17So if you find out this year that maybe Shadour Sanders, a little glimmer in the eye there.
05:20You know what?
05:21Won five to six ballgames.
05:22Made some, you know, impactful moves late in the season.
05:25Can't wait to get him for a full all season and see what we can do as a franchise guy.
05:28Same thing with Dylan Gabriel.
05:30But the best part about this is you probably have a pretty good quarterback draft next year.
05:33If you enter into the season, play the young kids, and they stink, you have your choice
05:37of any quarterback that can be a franchise guy in the draft next year.
05:40Or if either one of these two quarterbacks show that they have the chops to be an NFL
05:43quarterback, maybe you don't have to go into it next year.
05:46But hey, you have a top five draft because you were bad, but you figure you have your
05:49quarterback.
05:49You pick another impactful player, and away you go in your franchise.
05:53I never understand the Band-Aid approach.
05:55Kenny Pickett and or starting Joe Flacco makes absolutely zero sense for the Cleveland Browns.
06:00And by the way, if we can pop up that graphic quickly on the odds, perfect.
06:03Came right up.
06:04Joe Flacco, minus 156.
06:05Kenny Pickett, minus 150.
06:07Shadour, 13-1.
06:08And Dylan Gabriel, 14-1.
06:09Just a little background on that.
06:10Coming into the weekend before the start for Shadour Sanders, Flacco was a minus 180.
06:14That dropped.
06:15Kenny Pickett was a plus 280.
06:17And that certainly sits there at a plus 150 now.
06:19And now Shadour Sanders, 13-1.
06:21And Gabriel was the biggest loser in this because he didn't get any action in this game.
06:25I find that interesting to see how it plays out.
06:27It's going to be interesting to play out, but it's going to play out over the next couple of games.
06:33I mean, like it or not, the NFL is a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately league.
06:37You've got a coach in Stefanski here who understands if he doesn't win games,
06:43he is likely not going to be the coach moving forward.
06:47So if he feels that saving his behind is that Joe Flacco gives him the best chance to win games,
06:54then he's going to play Joe Flacco.
06:56The hope is that Pickett or Gabriel or Shadour Sanders,
07:01one of these guys gives Stefanski something to think about come week one of the season.
07:06If I'm a Browns fan, that's what I'm hoping for.
07:09Exactly.
07:10You want hope for the future.
07:11That's all you can ask for in a quarterback to get behind.
07:13And Joe Flacco's not the quarterback to get behind.
07:15More rookie reports coming up next on The Early Line right here on the Sports Grid Network.
07:19The rookie report over the weekend here.
07:22A lot of eyes focused, particularly the number one pick.
07:24And I should say this.
07:25Was there enough eyes focused on the number one pick, Cam Ward, playing his first preseason action?
07:30Usually when the number one pick comes in, he leads all telecasts.
07:34We want to get our glimpse on the shining bright toy that's going to come into the 2025 season.
07:39Shadour Sanders, you would have thought, went number one overall with the excitement
07:42and also the tickets that were sold in Charlotte just to see the kid play.
07:46By the way, Bryce Young, who is not a rookie anymore, did play decent on his one drive or two
07:49that they had for the Panthers, resulting in some points.
07:52But that wasn't even the focus.
07:53It was Shadour Sanders.
07:54Coming into this weekend, Joe, do you agree, like, Shadour was the main focus out of the rookie class
07:58across the NFL?
07:59Well, of course.
08:01He was the focus of the draft, even in day, what, three, when he was still on the board.
08:06I mean, it was all about Shadour Sanders, so that was obviously going to roll over into
08:12the preseason to see if he makes the team.
08:15But, you know, quietly, here's Cam Ward, the guy that actually, oh, I don't know, was
08:20the number one pick with Tennessee, and not a lot of people were talking about him.
08:26And quite honestly, Donnie, there wasn't a lot to talk about because it's not like they
08:32showed an awful lot with him.
08:34So, I mean, the numbers weren't over the top.
08:37They did a little more running.
08:38They did, I mean, he did, I think, go 11 plays, 65 yards, which was nice.
08:44Him and Calvin Ridley had a nice series together.
08:47But for the most part, it wasn't jumping off the screen.
08:51But, like, why are we not paying attention to Cam Ward?
08:54It was kind of vanilla.
08:56Five of eight, 67 yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions, passer rating of an 89.1 here
09:02as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers pounded the Titans 29-7.
09:05Get used to that probably as a final scorer.
09:07But he's got some weapons.
09:08He's got some wide receivers.
09:09He's got a couple running backs.
09:10We're expecting good things out of Cam Ward.
09:12Brandon Allen came in that game, 6 of 12.
09:14Tim Boyle still on NFL rosters, which is amazing here.
09:16Maybe Aaron Rodgers made a couple phone calls there.
09:18He was 4 of 13.
09:20But it's interesting to watch Cam Ward, the number one overall pick, look fluid in the pocket.
09:23I do think he's going to have a pretty good season.
09:25Not indicated on how many wins the Titans are going to get.
09:27Just how he looks in the pocket.
09:28That's all you should care about for the Titans.
09:30You take a look at Jackson Dart for the Giants here.
09:32How about this?
09:3312 of 19 for a buck 54 and a touchdown.
09:35He made some really good throws against the Buffalo Bills.
09:38I liked what I saw at a Jackson Dart.
09:41Donnie, this was by far the most impressive start of any of the rookies for any team this week.
09:49And I'll tell you why.
09:50It's because you had, well, first you had Russell Wilson go out for like a series.
09:54And then we're like, all right, can we not watch him anymore?
09:57But the Buffalo Bills at home made the decision that their starters, both defensively and
10:03offensively, were going to play in the first half a lot.
10:07So these numbers you're seeing, 12 and 19, a buck 54 and a touchdown, 24 yards on the ground
10:13with his legs.
10:13That was all against the starters against the Buffalo Bills defense.
10:18So unlike a lot of these other guys that were going up against backups, those numbers and
10:23that performance came against the starters of Buffalo on the road, that was pretty darn
10:28impressive watching him under center.
10:30By the way, did you see the quarterbacks for the New York Giants?
10:33Russell Wilson, 6 of 7.
10:34Jameis Winston, 7 for 11 and a touchdown.
10:36Tommy DeVito, 10 of 14 and a touchdown.
10:39And Jackson Dart, 12 of 19 and a touchdown here for the Giants.
10:42I have an over 3.5 team total ESPN bet, Joe, that I put in and grabbed that nice line.
10:47It's up to 5.5 now.
10:48I was really nervous.
10:49And again, it's one preseason game.
10:50I'm not going to overreact like I hope Russell Wilson plays like all 17 games.
10:54So I can at least get four wins.
10:56I was very, very happy seeing what I saw the Jackson Dart.
10:59If they do pull the plug on Russell Wilson after five or six games, maybe he can pick
11:03up two wins the rest of the NFL season and pick up that three and a half is, which is
11:07what I need.
11:07Rest of the guys across there, Tyler Shuck, 15 of 22, Joe Buck 65 and a touchdown throws
11:12the one interception comes back with a touchdown pass.
11:14Like what I saw, I'm telling you, some of these rookie quarterbacks coming in well prepared
11:18here, Joe.
11:18They were, but if we're being honest here, the honorable mention not on that list has
11:26to be the defensive end for the New York Giants, who was out there, I think, for six or seven
11:31snaps.
11:31And you know what, Donnie Carter was in the backfield and pressure in all six or seven
11:37plays for the New York Giants defense in that game against the starting offensive lineman
11:43of the Buffalo Bills.
11:44So not only do they have maybe a possible future quarterback, they got an edge rusher
11:50that is going to wreak havoc on offenses this year.
11:54And by the way, most people look and say like, oh no, Ashton Janty, three carries minus one
11:58yards.
11:58He probably fell like a rock in the, you know, the offensive year category.
12:02Not the case.
12:03We know he's going to be just fine, but he sits at the plus 250 price to win that cam.
12:06We're three to one here.
12:07Hampton plus eight 50 and away you go.
12:09And by the way, you take a look at Travis Hunter, two catches, nine yards, eight defensive
12:12snaps, you're not going to get a top work in the preseason, but both ways he's going.
12:17Yep.
12:17And listen, how they use him is going to be most importantly, but I think it's going
12:23to be all about the offense before it's about the defense with him.
12:27Absolutely.
12:28We'll see how plays out.
12:28I'm telling you, you might have some big things on the horizon there on offense for
12:31him down there in Jacksonville.
12:33We'll find out how Leon Colm uses them and more NFL highlights from this weekend and
12:37major, some devastated injuries.
12:38Next.
12:39We're talking a little bit of that rookie report in the previous segment here, Joe
12:42Ranieri and Donnie Wright side on the early line right here on the sports grid network
12:45on a Monday, getting you ready for this week and saying, you know what, how can we get
12:49ready for this week without taking a look at the rookies over the past weekend?
12:51We know we didn't get to see a lot of last year, rookie JJ McCarthy.
12:54You still sort of consider him a rookie, right?
12:56Got a couple of snaps in the preseason, goes down with the knee injury, rehabs it here.
13:00How will that start?
13:01Cause Sam Donald's no longer the starting quarterback in Minnesota.
13:03He was shipped off there to Seattle and a nice free agent contract.
13:06He's their starting quarterback and now JJ McCarthy can focus on being the starter in
13:11for the Vikings here.
13:12I thought he looked good.
13:13I liked him rolling out of the pocket.
13:14He looked athletic.
13:15The arm strength was there.
13:16Wasn't an electric start four of seven for 30 yards in his debut.
13:20No, it wasn't, but it's nice to see him out there being healthy and that good arm strength
13:23here.
13:24We don't know how it's going to project to the regular season, but again, a lot of these
13:26rookies were putting good spots here in their first starts in the preseason.
13:31Yeah.
13:31Listen, it wasn't bad by any means, right?
13:34His first showing, but at the same time, he was out there one series.
13:39I mean, 13 plays in that series.
13:42In fact, that ended up with a 48 yard field goal, but the longest completion was what an
13:4818 yarder to Jordan Addison that Addison had to actually die for the ball and make the catch.
13:54I mean, again, wasn't bad, but I would like to see a little bit more from McCarthy before
14:00we anoint him the future of the Minnesota Vikings.
14:04Yeah, no doubt about it.
14:05We'll see.
14:05And again, I, I want to knock the kid too, because I know a lot of people are really high
14:10on him seeing it in college football.
14:12This is something to be said about being a great leader, which everybody from that Michigan
14:15program will tell you about, but there's also something about being an absolute gunslinger.
14:19When your team needs it the most, we didn't get a ton of that at Michigan.
14:22Some of their biggest wins came on.
14:23Let's play really hard defense and run the football.
14:26We'll see if JJ McCarthy excels this year.
14:27Technically as a rookie for me in the NFL, we did have some other NFL weekend highlights
14:32here.
14:32How about Cam Little, a 70 yard field goal.
14:35It's just like the evolution of the athlete show, right?
14:38It's like, Hey, well, look at the NBA in the sixties and seventies.
14:40Yeah.
14:41Well, the athletes that are so far superior, same thing in the NFL track stars, people running
14:45faster and faster every single year.
14:47The legs of the kickers might have to get analyzed.
14:50Don't you remember Joe?
14:51And I'm talking about early two thousands.
14:53Oh man.
14:54He's going for a 51 yarder right here.
14:56A 51 yard is a chip shot.
14:58Now, like if you can't consistently nail 60 plus yarders in the NFL, it's like you can't
15:03even be out there.
15:04And now we have 70 yard field goals going through in the preseason.
15:08How about that?
15:10And Donnie call me crazy.
15:12It looked like it could have gone a few more yards to there.
15:15It was, and it wasn't as if they were all laying up.
15:18Like they were actually going after the kicker on that 70 yarder and he got all of it.
15:24It didn't look like he was straining to do it either, which was funny, but we saw 57 yarders
15:30with plenty of leg and distance this week.
15:32So the kicking, and again, that's all fine and dandy in preseason, but let's see what
15:38happens under the, you know, the big lights here and, uh, and elements.
15:42But for the most part, you got to be impressed with the kicking game so far in week one of
15:47the preseason.
15:48Yeah.
15:49I remember I think it was back in like, Oh six, maybe like a Matt Bryant kicking like a
15:5258 yard or whatever, 60 yard against the field.
15:54If he almost fell out of my chair with that victory.
15:56And now it's like, Oh no, 62 yarders.
15:57He has a legitimate chance to make that.
15:59Now it's unbelievable where it wasn't like a 20 Franklin.
16:02Yeah.
16:03Like, like, Hey, exactly.
16:04Like a steel toe guys kicking 60 yarders out here.
16:07Like, Oh, he got lucky and wherever it was, but my goodness, man, the evolution of the
16:11kickers is insane.
16:12How about last night?
16:13The Philadelphia Eagles hosted a practice at Lincoln financial field, which was sold out
16:16last night.
16:17Hey, the Superbowl champions, let's go watch them work out.
16:20Could be a devastating injury on the horizon.
16:22It would probably get known today.
16:23Joe landed Dickerson carted off the practice field with a leg injury.
16:27Looks like it's a knee injury and the MRIs are due this morning and we'll probably get
16:31it back sooner than later, but this is one that the field of the Eagles cannot afford
16:35to lose really any NFL team losing really good offensive lineman in the preseason.
16:40You hate to say it, but it's already happened with Slater.
16:41Could it be happening with Dickerson?
16:43Now the Eagles.
16:44Yeah.
16:45And folks may not remember too.
16:47This was a guy that played through a knee injury at the end of last season through the
16:53postseason.
16:53So he had had an injury last year, played through it, you know, was hoping the offseason
16:59it could, it would heal itself and he'd be back in there.
17:03And another one of these just kind of freak situations and at the end of practice, no less,
17:09I think that they were almost ready to wrap it up.
17:11And, you know, unfortunately, here we go.
17:14Much like we saw Slater of the Chargers have a similar situation where it's like, you got
17:19to be kidding me.
17:20We're not even trying.
17:21This is a self-practice and we're losing Pro Bowl guys on the offensive line.
17:27Yeah, no doubt about it.
17:28Never want to see it because again, injuries just don't stop.
17:30Oh, we already lost our offensive lineman for the year.
17:31Nobody else can get injured.
17:32That doesn't happen.
17:33That's not good for one of the power strengths of the Philadelphia Eagles is that offensive
17:37line, particularly the left side, which has Landon Dickerson and Jordan Mailata.
17:40It might be the best left side combination in the NFL.
17:44Maybe that's damaged goods already to start.
17:45How about James Cook?
17:46He's like, I'm not damaged goods.
17:47You know, I get some workouts in, but I'm not playing yet.
17:49I want my money.
17:50And also good to hear Josh Allen speaking up like we need this guy back.
17:54So pay him what you owe him, as we like to say, Joe.
17:58I love that he warmed up.
17:59He did.
18:00You know, he was with his team.
18:01He did all of the things that you would expect him starting running back to do.
18:05Only he's like, I'm not playing.
18:07I can't can't run the risk.
18:09And at this point, he can't.
18:10But you know what?
18:10He's not being a distraction.
18:12He's going through everything with him.
18:13And now when your franchise quarterback says, can we can we get this please finished and
18:19wrapped up and get going?
18:21I think that's a big step in the right direction for Cook.
18:24Exactly.
18:25And you don't really need running backs to carry the ball 15 times in the preseason.
18:29But you know what you do need?
18:30The same way where most teams that are starting to play starters more in the preseason.
18:33It's not about, hey, I need to get this big work.
18:36It's about going through that game day preparation, having that mindset and the mentality that
18:40sharp going out, running around for five to 10 plays out here, getting a carry or two,
18:44getting a hit up the middle from a middle linebacker like, OK, let's get my season underway.
18:48You're not going to get that out of the James Cook.
18:49You know, as well as I do, Joe, that you need contact as a running back.
18:52Like you can't show up in week number one.
18:54Like, OK, I'm going to end my holdout.
18:56Give me 20 touches in this game opening day in the 90 degree heat, which we get a lot of times
19:01in September.
19:02Get him in camp.
19:02Get him practicing.
19:03Get the vibes going.
19:04And good for Josh Young, sticking up for his guy in the backfield.
19:07We got a story that might be developing in Los Angeles here with their quarterback, Matthew
19:11Stafford.
19:12Over the offseason, Joe, I don't know if we had more love than any single team in the
19:15NFL, particularly the NFC, to be honest, than the Los Angeles Rams.
19:18Got close last year, beat by the Philadelphia Eagles in the snow.
19:21Stafford coming back.
19:22He adds to the wide receiving core, an exciting, young, talented front seven.
19:26The roster is chock full of talent.
19:28A quarterback that's won a Super Bowl.
19:30A head coach that has won a Super Bowl.
19:32And now the quarterback's hitting, like, epidurals.
19:35And, like, Joe, that is never a good sign to start the season where you need needles just
19:41to keep going.
19:42Yeah.
19:43And listen, but it's also not his first rodeo.
19:46He's had some back issues, neck issue.
19:49Like, he's had a lot going on, Matt Stafford, from all those years.
19:52He took an absolute beating in Detroit because they couldn't protect him.
19:57But the good news is, from what I am seeing, there's not a overly, there's not a ton of
20:04concern that he won't be ready for the start of the season.
20:07What you have to worry about with him is longevity.
20:10Donnie, how many hits is he going to be able to take during the regular season before this
20:15becomes an issue?
20:16But I think they're going to treat him with kid gloves, which is what they should for
20:20a 37-year-old quarterback anyway.
20:22What would you tell the people right now, though?
20:24Like, okay, I like the Rams heading into the season, but I'm not sure about Matthew Stafford
20:28because people want to get their bets in.
20:29People want their team totals.
20:30People want to bet week number one here.
20:32So what's your prognosis on the Rams?
20:34We'll talk long-term in a second.
20:35Week number one.
20:37Are we just going to say, like, yeah, he's ready.
20:38Bullets are flying.
20:39He looks great out there because he is a tough dude.
20:41But again, a back injury for a quarterback trying to get all that torque on passes, usually
20:45not good.
20:46He'll be fine.
20:48He's got one of the best coaches in the NFL.
20:51As long as you can keep him upright, I think you're good to go.
20:55Much like any starting quarterback, right, Donnie?
20:58If he stays healthy, I love the Rams opportunity and chances out of the NFC West.
21:03If he's not, much like any other starting quarterback, yeah, those chances diminish.
21:09Quite the thing.
21:10Although, what was it?
21:11Who's his backup?
21:12Stidham?
21:12Is that who it is?
21:14Nope.
21:14Come on.
21:15Who else?
21:16Oh, Joey.
21:16Jimmy G.
21:16That's right.
21:17Yeah.
21:17Yeah, Joey G.
21:19You're screwed, Rams.
21:20Look, who's seen Jimmy do damage?
21:21You're screwed.
21:22Come on now.
21:23I remember.
21:24Sorry.
21:25By the way, Jimmy Garoppolo could be a hero if he just connects.
21:28Was it Emmanuel Sanders?
21:29Who did he miss wide open down the middle of the field late in that game?
21:32Yes, Emmanuel Sanders.
21:33He could be a hero right now.
21:35He could be a hero.
21:36So, that's what you're telling me.
21:37You can't bet on Jimmy Garoppolo from your end, Joe?
21:39Come on now.
21:40That's not nice.
21:40No.
21:41No, no.
21:41It's over if Garoppolo's your starting quarterback, Rams.
21:44So, you better hope that back issue remains a non-factor for good old Matt Stafford.
21:50Also, we need some insight what happened over the weekend, Tom, because we've taken notes
21:54right now, right?
21:54You don't get too much out of the preseason games other than never seen some of these
21:57rookies, want to pay attention to some rookie quarterbacks, and the biggest spotlight over
22:01the weekend certainly was Shador Sanders and the Cleveland Browns getting the start
22:04against the Carolina Panthers.
22:05They win that game 30-10, but Shador got a lot of looks in this one, Tom.
22:0914 of 23, $1.38, two touchdowns, no interceptions, and a pass rating of 106.8.
22:14His numbers now have dropped to be possibly the starter for the Cleveland Browns in week
22:18number one.
22:18What did you take away from that Shador Sanders start against the Panthers?
22:22You know, more than just the 14 of 23, he was out there for, what was it, 45 or 46 plays,
22:28whatever it was overall.
22:29High volume plays that they're willing to trust him with.
22:32And that float pass that he had on the near sideline where he kind of scrambled out of the
22:37pocket and then motioned to the receiver.
22:39to get down and kind of let him, and the receiver made a nice catch, granted, like that is like
22:43a high-level, good quarterback play that you want to see.
22:47And, you know, I would love to, I don't remember the Browns schedule off the top of my head,
22:50but, you know, if they have a bye week early in the season and they start off again, like
22:54one in four, get Joe Flacco out of there and just put him in there, start getting him
22:59reps, start developing him, and just start seeing what you have with him.
23:05Sooner rather than later, because let's face it, Tom, nobody wants to see Joe Flacco.
23:09If they don't have to play football here.
23:12But it's interesting here because we saw a lot of other rookie quarterbacks show up and
23:18show out this week.
23:19I thought Jackson Dart against the starters against the Bills was actually pretty impressive
23:24here.
23:25But I mean, who has the season of seasons here?
23:28Who's your offensive rookie of the year looking at what we have seen thus far?
23:33You know, it's easy just to say Djente and everyone's going to be like, oh, like three
23:36carries, you know, minus negative one yards, whatever.
23:38It's like, obviously, it's a small sample size.
23:40He's only in there for a drive or two, whatever it is.
23:42We have to take that with a great assault.
23:44We know what Pete Carroll wants to do and run the ball.
23:46You know, frankly, I would be looking outside of that top group.
23:49Emeka Abuka on the box had a great first game.
23:53He also has a lot of buzz coming into the season.
23:55So someone like him is set for a big role.
23:59You know, Amari Hampton on the Chargers could just see a ton of volume because, again, we
24:03know what Harbaugh likes to do and run the ball.
24:05Also, with their wide receiver room being, I'm going to say, shaky at best.
24:09Like, we know that Mike Williams retired.
24:11They have to re-sign Keenan Allen.
24:12Quinton Johnston isn't great.
24:13Lad McConkie's awesome.
24:14But at a certain point, if the volume of yards will be there for Hampton, I really like
24:19him in a little bit of a longer shot.
24:20Emeka Abuka, I think he's going to be in for a big role with Chris Godwin out to start the
24:23year.
24:23And, you know, Mike Evans is super consistent, but if that offense is going to be moving,
24:27they have one of the easiest strengths of schedules.
24:30Baker's going to pass for 40-plus touchdowns and 4,000 yards.
24:33I think he's in for a huge year.
24:36Yeah, McMillan had a couple pretty good shines there going up with Bryce this weekend on the
24:40Carolina Panthers.
24:41So a fun market for the rookies if you're looking at the bet that way.
24:43But Ashton Jinty, I think we wanted to see three carries, 62 yards, and a touchdown like
24:47he typically opened up at Boise State.
24:49But it's the NFL.
24:50You're not going to get that.
24:50Minus one yards.
24:51The kid will be just fine as he has the lead here at the plus 250 number before we even
24:55enter in to week one of the NFL regular season.
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