Ranking the Top Remaining NFL Head Coaches (Hour 1)

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Additional terms apply. Live from the point show you're not overly ostentatious, studios of CBS Sports Radio here in beautiful New York City. Sitting on top of the 10th floor of 345 Hudson Street, welcome on in to a football Friday edition of the Zach Gelb show across all the great local CBS Sports Radio. Affiliate Sirius XM, channel 158, the free Odyssey app, and of course streaming live on YouTube. YouTube.com slash CBS Sports Radio. 855-212-4CBS is numbered to jump on in. 855-212-4227.

You could always get at me on Instagram where I'm straight flexing or via the good old cesspool of Twitter. At Zach Gelb, that's Z-A-C-H-G-E-L-B. Got Jack Stern and also Stuart Kovacs rocking and rolling with me all the way up until 6 p.m. Eastern, 3 p.m. Pacific. Joe Flacco is going to stop by 20 minutes from now. Brian Urlacher will join us at 4.20 p.m. Eastern, 1.20 p.m. Pacific. And then we will be joined by Ryan Horvat for a little NFL picks conference championship weekend style at 5.20 p.m. Eastern, 2.20 p.m. Pacific.

I want to start the show today talking about the coaches this weekend. And all four of these coaches clearly are having really damn impressive seasons when you are in the midst of being 60 minutes away from a Super Bowl. Like you look at Dan Campbell and what he's been able to do this year, the expectations were for the Lions to make the playoffs and win a playoff game. Something up until the wildcard round that they have not done since 1991. And they were also looking for their first division championship since 1993.

The expectations were high. He delivered and then some. You look at Kyle Shanahan, I can't say he's delivered yet because the 49ers are one of the few teams that you entered this season which were Super Bowl or bust. But the 49ers have once again planted their place in the NFC for now as the best team in the NFC. And they have been able to get a lot out of Brock Purdy with the quarterback roulette that usually Kyle Shanahan plays.

It seems like for now he's willing to land to continue to ride the hot hand of Brock Purdy. You look at Andy Reid, it's Super Bowl or bust every year for the rest of his career when you have the great Patrick Mahomes, even with them being some down moments, I will fully embrace this. I did not think that this Chiefs team would be playing in conference championship weekend, but here they are.

You need to give it your best to take out the best. And the combination of Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes each and every year ends up bare minimum in the AFC title game. And then you look at John Harbaugh, who John Harbaugh has won a Super Bowl, is looked at as one of the better coaches in football, had Joe Flacco, won a Super Bowl with Joe Flacco, and then they elected to draft Lamar Jackson and the only legitimate criticism. And sometimes I think it's way too premature with Lamar Jackson because it hasn't been an incredibly big sample size, but you know how we are in this society. You lose a few playoff games up. Let me get the hot takes.

855-212-4CBS, 855-212-4227. You know, Lamar Jackson will never win a Super Bowl. Do you think he could ever win a big game?

You know, give me a call. And that's been the stuff that I've rolled my eyes at through the last two, three years because, yes, Lamar is one of unanimous MVP. Lamar is going to win another MVP this season. And we're talking about a four-game, five-game sample size heading into this postseason for Lamar. And he hadn't had good results, but that doesn't mean that he can't win. There's been a lot of quarterbacks, when you look back in the history of the NFL, that, quite frankly, didn't have a lot of postseason success in the beginning or the middle of their career.

And then towards the end of the year, they did right off into the sunset as a Super Bowl champion. So John Harbaugh, it's about winning that next one and finding a way to take advantage of the window that you have because of the style that Lamar Jackson plays. Even though he does a good job protecting his body, you never know how long Lamar Jackson is going to last as a quarterback.

And I say that being an incredibly big proponent, fan, and advocate of Lamar Jackson. So here we are with these four coaches, and I want to rank these four coaches. Not all-time rankings, not next year, like in the summer when we do a top ten list, who's the best coach in football, but who are the coaches and who is the coach out of these four that you trust the most and who is it that you trust the least heading into this weekend? And when I start things off, let's go from the coach I trust the least to the coach I trust the most.

So we'll work from four to one. I think four is going to surprise some people because this guy is a good coach, a really good coach. One of the better coaches in football, but I'm not going to fawn over him in the postseason because he's had his limitations in the postseason. And that's Kyle Shanahan. Kyle Shanahan, out of all four of these coaches this weekend, and we have four incredible coaches, is the coach I actually trust the least.

And I get it. He's an offensive wizard. He's an offensive genius. But this guy, the last few years in San Francisco, has had some of the best rosters in football, and he's reached the NFC title game a bunch. He reached one Super Bowl. But unfortunately for Kyle Shanahan, until he gets the big trophy, until he gets the big, shiny Lombardi Trophy, he's going to have to live with the statement that everyone says. And it's a fair statement with Kyle Shanahan. He's a great coach, but in the big game, he can't protect the lead to save his life. Because the two instances that you remember just vividly when it comes to Kyle Shanahan's career, even with all the success, offensive coordinator with the Atlanta Falcons, he was the OC when the Falcons blew a 28-3 lead.

If you want to say, oh, Zach, you can blame that moron, Dan Quinn, okay, be my guest. How about in the Super Bowl, up against Kansas City, he had a 10-point lead with 7.5 to play. I don't care how great Patrick Mahomes is. A 10-point lead with 7.5 to play, and you are this great of a coach, you needed to win that Super Bowl. So until Kyle gets the Super Bowl done, and until he hoists that Lombardi Trophy, it is going to be great coach Kyle Shanahan, very good coach Kyle Shanahan, but doesn't have the Lombardi Trophy. And all the pressure this weekend is on the 49ers. People aren't expecting the Lions to win. People expect the 49ers to get to the Super Bowl. And then we'll see, depending on who the opponent is, if the expectation is to win the Super Bowl. But for me, it's Super Bowl or bust with the 49ers because you have a great roster. You have guys that are getting older. You've had guys that have played on long postseason runs and have taken a lot of hits.

Eventually that window is going to start to close. They have a window of the next few years and they've got to take advantage. But because of the shortcomings in the past of the playoffs, even the Rams, you know, I know you can blame that and drop interception and all that, but they were in the NFC title game. They should have beat the Rams a few years ago, and it was crazy that they were there.

Like they weren't expected to get there that year, but they weren't able to protect the lead up against the Rams as well. So Shanahan is the coach that I least trust this weekend, just this weekend. In at number 3, it's Dan Campbell. And I know people could say, Zach, how could you put Campbell in front of Shanahan?

Sometimes we praise aggressiveness in sports and we praise it with stupidity. That's not the case with Dan Campbell. Dan Campbell has been extremely aggressive.

Dan Campbell has been extremely confident. And Dan Campbell has hit every right button ever since taking over as the head coach of the Detroit Lions. And to turn that franchise around and to do it this quickly, it is remarkable.

He's on his third year as the head coach. You know, year one was a wash. Year two got off to an ugly start. And then that team started to hum down the stretch. And they were phenomenal. They were on fire down the stretch. They were one of the hottest teams in football at the end of last season. And then it carries over into this year with everyone expecting you to make the playoffs. A lot of people expecting you to win the division.

And now you're 60 minutes away from a Super Bowl. I love what Dan Campbell does. I'm not saying Dan Campbell's the best coach in football because that would be crazy. But he is actually my favorite coach in football. He's the guy that I'm pulling for the most to go win a championship and go win a championship this season. Now, I don't think the Lions win on Sunday, but I fully believe in Dan Campbell.

And that wasn't always the case. When everyone was loving and genuflecting to Dan Campbell who gave a great introductory press conference. Awesome. I said he kind of gave me like a Big Ten football coach vibe and that his ideal setting would be in college. He's proven me wrong. He has been a great and I mean a great head coach in the NFL. In at number two, I think this is going to surprise people.

And the reason why I just let out that noise is because I know what the reaction is going to be. I'm not saying John Harbaugh is a better coach all time than Andy Reid. But I do put Andy Reid, too, on this list in terms of coaches that I trust the most this weekend. And a big reason why is the Ravens are just a better football team. And even with the expectation of being Super Bowl or bus for the Chiefs is every year. And I'm cognizant that they're not going to win the Super Bowl each and every year. It just doesn't happen. Reid getting to this point.

It is impressive, but it won't be praised. But the fact that you allowed that offense with Mahomes at times just look rather unproductive and allowed us to legitimately question it this year is just something. When I go into this weekend, I say, which coach did I trust the most? Well, look at what the Ravens have. Like the Ravens don't have a number one wide receiver as well. Mark Andrews, I know he's coming back, but he's been hurt. They replaced him with Isaiah Likley.

John Harbaugh lost J.K. Dobbins and Keita Mitchell. And we've seen their run game still be extremely productive when you look at the two backs that they have in Gus Edwards and Justice Hill. The Ravens like Zay Flowers could be a number one wide receiver, but he's not right now.

Odell Beckham Jr. used to be a number one wide receiver, but he's not right now. And also, you want to talk about exceeding expectations like the Chiefs haven't exceeded expectations this year. The Ravens have. There were a lot of people, including me, and I've been a fan of Lamar. I've been a big proponent of Lamar that didn't pick the Ravens this year because we didn't know.

Like, I mean, to make the playoffs because we didn't know if Lamar was going to be healthy with the last two seasons, their season ending, and Lamar Jackson was not on the field. So when I look at Harbaugh to read this upcoming weekend, I know Andy's going to Hall of Fame. I know Andy is a legend. I know Andy went to countless NFC title games in Philadelphia. Right now, it's six straight AFC title games in Kansas City.

He's been to three Super Bowls and he's won two. But just in terms of the coach I trust more and the coach I think has been more impressive this year, it's John Harbaugh over Andy Reid. Like the Ravens were legitimately questioned if they could make the playoffs. And not only did they rise heading into the postseason as being the best team in the AFC, they've been the best team in the NFL this year.

And the only other team that could rival them for being the best team in the NFL this year are the San Francisco 49ers and the Ravens kicked the snot out of the 49ers when they played them a few weeks ago. So when I look at the coaches this weekend, who's been the most impressive? Who do I trust the most? And that's the way that we're at it.

Who do I trust the most? I'm going to say that it's Kyle Shanahan for Dan Campbell three, Andy Reid in at two, and then number one, John Harbaugh. And what a year it could be for the Harbaugh family. A few weeks ago, you see Jim win a national championship. Now, Jim is back to the NFL, saying his goodbyes today at Michigan, and he's off to Los Angeles Chargers, where I guess he'll get introduced sometime next week. And you have another son who's already won a Super Bowl, and who beat Jim Harbaugh in a Super Bowl, who is now 60 minutes away from going to another Super Bowl, and two weeks from now could win his second Lombardi trophy, and that would solidify a spot for John Harbaugh in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. So who's the coach that you trust the most this weekend?

855-212-4CBS, 855-212-4227. Is it Kyle Shanahan? Is it Dan Campbell? Is it Andy Reid? For me, it is John Harbaugh.

All right, we'll take our first time out of the day. This is the Zach Gelb Show Coast to Coast on CBS Sports Radio. One of the better stories of the NFL this year has been what Joe Flacco was able to do with the Cleveland Browns. The former Super Bowl MVP, and now he is a finalist for the Comeback Player of the Year Award, is going to join us on the other side.

Joe Flacco, who won a Super Bowl with the Ravens, quarterbacked the Browns this past season towards the back end, led them to the playoffs. He's going to join us right here on CBS Sports Radio when the Zach Gelb Show returns in five minutes. You can stream the NFL on Westwood One for free, sponsored by AutoZone all season long. You can listen to every Westwood One broadcast of the NFL Live on the NFL app by asking Alexa to open Westwood One Sports or on the Odyssey app. Get in the Zone AutoZone.

AutoZone's free battery testing and charging is available for free at your local AutoZone. Get in the Zone AutoZone. Restrictions apply. Now joining us on the guest line is a Super Bowl MVP, had one of the better stories in the NFL this past season, quarterbacking the Cleveland Browns, and that of course is Joe Flacco, kind enough to join us on the Zach Gelb Show on CBS Sports Radio. Because they know a Solo Stove Fire Pit is more than just the ultimate smokeless fire pit, it's a place where friendships are forged, football is revered, and food is enjoyed. Solo Stove, the perfect flame for the big game. Mommy, but you're not giving up. Not when cold medicine, fragrant herbal teas, and honey shaped like bears can be delivered through Instacart in as fast as 30 minutes. Now let's go win the sick playoffs. Daddy, I just want my soup. Oh sorry, Sport app says it'll be here in a few minutes.

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Oh, sorry. One retired quarterback returns to claim what's his. Um, that's claim a ring with diamonds made from M&M's peanut butter, but you're on a roll. The Ring of Comfort, coming soon to a Super Bowl new you. So Joe, first and foremost, congratulations on an incredible season.

Thanks so much for doing this and how you been? Yeah, can't complain. You know, wish we were still going but doing well. When the season finally ended, and you're right, you had the whole story you go to Cleveland you have the immediate success.

You go into Houston I know the playoff game didn't go your way. But when you have to put it into words what you guys were able to accomplish this year in this journey and the ride that it was for you. How do you kind of do that? Yeah, listen, it's always it's always a lot of fun when you go out there and you're able to win some football games and do a bunch of guys that, you know, are awesome to be around. So I think anytime you play this game, you're, you want to give yourself a chance, and that means get to the playoffs, and, you know, see where you can go from there.

It's always disappointing when it ends so abruptly, you know, kind of no matter how the few weeks have gone before that. So it's always tough to kind of look back and, and, and maybe initially see all the positives but it was a lot of fun. You know what you're capable of, and you've been doubted a lot, but going into that locker room and quickly developing that chemistry. How did you guys be able to do that because that was the most impressive part to me it was you bring a new guy in, and then boom, pretty quickly you guys are starting to play that at a very high level. I think it's just a credit to the guys that are in that room credit to the coaches for the way they put things together but you could tell that it was a, it was a pretty tight knit locker room as soon as you walk in there. And I think just, you know, it's never easy to step into a new situation and it's never easy for, you know, a team to kind of welcome a guy that, you know, shows up so late like I did but I think a lot of credit goes to those guys for being able to do that.

And, you know, make it as seamless as possible. Let's talk to Joe Flacco right now. Um, I know you want to keep on playing for for a long time I would imagine. How much longer though do you think you keep on playing in the NFL.

It's impossible to put numbers on it because you just never know. You know, it's not always in your control I mean look I, it could have easily kind of not. I could have easily not gotten a call the last couple weeks, couple months of the season, and been sitting here kind of thinking all right that was it, I guess, you know, either it's tough to kind of put a number on it and try to look at those things you'd have to just like each week when you're in the season you have to look at it week to week you have to kind of do the same thing with, with how you with how you go and keep every you know the offseason the offseason. Let's let's focus on that. Let's make sure you're in shape to go somewhere and you just take it day by day and see where it goes I know I want to play.

And I want to do it as long as I can and feel capable of doing that. Other people don't always see it how you see it. I mean obviously the person involved probably sees, you know, I was talking to somebody recently and it's like I'm probably going to think I can still play when I'm 5560 years old I mean obviously that's not the case, you know, so obviously there's a point where like your expectations and how you feel about yourself. Don't necessarily match up with the reality but I don't necessarily think that's the case, you know, even though there's still going to be some doubters there's always going to be that.

But we'll see we'll see when that happens. Would you go to a place where you would be a backup like like if it's not guaranteed that you're going to be a starter is that something that you would still do and see how it plays out. Listen, once again, I mean, it's, it's, it's one of those things where you have to each opportunity and each situation it's not it's not as easy as just saying yes to that or no to that, I think, each little thing, you know, each little team or whatever let's say I have a couple opportunities they're all going to be different in their own way.

And, you know, like this year. Um, I could tell you that I, I didn't have to make that decision like hey, would I go take an opportunity somewhere to be a backup and not really under knowing how good that team is going to be and what they're what my role is going to be. I could tell you that I would have been able to turn something like that down this spring and summer, but I don't know if I would have been able to turn it down I would have viewed it as an opportunity, and I would have probably went and taken that and seen where it takes me, but deep down I did want to be able to turn those to turn those kind of things down and wait for the right opportunity.

In the case of this year. It wasn't done for me, I didn't have any opportunities so it wasn't like I had to say no to anybody that I was, I was at home, I was doing my work I was working out and waiting for a call. So, I do think there is positives to sitting around this year there was positives to being available when I was available as opposed to being locked down on another team. Hopefully my opportunities will be a little bit different this year in terms of, you know, getting some calls here and there I mean you never know.

I'm going to have to assess each one of those for what it is and go from there. Joe Flacco here with us. What was it like for you, mentally because I always think that is so tough on a player when all they know their entire life is football and then you went obviously through a few month period where you didn't know if you were going to play again so how was that mentally for you. I think it was strangest probably when training camp was starting up, and I wasn't going anywhere. You know it's been, you know, over 20 years where I've been doing that, you know, 25 years, I've been going to a training camp in August, in some capacity and getting ready to play football season so I think that was probably the point where it became the most real and then from there from then on out.

It really wasn't as big of a deal. I think you kind of get over that in your head that you're not going somewhere and you get back into the mindset of just kind of making sure you're prepared. If that day comes being in the same locker room this year as Kevin's the fancy a locker room run by Kevin's the fancy, you know, he was entering the season on the hot seat and clearly he's going to be back next year and he coached his ass off and it's good case for him to win another coach of the year award we'll see what happens in a few weeks when they announced the awards but what did you take away being around a lot of good coaches from your time with Kevin's the fancy. Yeah, that's an interesting league right like how you know one second everybody's super high and then the next second everybody's super low and it's just not necessarily necessarily the reality of, you know how it works, you know, you have to give people time and, you know, you have to, you know, it's a hard, it's a hard league, and you're not always going to, you're not, you know, you're not going to be 13 and four and 15 and two every single year and, you know, even, even, you know, even 11 and six, it's just not that easy.

It's not the way it works. You know, every year is a new year and Kevin's an unbelievable coach and he's done an unbelievable job I think, I think this year was a good year for him to prove that, but I think that's what it proves that he's good if he's somebody that you like and you know that he's good and you know he can grow. You know, you understand that in five years from now it might not be the same but you know who you have it. I think he's shown everybody that I think he's had the time now to show everybody that he's capable of doing it at the highest level. And now it's just a matter of having the pieces and making sure everything goes the right way but he's definitely a guy that you want, you know, in that locker room behind the scenes and running the show. I know he was hurt but what was your relationship like with Deshaun Watson just wondering. Yeah, you know, when Deshaun was around it was great. I think he, I think even, you know, from afar watching it on TV when he wasn't in there playing and TJ was playing or Doreen was playing I think he was I think he did a great job of, you know, of being excited for everything that was going on even though he wasn't wasn't the guy at the moment.

Are you confident that he could. I know it's gonna be awkward because whenever someone uses the word elite with you. That's always polarizing so that wasn't intentional but are you confident that one day, Deshaun Watson could be an elite quarterback again. Oh, for sure.

Listen, I mean he's, I still feel like he's not been in the league that long and it's for him it's just about staying healthy and you know and getting back out there and getting a full season. You know, I didn't mean to do that but the elite conversation with you is always an interesting one, like how do you personally take that like you want to Super Bowl you want to Super Bowl MVP. So bleep anybody that doesn't want to give you the credit but that's always something that's still to this day, like I was having fun with it when you were playing I'm like elite Joe Flacco is back and everyone was running with it. Yeah, it's just it that's that's the biggest thing is like, you know, listen, I don't take offense to very much. So it's like, you know, it can it can be taken however you want it but I just kind of let people have fun with it. Ultimately, that's what it is, people kind of having fun and, you know, just creating some kind of story out of nothing or, you know, whatever it may be. So that's kind of how I treat it. Listen, I mean, it's all over the place, you know, as soon as I start playing like listen, I've had, you know, everywhere from people in the media talking about it to my buddies, and you know when my buddies are messing with me about it, you know, talking to me about it. It's usually in the end, it's usually making fun of me trying to get some kind of reaction out of me, which is great, you know, I'm sure my kids will get involved in it at some point.

It was just like, it was one of those big topics to conversation, you know, 1210 12 years ago and it's just kind of grew into what it is and, you know, if they're actually if they actually mean it, have fun with it, you know. Yeah, Joe Flacco here with us absolutely love that answer. That was awesome. Let me ask you about Jared Goff, because that's someone that right has been disrespected has been to a Super Bowl could be to another Super Bowl. After this weekend with the way that Jared Goff is is covered Do you see some of yourself, just wondering in Jared Goff.

I don't know it's tough to, it's probably tough to look at yourself and compare to others so it's probably easier for somebody like you to kind of be a little bit more removed from that situation and look at it. But I will say I mean to go to another team and to kind of do it the way that it happened with him and yeah obviously there's that like sense of, of, there's that feeling that comes around that, whatever that may be, however people feel about it, it's pretty impressive for him to stay, you know, confident and and and all the stuff that goes along with that mentally to deal with the deal with that mentally, I'm listen I'm sure he was excited. On some level, like as much as you know, other people wanted to talk about this and that about the switch from the Rams to Detroit. I'm sure he was excited on a level to kind of get into a situation where he probably felt like it was a new beginning and, you know, the organization was it was around him and, and all that so I'm sure he had some help along the way but it's still impressive to mentally kind of go from one team to the other especially when you did take that team that you were at the Super Bowl, and now kind of be able to get right back to that point again. It's not easy to win in this league.

And for him to be able to do it in multiple places definitely says a lot about him. I know what you just did this past season with Cleveland was so phenomenal as Joe Flacco is here with us for a few more moments on CBS Sports Radio, and I know that the Ravens were an enemy this year but you always be remembered as a Baltimore Raven winning that Super Bowl that being with the bulk of your career was to see what John Harbaugh and Lamar Jackson are doing this year just what kind of emotion does it elicit from you. I don't know if I'm too emotional about it. I mean, but it's not surprising I mean they're always a good football team. I mean once they're, you know, it's the typical formula for them, you know, their physical football team that wants to run the ball, and they're going to play phenomenal defense, you know, besides the year here and there that's what they do, and you expect them to be around at this at this point in the year. Who do you think wins this weekend by the way, in both these games. Yeah, I mean, listen, I mean I think Baltimore is the easy choice for people in San Francisco is the easy choice for people but at this point in the year man you have four good teams going at it I mean Kansas City has been there every single year.

You know it's just so funny I mean how weak weak it is everything you know a few weeks ago everybody's super down on you know what kind of chances they have, but they're right back there. I think both of those defenses are obviously capable so it's just going to be a matter of which one can kind of, you know, show up on Sunday, and, and, and be able to kind of get some pressure on the quarterback maybe cause a turnover here there. And then I think the San Francisco Detroit game it's, you know, it. I think San Francisco is a completely different team when they get pressure on the quarterback, whether you know and whether, when they don't get pressure on the quarterback. And I think that's probably what's going to come down to can Detroit get their back going, I mean it's fun to kind of, you know, you don't. It's funny when you're like somebody like me like I do watch games but you don't necessarily get to get a full feel for how everybody is but last week watching the lions go I mean if they get their back going. It's pretty explosive so they can get pressure. If they can also get pressure on, on the Niners, and they can get their back going offensively like just have him pop a big couple plays them. Listen, those guys are riding high right now, Detroit's behind them and they're riding to momentum.

So, you never know how these things are going to go, it's impossible to call them like I said the easy choices are Baltimore and San Francisco but who knows. Last thing I'll ask you, when you look back at that Super Bowl that you won. It was a great Super Bowl right you guys had the big lead then the 49ers took it back but you guys were able to get the job done at the end. I always wonder, and I've never had a chance to ask this to you, what did you do coming out of halftime when you had the whole blackout situation when some people believe that was intentional by the NFL by the way.

Yeah, right. Well, I don't really remember, I don't think I did much, I, you know, obviously we tried. There's probably a time where our strength and conditioning guys gathered us up and made sure that we were doing something to stay loose, especially because it wasn't long after halftime and that's an extended halftime as it is. But ultimately, you know, we didn't know how long it was going to last, so we're kind of just hanging out getting ready for the lights to get turned back on if I remember right, and then it obviously lasted probably a little bit longer than anybody thought. So I, you know, it's tough to go back there and put myself in that situation and remember exactly what we did.

Like I said, I think it was mostly just kind of standing around waiting for some kind of information on what was going to happen next. He is Joe Flacco. Actually, Joe, I just have to ask you about this. The finalists for the Comeback Player of the Year award came out yesterday. I know you won, right, the highest honor that anyone could win in the NFL, and that's Super Bowl MVP, but it's yourself, DeMar Hamlin, Baker Mayfield, Matthew Stafford, and then Tuatunga Vailoa. How'd you kind of process that one the other day? Well, you know, I don't necessarily know what I'm coming back from.

I would say most of the guys on that list. I'm not sure what we're coming back from, so that's probably my initial reaction. But I think anytime that you're, you know, getting recognized in this league for, you know, playing well, I guess, you know, it can be flattering. So it's a cool group to be a part of, that's for sure. But yeah, that's my initial thought is I'm not necessarily, I'm just coming back from, you know, what, being old and, you know, not being on a team for a couple months.

So who knows? But would that be bizarre if you won the award with the way that you just laid it out? Of course, you know, I think we could probably go through most, like I said, most of the guys on that list besides DeMar. You know, I don't know if we're necessarily coming back from anything, but So you think DeMar should win it? Is that what you're saying? Just wondering?

For sure. You know, I don't know how many snaps he played, but I just think mentally to get yourself back to the point where you feel comfortable doing that kind of thing. And, you know, obviously the physical part stands, you know, stands for, you know, you don't need any explanation there. But I think mentally to get yourself ready to go back out there and feel good doing that, you know, what we do, especially at his position is pretty cool. He is Joe Flacco. Joe, can't appreciate the time. Good luck. Thanks so much.

Yep. Thank you. There you go. Joe Flacco joining us on the Zach Gelb show on CBS Sports Radio.

Excellent conversation with him. We'll take a break. We'll come on back. We do the segment every Monday and Friday on CBS Sports Radio. Stu's got some questions for me. I'll give you some answers.

We'll do onside, offside. Next update time first. Here's the act man, Rich Ackerman. And it's time to Ask the Pros, where you the listener gets to ask us a question. It's brought to you by O'Reilly Auto Parts. Simply tweet your question at CBS Sports Radio or at Zach Gelb using the hashtag Ask the Pros. Be listening later in the show when we might answer your question.

Think O'Reilly Auto Parts while your car care needs a guaranteed low prices and excellent customer service from the professional parts people at O'Reilly Auto Parts. Stu, what have we got cooking today, my friend? All right, Zach. Well, we talked to Joe Flacco. He was a former Raven. Well, the Ravens, they did get a big injury boost out of Sunday's game as tight end Mark Andrews has been activated after missing the last two months with an ankle injury. Lamar's favorite target caught 45 passes for 544 yards and six touchdowns in nine games before his injury. So onside, offside, do you expect Mark Andrews to have a positive impact in Sunday's game? I don't know how much he is going to play or how effective he will be. Isaiah likely has been a touchdown machine for that.

And he's been very good. You know, I've won some cash this year betting Isaiah likely anytime touchdowns with seeing what he was able to do once Mark Andrews did go down. I'm shocked Andrews ever, you know, is able to come back. Last week it seemed like there was a chance that this was going to happen. But when he went down with that injury, I think it was against the Bengals because I'm pretty sure it was the same game where Joe Burrow had the whole hand injury as well.

I could be wrong on that, but that's the way that I just remember it. I thought his season was definitely over. But I don't think there could be a negative impact here. I think you throw him out, see what he has.

And if he doesn't have much, then you bench him. So I don't think there's any negative there. So you expect Mark Andrews to have a positive impact in Sunday's game? Yeah, I will go onsides on that one. It now appears that Bill Belichick is getting shut out of a head coaching job in this cycle. We're on to the off-season. We're on to TV. Alright, Stu, we're on to TV. So now a Dallas Jerry Jones shockingly kept Mike McCarthy, who has just one year left on his contract. Quack, quack, lame duck.

Onsides, offsides. Bill Belichick will be the head coach of the Cowboys in 2025. It's a possibility. It is.

But I'm going to go off. Make this Valentine's Day one she'll remember forever with an engagement ring from JamesAllen.com. James Allen knows each love story is unique. That's why they make it easy to custom design engagement rings at up to half the price of a traditional jeweler.

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Yeah, Graybar does that. And the reason why I'm going to go offside is since Marash just went after me on Twitter for having a little fun. And I tweeted out, I'm going to the AFC Championship game this weekend. I want to chug a beer with Jason Kelsey.

Can't wait for Chiefs and Ravens. And Cap did a great job Photoshopping my face on Jason Kelsey's body in the luxury box drinking a beer. And like in a joking manner, I tagged Taylor Swift, Jason Kelsey, Donna Kelsey, Travis Kelsey. And then Marash writes, Zach tagging Taylor Swift in the Kelsey's here is a bold strategy.

It is more desperate than I am after a dinner at a chain restaurant and a 15 minute drive to the nearest toilet. Let's be real. Marash doesn't make it to the toilet. He goes in his pants and that's been well documented. Like, Marash is teaching some class now, which I question all the integrity and intelligence of the university that he can now be a professor. But I just imagine those students like, oh, we have a radio guy teaching us. They go to Google and it's like radio producer poops his pants on the air.

But since Barash just went at me, I like to kill people with kindness. So Brian Deball is going to have another disappointing season with the Giants. And then Bill Belichick, who is a former Giant, right, was the defensive coordinator, won two Superballs and has great respect for the New York football Giants. He'll end up in the swamps of Jersey next year after Brian Deball misses the postseason in a back to back year. So Bill Belichick will be coaching the Cowboys in 2025. I will go offside. Offside.

Number three. So Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence is up for a contract extension this offseason. And general manager Trent Bulkey discussed that with meeting with the media on Thursday, saying, quote, As far as Trevor and the long term relationship with this team, there's no doubt in that we are going to get something done at the appropriate time.

End of quote. So onsides, offsides, you're confident in the Jaguars being a consistent playoff team with Trevor Lawrence making big quarterback money. I was thoroughly disappointed with them this year.

Really, any big game, they failed. And it's one thing to not take that next step, but to regress in a big way and not even make the playoffs, that is concerning. And that division is getting good. Texans aren't going anywhere.

C.J. Stroud and D'Amico Ryans and Mola Anderson Jr. And then the Colts, I think they could regress this year, but they didn't have their quarterback Anthony Richardson last year. And Gardner Minshew played well.

So I'm going to go offside here. Last year, I was very confident and thoroughly confident in Peterson and Lawrence. Now I think it's a big question mark if they could consistently be a playoff team. And Trevor Lawrence is good, but he was supposed to be generational. He was supposed to be great.

And I haven't seen that yet. So when you say you were confident the Jaguars can build a consistent playoff team with Trevor Lawrence making big QB money, I will go offside. While it appears offensive coordinator Sharone Moore is the likely success for Jim Harbaugh as Michigan's head coach, the Athletics' Bruce Feldman says that LSU's Brian Kelly is a possible candidate.

And there's, quote, a lot of chatter, end quote, that Kelly would be interested in heading to an Auburn. So he wants to move his family to Michigan? He wants to move the family to good old Michigan?

Get some Zingerman sandwiches with the family? That's what he wants to do? Appears that way.

That accent will go away real quickly in Michigan. Yeah. Fraud, Brian Kelly.

Fraud. So I think I kind of know where you're going with this. Onsides to all sides, Brian Kelly would be a good fit at Michigan. Brian Kelly's a good coach. I don't see why he would leave LSU. They have been able to produce three national champion coaches since 2000. When you had Nick Saban, you had obviously Les Miles, and then my favorite college coach of all time, Go Tigers! with Ed Orgeron. I don't think Brian Kelly should leave LSU.

Just that this is out there. You know, maybe it's a play from his agent, but he doesn't get any more money with the contract that he just got at LSU. So maybe Brian Kelly's having some remorse about going there and he's not confident with what he's doing with the Tigers. But I just don't think Kelly would be a good fit at Michigan.

I think it needs to be Sharone Moore. So you say Brian Kelly would be a good fit at Michigan. I will go offside.

Offside. Sticking with college football, Lane Kiffin has been active in the transfer portal this offseason as he had a two former Washington offensive lineman on Thursday. Following the signings, Lane Kiffin quote treated a tweet from Rebel Sports Talk that said, quote, Lane looked at Georgia's sideline and realized we needed to get bigger in the trenches and immediately in the transfer portal alone gets, end of quote.

And it had the names of the five players that they got. Lane quote treated that saying, facts. Outside, offsides, Ole Miss will win an SEC championship in the next five seasons as long as Kiffin remains as their head coach.

Two, three weeks ago, I probably would say no. But now with Saban out, and I'm a big believer in Kalen DeBoer, and Kirby Smart's still going to run the SEC until someone outside of Alabama can take him down. But I do think there's a possibility now for Ole Miss with Lane Kiffin to jump up. You know, here or there as the second best team in the SEC.

And if you're the second best team, then you get into an SEC championship game and maybe you could find a way to get the job done. So Ole Miss will win an SEC championship in the next five seasons as long as Lane Kiffin remains as head coach. I'm going to say yes because I like the personality of Lane Kiffin. I think Lane Kiffin is extremely interesting. He clearly can connect with players. And he's got that NIL and that transfer portal flowing right now at Ole Miss.

So I will go onsides actually with that one, and a big part of it is Nick Saban retiring. So the NBA All-Star starters were announced last night, and missing from the Eastern Conference's lineup was Knicks guard Jalen Brunson. That's just the starters, right?

That's the starters, yes. Despite finishing ahead of Bucs guard Damian Lillard in both media and player voting, he finished behind him in fan voting. So onsides, allsides, the All-Star games around all sports, NBA, NFL, MLB, should ditch fan voting and let the media and peers select participants. No, I wouldn't ditch the fan voting.

I wouldn't. Now, it's a mixture, right? Especially in the NBA, there's fan voting and there's player voting, right? Yes, in media, yes. And media voting.

I don't think it's a problem. Let's be real, the media will get stuff wrong, the players will get stuff wrong, and the fans will get stuff wrong. Sometimes I think the fans are better than the players in the media, quite frankly.

That's not always the case, though. So when you say All-Star games should ditch fan voting and let the media and peers select participants, I will go offside. And another big reason why is because All-Star games are happening to make money, and they're really for the fans. And it's tough to get buy-in regardless from the fans, so if you eliminate the fan voting, I don't think that is very productive. So there we go. Another edition of Onside, Offside right here on the Zach Gelb show on CBS Sports Radio.

So I will definitely go offside on that one when you say All-Star games should ditch fan voting and let the media and peers select participants. Okay, we will take a timeout. Very busy hour number one of the show.

Well, we have a busier hour number two. Nick Saban, gone from Alabama. Jim Harbaugh, gone from Michigan. Who is the new face of college football after Saban has retired and Harbaugh has bolted back to the pros? And also, there's only three coaches right now in college football with the championship. Who's the next coach to win their first championship? Stuart Kovacs and I will do a draft. I'll pick three names. I'll pick three names when we return in five minutes right here on the Zach Gelb show on CBS Sports Radio. And Brian Urlacher will join us 20, 25 minutes from now.

A peanut butter M&M's production. In a world where Super Bowl winners get the world's admiration and a fancy ring, but the runners-up get nothing, one retired cop returns. That's one retired quarterback. Read the script.

Oh, sorry. One retired quarterback returns to claim what's his. Um, that's claim a ring with diamonds made from M&M's peanut butter, but you're on a roll. The Ring of Comfort, coming soon to a Super Bowl new you.

Okay, picture this. It's Friday afternoon when a thought hits you. I can spend another weekend doing the same old whatever, or I can hop into my all-new Hyundai Santa Fe and hit the road with available H-Track all-wheel drive and three-row seating.

My whole family can head deep into the wild. Conquer the weekend in the all-new Hyundai Santa Fe. Visit HyundaiUSA.com or call 562-314-4603 for more details. Hyundai. There's joy in every journey.

2024 Santa Fe available early 2024. Yep, Graybar does that.