- 14 minutes ago
Carl Dukes and Mark Zinno react to the Atlanta Falcons' brutal loss to the Bengals, breaking down the massive defensive collapse, the controversial Jessie Bates trade, and why it's time to immediately move on from kicker Nick Folk. Plus, the guys react to head coach Kevin Stefanski dodging questions about bringing in kicker competition.
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00:00The Bengals also ran for 100 yards.
00:02We didn't mention this, but they hadn't ran for 100 yards.
00:05This is unbelievable.
00:07They've only done it four times, all right, the entire season.
00:10This is not a run-first team.
00:12And they ran for over 100 yards against us.
00:14They last rushed for 100-plus against the Dolphins.
00:16Dolphins are terrible.
00:17And here's the kickers, you know.
00:19Mark Zeno's in for Mike.
00:20It's Dukes and Bell Sports Radio 92.9 The Game.
00:22They scored on six of their nine possessions.
00:24They punted twice.
00:26And then they ran the clock out at the end of the game.
00:28That's how this game went.
00:30And when you go back and look at the scoring, we score, they score.
00:34They score, we kick a field goal.
00:37They score, we didn't score.
00:39They score, like that's how this was.
00:41And then all of a sudden it's 24-10 at the half.
00:44And you go, all right, well, we get the ball to come out.
00:45And we got the ball and we came out and we scored.
00:48And then that's all we scored.
00:51They're drives too.
00:52Did you guys see this?
00:54Mm-hmm.
00:55Seven yards, 73.
00:56Seven plays, 73 yards.
00:58Yeah.
00:59Eleven plays, 70 yards.
01:00These weren't little drives.
01:03Okay?
01:04Ten plays, 88 yards.
01:06But how quick was the time possession?
01:07Because they got down the field pretty quick.
01:09Well, those big chunk plays.
01:10Yeah.
01:11Right?
01:12We're talking about the game with you.
01:13Talking about all the things.
01:15Front and center.
01:15Jesse Bates being traded today.
01:17A lot of Falcon fans reacting, and rightfully so.
01:19Let me say this on a personal level.
01:21When Jesse got here, and this was during the Arthur Smith regime, by the way, we've had multiple conversations on
01:31and off the record about various things.
01:33He is one of the best dudes you'll ever run into.
01:37Period.
01:38Like, just from a human being standpoint, he's not all screwed up.
01:41He's a ball player.
01:42But, man, loves his family.
01:43Loves all the – he just goes about his business the right way.
01:46And then on Sundays, you know, this dude performed.
01:50There was very rarely a Sunday when we were losing or winning that he didn't have an effect on the
01:56game.
01:57And more times than not, you know, there was a couple of seasons ago, Mike and I said, he won
02:01three games for us, literally.
02:04Picks six against the Saints, against Carr, right?
02:07Punches the ball out.
02:09Retain possession.
02:10We end up sitting on it and winning again.
02:11Like, there are numerous moments for Jesse Bates.
02:14He was a really good Falcon, guys.
02:16He really was.
02:17And when we got him, remember, he got the biggest deal at the time as a free agent safety to
02:22come here, which, you know, normally we don't do that, right?
02:25But they paid him, and I thought he lived up to it.
02:27This is the crown jewel of the Terry Fontenot free agent era.
02:31Good call.
02:32It's the best move that they made under his regime, not draft pick related, right?
02:37So it was an absolute win that they were able to get him.
02:41And I guess, which theory do you subscribe to more at this point in time?
02:48If you can give up 34 with Jesse Bates, you can certainly give up 34 without him.
02:53Or you traded away your best defensive player and you're not a better team because of it.
02:57B.
02:59Because you and I both know this league is week to week.
03:01Mm-hmm.
03:03Now, will they give up 34 points to the Chiefs?
03:05A couple of years ago, Patrick Mahomes and a very talented Chiefs offense came in here.
03:10I was at that game.
03:10We almost won the damn game.
03:12Mm-hmm.
03:13Non-PI call at the end.
03:14Correct.
03:15Yeah.
03:15So that's part of this.
03:17Like, yeah.
03:18How about we just ran into the most explosive offense that we might see all season long?
03:23And next week, I don't think the Chiefs are as explosive, but they do have that guy.
03:28And he's a difference maker.
03:30So, you know, you're going to be in a game, especially if he's 100%.
03:33And by the way, he did hurt his throwing elbow.
03:35He got hit yesterday.
03:36Patrick Mahomes, as I said to the guys earlier today, he still threw for 278.
03:40Two touchdowns, no picks.
03:42So, you know, if Mahomes is able to play, he's going to play.
03:45But he said after the game, he felt good.
03:47They're 6-2, and here they come on Sunday.
03:49But I just think it's B.
03:51You don't hurt your team by trading a guy away like that who affects the game the way he did.
04:00And that's just me.
04:01It doesn't mean that we won't give up 34 again.
04:05But if it's not solely one guy, then you know what?
04:08I mean, there's a part of this that you have to remember that Jesse Bates had to be Superman.
04:12There wasn't a lot of other help around it, particularly in the secondary.
04:16So, you know, for that, again, that foolish narrative, oh, he was in decline, and he was old, and his
04:22best years were behind him.
04:23Who was saying that, by the way?
04:24Oh, my God.
04:26I mean, one of them was Jesse Palmer on the NFL Network.
04:29Really?
04:29Yeah.
04:30His best years were behind him.
04:31Yeah, he's exactly wrong.
04:34He's still got two or three James.
04:35I'm sorry.
04:36What did I say?
04:36Jesse's the other guy.
04:38James Palmer.
04:39James Palmer.
04:39Okay.
04:40And again, you know, Jesse Palmer's the bachelor dating guy.
04:44Yeah, yeah, yeah.
04:44Yeah.
04:45And he probably has forgotten more about football than I'll ever know, which is fine.
04:49But I just categorically disagree with the assessment that he's lost his step and his best years are behind him.
04:55There's nothing to support that statement whatsoever.
04:57Nothing.
04:57No.
04:57I don't disagree.
04:59Look, we're going to go around the end.
05:00The guy went from second team All-Pro eight games later.
05:02He's lost his step.
05:02I mean, and oh, by the way, if he lost, again, if he's lost his step, why the hell would
05:07they give away this haul for him?
05:09They don't.
05:09They don't.
05:10Look, everybody knows the evaluations in this league, man.
05:13And, you know, the people in it, no.
05:17And that's why it's a hard conversation to have about Michael Pinnicks, because the people around the league, no.
05:24With that said, let's talk about something we haven't talked about, Zeno.
05:28And, you know, oh, we may have to push our fourth and one, because we've got to talk about this.
05:34What's going on with our kicker?
05:36It's time to cut him.
05:37Go.
05:37Goodbye.
05:38Done.
05:38I answered it.
05:39I solved it for you.
05:40Get somebody else to miss kicks.
05:42Why is Nick Fulk still on this team right now?
05:45No, no, no, no, no, no.
05:46You said it's okay.
05:47Wins and losses.
05:48It doesn't matter.
05:49We're just going to ride with it.
05:50No, no, no, no, no.
05:50Let's just ride with it.
05:51Completely different than a quarterback.
05:52Why?
05:53Because kickers are transactional.
05:55And they have one metric.
05:56Make or miss.
05:57That's it.
05:57But he affects the outcome of gains.
06:00Listen, and Kevin Stefanski said in his press conference today he wouldn't answer whether
06:03they're going to bring in kickers, which means they're bringing in kickers.
06:05Here we go.
06:06Okay?
06:06It's that simple.
06:07Here we go.
06:08Justin Tucker.
06:08Oh, no, it is.
06:09Sorry.
06:09He's in Kansas City.
06:10Anyway.
06:1272%, by the way, is what he's getting.
06:13It's failing.
06:15It's a flat-out failure at this point in time.
06:17Get rid of them.
06:18They're all replaceable.
06:19Nobody is special.
06:20Nobody deserves to be called special as a kicker.
06:22Go find somebody else.
06:23Period.
06:24End the conversation.
06:24Let me hear Stefanski answer, or not answer, about Nick Folk's status.
06:30Yeah, it's Monday.
06:32I'm not getting into too many roster decisions.
06:34Like I told you guys yesterday, we're counting on Nick.
06:37I expect him to make those kicks.
06:39He's counting.
06:39He wants to come through for the football team, but I'm not going to get into any roster-type
06:43moves.
06:44Get him out of here.
06:45We're wasting time.
06:46Sounds about right.
06:47Zeno, we're wasting time.
06:49Like, that's my whole deal with the whole Pinnock situation.
06:52Like, we're just supposed to wait four years, and then we'll be fine.
06:55Let's not waste time.
06:57Decisions have to be made.
06:58And I'm not saying that decision is made right now, but as you evaluate through the course
07:02of the season, let's move, man.
07:04Let's move.
07:04You're willing to trade Jesse Bates.
07:06You just told me you're willing to make hard decisions that need to be made.
07:10Then do it.
07:11Then do it!
07:13But, so, that's, we hadn't even talked about that aspect of things.
07:17I mean, yesterday, he misses that kick, and you just knew we were going to lose.
07:21I mean, you knew at that point.
07:23He was like, ah, hell, here we go.
07:25You haven't had a reliable kicker since Matt Bryant.
07:28Boy, do I miss Matt Bryant.
07:31I mean, again.
07:32Man.
07:33It's one of those things, you don't know what you got until it's gone kind of deal.
07:35Hi, Melissa.
07:36His wife.
07:38Unbelievable.
07:39All that said, I don't know why they just play coy about this whole thing.
07:43What do you mean?
07:44Why he's not going to answer?
07:45We're not going to get into that.
07:46Just answer the damn question.
07:47It's not a big deal.
07:48It's a kicker.
07:49Nobody cares.
07:50But wait a minute.
07:50That's what Kevin does.
07:53Oh, let's play the soundbite about Kevin not having the information to answer the question
07:57when we wanted him to answer the question about Michael Penix and his availability earlier
08:02this year.
08:03I don't have that, you know, in front of me today.
08:07That's what he does, Z.
08:10So why are you surprised?
08:11We'll see when we get there.
08:12Z, why are you surprised?
08:13This is what he does.
08:15So why are you surprised?
08:18I don't know why I'm surprised, but I just, you know.
08:20Because today he should have came out and said exactly what you just said.
08:23Guys, we're bringing in three guys.
08:25It'll be an open competition.
08:27It doesn't mean that folk won't be here right now.
08:28We're just continuing to evaluate the position and the conversation.
08:31Who cares?
08:33That's my issue.
08:34Like, let's just say it, man, and let's move.
08:36And here's the other thing, right?
08:39If you're telling me you're constantly trying to improve and you're always trying to get
08:42better, keeping him around is in conflict with that philosophy.
08:47It's flat out in conflict with it.
08:49You're not getting better by sending him out there.
08:51But you got better by trading Jesse Banks.
08:53I said this for years, that when you don't have any faith or reliability in your kicking
08:58position, it changes the way you coach.
09:00It has to.
09:01Because a 49-yard field goal now becomes a question mark.
09:05Do I really want to not get three points?
09:07Do I go for it on fourth and sixth?
09:08Do I kick the field goal?
09:09It changes the way you coach and changes the outcome of games.
09:13I mean, you have to be able to know that inside 50, your guy is making 90-plus percent
09:19of him.
09:20Yeah.
09:21And that's not the reality.
09:23Can he be trusted?
09:24He can't be.
09:24No.
09:25He can't be trusted.
09:27404-726-0929.
09:28Your thoughts are welcome.
09:29Find us on social media, by the way.
09:31Zeno, give him your social media handle, man.
09:32At Mark Zeno, M-A-R-K-Z-A-N-O.
09:34All hate goes to him.
09:36I may put him up.
09:37See, dudes.
09:37There's a lot of that coming my way, too.
09:38Well, it happens.
09:39I guess I'm getting a little bit of that.
09:41Thanks, Mark Zeno, Fred.
09:42After yesterday.
09:43One guy told me he changed his station.
09:46Really?
09:47Aw.
09:48I'll shed a tear.
09:49You believe him?
09:49I don't care.
09:51Okay.
09:52I do, but I hear you.
09:55Dukes and Bell.
09:56We'll be back.
09:56We'll be back tomorrow.
09:57I know we will.
09:59Dukes and Bell, 929.
10:00Follow the show, guys.
10:01Follow the radio station at 929 The Game.
10:03All right.
10:03We're coming back.
10:04We're going to go around the NFL.
10:07Crazy day yesterday.
10:08So crazy that we are just a game out of first place in our division.
10:16How is that even possible?
10:17This is a bad division.
10:20This is a bad division.