Between the Tackles

Sports Illustrated senior reporter Albert Breer joins the pod to talk all things NFL. He opens the show by breaking down the Los Angeles Rams decision to draft Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with the No. 13 over pick of the 2026 NFL Draft. Breer takes us behind the scenes in the Rams thought process and why Sean McVay and general manager Les Snead decided to take Matthew Stafford’s backup instead of a player who can help the Rams get to the Super Bowl in 2027. What is the NFL comp that league decision makers have given Breer about Simpson?

Th...

The guys discuss the latest developments in the scandal surrounding New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and former NFL Insider for ESPN and The Athletic Dianna Russini. Vrabel will not be with the Patriots for Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft to attend counseling and be with his family. Have his recent public statements done more harm than good in the wake of more photos from TMZ and the New York Post?

Burg and Manish move on to discuss a wild first round of the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh on Thursday night that featured eight trades with...

Gary Vaynerchuck is an entrepreneur, marketing guru and social media influencer who serves as the Chairman of VaynerX, the CEO of VaynerMedia, Creator and CEO of VeeFriends and a six-time New York Times Best Selling Author. Gary Vee is also a lifelong New York Jets fan, who has endured his fair share of heartache rooting for his favorite team.

Gary Vee kicks off the episode by sharing insights on the growth of VaynerSports, a full-service talent representation and sports marketing consulting agency, over the past decade. From representing NFL Pro Bowl players like Detroit Lions superstar Aiden H...

A wild Final 2026 NFL Mock Draft show includes five trades, including three by one AFC team.

Where will future stars like Jeremiyah Love, David Bailey, Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles, Caleb Downs, Carnell Tate, Makai Lemon, Jordyn Tyson, Kenyon Sadiq, Omar Cooper, Jr., Monroe Freeling, Omar Cooper Jr., Denzel Boston, Francis Mauigoa, Reuben Bain, Akheem Mesidor, Spencer Fano, Mansoor Delane, Spencer Fano, Caleb Lomu, T.J. Parker, Jermod McCoy, Colton Hood, Keldric Faulk, Max Iheanachor, Kayden Proctor, Cashius Howell, Zion Young, Dillon Thieneman, Blake Miller, Olaivavega Ioane, Emmanuel McNeil-Warren and others land?

Will Alabama quarterback Ty...

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Burg and Manish kick off the show by discussing the latest on the scandal centering on New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and former Athletic NFL Insider Dianna Russini after her recent resignation. Is there a double standard at play? Why did Russini resign amid the Athletic internal investigation in the wake of the New York Post Page 6 story? What, if any, repercussions will Vrabel face?

Then, the guys take a deep dive in the Top 10 running back prospects in...

What should we make of the New York Post Page Six story about the coach and reporter meeting in Arizona? Should Russini’s reporting on Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown’s future and possible trade be called into question? Did Russini’s and Vrabel’s statements refuting the insinuation of an improper relationship change the mind of the public? Will people question Russini’s agenda for future reports connected with the Patriots and Vrabel, who she admitted was a source in her statement?

Burg and Manish focus on the fallout from a purely reporting and journalist...

Robinson gives secrets to acing player interviews when questioned by NFL head coaches, NFL scouts, NFL general managers, NFL owners and media at the NFL Combine and in the weeks leading up to the NFL Draft. Robinson spent the past two years helping players prepare for All-Star Game interviews, NFL Combine interviews and Top 30 Visit interviews.

Robinson was working for WIN Sports Group, a sports representation firm founded by Patrick Whitesell that works with stars like Joe Burrow and Nick Bosa, before recently getting hired by Miami Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan to work as a front...

(3:00): Surprising biggest Fantasy Football Winner after free agency

(6:00): Biggest Fantasy Football Loser after NFL Free Agency Frenzy

(6:30): Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker joins Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. Will the Seattle Seahawks add more running back help in the 2026 NFL Draft for Zach Charbonnet after signing former Green Bay Packers free agent running back Emmanuel Wilson?

(10:55): What does Travis Etienne, Jr., arrival with the New Orleans Saints mean for Alvin Kamara?

(13:30): Is former Baltimore Ravens RB Keaton Mitchell is sneaky good signing for Los Angeles Chargers coaches...

Check out our earlier Mock Draft 1.0 (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/between-the-tackles/id1710483160?i=1000751908491) and Best Buy-Low Draft Prospects after the Scouting Combine  (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/between-the-tackles/id1710483160?i=1000752910540)

Will Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown be traded? Will the New England Patriots trade their first-round pick to reunite Brown with Mike Vrabel? What will the Miami Dolphins do with the pick from the Denver Broncos in the Jaylen Waddle deal?

Where will future stars like Jeremiyah Love, David Bailey, Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles, Caleb Downs, Carnell Tate, Makai Lemon, J...

(2:00) Before the guys dive into the Top 10, they discuss the Miami Dolphins decision to trade wide receiver Jaylen Waddle to Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos. New Miami head coach Jeff Hafley and Dolphins GM Jon-Erik Sullivan have had an eventful offseason and now have a huge $175 million dead money charge for the 2026 season. They will be in the Arch Manning sweepstakes for the No. 1 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.

(5:00): Former New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs proved in 2025 that he still can be a productive player. Diggs was a huge help for quarterback Drake Maye...

(2:00) Tennessee Titans signed players familiar with Robert Saleh and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll. It seemed like Titans general manager Mike Borganzi just inked deals with former New York Giants and New York Jets. The most questionable addition was former Giants wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson, who cashed in on a four-year contract for $70 million. Robinson is a solid slot receiver, but will his arrival stunt wideout Chimere Dike’s development? Or will quarterback Cam Ward now have another big weapon? Robinson cracked 1,000 yards receiving without Malik Nabers last season.

(5:30) Cleveland Browns overpaid for former Los Angeles Chargers offe...

(2:30): The Washington Commanders, Tennessee Titans, Indianapolis Colts, Carolina Panthers and Las Vegas Raiders came out of the gate doling a lot of guaranteed money to free agents. With so much salary cap space at their disposal, these teams threw piles of cash at coveted free agents looking for a big payday.

(3:30) The Indianapolis Colts re-signed wide receiver Alex Pierce to a monster 4-year, $114 million contract after rumors that the big-play wideout could land with the New England Patriots or San Francisco 49ers. At the end of the day Colts general manager Chris Ballard chose to...

Pete Prisco is a CBS Sports senior NFL columnist and analyst for CBS Sports HQ with decades of experience covering the league. Prisco (@PriscoCBS on X) provides a deep dive on the 2026 NFL Free Agency frenzy, including his annual informative story on his Top 100 NFL Free Agents on CBSSports.com (https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/pete-priscos-top-100-nfl-free-agents-for-2026/) .

Eric “Burg” Burgess and Manish Mehta leave no stone unturned during this entertaining episode filled with soon-to-be overpaid busts, the best bargains in this free agent class and a closer look at football trade talks involving disgruntled stars like Phil...

Samir Suleiman is a former Vice President in the NFL, who worked for nearly three decades for the league office, Jacksonville Jaguars, St. Louis Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers and Carolina Panthers. Suleiman has had an incredible depth and breadth of knowledge of the business side of football and the X’s and O’s given his diverse background negotiating high-profile contracts, navigating the ever-changing salary cap and engaging on the pro scouting side of the NFL universe.

Episode Highlights:

(2:45): What should Tom Brady, Klint Kubiak and the Las Vegas Raiders do with disgruntled Pro Bowl pass rush...

With the NFL Scouting Combine in the books, Burg and Manish analyze some “winners” and “losers” among the draft prospects who participated in Indianapolis. The truth is that savvy NFL teams won’t be significantly impacted by the so-caller risers and fallers during the week of on-field drills.

The guys kick off with the best Buy-Low prospects who present an opportunity for smart general managers, coaches and executives to pounce on at the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh in April.

Highlights:

(3:00) Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson: Will a slow 40-yard dash hurt his draft...

Burg and Manish kick off their first NFL mock draft with loads of surprises after Tom Brady’s Las Vegas Raiders take Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza with first overall pick. The New York Jets and head coach Aaron Glenn land the first of two defensive studs in the first round. Todd Monken’s Cleveland Browns make a pair of franchise-changing selections. Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys address their biggest weaknesses with both of their first-round picks. The Rams shock the world with their second selection. The Philadelphia Eagles prepare for life without a future Hall of Fame...

Legendary NFL reporter John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL on X) joins the pod to discuss his groundbreaking documentary “PVIL Story: Separate but Equal?” on segregation in Texas high school football (www.maddogentertainment.tv) before talking about the state of the Houston Texans and his claim that he will streak through the streets naked if quarterback C.J. Stroud is traded.

A powerful and entertaining conversation with one of the giants in NFL media over the past half century. A must listen!

Highlights of the episode:

• McClain kicks off the show with behind-the-scenes stories about...

Veteran NFL reporter Greg Bedard of the Boston Sports Journal (bostonsportsjournal.com) joins the pod to break down the New England Patriots’ magical Super Bowl run with Drake Maye and Mike Vrabel, and analyze pressing topics this offseason. Before Bedard (@GregABedard on X) dives into the Patriots, the former Sports Illustrated scribe opines on the hot-button topic centering on the NFL’s recent arbitration victory over the NFL Players Association’s annual public release of player report cards (2:00). Bedard pulls no punches when criticizing “clueless” NFL owners. He then provides in-depth analysis of the Patriots 2025 campaign and what lies ahead this...

Burg and Manish break down the Seattle Seahawks’ 29-13 win over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX. Mike Macdonald’s defense dominated Drake Maye & Co. en route to hoisting the Lombardi Trophy. Kenneth Walker carved up Mike Vrabel’s defense, which held Sam Darnold and Jaxon Smith-Njigba in check all night.

The guys dissect the Patriots’ porous offensive line, rookie left tackle Will Campbell’s struggles and what else went wrong for Josh McDaniels’ offense.

On the flip side, the Patriots defense played well enough to win by holding Seattle to five Jason Meyers field...

Burg and Manish kick off the Super Bowl LX Preview episode questioning New England Patriots legend Tom Brady’s curious comments about who he’ll be rooting for in the big game. The guys pivot to the quarterback matchup featuring Drake Maye and Sam Darnold. Will Maye’s mysterious shoulder injury or Darnold’s oblique issue impact their play on Super Sunday?

Then, Manish zeroes in on the Seattle Seahawks’ stout defense versus New England’s shaky pass protection as the key to the game (15:00). Mike Vrabel’s defense has played its best in the postseason (17:20), which could present...

Sports betting expert and fantasy football pioneer John Hansen (fantasypoints.com founder, @VSinLive, @Fantasy_Guru on X) joins the podcast to break down all angles of the Seahawks-Patriots Super Bowl LX gambling landscape. Hansen, the host of “Prop Points” on @VSiNLive Monday-Friday from 1-2 pm ET, kicks off the program by weighing on Patriots owner Robert Kraft’s Hall of Fame snub (4:00).

Hansen reveals The Art of Prop Bet (7:00) by explaining his process when determining which bets to zero in on. Hansen’s process and projections blend analytics from fantasypoints.com with his institutional knowledge from more than 30...