Hey friends, I'm Sharon McMahon, host of Here's Where It Gets Interesting, where you'll learn about American history, current events, and so much more. Follow and listen to me on Here's Where It Gets Interesting on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. It is the JR Sport Brief Show here with you coast to coast on the Infinit Sports Network. Hey, we're getting close to cut day tomorrow with the NFL. We got a couple of guys who got some new deals, and Terry McLaurin and Trey Hendrickson, even though it may not be the deal that he wanted.
We got Michael Parsons still holding in. They got quarterbacks just getting traded. There's a lot going on in the NFL. To break it all down, right now we're being joined by someone who's, well, staff writer for Sports Illustrated now, covers all things NFL. It's Matt Verduran.
Matt, how are you? What's going on, JR? How you doing? I'm good. I'm good.
Thank you for taking the time and joining us. You know, it was only a couple of hours ago that we learned about Trey Hendrickson and his deal, just getting a pay raise with the Cincinnati Bengals. What are your thoughts on the fact that they weren't able to come to a long term deal?
Well, look, I think for the Bengals You basically said without saying that you don't want to pay him into his 30s and so You're trying to get one more really good year out of him. He's had 17.5 sacks each of the last two years. He led the league last season. If you're Hendrickson, it's a big bump in pay. You now have a $30 million salary.
It was in the teens prior.
So, you are getting a lot more money, but of course, you're not getting what you wanted, which was probably somewhere in the neighborhood of three and a hundred. you are you are certainly settling but also settling in a way that you're getting more life change money My big question with this, and the details haven't come out yet, is. Is there a no tag allowed? stipulation in this new revised contract. Because if there's not then I think it's a mistake by Hendrickson because they can just tag him next year.
And then you're just back to square one. You're just dealing with all this again.
So That would be the concern I'd have. But if he has that stipulation in there. Then, hey, go out. Hopefully, have one more really big year and cash in.
Some of you will pay him.
Some of you are paying big money this all season.
Well, we know somebody waiting for his big payday is Michael Parsons. Everything going on with him totally unrelated to Trey Hendrickson. We know that he'll ultimately be paid the highest salary non quarterback in the league. Do you think that we'll see him in week one? We've heard from Schottenheimer.
He feels good about it. What do you think? Yeah, I think so. I mean look If you're playing percentages. Usually the vast majority of these guys end the plane.
It's just the paychecks are too big to mess. And that's where it becomes very difficult. And that's why. A guy like Jerry Jones. He knows he's got leverage.
Because he's not missing any paychecks. Michael Parsons would have been missing paychecks.
Now. I also think there's a lot more to play with this, with that. That was number one. First of all, Jerry loves Jerry, and he wants to be Petline. That's true with Jerry more than any other owner in the league.
Number two. The NFL PA She's in total disarray right now. And so Jerry's been talking a lot of stuff about how I'm not going to negotiate with Parsons' agent, who's David Mullgetto, who's one of the biggest agents in the country. If the NFLPA had it bucks in a row, they would threaten to take action against it. Because that is by CBA rules.
That is not. loud. But They don't have their ducts in a roll. And so Jerry's just pushing the the power play as much as he can. In the end, I think he's going to pay Parsons what Parsons deserves, which is well above $40 million a year.
But in the meantime, yeah, Terry's just gonna have some fun with this and get some more uh A block material out of it. Matt Verduram is here with us on the JR Sport Reef Show, covers all things NFL for SI Now. We see the quarterback situation going on in Cleveland. We just discussed it before you joined us from Flacco to Pickett to Gabriel to Shador, How do you think this is going to play out this season for the Browns? Flacco's going to be the starter, right?
I mean, they've officially named him now last week, but everybody's known that since OTAs. Um They're not going to be very good this year, barring a big surprise. And so If we're sitting on, let's just say they're going to game number 10 and they're 2-7. At that point, I think if you're Stefanski, you have to make the decision of all right. Do I think Gabriel is better?
Do I think Sidor Sanders is better? Whoever that is, you play that guy the rest of the season. And you see what you've got, if anything at all.
Now maybe, look, maybe, let's just say it's Shador. Maybe you play him for seven games and you say, hey, Okay. This guy's got some real tools, some real traits. He played well. We're going to try to develop him and he's going to be our guy going into 2026.
Or you watch and play seven games and go, okay, there's nothing there. There's nothing there. He's going to be fighting for a job next year, here or somewhere else, whatever. But I think if you're Cleveland, you play the veteran early, And then you move on, it's always a lot easier. To do it that way than the other way, because then you've blown the guy's confidence and you've got nothing left.
That's right, quite honestly. I'm not surprised Indy went with Jones over Richardson. But Yeah. You have a real hard time now going back to Anthony Richardson and convincing anybody in that room you have confidence in him. Everybody knows you don't.
It's it's it's tough to do.
Well, Matt, are there well we saw what? Yeah, what Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson. Is there any other teams that you take a look at and go, their quarterback situation might be a soap opera throughout the course of the year? Yeah, I mean look I I think the Saints you know I wouldn't be surprised to see a few teams or a few uh quarterbacks play for them there. The Giants.
Look, I mean, I'm from New York. I know the pressure that goes into just playing for that organization or any organization in that tri-state area. If they're not good early, and I mean like a couple of games early, Jackson's arts get thrown in there. Because if you look at the Giants. It's the Commander's week one.
It's at the Cowboys week two. It's home on a Sunday night to the Chiefs week three. I mean, they could easily be on three or Russell Wilson. And if they are. It's not just the pressure in New York, it's also.
You've got Dable and Shane fighting for their job. If Daybook 413 this year, they're both gone. But if you go six and eleven, but Dart looks like he's fantastic. You're not getting fired because then all of a sudden say, hey, let's not change everything. Dark played well.
We've got our coach and our quarterback. We can feel pretty good about themselves.
So yeah, I think the Giants are fascinating. And then there are some other teams. I mean, are we going to You know, are we going to get Justin Fields for all 17 games in New York? We'll find out. Um, you know, I but I watch the Giants mostly and see, I'm really intrigued.
Hey friends, I'm Sharon McMahon, host of Here's Where It Gets Interesting, where you'll learn about American history, current events, and so much more. Follow and listen to me on Here's Where It Gets Interesting on the Free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. or it's going to get into that lineup. Wow, Matt Verduram is joining us here. NFL staff writer for SI Now.
We know that cut day is tomorrow, 4 p.m. Eastern, 1 Pacific. Are there any names that you're on a lookout for? Are there any quarterbacks or players in general who you think might? end up on the wire to morrow?
You know, a lot of times the names that get out there like the the bigger name guys are guys that Are bigger names because they were good four or five years ago. And then it becomes one of those things where, yeah, well, there's a reason that guy got cut. I don't think any quarterback's going to get released that could help somebody, like significantly help them. You know, the Browns, there's been a lot of talk are they going to be a three or four quarterback. Look, if they decide to go to three.
I can see him cutting a guy like Pickett. And maybe somebody like the Saints pick him up because they go, hey, you know what, Callan Moore? He knows Pickett from their days in Philadelphia together. He can come in here and give three guys who have basically no experience in the league.
Some point or some help. I actually think for the Saints, like that makes sense. But I don't think anybody's going to get cut from the quarterback position that you go, oh wow, that guy. could go and really help somebody. Yeah, I always try to look for veterans who You know, maybe a team has already drafted a guy who's replacing him.
You know, you look at. You know, I try to look at the older teams too, the veteran teams. You know, You look at a team like Kansas City, you know, Joshua Williams is a corner who's been the starter and a reserve at times, the third-round pick a few years ago. He's going to get cut in Kansas City unless something really shocking happens. Like I think especially if it goes to a man coverage team.
You can help somebody. Um but it's I think it's guys like that more than it's gonna be A name that you go, wow, like I can't believe that guy got cut. I think that's more of the trade deadline. Early November, you go, Okay, that's a really crap guy I could help you.
Well, one thing we do know, Matt, we just talked about it with Trey Hendrickson getting his deal. We know Terry McLaurin got his contract. number one option for Jaden Daniels last year. They shocked the hell out of everybody, almost going to the Super Bowl one step away. Is there a team that you see this season?
Granted, you just can't roll the dice and go, hey, they can make the Super Bowl, but do you think there's a team that's going to take a big step this upcoming season? Yeah, there's a few teams that I like.
So I don't think they have any shot at going to the Super Bowl, but. I really like New England. I think New England's gonna make the playoffs. I I think Ravel's an excellent coach. He's a ton setter.
McDaniels, while he's a disaster as a head coach, he's a really good coordinator. And Drake May's good. If you watch Drake May last year, Drake May could play. They had nobody around him. They couldn't block, they couldn't catch.
He still played really well. Um, with virtually no coaching toward the end of that season, it felt like it's it felt very directionalist.
So I think they're going to be good. I think they're a legitimate, you know, a nine-win type team. And the NFC This is kind of a weird answer because this team won a lot of games last year. I actually think the Vikings can make a run toward the Super Bowl. I I think D Dat Ross is loaded.
Now I and McCarthy's Basically a rookie. And that's going to of course be the the big the big tipping point. But O'Connell's a great coach, and he's a great quarterbacks coach, and that team is so good around him. I I would not look, I don't think they're doing fourteen games again. I I think it went eleven or twelve or something like that, but I think that That's still enough like there They're really intriguing me.
That roster is a lot better than people realize.
Well, Matt, well, we know that the Vikings recently picked up Carson Wentz to be JJ McCarthy's backup. They send Sam Howell to the Eagles. Knowing that JJ McCarthy is a rookie, Do you think we're going to see Carson Wentz out there on the field sometime this year? Not unless it's thirty to nothing, one way or the other. Or you get started.
Look, I think Wentz is brought in because he does have that experience factor. I mean, Howell has some, but not as much as Wentz, of course. And Howell was pretty rough this preseason. I was in Minnesota for a training camp. They were part of my tour.
And they're really excited about Max Brosnan, who's a backup. He's a rookie on Drafted Trades9 in Minnesota. Not excited, of course, about him like he's gonna usurp McCarthy, but He played really, really well. Training camp in preseason, I think that gave them a little bit more confidence, like, hey, you know what. Even if something happens and Wentz doesn't fill the bill, be like this kid.
Now, look, you're planning to be one of those guys. You're in a tough spot if you're the Vikings. But Yeah, I think Wallace comes in as a free agent just as a guy who He's been in a bunch of systems. He's been in multiple, a starter role, almost an MVP if he doesn't get hurt one year. Then he's a backup.
I think that experience, that wealth of experience is a big reason Minnesota went and got them.
Well, Matt, I I can't have you on and not ask you about the the Kansas City Chiefs. What are your thoughts on that that left side of of the offensive line? What we can expect with the the suspension coming to Rashee Rice. What are your thoughts on the Chiefs season? Look, I I've said for months That team's season is going to be determined by their left tackle and their left.
Because Defensively, with Spagnola, they're going to be good. I mean, even if they're not in a top five, they'll be in a top 10. They'll be. You know, with Chris Jones, McDuffie and Bald, they'll be a top 10 defense. It's really going to come down to can they block?
In the last couple of years, even the year they beat the Niners in the Super Bowl the second time. They really could not block outside of the interior. The tackles were a borderline disaster. And they won in spite of it. Last year, it got to a point they did four different left tackles.
They did two different left guards. It was a train wreck. To this point, Josh Simmons has been. Fantastic. I think a lot of people in Kansas City would tell you he's going to the five best players in camp this year.
Um The big question is of guard. Kingsley Suamate was a second round pick a year ago. They moved him in from tackle to guard. He was really shaky the first two preseason games. Played very well against the Bears when he got extended action, played three pries.
And he's good. I think the offense is pretty loaded with Rice and Worthy and Hollywood Brown and Kelsey and Pacheco, but. It's It's all about that left side. If they can hold up, I think the offense is one of the best in the league. If not, then you're back to where you were a year ago, where you've got to really scheme around.
No.
Well well, we'll we'll see if they Can keep the quarterback upright. We know what Patrick Mahomes can do if he has that protection out there. Matt, thank you so much for the time. Please tell everybody where they can follow you and all your work on SI Now, the Chiefs, Phillison. Yeah, just add Matt Verderam on Twitter.
All my work is always there, it's at si.com. As you said, SI Now, they tweet out. I have a Patreon podcast in my Verduron show where I cover the whole league.
So everybody can check that out and hopefully enjoy it. I got you, Matt.
Well, appreciate the time.
Okay, we'll catch you down the line. Hey, thanks a lot. Take care. Hey friends, I'm Sharon McMahon, host of Here's Where It Gets Interesting. Each week I speak with authors, experts, and thought leaders on everything from American history and democracy to how to be a better person on the internet.
And don't miss my extremely popular docu-series, which educate you on things you never learned in history class. Follow and listen to Here is Where It Gets Interesting on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts.
