Peter King, The Mmqb Podcast

Minnesota tight end Kyle Rudolph breaking down the pass route known as Buffalo right 7 Heaven (the play that won the NFC divisional playoff game against New Orleans), on the reaction from the fans and the unique nature of this fan base, and on what makes Case Keenum a good fit for the Vikings offense.Minnesota defensive end Brian Robison, the only remaining Viking from the painful 2009 NFC Championship Game loss to the New Orleans, on the polar opposite feeling of that game and this win over New Orleans, on the ethos of the Vikings with all of their former marginal players, and on why this team has gone further than analysts thought.

Peter King talks to Hall of Fame quarterback and Fox analyst Troy Aikman and new Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst. Aikman on the guts of Nick Saban in the national Championship game, on what makes Bill Belichick great, on what might have been in the NFL if Drew Brees signed with Saban and Miami instead of New Orleans in 2006, and on wishing he played longer in the NFL.Gutekunst on stepping into Ron Wolf’s seat in Green Bay, on the qualities in players he looks for as a road scout, on the team-building philosophy he will employ in Green Bay, and if he will use free-agency more as a tool than predecessor Ted Thompson.

Chris Simms—drafted by Tampa Bay to play quarterback for Jon Gruden’s Bucs in 2003–on what Oakland quarterback Derek Carr is in for if Gruden takes the Raider coaching job, on what kind of coach he would be after nine years out of coaching, on what he would say to a Raiders’ player about what Gruden will be like as coach, and on the toughest race for MVP he can recall.Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel Packers beat man Tom Silverstein on the departure of GM Ted Thompson, on the consequences of naming his successor, on how Thompson should be remembered by Packer fans, and on the enormity of this offseason for the franchise.

This week's guest: Ryan Leaf, the second pick (to Peyton Manning) in the 1998 NFL Draft.A redemptive Leaf on competing with Manning to be the top pick in the draft two decades ago, on crashing-and-burning out of the NFL, on his life careening out of control after his ill-fated football career, on a harrowing experience at a prize fight in Las Vegas, on rebuilding his life after more than two years in prison, on how he has embraced his second chance at life by advising both addicts and football players, and on how he looks back at the last 20 years.

Another game story podcast from the Patriots’ stunning 27-24 win at Pittsburgh ... this one with an incredible fan named Pittsburgh Phil, a baptism of beer in the parking lot before the game Sunday, a conversation with hero-of-the-game Duron Harmon of New England, a read of my lead to Monday Morning Quarterback on this game, and then, on the drive out of town, I break down the game with Kalyn Kahler and Conor Orr of The MMQB

Jacksonville defensive end Calais Campbell on how his career has taken off playing on the loaded Jaguar defensive front, on why the Jaguars and Seahawks played such a chippy game, on why he thinks Seahawk Michael Bennett might have submarined the Jacksonville center, and on why he endowed a scholarship at his alma mater, the University of Miami, for $1.5 million.Jenny Vrentas of The MMQB on her insightful piece for the site on spending a week with the Philadelphia Eagles on the West Coast, on what life around the Eagles was like, on her surprise encounter with Kobe Bryant, and on the Eagles’ changes now without Carson Wentz.Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer, an Eagles beat writer, on the 2018 status of injured quarterback Carson Wentz, on how the Eagles will cope with the loss of Wentz, on why Wentz has fit so seamlessly onto a veteran team, and on why he’s gotten so close to American League MVP Mike Trout.

Carl Banks, former Pro Bowl Giants linebacker and current Giants radio voice, on the dysfunction of the Giants, on why fired coach Ben McAdoo failed, on what the Giants should do next, and on what advice he would give Giants CEO John Mara, who he has known for 32 years.Thomas George, author of the book “Blitzed” about why young quarterbacks succeed or fail, on the ascendancy of Carson Wentz and Jared Goff, on why Rams coach Sean McVay has been an early success, on the one trait that’s most important for young quarterbacks to have NFL success, and on Mike Martz’s raving anti-McVay claims in the book.

Peter King shares his thoughts on the breaking benching of longtime Giants starting quarterback Eli Manning, and then talks to Yahoo Sports columnist Dan Wetzel, ex-Tampa Bay GM Mark Dominik and Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen.Wetzel on the facts surrounding the Greg Schiano-Penn State story, on why there is no credible reason to believe it’s factual that Schiano enabled any part of the Sandusky sex scandal, and on the scary moment in media and social media that occurred with public and media pressure causing Tennessee to rescind its head-coaching offer to Schiano over the public outcry.Dominik on the steps he and the Bucs took to investigate Schiano before hiring him as Tampa Bay head coach in 2012, on his personal opinion of Schiano the man and on what he saw or didn’t see at Penn State, and on whether Schiano will ever have a chance to be a pro or college head coach after this incident.Griffen on watching his third son being born on FaceTime while he was preparing to play a football game in Detroit o

A special Thanksgiving podcast, with coaches, players and a special media guest talking about what Thanksgiving means to them this year. Los Angeles Chargers coach Anthony Lynn will have a special—and emotional—Thanksgiving Day for many reasons, when his Chargers face the Dallas Cowboys.Also this week: Seth Wickersham of ESPN.com on whether Jerry Jones has the juice to unseat Roger Goodell, on reporting a story of this magnitude, on the future of some of the biggest names in the NFL.

Cowboys tight end Jason Witten has missed just one game in his 15-year career. Witten shares the secret of how he's been so durable and mentally tough to stay on the field, on Dallas' annual Thanksgiving game, and on lessons learned from Bill Parcells, his first head coach with the Cowboys, and his grandfather, who was also his high school football coach. Panther tight end Greg Olsen on how close he is to coming back from his foot injury for the Panthers’ playoff run, on why he is trying to start a new children’s heart-health facility in Charlotte, and on becoming one of the first active NFL players, in-season, to do network color on an NFL game when he’ll work for FOX during the Panthers’ bye week on Sunday.

Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay on being a head coach at 31, on changing the culture of a terminally bad team, on his offensive philosophy, on fixing Jared Goff, and on not being too proud to steal offensive ideas from coaches around the league.New England wide receiver Julian Edelman on his new book, "Relentless: A Memoir," on how as an undersized athlete throughout his life he continually overcame the odds, on the story that led Tom Brady to believe in Edelman's dedication and ability, and how being a father has changed his life.

Don Van Natta, investigative reporter for ESPN The Magazine and ESPN.com, on the future of Roger Goodell as NFL commissioner, on why Goodell empathizes with the players in the current rift with owners about the national anthem, on why this is a watershed moment for the league, and how hard it is to dig for information among NFL owners. Steve Palazzolo, football analyst for inside-football site Pro Football Focus, on his top-rated quarterback for the 2018 NFL Draft (it’s a surprise), on how overrated this class of quarterbacks is, and why he has problems with both presumptive high first-round picks, Josh Rosen and Sam Darnold.

Chris Mortensen on his 21-month battle with stage-four throat cancer (with some explicit description of the extreme treatment he’s undergone), on the spread of his cancer to his lung, on the role of faith in his recovery, on what he’s learned that he thinks he can share with people going through severe cancer treatment, and on getting death threats over his Deflategate reporting about the Patriots.

On this special Live podcast following the Eagles’ 34-24 win over Washington Monday night, hear Philadelphia coach Doug Pederson on the best throw he has seen Carson Wentz made, and hear Wentz on how a quiet North Dakota kid made the seamless transition to life in a football-mad city, and how he feels about having more touchdown passes than Tom Brady.

Longtime Packers beat writer Bob McGinn (now the owner and editor of BobMcGinnFootball.com) on Green Bay's chances to salvage the season without Aaron Rodgers, his scouting report on new quarterback Brett Hundley, on his revealing interview of former Vikings coach Bud Grant--in particular Grant's comments on Vince Lombardi--and on the state of journalism today.Cowboys radio play-by-play man Brad Sham on Dallas owner Jerry Jones, on the art of doing radio play-by-play, on the intensity of the Dallas Cowboy fan, and on the day he had Dan Rather in the Cowboys' radio booth.

Peter King talks to journeyman Jets quarterback Josh McCown and Dallas Cowboys architect and NFL.com analyst Gil Brandt. In a unique football life podcast, McCown on the wild ride through 10 professional football teams (from Hartford to Oakland), on the wisdom gleaned from a season with Al Davis and the Raiders, on the strains and rewards on a family when the dad, husband and bread-winner lives apart from the family for months at a time. Brandt on the birth of the Cowboys, on the unimaginable explosion of football’s popularity, on his life in football, and on a Dallas preseason game in a tiny town in Oregon a half century ago.

Peter King talks to retired quarterback Peyton Manning and Steelers running back LeVeon Bell. Manning on what his daily life is like, traveling as a speaker, driving the car pool for his first-grade twins and coaching their flag football team. He also explains why he wasn't tempted to return to the NFL last season, how he's been staying close to football since retirement and a potential, yet far off future for himself an executive for an NFL team.Bell, in the Pittsburgh locker room after Sunday’s win over Baltimore, on his amazement over carrying the ball 35 times in the game, on whether he could keep up a pace like that, on any lingering resentment over his contract from his summer holdout, and on how humbling it is to hear from other running backs at all levels of football who want to model their games after his different running style.

Peter King talks to Bob Costas of NBC Sports, Jason Whitlock of Fox Sports 1 and Tunch Ilkin, former Steelers guard and current Steelers radio colorman. Costas on how we had mis-applied patriotism to be almost exclusively militaristic, on how players and the NFL should proceed now in the wake of the week three protests, and how the national anthem might have more meaning if reserved for special occasions. Whitlock on how America's addiction to Twitter blew this up into an overwhelming story, on how players and the NFL should have handled Donald Trump's remarks, and how they should put away their emotions in the coming weeks. Ilkin on how this reminds him of being a Steelers team leader during the NFL strike of 1987, on the advice he gave friend and Steelers guard Alejandro Villanueva this week, and on what Steeler fans are telling him on his nightly talk show this week.

This week Peter talks to Derek Carr and Donald Penn from the Oakland Raiders. Then Peter is Joined by Minnesota GM Rick SpielmanRaiders quarterback Derek Carr on playing the game the way he played when he was 8--to have fun--and trying to get his teammates to do the same, on the impact of Marshawn Lynch on the team, and on being conflicted about the move to Las Vegas.Raiders tackle Donald Penn on how Lynch is misunderstood, on how the fans in Oakland aren’t focused on the team leaving, and on the great expectations for the team.Minnesota general manager Rick Spielman on how GMs today can’t be afraid to make huge moves, on recollecting the mammoth Sam Bradford trade of a year ago, and on the emotion of letting Adrian Peterson go in the off-season.

Bookend tackles Taylor Lewan and Jack Conklin on Lewan's endless supply of tattoos (including a natty otter in a suit and top hat on his lower leg), on why Lewan likes Frank Sinatra so much, and on Conklin's neatnik one-time roommate, Marcus Mariota.Tampa Bay COO Brian Ford on the Bucs' preparations for their first home game Sunday after Hurricane Irma wracked the area, on Raymond James Stadium being used as a law-enforcement and military staging area during Irma, and the team picking up the pieces after not playing in week one.Dallas center Travis Frederick on college teammate Russell Wilson at Wisconsin, on his toughest day (by far) among opponents he faces, and on the transition from Tony Romo to Dak Prescott at quarterback.