2025 NFL Season Preview: Rams, Buccaneer's, Steelers, Bengals

Hope you all enjoyed your weekend and welcome back to my 2025 preseason NFL countdown. The preseason has started, but that never really tells us much.

At number 12 I have the Los Angeles Rams. This ranking depends a lot on Matthew Stafford's health. I know he has had some off field injuries creep us as of late, but I attribute that to age more than anything. Stafford has proven that he will put up numbers when he is on the field. Kyren Williams is a good back that can make both in the run and pass game out of the backfield. Blake Corum seems primed to make himself known as well this season. Davante Adams comes in to pretty much replace Cooper Kuup. I'd rather have Adams for a myriad of reasons, mainly health. And he puts up great numbers. Puka Nacua has had two good seasons in a row, and I don't see that stopping anytime soon. Tyler Higbee is as reliable as they come at tight end. And the O line is pretty darn good. The defense used to be filled with names, but now they have lesser known guys that can play. Jared Verse is still really good as well. The D line should be improved and more experienced. The secondary is going to have to replace guys, but the new guys coming in are younger and hungrier to make a name for themselves. What it all really boils down to with this team is Sean McVay. He's a great head coach. He has been to two Super Bowls, winning one. He got this team back to the playoffs last season. This team goes as he goes and he is one of the best doing it right now. I say the Rams could easily win 12 games.

At number 11 I have the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Baker Mayfield has proven himself. While not on the level of a superstar number one overall pick, he has found his footing in Tampa and he seems like a good QB to lead this team for the next couple years. Bucky Irving was a shockingly good player last year. My son picked him up and in fantasy and he produced pretty much every week for him. Mike Evans might be the most underrated number 1 wideout in the league. He is big, fast and catches pretty much everything. He also got paid. Chris Godwin is solid. I hated watching Emeka Egbuka in college, and that was because he was productive. That was a great pick by them. And the O line is serviceable. The defense still has Vita Vea, Antoine Winfield Jr and Lavonte David. All three of those dudes are awesome. Haason Reddick had a decent year last year. And the coaching staff excels on the defensive side of the ball. The Bucs are kind of back. They should easily win their division with 10 or 11 wins this season.

At number 10 I have the Pittsburgh Steelers. They are the team that decided it would be a good idea to sign Aaron Rodgers. He is over 40 now, insane and doesn't come close to producing like he did 10 years ago. He is a malcontent and an egomaniac. Jaylen Warren is the number 1 back now. Najee Harris is gone and it is Warren's job, and I think he is ready for the promotion. The Steelers were able to trade for DK Metcalf. Metcalf is big, strong and fast. He has been productive since he entered the NFL. But he too can be a little crazy from time to time. Roman Wilson should be able to do a bit more after missing most of last season due to injury. He was good in college and should be able to do some stuff in the pros. The O line is as good as usual. They always seem to have a good set of dudes on the O line. The defense is this team's calling card. Mike Tomlin has made his career on defense. TJ Watt got paid and is the anchor of the D line. They go as he goes and he usually goes pretty good. Patrick Queen and Alex Highsmith are great linebackers. Jalen Ramsey is here for a ride. And Joey Porter Jr gets better and better every season. I loathe Aaron Rodgers and don't want anything good to happen to him. Unfortunately for me he has his best coach ever in Mike Tomlin and all that dude does is win. The Steelers will once again be a 10 plus win team and find their way into the playoffs.

The final team for the day, at number 9 I have the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals offense is incredible. Joe Burrow is one of the five or six best QB's in the league. He has more than proven himself and he should have been in the MVP conversation last season. Joe Mixon was let go last year and Chase Brown easily slid into his spot. He brings running and receiving out of the backfield for this team. Ja'Marr Chase is the best wideout in football. He is open even if he is covered. He is faster than linebackers and much bigger than defensive backs. Chase is awesome. I may take him first overall if I get the number one pick in my fantasy league. Tee Higgins is a wonderful second receiver and a perfect complimentary piece to Ja'Marr Chase. The O line has gotten better ever since their Super Bowl run and I see more of the same this year. The defense is the problem. They should pay Trey Hendrickson. He's their best D lineman and one of the better edge rushers in football. I loved DJ Turner and Dax Hill in college, but I know very little about their NFL careers to this point. And the linebacker unit is not one of the better ones in the league. I feel like we got a glimpse of what this team will look like all season in their first preseason game. The offense easily went up and down the field and the defense did them no favors letting the opponent do just the same. But, Burrow and Chase are so good that I can see this team winning double digit games this year, right at 10.

That's it for today. Come back tomorrow for the next four teams.

Ty

 Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

2025 NFL Season Preview: Cardinals, Vikings, Texans, Broncos

Day five of my preseason 2025 NFL countdown starts with my number 16 team, the Arizona Cardinals.

The Cardinals looked somewhat competent last season. I was pretty off last year. I do feel like Kyler Murray has to do something big this year to instill confidence in the staff. The guy has all the tools, and I don't buy into the nonchalant stuff others say about him. But, he has fallen off a bit every season since his second year. He needs to bounce back. James Conner has proven to be a consistent back. He can rush for decent yardage and he has developed a pass catching game out of the backfield. Some are already jumping off the Marvin Harrison Jr bandwagon. Not me. He is too talented, too big and strong and too good at football. He should be light years ahead of where he was last season. I like Zay Jones. Trey McBride was a clutch fantasy pickup for me last season. And the O line is capable. The defense should be good too. Calais Campbell is still very productive. Josh Sweat is good. I love the second round selection of Will Johnson. He should be great and start right away. Zaven Collins is pretty good. And I love Budda Baker. The Cardinals looked to have a down season last year, and mildly exceeded expectations. I think they make another small leap and vault themselves into playoff contention. Ten wins seems very doable.

At number 15 I have the Minnesota Vikings. They're breaking in a new QB in JJ McCarthy. I had my issues with him while he was at Michigan, but he didn't have to really win games for them. They were a running team. But, when he had to make big plays in the passing game, he usually delivered. And he has won at every level so far, so maybe I shouldn't doubt him this much. Aaron Jones proved that age doesn't matter with him. I didn't miss him much, because Green Bay signed Josh Jacobs, but Jones was still productive and didn't miss too much time. Jordan Addison is suspended to start the year, so that's a bummer. But, they have Justin Jefferson. He or Ja'Marr Chase is the best wideout in the league. Jefferson will make most QB's look better than they might be, TJ Hockenson is one of the better tight ends in the league and the O line can block. The defense isn't the dominant unit of the past, but they are still pretty good. Joshua Mettulus just got a much deserved raise and Harrison Smith is one of the better safeties in the league. The D line has some unproven guys and the linebacking corps should be just fine. My only issue with the Vikings, they got exposed in round one of the playoffs last season, and now they have a new QB. They should still win ten or eleven games this year though.

At number 14 I have the Houston Texans. CJ Stroud is a very good NFL QB, but he wasn't as productive last season as he was in his rookie year. I don't think it will be the same thing this season, but I would still be mildly concerned if I was a fan of this team. Still, he has all the tools to be a top QB in this league. Joe Mixon was left out to dry by the Bengals and he looked just fine in Houston. He put up nice numbers as the number 1 back. Nico Collins is awesome. He proved his worth when he was out and the offense sputtered. Collins is Stroud's number one option and Collins seems to get better and better every season. Christian Kirk is a fast and nice number 2 wideout option. Dalton Schultz is a decent tight end and the O line is pretty good. The defense has gotten better every season under Demeco Ryans, which just so happens to be his forte. Will Anderson Jr is every bit worth the hype he had coming out of college. He is awesome. Danielle Hunter is a backfield wrecker. Henry To'oTo'o is an elite linebacker. Derek Stingley Jr is a great corner. Kamari Lasseter has proven himself and CJ Garnder-Johnson can do some good stuff. The Texans are good and should easily win their division. Eleven wins seems easy to predict.

The final team for the day, and the week for that matter, coming in at number 13 I have the Denver Broncos. I was dead wrong about this team and Bo Nix last season. I was certain he was going to bust and the Broncos would regret taking him in the top 12. My mistake. Nix showed out and looked like the Broncos QB of the future. He should be even better this season. I'm not so high on the run game with JK Dobbins and RJ Harvey. Dobbins had a nice bounce back last season, but I don't think he will get the needed touches in Denver. And I know zero about Harvey. Courtland Sutton was better than advertised. Marvin Mims Jr is intriguing to me. And Evan Engram had a good season last year. The O line, as per usual in Denver, is good. The big names on the defense are gone, but they do still have Patrick Surtain who is legit. Nik Bonito is a good linebacker. I like Johnathon Cooper on the D line. This is a well constructed roster with a good head coach and a solid QB. The Broncos are back and they may surpass the Chiefs in that division as early as this season. I think they will win eleven, maybe twelve games.

That does it for today and this week. Come back Monday for my next four teams. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

2025 NFL Season Preview: Cowboys, 49ers, Jaguars, Bears

As we enter day four of my preseason 2025 NFL countdown, we are now in the top 20. These teams should all compete, at some point, for a playoff spot.

At number 20 I have the Dallas Cowboys. They need to resolve this Micah Parsons trade request, because they need that guy if they want their defense to make any noise. He is too good and too important to that scheme to not have him in the building. It would be a big mistake to not retain him and to not pay him. The guy is worth big time money. I feel like this is Dak Prescott's last ride. He has had a ton of chances, is a solid QB, but cannot seem to perform when it matters most. They're thin at running back. Javonte Williams is the starter, and I couldn't tell you one thing about him. And the backups are no different. CeeDee Lamb is awesome. He's fast, has great hands and runs wonderful routes. He just needs the ball. The O line was the best part of this offense until a few years ago. Now they look like a work in progress. I already mentioned Parsons' importance to this defense. Without him it could be rough. Mazi Smith has potential, he just has to stay healthy. Trevon Diggs had a moment two seasons ago, but last year felt more like the norm for him. Kenneth Murray Jr looked awesome in college, but he has yet to figure out the NFL. Parsons is the engine that runs this defense, and if he is gone, that would be bad news. This feels like a last ride for this version of the Cowboys. They feel like a ten win team if the roster doesn't change.

At number 19 I have the San Francisco 49ers. Well, they paid Brock Purdy, which I think was a bad move. It reminds me of the time the Giants picked Daniel Jones as the face of their team. Purdy played well because of the guys around him. And a good portion of those guys are gone. Christian McCaffery is still around, but his legs are seemingly always injured. I simply do not trust him to stay on the field for more than five games any season now. Deebo Samuel got out of there, and Brandon Aiyuk, who I think is the number 1 wideout there, seems to want out as well. And if it isn't him that wants out, it has to be number 2 wideout Jajuan Jennings. That's not a good thing. George Kittle seems to care more about smelling salts than wins at this point in his career. Trent Williams is a star offensive lineman, but the rest of the O line is unknown to me. The defense is supposed to be the calling card of this team, but it is not the elite unit it was a few seasons ago. I despise everything about Nick Bosa, so I won't say anything about him at all besides that. Fred Warner is still good, but he is getting older. And the secondary doesn't seem to have the names that it used to. I think this team will regret paying Purdy and Aiyuk so much money. And that will result in a eight or nine win team this season.

At number 18 I have the Jacksonville Jaguars. Trevor Lawrence got paid last year, and then missed a ton of time. He needs to put it together. He has not lived up to the hype, but he is a solid QB. Travis Etienne Jr proved he can be an every down back in the NFL. He is good. Brian Thomas Jr showed out last year and I see more of that this year. Travis Hunter has a chance to play both ways and win both offensive and defensive rookie of the year. He is going to be electric to watch in the NFL. The O line is just fine. The defense could be decent this season too. Arik Armstead can still get to the QB. Travon Walker was a former number one overall pick and he showed signs of growth last year. Jourdan Lewis was a decent pickup at corner. And Travis Hunter should see snaps in the secondary as well. The Jags have the guys to win double digit games. Last season should be an anomaly. I believe they should win ten games.

The final team for the day, coming in at number 17 I have the Chicago Bears. This team addressed some serious needs this offseason and in the draft. I still believe Caleb Williams can do great things. He had no time last year and he was a rookie. There was always going to be a learning curve. I think he will be much better this season. D'Andre Swift is a solid running back and can catch the ball out of the backfield. DJ Moore and Rome Odunze looked good last year, and I love that they took both Colston Loveland and Luther Burden to shore up the receiving group. I like what they are building there. And they brought in a few solid O lineman to help give Williams more time in the pocket. Montez Sweat played great after being traded there. Tremaine Edmunds is a very good linebacker. Kyler Gordon and Kevin Byard make for a solid duo in the secondary. The Bears are coming and will be good very soon. Maybe even this season. The only problem for them is that the division is still really good too. But, I could see this team winning ten games and becoming a legit playoff contender this season.

That's it for today. Come back tomorrow for the next four teams. 

 Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

2025 NFL Season Preview: Raiders, Falcons, Patriots, Seahawks

Welcome back to my preseason 2025 NFL countdown.

Coming in at number 24 I have the Las Vegas Raiders. That is still hard for me to remember. I was about to type in Oakland. Anyway, this team may change cities, but they are still pretty mediocre. I think they missed the boat when they decided to not go with their special teams coach to be the head guy four years ago. Since then they have been very middle of the road. I wonder if Pete Carroll will make much of a difference. The dude is a football genius, but he is old. I wonder if maybe the game has passed him by. I do like that they went out and got Geno Smith. Smith is not a legendary QB, but the guy is consistent. He will put up solid numbers. I adore Ashton Jeanty. The guy was amazing as the lone option at Boise State. But it does take highly drafted rookie running backs more time than most teams like. The wideout group is not much to take delight in. And while Brock Bowers is a good player, he is a douche and a bro and I despise his off field nonsense. The O line isn't great either. Maxx Crosby is another good player, but stinks as an off field person. no matter how much money he gives to his alma mater. Jeremy Chinn may end up being a solid pickup in the secondary. But it is pretty dire for that defense besides the two names I mentioned. But, Pete Carroll knows defense and can get extra out of unexpected names. His magic may work here, but he is, as I mentioned before, very old and getting older everyday like the rest of us. The Raiders made a few good offseason moves, but it won't be enough to surpass the Chiefs or Broncos. This is an eight win team at the very best.

At number 23 I have the Atlanta Falcons. Maybe they should be higher some might say, but this feels right to me. They finally gave up on Kirk Cousins and moved on to a much better option in Michael Penix. He has a better arm and can move in and out of the pocket. Bijan Robinson had a solid second year in the league, and maybe that growth continues. And Drake London has solidified himself as a top 15 wideout in the league. But Kyle Pitts has never been able to put it together. Maybe he is the player he will always be at this point. Darnell Moody cannot stay healthy. Ray-Ray McCloud is a speedster and nothing more. And the O line isn't top tier. The defense has guys. I like Leonard Floyd at linebacker. James Pearce Jr was a good late first round pick for them. Jessie Bates III is awesome. But this defense needs to put it together. I think hiring Raheem Morris was perfect for that, he is just going to need more out of his offense. I could see the Falcons pushing for the playoffs, their division isn't great. But anymore than nine wins seems like a stretch to me.

At number 22 I have the New England Patriots. First off, they did Jerrod Mayo dirty. I don't know what they expected from him last season, but he deserved a shot to work it out with this somewhat rebuilt roster. Drake Maye looks decent. He came along slowly last year, which was the right thing to do. And near the end of the season he showed some flashes. The kid has an arm and he's mobile. Rhamondre Stevenson is an okay back, but he tends to fumble more than you'd like. He also doesn't score a ton of td's. Stefon Diggs is starting to seemingly play for a new team every season, but the dude puts up numbers. Hunter Henry is a reliable tight end. And the O line, on paper, looks to be better. The defense is an interesting mix. Jabrill Peppers and Christian Gonzalez are very middle of the road, but solid enough to have to game plan around. The D line looks to be coming together and looks kind of stout. The linebacking corps is blah, but if they can tackle they should be okay. The Patriots feel like a team on the rise. They have been building a solid team for the past couple of years. And with the Jets and Dolphins looking to take a step back, maybe the Patriots win nine or ten games this season, but I see eight as the more likely outcome.

My final team for the day, coming in at number 21 I have the Seattle Seahawks. They are the team that paid Sam Darnold. You knew he was going to get a decent deal from someone and the Seahawks were that team. I don't know that he will be as successful with this team, but he does have confidence now and that can help him to play good football. Kenneth Walker III has proven to be a good three down running back, if he can stay on the field. I also love Zach Charbonnet as his backup. He is great. Jaxson Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kuup are going to drive defenses nuts with their ability to get open and find the open spaces to turn short passes into big gains. The O line is much improved as well. Defense is why this team hired Mike Macdonald, and they were pretty good last year. Devon Witherspoon is a star. He is one of the best cover guys in the league. Leonard Williams and Demarcus Lawrence can wreck a backfield. Coby Bryant has shown flashes. And the linebacker group will make plays. The Seahawks are better. They have some pieces in place. A lot of their success this season will rely on the new guys they got on offense. I think those guys can push this team to ten wins and a good shot at the playoffs.

That's it for today. Come back tomorrow for the next four teams.

 Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

2025 NFL Season Preview: Giants, Jets, Panthers, Dolphins

Welcome to day two of my preseason 2025 NFL countdown.

Coming in at number 28 I have the New York Giants. I mean, this team just continues to stay stuck in the mud. I do like that they went out and signed Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston. For all the flaws those two may have, they can both still sling it. Wilson came on strong at the end of last season and looked solid. He helped guide the Steelers back to the playoffs. Winston is a true wild card, but the dude is confident. He may throw 30 picks, but he will also throw 30 tds. Jaxson Dart shouldn't see the field unless something bad happens. They truly whiffed when they picked Daniel Jones over Saquon Barkley. Barkley is a key cog in a Super Bowl champ now. The Giants are now relying on Tyrone Tracy Jr as their lead back. He is fine, but he is nowhere close to Saquon's world. Malik Nabers is a true number 1 wideout. He has every tool you want in a star receiver. He's awesome. It's pretty rough after that. They have no other threats on the outside and the O line is mediocre. The defense does have two studs in Kayvon Thibodeaux and rookie Abdul Carter. Those dudes have the ability to wreck backfields. And Brian Burns is still very productive. Then it is a list of unknowns for me. The defense should be the best unit on this team, but they are going to struggle to keep them in games. And the offense is still kind of a mystery outside of Malik Nabers. The Giants are the epitome of mediocre. They are a six win team, even with the new QB's, at the very best.

At number 27 I have the other New York team, the Jets. They are rid of Aaron Rodgers, thank goodness. And I do think Justin Fields is an upgrade because he is a threat to pass and run. Breece Hall is a very good running back 1, and Brealon Allen is one of the better backups in the league. Garrett Wilson hasn't popped just yet and Allen Lazard is old. The O line can't block, so Fields legs will come in handy. The defense is what keeps this team in games. Sauce Gardner is the best corner in the league. He is getting up to Darelle Revis levels for me. He takes away one side of the field. Quinnen Williams is a solid interior D lineman. Byron Cowart is a nice lineman eater right next to Williams. The linebacker corps can tackle. The issue for this defense, they are constantly on the field. They get next to no rest. That has to be tough for them. This defense deserves better. They are so good that they deserve an offense that can win them games and keep them off the field for a bit longer than usual for them. Maybe Fields and Hall will help, but maybe not. And that's the problem. The Jets may win seven games, but I feel like they're more likely to win five games, all of which are close.

At number 26 I have the Carolina Panthers. I think benching Bryce Young for a few games last season may be the best thing that has ever happened to him for his long term career. When he was reinserted into the starting role he looked good. He looked ready to lead and he looked every bit like the number one overall pick. Chuba Hubbard had some up and down moments last season, but maybe he has more up than down this year. I love that they took Tet McMillan at number nine. He has the makings of a top wideout in the league in a few years. Xavier Lagette will hopefully become more than a sound bite machine. Adam Thielen is washed. He is old now. The O line is worrisome, and I think they need to take some blame for how poorly Young played during his rookie year. The defense is very bland. I feel like every good defensive guy they get is now gone. They still have Jaycee Horn, but not much else. They are breaking in a whole bunch of new dudes and some also rans. The defense will be a work in progress in more ways than one. But, I do think the Panthers can look relevant this season. They have some weapons and they played well to finish off last year. I think seven wins would be a big deal for them this year.

The final team for today, at number 25 I have the Miami Dolphins. Things seem to be messy and worrisome in Miami right now. It feels like a bunch of players don't like the coaching staff and their system. Maybe that will change, but it is never a good sign when this stuff starts to get leaked. I like Tua Tagovailoa. He is a good QB with a strong arm. But he has had far too many concussions and maybe he needs to step away from the game. But that would leave them with Zach Wilson. Yikes. De'Von Achane is fast as lightning, but he also gets hurt constantly. Tyreek Hill is awesome, but he seems incredibly unhappy with this team. Jaylen Waddle is legit. And Darren Waller unretired to play for this team. The O line is not great. The defense is very suspect. I adore and will always root for Kenneth Grant, but he is a rookie and he is still pretty raw. He needs a little time to develop. Minkah Fitzpatrick was traded here, and while he is good, he is older. I love the name Storm Duck, who is on this team, but I couldn't tell you one thing about him and his game. And Bradley Chubb has never recreated his one great season. The Dolphins struggle to win games away from Miami. They also struggle to keep key players healthy and they cannot win a playoff game. This feels like a make or break season for this roster and coaching staff. Maybe eight wins will be enough to give them another chance with the team as currently constructed, but I don't see them winning any more games than that.

That's it for today. Come back tomorrow for my next four teams. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

2025 NFL Season Preview: Browns, Saints, Colts, Titans

Strap in everyone, the next two weeks is going to be all football related content from me on the site. The NFL and college football seasons are right around the corner, and as I do every year, I'm going to do a comprehensive countdown. I'm going to start off ranking the NFL teams from 32-1. I will then do a postseason and awards prediction for the NFL. And then I will dedicate the final day to everything college football. This is my favorite sports time of the year and I cannot wait. Now, onto the NFL countdown.

Starting at number 32 I have the Cleveland Browns. This is a moribound franchise. They can't seem to do much right. I kind of hoped for Myles Garrett's sake that he would be elsewhere, but he signed a massive new contract and got paid. Outside of that, this team is bad. No one knows who will start at QB. The range is Joe Flacco to Dillon Gabriel, with Shadeur Sanders and Kenny Pickett in the middle. Flacco is old, but I bet he will start. Pickett is not very good, Sanders is currently nursing a sore arm and from what I've read, Gabriel has looked rough in camp so far. The running game has Jerome Ford, who, and Quinshon Judkins, who was recently arrested. Jerry Jeudy is a good wideout, but with no legit QB, that won't amount to much. David Njoku is also a solid tight end, but again, no real QB. And the O line is very, very bad. They may be the worst in the league. The defense, outside of Garrett, is not great either. I love Mason Graham, but he is a rookie and there will be growing pains. Denzel Ward got hurt recently. Grant Delpit hasn't broken out yet. And the linebacker corps is full of unknowns. The Browns may need to shoot for the number 1 pick, and with this roster that may happen easier than we currently think. I don't see the Browns winning anymore than three games, and I hope we get to watch Shadeur Sanders run this offense because he is, by far, the best option they have at QB.

Coming in at number 31 I have the New Orleans Saints. It feels weird ranking the Saints so low. They have been a relatively competitive team for the past decade. But now it seems like they are in some dire straits. Hell, they are letting Tyler Shough take first team reps at practice at QB. If you don't know who that is, go watch his combine. It is a true joke. I'd go with Spencer Rattler to be honest. They do still have Alvin Kamara, but he is old and seems unhappy in New Orleans. Chris Olave hasn't had that breakout just yet and Brandin Cooks is on what feels like his third team in three years. Juwan Johnson seems to get hurt a bunch. And the O line is mediocre. The defense is old or full of retreads. Cam Jordan was great about 6 years ago. Chase Young never lived up to the massive hype. Kool-Aid McKinstry is still young. And they don't have a ton of depth. The fans of the Saints deserve better than Tyler Shough as their starting QB and an unhappy Alvin Kamara. But, the current roster is mediocre at best. They may win four games, but no more than that.

At number 30 I have the Indianapolis Colts. What happened to this team? They always seemed to be in the playoff hunt, but now they are more likely to get the first overall pick than make the playoffs. I love the idea of Anthony Richardson at QB, but it hasn't panned out just yet. He has all the tools and the look of a star QB, but he is inconsistent and gets hurt a ton. He takes way too many hits. And his backup is Daniel Jones. Yikes. Johnathan Taylor is a very good back, but like most all pro running backs, he looks to be on the back end of his prime. Michael Pittman is a fine wideout, but he too gets hurt far too often. Tyler Warren was a solid pick at tight end, but he won't be playing college players anymore. His act may wear thin quickly. The O line is okay, but not great. The defense can be hit or miss. Kwity Paye has been very up and down. I adore Cam McGrone, but this is his first chance to start in the NFL. The secondary is full of players I have never heard of. The roster is full of doubts. They look good on paper, but the game is not played on paper and that is unfortunate for the Colts. If this team could stay healthy they'd be higher. But, since health is not guaranteed, this looks like a six win team at best.

The final team for the day, coming in at number 29, I have the Tennessee Titans. I love Cam Ward. He is going to be awesome. The Titans lucked out and grabbed the best player first overall in the last draft. But, he is a rookie and rookies notoriously struggle in year one in the NFL. And Ward will have his ups and downs. Tony Pollard kind of fell back to Earth being the number 1 running back on this roster. He can still be solid, but he won't put up great numbers. Calvin Ridley and Tyler Lockett make for a fast duo at wideout, but they are also very small. And the O line will be breaking in some new guys and a rookie. The defense is weird. Jeffery Simmons is great, but the guys surrounding him are no names. Arden Key is the only linebacker I know, and my memories of him are vague. The secondary is also very unproven. The Titans are in a full on rebuild and they did the best thing taking Ward number 1 overall. They now have a building block. But this will take time. The Titans are going to have a rough go of it for a couple of years. But if they stick it out, this team could be legit in three or four years. This year, they may win five games.

That's it for today. Come back tomorrow for my next four teams. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Thoughts on Bradley Beal and the Clippers

Bradley Beal has been bought out by the Suns and is now a member of the LA Clippers. Let’s discuss.

This has been in the makings for over a week now. I saw the signing, and at first blush I thought it was okay. It didn't really move me one way or the other. Beal is a better scorer than Norm Powell, but he isn't as reliable. Beal misses more games than Powell, or so it seems to me. He also adds another ball handler to a team in desperate need of someone besides James Harden who can control and start the offense. But, Beal is old and he is coming to a team filled with vets.

Looking at the Clippers starting five, at least who I think should start, we have Harden at point guard, Beal at the 2, Kawhi Leonard at the 3, John Collins at the 4 and Ivica Zubac at the 5. Coming off the bench we have Brook Lopez, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Nic Batum, Kris Dunn, Ben Simmons and Derrick Jones Jr amongst others. That is a bunch of well traveled veterans. As far as "young" guys they have on their roster, they all seem unproven. Kobe Brown has never been given a real chance. Patrick Baldwin Jr is on his third team already. I don't know a thing about guys like Kobe Sanders, Trentyn Flowers or Yanic Konan Niederhauser. These guys won't see the floor unless it is a true blowout or a bunch of guys have gotten injured.

When I look at this roster from a pure talent point, they have the guys to be a relatively deep regular season team. Bogdanovic is a step or two slower now, but he can still shoot. Brook Lopez could potentially start next to Zubac and push Collins to the bench. This would space the floor much better and give the Clippers two rim protectors. Nic Batum seems to be a guy that his teammates adore. And when he gets it going he can hit four or five straight threes in crucial moments. Kris Dunn is a zero on offense, but he is a hellish defender. He is one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA. Ben Simmons' story is simply becoming dull and boring. And Derrick Jones Jr can jump out of the gym. That's just the bench guys. The starters look pretty good too. Harden is still putting up very good scoring and assist numbers. Bradley Beal can still put the ball in the hoop and create open space from time to time. Kawhi Leonard is one of the better mid range scorers and he can still get to the rim. He draws a ton of contact and gets to the line as well. John Collins is a good rim runner for Harden and his shot is a little better. And if Lopez starts here instead of Collins, he can shoot the three, especially from the corner, and he is still an upper tier rim protector. And Zubac has gotten slower but surely gotten better each and every year he has been in the NBA. Last season he seemed to kind of put it all together.

Again, on paper, this team can get right back where they were last season, and maybe win a round or two this time around. But, and this is the big, big but in my piece today, this team will simply not be healthy enough to be a true contender. I saw a headline that showed Kawhi, Beal and Harden and it said, "who is stooping this team?". The response couldn't have been more perfect. It read, "doubtful, questionable and playoffs". That is exactly what happens every year, especially with these three guys, and why should we expect anything different now. Kawhi Leonard is one of my all time favorite players but he cannot stay healthy. He played over 40 games last season and we were all shocked. He can do so many things so wonderfully on a basketball court, he just isn't out there nearly enough to leave a true or lasting impact. Beal will miss anywhere from 20 to 30 games a year without a second guess. He will have a tweak or twinge that will sideline him for enough time that has an overall impact on the season on the wrong side and when he comes back he will need ample time to ramp up. And we all know playoff James Harden. There just seems to be something about the bright lights and big stage that makes him shrink. He is such an incredible scorer and an incredible creator, until we get to the playoffs. Then he passes up on open shots or passes too many times or never touches the ball. It is what it is at this stage in his career.

I have always had a soft spot for the Clippers and I want to see them do well. I mentioned my love for Kawhi. I also really like Ty Lue, Brook Lopez, Brad Beal and Nic Batum. Those guys will always have a place in my basketball heart. But, the injuries and mishaps in the playoffs are just brutal to watch year after year after year. I'd love for them to prove me wrong. Time will tell and I hope they exceed my expectations. With the addition of Beal I think they will look similar to last season, and that means another first round playoff exit. We will see. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Thoughts on the Kevin Durant Trade

While I was gone last week Kevin Durant was traded to the Rockets. Let’s discuss.

We all saw this coming from a million miles away. I am glad he didn't end up in San Antonio, and Houston seemed like the most likely and his preferred destination. There were seven teams and a bunch of players involved in this trade, but the Rockets and Suns were the two main players. The Rockets acquired Kevin Durant and the Suns got Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks and the 10th pick in the draft and some second round picks. The Suns ended up selecting Khaman Maluach with the 10th pick, and the seconds moved around on draft night.

Pulling back and looking at this trade for these two teams, I feel like both teams got what they wanted in the deal. I'll start with the Suns. The Suns need to rebuild something fierce. They were in a terrible place when they traded for Bradley Beal last season. When that didn't work, the Suns didn't even make the play-in, I think the front office realized they needed to fully start over. I think they are currently in that process, and trading KD was the first step. Now they have to get rid of Bradly Beal, either buy him out or trade him, and they can really go into full rebuild. This will be a bummer for Devin Booker, but he must be happy in Phoenix because he just signed a humongous extension to stick around for a lot longer. The Suns did get two solid players in Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks. Green has shown flashes. He has up and down moments, but he proved he can score on a big stage in the playoffs last year. He also played poorly too. That cannot be overlooked. But now he is going to a place where he doesn't have to be the lone creator. He gets to play next to Devin Booker, who is better than Fred VanVleet and the other guards the Rockets have. That's no disrespect to them either. Booker is clearly a better player. Like or loathe Dillon Brooks all you want, but the dude is a menace on defense. He is a good, mean defensive player. He can also occasionally hit shots. But, much like the case with Green, Brooks won't have to worry about being on every single night. The Suns are not going to be good, and maybe the coaching staff will see what they have with Brooks at this stage in his career. I like the rookie Maluach here. He will get a ton of chances, and while he is raw, he was the second best player on Duke's team last season. He is also long which can lead to more blocked shots than others may think. The Suns, as I mentioned before, will not be very good, especially in the West, but they may be a fun League Pass team. I think Booker and Green can fill up the stat sheet, and I'm pretty high on Maluach in the long run.

The Rockets just jumped into the upper echelon of the West by adding KD. He has to be engaged and ready to play and give up some of the playmaking he may be used to, and I think he will be fine with that. He is old and oft injured, but he won't have to create nearly as much with this version of the Rockets. Fred VanVleet will find him for open shots. Alpernen Sengun will not clog the lane and can find him with some good passes. Amen Thompson will take a load off of him on defense. Steven Adams will protect him and has familiarity with him. Jabari Smith Jr is a solid big to put next to him. Dorian Finney-Smith is still a good enough three and D guy. And he and Jeff Green have been friends since KD was drafted by the Sonics. The Rockets have added a bonafide superstar scorer. They've also added a guy that knows how to win on the biggest stage. He can be a headcase, and if things go sideways quickly, it could be bad. But, if the Rockets meet expectations, this trade will look really good for one or two seasons.

I feel like everyone wins in this trade. Each team got what they wanted out of it and everyone seems happy. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

LeBron Doesn't Owe Anyone Anything

NBA free agency has come and been wild. It is usually wild, but it feels a little wilder this offseason. There's been a ton of player movement. Some teams have gotten better and others are shedding salaries and starting their rebuilds. One particular player that has been in the conversation as of late is the great LeBron James.

James owes this league and the Lakers nothing at all. He has done so, so much for the NBA in his 20 plus year career. He is an all timer. He is, in my opinion, the second greatest player to ever do it. He should get to pick and choose whatever he wants for the twilight of his career. So, when I turned on "The Zach Lowe Show" the other day, imagine my surprise when Lowe and his guest were outright hating on him. I was absolutely shocked when I heard the things the two of them were saying about LeBron. And the sheer fact that they were trying to tamp down what they said by adding a compliment at the end of their takedown, that just made me laugh. They were basically demeaning James' decision to opt into the final year of his contract with the Lakers. They kept saying things about how he is old and this isn't his team anymore. Lowe's guest sarcastically called James "48 years old". Lowe never once said anything nice about James until he was done putting him down.

This was racking my mind all evening and into today, which is definitely my fault. But I have heard all the hate James has received his entire career, sometimes from myself, and this segment of Lowe's most recent episode just hit me weirdly. After much thought, I think I have landed on why Lowe and guest were so tough on James. It is Luka Doncic. Lowe has always, and I mean always, stumped for white foreign NBA players. He is married to a Bosnian woman and, even during his tenure with ESPN, he has never once said anything really poorly at all when talking about NBA players from there, all of whom are white. And when Doncic ascended to the level he is currently at, Lowe has become his number one supporter. He will go to bat for him all the time. Since the trade to the Lakers, Lowe has made it his mission to demean and drag down Nico Harrison and the Mavericks. He claims to never listen to interviews anymore, but he is consistent with his mockery anytime Harrison is on a mic. He begrudges people who trash Doncic for his lack of defense and ability to stay in shape. He won't hear it. And this all should have clicked yesterday when I heard him mention the age gap between Doncic and James. I should have known then that, at least in Lowe's mind, the Lakers are no longer LeBron's team, they are Luka's team and Lowe is rolling with that, dissenters be damned. So, it makes sense to me now why he, after years of defending LeBron, is now coming down on him so hard. He mocked his age. He said that the Lakers don't need to build around him anymore. He said that he thinks LeBron isn't in it for titles anymore. He basically dragged his name through the mud for about an hour and I was floored. Like I said at the top, LeBron doesn't owe anybody anything. He has put in the time, effort and work to make it where he is today. He has made billions of dollars for the NBA, the Cavs, the Heat and the Lakers. He has given people like Zach Lowe a place to throw his dumbass opinions out there willy nilly. Luka will never achieve what LeBron has achieved, Nikola Jokic will never be the player LeBron has been for 23 years. These guys don't have what it takes, they don't have the will or the want to do the things LeBron has done.

Zach Lowe should never, ever slander a player of LeBron James' caliber especially because he has never done a single thing at the level LeBron has with basketball. I was excited for Lowe to come back to the podcasting world, but since he has become a member of The Ringer, he seems to be just another Barstool hot take moron who doesn't think before he speaks, and that bums me out. I'm still going to listen to his pod, but maybe I won't for much longer if this is going to be his attitude moving forward. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

The Earth Is My Treadmill: A Personal Approach to Mindful Running

I don’t use meditation apps. I haven’t taken any formal mindfulness courses. I’ve never been to a retreat or followed a guru. But I run. And when I’m out there, something shifts.

Most of the time I’m alone, just me and my dog, Goat. No headphones. No phone. Just the sound of my breath and the rhythm of our footsteps on the trail.

Somewhere along the way, I started doing this thing. It wasn’t intentional. It just happened. I’d be running, probably lost in some thought about work or parenting or whatever else was chewing on my brain, and then I’d catch myself. In that moment, I’d flip my perspective.

Instead of thinking about myself running forward, I’d imagine the earth rotating beneath my feet. Like I was stationary, and the planet was carrying me along for the ride.

That little shift changes everything. For a moment, I feel completely present. The usual noise in my head quiets down. My body feels aligned with the ground. I stop resisting the motion and let it happen. I stop trying to get somewhere and just exist with what is.

It might sound strange, but it works. At least for me.

I didn’t learn this from a book. No one taught me how to do it. It came from spending enough time moving through the world to notice how much of that movement is mental. Sometimes the trick isn’t to push harder. Sometimes it’s just to look at things differently.

That shift doesn't last forever. Sometimes it only lasts a minute. Sometimes I forget to do it altogether. And sometimes it’s just a regular run, with sweat, sore legs, and Goat diving headfirst into something he shouldn’t. But when I do remember to shift, the whole run feels different. I feel different.

I’m not saying this is mindfulness in the textbook sense. I don’t really care what it’s called. What matters is that it brings me into the moment. Not in a performative way, not to impress anyone, but in a way that feels quiet and real.

Maybe it’s a trick of the mind. Or maybe it’s a way of remembering that we are not separate from the world. We are part of it. Moving and being moved. Running and being carried.

For me, that’s enough.

Kirk Aug

Kirk is a writer, beekeeper and a fellow traveller on spaceship Earth. Follow Kirk on instagram @kirkaug

Thoughts on the NBA Draft

The NBA draft is now over and I have some takes I want to put out in the world today, both good and bad.

First, the bad.

I am kind of stunned at what the Pelicans did. They gave up an unprotected 2026 pick to draft Derik Queen. I love Derik Queen, go look at my draft preview, but they could have gotten him without having to give up what many seem to believe will be a high lottery pick. They also got rid of CJ McCollum in a trade for Jordan Poole. Poole will forever be a legend to me for his shot in the tourney while playing at Michigan. But, save for two seasons, Poole cannot stay in one place too long, he is a ball stopper and he is a zero on defense. I am a little shook by what the Pelicans are doing, but Joe Dumars has built up other franchises before, so maybe he deserves the benefit of the doubt.

The Celtics got rid of Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday and brought in Anfernee Simons. They also drafted three dudes I have never heard of. Simons is a good scorer and not much else. Hugo Gonzalez, who they took late in the first round, might be a stash pick. And they will be without their best player, Jayson Tatum, for the next season, maybe more. Maybe they are just using this upcoming season as a bridge year, but I don't get trading Holiday for Simons, other than a salary thing. And Porzingis seemed to be coming into his own when he did play. Much like Dumars, Brad Stevens knows what he is doing, but still, this has been a puzzling offseason to me.

The Nets had a ton of picks, used them all and took some wild, wild shots. The Nets are not going to contend for a while, but you'd think they would try to build in the draft. They took Egor Denim about ten picks too soon. He has upside, but not of the 8th overall pick. Danny Wolf is a big point guard, but he is turnover prone and an iffy outside shooter. Nolan Traore and Drake Powell don't seem like they'll get a ton of early minutes. And I don't know a single thing about Ben Saraf, other than he was the pick before Wolf. The Nets took some swings, hoping that at least one or two of these guys would hit. The problem will be finding real minutes for them during the regular season. Maybe they will trade a ton of their veterans and really go for that first pick next season.

And my team, the Grizzlies, confused me to no end. They need to find a replacement for Desmond Bane and they are going to try that with Cedric Coward. I don't know much about him, but counting on him to be a big contributor as a rookie is asking a lot. Javon Small has potential, but he is small. And I feel like they only took Jahmai Mashack because he is a local kid. I don't really know what they are doing, but I do know that I'm not a big fan of the moves so far.

On to the good.

I mentioned the Pelicans first, the team that benefited from that deal is the Hawks. They recouped more picks, they got Kristaps Porzingis in the deal with the Celtics and they drafted Asa Newell in round one. Newell had lottery potential and the Hawks were able to snag him at 23. He will get to play alongside guys close to his age and a good point guard in Trae Young.

The Mavericks, after a season of making poor decision after poor decision, drafted Cooper Flagg. He is as can't miss as they come in this draft. He has an NBA body, he is ready for the spotlight and he has good teammates when they are healthy. The Mavs need to stay as injury free as they can, but when they won the lottery we all just hoped they would draft Flagg. They did and that was the best choice to make in this draft. This pick could ease the frustration of the trade they made last season.

The Thunder, coming off a title, took two guys that they can slowly develop and who can help replace other players when they sign elsewhere for more money. Thomas Sorber is a force defensively, the Thunder's calling card, and is a shockingly good passer. He is also only 19. And Brooks Barnhizer will get ample time to develop in the G League before coming to the league to provide sparse, but important bench minutes in the future.

The 76ers, who have made horrible decisions as of late, took VJ Edgecombe and plan on keeping him. He is hyper athletic, can make himself fit into a system and seems to love basketball. They were also able to sang Johni Broome in round two, and he will fit right in with the veterans on this team.

Finally, the The Spurs just added more talent that is on the same timeline as Victor Webanyama. Wemby and Dylan Harper are going to be a fun, fun pick and roll combo. And Harper gets to play in the back court with DeAaron Fox, who will be free to use his speed at his leisure now. And Carter Bryant is your prototypical 3 and D guy that every team needs now. The Spurs are coming, as long as they stay injury free.

That's it for the draft. I cannot wait until next season starts. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Thoughts on the Kevin Durant Trade

The NBA offseason is off and running. There has already been a plethora of trades the past couple of days. Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday are no longer on the Celtics. Jordan Poole has a new home. I'm sure many more names will be moved the next couple of days, especially tonight because it is night one of the draft. But the one trade I want to talk about today is Kevin Durant to the Rockets.

KD is on another new team again, and he is saying all the typical stuff he has before. I wrote, maybe a week ago, how much I have loved watching KD play basketball, but how tiresome this part of his career has become. He gets unhappy, asks out of wherever he is playing, says he's happy and within six months, he wants to be moved again. I have to believe that he is frustrated how it all played out in Golden State. I have heard he doesn't feel like he got his due credit for helping that team win two rings. Fact of the matter is, KD joined a ready made champion coming off a 73 win season. All he did was make them unbeatable. That team will always be Steph Curry's team, no matter how much KD and his people wanted it to be his team. After he got bored in Golden State he went to the Nets. That obviously didn't work the way they envisioned it would. Then he forced his hand to Phoenix and that blew up in everyone involved faces there. Now he is a member of the Houston Rockets.

The Rockets did have to part with young talent and picks. They let Jalen Green go. I have liked Jalen Green his whole career to this point. Sure, he hasn't developed into the star they thought, but he is still young and hyper athletic. He can also score in bunches. His defense comes and goes, and he needs to work on that. He also let in to the moment during this past playoffs, but he should have many more chances to prove himself. The Rockets also let Dillon Brooks go. I'm not a Dillon Brooks guy, but he is a very good defender. He also knows how to annoy the hell out of opponents. But his act grows thin very quickly and it is not a surprise to me that he is on his third team in four years. The picks are a nice recoup for the Suns, but they only got one first rounder, number 10 in this year's draft. They also got four second round picks.

When I look at this trade from a whole, I do think it has benefits for both teams, but I also think it speaks volumes to KD's value as he continues to age and continues to get more and more grumpy. Even last season I bet the Suns could've gotten much more for him. But here we are. KD is going to be 37. He misses twenty plus games every year now. He is too busy fighting with regular ass people on the internet. The whole act is becoming boring and lame. But, he can still put the ball in the hoop, and that is what the Rockets need. With him, Alpernen Sengun and Amen Thompson, they have three guys that can bring it every night. Jabari Smith Jr should develop even more with all the open space he would find now. And Fred VanVleet is a smart, team playing lead guard and that is what every team wants and needs. As for the Suns, I don't know if they will hang on to either Green or Brooks. If I was those two I'd want to go play where the games actually mean something. The picks are the big deal for the Suns. They need to go into full rebuild mode and not waste time trying to give the team to Jalen Green and let Dillon Brooks be a menace and only win 30-35 games a year. As for the Rockets, this is an okay deal for one season. But, they will have to be ready for KD to flip at a moment's notice. If one thing isn't to his liking, he will become irritated and ask to move yet again, while asking for a big contract extension. The Rockets have to walk a fine, thin line with KD. He also happens to be old and aging out of the league.

Time will tell with this move, but I'm not fully on board with it from the Rockets' end, especially if it doesn't go the way they planned. We shall see. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Ty's NBA Draft Preview

The first and second round of the NBA draft starts tomorrow. I don't understand why they are breaking it up over two days, but whatever. I'm going to do my usual "draft preview" today. I'm going to give you five prospects I like, three I'm not so high on and two "sleepers". Props to all these players for making it to this point. They are about to achieve the highest level they can in their profession, and that takes a ton of hard work to do. Now, onto the "preview".

First I'm going to give you my five favorite prospects, starting with Cooper Flagg. Flagg is as can't miss as they come. He can score from outside, drive to the hoop and create offense. He puts forth a ton of effort on defense. He has been in the spotlight for a long time so tv and interviews will not bother him. He is ready for this moment and, even though he went to Duke, I'm excited to watch him play in the NBA. Flagg is going to be awesome. My next prospect I like is Dylan Harper. This kid is going to be an important player his entire career. He is a very good point guard that can also shoot the ball. I know Rutgers wasn't very good last season, but that was not due to Harper's play in the least. He was totally productive. When he missed time, Rutgers struggled big time. Harper can play a little defense as well. Wherever he goes, and it's looking like San Antonio, he is going to be a day 1 starter and contributor. Harper is legit. My next prospect is Derik Queen. Queen is a modern big who can play like an old school big. He single handedly won games for Maryland last season. He was always grabbing boards and initiating offense. He plays with a swagger that most kids his age don't possess. He has the feel of being a 20 point per game scorer from day one. Queen is my favorite prospect in this draft. Next I have Liam McNeely. I know he isn't the "biggest" name, and UConn wasn't the dominant force they have been in the past, but McNeely put in work. He is long and lean. He can shoot and defend. He is a good rebounder and I think, given the right situation, he could be a key player for a decade in the NBA. He does need to bulk up, but he has all the tools to succeed. And my final good prospect is VJ Edgecombe. He is a freak athlete. He can jump out of the gym. His perimeter game is getting better and better. And he is a very good defender at such a young age. He needs to work on ball handling, but that will come with time. He reminds me, in athleticism, of a fitter, younger Zion Williamson, and that is not hyperbole. The dude is one hell of an athlete.

Now to the not so good prospects. First I have Kon Knueppel. I don't understand this rise up the draft boards. He is a fine player, but I do not see lottery pick in him. He has a motor that doesn't stop, but so does everyone else in the NBA. When I look at Knueppel I see a role player as his ceiling. I wouldn't take him as my franchise player. It also helped that he was playing next to Cooper Flagg and Khaman Malauch. He isn't going to find it as easy in the NBA. My next meh prospect is Danny Wolf. Look, I loved every single thing he did at Michigan last season. He really led that team in Dusty May's first season and it was rad to see them make the Sweet Sixteen. But Wolf also frustrated me to no end. He was a turnover machine. He would disappear during games from time to time. His shot never fully developed. I hope I'm wrong here, but I think Wolf would have benefited from one more season at Michigan. My final meh prospect is Ace Bailey. I don't know what's going on with him and his team, but not working out is always a bad sign to me. Add in the fact that he isn't even talking to teams, something funky is going on. While being a great scorer, he is rail thin and almost a zero on defense. Watching him play, he is dynamic, but this silence has been wild. I have heard he wants to start right away, which is fine. But, to essentially ghost these teams is wild to me. And it makes me skeptical of his overall talent.

Finally I have my two "sleeper" prospects. First I have Johni Broome. Sure he is old. Sure he had an odd vertical leap at the combine. Sure he is going to be a late second round pick. But all the kid does is win. He is an incredibly smart and adept basketball player. He knows what he can and cannot do. And I would want a kid like him on my team any day of the week. My other "sleeper" prospect is Walter Clayton Jr. Again, he is another older player, but he was the hub of the team that won it all last year. He is a solid point guard, who can really shoot the three. He also gives it a go on defense, he doesn't take plays off and he, much like Broome, is a proven winner. I would so much rather have him on my team than Knueppel or Bailey. I know exactly what I'm getting if I draft Clayton Jr. And that makes me feel better.

There you have it, my 2025 NBA draft "preview". Take it with a grain of salt and enjoy the draft. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Congrats Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder are the 2025-26 NBA champs. They were taken the distance by the Pacers last night, but in the end they pulled away and have their franchise's first ever title. They were the best team in the NBA all season long, they won 68 games, they have the MVP on their team for a long time now and they have the complimentary pieces to compete for a long time going forward. The Thunder are here to stay and look to be dominant.

I was wired in for game 7 last night. We haven't had a championship go the distance in the NBA since 2016. I was all in for the Pacers because my son is a fan and I wanted him to be a happy camper. And they came out and looked more than ready to make it a game, and a game that could have won. They were fast and explosive from the start. They were hitting their shots. They were playing solid defense. Every time the Thunder made a push, the Pacers were right there. And Tyrese Haliburton was cooking. He made three of his first four shots, all of them threes. He looked as locked in as he has ever been.

And then he tore his achilles. He went to drive the ball, fell like a heap and it looked bad from every single angle. You could tell that something was off. I was shocked and scared for the Pacers and Haliburton. When they showed the injury in slow motion, you could see his achilles shake. It reminded me so much of when KD got hurt in the Finals when he was on the Warriors. While Haliburton wasn't as intense, it still looked very, very bad. Haliburton is most likely going to miss all of next season, and that stinks.

When he went down I figured the Pacers were going to crumble. I assumed the Thunder would hit then with a barrage of shots and they would wither under the weight of the Thunder's dominance and the absence of their star point guard who is the hub that their entire offense runs through. To my surprise, the Pacers kept fighting. They wouldn't go away. In the first half, Pascal Siakim stepped up on both ends of the floor. He was going to the hoop and either hitting the shot or getting fouled and shooting free throws. He was also swatting shots on defense and snagging rebounds left and right. Andrew Nembhard also hit big shots and played suffocating defense on SGA. The Pacers even held a one point lead going into halftime. And even after the Thunder barrage of threes game, they built their lead to 9, the Pacers stayed in it due to TJ McConnell and Ben Mathurin. McConnell seemingly couldn't miss. Mathurin kept attacking the rim and grabbing rebounds. The Pacers fought with every bit of energy they had left. But the Thunder would not be denied. SGA, while his shot was off, got to the line and made pinpoint pass after pinpoint pass. It was the best I've seen him pass all year. Jalen Williams woke up in the second half and started hitting his threes, which opened up his lethal drive to the left. Chet Holmgren was an absolute menace blocking almost every shot at the rim he faced. He looked legit for the first time in his NBA career to me. Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein did a great job playing their parts. Cason Wallace plays with the confidence of a veteran. He looked great at times last night. Aaron Wiggins, while missing his few shots, played solid defense in his limited minutes. Even when the Thunder got bogged down, and did way too much dribbling in the fourth quarter, where they saw their lead of 22 dwindle to 10, it never felt like they were being threatened. They seemed in control. Even when the refs decided to get way too involved, the Thunder never swayed. They played within themselves, won with defense and forced Indiana to foul them in the end and turn the game into a free throw shooting contest.

I do want to say that the last four minutes of the game were very hard to watch for me. It was everything I have grown to dislike of the game. There was too much one on one. Guards dribbled so much that neither team could get into any real kind of offense. The refs got way too involved. Too many early threes in the shot clock were taken and bricked. I found myself frustrated and annoyed at the end, but that's on me. Other than that, this game was great until it wasn't. The Pacers hung in there the best they could with Haliburton going out so early.

I do wonder how, if at all, the game would've played out differently if Haliburton was able to go the whole game, but that is a fool's errand. What happened happened, and I can't change that, no matter how much I may want to. But, I do think the right team won. The Thunder were built for this and they showed that they're a great team that isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Congrats to OKC, Chet, J Dub and SGA. They more than earned this championship. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

I'm Psyched for Game Seven

I was almost certain the NBA Finals were going to be done last night. The Thunder got a key victory in game five, Jalen Williams exploded and announced himself to the world and SGA was playing at as high a rate as he had all season long. The defense was locked in and Tyrese Haliburton seemed more hurt than anyone was letting on.

Well, the Pacers decided they weren't finished. They came out like a house of fire last night and pretty much led from wire to wire. It was a dominant victory. It was the best I thought they had looked all season long. Haliburton looked a little hampered, but nothing too alarming. The bench guys played their part. Pascal Siakim was dunking all over everyone. James Johnson got a little burn and shoved a dude before getting ejected. This is what the Pacers have done all playoffs long. Just when you think they're about to be cooked, they rise from the dead and put a hammering on their opponent.

I have seen some people saying that the Thunder didn't play well, but I'm giving all the credit to the Pacers here. They were ready, they were fired up and they came out and showed their metal. I haven't been prouder of a team I do not root for ever in my life. It was awesome to see. And when the lead kept growing in the second half, I felt confident enough to turn the game off and go watch tv with my wife in our room. I did check the score occasionally, but the Pacers never wavered. I love it.

And with that victory this means we get a game seven in the NBA Finals. I love love love that we are getting a second game. I, like many other writers, picked the Thunder in five. I thought this series was going to be quick and easy. I have to apologize to the Pacers for that. They have looked every bit the part of a Finals team. They have had an answer for everything the Thunder have thrown at them. And, as we all know, anything can happen in game seven. This is where players like Lu Dort or Aaron Wiggins can go off for the Thunder. Or, TJ McConnell or Ben Mathurin can do the same for the Pacers. Maybe Ben Sheppard plays a pivotal role. Or maybe Isaiah Joe will be brushed off the shelf and fill up the stat sheet. Both teams need things like this to happen to win game seven. But they also need the stars to step up. Thinking back to a moment I saw in the game last night. Tyrese Haliburton had his defender on the move and pulled up for a three. It looked too high and long to me, but that bad boy ripped right through the net. The Pacers were off from there. They need that and then some from him tomorrow night. SGA and Jalen Williams have been playing their part all series long, but they need to go to another level. The Thunder also need Chet Holmgren to break out of his slump. They'll also need Jaylin Williams to do something of note. Lu Dort needs to make threes. Alex Caruso needs to make mid range shots. As for the Pacers, Haliburton, as I said, needs to play the game of his life. Pascal Siakim needs to keep doing what he is doing. Myles Turner needs to hit some shots. So does Andrew Nembhard. Each team needs everyone who plays any minutes to make those minutes count like they've never counted before. And the role players will be the difference here. I'm going to stick with the Thunder to win this game, it is in OKC afterall. But the Pacers winning it all would not surprise me one bit and I want that to happen for my son because he was on the Haliburton train over two years ago when we took him to a Pacers game. He was the only one in our group even rooting for them. He is a true fan.

So, while I do think the Thunder will pull out a very, very close game, I'll be rooting for the Pacers right next to my kid. I love basketball so much. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

Thoughts On the Desmond Bane Trade

The Grizzlies and the Magic were involved in a pretty big trade yesterday. My Father's Day morning consisted of my son yelling the trade to me from my bedroom. Let’s discuss.

At first glance, I figured the Grizz were going to shed some salary and get off some guys that they didn't need anymore. I figured Santi Aldama or Luke Kennard were going out the door. Maybe they were trading future picks for immediate help. I didn't really know what to think, but I figured they weren't going to give up on their core guys. I was very, very wrong and have found myself more and more upset as the hours pass and the trade is finalized.

The Grizz traded Desmond Bane away. I don't like it. They need his outside shooting and his overall scoring. He held that team afloat two years ago when Ja Morant missed a ton of time. He was the diamond in the rough in that draft and he was doing good things for Memphis. He was also a fan favorite and I truly adored his game and what he brought to the Grizzlies. And now he is gone and he is going to become an instant fan favorite and a key cog to an up and coming Magic team in the East. The Magic got a guy who can shoot from deep, who can create and who is a gamer. Bane will come in and be a great fit next to Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero. When they aren't hitting shots, or when they get to the rim and they're tripled teamed, they'll be able to kick the ball to him in the corner and he will make a ton of shots. He is also a good defender who buys in on that end of the floor. And defense is the Magic's calling card. Bane can slide into the 2 guard spot next to Anthony Black. Those two in the backcourt and Banchero, Wagner and Wendell Carter Jr are a pretty formidable starting five, especially in the East. They have a solid bench unit and they can do more damage than they already have to this point. And Bane tends to stay healthy. He missed very few games with the Grizzlies.

In my eyes this is a homerun trade on the Magic's end. They did have to give up Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony and four first round picks. That may sound like a lot, but let me break down why I'm not so thrilled on my end, being a Grizzlies fan. I really like KCP's defense and shot making, when it is working. He had a rough season last year. I get it, he wanted to get paid and wanted a bigger role and the Magic were more than happy to oblige. But he wasn't getting the open looks and his defense suffered due to more usage on offense. He is older too. I like his presence on the Grizz, but he may be on the back end of his career. I have liked Cole Anthony since his one year at UNC, but he is what he is going to be in the NBA. At best, he is a role playing bench guy. I don't see much of a difference from him when comparing him to Kennard, without the outside shooting but better defense. Anthony can get to the rim, but he isn't an outside shooter. He tries hard on defense, but he gets beat up by bigger guards. He plays with reckless abandon, which I do like, but I don't see him contributing more than energy for this team. The four first round picks look great on paper. Anytime you can get that many picks you almost have to take it. But the Magic are on an upswing. They're a perennial play-in/playoff team at this point. They aren't the Magic of the mid 2010's anymore. They are a good basketball team that will win more than expected because they play in the East. So, while the picks seem nice, they will most likely be late first round picks unless someone key gets hurt for the Magic, and I don't wish that on any team. The Grizz can draft better than a lot of teams, but late first round picks don't always turn out like Desmond Bane. That is going to be hard to recreate.

Looking at all this with a more cynical eye, I feel like the Grizz aren't done yet, and that bums me out even more. I don't think Morant or Jaren Jackson Jr will be on the team next season. If I had to bet, I'd say they let JJJ go. If they do, they better get an absolute haul. I have read rumors about Trae Young, and I want an even bigger fish. And, Young and Morant would be a total zero on defense. If the Grizz are truly moving on from this core, and it seems likely, they need to do it right. I don't want them to fully bottom out. I don't want them to start over. I still have faith in Morant's on court ability, but they need to go about this all very carefully in the front office. I'm not thrilled about them letting Bane go and I'm curious to see what will happen next. I will be watching their offseason even closer now. As for the Magic, they did a good job addressing a need and not having to give up anything super important. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

The Pacers are Bringing Back Team Basketball

I am as surprised as anyone that the Pacers are not only ahead in the Finals, but look like the better team at the moment. I was pretty certain, as were most commentators, that the Thunder would walk to a title. I picked them to win in five games. I figured if it went six games, that would be a triumph for the Pacers. But, as we head into game four tonight, the Pacers are up 2-1 in the series, and they look like they are more than legit.

I love it. But, I have seen some discourse online in regards to the Pacers and how they ended up here. The most common comment or statement is, "I don't understand why this Pacers team is this good". That seems to be the running sentiment, especially when it comes to younger NBA fans. Some of the responses I have seen, from people mostly my age, are easy for me to agree with.

The reason why the Pacers are this good, and why younger kids maybe don't get it, they're a team. The Pacers are not led by a supernova superstar of a player. And I mean no disrespect to any guy on that team. Tyrese Haliburton is a great point guard who barely turns the ball over and he is about as clutch as it gets. Myles Turner is a very good defensive minded big who rebounds well and can stretch the floor. Pascal Siakim is the key to their defense and, when needed, he can fill up the stat sheet. TJ McConnell and Benedict Mathurin are spark plugs off the bench. Andrew Nembhard is a wonderful 3 and d asset that every team wants in their starting five. Aaron Nesmith found himself, and a bunch of playing time, after being acquired by the Pacers. Obi Toppin provides athleticism off the bench. And Rick Carlisle is one of the better coaches the NBA has ever seen. Going up and down this roster, this is about as good a job of team building that you can get.

This Pacers team reminds me of a much more athletic and offensive inclined version of the Pistons teams that won titles with Richard Hamilton, Ben Wallace and Rasheed Wallace. No one on that team was ever the face of the league or a perennial all star player. They were a well coached team that let their players do what they did best. No one is asked to do too much. Not one single player has to be the star every night. They can get help from all varieties of anyone on the roster. I have even seen Thomas Bryant and Ben Sheppard have big moments during this run. It is great to see. And that is why, at least for me, the Pacers are here. They play the best version of team basketball that we currently have in the NBA. The fact that they don't have to rely on one single guy is a plus for them. The fact that they can expect to get solid contributions from everyone that plays is a plus for them. The fact that they have a genius of a head coach is a plus for them. The fact that they have someone as cold blooded in late game situations as Halliburton is a plus for them. That's why the Pacers are here and the sheer fact that the team is above any one individual makes me even happier that they're here.

I like the Thunder too, and I do think they will still win the title, but they do have that one superstar that they rely on in every big moment. And if Shai Gilgeous Alexander is having an off night on offense, they're toast. The Pacers don't have to worry about that. Back when Miami had the Big 3, they had three guys that could do it for them, but in the end, if LeBron was having a bad night, they had a bad night. The same could be said of the current version of the Nuggets. If Jokic is off the floor, the Nuggets are cooked. I think we will see the Celtics take a step back without Jayson Tatum all of next season. The Pacers don't have to worry about that at all because they're not a star driven team. And that is why they are here and that is why they have a lead in the NBA Finals.

I love team basketball and the Pacers are making me love it even more. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

What Does the Media Think of Shadeur Sanders Today?

Before starting my piece today I need to give credit to my dad. Him and I were chatting via text yesterday about the very idea that will be the point of my blog this afternoon. Thank you for the idea you gave me, and if you end up reading this, I hope you find it well done. The idea is, why did the narrative shift so many times on Shadeur Sanders during his last season at Colorado, during the lead up to the draft and now that teams are in OTA's. With each different scenario, the media changed their tune on the kid as if they had whiplash.

I do want to say, from my own perspective, I think Sanders has the tools to be a solid NFL QB. Would I have taken him first overall? Nope. Cam Ward is a superior prospect. But I fully thought he was going to be the second QB taken in the last draft. I didn't know if he was going to a late first or early second round pick. And for him to fall to the fifth round, and have guys like Tyler Shough, Jaxson Dart and Dillon Gabriel all taken before him, that is crazy. He needs to check his ego a bit, but as far as the intangibles go, Sanders has the tools to make a career for himself in the NFL.

Going into his last season at Colorado, the pundits seemed to agree. He was always talked about as a first round prospect. Before the season started, he and Ward were the two guys. But Ward really separated himself pretty quickly into the year. Sanders kept putting up numbers and Colorado played better than expected. But when the lights were brightest, their bowl game and a few big games against ranked opponents, he struggled. The bowl game was about as bad as I had seen him play. Sure, he had no real help from his o line, but still, that game was tough. His stock took a hit, but not as bad as some thought. After that bowl game, the media kind of placed him as the 3rd or 4th best QB prospect. That isn't bad, but a first round guarantee was almost out the door.

The process leading up to the draft is where the media turned. He was labeled arrogant. According to reports he showed up late or uninterested to team meetings. He had this air about him during interviews. He didn't perform at the combine. All these little things that mean so much to the front office, Sanders seemed to think he was too big for them. The media was out for blood at this point. He disappeared from first round mock drafts. The headlines on him were always negative. People started to buy into the fact that maybe they had to "teach him a lesson" come draft day.

When draft day came, boy oh boy did the powers that be try to send a message. When he fell out of the first round, I was surprised, but not shocked. Everything that led to this day that he needed to show strengths, he had shown weakness. But when he kept tumbling down and down and down, I did become stunned. But, outside of Mel Kiper, the people covering the draft seemed to relish this. They didn't talk about his teammate, Heisman winning corner/receiver Travis Hunter being the number 2 overall pick. They let it slide how much better of a prospect Cam Ward was, unless it meant they could show video of the two of them working out that painted Sanders in a bad light. They let it go that other stud players were going to situations perfect for them. The coverage only seemed to focus on the draft slide of Shadeur Sanders, and what it meant to him and his dad. This kid was unfairly ripped to shreds by the media all because the NFL didn't like the way he handled himself in the pre draft process. And even after he was picked, in the fifth round, it became apparent that he was sent to the NFL equivalent of hell, the Cleveland Browns, because that was what he "deserved".

Now with OTA's going on, the narrative has shifted once again. I see headlines about how he could start. I see videos of him making really good throws in practice. Media people say he is the first to show up and the last to leave. Apparently he stays and signs a ton of autographs for fans. The other QBs on the Browns roster don't get this coverage. Dillon Gabriel is already considered a career backup. Kenny Pickett blew his one shot he had in Pittsburgh. And Joe Flacco is just keeping the seat warm until Sanders is ready. The whole idea that surrounded Sanders before the draft, that came from many of the same people covering him now has completely taken a 180.

I'm not here to say people cannot change. I love it when someone turns it around for the better. But the same media people who viciously attacked him the draft, the same people who relished his poor play in the bowl game, the same people that loved his draft slide, now all they can do is talk about how great a fifth round pick who hasn't taken on NFL snap looks in OTA's. It's baffling to me. Shadeur Sanders is getting the same coverage that superstars get. And while he can be great, he has to prove it first before he is the talk of every website on the planet. And to me, this constant shift in narrative is indicative of the ADHD society we live in now. Everyone wants to drag someone down when they are down, and build them back up when they show their worth. They hang onto that until they get tired of it, and then they drag them down again.

I'm sure the second downfall will come soon for Sanders from the media. He will have a rough showing in the preseason and the same people will be ready to write him off until he shows his skills during a different preseason game. It's tough, and it has to be even tougher for these kids to be constantly picked apart by the media. Unfortunately that is the day and age we live in. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Is Kevin Durant Worth the Headache?

Kevin Durant is at the front of trade talks yet again. This seems to be the new normal in the latest offseason/NBA Finals NBA news, with the exception being when KD was with the Warriors and they were playing in the Finals. Let’s discuss.

My issue, this is becoming old for me. I love Kevin Durant. KD is one of my all time favorite players. He is one of the most efficient and excellent scorers the game has ever seen. I've been riding with him since he was drafted by the SuperSonics. He is a solid rebounder. He is a good enough defender when willing. He is long and uses that length exceptionally well. He is a surefire first ballot hall of fame player. But, since his second title with the Warriors, he has become this curmudgeon who doesn't seem happy with wherever he is playing basketball. He looked downright miserable when the Warriors won their second title after he signed with them. I have to assume he didn't care for the talk that the Warriors are Steph Curry's team. The bummer for him, that will always be true. Steph is going to go down as the greatest Warrior to play in the NBA when he hangs it up. He more than proved his worth when the Warriors won the title in 2022. Steph is a legend. KD isn't on his level in those regards. When he left Golden State he ended up in Brooklyn, as a perceived packaged deal with Kyrie Irving. Well, we all saw how that unfolded. When they played together they were an offensive juggernaut. And when they added James Harden, man oh man were they fun to watch. But, the pandemic happened and Irving wouldn't get vaccinated, KD was never really healthy and James Harden didn't like carrying the load of the team. Kyrie was traded, then Harden was traded. KD asked out, and when Brooklyn refused at first, KD went scorched Earth. He wanted the head coach and the GM gone. He wanted to make decisions for the team on his own. The Nets eventually relented, firing Steve Nash and then trading KD to Phoenix, his preferred destination. And it has not worked out there at all. The Suns have all but mortgaged their future, owning no real picks or young players for a long time, to build around KD and Devin Booker. They let Mikail Bridges and Cam Johnson go. They traded so many picks to acquire the likes of Bradley Beal. They let a young Deandre Ayton go in exchange for Jusuf Nurkic, who seems washed. The Suns are a mess, and I have to believe a lot of that is due to acquiring KD. But, since the Suns are a bad basketball team at the moment, as is his want and will, KD wants out again.

When looking at potential teams that could get him, I don't think I'd risk my team's future for an oft injured, very often angry 37 year old Kevin Durant. As malleable as he is, he is old, isn't on the court as much as he maybe should be and if he isn't the focal point of a team, I do not think he will be happy. The teams mentioned today that I saw were the Spurs, Rockets, Timberwolves and, apparently now the Pistons are trying to get involved. I would never trade for him if I were the Spurs. They need to build around Wemby and De'Aaron Fox. That is the future of that team, especially Wemby. They don't need touches taken away because KD wants to pour in 30 on any given night. And they'd have to give up too many good young players. No way I team him up with Anthony Edwards in Minnesota. He is firmly the alpha there. That is his team through and through. He is the face of the T'Wolves and there is no reason to rock the boat there at all. They'd also have to give up defense first guys, and that is their identity, with AE being a supernova on offense. The Rockets are building something fun and cool with their young core. Jalen Green, Alpernen Sengun, Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith Jr are the reason to watch that team. And they already have solid vets in Dillon Brooks and Fred VanVleet. They have no reason to part with the young guys unless they want to shed future money. But why would they do that when they earned the two seed in the West last year? That would be foolish. And the Pistons getting in on this makes the least sense to me. They are young, they play rough, they had their best season in two decades and they seem to be up and coming. There is no reason whatsoever to break up that core and take the ball out of Cade Cunningham's hands. That would be a very bad decision by their front office.

I think, as unfortunate as it may be for KD, he is going to have to stay in Phoenix or take a big, big step back in his usage if they trade. I also do not think Phoenix will get the haul they might expect if they do trade him. KD is 37. He is hurt a lot. He gets angry way too fast and speaks his mind. As much as I like him, and will always love his game, he is on the wrong end of his prime and the time to walk away is going to be here much sooner than any of us think. I'm interested to see how this all plays out though. I'll be watching closely. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

The Steelers Signed the Wrong Quarterback

The Pittsburgh Steelers must have a death wish or something. I figured they would have kept one of Justin Fields or Russell Wilson, I would have kept Fields, but they let them both walk. And then they didn't draft a QB until the later rounds, and I would have been stunned if that dude started anyway. But now they have the unfortunate addition of Aaron Rodgers.

I don't get why teams keep giving this weirdo a chance. He is 40 now. He is coming off an achilles injury two years ago. He wasn't that good last season. He couldn't even make it work with Davante Adams. Yet the Steelers let the whole offseason drag on and on, with no real choice as the next starting QB, and let Aaron Rodgers dictate when he was going to sign with them.

Mike Tomlin is smarter than this. The front office should be smarter than this. The fans cannot be happy with this choice. I don't understand what people need to see from Rodgers, on and off to the field, to realize this dude is totally washed. He was washed in 2021 if you want my opinion. But nope, the Steelers seem to think he has one more run in him. I even saw a Bleacher Report article that had Rodgers and DK Metcalf next to one another and it said something to the tune of "how explosive will this offense be in 2025"? I couldn't help but laugh when I saw it. And, even though I don't usually read comments, the comment section did not disappoint. There were some solid ones on there, but the best was the most used, which read, "they will definitely have a top 32 offense". For those that don't know, there are 32 teams in the NFL. I love the simplicity of those comments.

Taking an even longer look at this signing, and how I think it plays out for Pittsburgh, Rodgers is going to get murdered behind their mediocre line in their division. The Bengals, while not the best defense, have guys that can rush the passer. The Ravens will not only be able to easily rush the passer, but the secondary will also be picking off passes left and right. And the Browns, while having a horrendous offense, do have a semi competent defense, and Myles Garrett should feast on the d line. Rodgers is going to be running for his life. Oh, that's right, he cannot run anymore. He is about as immobile as they come at the QB position. He can't really move too much behind the line anymore. That was a decent part of his game until 2020.

All the football stuff aside, Rodgers is going to be playing for another blue blood franchise with a heralded head coach. His diva stuff isn't going to fly in Pittsburgh. Russell Wilson had that image, yet we heard nothing about it last season, and Wilson kind of revamped himself a bit. Fields never really figured it out at his first stop, but he did a solid job of filling in for Wilson and turned it into a good deal with the Jets this offseason. The problem with Rodgers, he is so narcissistic and so egomaniacal. He only cares about himself. Everyone who does him wrong he considers an "enemy". He is a liar, a drug addict and has no one around him that isn't a yes man. Mike Tomlin is not going to have a good time dealing with Rodgers nonsense. Tomlin is not a yes man. He shouldn't have to deal with Aaron Rodgers bs. Tomlin is bigger and better than that. If I were him, I'd leave right now. He has done everything he can for Pittsburgh and he has earned the right to leave when he wants. And with this front office giving in to Rodgers and his cronies should be more than enough for Tomlin to hang it up.

I don't like this for Pittsburgh and I wish Aaron Rodgers would hang his cleats up. He is a diva and a nuisance now. He offers nothing in the way of making his team a true competitor. His career is as washed as his conspiracy theories. This is a bad, bad look for a defining NFL franchise. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.