After Hours with Amy Lawrence PODCAST: Hour 4

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Ha, heaven. Wait, is it getting warm in here? Your cold snap is over, Old Man Winter. Spring has arrived.

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Offer valid for a limited time, $10 minimum per order. Additional terms apply. No one's shooting any hostages, but man, we are shooting down hopes and dreams, but also building hopes and dreams for other teams and other fan bases. Pittsburgh Steelers, are you in that arena or are you somewhere else? With the big news at your quarterback position, we'll get to it coming up because there is so much QB news. We're going to package it and give it to you all in one fell swoop. Speaking of swoops, we are swooping in on your Monday morning.

So good morning to you. We've got one hour to go and already hot and heavy from the NFL as we are into legal tampering and I have to use my air quotations because as many former GMs have told me, there's always tampering. This just happens to be the two or three days when it's not hidden, so to speak, when it's not under cover of night. And while we do have some questions with answers, we have more questions that still have no answers. We've also got two pretty impactful deals for pro bowlers and all pros that are not quarterbacks and so there's a lot happening. Not to mention this is the start of selection week, if you will. Conference tournaments wrapping up in women's college hoops or getting underway. Same thing for mid-majors in men's basketball and then the power conferences will get underway in the next couple days.

So it really is a veritable smorgasbord for any of you who love college hoops or want to get in right now before the selection Sunday. I don't know if you all remember this or if the date flags with you. This morning, March 11th, will never be the same for me.

Not just some average day in mid-March. Not after what happened exactly four years ago today, which is patient zero in the NBA, so to speak. Rudy Gobert tests positive for COVID. The Utah Jazz, the Oklahoma City Thunder cancel their game or suspend their game.

Can you remember which one? And it was a domino effect, not just through the NBA, which not long after suspended its season, but also a domino effect around sports. On March 12th, college basketball did the unthinkable. College sports, the NCAA, did the unthinkable and canceled March Madness. The NHL followed.

Golf, hockey, MLS, Major League Baseball set everyone home from spring training. It was four years ago this week. It still blows me away.

Four years ago. And gosh, what a different world it was, especially when it comes to sports. And yet there was hope and there was good news.

And there were some incredible conversations that were taking place. Our show specifically went through a major metamorphosis. And I'm not the same host that I was before that. Oh, but boy did I hate working from home. I know many of you since then, four years ago, your work schedule and commutes drastically changed. I begged. Within a month of working from home with three pets, which actually I was looking at the photos on Saturday, Sunday, going back through some of my photos from 2020 and 21, showing my husband and I came across the photos of what the pets were doing while I was hosting a show from my spare bedroom for three and a half months.

But yeah, a month in, I was already firing off emails to the boss and HR and anybody who would listen here at the company. Please, can I go back to work? Please? I'll wear a mask. I'll wipe everything down. I won't talk to anyone. I won't touch anyone.

No one will know I'm here. I just need to get back in studio. And it was tough as someone who was living solo at the time.

I mean, I know many of you can identify to be that isolated. I just wanted to be back at work. And the quality of the show, as much as so many people worked from home for actually almost a year in the radio industry and some, you know, still continue to work from home. It's crazy what passes for quality audio since 2020. I hated it.

I just wanted to be back in my comfort zone, which is this studio here at CBS Sports Radio headquarters. But yeah, the first time I came into work, we had a lightning strike hit a transformer in our neighborhood. This was May. It actually set off sparks on the highway and then boom, like a fire started. And so we all lost power in my little neck of the neighborhood, my street. And so I had to quickly get in touch with the boss and he said, don't tell anyone, but you can drive into work.

And I remember, I think it was May, late May, early June, maybe somewhere in there. And I drove into work and hit checkpoints. I had to show my papers. We had papers that allowed us to come into work as essential employees.

But yeah, three and a half months was all I could stomach. By early July, I was back in studio and was the first one to return actually here at CBS Sports Radio. But I always am so grateful for the producers like Jay. He wasn't working on the show then, but he was coming into work almost every single day during the pandemic. And even though it was a different time, obviously he was still here doing the hours and doing the work because you can't change that.

Has to be a producer and a board operator or what we call them a technical engineer here at the studios. And so there were people here and I just didn't feel right being home when my producer had to be in the building. And I never want to go back to that ever. If I got offered another job, not that I'm looking for another job, but if I got offered another job and it was solely work from home, the answer would be negative. I can't do it.

I love being in studio. So that was four years ago today that the NBA shut down. It's worth a couple of thoughts and perspective on how much has changed. A lot for the worst, I'll give you that.

But also, I think some of us for the better. My brother loved the pandemic, not, not the, I'm sorry, that sounded odd. My brother didn't love the pandemic. He loved being at home and having both of his daughters home with them. One in college, one who was just graduated. And to have them both home for an unexpected six-month period, he loved it. The family spent so much time together that he never thought he would have. Many families had that same experience, though I know it was also really hard on kids, students. And so we would never want to go back there, but not everything was negative. I actually bought my house in the middle of a pandemic. Moving solo is as much fun as it sounds.

I just, I don't recommend it. It's After Hours with Amy Lawrence on CBS Sports Radio, on Twitter, ALawRadio, also on our Facebook page. After Hours with Amy Lawrence, we've got a YouTube channel that will have a brand new vid up before the end of the week.

Before we get to our quarterbacks, because there is plenty, how about Chris Jones striking it rich and why not after the season he had for these Super Bowl champions? People doubted us and I think more so than ever, we kind of believed in each other. We kind of depended on each other. When things went bad, we didn't point fingers.

We depended on each other. You see the offense come down there and tell the defense, let's go. You know, offense get close. We tell the offense, let's put it in. And I think that's what this team is about, man.

This is one heck of a brotherhood. That's for sure. And the first team All-Pro with 10 and a half sacks and another Super Bowl ring, Chris Jones just, I guess you could say set a record, just at the high mark, the high water mark for three years of fully guaranteed money and the average annual value that comes out of that fully guaranteed portion of his contract. So it's a little complicated, kind of verbose, but Chris Jones got paid and the money is $95 million in the first three years fully guaranteed, more than any other defensive lineman or defensive tackle, I think specifically. But he gets a five-year deal even if he doesn't play the final two years or renegotiates or he's done by then.

$95 million fully guaranteed. And as much as I know the NFL is about what have you done for me lately and can you help the team win? If you remember, and I hope the Chiefs took this into account, when he was in his contract dispute with the Chiefs to start last season, he held out through offseason OTAs, training camp preseason. The year started without him and the Chiefs were defending or launching defensive their title member.

They lost to the Detroit Lions to start the year. Chris Jones bought a suite at Arrowhead Stadium because he couldn't be in the locker room, but he wanted to support his guys. He wanted them to know he wasn't at odds with them. He wasn't pissed off at them.

Nah, this was just about money. It was business and he was still going to be there for his guys. And I thought that spoke volumes to the locker room about him as a leader.

Loved it and I think the team took note as well. Not to mention he had a great season with some humongous plays in the Super Bowl. If you remember, it was a third down. Pressure on Brock Purdy as the Niners are in. Was that an overtime?

That might have been an OT. When the Niners are in the red zone. So Chris Jones earned every bit of this money. And while we're talking about the AFC West, yet another step by the Denver Broncos to completely tear it down. Russ looks left.

Now in trouble. Throws a ball wide open. It's Judy! Touchdown Denver! Jerry Judy wide open in the northeast corner. Dave Logan on Broncos radio. Jerry Judy is the latest piece that the Broncos have to get rid of because they're not going to be able to pay the star wide receiver. He gets traded to Cleveland.

How about that? Along with Sayanamari Cooper and others there with Deshaun Watson. Nick Chubb theoretically healthy this year.

Let's hope. Watson as well. 758 yards and a couple of touchdowns last year.

But remember, the offense not anything to get excited about. Judy's dynamic. He's a guy who can stretch the field. He's got speed.

He's really talented. Out of the Alabama machine and now he will be a brown for the tune of a pair of late round picks. 5th and 6th round picks that the Browns have to give up to get Jerry Judy and Adam to the Arsenal. A lot of great playmakers in Cleveland if they can stay healthy. Not to mention that awesome defense. They nearly swept the postseason awards. Made the playoffs with Joe Flacco as their quarterback.

So this makes them even stronger. It's After Hours with Amy Lawrence on CBS Sports Radio. If you're the cooking queen in your house like I am, let me drop a kitchen hack that's been a total game changer for me. Primal Kitchen.

I'm always on the go juggling a million things like work deadlines and school pickups. So finding time to eat right is tough. Primal Kitchen makes it super easy to whip up meals that check all the right boxes like honest ingredients I trust and delicious flavor. They have everything from unsweetened ketchup to barbecue sauce. Avocado oil mayo you'll want to eat by the spoonful and dressings that double as marinades. Genius right? If you want to make quick simple meals you can feel good feeding yourself and your family, trust me Primal Kitchen has you covered.

You can find Primal Kitchen at Target, Walmart or any of your local grocery stores or you can save 20% off your entire online order with code podcast at checkout on primalkitchen.com. Old Man Winter here. If I had it my way it would stay winter all year long. Short days, wind chill, black ice and a good polar vortex.

Heaven. Wait is it getting warm in here? Your cold snap is over Old Man Winter. Spring has arrived.

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But hurry in these deals won't last. Add more joy to your journey at the Hyundai Getaway Sales Event. Now get 0% APR or up to 1500 bonus cash on the Hyundai Tucson. Now during the Hyundai Getaway Sales Event. Offers end soon.

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If anyone needs anything they can just redirect their questions to that one perfect coworker of yours. It's time for QB news on after hours. Not only is Jerry Judy no longer a Denver Bronco, Russell Wilson isn't either. Now we knew that part but while you were sleeping maybe a hype video. Russell Wilson's team released a hype video. Producer Jay shared it on our Twitter after hours CBS.

It features terrible towels, black and gold. It features a lot of Steelers fans and I don't think it features Kenny Pickett. Russell Wilson is signing a one-year deal with the Steelers and it makes complete and total sense to me. It's a no risk step for the Steelers because the Broncos are honing up for the majority. 95% of his of his money in 2024 comes from the Broncos. The Broncos are paying their quarterback to go try to lead one of their competitors to the playoffs.

That's just right. In Pittsburgh from KDKA Chris Mueller weighs in on the Russell Wilson deal. I don't think Russell Wilson is a great quarterback anymore. I think on his best day he's probably a good one.

On most days he's probably around average to even below average at times. The guy doesn't throw the ball at an intermediate clip very well. He's a deep ball guy and a check down guy but he's still better than what the Steelers have. I mean that's kind of a sad commentary on where they've been in the quarterback wilderness uh now for the last two years but Russ if he's gonna thrive is gonna do it in a run heavy offense that insulates him, takes the ball out of his hands and allows him to try to make some deep shots in play action. I think he can do that.

Can he win the locker room? Who knows. If he's throwing touchdowns and winning games I don't think people are gonna be complaining about that. Good point Chris Mueller who also does some weekend work here on CBS Sports Radio. Yeah who cares.

He could have seven heads. I don't know if the NFL will allow that. It might be a uniform violation but he's he's winning games and the Steelers don't care. Now if nothing else he buys them time. It's a million bucks to get a year to figure out what to do with their quarterback position.

What does this mean for Kenny Pickett? Well it means that he's gonna sit as long as Russ is viable but you know last year there were 66 different starting quarterbacks in the NFL. The second most in the Super Bowl era. I think half of them played for Cleveland.

Regardless there were 66 different starting quarterbacks in the NFL. That means the backups they've got to be ready. What does this mean for Mason Rudolph?

Well there is a question. If I'm Mason or his team I'm looking for a starting opportunity and don't want to sign backup money to return to Pittsburgh because I already did that. I already did that and still got on the field late in the year.

It's After Hours with Amy Lawrence here on CBS Sports Radio. So Russ is the piece that drops late. He'll head to the Steelers. Kirk Cousins told the Vikings Sunday he will test free agency. What does this mean Tom Pelissero? Other teams I would expect to pursue Cousins do include the Atlanta Falcons and quite possibly the Denver Broncos as well.

The Vikings are still in this. A deal could come together quickly assuming that the offer is right. So what does an offer to Kirk Cousins look like? I would certainly anticipate that the average per year is going to be upwards of 40 million dollars but structure is also really important. Future guarantees are really important to a player who has played on a fully guaranteed deal for nine seasons in a row. Tom Pelissero NFL Network insider. Of course we know that Kirk said money is not the number one goal for this next contract. He's in his mid-30s I think and fact is he wants to win right.

So yes fully guaranteed deals all that's nice but he really wants to be in a place where he can win. Is that the Atlanta Falcons? I mean that's interesting and then the domino is the Vikings. What happens if they lose Kirk Cousins? What does that mean for them in 24 and what does it mean for Justin Jefferson? I know I'm supposed to be answering questions instead.

I'm creating more. All right moving on Baker Mayfield the number three storyline from the weekend in free agency or free agent quarterback news. He signs a deal to remain in Tampa. I'm happy for him.

They love him in Tampa. You very rarely hear Todd Bowles wax poetic or say more than six words in a row unless he's talking about Baker Mayfield. Baker did a great job coming in you know he eats with the defensive guys the offensive guys he really does a great job of blending everybody together without actually saying it and I think that's very tough to do but his personality on the field we know he's tough and he's got moxie and all those things but I don't think people give him enough credit for being a true quarterback.

Right. He's still back in the pocket and made some throws. He throws a great deep ball. He has a lot of velocity on the ball. He's very accurate when you give him time. He knows when to run to get the first downs. You'd like him to slide a little bit more but he knows when to run to get the first downs and he did a heck of a job for us and I was very proud of him.

Sirius XM NFL radio. Seriously when does Todd Bowles A ever smile and B ever talk that long about anyone or anything? It's good to know you won't go 0-17. Nope and they want to build on the offense that they were able to construct last year. Mike Evans returns. They make the playoffs.

Now they're the reigning NFC South champs again. Bridging the gap after Tom Brady it's a big deal and I say they're the team to be in that division but Baker's got a new lease on his career. He's about to be a dad for the first time. He's gentler. He's humbler. He still likes to headbutt offensive linemen without a helmet so he's he's tough and he's tenacious and he's got a great spirit and what did Todd Bowles call him a warrior. It fits perfectly with the Buccaneers so I'm glad they were able to get that deal done.

It's a routine. Mac Jones actually is headed to Florida himself but to Jacksonville he's going home and not that long ago Patriot linebacker Matthew Judon compared Jones' situation to Baker Mayfield's. Once you catch a strike hit your rhythm that's what they were talking about Baker. Now we're talking about him being one of the first people off the board. First and second quarterbacks off the board and free agency. Well he's not going to be a free agent and Baker isn't either but I get the point that Judon is making on Good Morning Football going back to last week. The idea is that Mac can get an opportunity that he has shown flashes. It's going to be a team that maybe can bring him along and see what he's got but the fact that Mac is getting traded to Jacksonville is good for him because he's from that area hopefully has family there and now has a new opportunity a la Baker Mayfield. He had to go from Cleveland to Carolina to LA to Tampa but it's a fit now and Judon goes on to say that he's still a top flight QB. As we all know like when Mac was comfortable and he had a good system uh he put he produced and he put up numbers when you said we scored it went 45 to 7. Yeah Mac Jones led that team and so we know he can do it you know he can do it he just he has to find his confidence his stride uh and get a rhythm under him and it's gonna be difficult in his fourth old scene yeah in four years.

Is he broken? Nah nah nah. I like that that's a question you have to ask when young quarterbacks are in a failed situation remember he was the top 15 pick or he was number 15 by the Pats two years ago or almost three years ago now and there there have been iterations right that Josh McDaniel's leaves and goes to the Raiders uh they have this weird has he been there three years three three years this is going into year number four right I think he's been there four this would be year number five for Mac.

No that really? I can confirm okay I think it's I think I was wrong but you have too many I think we're he's going into year number four I think anyway so what Judon is saying is that okay thank you a lot of times young quarterbacks they're in a bad situation and they lose confidence but he's believing that that's not done damage to Mac so McDaniel's goes to Vegas then they have that weird situation where it's it's it's Matt Patricia and Josh or Joe Judge excuse me as the co-offensive coordinators uh-huh and then they start fresh with Bill O'Brien that didn't work either guys get hurt Bill Belichick's on the way out so fresh start is what he's going to get with Doug Peterson and Trevor Lawrence in Jacksonville so I like that pressure's off let him find his footing again and again and like I mentioned before backup QBs are valuable in the NFL all right coming up Kaitlyn Clark in the spotlight in a new way on Sunday and then back of the hour put a little game with our guest Matt Verteram of SI name the starting quarterback in 2024 you can play it long it's after hours with Amy Lawrence good Monday morning good Monday morning to you here on CBS Sports Radio you are listening to the after hours podcast as Clark brings it across the timeline lost control of the ball again but digs it up looks for help finds Martin now back to Clark drives down the right side layup good nice move from the basket by Clark good find by Kate Martin now here's Clark takes a step back three now again now gets into the paint kicks it into the corner for Kate Martin Clark walks it across the timeline crossover dribble gets into the paint moves her way to the basket shot up off the window good we're tied at 77 this is after hours with Amy Lawrence on layer field IMG the big 10 women's championship was also live on CBS Sunday afternoon for the first time ever and initially it was a tough sell for Kaitlyn Clark for the Iowa Hawkeyes chasing their third consecutive big 10 title Clark started 0 for 9 from three-point land but she was setting up her teammates and she was leading the fast break she was playing D ultimately after they dug out of a 13-point hole and then trailed by eight with two and a half minutes to go not just Kaitlyn but also Kate Martin and Gabby Marshall the veterans leading the way on both ends of the court they head into overtime and it was a coronation with all those Iowa fans in the building a falter gets the ball into Clark brings it across the timeline hands it back to Sydney in between the circles now Kate Martin in that area and she'll fire a three-pointer and rolls it in left wide open right at the top of the key Nebraska by 187 86 we're under a minute here's Clark takes a three now backs it up fires a three count it left to the top of the key was there any doubt lob pass in deep picked off by Clark she dribbles it out across the top oh should we start this show yeah I'm down just buying a car and carvana first oh for real yeah it's super convenient I already got pre-qualified in two minutes all I had to do is answer a few questions oh that's helpful and now just customizing my down and monthly payments oh that's a very fair deal yep boom just bought a car and you get to take me to the carvana vending machine in a couple days to pick it up oh I'm kind of busy visit carvana.com to finance your next car financing subject to credit approval when something happens to your car you might say but what you really need to say is something that can actually help like a good neighbor State Farm is there just like that State Farm is there to help you file your claim right on the State Farm mobile app so just remember like a good neighbor State Farm is there State Farm Bloomington Illinois love the flexibility of working in all sorts of places but working on the go seamlessly requires a strong network like t-mobile we have america's largest 5g network so whether you're on a video call at the park or uploading large files to the coffee shop we have the 5g speed you need whatever takes you on the go t-mobile's got you covered find out more at t-mobile.com slash network today coverage not available in some areas see 5g device coverage and access details at t-mobile.com timeline there it is hey count them up one two three in a row Iowa Hawkeyes big 10 tournament champions and so Caitlin Clark rallies for 34 points doesn't assist seven rebounds three steals is the tournament MVP for the third time as the Hawkeyes wrap up her big 10 career more than likely unless Iowa runs into a conference foe in March Madness it's a triumphant note what better way to end it all I mean you know you have the overtime you have the we fight back bad shooting good shooting um defensive stops I mean it just really had it all on the biggest stage and um can't be happier for our group and you know this was the only way we could end it so um just really really grateful. They will await the selection show which incidentally is on the same day as the men so both of those brackets revealed on Sunday you'll hear this from college basketball too a brawl that happened late between LSU and South Carolina in the SEC Championship six players get ejected late in the fourth quarter it was ugly one of the players brothers came like climbing over uh the scorers table and onto the court to you know in in his emotion to try to protect his sister who got shoved down by a much bigger player she since apologized but there will be suspensions no doubt I really appreciate what Dawn Staley had to say about the the Gamecocks and also the Tigers this is not who they are I know if they had a chance to do it all over again they would do it differently but now we have that I just don't want um the people who are tuning into women's basketball see that and think you know that is our game because it is our game is a really beautiful thing um and to be quite honest this is this is a part of it now so we have to fix it and we have to move on it's ugly it's not good um no one wants to be a part of that no one wants to see to see that ugliness but I can tell you this I wish she would have pushed Angel Reese don't push a kid that you six eight don't push somebody that little that was uncalled for in my opinion first Dawn Staley and Kim Mulkey of LSU who both say was ugly it's not who we are again the the young one who started it since apologized she's probably going to get suspended and one thing that was notable too is that Angel Reese who is the same size as Cardoso she walked away and walked to the other end of the bench and and wanted nothing to do with being in the middle of this the bench is clear a lot of players could get suspended because they did not stay in their bench areas but Angel tweeted as a person at my status sometimes you have to walk away from certain situations mind you the play before that I'd rolled my ankle again was already walking to the bench I always ride for mine I'm super proud of this team super excited for March so she's actually explaining why she didn't hop into the middle of the the brouhaha but yeah this is going to affect them at least in the early stages of the tournament and so LSU South Carolina if you didn't see the game the game was real good real competitive uh two of the best women's teams not just in the conference but in the country and yet people are going to hear about this on Fox News and ABC and CBS and some of the other news outlets because it's good video right and so Dawn Staley's lamenting the fact that this is now part of South Carolina basketball and unfortunately new fans or casual fans are going to think this is what women's hoop is all about and it's not so I appreciate her thoughtfulness in that arena coming up the reaction from Matt Verteram of Sports Illustrated to Russell Wilson joining the black and gold and also we play the game with him who starts for a series of teams in 2024 it's a guessing game you are listening to the after hours podcast I got more fire than ever honestly especially over the past two years of what I'm going through going through whether it's in Denver or somewhere else I hope it's in Denver you know I hope I get to finish there I committed there I wanted to be there you know I want to be there for me it's about winning over the next five years I want to win too I want to feel the chill of that trophy again this is after hours with Amy Lawrence before the news broke on Sunday night Russell Wilson spoke to Brandon Marshall on the I Am Athlete podcast it's not Denver that's the narrator line in fact it's a no risk deal for the Pittsburgh Steelers there's already a hype video for heaven's sakes it features terrible towels you should check it out on our show Twitter after hours CBS oh dear I didn't even know this song Jay knew it also if you haven't yet shared your reaction we've taken a bunch of phone calls some of you are finding me on Twitter a law radio and then also on our Facebook page and we'll get to the reaction as we head through the week and the legal tampering but I wanted to get the reaction of Matt Verteram who covers the NFL for SI who's got his phone on at all times right now and so I asked him uh already a hype video from Pittsburgh I'm not surprised in the sense look I thought you know it would be the Steelers maybe the Raiders if things fell through and other avenues for the Falcons but the Steelers need to get better at quarterback they made the playoffs last year but I don't think anybody feels like Kenny Pickett's the future neither is Russell Wilson but he's better and he's a bridge to the next guy and so now at least if you're Pittsburgh you can look at it and go all right well we're not where we want to be but we're in a better spot in a conference that if you don't at least have average quarterback play you have no shot so it's an easy move for the Steelers you're getting for 1.2 million while Denver pays the freight and and for Wilson he goes to a team with with a good defense a great coach and some weapons when it comes to the Denver Broncos how much does it hurt to pay 38 million dollars for Russell Wilson to play for a team that is competing or trying to compete for the same real estate that you are in the AFC oh I think for Denver look this is not a mitigated disaster just in general I mean you're talking about having to split an 85 million dollar dead cap hit which is more than twice the biggest dead cap hit that there ever was an NFL history before this I think the narrative that's going to slowly emerge out of Denver is this idea that well now that they've gotten Russell Wilson out of town they've kind of exercised all their issues and I I just completely disagree with that yes he's got town his 85 million dollar cap split over the next few years is going to basically keep them from competing for the next two years and on top of that now you've got to cut Justin Simmons who's still a good player who's now gone because you can't afford him Jerry Judy had to be traded we'll see if anybody else goes George Payton is still there as their GM who is the guy who hired and then fired Nathaniel Hackett he was the one who gave Russell Wilson a five-year extension he never played it down on he's the one who gave Randy Gregory 70 million dollars and Randy Gregory then played 10 games in Denver before being released this has been a disaster in Denver for a while and now it's culminating but Payton is still there running the front office of course alongside the other Payton Sean who now has to deal with a little bit of a rebuild on a chance Matt Verderam of Sports Illustrated with us from Chicago talking about the early couple hours of the legal tampering period and movement already in the NFL among the QBs it's after hours with Amy Lawrence on CBS Sports Radio we also know that Baker Mayfield is staying put but Kirk Cousins will test free agency what are the best options for him Matt well the Vikings remain an option he could go back there and if you're Kevin O'Connell and you're Minnesota while Cousins may not be the future as now he's in his mid-30s coming off Achilles you still need somebody for the present and Cousins when he's healthy is still a top 12 quarterback in football that's an option Atlanta I think is the team you know when I was down in Indianapolis in the scouting comic everybody was talking about Atlanta's gonna make a move here quarterback I was there when Raheem Morris was saying if I had a better quarterback playing Atlanta I probably wouldn't have this job in the first place which was accurate he's right I think Atlanta is gonna be aggressive here doesn't mean they're gonna land them but I think they will be aggressive if they strike out on Cousins then I think they're a prime candidate to take a quarterback in the first round with the eighth pick Denver's been tossed around Denver has no money Denver has no ability to take her cousins so I don't think that's viable you know the one other team I'd watch is the Raiders and all this the Raiders have a lot of cap space they have Devante Adams and Jacoby Myers and they need a quarterback and Aidan O'Connell is not the guy Jimmy Garoppolo got himself suspended which means they can cut him without paying him a dime I think that the Raiders are the one dark horse here that they really wanted to they could make a serious run at customs why isn't there a more active market for a quarterback as young as Justin Fields who's if they decided to trade for him the Bears would give him up with still a year left on his rookie deal I think Amy just again being at the scouting combine and talking to people you just got the feeling like there there's just not a lot of interest at the second round price point I do think it'll get dealt I do think it could be for a third rounder at this juncture there's there's just no appetite at the second round level I think that's because quite honestly at this point while he has shown brilliance in athleticism and being able to make plays with his likes he's not been good with his arm he has not been a guy who you look at and go hey there's somebody who's going to be a top 10 quarterback in the NFL eventually I do think the Bears will find their way into at least a pick that they can use to help them in the future they're going to take Caleb Williams I think everybody in the league feels that way but yeah right now there's nothing going and if you're at Ryan Polls and you're their GM you're sitting there saying all right look if there's nothing doing let's wait let's see if a team like the Falcons or the Raiders if they just strike out across the board and create into a quarterback and if they maybe revisit an idea of trading for fields because they say hey you know what let's give up a day to pick so that we at least know we have this kid and then if we still want to draft somebody we could theoretically but it gives you some insurance I just think right now a lot of these teams are looking at the quarterback class coming out some of these veteran quarterbacks and saying hey we have we have better options on the table. Considering some of the speculation some of the reaction to Williams and his team's decision at the combine but also some reaction to how he carried himself there do you have any qualms at all about drafting him if you're the Bears? I'd put it this way I would draft them I would draft them but there's definitely a little bit of uneasiness that comes with some of this you know some of this stuff in terms of hey I'm not going to divulge my medical history to everybody it's going to be to a couple teams now all right fine I mean you're the Bears you get his medical history I guess who cares kind of ask the question like okay was that his idea was that his agent's idea was that somebody in his own personal camp and if that's the case is this going to be something where this is always going to happen where it's going to be hey you know what don't don't listen to a conventional norm and I know there are people out there say hey that's great push back against your style that's fine the NFL is not a big fan of that that's reality you may not like it you may love the way Williams handles himself at times teams are not going to be enthralled with it that being said what they're going to be enthralled with is his ability and his tape and I think if you're the Bears unless you uncover something that everybody's unaware of at the moment I would take that kid a hundred times out of a hundred it hasn't been a problem off the field but yes he's gone about this differently and whenever somebody goes about something differently especially something as rigid as the National Football League there's always going to be some some raised eyebrows although we still have time right still uh what six weeks to go before the draft begins all right before we move on from quarterbacks let's play a little game I'm gonna name a team and you take a wild stab or an informed educated guess as to who is starting for the team next season what about the New England Patriots whoever Washington doesn't take is who I think is starting for New England I think they're taking the quarterback at three easy decision for for New England here after after the first two pictures they're in bed Tennessee Titans I think Will Lewis okay I think Lewis is going to be the starting quarterback the Raiders a lot of sliding doors with the Raiders I think they will try to trade up and draft the quarterback I think they'll try to go after something in the top 10 like JJ McCarthy if they don't land somebody in free agency in the same division the Broncos starting a dead cap hit Jared Spittum but I will say in all seriousness I think Bonix is a guy you heard type them a lot of the combines I'll say Bonix the New York Giants the Giants are a team I think if the Raiders can't get ahead of them I think they might take junior McCarthy oh okay and then he laid to Falcons Cousins he gets out of Minnesota I think that's where he goes well okay well then you left me with the Vikings I wasn't going to ask but what about the Vikings then that's a great question I mean then now you know Tannehill's out there so like maybe maybe he's a bridge there for the team to kind of get left in the cold or maybe Minnesota goes Michael Pennix Jr. Michael Pennix Jr. and that offense would be interesting because he can throw the football I owe this question yes I get it he's got injuries you know he's an older rookie that kid in that offense like if he hits he's gonna really hit so I'll say Pennix fun game right musical chairs quarterback style it's already underway and there will be more and we didn't even get to Fletcher Cox retiring maybe talk about it a little bit on our Monday night show also if you didn't see the Niners are releasing Eric Armstead which is a big deal right a veteran defensive lineman and he is going to become a free agent nearly a decade with the team all right so there will be news from the time you wake up if it's right now uh in or you're listening to the podcast until the time you go to bed and then when even when you're not paying attention but what's the reaction to Russ in Pittsburgh and some of the other quarterback moves on our Facebook page Will says as a Steelers fan I'm excited I wanted them to sign him before he signed with Denver a lot of weapons and a D that's one of the best and no money spent even better let's go Steelers uh Bethany on Facebook improvement at the QB position for Pitt a better coach for Wilson win-win I love Baker glad he got his bag she's clearly cooler than we are Jay uh Tony says he will be serviceable time will tell David one year deal all on Russell good for him I hope he plays well uh Jamie says I'm a Patriots fan I'm glad Mac is going not sure what we're gonna do well therein lies the Crux right it's the devil you know or the devil you don't know uh Paul says Ciara will love Pittsburgh but then he puts the laughing so hard you're crying emoji so I think that's sarcasm uh Carlotta says anything is better than now James says dumpster meet fire David I can see it worth the shot on a one-year deal and Michael no we don't need an old QB that can't play all right we'll talk to you tonight hang on it's after hours TBS sports radio boom old man winter here if I had 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