With Gary Gramling away, Conor Orr is joined by SI Fantasy Football Guru Michael Fabiano, and we talk about the shrewdness of Jim Nantz in celebrity studded fantasy leagues. Also, you’ll want to stick around to hear about a fantasy football collective that includes the band mates from Alice In Chains, Anthrax and…Michael Buble? Plus, Fabiano tells us who we’re overdrafting, underdrafting, and everything in betweenAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

It is, indisputably, time to start thinking Super Bowl for these teams in the latest installment of the Preseason Power Rankings Countdown. Once again, we will not reveal who the teams are in this episode description, but we will provide these clues from our conversations: Team 12: Will this be the best third-place team in football? And what do we make of the newness of it all (or the maybe lack of good-ness in the linebacking corps)? Team 11: Let’s see just how much competent quarterback play and a new defensive coordinator who never blitzes means for this team. Team 10: A team that used to be bad, but now will likely be good for a long time. And while their offense should evolve, it’s already built to last. Team 9: The unluckiest then luckiest then unluckiest team of 2021. The alternate title to this episode: “There Are Two Dylan Parhams.” Come back every Monday for the next four teams in the countdown. Have a comment, critique or question for a future mailbag? Email themmqb@gmail.com or tweet at @GGramling_SI or @ConorOrrAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

It’s a special emergency episode of the The MMQB NFL Podcast, as Conor and Gary delve into the final (maybe?) settlement of the Deshaun Watson suspension. Watson did a 180-degree turn on his apology soon after word of the settlement came out. What might Roger Goodell and the league think about that? And is there any mechanism in that settlement for this suspension to go past 11 games? Also, looking at the messaging coming out of Watson’s camp—from his agent, his private quarterbacks coach and their surrogates—and a discussion of what happens when some journalists are desperate for access while others are not. Have a comment, critique or question for a future mailbag? Email themmqb@gmail.com or tweet at @GGramling_SI or @ConorOrrAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

We’re in the middle of the NFL’s middle, then moving toward the top of the middle as Conor and Gary continue their four-at-a-time season preview countdown. This episode features two teams with Super Bowl titles in the past five years, lots of quarterback questions, and plenty of blind trust. Once again, we will not reveal who the teams are in this episode description, but we will provide these clues from our conversations: Also Team 16: The second half of a tie carried over cliffhanger-style from the previous show, this is the team that refused to tank (so good for them!). Team 15: You’d call their offensive coordinator setup a no-win situation... if it were any other franchise. Team 13: We like everyone on this team, and Conor has proclaimed them “Conor’s Team” for the 2022 season. Also Team 13: The first team in their division to make an appearance on this countdown.   Plus, more Orioles takes that no one particularly wanted. Come back every Monday for the next four teams in the countdown. Have a comment, critique or question for a future mailbag? Email themmqb@gmail.com or tweet at @GGramling_SI or @ConorOrrAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

It’s time to get into the middle-iest of the NFL’s middle, as Conor and Gary continue their four-at-a-time season preview countdown. This episode features two 2021 playoff teams, one underdog darling and one former underdog darling of whom we’ve talked about quite a bit.Once again, we will not reveal who the teams are in this episode description, but we will provide these clues from our conversations:Team 20: Taking on the crushing noise that will define 2022.Team 19: Let’s get carried away with some unbridled optimism for once.Team 18: They managed to screw everything up over the past 10 months, but maybe the quarterback can carry them to the playoffs anyway.Team 16: One of the league’s best-coached teams, but can they overachieve yet again?Come back every Monday for the next four teams in the countdown!Have a comment, critique or question for a future mailbag? Email themmqb@gmail.com or tweet at @GGramling_SI or @ConorOrrAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Conor and Gary welcome back Jenny Vrentas of the New York Times to delve into all things Deshaun Watson once again. A discussion of why Sue Robinson’s factual determinations in her ruling are much more significant than the number of games she suggested for a suspension, how the door was flung open for the NFL to determine its own punishment, and how all of it should force the NFL to confront some of its outdated stances (and terminology) regarding sexual violence. Plus, what’s next as the NFL moves forward with its appeal and Watson continues to show no remorse for his actions. Then, a look at the relatively light punishment for owner Stephen Ross and the Dolphins as the NFL gets them on tampering charges—and, in a way, gets them on tanking charges but decides Ross was just joking. Have a comment, critique or question for a future mailbag? Email themmqb@gmail.com or tweet at @GGramling_SI or @ConorOrrAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The third episode of Conor and Gary’s team-by-team, four-at-a-time season preview countdown is here, and they’re getting into the teams that should be entering 2022 with playoff aspirations (of varying degrees). Once again, we will not reveal who the teams are in this episode description, but we will provide these clues from our conversations: Team 24: A way to program the quarterback to carry out one of three tasks: Quick throw, throw away, or crumple like a deflated Christmas decoration. Team 23: Is the ceiling ever going to get any higher? Team 21: If your manager tells you to go away, would you go to their boss and tell them that you’re staying? Also Team 21: The ballad of the re-cast offensive lineman. And who will advertise a netball sub? Come back every Monday for the next four teams in the countdown and perhaps to hear what archaic technology Conor Orr is re-embracing next. Have a comment, critique or question for a future mailbag? Email themmqb@gmail.com or tweet at @GGramling_SI or @ConorOrrAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

One long-awaited quarterback contract got done this week, but as with all things Cardinals-front-office-and-Kyler Murray since the team’s wild-card round meltdown in January, it wasn’t without loads of negativity and drama. Specifically, the now infamous “homework clause” that appears in Murray’s record-setting deal, the cause of tremendous embarrassment for the star QB this week. Conor and Gary welcome MMQB Business of Football columnist and former Packers team president Andrew Brandt, to discuss the mind-blowingly foolish clause, who might have come up with the idea and why it’s a terrible idea, as well as a discussion of the money and the way the contract is structured to pay out. Also, looking at the Lamar Jackson negotiations dragging on in Baltimore, and what it means for a player to hammer out a deal without an agent. Plus, Andrew takes his shot at America’s least favorite game show: More Than Four But Fewer Than Six Questions! Have a comment, critique or question for a future mailbag? Email themmqb@gmail.com or tweet at @GGramling_SI or @ConorOrrAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The second episode of Conor and Gary’s team-by-team season preview countdown has arrived, and this one is chock full of underserved optimism. And ties! Once again, we will not reveal who the teams are in this episode description, but we will provide these clues from our conversations: Team 27: Just send them over to the B Field for now—they’ll be ready for you to watch them in 2023. Also Team 27: It’s time for professional football coaches and professional football players to assemble and form a professional football team. Team 26: Babies. So many babies. Team 25: Two favorites from the Conor Cinematic Universe and a team that should have honest-to-God playoff aspirations right this very minute. Come back every Monday for the next four teams in the countdown of a series that needs a better title. Have a comment, critique or question for a future mailbag? Email themmqb@gmail.com or tweet at @GGramling_SI or @ConorOrrAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

It’s that time of year, when Conor and Gary ignore the beautiful summer weather, retreat to their respective basements, and take on the Herculean task of previewing the 32 teams, podcast-style, four at a time. But this year, it comes with a twist! Rather than simply going division by division, it’s a power ranking, unveiled from the 32nd best team to the best, all over the course of eight Monday shows. Thus, the first episode in this installment? The four worst teams heading into the 2022 season. We will not reveal who the teams are in this episode description, but we will provide these clues from our conversations: Team 32: Your spouse leaves you after you dive into an open septic tank Team 31: Not ever trying in some respects Team 30: The inefficiencies of what happens when the inefficiencies you identified are no longer inefficiencies Team 29: Maybe not the right path, but a path. That's something. Have a comment, critique or question for a future mailbag? Email themmqb@gmail.com or tweet at @GGramling_SI or @ConorOrrAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy