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Sam Robinson
3:08
Hey guys, happy Friday. Let's go for the Week 12 chat!
Mike
3:16
Any chance the Giants hire a guy with experience  and a track record like Mike McCarthy?  I’m sick of the coordinator of the day being fired two years after hire (3 and a 1/2 for Daboll…wow)
Sam Robinson
3:16
Hi Mike, yes, I do believe that will be strongly considered. The team has missed on OCs (Daboll, Pat Shurmur, Ben McAdoo) and the odd-in-the-moment ST hire (Joe Judge). A defensive coach would be the zag here for a team that keeps missing.

I do wonder about Joe Schoen being given the chance to hire a second coach, but that appears the direction this is heading in. Shurmur also was a retread. Vance Joseph's two-year HC stay, record-wise, reminds of Shurmur's Browns period. But McCarthy's experience dwarfs the other retread options (assuming a Belichick avenue is closed).

The Giants have already been linked to McCarthy early, so it would surprise if he doesn't interview. On the old end for HC chances (62), McCarthy would remind of a Tom Coughlin hire due to sustained success during long tenures elsewhere. McCarthy helping develop Rodgers and working well with Dak will help his cause re: a Dart pairing
walterj23
3:25
Any chance the Steelers will be in on Cooks ? Does he have anything left in the tank ?
Sam Robinson
3:25
Hey Walterj, I was thinking that immediately after learning mid-vacation he will be waived. The Steelers and Bills (especially after last night's struggle against admittedly great defense) came to mind after both struck out at the deadline.

Cooks' second Saints stint did not go well; he's at a paltry 8.7 YPC (career average is 13.3) and no longer resembles the deep threat he once was. Cooks was productive in 2023 (54/657/8) in Dallas but missed much of last season with knee trouble. He's healthy but 32. This might be a Mike Williams redux if the Steelers go there.

That said, pairing with Aaron Rodgers (known to prefer veteran receivers and now on a Steelers team flush with vet additions) or Josh Allen would naturally make for a better situation in an auxiliary role. Still curious where he lands, as this could (at best) be a makeup call for Buffalo or Pittsburgh
Sofi Seat Filler
3:33
Are the Falcons having remorse over the pick they sent the Rams  now that it looks like a top ten pick?
Sam Robinson
3:33
Hey Sofi Seat Filler, they certainly should. Their maneuvering at QB throughout Terry Fontenot's GM tenure has been iffy, from the Mariota season to the Desmond Ridder-no-matter-what follow-up offseason. The Penix-Cousins overlap has backfired, and Penix's form has concerned. Not Anthony Richardson-level concerning, but his inaccuracy is a major issue -- and it has the Falcons pick in a promising position (currently 8th) for L.A.

I mentioned this offseason how rare it was for a team to trade a future first for a non-QB. Only four teams had traded a future 1 for a pass rusher on draft weekend since 1993; No. 4 is set to benefit the Rams, who have not used a top-10 pick since Jared Goff in 2016.

That pick becoming a top-10 choice should probably be the final straw for Fontenot, even if James Pearce Jr. has shown flashes (just 2.5 sacks, though), and it will make for a rare Rams weapon in the Sean McVay era
cmac1973
3:43
Are the Patriots fool's gold?
Sam Robinson
3:43
cmac1973, I don't think so. Even if they have played a soft-ish schedule, that has given time for a younger team to develop. With the Broncos still having a trip to Arrowhead (zero wins there post-Manning) and home games against the Packers, Jags and Bolts, the Pats' schedule points them to the No. 1 seed.

Even if they are not as talented, that bye will matter. Since byes were introduced in 1978, only one Super Bowl has featured two teams book trips without byes (Bengals-Rams). Odds are, one of the 1 seeds will be in SF come February.

This Patriots edition having a shot still surprises, but they are 9-2 -- and it took a turnover spree for the Steelers to hand them their second loss -- and have an MVP-caliber QB. This does not quite remind of a '99 Rams-like out-of-nowhere story, but with Maye leading a team run by Mike Vrabel and Josh McDaniels (still an OC asset), that is a good mix in an AFC where the heavy hitters are mired in down years.
Roger
3:55
Sam, which head coaches do you think will get fired after the season? And which coordinators are likely to get the most interest as head coaching candidates? Thanks.
Sam Robinson
3:55
Hey Roger, for HCs being fired, we don't have a true dead-man-walking scenario post-Daboll. Mike McDaniel still may be more out than in for 2026, but he has a chance -- especially considering Tua's contract. Someone likely needs to take the fall for the past 2 Browns years, but is Kevin Stefanski more to blame than the GM there? He would have options elsewhere if fired.

The Falcons stood by Raheem Morris in the Belichick aftermath and hired him after an interim HC year. I do think Pete Carroll has a decent chance to be a one-and-done, which will extend this earthquake Raiders decade. Jonathan Gannon is likely out in Arizona.

Vance Joseph is a good second-chance candidate, and Chris Shula would be the third McVay-era Rams DC to land a gig. Good shot. Jesse Minter warrants more consideration than he got this year. Jeff Hafley, too. It looks like a better pool of DCs than OCs right now, which give HC-needy teams interesting decisions.
Doug
4:09
Long time Raider fan who saw Marcus Allen and Jack Squirek help the Raiders win their last SB. What changes can the Raiders make both short term and long term to get them to be a winning team again.
Sam Robinson
4:09
Hi Doug, that '83 Raiders defense doesn't get enough credit in my opinion. As for 2026, QB will once again be a need; they will be 4-for-4 post-Carr in seeking a new starter. The '26 draft has seen its QB crop's stock drop a bit, but with a top-five pick likely, it may be time for a move. The Brady-Spytek regime will also need to sink money/draft capital into its own O-line solutions.

WR is an obvious need after trading Jakobi Meyers and Davante Adams at consecutive deadlines. No non-Crosby EDGE has more than 4 QB hits; that won't cut it, as the team continues to struggle finding a post-Yannick Ngakoue sidekick for Maxx. Carroll made do with many Day 3 CB types in Seattle, but the Raiders need more help here. A true LB investment is needed as well

With Carroll on a three-year deal, ownership also must consider moving on from yet another HC. Exuberance aside, Carroll will be 75 early next season. And the bridge plan headlined by he and Geno is not working
Unclemike1526
4:29
Trying to figure out where the Bears can save money in their 2026 Cap situation. The only cuts where they save money would be Edmunds and swift would save 22 million. Not sure cutting Edmunds would be smart. Swift is gone. The real assets to move would be Moore's 28.5 million and Kmet's 11.5 million. What kind of draft return do you think Poles could get for those two realistically? I'm assuming the Bears will draft a RB somewhere and try to find another decent edge somehow. The O line won't need major cash anymore basically so where can they save money and score more picks in your opinion? Thanks and sorry for the two mistakes I mishit! LOL
Sam Robinson
4:29
Hey Unclemike1526, the Bears do need more space; OverTheCap projects them -- before we know the 2026 salary cap -- to be barely $1MM under. An interesting place for a team with a rookie-QB deal. Swift does seem a cap-casualty candidate, though Edmunds is talented and young for his experience level (still somehow 27). I'd try to keep him.

Montez Sweat has not produced to his contract and has a $25.1MM cap hit. Trading him would create a big need, but he was paid to headline Matt Eberflus' pass rush. Then again, the EDGE market's explosion makes $24.5MM AAV look quite reasonable now.

Moore will be 29 next year but is signed through 2029. Chicago will surely aim for a Day 2 pick, but his guaranteed 2026 salary will interfere a bit. I like the idea of dangling Kmet; proven receiving TEs in their 20s are not regularly available. He would be attractive on a market with 30-somethings in free agency. Asking for a third would not be crazy; Hayden Hurst brought a second in a Day 3 pick swap not too long ago
Sam Robinson
4:30
We will wrap it there today. Thanks for the questions, everyone. Enjoy Week 12!
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