I usually jump at the chance to read whatever my colleague Michael Silver writes. His prose, storytelling and access are as impressive as they come.
But I hesitated to read what he published today. It was the topic that scared me. It might scare you, too. Heck, it probably should.
Replacement refs.
You see, Michael … (or is it Mike, as he’s saved on my phone? I think he’s cool with Mike, but I can’t remember. I just texted him to check. Here’s that exchange, while I’m stalling to avoid talking about replacement refs:
So there you have it. Straight from the award-winning writer who:
- Partied with Dennis Rodman,
- Was the first outside sports journalist to enter New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and
- Joined John Elway on a hotel balcony after the QB’s MVP performance in Super Bowl XXXIII.
All true, by the way. You can read about his career here. All I ask is that the next time you comment on how great his latest story is, you don’t refer to him as Michael or Mike. It’s now Chief.
Yes, I wrote all of that to avoid talking about replacement refs. Chief (Mike) was in the building for 2012’s replacements-era masterpiece, the infamous Fail Mary pictured above. He walks you through exactly what happened and what we should learn from it. It’s a terrific story that you’ll enjoy.
(On that topic, our colleague Mike Jones shared an update on CBA negotiations between the NFL and the NFL Referees Association. They’re actually going well!)
Below: Mike Sando hears from NFL execs about the draft, plus an analytical look at the event’s winners and losers. Also, Robert Mays joins to talk Raiders.
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Two NFC teams with good direction
The NFL is as secretive as sports leagues come. Thankfully for us, executives love talking to Sando. Especially about their competition.
Today, he shared what he’s heard from league execs about the NFC side of the draft. (AFC coming to the site tomorrow.) It’s a telling look into how insiders judged their peers. Two comments stood out as particularly informative about organizational change:
1. The Panthers (the Panthers!!) are doing things right.
“I feel like they are drafting for what they want their team to look like,” said one exec. “They are trying to win on both lines of scrimmage. They want to run the ball. They want to give (Bryce Young) some big receivers.”
The model: Detroit, which has gone from laughingstock to contender, thanks to regime change. Carolina deserves the praise, especially if you look at the value they accrued in this draft.
Remember, this team improved by three wins in each of Dave Canales’ first two seasons, going 8-9 last year and nearly beating the Rams in the playoffs.
Relatedly, the Panthers rank near the top of Austin Mock’s analytics-based grades for the second straight year:
Another takeaway from Sando:
2. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores has significant sway in Minnesota, which lacks a GM.
Defensive tackle Caleb Banks was No. 43 in pre-draft composite rankings, with many teams scared by his left foot (broken before the 2025 season and again at the combine). The Vikings took him at No. 18, making him the second-biggest reach of Round 1.
Why take a chance on the 6-6, 327-pounder? Flores wanted him, and that might be explanation enough.
One executive explained to Sando that “Flores has a lot of say in the building.” I think that’s a good thing. He should have a lot of say. His defense was the only reason the Vikings had a winning record last season.
For more unfiltered execs, including their thoughts on the Rams shocker, Sando’s full story is unlocked for you here.
🎙 TAFS: Vegas still lacks receivers
Now over to Robert Mays, who dug into the biggest remaining post-draft questions on today’s episode of “The Athletic Football Show.” A quote that stood out to me:
“Are the Raiders just going to roll with some combination of (receivers) Jalen Nailor, Tre Tucker and Jack Bech for a guy that you drafted No. 1 overall?
“And even if (Fernando Mendoza’s) not going to start the season, I assume he’s going to play at some point this year. And whether they’re a team that would be interested in getting a Stefon Diggs, that’s something I’d be at least asking.
“I think a lot of people liked many of the moves that the Raiders made on draft weekend. What they do with those pass-catching spots and if they do anything else to shore up their offense, that’s one of the bigger questions.”
You can add the full post-draft episode to your queue on any podcast app or on YouTube. Back to Jacob.
Extra Points
📈 Good news. George Pickens has signed his Cowboys franchise tag, which means we can … get back to talking about his long-term extension. Finally!
🔬 Inside the deal. The Bengals rarely acquire star players via trade, which is why the move for Dexter Lawrence turned heads. Paul Dehner Jr. explains what changed.
❓Questions in New England. Chad Graff focuses on the biggest roster questions. Specifically: What might they give up for A.J. Brown?
▶️ Yesterday’s most-clicked: Our college football expert Bruce Feldman’s 17 NFL Draft takeaways. They’re great.
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