Sports Krunch W/dkrom

Buccaneers beat writer Greg Auman (The Athletic) joins us to discuss  what Jameis Winston needs to do to earn a long-term deal from the Bucs,  reports suggesting the release of Pro Bowl DT Gerald McCoy, and Tampa’s plans for the 2019 NFL Draft

Ryan O’Halloran - Broncos beat writer Ryan O’Halloran (Denver Post)  joins us to discuss the Broncos 2019 NFL Draft plans (QB or bust in  first round?), what Denver is getting with new head coach Vic Fangio,  and why the team was smart to let Gary Kubiak go elsewhere and opt for a  fresh face at Offensive Coordinator

Raiders beat writer Vic Tafur (The Athletic) joins us to discuss the  Raiders plans in the 2019 NFL Draft, Derek Carr’s future, and how much  of a role new GM Mike Mayock will play

Well, and then there were four. NFL Conference Championship Weekend is here with only the Rams, Saints, Patriots and Chiefs alive in the race to Super Bowl LIII. Do you think these were the four best teams in the NFL this year, Hal? 1. Divisional Round Weekend Takeaways -Chiefs DL over-powering Colts OL and Rams ground game gashing the Cowboys on the ground are things nobody expected…and that’s what makes football so great -Hal: Saints had weakest rushing attack last weekend 2. Truth or Exaggeration -The Bears didn’t downgrade as much as some think at DC with their hire of Chuck Pagano -The Broncos did themselves a favor by not keeping Gary Kubiak as their OC and going with a more fresh face and modern scheme in former 49ers QB coach Rick Scangarello  -Gary Kubiak is exactly who Kirk Cousins needs to take that next step for the Vikings -Mike Mayock is an upgrade over Reggie McKenzie for the Raiders at GM 3. Rams/Saints -Should the Rams keep that same run-first approach this weekend given the season-endin

Welcome back to Sports Krunch with DKrom ladies and gentlemen, I’m your host David Kromelow. Well wild card weekend wasn’t as really wild as I expected it to be with the exception of the Eagles/Bears game, but divisional round weekend has a better chance to live up to such a description. Do you believe so Hal Bent? What makes this arguably the most exciting weekend on the entire NFL calendar? 1. Wild Card Weekend Takeaways -Bears fans should be giving Treyvon Hester FAR more credit than Cody Parkey hell -Hal: Went 0-4 on his picks last week 2. Head Coaching Hire Grades -Grading each team’s hire Browns (Kitchens): C/inc. Bucs (Arians): B Packers (LaFleur): B+ Broncos (Fangio): B Cardinals (Kingsbury): A- Bengals (Taylor*): A [just for not hiring Hue Jackson] Jets (Gase): C-  3. Colts/Chiefs -The Chiefs have to expect the Colts to pound the ball religiously in this game. Do you think the Chiefs can win without stopping the run? -Who is more likely to have a good game?: Chiefs DL and edge rushers

 Well the NFL playoffs are finally here with Wild Card Weekend about to commence and Hal Bent, I don’t think I’ve ever been excited for a Wild Card weekend like this one. Have you? Week 17 Takeaways -Kirk Cousins looking like a colossal waste of money -Teddy Bridgewater doesn’t look like the future in New Orleans Coaching Carousel -Jets are pursuing Baylor head coach Matt Rhule. Given college football’s increasing influence on NFL offensive scheming, this might be the best possible hire for the Jets. What do you think? -If the Jets hire Rhule, do you think Adam Gase should go to the Cardinals? -It’s been rumored for several months that Mike McCarthy would become the new head coach of the Browns. Given his previous relationship with John Dorsey plus Baker Mayfield likely only going to get better, how good of a fit would that be?  -Best coaching fits for each opening: Browns, Dolphins, Broncos, Cardinals, Jets, Packers, Bengals, Buccaneers Colts/Texans -How will the lack of receiving weapons outsid

Welcome back to Sports Krunch with DKrom ladies and gentlemen, I’m your host David Kromelow. Well, the 2018 NFL regular season comes to an end this weekend with three playoff teams and 11 seeds still yet to be determined. But as we’ve been saying for weeks, just as it appears the ride is ending, it’s really just beginning. Isn’t it Hal Bent? 1. Week 16 Takeaways -Jets have opened a GOLDEN window of opportunity with Sam Darnold…and they CANNOT afford to squander it. Firing Mike Maccagnan must be SQUARELY on the table -Nick Foles blew Hal’s bold prediction out of the water -Chargers laid an egg at the worst possible time. Can they bounce back?  2. Truth/Exaggeration -Regardless of what happens this Sunday, John Harbaugh has earned another contract extension as head coach of the Ravens -Injuries and/or lack of depth in the defensive back seven will lead to one-an-done playoff performances for the Chiefs and Texans  -The Ravens and Colts are the two main teams NOBODY will want to face in the playoffs -I

Welcome back to Sports Krunch with DKrom ladies and gentlemen, I’m your host David Kromelow. It’s hard to believe, but the 2018 NFL regular season is already down to its final two weeks. And usually at this point in the year, a single team or a tiny group of teams emerge as clear front-runners to win the Super Bowl. But this year, I don’t see such a front-runner right now.   1. Week 15 Takeaways -Bears might have broke the Rams, Cowboys might have broke the Saints -Even though they might win one more Super Bowl with Tom Brady, the end of the Patriots amazing run seems closer than it’s ever been  2. Truth/Exaggeration -The Patriots won’t make it far in the playoffs if Rob Gronkowski is indeed declining -The Cardinals should fire HC Steve Wilks AND GM Steve Keim in order to build the roster around Josh Rosen going forward -Vance Joseph’s gutless decision on fourth-and-one has eliminated any remaining chances he has at keeping his job as head coach of the Broncos -If the Jets end up with the third over

Welcome back to Sports Krunch with DKrom ladies and gentlemen, I’m your host David Kromelow. The NFL playoffs might not have officially began yet (we still have three weeks left in the regular season), but it sure felt like they have after one of THE most dramatic Sundays of NFL football I can ever remember transpired just this past week…didn’t it Hal Bent? 1. Week 14 Takeaways -Defense still matters -Baker Mayfield is on fire and the future couldn’t be brighter in Cleveland 2. Truth/Exaggeration -Browns interim OC Freddie Kitchens should be a serious head-coaching candidate for the Browns and other teams with an HC vacancy -If the Steelers miss the playoffs, the clock has to start ticking on Mike Tomlin -Vic Fangio has all but earned Assistant Coach of the Year honors -Pete Carroll has made just as strong a case for Coach of the Year as anybody -The Jaguars should seriously consider trading Jalen Ramsey in the offseason -The Patriots are more likely than not going to m

Welcome back to Sports Krunch with DKrom ladies and gentlemen, I’m your host David Kromelow. Hope all of you who are celebrating have had a Happy Hanukkah. Before we begin, I want to profoundly apologize for us being MIA last week. Thanksgiving hangover. Well, the 2018 NFL season is down to its final quarter…and it’s around this time of year we expect the playoff picture to become more clear…but because of what transpired last week, it’s still pretty murky as it currently stands, isn’t it Hal Bent? Hal’s Twitter handle: @halbent01 1. Week 12/13 Takeaways -Aaron Donald MUST be HIGHLY considered for MVP -Watch out for the Seahawks 2. Truth/Exaggeration -If the Packers lose one of their next two games, Aaron Rodgers must be put on ice for the rest of the season -The Kareem Hunt saga will not only cost the Chiefs the AFC’s #1 seed, but the AFC West title as well -The Chargers and Texans have the AFC’s most talented rosters -Regardless of what happens down the stretch, the Broncos should bring back Vance

Welcome back to Sports Krunch with DKrom ladies and gentlemen, I’m your host David Kromelow. Well, Thanksgiving has arrived and NEVER have I been more thankful for this great game of football, ESPECIALLY after a game like the one we saw last night between the Chiefs and the Rams. Hal Bent, was that the best regular season game you’ve ever watched? Hal’s Twitter handle: @halbent01 Week 11 Takeaways -Short-term and long-term, BEWARE THE COLTS! -Akiem Hicks may be the most underrated player in the NFL Truth/Exaggeration -Leighton Vander Esch is a serious contender for DROY -Alex Smith’s injury makes the Cowboys NFC East favorites down the stretch -The Chargers collapse against the Broncos is a sign of worse things to come for them down the stretch -The Bears should start Chase Daniel on Thursday against the Lions if Mitchell Trubisky’s shoulder is not 100% Who is the favorite for the NFC’s #1 seed? RAMS SAINTS Week 12: BYE Week 12: Falcons Week 13: at Lions Week 13: at Cowboys Week 14: at Bears W

Welcome back to Sports Krunch with DKrom ladies and gentlemen, I’m your host David Kromelow. The 2018 NFL season is down to its final seven weeks, and this week contains several games that can prove to be very decisive the rest of the way. Two of them are in prime time…including a matchup NFL fans have had circled on their calendar for weeks. And Hal, even though seven weeks is an eternity, you can pretty much say it’s already crunch time as we head into the top of the 2018 season’s stretch, can’t you? Hal’s Twitter handle: @halbent01 1. Week 10 Takeaways -Cowboys might have the best LB duo in the league going forward with Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch -Barring a catastrophe, the road to Super Bowl LIII in the NFC is very likely going through New Orleans 2. Truth/Exaggeration -The Eagles are more likely to get a top-10 draft pick than to make the playoffs -Mike McCarthy will more likely than not get fired as head coach of the Packers after the 2018 season, whether they make the playoffs or not

We are already halfway through the 2018 NFL season, and just like many 2018 election races, countless games have gone down to the wire and many (if not most) division titles are still up for grabs. However, the last few weeks of games haven’t had quite as much drama as the first seven or so…and this week’s slate of games looks pretty bland. Hal’s Twitter handle: @halbent01 Week 9 Takeaways -The Pittsburgh Steelers are the team nobody wants to face right now -Redskins are in trouble; Falcons still very much alive Mid-Season Awards AWARD DKROM HAL MVP Patrick Mahomes Patrick Mahomes Offensive POY Adam Thielen Todd Gurley Defensive POY Aaron Donald Aaron Donald Offensive ROY Saquon Barkley Saquon Barkley Defensive ROY Bradley Chubb Darius Leonard Comeback POY J.J. Watt/Andrew Luck J.J. Watt Coach of the Year Anthony Lynn Andy Reid Truth/Exaggeration -The Chargers are a more balanced football team than the Chiefs and have even more of a legitimate chance at winning the AFC West than they did a few weeks ago -

NFL Week 9 is upon us, and that means we will officially reach the halfway point of the 2018 season at some point on Sunday. Week 8 didn’t bring us quite as many exciting finishes as we’ve been used to seeing on a weekly basis this year, and Thursday night’s Raiders/Niners game was a classic stinker. But with Rams/Saints and the battle for NFC supremacy plus Rodgers vs. Brady Part II on tap for Sunday, I think Week 9 should provide us with far more heart-palpitations than Week 8 did. Hal’s Twitter handle: @halbent01 1. Week 8 Takeaways -The Jameis Winston experiment in Tampa must end…and end NOW -Why did it take THIS long for the Browns to fire Hue Jackson? 2. Trading Deadline Recap -Which of the following three contenders made the best deal: Texans, Eagles or Rams? Who made the worst deal? 3. Rams/Saints -The Packers defense last week gave the perfect blueprint for slowing down the Rams offense, and you can expect the Saints to follow suit. However, Cooper Kupp is expected to return for the Rams this

It is hard to believe we are almost halfway through the 2018 NFL season. It’s been a wild ride so far, so wild it seems like a year has gone by. But if you think what we just went through these past seven weeks was wild….you ain’t seen nothing yet. Hal’s Twitter handle: @halbent01 1. Week 7 Takeaways -After getting EMBARRASSED in the “TNF Stinker Bowl”…the clock has to start ticking on Steve Wilks in Arizona -Jaguars will forever regret drafting Leonard Fournette over Mahomes and Watson…and extending Blake Bortles instead of signing Teddy Bridgewater 2. Trade Tsunami -At this time (on paper), how historically horrendous does the Cowboys trade for Amari Cooper look? How many All Pro (or Pro Bowl) campaigns does Cooper need to have with the Cowboys in order to meet the value of this trade? -If you were a contender like the Chiefs who need all the defensive help they can get, would you be willing to trade a first-round pick for Patrick Peterson? -What trade value, if any, does Le’Veon Bell have? -If yo

Every single week of this 2018 NFL season has consisted of more heart-palpitating finishes to start a season than I can remember. We have had games go to OT every single week, and even though this Week 7 slate of games doesn’t look quite as delicious as those of previous weeks, we should expect even more near-heart attacks this week and for the rest of the season. Hal’s Twitter handle: @halbent01 1. Week 6 Takeaways -Buffalo Bills….talk about an historical difference between offense/defense. Per Football Outsiders, the Bills defense is third best in total DVOA, but their offense is the second worst ever through six games in total DVOA behind only the 2004 Miami Dolphins -All the Patrick Mahomes doubters/haters can zip it 2. Truth/Exaggeration -The era of dominant NFL defenses is over -Despite the Bears heartbreaking loss last week, their fans should be very optimistic about Mitchell Trubisky going forward -The Los Angeles Chargers are a serious threat to win the AFC West…and the AFC -The Minnesota Vi

Week 5 in the NFL brought us some more dramatic action. With two more OT finishes in Cleveland and Houston, an amazing last-second finish in Carolina, plus another gutsy play call in crunch time by Sean McVay, the NFL delivered once again in Week 5…as it has done every week this season. And now Week 6 arguably brings THE most exciting matchup of the season to date as a rising star QB battles the greatest QB of all time in prime time. And what better guest is there to preview that game plus the rest of the NFL’s Week 6 slate than my buddy and right-hand man Hal Bent of FullPressCoverage.com!! Hal’s Twitter handle: @halbent01 1. Week 5 Takeaways -Jason Garrett = GUTLESS -Drew Brees and Tom Brady make history in tremendous fashion 2. Truth/Exaggeration -The NFC East is the worst division in the NFL right now -The Saints defense has turned a corner and will play more like the unit they were last season the rest of the way -Mike Tomlin and Mike McCarthy should get fired if their respective teams don’t make

It’s hard to believe…but we’re already one quarter of the way through the 2018 NFL season. And Week 4 gave us some amazing performances. Career games for Jared Goff and Mitchell Trubisky, an impressive debut and “coming of age” game for Patrick Mahomes, three OT games plus two last-second finishes in regulation were a fitting conclusion to the first month of the season…and what we saw this past week is likely just a preview of what awaits us these next 13 weeks. And the journey begins tonight with the beginning of Week 5…and it’s a pleasure to bring back my right-hand man Hal Bent of FullPressCoverage.com to help us preview what should be another exciting weekend of NFL action. Hal’s Twitter handle: @halbent01 1. Week 4 Takeaways -I owe the Jaguars AND Titans an apology -Doug Pederson has revolutionized the game for the better 2. QUARTER-POLE AWARDS Patrick Mahomes Jared Goff Khalil Mack...

As unpredictable as the NFL was in the first two weeks of its 2018 season, week three emphatically yelled: HOLD MY BEER! In week 3, we witnessed the third largest upset in NFL history as Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills went into Minnesota as 16.5 point underdogs and absolutely HUMILIATED the Vikings…the same Vikings team I predicted to win Super Bowl LIII. Also, Baker Mayfield was forced into action and led the Browns to their first victory since December 2016 in remarkable, come-from-behind fashion. And after three weeks, who would’ve thought that the only three 3-0 teams would be the Rams, Chiefs…and the Miami Dolphins? You truly can’t predict the NFL…and that’s what makes it the greatest thing in sports. And this ride is only about to get more bumpier and unpredictable in Week 4…and what better person is there to preview Week 4 with than my right-hand man Hal Bent of FullPressCoverage.com. Hal’s Twitter handle: @halbent01 1. Week 4 Takeaways -Jaguars played down to their...

Two weeks into the 2018 NFL season, unpredictability remains king of America’s real pastime. Who had the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Ryan Fitzpatrick starting the year 2-0 having the league’s top offense? Who had the league on pace to have 16 games end in a tie two weeks in? What more exciting twist and turns await the NFL in Week 3? And what better person is there to give us an answer then my right-hand man Hal Bent of FullPressCoverage.com! Hal’s Twitter handle: @halbent01 1. Week 2 Takeaways -Nice job of responding to my challenge flag last week Atlanta Falcons!! A perfect 4/4 in the red zone. -The decision making of the Cleveland Browns has hit a new low... and I’m not talking about the Josh Gordon trade. How on Earth did the Browns not waive or IR Zane Gonzalez before Week 1? Had they done that and signed a proven veteran kicker, they’d likely be 2-0 now. Instead they do it two weeks too late and sign an unproven journeyman 2. FOUR QUESTIONS -Which of these 2-0 teams is the...