Football America! – Details, episodes & analysis

We did it - crawled through a river of s#!t and came out clean on the other side. It's football season! I find I'm so excited, I can barely sit still or hold a thought in my head. I think it's the excitement only a football fan can feel, a fan at the start of a long journey whose conclusion is uncertain. I hope my team makes it to Santa Clara. I hope to see them there and shake their hands. I hope the Lombardi is as shiny as it has been in my dreams. On this episode, Mina Kimes joins the show to talk ball. The Super Fuentes Brothers play a round a hypothetical trades, and as always newsman Bradley with the top stories from the NFL. Football America! Just in time for the Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Just in time for our favorite season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I want everybody to be careful about reading too much - or anything, into preseason games, because they matter exactly as much as Zach Wilson’s turquoise jersey number. Preseason games are a month long lie for your eyes. they're the OG AI. They are the NFL’s version of a Civil War reenactment. They only look real. Well, unless you believe Skylar Thompson’s three touchdown performance over the weekend means the Steelers can now cut Aaron Rodgers. The only thing that matters is whether the guys who’ll be on the field don’t get hurt before the games start to matter. And yeah, I know - preseason games matter for the guys on the fringe… but that’s what scrimmages are for. If football players needed preseason games, how come they don’t play 'em in college? Listen, football however you wanna football… but with the season - the actual season - now on the near horizon, I wanna focus on the things that do matter. Or will in January. That's what we'll get into on episode two of Football America! One of the greatest tight ends in NFL history, Greg Olsen stops by to set the record straight on his so-called rivalry with Tom Brady, and gives us a preview of his new venture, Youth, Inc. We guess the Over and Under with Mike Ryan Ruiz. And the Super Fuentes Brothers teach me all about QB Tinder. Swipe right. Right?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Didya hear about the woman in West Virginia who framed the Pittsburgh Steelers tattoo she had taken off her dead husband’s arm? Now that’s what I call having some skin in the game. Pelts on the wall. Yes, as the Lincoln-driving philosopher Matthew McConaughey taught us, Time is a flat circle. You know what’s also a circle? A ring. Coaches are fond of saying “No one can ever take away that ring.” But of course, those rings can and have been taken, sold, or lost. Still, the spirit of the point stands: Time waits for no man, but our deeds are etched into history. How we stack up that particular moment in time - versus all the moments in time - is where things get murky and therefore make for enjoyable debate fodder with a beer in your hand. That's why in this episode of Football America! we dive into the teams that will miss the playoffs with DLS Family Tony Calatayud and the Super Fuentes Brothers, and then climb Mount Lombardi with the pride of Autzen Stadium, former Duck and NFL lineman Geoff Schwartz. Objective Bradley is back with the news, too! Oh, and if you're thinking about the tattoo of the Steeler helmet just a word of caution... the hypocycloids go on the right, yinz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

*NOTE: We recorded this podcast before the Dallas Cowboys traded Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers. But do not fret Football Americans! Shek provided his immediate reactions to the trade on our YouTube. -Newsman Bradley Best of times, worst of times? Beats the Dickens out of me what that one tale of two cities was about…but where Pittsburgh and Cleveland are concerned, I’m not sure who’s better or worse… at least at sports’ most important position. Now listen, I’m not insane. The Steelers will be better than the Browns this year--and of course we can laugh at the Browns. Oh my yes, we’ll laugh at the Browns, that is my solemn vow. But whatever you think Cleveland’s one step forward, 23-yards sack approach, at least they tried to solve the QB spot. As it happens, the two halves of pro pigskin’s rusty yinz n yang are in the same spot, starting one-yr rentals both on the wrong side of 40…and that’s not a real solution, especially if the goal is going the Super bowl. You think Aaron Rodgers is the missing link for a Lombardi run? the guy whose one and only trip was 15 years ago…against you? By that logic, maybe the Niners shoulda signed their SB43 conquerer Joe Flacco. I’m pretty sure the Steelers braintrust didn’t see Sinners…because if they had, they’d know you don’t invite in the guy who wants to suck the culture outta you and make it his own. Sorry if that’s upsetting, but do keep in mind, yinz have merely adopted the darkness. I was born into it. Back in October of 2010, I said Rodgers would go down as the greatest QB in history. I still say he’s the most talented. Or at least, he was. Now though, chasing the self-proclaimed private man who makes documentaries about himself isn’t a sincere effort to go the Super bowl. It’s about Rodgers and Tomlin’s mutually beneficial hope they find redemption and reclaim professional dignity with A playoff win. There’s a good reason why that story sounds familiar - it’s the same script Tomlin tried with Russell Wilson last year. And that low standard is quite, Brownsie? Of course this didn’t have to happen. At the draft they knew they needed a long term answer at QB…but took a D-tackle. And now, if Jaxson Dart is good, that’s bad, and if Justin Fields beats Aaron Rodgers in Week One, well, it’s gonna get just plain ugly. A-listers like Rodgers might get ink, but summer blockbusters fall in the NFL’s offseason. The award winners don’t come out til Autumn… and if you can’t beat Patrick Mahomet, Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen in January. No matter which rust belt city you’re in... there’s no point to these fireworks. (And that reminds me, one last note to file away for next summer, Najee Harris - fireworks go in the sky, not your eye.) Let it begin! Ryan Clark joins the show to talk about Aaron Rodgers, cold shoulders and why Mike Tomlin never lost them a game. The Super Fuentes Brothers have the con in Miami. They’re gonna help me with some fantasy decisions as the Angel & Devil on my shoulder. Newsman Bradley is in NYC with the black and white news. Also, big shoutout to my guy Tony in Encino, CA, who told me at soccer practice the other day he’s a Football American! Be a patriot, subscribe! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Glass half full, Bill Belichick - at least now you know she’s not into you for your coaching. Must be your rugged good looks. What we all already knew before last weekend even kicked off - there are only four or maybe five of those teams with an actual chance of winning the national championship. College football’s great.. except for the end part, when the elites head behind the velvet ropes into the vip area and everybody else gets to fight over Poptart and Mayo bowls. What’s the biggest surprise in the last half century in college football? BYU in ’84, Howard Schnellenberger & Bernie Kosar beating Nebraska in the ’84 Orange Bowl. And... that’s it. Compare that with the NFL - where the unimaginable is the norm, and I don’t just mean the Dallas Cowboys trading their best player to their rival since the days of the ice bowl. The Micah Parsons deal wasn’t so much unimaginable as it was un-smart. For all our collective focus on pro football, there are still things that no one sees coming. I was thinking about how often the NFL’s turned me into Vince Lombardi, asking what the hell I’m looking at. The biggest surprises of the last 60 yrs of the super bowl era are that the three best QBs of the super bowl era are a six round draft pick, a 3rd round draft pick from Pennsylvania named Montana, and a QB who was drafted behind Mitchell Trubisky. The O.G. Of improbability is of course the Jets beating the Colts in super bowl 3. Broadway Joe may have shared his bed with half the women of Manhattan, but it was unimaginable anyone from the AFL could get to first base with the Lombardi. To be accurate, the trophy wasn’t named the Lombardi til 1970, after Namath had won it. But then again, if the Cowboys had survived the Ice Bowl in ‘67 then won the second super bowl, that trophy might now be called the Landry. Imagine that. We've got Mike Ryan Ruiz from the Dan LeBatard Show on today along with Dan Hanzus from Heed the Call. Week one picks with the Super Fuentes Bros and news updates about Parson's epidural along with my Fantasy Football League with newsman Bradley. Let it begin! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Football Americans! We’ve so much to get to this episode: Lamar v Allen! The long kicks! Jalen Carter’s spit! The sad, sad Dolphins. And we've got the right father and son duo to tell you all about it with Greg and Chris Cote from the Dan LeBatard show. Plus, we've bring in Geoff Schwartz to explain why he fell asleep and missed what could be the best game of the season. The Super Fuentes Brothers provide knee jerk reactions to Week One from Miami, and Newsman Bradley presents Aaron Rodgers unfiltered from New York. Hyperbolic, sure. Satisfying? Of course. Football is back, America, and here to cover it is Football America! **That said. Before you hit play we gotta protect our guy, Pittsburgh Hero Ryan Clark. A lot of people out there chose to get up on Mount Pious about Clark saying Tom Brady and Drew Brees weren’t generational talents. They aren’t. Neither guy was a measurable physical freak. Y’see the NFL’s got two basic types of QBs. 1. Specimens like Josh Allen, Andrew Luck, Cam Newton, even Jeff George. These guys can evolve into gunslingers like John Elway, Brett Favre and Ben Roethlisberger and take you to the top of Mount Lombardi. 2. Assassins like Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, and Joe Montana. They’ve been marginalized with the name ‘game manager’ but they’re calculated and lethally accurate. Big game trophy hunters. That's why I call 'em ASSASSINS. In superhero terms, it’s like Superman v Batman. You'd of course like the measurables of the son of Jor-el over Bruce Wayne, but that doesn’t mean Batman can’t win thanks to being more clever. So, descend Mount Pious and just admit Brady and Brees are the Keaton and Bale Batmans (batmen?) of the NFL. And be good with it. As for serial killers, well... Mike Tomlin can go ahead explain that one. We're stumped. Now, start the show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Well, there has been plenty of fallout across Football America! when it comes to kicking. So I invited Jordan Schultz to join Football America! to discuss who got the boot and who stood firm. Schultz is a true journalist to his core. He's the co-host of the new podcast Why Is Draymond Green Talking About Football with Jordan Schultz. He lends his reportorial acumen to FA! by explaining how the 49ers will deal with injury woes, and then shares inside knowledge on what it will take to replace the Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel. And then he lets us know about the food that best represents his hometown of Seattle. That's something I care about deeply. Actually, I think we all do. Anywho, the Super Fuentes Bros with their pal Ethan in Miami help me make my fantasy and game picks of the week. Newsman Bradley is in New York with the latest news. Then my mom, the great Mo Dameshek joins us to talk Joe Burrow! Really. Truly, don't miss this one. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Broncos fans are mad at the refs. Chiefs fans are mad at Taylor Swift’s fiancé. Steelers fans are mad at the defense. Bengals fans are mad at the organization for not getting Joe Burrow an O-line--and now he’s out til the holidays! Packer fans are... incredibly thankful for Jerry Jones. Football America!s Dave Dameshek is about to get into all of it with Geoff Schwartz, Jonathan Zaslow and the rest of the gang. Host: Dave Dameshek Guests: Jonathan Zaslow, Geoff Schwartz, Gino Fuentes, Mike Fuentes, Bradley Campbell Producers: Danny Benitez, Mike Fuentes, Gino Fuentes Timestamps: (00:00:00-00:00:23) Express Monologue! (00:00:23-00:33:50) Jerk Report with Jonathan Zaslow (Chiefs, Dolphins, and a reason to ban the Tush Push) (00:33:51-00:48:00) Points per game with Geoff Schwartz (Packers, Cowboys, Seahawks and Travis Kelce's predicament) (00:48:01-00:50:00) MNF football picks Follow us: Dave Dameshek: https://x.com/dameshek/ Geoff Schwartz: https://x.com/geoffschwartz Jonathan Zaslow: https://x.com/ZaslowShow Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans, Washington Commanders Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Eagles rumble to another victory. Packers lose in the Paris of the Rust Belt. Caleb Williams is back--or is the Cowboys defense really that bad? The Colts success is durable thanks to the MVP frontrunner Indiana Jones. Plus, why the NFL should ban domes. Football America!s Dave Dameshek is about to get into all of it with guests Gregg Rosenthal, Geoff Schwartz and the rest of the gang. Host: Dave Dameshek Guests: Gregg Rosenthal, Geoff Schwartz, Gino Fuentes, Mike Fuentes, Bradley Campbell Producers: Danny Benitez, Mike Fuentes, Gino Fuentes Timestamps: (00:00:00-00:02:38) Monologue - The Problem with Domes (00:02:38-00:22:43) The Jerk List with Gregg Rosenthal (00:22:43-00:48:58) Points Per Game with Geoff Schwartz (00:48:58-00:49:49) FA! ON THE RISE Follow us: Dave Dameshek: https://x.com/dameshek/ Gregg Rosenthal: https://x.com/greggrosenthal Geoff Schwartz: https://x.com/geoffschwartz Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans, Washington Commanders Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices