00:00Ian Rappaport joins us right now, NFL Insider, NFL Network, and ESPN.
00:05Ian, thanks for joining us this morning.
00:06How close did Deshaun Watson get to being pulled as the starting quarterback of the Cleveland Browns
00:12before things got going against Tampa Bay?
00:15You know, I don't think particularly close.
00:18And the reason I say that is because it really was in Deshaun's hands, right?
00:23Like before the second game, you know, one of the things I talked about on air was that
00:27the Cleveland Browns were going to, after the game, assess the situation
00:30and kind of see which way they wanted to go, see if it was time to bring in Shador,
00:34see if, you know, essentially Deshaun was done as the starter.
00:38But that would hinge on how he played.
00:41And so he went out there.
00:43He played well.
00:45He showed signs of being the starting quarterback that he has continued to show.
00:50And so I don't really get the sense that in that game there was any movement to pull him.
00:56And then after the game, it was like, you know, what I was told even before Sunday was
01:01he's earned the right to start and keep starting.
01:04And then they won again.
01:05And so I don't feel like it was very close.
01:08I feel like the Browns wanted to take a look at it and see after the results.
01:13But, you know, Watson never let it get to that point.
01:15Ian, how big of a surprise has this been?
01:18You talked to a lot of people around the league because here in Cleveland,
01:22we thought it was going to be his job for two weeks.
01:23And then that was it.
01:24It was going to be Shador Sanders' time.
01:27Well, I mean, I think there's a lot there with Deshaun.
01:30I mean, there's the injury history, obviously.
01:34And I think in Cleveland, one of the things that's been frustrating,
01:37and I'm someone who, you know, I've known Deshaun.
01:40I've covered him a long time, you know, coming into the league.
01:44And then obviously in Houston and now in Cleveland and really kind of through everything.
01:49And I've thought that he is a good or really good starting quarterback.
01:54And when he's shown signs of that, like the broken shoulder game when he led the Browns back
01:59and then, you know, learned he was playing through a significant injury that ended a season,
02:03you know, like every time it's been a glimmer of sort of hope he's gotten injured or something has happened.
02:10So I've thought that he could be a starting quarterback.
02:13And if you look at the product when he's not injured and when he's had, you know,
02:17a ramp-up time and all of that, like he's looked pretty good.
02:21It's just sort of something always happens.
02:23And so, you know, the consensus, I guess, around the league is like if he's out there and healthy, he
02:30could be good.
02:31And I mean, I don't know that he's going to be like the Deshaun of like his rookie year when
02:35he was like a sensation,
02:37but there are definitely glimpses of like, this guy's a pretty good quarterback.
02:41How good would he, how well would he have to play for them to kick around keeping him on another
02:46year?
02:48I mean, the only real question is, is he a starting quarterback or not?
02:55Like, and if he is one, then my guess, like, if let's say the Browns, what's a good record?
03:01Let's say the Browns go with this team where they are in transition.
03:06Let's say they go nine and eight, which, you know, would be a very good season considering they, you know,
03:12I mean,
03:12I think the talent's probably a little better than people think, but let's say they go nine and eight.
03:18And the Browns have two first round picks.
03:20They're probably in position to draft a quarterback or acquire a quarterback if they want.
03:25And, but even still, you're probably not going to start a rookie right away.
03:29I mean, even the Raiders aren't starting Fernando Mendoza and he's the number one overall pick.
03:33So if the record's good, if he's healthy, if he plays how he's playing, like, I don't see why he
03:39wouldn't be back.
03:40Right.
03:41Ian Rappaport.
03:42Ian Rappaport joining us on the show.
03:44I went to move my phone and actually turned my mic off.
03:47He's on the wise heart, right?
03:48We make it right, call Kyle Wright hotline.
03:50The injuries have started up.
03:53Is there any interest among teams to trade for Shador Sanders?
04:00I mean, I have not sensed that, but if you're the Browns, why would you do that?
04:06I'm just, I'm just, yeah, go ahead.
04:08You know, the only thing that matters, I mean, look, there's, there's probably interest in trading every player.
04:13I mean, if, if someone could acquire Shador Sanders for a, you know, 2037th rounder, my guess is somebody would
04:20like there's, there's always interest in every player.
04:23But if you're the Browns, why would you do that?
04:25Because the only thing that matters this season, let's say, you know, whether they make the playoffs or not, whatever
04:32it is, the only thing that matters is, do you have a quarterback who's going to continue to start for
04:37you, a franchise quarterback on your roster?
04:39And for the Browns to trade him before they know the answer to that, to me, wouldn't make sense.
04:46Like, I don't get why they would do it.
04:48And then if you're, you know, if you're a team trading for a quarterback, you know, what are you trading
04:55for him for?
04:56Like, are you trading for him and he's going to be your starter in a new system where he had
05:01like no time to get acclimated and he's a young player and he hasn't seen a lot?
05:05Like, for what?
05:06You know, like if you're the Giants, you lose your starting quarterback.
05:10You have a guy who started 10 games and has a great pedigree, you know, but he's going to start
05:17as your backup with eventual possibly be the starter.
05:20Like that makes more sense.
05:21Like, I don't, I just don't understand why a Shador Sander trade would make sense for anybody.
05:27Ian Rappaport with us on the hotline.
05:29Any buyer's remorse with the Rams right now about the big miles Garrett trade?
05:35No, because they didn't do it for now.
05:37You know, they did it for when they got to have one, you know, in the divisional round of the
05:43playoffs.
05:44Does the other quarterback know that Miles Garrett is there staring at him?
05:47Like, that's really what this is for.
05:48Like, you know, I think the Rams are going to be good.
05:51The record's not good.
05:52But, like, it's early and whatever.
05:54Honestly, the Rams are going to be fine.
05:56It's really like when you got to have it in December and January and then maybe February, does the best
06:03defensive player in football, you know, get it done?
06:06Like, that's why they made the trade.
06:08That's why they brought back Aaron Donald.
06:10That's kind of what the Rams are looking for.
06:11So, you know, I don't sense any buyer's remorse.
06:14The other thing is, you know, and people are sort of asking, like, did the Browns know that, you know,
06:19there was an issue?
06:21My understanding is there wasn't an issue.
06:23Like, this was nonexistent before he went to the Rams.
06:27So, you know, I think the trade is going to work out fine.
06:31And I think he'll be back, you know, probably in the next four weeks is my guess.
06:35Yeah, but there have been so many injuries to quarterbacks around the league, and we always overreact to these things.
06:41But it does seem like it's been worse this year.
06:46Is there any reaction around the league as to how they might be able to prevent this?
06:52You know, as this continues to get worse?
06:55Yeah, I mean, I'm not really sure that it's worse this year.
06:58I think every year when a bunch of players, you know, there's always a, you know, basically weeks one to
07:03four.
07:04There's always a situation where you have a bunch of really recognizable names go down.
07:08Is it quarterbacks?
07:09Is it receivers?
07:10I mean, it's sort of different every year.
07:13You know, if you're the Ravens, is it centers?
07:16Like, there's just, you know, football injuries happen, unfortunately.
07:20It's an unfortunate reality.
07:24You know, I think it's just, it's a lot of players we've heard of.
07:27You know, I mean, I think every year we sort of go through this.
07:30I don't get the sense it's more.
07:31Or it's been a lot to deal with as someone who covers injuries extensively.
07:35It's been a lot.
07:36And there's a lot of unfortunate ones.
07:38I mean, the Jackson Dart one was pretty unfortunate.
07:42But then there's others.
07:43You know, the Sam Donald one could have been a lot worse.
07:48He ended up coming back and playing.
07:50So, you know, I don't know that there's a particular reason.
07:53And it doesn't feel to me like more than usual.
07:56Ian Rappaport joining us on the show.
07:58Okay, last one.
07:59My boss urged me to ask you this.
08:02I had an idea to kind of protect quarterbacks, to develop quarterbacks the right way.
08:09That if you draft a quarterback in the first 10 picks, unless that quarterback gets injured or has a career
08:16-ending injury or has a loss of life or something like that.
08:19If you draft a quarterback within the first 10 picks, you cannot draft another quarterback within the first 10 picks
08:26for another three years.
08:28Your thoughts?
08:31And explain your reasoning before I weigh in.
08:34Well, I look at teams that draft guys, and I don't think that they do a good job of supporting
08:40them.
08:41And I think that we've had some careers kind of fall by the wayside and then had to be picked
08:46up by other franchises.
08:47And I just think it would also help alleviate the whole tanking conversation that we've always been having here, especially
08:54with more games.
08:56I think that it would alleviate some of the pressure on new players, new quarterbacks.
09:01That's my personal thoughts on that.
09:03I would say, with all due respect to your idea...
09:09You don't need to respect it.
09:10You don't need to respect it.
09:11Stay as a radio host and move away from being commissioner of the NFL.
09:18That would be me weighing in.
09:21I do not think that would be good.
09:23I do not think that would help.
09:27Teams should be allowed to draft a quarterback if they want.
09:30I don't think teams intentionally fail quarterbacks.
09:33I do think some quarterbacks are either not good enough or not ready to play.
09:39But preventing them from drafting a quarterback if they find out they made a mistake, no.
09:46No, that would be one of the worst rules in history.
09:48Ian, you've made me so happy.
09:50You've made me so happy.
09:51You've provided a clip that we're going to play for generations.
09:54Great.
09:55Very happy to contribute.
09:56Ian, thank you very much for your time.
09:57All the best.
09:58All right.
09:59Thanks, guys.
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