Alright folks, unfortunately, we do not have any bag alerts to start off the week
But who knows we might have a bag alert or something crazy to happen
By the middle to the end of the week, but we still got some things we have to talk about because the next 48 hours
Gonna be the most
Toughest moments for a lot of players. Okay
Because they're gonna be some players who their dreams are gonna be crushed
There's gonna be some players that they're gonna be spared and there's gonna be some players
They're gonna be putting in different to a different situation
So we have a lot to talk about in a little bit of time
There's probably gonna be a short episode not gonna keep this, you know long and drawn now
We've been putting out a lot of long episodes. So just want to keep this fairly short
And just to put something out, you know, just to start off the week on the right foot. So
I'm juju, you know signs with the with the chiefs
NFL cut start today, and then they're supposed to be due tomorrow at some point
You know, well, will there be more buyers and sellers? That's when you know, bad Rodan this, you know
Comes into play Trent Williams is now threatening to hold out into the season if he does not get a bump in pay and
Well, no not not yet, but are these receivers holdouts?
Are they hurting the team more or they're hurting the player more we have a that can be somewhat of a tricky situation to talk about
Well, but we're gonna talk about it though in early trade predictions
Okay, all of this and more because this we're gonna go in in some different places, but you got to follow me
Okay on the 28th episode of the football Chinese podcast. That's right. We are on we are almost
To 30 episodes, okay two episodes away from 30
Episodes and I cannot wait. I am your host your GM who currently is not on the team right now
Who currently is taking interviews for assistant GM positions who currently?
Right now is looking at the draft two years in advance because there's a left tackle that has definitely caught my eye
We got to talk about all of this and more okay all of this because I am your back row darkness
I am the chief the head of the table the chief bag
Meteorologist okay all of these mighty titles and more but most importantly the biggest title of them all
I'm your host kale. Let's lock in. Oh
Oh, right folks, let's just go into this okay, I'm gonna keep on saying this is gonna be a relatively short episode
This isn't gonna be anything long and drawn out. We've been putting out 30 40 45 and even 50 minute
Episodes lately, so I know you guys don't want to keep on hearing that so, you know, we're just gonna keep things light
You know just to start the work week for work week and school week off for those that are going back to school
And whatnot, so let's just get into this news. Okay, so former Patriots
Why why receiver I can't even think right now. I don't know why maybe isn't the coffee or something
I don't know former Patriots receiver
Juju Smith Schuster is returning to the Chiefs on a one-year deal vent minimum deal
Not a whole lot really to talk about with that, you know, you're talking about a receiver who you know
Definitely was cut from the Patriots, you know after getting somewhat of a big payday
After winning the Super Bowl with the Chiefs so for him to go back to the Chiefs
I'm definitely let you know that they probably have caught word that a lengthy suspension is still gonna come down for
Rashi Rice and in his off-the-field situation
So what what better person to have on the field than you know
Someone with veteran presence who also is a good blocker and knows the system well, right?
Not to mention
You don't have to give him a whole lot of money, right?
So either way, it's a win-win situation
Juju is able to you know be on a playoff contending team that is able to you know
Go go somewhere and he could possibly win another Super Bowl and maybe get maybe one more
Big payday, you know before he has to walk away, but nothing too
Too too extensive really to talk about with that. Now. I will say this. This is an early bad road diamonds
Prediction and it just you know, it just comes to mind when these things happen. I do feel like
The Chiefs will be in the market for a receiver. I do
I don't think they're satisfied with the receivers that they have right now
They like where she writes, but I think with him getting in trouble and with with how that situation
You know panned out in itself
I wouldn't be surprised that if he's that if he's sitting down for you know
Half of the season at least I wouldn't be surprised and so the Chiefs, you know
They need to make sure that they have things in place just so that they you know can stay competitive while at the same time
You know don't fall off offensively. So, you know
This is definitely somewhat of a of a death
type of you know signing it isn't anything like you know earth shattering or anything like that, but let's talk about
Something that that doesn't get talked about as much but should get talked about as much and you know cuts
Cuts now to some people you probably pay it. No mind
You probably think it's nothing really to talk about but it is something to talk about because you know a lot of these players
You know undrafted free agents and you know those different types of things journeymen people who are trying to continue their NFL
career, you know, this is a tough time for them because you know within these next 48 hours
You know that person on your team could be coming could be coming to you say hey listen
You know do you have your you know your iPad or playbook or you know, how however they do things now and
You know, it's tough. It's tough because it's not it's not really a guarantee that you're going to
You know stay on a roster one. It's hard
It is because every single thing that you do right or wrong is being judged, right?
And you know, it's it's one of those things where basically, you know, you better hope you don't get hurt because if you get hurt
You know, that's time that you're gonna have to miss and by then, you know
If you're not if you're not if you haven't shown a lot, you know in
Training camp and especially in the preseason. Oh, they'll just give you a body out
So it's definitely a very tough situation and a tough moment
For a lot of players who are in limbo, right?
Because as much as we see the star players, you also have to have the day-to-day players as well
You know people that get elevated from the practice squad to the active roster, you know during you know during game day and you're you know
People who doesn't get as much attention as you know
The star receiver or the star pass rusher or the star quarterback or you know the star offensive lineman or you know, who whomever, right?
And you know, I do feel like it is important that we you know that we highlight this because a lot of people say
Oh, no, they're just a bomb. Oh, no, they don't know they shouldn't be in the league, but it's like
Bro, this is it's competitive. It's very competitive. It's a very competitive lead
It's some it's somewhat reminds me of that one scene in the dark night
When the Joker when the Joker killed Joker killed the dude and basically his he had two henchmen left and the Joker said
Okay, we're gonna have tryouts and he snapped a pool a pool
Um, what was it a pool table? No, not a pool table
He snapped the the pool stick and he basically just just gave one piece to two people
And they basically had to fight over on who was gonna join Joker's crew now
I'm not saying that's that's how it is with football
But that is essentially the mindset that that is you know
That happens when it comes to training camp and preseason and all those different types of things you were trying to outdo
Your teammate to get a roster spot and if not a roster spot on this team then on and then on another team, right?
That's basically what is that's that's a mindset for a lot of the players that
That you know, there are someone in limbo. They you know, they they think okay
If I don't make it on this team within as long as my tape is good
Maybe I'll have another opportunity somewhere else and most of the times it does happen
But there are also times where it doesn't happen and so you know
I would I would be wrong to say as a
Podcaster and as also as a fan we have to be sensitive
For the players that are getting cut
So, you know if you if you're one of those people that wants to be a newb and you know wants to you know
Put out things for for for cloud or for clickbait. Don't do it. Don't do a dog. It's not worth it now on to something a little bit more
a
Little bit more uplifting now now that we've definitely addressed the most important thing
Out of this entire podcast this entire episode. We got to talk about buyers and sellers
Yeah buyers buyers and sellers and that's probably gonna be the title for this episode because I thought about it a few weeks ago
I was like, you know, we definitely do have to put out an episode before cut downs and whatnot
So when we look at it, you know from a from from a league wide standpoint
There's not one roster that is like, you know, oh, this is a perfect roster
There's no holes on on the roster on both sides of the ball
Everything is great this than the other blah blah blah. It's not it's not every roster has a hole
Now the question is how big is the hole?
Is it a hole where they need to get somebody?
Immediately in order to patch it up or do they need to get two or three players?
To possibly, you know, try to you know somewhat stop the bleeding per se
With whatever the situation is and a lot of times of these things happen
I'm especially as the season progress because players get hurt injuries happen people get traded all those different types of things, right?
But at the same time though, we do have to somewhat identify
Identify teams that will be more buyers and sellers because a lot of times this is somewhat in my mind somewhat of a
of a start to what could possibly be for the trade deadline, right?
Because and this is just this is just a theory that I've somewhat come up with a lot of times where if there's not a lot of
Activity going on as far as like trades and whatnot
During during the cut down, you know timeframe that most likely translate to somewhat of a very
Minimal trade activity when it comes to the trade deadline later into the season, right?
But if you see more activity though, that's when you see a more robust or more active trade deadline
Which I mean, let's be honest here
We all love the trade deadline because it's basically a day of nonstop
You know news from the minute you wake up to the minute that you go to sleep
It's just nothing but trades trades trades and trades
But you know, I think we do have to identify
You know just a few teams that will be both buyers sellers or maybe even both honestly
So for me personally, I definitely do think teams like the Steelers will probably be buyers because
They have you know, they still have a lot of pressing needs and you know
I think they realize that you know, one of their strongest
Groups is now one of their weakest groups with offensive line because you have Troy for Titan who's hurt
You have Dylan Cook who's gonna be out for multiple weeks. You have
Nate Herbic who's out for the season of the Torum rotator cuff
project Jones is hurt, right and
Well, too well too well, does that it? I think that's it for the offensive line, right? Not to mention
They've been trying to find someone of a placement for you know for receiver as well
So I do believe that they're gonna be one of the teams that are gonna be more
Active when it comes to buying than selling because they don't have a whole lot to sell, right?
And even if they do it'll probably be for a late round draft picks, right?
And so, you know compared to a team that is for instance like the Texans the Texans could be a seller because why?
They have over seven. Yeah, I think they have over seven receivers that that are NFL caliber receivers, right?
Because remember they have Tankdale, Nico Collins, Stefan Diggs, Robert Woods
Ben Ben Scrant, I think that that's his last name. I'm sorry if I mispronounce your name
Your last name who was from the Rams we got tech traded over to the Texans as well as Noah Brown
And I think they're maybe like one or two other people. Oh and John Metchie. So you have all of those receivers and mind you
They're not gonna keep all of those receivers. They're just not so somebody is gonna be outside of that bubble
And so I wouldn't be surprised if they moved off of someone like a John Metchie
maybe possibly a robber Woods and whatnot because a team because teams would would love to have someone like a John
Metchie right teams would like to have somewhat of a Robert Wood, right?
And then not to mention you don't have to give up a whole lot of draft capital to get them
They're not carrying large cap hits nor do they have large contracts. So either way, it's a win-win situation for both
You know for for both parties, right?
Compared to for instance, what's a good team?
What's a good team? What's a good team?
The Cowboys for instance the Cowboys have to be buyers because they realize that the defensive line isn't as strong
Isn't their strong suit right now
Nor is you know their middle line back in core and their secondary as well with you know with Duran Blaine being out for 68
Six to eight weeks not 68 weeks, but six to eight weeks on with a stretch stress facts
I can't even speak. I think it's the coffee stress stress fact. Mmm. Yeah, man. This is tough stress fracture
There we go. We did it
We did it we get a golden star for it
You know those
That is a team that you know, they're gonna have to they would have to be active
They're gonna have to because that defense is a little bit beat up the defensive line is beat up
I don't know what they're doing for middle line backer and I don't know what they're gonna do for their secondary
Right, especially for their corners. The only healthy one is Trevon Diggs and even then he's coming back from a tournée CL
So, you know, you you have a lot of things that you have to you know factor in when it comes to buyers and sellers
You really do because a lot of times teams are this is when teams are gonna be really active, right?
This is when they're gonna move off of certain players if they feel like okay
Yes, you're a great player, but we don't have a spot for you on this team
But guess what?
We'll put you in a better situation where you can be competitive where you can play where you can be
You know on the field once on Sundays, right?
And then there are other situations where you know, they just have to be released just you know altogether because
you know, there's just no spots or
You know, they're just not playing well and so that happens and that's why you're gonna have to me
I feel like you're gonna have
More buyers than sellers because there's still a lot of teams who they need, you know
Death, you know on their offensive line or they need it on their defensive line
But they needed that receiver or running back or tied in or corner or wherever the case may be right compared to teams
We're gonna be basically, you know
Shipping off of players, you know, just just to get more and more draft picks and whatnot
Which you know sort of entails to another topic, but you know, we'll talk we'll get there when we get there
But we do have to talk about the 49ers. Yes. I know we are tired of I know we are tired of talking about the 49ers
But it is not that person that we are talking about
We are talking about Trent Williams this time because apparently according to Jeremy Fowler
He has reported that Trent Williams is willing to hold out into the season if the 49ers do not give him a bump in pay
This is what I will say
pay the man
Simple as that pay the man. Okay, this is someone who has significant who has significantly
Impacted not only the run game, but as well as the pass game since joining the 49ers
Okay, as I said before I think in the previous episode once they got Trent Williams
They started to run the ball more on the left side on his side and they were doing it successfully
So that tells you the impact that Trent Williams has on that team and mind you
No one can say oh well. He's just you know, he's just a system player one
No, because guess what Trent Williams was doing the same thing when he was with he was
Can't speak it's definitely the coffee when he was with Washington. He was doing the same thing
So again, this is what happens when you have a premier
Player at a position that is you know important at left tackle
This is what happens and so now the 49ers if I'm John Lynch
I'm shifting my attention all of my attention to Trent Williams because he is more important in this in this
Ecosystem in this equation in order for them to win a championship then Brandon I you I'm just being completely honest here
Hate me love me whatever the case may be but that's just how I personally feel
Trent Williams is more valuable because guess what if you don't have Trent Williams on that field
Brock Purdy is gonna get beat. He's gonna get beat up
Okay, Trent Williams is gatekeeping some of the best pass rushers
Not only in that division, but in the entire league and he has to be he has to be fairly compensated
I'm sorry. He's still if not the best the second best left tackle in the league right now
And even then he did to any person that says that he's the second best left tackle. Who's the first?
Who was the first because in my mind it's still Trent Williams and there will always be Trent Williams, okay, so
You the 49ers already knew that once Christian Deris I was gonna get his deal
Trent Williams is gonna want more you already knew that you already knew that so if you already knew that as
As soon as it was announced you should have called Trent and say, you know what let's come back to the table
Let's figure out how much more how much more do you want?
You know how much of a pay increase that you want because guess what?
That's a easier deal to take into mold and the restructure and to add on
Compared to Brandon I you and it shows
Because why Brandon I you it has basically been having a hissy fit almost like a two-year-old child
Okay, I want this okay
That's that's not the toy that I want even though it is exactly the toy that he wants
Well, this one has too much dust what this one has this this little scrape
Well, this one doesn't have the right paint this one has this
He's just Nick picking at every small little thing and it's getting to a point where the 49ers just like hey to hell with it
We gave you we came back to the table for you
We bumped up our offer for you
We're trying to keep you here because we value you but you are acting like you don't want to be here
So guess what we're gonna do
We're gonna prioritize somebody that does want to be here and that's what my said that John Lynch in the front office
Should have because why he still has not signed the deal
We still don't know exactly what's going on
You know, we really
Even though there there are you know, they're insiders that have you know sources and whatnot
This is a this is a come-and-go type of situation. It really is
One minute. He's happy. He's around the the team and he's talking to the players and blah blah blah
The next minute he's not there for two or three days and he looks like he doesn't want to be around the team
He looks like he's just stay away from me all those different types of things. So again
Focus on Trent Williams. Trent Williams is more valuable on that offense than Brandon I you weak
You could go and you can make a late season trade for another receiver
That could probably do the same thing that brand I you it does and not lose an inch of sleep off of it
I'm just saying it moving on to the
To the next topic because I'm I can talk about that for almost an hour and I'm just not
But I will say this with all of the friction that has happened lately with the rear, you know receiver holdouts
I think it is a question that that does need to be asked, you know
Are these holdouts hurting the team or the player more and you have to go you have to go at it by situation
For instance the Cowboys. This is hurting the team more than what's seeding than than CD land
Because CD land realizes listen, I am the best receiver on this team
There's no other receiver that is better than me
There's no other receiver that is as close to me when it comes to my skill set. So I have to be fairly compensated for me
It is literally just me and me alone
Nobody else. I don't have a gallop. I don't have a Mara Cooper
I don't have this person or that person. It's solely just me
And the Cowboys realized that guess what they have to pay him top dollar money. There's no choice
There's no there's no, you know, can you take a hometown discount?
And can you do this and can you do that? It's none of that pay the man his money the longer that this goes
the worst is gonna look like on the Cowboys and Jerry because
Jerry realizes that in order for Dak to be successful
He needs CD land to be out on that field and if CD land is not out on that field
Oh, man, you're gonna have some problems. You are now when we look over
for instance the
Who I want to do next what one do neck, you know, we'll just get out
We'll get the 49ers out the way we look at Brandon I you look right?
This is hurting
both sides
if we're being real here and I'll explain why because
Brandon I you is literally their best route runner and
And they're in one of their best blockers when it comes to the receiver position, right?
And you know, they need someone like that because Deebo is the Swiss Army knife of the offense
He is let's just call for what it is. He is the Swiss Army knife
He is someone that he's been put in a running back position
He's been put in the slot on the outside. They've used him in motions. They've used him, you know
In jet sweeps and all those different types of things, right?
Meanwhile, Brandon I you is the okay. I can run this route that route this route go route
Slant routes post routes all those different types of routes, right?
And you know, but in but at the same time, he's also a phenomenal blocker as well
So this is hurting, you know both sides because guess what this is basically been, you know drawn out since
since the end of the Super Bowl
basically and
You know it there's been there's basically been no no friction. It hasn't there's been speculations
There's been you know this and that but it's never been any real movement, right?
Because there was a moment in time where he was about to get traded
during the I think during the draft actually because the Jaguars called the Jaguars called about him and they were willing to
They were willing to give up a receiver to get him but the 49ers said no, okay, cool, then you have brand are you that you know
Can't speak
Really can't speak request a trade and once he finally did guess what?
still haven't seen anything even though they have to even though they have agreed in
In not in parameter. What am I? What am I doing?
Even though they have agreed and principle with the Steelers for a trade and whatnot
They want to try to work on trying to keep him but at the same time
It's hurting them because why you still have you have another player a more impactful player that is looking for more money as well
So it's you know, there's been little to no friction. There hasn't been anything
So at some point something has to give on either side
Are the Brandon I youth wants to go to another team or the 49ers are just gonna have to suck it up and just meet all of his
Demands and just give them the money, but even then I feel like that's gonna cause more friction because why?
Debo Samuel has been there every single practice every single preseason game. He has showed up and
You know, if I'm the 49ers, I would rather
You know reward that compared to reward, you know bad behavior quote-unquote
When it comes to Brandon I you I'm just being honest here and then again, it's not like I have
I want no one to think that I have you know beef with with brand I you or any of those different types of things
But the fact of the matter is bro, you have been so
Undecided in this situation and it's drawn out so long
That I feel like you have made more enemies than allies and friends in this situation
Let's just call it for what it is. It's a simple decision either you pick up the phone and you call
Your agent and you tell them, okay? I'm going to Pittsburgh or I'm going to this team or that team and then and that's it or
Okay, I'll be at the facility at two o'clock. We're gonna sign this deal. I'm tired of not being around my teammates
I want to win a Super Bowl. That's it. That's it. That's all you have to do. It's nothing else
They are not going to give you
Every single little thing that you want
Nobody gets that in a contract. Nobody does so why in the world?
Do you feel like you are the only person that should be getting that Brandon?
Are you it why that doesn't make any sense? It doesn't and now this makes you look worse
But again, what do I know? But when you look at Jermaine Chase's situation
This is to me is hurting the player more than the team because why the owner has already said
We're not talking about contracts this year, but we may revisit it next year
They've already said that so they've already said that then hey
You got to take it for what it is and you just have to keep pushing forward
That's it because the longer that you hold out this is gonna hurt you more because you have to
Get better and develop chemistry again with Joe Burrow
You have to because there's been new players that been added to the team
offensive linemen other receivers and whatnot so
You know you you there's still a lot of things that you have to do and then not to mention
Even with all of these injuries guess what you guys are risking an injury a soft tissue injury whether that be a
Hamstring or you're growing or your ankle or whatever those well, whatever the case may be right and
The longer that this thing's wrongs out the worse it looks on you
It does not to mention if I'm if I'm not mistaken. I don't have the the actual numbers
But I think he still has two years left on on his deal. So why in the world are we are we doing anything?
Why just why I?
Don't know but you know the same thing with T
Well with T Higgins, I feel like this is hurting the the team more than him because he just decided okay
I'll sign the tag and I'll play with the tag and then after that. I'm done with the bangles. I'm done
I haven't had no negotiations nor nor contract talks with them since last March
I'm done. I'm done. I'm gonna play this season. We're gonna have our fun
We're gonna have our you know our laughs our talks and all those different types of things
Whatever happens with this season happens. That's his mindset and you know, he's there. He's practicing
He's doing his thing, right? And so, you know
this is it's a
That type of question is a situation to situation type of basis
It's not something where you can just group everybody into one category and say okay
This is the problem. This is what this is how it's affecting this or that like no each situation is different now
On to the final thing to talk about, you know, oh, we're we got 30 minutes. Oh, yeah, that's pretty good. Um
Early trade predictions. Yes. I do feel like I have to put that out as your bag row darkness
I do feel like you know players like
JC Horn and Devante Adams and possibly Hassan Reddick will definitely be floated around
You know during well not during a book but like
This coffee is doing crazy stuff right now
Do not do decaf or do not put a whole bunch of sugar and cream into your coffee. You are going to regret it
I do feel like those those three names and probably a few other names will definitely be floated around
for obvious reasons because
Either they want a new situation. They're trying to win. They want more money or the team is just not going to pay them
Right. Those are the type of situations where you know
Those those three names will will definitely be floated around because I think I truly believe the panthers aren't going to pay JC
Horn I don't but I do believe that they are definitely going to trade him
I do I just know I don't know what it is, but I think that they're going to trade him
I think the Raiders situation is a little bit more difficult because the way Devante Adams
Contract is structured. It's back loaded. So basically his base
His base salary for the next two years is going to skyrocket, right as well as the dead cap hit
So even if the team offers, you know a first round pick that's still a lot of money
They're gonna have to tack on any and even them can't even really give him an extension because why he's old
He's up in age. So it's like you can't that that's a situation where
You you would have to move a whole lot just to try to fit that contract under there
but even then even if you want to do a restructure or
Something that's still a lot of money that you have to tack on and
Either way you slice it or dice it. I mean both parties are going to be taking a significant amount of money
Either one team is going to take a lot of dead cap and probably his guarantees or something else
So it's a very difficult situation. Even then with a sound ready. That's a difficult situation because why he's looking for money
He's looking to get paid
That's why the Eagles didn't pay him because they couldn't afford him because he'll be making a lot of money
so and the Jets knew that and
You know, the Jets continue to stand by this and not going to trade him
But I do believe that the longer that this
Holds out. I think the Jets will get desperate and be like, you know what to hell with it
We'll just get a draft pick flip it and try to get something else
But you know, those are probably the only names I could probably think of right now
They'll probably be more, you know coming soon. Oh, I forgot. I'm a re Cooper
I think a Mario Cooper might might get trade as well
Especially with the restructure that they did to his contract. That's a little bit more easier for a team to
You know to work with compared to the the original structure that they had in place
Um for his contract. So a lot of names to definitely keep your eye on
As this season, you know starts and progress
Keep keep your eye out. Keep your eye out
Bagrow Domus is definitely keeping his eye and his ear on the field for every little thing that I hear and know
But I'm just gonna end this episode here if you guys like what you're listening
Please please please please leave a five star review or whatever that you listen to the football junkies podcast
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And as always I hope I gave you guys the fix that you guys love and need I
Appreciate you guys so much. We are only two episodes away from that 30th mark
Would not be surprised if we hit that 30th mark this week because I do believe some resolution will come down with burning
I uik. I know I said it last week in the week before but I don't know
I think I think they're getting desperate at this point
But I wouldn't be surprised if we do see some bag alerts by the end of this week
Hopefully we have some bag alerts, but as always peace and love. I love you guys. I appreciate you guys so much
Thank you to all the people that have been with me on this journey shout out to all the junkies in Europe
Philippines the West Coast the East Coast Midwest and even in Canada. We love you. We appreciate you
It's all the future football junkies. Just know you're in for a wild ride
But guess what you're going to enjoy peace of love. I know
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