Go Long

The NFL wasn’t ready for an African-American star quarterback in the late 70s.

Warren Moon forced the league’s hand.

We chat with the legendary Pro Football Hall of Famer all about his unparalleled rise from to the University of Washington to the CFL to nine-time Pro Bowl passer. Moon previously hung out with Go Long subscribers on a Happy Hour. He’s now opening up on the burden he carried as a star in college and the pros. Moon never really was able to enjoy all of his success and openly wonders how he would’ve performed with a clear mind.

But today? His impact on the sport is obvious every Sunday.

We also get into his mentorship of No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward. He’s always giving the Titans quarterback advice.

Which QBs does Moon like to watch today? Josh Allen is near the top of his list.

Be sure to rate, review and share the podcast and subscribe to GoLongTD.com for all feature stories, all columns. We aim to take you places others will not.

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Chicago rolls along. Miami is fried. Cleveland has hope (really). And speaking of hope? Yeah, the Giants lost but the bigger picture was always Jaxson Dart.

Here’s the replay of our latest Substack Live, hitting on a handful of games and taking your questions.

Be sure to download the app to join future recordings:

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The Buffalo Bills are 4-2. They’ve got the reigning MVP under center.

And yet? Code Red panic has swept through Western New York through the team’s bye week. These surely are not 4-2 vibes.

What a big game upcoming vs. the Carolina Panthers.

To sort through the team’s current issues, I welcome back Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News onto the Go Long Pod. There’s problems on defense, problems on offense and, no, Josh Allen hasn’t been himself. The good news? All it may take is for Allen to shift back into Sicko Mode. He’s a cure-all force on this roster. Personally, I liked Brandon Beane’s approach to the roster over the offseason. There are many ways to help your quarterback and this still strikes me as a Simulate to January team.

That being said, it’s been ugly of late.

We discuss it all.

Be sure to rate and review wherever you get your podcasts.

The Go Long Podcast is available on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, everywhere you access your shows.

ICYMI…

* Ben Johnson is worth every penny

* ‘I’m a sick f--k:’ Why Al-Quadin Muhammad is the missing piece for the Detroit Lions

* McGinn Files: Inside the rise of Chris Jones, the Kansas City Chiefs’ mercurial star

* Dan Campbell, the Cleveland Browns and what could’ve been

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.golongtd.com/subscribe

This has been a funky season, hasn’t it? No dominant team. Philadelphia’s fall. Baker Mayfield’s rise. Baltimore’s disappearance. And we’re really just getting started.

Loved chatting this week with former pro linebacker Tre Watson.

He spent the summer of 2019 in Miami Dolphins training camp before bouncing around the XFL, CFL, UFL and you may recognize Watson as the brother of Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson. Today, he’s coaching high school football, commentating college games for ESPN, raising two kids and co-hosting the Hitman’s Haven Podcast with his father.

We hit on an array of topics here on the Go Long Pod.

* Why high school football is peak sports joy.

* NFL life. He saw firsthand how ruthless this league can be. Not every coach is merit-based like Mike Vrabel.

* Christian’s recovery. He’s witnessed his brother’s “freakish” traits and work ethic his entire life. In the 2024 regular-season finale, Christian tore his ACL. Now, he’s on the cusp of returning to action. How did he recover so fast?

* What makes his brother a weapon? Christian caught 29 passes for 620 yards (21.4 avg.) and two touchdowns last season but his impact on this Packers offense runs deeper. Tre explains.

* What’s missing in Green Bay? Something is. Matt LaFleur’s club keeps banging on the title door and can’t get in.

* The Baker Mayfield Effect. He’s the MVP frontrunner right now. Tre Watson lives in Tampa, Fla., and fills us in on the buzz locally.

* His greatest memories once the NFL lights dimmed. One moment in St. Louis sticks with him.

Thank you for listening and subscribing, everyone.

You can follow Watson on X @MDQue_33.

Video and audio is available above. You can also access this episode everywhere you pod, including Apple, Spotify and YouTube.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.golongtd.com/subscribe

Don’t look now but after a pair of 25-24 wins, the Chicago Bears are 3-2 with winnable games ahead.

Here on the Ty & Bob Pod, we dissect the Monday night game in full.

What’s sustainable? What isn’t? It wasn’t pretty. Issues remain. But Ben Johnson is proving he’s worth every nickel as this team’s head coach.

Meanwhile, the Detroit Lions met their physical match in a hungry Kansas City Chiefs team. Safety Brian Branch — a player who enjoys crossing the line — will now pay the price for a terrible cheap shot, too. It was a rough second half for the Lions offense. Jared Goff may be in the MVP conversation, but something was missing in this game.

Finally, we get to the Green Bay Packers fending off a pesky Bengals bunch. Josh Jacobs gives this team an element of physicality it’ll need when the games really count.

The full 1-hour, 42-minute show is available to our paid subscribers.

Our Bob McGinn, as always, guides you through his film review.

Position to position, you’re guaranteed to learn something new.

Thank you for supporting our independent journalism.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.golongtd.com/subscribe

The Washington Commanders and Chicago Bears take the Monday Night Football stage this week, a matchup featuring the No. 1 and No. 2 overall picks from the 2024 draft.

We’ve explored both the Commanders and Bears at length here at Go Long.

Loved having the opportunity to chat with Ben Standig who launched his new Substack “Last Man Standig” this fall. Ben has covered the Commanders for a long time and does excellent work in always thinking outside the box.

Thanks to all who joined.

As always, be sure to download the app for all stories, all audio narration and all future Substack Live videos.

And for those who missed it, here are the links to our series — “House of Dysfunction” — from a month ago:

* Part I: The Curious Case of Caleb Williams

* Part II: Inside the Chicago Bears’ “rigged trial” at No. 1 overall

* Part III: Who’s the boss?

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.golongtd.com/subscribe

Here’s your weekly dose of NFC North talk with my co-host Bob McGinn.

The Lions steamrolled the hapless Cincinnati Bengals, 37-24, back in David Montgomery’s hometown. This one meant something special to the hard-charging back. Be it Jared Goff’s pinpoint precision, Jahmyr Gibbs’ jukes or Amon-Ra St. Brown’s brilliant route running, these Lions have A-level players all over the field.

And the best of the bunch just may be the man the Lions sorely missed last season: Aidan Hutchinson. He saves his best for last in games.

Elsewhere, the Minnesota Vikings inched past Cleveland across the pond.

Justin Jefferson proved he’s QB-proof. McGinn dissects his special game.

Finally, McGinn relives Brett Favre’s unforgettable debut at Lambeau Field vs. the Bengals.

We appreciate you all listening, watching and sharing with a friend.

ICYMI:

* PATRIOT REIGN? How Mike Vrabel and Drake Maye can restart a dynasty of their own

* Drake Maye changes the AFC calculus

* GL Pod: NFL Revolution with Michael Silver

* The Jalen Hurts File? All he does is win...

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.golongtd.com/subscribe

Back in August, I caught up with my pal Michael Silver at Buffalo Bills training camp in Pittsford, NY. It’s always a treat. One of Silver’s stories invariably leads to another. And another. And another. And another. And this day, we were discussing the eccentric main characters of his book, “The Why is Everything: A Story of Football, Rivalry and Revolution.”

Silver clearly got the goods. I couldn’t add it to Audible fast enough.

Somehow, his book managed to exceed all expectations.

Kyle Shanahan, Sean McVay, Matt LaFleur, Mike McDaniel and Raheem Morris drove the sport in a very new direction. Their innovations became commonplace. But to my surprise, Silver’s epic is far, far more than X ‘n Os. The personalities of all the above are fascinating.

Thus, I couldn’t wait to welcome Silver onto the Go Long Pod here to discuss in full.

Video and audio are above. You can also check this episode out on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, everywhere you pod. (Be sure to rate, review and share on the platform of your choosing!)

Of course, we naturally weave the coaches into this 2025 season.

McDaniel is feeling the heat in Miami.

LaFleur is trying to get Green Bay over the hump.

Most of all, do yourself a favor and work “The Why is Everything” into your library. The Amazon link is here. You’ll be left wanting more. Be sure to read all of Silver’s excellent work at The Athletic. He’s also on X @MikeSilver.

Thanks, all.

ICYMI…

The New England Patriots are coming. But how exactly did the Bill Belichick Era turn to rubble? Why did Jerod Mayo fail? We look backward and forward in our latest longform piece at Go Long for paid subscribers. Drake Maye and Mike Vrabel are out to create a dynasty of their own.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.golongtd.com/subscribe

What a week it was in the NFC North. Micah Parsons’ grand return to Dallas had no fairy tale ending. Only questions for that Packers defense… and special teams. (Yikes.) The good news? Romeo Doubs, profiled here, took charge.

It wasn’t pretty in Las Vegas. Ben Johnson lost his cool, too. But Caleb Williams’ late drive was enough. Are the skies clearing up for injury-riddled Chicago?

J.J. McCarthy returns to practice soon. However, Minnesota’s issues run deeper than the quarterback position at the moment. Harrison Smith is still going strong, but for how long?

Meanwhile, Detroit rolls along vs. offensively challenged Cleveland.

We get into everything with Hall of Fame scribe Bob McGinn. Time stamps are below.

And thank you for sharing Go Long with a friend.

* Packers-Cowboys: 12:28

* Bears-Raiders: 46:31

* Vikings-Steelers: 1:09:13

* Lions-Browns: 1:29:41

Monday Column, icymi.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.golongtd.com/subscribe

Leverage. Leverage. Leverage.

In sum, that is what matters most for the NFL’s players ahead of the next round of CBA negotiations with owners.

And right here at Go Long, former NFL quarterback Matt Schaub announced his candidacy to run as Executive Direction of the NFLPA. In exceptional detail, he lays out his plan for the players. I cannot recommend reading his arguments enough.

Here on the Go Long Pod, we continue the conversation.

Schaub could bring clear, concise, bold direction to a group that sorely needs leadership. Above all, his master plan for leverage is something NFL players have never attempted before: creating their own league.

One thing’s for certain. The NFL itself is piecing together plans as we speak.

You can watch/listen to our chat above or anywhere you pod, including Apple, Spotify and YouTube. Be sure to follow Schaub on X. At the end of our conversation, we also hit on a few current NFL topics. Did Michael Penix Jr. turn the corner? Also, what makes Kyle Shanahan unique? Schaub worked with the 49ers head man back with the Houston Texans.

Thanks, all.

We appreciate you rating, reviewing, sharing the podcast with a friend.

Recent pieces at Go Long, icymi:

* Hope in Gotham? Brian Daboll finds his man at quarterback

* “Where do we get some Guinness?!” The Full NFL Ireland Experience

* License to Kill: Jackson Hawes infusing Buffalo Bills (and the NFL) with a ‘Full Send Mindset’

* TreVeyon Henderson sees the light

* Double Doink, Bears memories, QB confidence, Revis Island, Stafford/Goff: Allen Robinson relives it all

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.golongtd.com/subscribe