Summer NFL news catchup and inner monologues

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0:40Welcome to NFL Daily Kids in Charge episode. And nobody in this space has to worry about their availability for Monday's USA Belgium World Cup match. I'm Jordan Rodrigue filling in for our great host Greg Rosenthal this week. He's in vacation in Japan And I'm joined by the great Nick Shook who did an awesome job with our pal Patrick Claibon and filling in a couple weeks ago on co-host duties Shook, how are you? What's going on?

1:09Nick Shook:I'm fantastic I forgot that we had that intro music because it's been a while since the kids were in charge But we're back. You and I are back and and as the children all cheered. Yay! Here we go I know I love it are you gonna be watching the world I mean are you keeping up with the world cup what have you been kind of been up to on your break I have watched more soccer this year than maybe ever um I think it's part of it's because like it's very cool to see it in all these football stadiums across the United States and across North America and you had some in Canada and Mexico as well I felt like a good showcase of of the um the the lavish spending our nation does on on sports facilities, but they're being used to put to good use.

1:50Nick Shook:And the soccer has been electric. And of course, team USA men's national team, they're involved in it has, has driven it as well. So I will be watching today. I don't know exactly. I know there's an invitation in my lap to go watch with some people. I don't know if I'll join them and considering it, but I will be watching. Yeah, that's not, it's been a really good tournament. Now I'm not like super up to speed on the world of football. Right. But I really enjoy good sporting events. And this one's been fantastic. I can't remember something that's had us sort of enthralled match to match like this.

2:24I mean, I know, obviously, when these massive sort of global invitational tournaments happen, we all do pay attention. But this one is just every match is so, so riveting. I find myself standing for most of it, which is not. Oh, it's not like me. I'm a cushy press box writer, like I'm a press box princess. Right. So I usually am just sitting down the whole time and I love it. I think it's been awesome. I've been on vacation for a few weeks now. I went into my little athletic portal that we have and saw how many vacation hours I had amassed because I never take vacation. And I've just been trying to take a break.

3:06I went up to Ojai for a little bit. That was really, really nice. did some hiking and just sort of trying to reset before what we know will be a really, really fun season. So I hope you've gotten some time to take a little bit of a break as well. Shook.

3:19Nick Shook:Yeah. Yeah. I took a couple of weeks ago. I took a week off, which was magnificent. You know, the short week with the holiday last week, you know, just having four days off was fantastic. And I have one more week ahead to take off. So I'm looking forward to that. And you know what? The reset is necessary. It's nice because in this slow news period, it's nice to just kind of unplug from everything and especially the football world. I think there was a whole week when I was off that whole week, I don't think I talked about, well, that's a lie. I definitely talked about football to people that I know.

3:45Nick Shook:But, you know, I was just like, wow, you know, that was a nice little change of pace, nice little reset, refresh. And yeah, we're going to do a little bit more of that before training camp arrives because it's right around the corner. I know, I love it. I'm stocking up on sunscreen kind of as we speak. Speaking of not being able to quit football or just totally turn it off, we do have a segment coming up at the end of today's show where we are basically sharing with the listener, Greg Rosenthal's inner vacation monologue that we know undoubtedly and with just pure facts that he's having, even though he's in Japan, we know he can't shut off the football.

4:21But first, we have some news to catch up on. Unfortunately, a lot of it is sad news, Shook. So we're going to talk about the sad and scary and just really unfortunate stuff first. And then we're going to get to a couple of nice things that have happened in the news recently. I want to start with the news of Chris Johnson's ALS diagnosis. So, you know, we are catching up on all of this. Obviously, there was a break of pre-recorded shows. So that's why you didn't hear us talk about this really horrible situation on NFL Daily last week. We're going to get into it today. Former Titans and Cardinals star running back Chris Johnson, of course, announced on Good Morning America that he has been diagnosed with ALS.

5:09And in itself, it's incredibly heartbreaking news for him, for his family, for his friends and loved ones. In his interview with Michael Strand, where he could only speak using a speech generating machine activated by his eyes, Chris Johnson did reveal that he got diagnosed with the disease at 39. He is 40 now. Um, and it's progressed really rapidly. Um, you know, a lot of us, because Chris Johnson, when he retired, I believe it was in, in, uh, 2017, um, you know, he's been sort of out of the spotlight and, and taking time, spending time with his family. We remember him as such an electric, incredible, you know, every time the ball was in his hand, something magical was going to happen from scrimmage type of player.

5:55You know, he was a thousand yard rusher for each of his first six NFL seasons. 2009, he set the NFL scrimmage yard record with 2 ,509 and got the nickname CJ2K. This is just really, really sad, Shook.

6:10Nick Shook:Yeah, absolutely. I mean, it was a shock to me because I think nobody really knew about it before. And to see how quickly it had progressed, you know, the first thing you think of is is Steve Gleason, you know, another former football player who has dealt with it and has made his battle very public and efforts to, you know, fund research and, and garner support for those dealing with it. But it, I think this one hit even harder just because of the type of player that Chris Johnson was. I mean, he was an incredibly explosive, like appointment viewing type of player. Like, you know, the Titans were on TV, you know, that you're going to want to watch because Chris Johnson might rip off a long run.

6:43Nick Shook:Like he was the guy, the speedster held a back out of East Carolina who really just put together quite a career that you know included almost 10 ,000 rushing yards you know you had the CJ2K year really at his best he was the reason that you really wanted to watch Tennessee play football I think back to when they were doing the AFL anniversary and they had those old Oilers uniforms on and just watching him run through defenses and that just it was it was a great time I think for running backs especially but he was one of the faces that was like when I was in high school going into college and and he was one of the guys that you definitely wanted to watch And it's just so, you know, sad.

7:15Nick Shook:It's just nothing more than sad that that he, you know, has to deal with this disease. And, you know, good on him for having the courage to, you know, to participate in that interview. And good on them to also, I mean, it's a very minor victory, but being able to record his voice so that he could still speak in his own voice with this, you know, software and everything that they're using. But, man, it's just it's another reminder of how difficult, you know, things can be when you're stricken by such a disease. And I also wanted to give a shout out to Marshawn Lynch for doing, reviving the ice bucket challenge or helping revive the ice bucket challenge with, with Chris Johnson.

7:50Nick Shook:You know, it's nice to see that people come out and support him and just really unfortunate that he's dealing with that. Yeah. And as we sit here and talk about that, you know, this morning or this, this early afternoon, your, your time shook, you know, that ice bucket challenge is starting to resurface and spread a little bit more as people show their support for Chris Johnson. First and foremost, our thoughts are obviously with Chris Johnson and his wife, Brittany, who was by his side during the interview, who has been by his side as he discussed, and obviously their children, their family, their extended family, their friends.

8:26Our hearts really go out to them. And I want to say too, all of this has also reignited the very important discussion over potential links between ALS and tackle football between ALS and professional football, traumatic contact sports such as football. The 2021 study by the American Medical Association found that professional football players are four times more likely to develop the disease, sharing this because of awareness and to make sure that research is ongoing, new treatment studies are ongoing in trying to find help for people who are stricken by this. And Chris Johnson talked a little bit about some of the treatments that he is undergoing and said in that interview that people sometimes look at the physical disability and assume you're not still the same person inside.

9:22He said, I still think the same. I still dream. I still love my family. My body just doesn't cooperate. And also that he has chosen to fight, quote, this terrible disease. and, you know, the courage is incredible. The situation is just extreme. It's just extremely sad. And, you know, hope for more awareness, hope for a treatment that brings positive progress and hope for a cure.

9:50Nick Shook:Yeah, absolutely. You know, I think back to my own personal experiences, you know, because you always want to try to find a way to relate to something as unfortunate as this. And my late grandfather, he'd had a stroke when he was in his 50s and was paralyzed on the right side of his body for the rest of his life. But he was, you know, much like Chris Johnson, saying he was still the same person inside so was mine he just couldn't you know do a lot of the things um that uh he was capable of doing before and and i think that's a good reminder is that when you see people battling these these things um it's obviously easy to get an immediate you know reaction and saying well wow they're they've been physically reduced to you know being in a wheelchair and needing these types of assistance but let's not forget that they are still the same person inside and that he's you know been one heck of a person and was one heck of a football player during his NFL career.

10:35Well said. You know, more sad news. We are catching up on this. This also is one that I think kicks people right in the gut, knowing the quality and caliber of person, of teammate, of figurehead in the NFL that Calais Campbell has been. Just to update people on the news, you know, longtime NFL Ironman, Walter Payton Man of the Year, Calais Campbell, his brother was charged last week in Atlanta with murder after the death of their mother. I believe the pronunciation of her name is Natale Campbell. Just an awful situation. The family, of course, has asked for privacy at this time. He's currently signed with the Baltimore Ravens.

11:18They did release a statement that says, we are incredibly saddened to learn about the passing of Calais Campbell's mother. We extend our deepest condolences and full support to Calais and his family during this difficult time. We ask that everyone please respect their privacy while they grieve from this heartbreaking loss and, you know, just a really sad and unfolding situation all around. Another legal update wanted to update the news listeners on brief Terry and Arnold update. He was released by the Detroit Lions last week. He's still awaiting trial and has posted bail on kidnapping and robbery charges.

11:54There is no good transition out of just a real load of unfortunate catching up to do, but this story did make me smile, Shook. This is regarding DJ Moore, a player of whom I am a huge fan of. According to a Buffalo local news station, it's WKBW, DJ Moore bought out all of the t-shirt jerseys featuring his name in a store in a local mall in Buffalo and is giving them away to fans. Of course, DJ Moore was traded to Buffalo from Chicago last season. My favorite detail about this is the touch that the store put on it. Um, they simply marked the price of the shirts as$0 and put a note and put a note by them that said the shirt was paid for by DJ more.

12:47I just thought it was a very, um, just like surprise, not surprising, but, um, sort of spur of the moment serendipitous gesture that he made. I just thought that was fun. I just love stories like that.

12:58Nick Shook:I mean, how do you curry good favor in your new town better than gifting everybody t-shirt jerseys of yourself uh i mean there's no better way to get your your number in the stands than by buying the stock out at a and also support a mall because as we know malls in america are not as uh you know prosperous and and popular and productive as they once were so you know helping out their business that helps too i mean it's it immediately makes you a fan favorite it wins you over and you're also going to look up in the stands and see a bunch of your number in the stands because oh yeah you happen to pay for it.

13:31Nick Shook:It's a good way to start off a tenure in Buffalo. High expectations there as always. And he's going to be a key part of, you know, their big Super Bowl hopes as they try to make yet another run and hopefully clear that final hurdle. So a smart move. Good PR. Good job, DJ Moore. I know. I thought it was very endearing. That's really no different than how many of his years were in Carolina to that fan base. The Panthers fan base really loved him before he went to Chicago. I just feel like I love a city that notices when it's athletes or famous figures, otherwise famous figures like do stuff like that.

14:10Like, I mean, it wasn't like, you know, if this news station hadn't walked in, sounds like if they hadn't walked in the store and seen it, then they probably wouldn't have. This wasn't like a PR memo sent out.

14:24Nick Shook:Let's think about it. Let's think about it, though. Somebody would walk in there and see zero dollars. This shirt was paid for by DJ Moore posted to social media. Oh, for sure. For sure. For sure. I'm just saying they didn't send out like a press release. Like we didn't get like Matthew Stafford, a mortal chamber press release on this or anything like that. You know, like I just I like when stuff like this happens, that that feels organic, that feels unplanned, that a fan base can really endear themselves to a player or vice versa. The player can really endear endear himself to the fan base for.

14:53I just like it. I hope that it brought some joy to some of the Buffalo fans' lives as they wait very, very excitedly for the opening of that new stadium up there. It's just fun. I mean, you want some good energy and some good vibes going into a season where, once again, the main questions we will be asking is, do they finally have what it takes to get over the hump this year? A team that we're not really asking questions like that of, great seg Jordan. Rasul Douglas plans to sign a one-year deal with the commanders, as reported by our buddy Adam Schefter over at ESPN. The deal is reportedly worth up to$3.8 million.

15:37Rasul Douglas is 30. He was signed by the Dolphins as sort of a late, like post-cuts summer edition. Last season had some injury issues played in 15 games for them though. And he can be a menace when he wants to, you know, he had some really, really bright moments last season. Week 14 really stands out to me. It was like something like four or five pass breakups and an interception. And he had AFC defensive player of the week or month or whatever that was honors. If I'm recalling correctly and probably very sloppily, the listeners can let me know on that one, but yeah, he, he still has some, some stuff to him.

16:13so I just I think it's like one of those really solid late late summer signings and the commanders they need depth everywhere on their defense and they need to bounce back in a bad way this year

16:24Nick Shook:yeah they do need to bounce back given what happened with their season which largely depended on not only the fact that they lost their starting quarterback but also that they had you know the league's worst defense or one of the worst defenses yeah wasn't a good look for Dan Quinn defensive minded coach but yeah yet another veteran addition on that side of the ball that's how they spent their entire offseason by investing. I think they have as many as six new projected starters on the defensive side of the ball. Rasul is not necessarily going to slot in as a starter, but he's going to be a quality veteran.

16:50Nick Shook:He's one of my favorite defensive backs who I think has been underrated throughout the course of his career. At one point, he was a practice squad guy. I think he was a practice squad guy with Arizona or Green Bay and then ended up, yeah, he ended up with Green Bay. I remember him making a play in Arizona and being like, oh yeah, well, he got a little revenge there. But he's been a guy that, you know, has just been a tireless worker who's contributed in pretty much every stop he's made, even like Buffalo. Like he didn't, he spent two years in Buffalo. He had four interceptions in total in the 2023 season, then kind of washed out in 2024.

17:21Nick Shook:Didn't seem to be much of a fit there, but I've always known that this is a guy who is like a quality player. And even at 30 years old, approaching his 31st birthday at the end of August, it seems like that's the right fit, the right pairing as the commanders try to turn this defense around. You don't do it with simply with young guys and young talent. You got to have veterans. They've accrued a bunch of them this off season. And so it makes a ton of sense. Looking forward to see what he does there. Yeah, it's like what we talk a lot about on this show, about having to bridge that developmental gap and raise the floor of a position group, in this case an entire unit.

17:51Their defense certainly needing attention there. Their coverage, their rush was not great. Their coverage was also just absolutely a factor in letting down their rush when they did have it, and vice versa, honestly. And so I think this is a really solid signing. It kind of reminds me of when, you know, the Los Angeles Rams, they signed like Akella Witherspoon or when Tony Jefferson joins a team, you know, whether it's the Chargers or the Ravens or elsewhere, where you know that there's going to be a game where even if he's a depth player, even if he's a rotational figure, there will be a game at some point this season where we are watching him most likely make plays for the commanders.

18:35and certainly admire that he stayed kind of resilient through some of the later stage career injury issues that he's had. I did not realize that he's one of your favorite. Oh, yeah.

18:48Nick Shook:Oh, yeah. I get on board with some lesser-known guys when I just see them make plays, especially mercenary guys, and he's always been one of those guys where I'm like, he just happens to be there. He just has an innate sense for, you know, as a ball hawk, he's just a guy who makes plays on the ball. I know NextGen has a ball hawk rate. I don't have the number pulled up in front of me right now, but I know that he was always pretty high in that metric. And yeah, I know he's not a household name and that's fine. I know he's been in a billion different stops, but there's a reason he keeps getting a job and it's because he's a good football player.

19:17Yeah, smart signing. And meanwhile, all eyes are on or maybe trying to not be so closely on another potential commander signing that seems less and less likely as time passes. and that is of receiver Brandon Ayuk. I know that Greg has covered this situation that continues to get messier and messier. I know he's already covered this, so we're not going to spend a ton of time on this. We are going to take some time to talk weddings because you already know I sent you guys a warning in the Google Doc, in the rundown. I sent you a warning. This is news. We are going to talk about it. I love love. Love freaking rocks.

19:58On Friday, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelsey were married at Madison Square Garden in New York City in front of, you know, a tiny amount. No, just kidding. In front of reportedly hundreds, if not a thousand or more guests, some of whom were NFL stars, current and former teammates of Travis Kelsey, current and former coaches. also the entire Fox and Amazon broadcast booths and desks apparently, as well as, of course, like a ton of celebrities and other family and friends and loved ones. I'm going to ask for your take on this, Shook. I'm a little cautious about it. You know, you never know when you talk to, you know, men, first of all, but second of all, sports guys about what your take might be on this.

20:46my take is is i absolutely i love love in in every form and yeah this is seemed like it was it was a lot of joy um and i'm happy for him yeah what do you think i'm gonna take the typical like

21:00Nick Shook:they should stop pointing the camera at taylor no hey no that's so stupid um like many stupid internet things that may be the dumbest uh no this is great uh i agree i also love love i think who doesn't love love well some people well some miserable people don't love love but i love love and i'm happy that um you know they were able to do this i'm just more curious about the i want the details like i'm not a guy who watches like reality tv or is like give me the details of so-and-so's wedding but this one i want to know because they chose madison square garden and if there was perhaps a thousand people there that is much less than the listed capacity of madison square garden and i also want to know how is the jumbotron involved did they get pyrotechnics involved i've been to much cheaper weddings that involved pyrotechnics at the reception so i'd like to know did they take advantage of what is capable in madison square garden for that we know a lot of the celebrities that were there i want to know what the step-by-step experience was you know before the party afterward was there some sort of cool thing on each person's seat like this is obviously no expense was spared given that they rented out perhaps the world's most famous arena so i just want to know the details of it but i'm happy for them look a lot of attention is paid as the son of a mother who when we'd be in the grocery store lines as a child she'd be looking at the gossip magazines and being like oh did you see what cameron diaz is doing and i'm like i don't care mom like i've never cared about that but i do kind of just want to know a little bit about uh you know, the inside details of this stuff.

22:36Nick Shook:And at the same time, I am happy because with that background, you know, a lot of attention is paid to, you know, celebrity couples and everything else. This seems like legitimate true love. Like the backstory of how they met, you know, it felt like Travis kind of like let down the tough guy football exterior and just let her in. He shot his shot and then let her in and is not afraid to admit it. and anytime that you watch somebody like that transform when they find their person, it just warms my heart. So I'm happy for that. Yeah, it's well said. You know, I got a little worried when you started a sentence with as the son of a mother, but you know, you saved it.