Longtime Browns insider Scott Petrak tells Nestor how just how Joe Flacco came back to Cleveland and won the starting quarterback job and defensive stalwart Myles Garrett stayed the course with owner Jimmy Haslam to get paid in Northern Ohio. But can they defeat the Ravens in Baltimore on Sunday?

Joe Flacco’s Return and Browns’ Season Outlook

• Nestor Aparicio introduces the topic of Joe Flacco’s return to Baltimore to play against the Ravens, highlighting the Browns’ current 1-1 record.
• Scott Petrak, a long-time Cleveland Browns insider, discusses the Browns’ transition and the decision to start Joe Flacco over rookie quarterbacks.
• Petrak explains the Browns’ financial constraints and the long-term contract with Deshaun Watson, which influenced their decision to start Flacco.
• The conversation touches on Flacco’s performance against the Bengals and the potential emotional impact of returning to Baltimore.

Joe Flacco’s Emotional and Professional Journey

• Nestor Aparicio shares his personal connection with Joe Flacco, emphasizing his admiration and support for the quarterback.
• Petrak reflects on Flacco’s emotional resilience and his ability to handle pressure, drawing parallels to his past performances.
• The discussion includes Flacco’s history with the Ravens and his role in the Cleveland Miracle, highlighting his significance to the Browns.
• Nestor and Petrak discuss the potential challenges Flacco might face, including the pressure of playing against his former team and the importance of turnovers for the Browns’ defense.

Browns’ Defense and Offensive Capabilities

• Petrak praises the Browns’ defense, particularly the performance against the Bengals, and the impact of players like Myles Garrett and Carson Schwertzger.
• The conversation shifts to the Browns’ offensive struggles, including the need for better running game and the potential impact of rookie running back Quinshawn Johnson.
• Nestor and Petrak discuss the importance of turnovers for the Browns’ defense and the challenges the offense might face in scoring points.
• The discussion includes the potential for a competitive game between the Browns and Ravens, with both teams having strengths and weaknesses.

Jim Schwartz and Myles Garrett’s Impact

• Nestor Aparicio highlights the significance of Jim Schwartz, the Ravens’ defensive coordinator, and his history with the Browns.
• Petrak discusses Myles Garrett’s role as a game-wrecker and his impact on the Browns’ defense, comparing him to a player like Calvin Johnson.
• The conversation touches on Garrett’s off-season trade request and his eventual return to the Browns, emphasizing the importance of his presence for the team.
• Nestor and Petrak discuss the potential for Garrett to disrupt the Ravens’ offense and the overall strategy Schwartz might employ to counter Lamar Jackson.

Ravens’ Pressure and Potential Pitfalls

• Nestor Aparicio discusses the pressure on the Ravens following their loss to the Bills, emphasizing the need for a strong performance against the Browns.
• Petrak reflects on the potential impact of a slow start by the Ravens’ offense and the importance of maintaining composure under pressure.
• The conversation includes the potential for the Browns to capitalize on any mistakes made by the Ravens, drawing parallels to past performances.
• Nestor and Petrak discuss the importance of special teams and the potential for the Browns’ kicker to play a crucial role in the game’s outcome.

Joe Flacco’s Legacy and Future Prospects

• Nestor Aparicio shares his admiration for Joe Flacco’s career and his impact on the Browns, highlighting his resilience and dedication.
• Petrak discusses Flacco’s continued relevance and his ability to perform at a high level despite his age.
• The conversation includes the potential for Flacco to have a significant impact on the Browns’ season and the importance of his performance against the Ravens.
• Nestor and Petrak reflect on the broader implications of Flacco’s return, including the potential for a resurgence in his career and the impact on the Browns’ fan base.

Browns’ Offensive and Defensive Strategy

• Petrak discusses the Browns’ offensive strategy, including the potential for a balanced attack with both the running and passing game.
• The conversation includes the importance of the Browns’ tight ends and receivers, particularly Amari Cooper and Donovan Peoples-Jones.
• Petrak highlights the Browns’ defensive strengths, including the performance of the secondary and the impact of players like Denzel Ward and Greg Newsome.
• Nestor and Petrak discuss the potential for the Browns to exploit the Ravens’ weaknesses and the importance of a strong game plan.

Ravens’ Offensive and Defensive Performance

• Nestor Aparicio discusses the Ravens’ offensive performance, including the importance of Lamar Jackson’s leadership and the impact of players like Derek Henry and Marlon Humphrey.
• Petrak reflects on the Ravens’ defensive strategy, including the potential for Jim Schwartz to counter the Browns’ offensive threats.
• The conversation includes the importance of special teams and the potential for the Ravens’ kicker to play a crucial role in the game’s outcome.
• Nestor and Petrak discuss the potential for the Ravens to capitalize on any mistakes made by the Browns and the importance of maintaining composure under pressure.

Browns’ and Ravens’ Historical Context

• Nestor Aparicio discusses the historical context of the Browns-Ravens rivalry, including past performances and significant moments in the series.
• Petrak reflects on the broader implications of the game, including the potential for the Browns to make a statement and the importance of the win for both teams.
• The conversation includes the potential for the game to have a significant impact on the Browns’ and Ravens’ seasons and the importance of a strong performance.
• Nestor and Petrak discuss the potential for the game to be a turning point in the season and the importance of maintaining focus and determination.

Final Thoughts and Predictions

• Nestor Aparicio and Scott Petrak share their final thoughts on the upcoming game, including predictions for the outcome and key players to watch.
• The conversation includes the potential for the game to be a close contest and the importance of turnovers and special teams in determining the winner.
• Nestor and Petrak discuss the potential for the game to be a high-stakes matchup and the importance of both teams performing at their best.
• The conversation concludes with a reflection on the broader implications of the game and the potential for it to be a significant moment in the NFL season.

SUMMARY KEYWORDS

Joe Flacco, Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, Myles Garrett, Jim Schwartz, Deshaun Watson, quarterback competition, NFL season, football strategy, defensive performance, offensive balance, player emotions, game predictions, team dynamics.

SPEAKERS

Nestor Aparicio, Speaker 1

Nestor Aparicio  00:01

Welcome home. We are W, N, S, T. Am 1570 tassel, Baltimore. We are Baltimore, positive. We are into the football season here. We’re also into the crab cake season and the tastiness eating season. We’re counting it down. All of it brought to you by our friends at curio wellness, the 27 favorite places I have the actually the favorite things I like to eat. And we’re getting down to the nitty gritty here this week, the top five. It’s all part of our 27th anniversary around here. We’re gonna be doing the crab cake tour on Tuesday at the Beaumont in Catonsville. I’m going to be joined by Councilman Pat young, my my attorney friend Chad cause, is going to come by and talk about seventh grade social studies in democracy and basic things about the Constitution. And we’re probably gonna have some crab cakes as well as some lamb chops, because my wife says, Why would you feature the fried lobster there? You should have featured the lamb chops. So lamb chops for all my friends with that special peach sauce, it’s delicious. I’ll also have scratch offs from the Maryland lottery and the new ravens scratch offs on Tuesday as we crank up the crab cake tour. Are they going to crank up football at one o’clock on Sunday? I guess we’re rubbing the Browns nose in the fact that we stole their football team 30 years ago. Joe Flacco is coming back to try to beat the Ravens here this week, and the Ravens are on one and the Browns are all one. But the browns, it’s not that the Ravens couldn’t have, shouldn’t have won. We all know that Browns played pretty good football game. Scott patrek has covered all things Brown’s for a long, long time. Illyria, I’ve learned how to say it the chronicle of telegram out in the greater Ohio area. Scott man, I vacationed in Cleveland last summer. I know you find I went out. Had nothing to do with sports, nothing to do with football, baseball. The Jake the Guardians, the Indians, the tribe, the browns, not, not even the lumberjacks, nothing at all. I went to blossom for two nights in a row and saw concerts. Wow, man. I mean, Blossom was like what Merryweather was 40 years it just like I would drive back out there right now to see Thomas Dolby and Sammy Hagar, do Van Halen songs all over again. So I love your place. Man, yeah,

Speaker 1  02:02

it’s a good place to see a show as long as you can get out of it, right? The traffic’s a little bit of a hassle getting out of there, but

Nestor Aparicio  02:07

it’s a Farm road. Man, nice people at Blossom, they saved my life that night. They really did. All right? Joe Flacco, um, back under center. I don’t know if you could fantasize what it would have looked like last year. I mean, he went and played in Indianapolis for a minute. I always preface, and maybe you know this, I am the Joe Flacco defender. I am the guy from the minute he got here that said he would deliver a Super Bowl. Did. And he is my all time, all time. He is to me what Bernie Kosar is to all of Cleveland. You know what I mean? Like, I love Joe. So seeing Joe come in this week and try to take their lunch money, it, it is really something, but it also speaks to where the Browns are, right?

Speaker 1  02:47

It does, it does any time about last year could have been any worse, right? They go three and 14, the quarterback play was awful, but, yeah, I think, you know, the Browns are in a weird spot. It’s a transition with the roster there. You know, had no salary cap money to spend in the off season. They still owe Deshaun Watson through 2026 they went beyond with the dead cap money. So they’re trying to figure out what to do from a roster standpoint. They drafted two rookies at the quarterback, but they’re not ready. And you know, they think Joe gives them the best chance to win, and I think he does too. Played really well Sunday against the Bengals, so it’s going to be fascinating to see how he handles this return to Baltimore. You know, I expected to be emotional for him. You know, he was really good with the ball against the Bengals, you know, two interceptions, but they both went off receivers hands. You know, does he try to force stuff against Baltimore, you know, as a pressure get to him like the pass rush pressure get to him and force him into a mistake. But he still throws it great. I think he still makes good decisions. To me, clearly gives the Browns the best chance to win this season. It’s just a matter of how the season goes, how long you stick with him before? You know, do they go to rookie before they go to the rookie? You know, those are all the kind of big picture questions facing the Bronx.

Nestor Aparicio  04:08

Yeah, Joe’s emotions, man, I’ve been with Joe. I’ve been in Joe’s home. I’ve been a lot of places with Joe before he won after he lost, right? The Foxboro game. And, you know, the Lee Evans and the Billy Cundiff and I mean, I’m just unabashed. I’ve done this all of my life, since I was 15 years old. I Joe Flacco is my all time favorite. I don’t and having him have a moment where he can come back and try to beat them, that is so Joe, Joe, just give me a chance. Just give me. Bet against me, do whatever you want. You know, he would say it a lot more brazen South Jersey, because he had a statement about this. Let’s go FM up. That was always his thing. Let’s go FM up. You know, that was always his line. I can’t imagine that this is going to be emotional anymore than you know what. It’s a. Rocky moment. He has one chance. One day, it’s like a dirt Kentucky Derby horse. He’s not going to get another chance to come. He’s not coming back in two years from now leading the Giants, I don’t think. And he certainly brings a decent football team. And the ravens are a little on the ropes, and the Ravens have to play the lions next week, and the Chiefs after that, and the Texans after that, and the Rams after that, and the Steelers look good, and the bangles are going to be good. So, like, I don’t see this as a double digit dog freebie thing that Flacco is going to throw four picks this week. I don’t know. Defense looked pretty good. Schwartz looked like he had him baked up pretty good after first driver to with burrow. The thing slowed down a little bit. And I know that there are a couple of elite players, miles, Garrett being one that can be a little bit of a home wrecker.

Speaker 1  05:45

Oh, there’s no doubt about that. Yeah, the size of the spread surprised me when I saw it for the first time. I think the Bronx defense is legit, and I felt that way before Week One. Week one affirmed what I was thinking. You know, my biggest question was a corner. They lost Martin Emerson Junior for the season. Greg Newsome, the second played really well, and he had a lot of one on one time with Jamar Chase. I think Chase finished with two catches for 26 you know, there’s a one pi at Newsome, who’s, you know, a little borderline call. So if Newsom plays like that, Denzel works great on the other side, then this defense really has a chance they’re loaded up front. We’re talking about miles Garrett drafted Mason Graham, number five, signed Malik Collins. And for agency, they had a bunch of ends that they rotate. Carson schwesterger, the rookie linebacker to UCLA, is all over the field. Now, the ravens are different, right? Lamar is different. Derek Henry’s different. You know, sweating jerseys are going to be out in space with Lamar sometimes, and then he’s got to be able to tackle Lamar. And we all know that that takes a while to get used to, and I think the longer you play Lamar, you have a better chance, not a great chance, but you have a better chance to handle him. So, you know, there’s a rookie struggle with that. We’ll see, but I do think the bronze defense is legit. It’s a matter of, can they score enough points? And we saw that week one, we had the missed kicks. You drop passes. They just, I don’t know if there’s enough explosiveness to this offense, but I think they’re going to hang around and if they can get any kind of turnovers. I mean, that’s what’s killing this defense. It killed last year. It hurt at week one. It needs to get some turnovers.

Nestor Aparicio  07:18

Well, they also need to learn how to run the ball. I mean, you know, if Joe Flacco is your quarterback, I’ll buy that. In any given week, he can play the kind of football to not hurt you. He will throw picks because he’s a gunslinger. He’s a he’s a he, he will throw picks, and that might hurt you, right? But all that being said, play good defense. I’m with you on the turnover side, but run the football, and if they can’t run the football on Sunday, they’re going to need an act of God and some luck. I mean, because I think the ravens are clearly for three quarters, they look like the team that we thought was going to be that team defensively, however, and when it really comes down to the ticker, and when it comes down to this specific matchup, and teams that play Lamar well in conference, teams that see Lamar more often play Lamar a little bit more honest, and let’s say NFC, teams that get trounced by Lamar who don’t just don’t have a plan for it, Jim Schwartz will have a plan that whether it can be executed or not, and whether they can get a break, and whether what happened to Flacco last week, ball pops up in the air twice off of receivers. I mean, I said to my wife, used to be there used to be two numbers for the receivers. I said he hit in between this and the RE and in the ball went up in the air, and I was in the other room. I was like, Flacco just threw an interception. I came in. My wife loves Joe, too. She wasn’t talking bad about Joe. She’s saying Joe around here so that Scott, you laugh. That’s what happens when you when you have Super Bowl parades. No offense to you know, I mean, whoever wins your Super Bowl parade, they’re knighted. They’re good. They, you know, they don’t even if it’s Nick Foles. But nonetheless, Joe, she she yells at the TV. She’s yelling me flakley threw a pick I came in. I’m like, that’s not on him. I’m like, Well, you know, so even the picks he threw, Are you shocked by the fact that he is the quarterback and that he’s playing? And there’s some, there really some lore I’ve been running this week. Joe sat with me for like an hour after the Cleveland miracle a year and a half ago, and then sat with me after the Indianapolis sat with me like in February for a while. And I’m rerunning those conversations because they’re a lot about parenting in life, and why he’s still playing, and, like, all of that stuff. But there is a point where, like, they’re never going to take this away from him, and the fact that he’s playing, when I saw them drafting shador Sanders and stuff. I’m like, I know Joe’s soul. There’s a reason he’s my favorite player, and it’s because he’s just never going to quit man like and he on Sunday, I sat here and watched him. I almost want to go to the game this week with his family, just to see him play this game, because it’s such a. It’s building up for me to be his one chance to come in here, and he might not win, but I think you’ll play well. I think you’ll play well.

Speaker 1  10:08

Yeah, it’s interesting. And there’s a couple things that my surprise is his starter. Like, if you take a few steps back and said, You know, last January or in January, Hey, would Joe flack would be the starter? I would say, No way. But once he got here, and then you look at the competition, and you look at it’s Kenny Pickett, and you look at two rookies, and one of them’s, you know, 511 I would have said, Yeah, Joe Flacco is going to be the guy, especially given three and 14 last year, given just the reality of, I don’t think the problems coaching staff and front office can go through another three and 14 and come back. Like, I just think, I think they want to bring I think ownership wants to bring them back, but you got to win some games. And like I said, Joe gives them the best chance. So once you got into it, and Joe got here, I was like, yeah, it makes sense that Joe’s going to be the starter. Did Joe going back to Baltimore? I mean, you know. I mean, you know, I feel like I know him a little bit, but obviously, you know, I’m way better. It’s interesting how you think he’s going to handle the emotions, or any of the emotions of it. But in 2023 when the Browns made the playoffs, there was a chance that they’d beaten Houston. They would have played Baltimore. So there was a little bit of that discussion with Joe, you know, not like getting ahead of themselves, but it was, hey, what if it’s Baltimore? And it was like, that was

Nestor Aparicio  11:23

a game there that really was on. I mean, it really unraveled that playoff game, and I felt terrible about it, because I was like, I just wanted that to be a better showing for Joe, you know.

Speaker 1  11:35

I mean, you do two pick sixes, and that’s, you know, that stuck with him, from the Cleveland standpoint, and from fan base standpoint, remember to those two pick sixes. And he did, but they were also down big early. The defense didn’t stop Houston at all. In the first half, and Joe’s trying to make a play, you know, you just trying to come back. You’re down 21 whatever you got to make some I

Nestor Aparicio  11:54

hope he doesn’t throw two pick sixes here. I hope it’s competitive. I want to say competitive football game from him, you know, I want to see him come in here and play well here, that’s all you know.

Speaker 1  12:03

If he does, I got a chance, right? And I think he will. I do. You know, you talked about throwing interceptions. They can’t be back breaking interceptions. Like, that’s how this game gets out of hand. If that happens,

Nestor Aparicio  12:16

right? Can, can they be effective offensively when we’re I saw Jerry Judy drop the ball. I said to my wife, I’m like, Oh, my God, they drafted him in Denver, when Joe went to Denver to save him, you know, and now he’s in Cleveland.

Speaker 1  12:28

Yeah, I tell you what, Judy had a great year last year. I mean, it’s a Pro Bowl year. He caught 90 balls for 1200 yards. He had a great year. He had a drop and then the tough pick that went off his hands. I think he’s good. I question the receivers after him. Their tight ends are good. The joke is good. The rookie harrow fan and junior they targeted him nine times. He caught seven balls at one drop. But like, there’s something to him. You mentioned the run game, and that’s going to be pivotal. I think they’ll block it better week two than they did week one. It’s a lot of veterans. I think they’ll figure some stuff out, but they need quinshawn junkets. They drafted the guy number 36 to be their, you know, Bell cow running back. Then he gets arrested, then it gets cleared, and that he still doesn’t sign until Saturday, so he hasn’t practiced until this week, and they’re optimistic that he’ll play Sunday, but if he plays, you know, is it going to be eight carries, 10 carries, it’s not going to be 20 carries, but maybe that because he’s a legit, you know, 511, to 20 wallet. He’s a back. Can he give that running game a big jump, you know, a jump start and a boost? I think there’s that chance, and I think he will as the season goes on. My question is, will it happen in Baltimore? And if it does, and you have that balance with Joe, then yeah, I think this offense, I don’t think the offense is going to score 30, I just don’t. But can they win 2423 Yeah, they could do that.

Nestor Aparicio  13:57

Scott Patrick is here. He has covered all things Cleveland sports for many, many, how many years back now, when did you begin your career?

Speaker 1  14:03

Oh four was my first year on the beat up in 99 but oh four was the first, first every day out there in Berea.

Nestor Aparicio  14:10

Well, that’s a lot of quarterbacks, that’s a lot of press conferences. You know, I kidded Darryl writer the other day and that I’ve had you on all the Facebook feeds or of Joe Flacco and people and Facebook knows that I have an affinity, and have a million pictures with Joe flack over a million years and like so it shows up. So all of his Cleveland stuff, I see what he says and the way he presents himself, and I miss me some Joe Flacco, There’ll never be another one like him, but you got him there in these press conferences. What’s it like to have that sort of grown up dude around in the general sense at this point, the 41 year old version of him, or whatever it is. When you’ve had this revolving cast of Deshaun Watson and the drama that you’ve had,

Speaker 1  14:50

it’s great. And I go back to 2023 and, you know, I think it’s dangerous to say, can he recreate what he did and what he and they did in 23 but. He was such a breath of fresh air after the whole Deshaun Watson mess, which started 22 so that was only two years of it, but he had a year and a half of, you know, Deshaun Watson and all that encompasses and they get Flacco coming. And, you know, from a personal standpoint, is great to deal with a guy like that. You know, you can approach him. He’s, I mean, you know, right? You can talk to him in his locker, you can talk to him at the podium. He’s just great. And then the fan base. He energized the fan base, and he allowed them to move past at least temporarily, all the Watson garbage. So it was just this, like, just this brush of breath of fresh air for everything involved with the browns. And then he brought some of that back this year. So, you know, he’s great to deal with. You know, I sat down with him for, I don’t know, 10 or 12 minutes before the season started, and we just talked throwing, because I’m fascinated by throwing, and he’s one of the best throwers still in the league, right over the last 20 years. So the best throwers of the ball in the NFL, and we just talked about that, you know, did his motion ever change? And the baseball, the football, you know, motion and the throwing. And I got a kick out of it. I think Joe appreciated that we were talking about him being 40 and trying to come back. So, yeah, he’s interesting, and I’m kind of, I am looking forward to seeing how he handles this whole week. And you know, what’s that balance of emotions, and is it like you to like you said, are they not there? Or does he kind of let you in and say, yeah, it’s going to be something to see.

Nestor Aparicio  16:33

I’m going to re release chapter eight from Purple Rain two, which was my favorite chapter that I went up and spent two days with him at his house up in Audubon. And you know, I knew his dad from the beginning, but just what a special person he is, and the fact that he’s still doing this, I just want to stand up and applaud and yell Bravo, the fact that he’s navigated to the point where he could bring the Cleveland Browns in here in a week too. And Scott, I would say to you that when the schedule came out, when did they sign, Joe, I’m gonna put you on the spot. Was it March or was it June?

Speaker 1  17:05

No, it was, it was April. It’s before the draft. It was either late March or leave.

Nestor Aparicio  17:09

Okay, so it was before the schedule came out. When the schedule came out in early May. I saw Cleveland week too. I’m like, Flacco will be the starter and and the Ravens better hope they’re one and oh and not oh and one. And you saw the meltdown that they had the other day. Which brings me to Jimmy Schwartz, the pride of Arbutus, my one time co host cohort, Russia aficionado and heavy metal head. I love me some schwartzy, and he’s always bakes up trying to win here, like it’s important to him he was ravens were, well, not his first gig. The Browns are really his first gig. And then the Ravens were his early gig. But he’s been chasing him and trying to beat him ever since. Miles Garrett. You know, I haven’t talked to Schwartz in a bit, but I would ask him if miles Garrett’s the best player he’s ever coached, and he’s had a lot of them, lot of great players, defensive players. But where miles Garrett is right now in the way you can use him as a game wrecker, and you know, the same could be said for Kyle Hamilton on the Raven side. He’s a really special, unique chess piece that’s like a queen plus on a chessboard. But miles Garrett can wreck a game and there’s talent over there. And Schwartz generally gets good scheme going. Generally has a plan for Lamar has bodies. They draft for this. They draft for speed. They figured out burrow for a minute last week. I, you know, I have no problem thinking this game’s 26 to 20, and a couple things go wrong for the ravens and the special teams this into that. And the Browns kicker will miss a kick. Somebody will miss some kicks, which allows me to talk about Justin Tucker and their off season around here, but in a general sense, I feel like their defense can keep this close and the miles Garrett’s really unappreciated, but more than that, that was a tumultuous off season. If you had asked me at any point whether I’d see miles Garrett in a Cleveland Browns helmet anytime soon? Again, I would have said, Nah, probably not.

Speaker 1  19:05

Yeah, it’s interesting. He’s certainly a game record. I think Schwartz will have a good plan. I mean, you know the banker, you said the bankers got out there good start, but in the second half, they had seven yards and one first down the Ford quarter, they were minus 18 yards. So the defense just kept getting better and better against a really talented Bengals offense, so they have the capability of doing that. I see the game playing out like you mentioned. You know, I think the ravens are going to score some just because they’re so talented. And Lamar is Lamar, you know, I think the Browns will probably score a funky number, because I don’t know if their kicker is going to make any kicks. But when you talk about Jim Schwartz and what he can do with those guys, and miles Garrett in particular, I think miles Garrett’s the best defensive player he’s coached. And I think Schwartz, he said that he compares him to a guy like Calvin Johnson, that just changes everything. And the other team spends so much time. Uh, focused on him. And that’s what offenses do to miles Garrett and then his off season. It’s interesting. I was wondering how miles would be treated coming back off the trade request. And, you know, you go out to training camp practices, it’s all the die hards, and they embrace Him, and there’s no I never sensed any kind of animosity toward miles. I think if stuff goes wrong, then you’ll see it. Hey, you never wanted to be here. You know, you don’t want to be here, that kind of thing. I just think miles got really bad advice that he was so public about wanting the trade request, and the Browns had leverage, because he’s still under contract for multiple years, and they know that he’s their best player, and he can’t have that on your legacy is signing Deshaun Watson and then trading miles Garrett. Like, that’s Andrew Berry. Couldn’t afford to do that, and they were never going to get the value for miles Garrett. And I think when we look at the Micah Parsons trade, you okay, the Cowboys get two low first Rounders, or I expect them to be low first rounders. And you know veteran D tackle, well, when you weigh

Nestor Aparicio  21:08

out your salary cap at 22% for a defensive player, you’re, you’re, you know, you’re changing the complexion of what quarterbacks are. And I don’t know, man, you know, there’s only so much you can do where you’re going to give up collateral and money. It’s kind of like, it’s kind of like baseball deals at the trade deadline now, like, I’m not giving money and draft picks. I’ll do one or the other, because, and especially in football, where the draft picks are the money and are the gold, especially, you know, in the early years, like it is in baseball, I guess. But with the salary cap, the minute somebody wants $50 million to be a defensive player, you have to really think, you know, like, I got a quarterback, I got a sign too. No, you do, but

Speaker 1  21:55

that’s why, if you have one, I think you hang on to them, and you’re never going to get for all the reasons you just said, You’re never going to get proper value. And I think that’s how the think that’s how the Browns looked

Nestor Aparicio  22:04

at it, and that’s how the Ravens got roquan Smith, sort of, kind of too Right,

Speaker 1  22:07

sure. But you just, it’s, it’s just miles is. Miles is so different than I think every other guy in the league, it didn’t make sense. And while everybody expected him to be traded, if you talk to anybody within the browns, it wasn’t going to happen. And so that’s where my mindset was always going to be, no, he’s going to be here, he’s going to be here, and how are they going to work it out? And, you know, there’s a ton of money that works it out, but there’s also the brown saying, Hey, we’re not going to deal you. And Miles understanding that reality, and then thinking, hey, I don’t want to burn bridges here, because he likes to be liked. He loves to be loved. He’s a huge fan favorite. He realized, Hey, I gotta come back. I gotta say this is where I want to be. The money helps, and now it’s can they get to a point where they can actually win sometime in the next couple of years? To keep that frustration from again boiling over,

Nestor Aparicio  23:00

Scott patriarch is here. He covers all things Cleveland, and the Cleveland Browns are up against the the Ravens this week, and Joe flack goes in. It’s a lot more interesting than a normal Browns ravens game, I think, for if, for a lot of reasons, with the Ravens having lost on Sunday night as well, staring down. So just a lot more pressure on this side. Certainly Scott that, and I know you’re coming in for the game, I hope to get your crab cake before you get out of here. I think you’re going to feel some tension. And I talked to Luke about that a lot this week, that like, a three and out for the offense for the Ravens wouldn’t go well, something bad. Flacco leads a drive that ends somehow in six points, and it’s seven nothing. Cleveland, three and a half minutes into the game, and, like, I could see this getting ugly on the Baltimore side, because, like, the Ravens have to go win the Super Bowl every week now, like, and it’s crazy. They can’t, but that’s where they are in the franchise, 678, years into this Lamar thing, where, like, these disappointments and losing to the bills and losing to the chiefs and losing at home and losing on the road, and Mark Andrews dropping the ball and all of that. But at Owen one, if somehow they’re behind at any point in this game, you know, like it would just be, it could get crazy in a way that maybe you’ve never seen it, and I know you’ve been coming in here for 20 years.

Speaker 1  24:22

Mm, years. Yeah, it’s interesting. You know, from the Bronx perspective, I’m listening from driving home from the stadium Sunday night and then watching the finish of it once I got home, going, okay, from a bronze perspective, are they better off? If Baltimore wins, Baltimore wins a big game on Sunday night, is there any kind of letdown week two? And I think there might have been right, but then now you look at his like, is Baltimore fuming, like the team, right? Are the Ravens fuming? Are they going to be on top of their game? And they just come out and say, Hey, that was a disaster at the end of Buffalo, but this is who we are, and we’re really a Super Bowl team. Or is there that pressure you mentioned? So I. Think it’s interesting to see how the Ravens handle that out of the gate. If the Browns can get off to a good start, does that have Baltimore on its heels? You know, how the crowd reacts? I think it’s going to be interesting to see how that is.

Nestor Aparicio  25:13

You know, Schwartz was always on the psychological game, and I’ve spent a lot of time around Flaco, and I’ve spent a little bit of time, because they wouldn’t let me spend any time around Lamar. So but from what I see of Lamar and where I am more mature than he used to be, but still very quick to pound the ground and have a lot of self loathing after anything goes wrong, or Joe just focuses on the next play, and he’s been that way since he was a kid. So I would tell you that the Ravens biggest problem, and Schwartz would love this, from a two beer perspective, on a psychological side, is what happens when something goes wrong? What happens when they get punched in the mouth? Because this team here, the Marlin Humphreys and the Ronnie Stanley’s and Lamar Jackson’s and the mark Andrews. You know what? They don’t have choke, but they have ch o at this point, eight years in. And the way they lose games, and the double digit losses that they’re they’re hanging hardball for this. And that’s fine too, because I think hardball is a I don’t think much of I think a lot of things are hardball. None of it’s good. And when there’s statistics that back up that Harbaugh is involved in all of these double digit comebacks. This is, again, they don’t have choke, but they have ch O, not just the Nestor book, in everybody’s book. And when you come in, the idea is, have something go wrong, and let’s see how it goes. Just make something go wrong and watch what happens as they unravel.

Speaker 1  26:43

Yeah, it’s really interesting. And you see these teams, and it’s across sports, right? I think the Cavaliers get are kind of at this point right now from in the NBA, where it’s all about the playoffs, right? It’s all about the Super Bowl. So if they can win week one, win work two, and it’s okay, that’s great. But what are you going to do once you get to January? But if you lose in September, right then the questions become different, the pressure feels different. And I think that’s where the ravens are. I think that’s where the bills are. Richard, a few teams in this league like that, and the Ravens are certainly at the top of list. I mean, I think they’re clearing away the best team in the division, and I think they’re the only team in the division that’s going to make the playoffs. But if you tell me they start, oh and three, then you know my mind might change a bit.

Nestor Aparicio  27:27

Yeah, you and the gamblers putting 13 points on it. You know, on Sunday would say that Joe Flacco has no chance. Miles, Garrett has no chance. This is a walk over. This is the Ravens laughing and slashing and running and playing Angry. Hey, great. I believe they’re capable of that. I believe there will be weeks when that will happen, right? This better be one of them. And I’m telling you, I also have seen Joe Flacco Zach that watched them play last week, play tough, play stronger and harder than you think they are. Miles, Garrett still might be the best player on the field, and that’s saying something. When Lamar is on the field, Derek Henry’s I mean, there’s an argument to be made. You know, when Hall of Fame vote time comes, Lamar may go to a dozen more playoff games, lose them all miles. Garrett may never play in a playoff game and go to the Hall of Fame quicker. Like that’s how crazy when we start to talk about individual players. And that’s what makes us this is a way juicier week two game than anything I’ve experienced, and they lost week one last year, right? And then lost to the raiders in week two. So there’s some pedigree for all of this to be careful if you’re wagering and taking all those points. Scott Petrak is here. He is out and claiming. Tell everybody you cover the guard and the capital you covered all right,

Speaker 1  28:42

yeah. I mean, I have I do less of that now with the browns, I got to a bunch of Guardians playoff games last year when they made that little run to the ALCS. It’s been a while since I’ve been at a cast game.

Nestor Aparicio  28:52

But yeah, I see it all Yeah. Ohio State always makes it interesting. You know, we’re waiting for Maryland to make that interesting around here, man, thanks for your wisdom on you know that they figured their kicker out. What are they? They’re I mean, all I saw was Flacco making, like, kicker things. And we’ve had the whole kicker thing here the whole off season.

Speaker 1  29:09

Man, no, they’ve, I mean, they’re going to keep uh, Andre Schmidt is going to be the guy for week two. They decided not to make a change. But, you know, it’s a tough spot. They liked what they saw of him in the preseason and training camp. Kids got a big leg. I don’t know if there’s a bunch of great alternatives out there. We saw the Niners make a change. You know, Buffalo had to pick up a kicker at the end of the you know, before week one, but they’re going to ride it out. But if you’re Kevin Stefanski, I don’t know how you could feel good sending this kid out for anything extra point game winner, you know, 42 yarder to win the game. I just don’t really have a whole lot of confidence in him,

Nestor Aparicio  29:43

you know, as a real journalist, Scott, I hope you read all of the Justin Tucker information I’ve had the journalist on who had threats made to them. You know, all the Legal Eagles, all the NFL you shoving this under the rug and the 10 game suspension, and he might wind up being your kicker in week. 11, right? Like he’s going to kick again in the league, and they’re going to pretend none of this happened, and the Ravens are going to continue to pretend it was a football decision, and blah, blah, blah, but dude, I spent five months, eight months here talking about kickers and who’s going to kick and why is going to kick. And you know what? They lost by a point on Sunday night in Buffalo, and their kicker Doink an extra point. So like, we sit here and Lamar this, and Derek Henry that, and Flacco this, and, you know, and Joko then, and all that. And it still comes down to Joe Flacco was making excuses for losing because the kicker missed kicks clearly, and the Ravens, the whole thing fell apart, and they didn’t have the extra point that they needed.

Speaker 1  30:40

No I hear, and I’m telling you, if they sign Justin Tucker in week 11, my head’s gonna explode, because with the Deshaun Watson history, I, you know, I just don’t want to write about that

Nestor Aparicio  30:52

again. Yeah. Well, you know, it comes back to owners wanting to take it on or not take it on. So if you’re Rasheed rice. You get, you get, you know you’re back on the field. Scott Patrick is here. He has been doing it for a long, long time, almost going into three decades at the Illyria Chronicle, telegram. And I always appreciate your wisdom on all things Cleveland. And yay, next time I get into Cleveland will be for like, a Hall of Fame, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame thing, whatever. I got to get everybody down the Lucky’s and get you some of those scones and a little shipwreck down there in Tremont. I miss my trips into Cleveland. Man, I really do. There you go. I just said I miss Cleveland. Gosh, strike me down with lightning. I am Nestor. We are wnst. Am 1570 Towson, Baltimore, doing some great, great conversation this week as Joe Flacco comes back in and tries to take John Harbaugh’s lunch money. We’re Baltimore positive. Stay with us. You.