Peter King, The Mmqb Podcast

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.

A special podcast covering the opening game of the 2017 NFL season, the 42-27 upset win by Kansas City at New England. Peter King was on the field before and during the game with his own observations, plus conversations with Kansas City coach Andy Reid and breakout rookie star Kareem Hunt. Reid on the accomplishment of beating Bill Belichick, on the factors that led to the 246 yard night by Kareem Hunt in his NFL debut and why Alex Smith had such a good game throwing downfield, uncharacteristically. Hunt on how he survived the lost fumble on the first carry of his NFL career, and on what America should know about him.

This Week Peter King brings you his NFL Season Opening Spectacular.Denver linebacker Von Miller on his European offseason (he saw Drake in concert 22 times), and on his June pass-rush camp that attracted players from around the league--even from the hated Raiders... Oakland quarterback Derek Carr on the meaninglessness (to him) of being the highest-paid quarterback in football, even if only for a few weeks this offseason, and on the difficulty of missing the biggest games of his life after breaking his leg late last season with the Raiders on a playoff run ... ESPN’s Mike Reiss, who covers the Patriots, on the dealing with the mysterious Bill Belichick, and on New England’s chances to repeat in 2017 ... Tennessee quarterback Marcus Mariota on the weight of expectations for the Titans to finally be good again, and on why Hawaii, his native state, is so firmly implanted in his psyche.

A special episode on the life and times of Tennessee defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, who turns 80 on Sept. 9, the day before Oakland-Tennessee opens the season with LeBeau calling plays from his perch upstairs. LeBeau talks about the birth of the zone blitz and a Hall of Fame life in football. LeBeau has touched many people in the NFL, and a dozen of them, including Rod Woodson, Bruce Arians and James Harrison, join the podcast to talk about LeBeau's life in football and his influence on them.

Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri on the greatest field goal of his life, on the prospect of making the Pro Football Hall of Fame one day, and, at 44, how much longer he thinks he’ll play.Falcons CEO Rick McKay, after a tour of the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, on the unique elements of the stadium, on the 36.5-ton Hungarian falcon that welcomes fans to the place, and on creature comforts that make the ticket at a Falcons game almost like a cover charge.Falcons owner Arthur Blank on the future of stadiums, on how his vision for the new stadium became a reality, and on creating a partnership between the low-income West Side of Atlanta and the affluent downtown.

Philadelphia wide receiver Torrey Smith--who played with Colin Kaepernick last year--on whether Kaepernick is a distraction, on the social responsibilities of football players, and on trying to be an impact player again after two poor years with the Niners. Houston coach Bill O'Brien on the return of J.J. Watt after back surgery, on the influence of mentor Bill Belichick on his career, and, particularly enlightening here, on the challenges as an NFL coach of having a special-needs teenager.

New Orleans coach Sean Payton on the meaning of the Saints to New Orleans--a decade ago, and now, on trying to break the schneid of going 7-9 three straight years, and on why he decided to break his long silence with me after he disagreed with my coverage of the Saints' Bountygate scandal.Cleveland coach Hue Jackson on how his job is different from the other 31 head coaches in the league, on what he likes about rookie quarterback Deshone Kizer, and how he works within the structure of a unique system that includes former baseball executive Paul DePodesta.

This week, Green Bay running back Ty Montgomery and L.A. Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn join Peter King. Montgomery discusses making the change from receiver to running back in mid-career, keeping the number 88 in the backfield, and talks about one of the most touching moments of his career after a college game against Army at West Point. Lynn explains the lessons he learned from pursuing a head-coaching job, how the NFL’s Rooney Rule is working, and shares the challenges of coaching the team in a season of movement from San Diego.

NFL Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Mack on why he's dissatisfied with his first three years in the league, on attending Von Miller's pass-rush summit in June, and on the mind games he has to use to joust with opposing blockers.Rookie Denver had coach Vance Joseph on the vast difference (in life and in football) with being a head coach versus an assistant, on how he figures out how to motivate and address his team, and on what makes Von Miller tick.

This week Peter sits down with Rick Gosselin, 43-year veteran NFL beat man and Hall of Fame voter, and Arizona general manager Steve Keim. Gosselin talks about the Cowboys' fate if Zeke Elliott is suspended, the offense/defense disparity in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and reveals his surprise team to challenge New England. Keim discusses the perception that his team's Super Bowl window is closing, why the 2017 team is more fit to contend than the 2016 team, and the newness of the NFC west with two young and unproven offensive coaches running the Rams and Niners.

This week Peter sits down with veteran Pittsburgh Post Gazette Steelers writer Ed Bouchette and Cian Fahey, an Irish writer who wrote a new book about quarterback play in the NFL.

Michael MacCambridge, author of "Chuck Noll: His Life's Work.", Lucy Kalanithi, widow of New York Times bestselling author and neurosurgeon Paul Kalanithi, author of "When Breath Becomes Air." and Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Quinn

On this week's episode, Peter King debates the reasons for Colin Kaepernick's unemployment with The MMQB's Albert Breer. Peter also talks about the NFL's London future with Mark Waller, VP of international development for the NFL. Waller explains why the European time zone is great for the NFL's audience in Asia, shares his one doubt about putting a team in London, and speculates when we might expect to see a franchise across the pond.

Peter King talks to former ESPN reporter Ed Werder and 49ers CEO Jed York. Werder details his quiet outrage on being laid off by ESPN and what the ESPN layoffs mean for the future of the journalism business. He explains why he changed his Twitter handle to @EdWerderRFA and talks about the stigma of getting laid off. Jed York on how his new John Lynch/Kyle Shanahan team did in their first draft, on being a lightning rod for angry 49er fans, and on what went wrong in his fiery relationship with Jim Harbaugh.

NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock on what he'd do if he were the Browns at number one, on the mysteries of this draft, on how Steve Sabol changed his life, and on the draft he had to drop out of because he lost his voice.

Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins on his contract situation, on his love of reading and what he tries to get out of reading, his relationship with former GE chairman Jack Welch, and on how he’s made a career of fighting to prove himself and so he doesn’t mind playing on a series of one-year deals. Tim Rohan of The MMQB interviewed Tim Tebow in his minor-league baseball home of Columbia, S.C. ... Rohan on what he found spending time with Tebow at spring training, in his Jacksonville hometown, and in Columbia. Tebow on why he has taken up baseball, how long he is giving the minor-league life a chance, and what he plans to do with his life.

The MMQB writers Jenny Vrentas and Robert Klemko talk about their groundbreaking story this week on the stolen Tom Brady jersey, on the crazy web of law enforcement and collectors who caught the jersey thief, and how this incredible story also has tentacles into a former New York Giants running back. Ravens guard John Urschel on the challenges of his second career (mathematics as an MIT Ph.d student), on how he got ridiculously good at math at an early age, and on the diametrically different careers he has chosen--math and pro football.

Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Quinn on living with the worst loss of his life in the biggest game of his life, on his belief in MVP quarterback Matt Ryan as a player and as a leader, and on why his youth-dominated defense could make this a contender for years. Indianapolis rookie general manager Chris Ballard on the road to becoming an NFL GM after turning down chances in the past, on why he wanted to take a job with a team in the midwest, on the pressure to build a strong team around Andrew Luck, and on what Colts owner Jim Orsay said to him to convince him to take the job.

Peter King talks to NFL Competition Committee chairman Rich McKay, Oakland coach Jack Del Rio and San Jose Mercury News columnist Mark Purdy. McKay talks about centralizing replay and taking the final say on replay out of the hands of the referee on the field. He explains why the public should trust a VP of Officiating (Dean Blandino) who has never been an NFL official, and he discusses the fate of the 10-minute overtime period. Del Rio grew up a Raider fan and remembers his personal sadness when the team moved. He explains his 30 percent rule that he’ll use with his team about Las Vegas, and his plan to deal with the distraction of the news on his Super Bowl-contending team. Purdy talks about the weirdness of the Raiders playing in Oakland for at least two years as lame ducks, how the move actually happened, and the future of football in San Francisco and Oakland.