Go Long

The NFC North promises to be one of the best divisions in football. It’s loaded with intrigue.

Bob McGinn, enshrined in Canton for his distinguished career covering the NFL since 1979, remains extremely plugged into the league and has plenty of analysis to share. He’s still studying the tape unlike anyone in the business.

Thus, the “Ty & Bob Pod” continues for another season right here at Go Long. I’m thrilled to welcome back my former Milwaukee Journal Sentinel colleague. Our focus stays on the North, but we’ll also examine big-picture topics across the entire NFL.

Episode 1 of the 2024 season is accessible to everyone. Audio is above and video is below.

Starting next week, the show is again exclusive to paid subscribers.

On this episode, McGinn begins with a full breakdown of the Green Bay Packers’ Week 1 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Position-by-position, he examines what went right and what went wrong. He also explains why he believes the Green Bay Packers can win the Super Bowl and what Jordan Love trait stands out to him most. Around the 50-minute mark, we dive into those Super Bowl-contending Detroit Lions and how this team is a complete reflection of their head coach, Dan Campbell. Once again — in Detroit’s overtime win over L.A. — everyone saw precisely what makes the core of these Lions different.

They fight, yes. But they’re also smart.

At the 1-hour, 27-minute mark, McGinn dissects the Chicago Bears’ bizarre opening win over Tennessee. Sam Darnold looked damn good in his Vikings debut, too.

As always, we cap the show with a “McGinn Memory.” This week, my co-host looks back at the time a young Aaron Rodgers read him the riot act inside the locker room.

A few pieces discussed on the podcast are linked right here for reference.

Thank you, everyone.

* Carlton Davis bows to no man

* D.J. Reader will never break

* DNA of the Lions

* Jordan Love will be an all-time great

* How the Detroit Lions bring ‘grit’ to life

* 'The Problem,' James Houston, is The Future

* Mike Daniels Q&A: 'When are we going to punch somebody in the face?

* You’re up Caleb Williams

Thank you for sharing Go Long with a friend.

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

No player generates more opinion and more emotion than one, Aaron Rodgers. He has managed to stay in the headlines for many reasons. Football or otherwise.

Finally, one author threw himself into the quarterback’s world: Ian O’Connor with “Out of the Darkness: The Mystery of Aaron Rodgers.”

Rodgers’ career with the New York Jets now begins. For the podcast, I chatted with O’Connor all about the enigma. We’ve both tried our best to get to know Rodgers. Back in my Journal Sentinel days, I’d sit down with the Packers QB for a lengthy 1 on 1 each spring. Even a decade-plus ago, he was a fascinating figure.

On to my stint at Bleacher Report, a pair of stories made some waves — in 2016 and then 2019.

For his book, O’Connor spoke with everyone he possibly could.

This was a fascinating chat. We delve into the family dynamic, the “immunized” ruse and much more.

Audio and video is above, and you can access this episode on Apple, Spotify and YouTube as well.

Be sure to add Ian’s book to your library wherever books are sold. He’s one of the best in the business. You can also follow Ian on X @Ian_OConnor.

Now, the Aaron Rodgers story continues.

Thanks for reading and listening, everybody.

Column from Week 1 in the NFL:

Our plans for the 2024 NFL Season, 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

All four teams in the NFC South made very different quarterback bets the last two years.

Carolina sold the farm for Bryce Young. Tampa Bay went thrifting for Baker Mayfield. New Orleans paid Derek Carr as the missing piece. And Atlanta, of course, shocked the football world by signing Kirk Cousins and drafting Michael Penix Jr. To wrap up our divisional preview podcasts, it only makes sense to welcome back former Bucs quarterback Shaun King.

His debut was one of my recent favorites. King didn’t hold back on his first appearance — here’s that audio/video and Q&A, icymi.

Now, the man who brought Tampa Bay within one controversial call of a Super Bowl in 1999 brings strong opinions on all five of those quarterbacks… and a few more for good measure.

He’s all-in on Mayfield and promises the Bucs googles have nothing to do with it.

Audio and video is above, and you can also access this episode everywhere you pod, including Apple, Spotify and YouTube.

Thank you for supporting Go Long.

Our 2024 predictions are live.

Enjoy the game tonight, and be on the lookout for our final season-preview feature Friday AM on the Cleveland Browns — exclusive to paid subscribers.

2024 NFL Season Preview features:

* David Long Jr., and the beast within

* ‘Undeniable:’ Christian Kirk will attack this defining moment

* ‘We’ll get it done:’ The Buffalo Bills enter the great unknown at wide receiver

* Jordan Love will be an all-time great

* ‘All game long:’ Will Anderson Jr., The Terminator, is the Houston Texans' foundation

* ‘Let’s be bold:’ Inside Press Taylor’s office

* INTO THIN AIR, Why It’s (Nearly) Impossible to Win Three Straight Super Bowls (three parts)

* One Giant Leap: Our series detailing the New York Giants’ total reconstruction (three parts)

* Rasul Douglas is playing a different game

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

We’re in agreement: Mike Tomlin is one of the best coaches in the NFL.

The man nearly led a Duck Hodges-quarterbacked club to the playoffs. He knows how to muck a game up and will forever ensure his team’s in the playoff mix.

But when it comes to the quarterback position, this is the plan? I was critical of the pivot back in the spring — Russell Wilson just may be expired milk — because, frankly, you get what you pay for at this position. There’s a reason Justin Fields came so cheap, a reason the Denver Broncos are paying Wilson so much not to be their QB1.

Does Tomlin see something others do not? His defense should be loaded once again.

Nobody should be shocked if Joe Burrow goes scorched earth this season, too.

To make sense of the entire AFC North, let’s bring on a podcasting pro: Dave Dameshek. You may remember “Sheky” from his NFL Network days and make sure you add his excellent Minus Three podcast to your library. Dave’s also a fantastic regular guest on the The Adam Carolla Show.

Audio and video of our conversation is above, and you can access the show everywhere you pod, including Apple and Spotify.

Go Long is your home for longform this 2024 NFL season:

Miss a divisional preview this past month?

* AFC West: Michael MacCambridge and the art of the three-peat

* AFC South: It’s Stefon Diggs Time in Houston

* NFC East: They Might Be Giants

* AFC East: Buffalo’s WR gamble, Dolphins stand by Tua & Rodgers (finally) takes NYC

* NFC North: Why the Lions and Packers should think Super Bowl

* AFC West: Will Arizona sneak up on everyone?

2024 NFL Season Preview features:

* David Long Jr., and the beast within

* ‘Undeniable:’ Christian Kirk will attack this defining moment

* ‘We’ll get it done:’ The Buffalo Bills enter the great unknown at wide receiver

* Jordan Love will be an all-time great

* ‘All game long:’ Will Anderson Jr., The Terminator, is the Houston Texans' foundation

* ‘Let’s be bold:’ Inside Press Taylor’s office

* INTO THIN AIR, Why It’s (Nearly) Impossible to Win Three Straight Super Bowls (three parts)

* One Giant Leap: Our series detailing the New York Giants’ total reconstruction (three parts)

* Rasul Douglas is playing a different game

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

Erik Kramer shot himself, and survived.

Then, he nearly lost his life again.

Our longtime members at Go Long will recall our three-parter on the former NFL quarterback. It didn’t have a conclusion then. The woman who coerced him into a sham marriage and then robbed him of tens of thousands of dollars had not been punished yet.

Kramer finally received a slice of justice last week, but that’s just what it was: a slice, in the form of four felonies.

Kramer also knows there are many more Cortney Bairds out there.

Here on the podcast, he returns to explain. We’re joined by his close friend Anna Dergan, who helped piece his life back together.

Audio of this conversation is above, video is below and you can access everywhere you pod.

All three parts from that 2021 series are right here, icymi:

* The Fight for Erik Kramer’s Life, Part I: A miracle

* The Fight for Erik Kramer’s Life, Part II: Victimized

* The Fight for Erik Kramer's Life, Part III: A new man

Kramer also joined the show last season to discuss his book, “The Ultimate Comeback.” (Q&A version)

Thanks, all.

Go Long is your home for longform journalism in pro football.

Similar conversations with former players at Go Long:

* Dallas Clark on mowing Kinnick, holes in socks, Tight End U, Taylor/Kelce, the 'walk-on mentality'

* A Super Bowl Conversation with Brett Favre

* Mike Daniels and the psychology of the Green Bay Packers

* Ryan Leaf wants to save NFL players' lives: 'You're not alone'

* What is the future of football? Chad Brown has many thoughts... (Text Q&A)

* Drew Bledsoe lived the beauty and pain of pro football (Text Q&A)

* Matt Hasselbeck learned to believe (Text Q&A)

* 'Pain is glory:' DeVier Posey is the true football journey

* Why Lee Smith is the Great American Tight End Story

* Alex Green escapes the abyss

* The tenacity of Terence Newman

* Quincy Carter was an addict. His life? “Hell.”

* Rashad Jennings’ 180

* Ahman Green was born to be a Packers running back

* Kurt Warner and the power of belief

* Concussions, Flutiemania, a “Miracle.” Rob Johnson relives it all.

* Edgerrin James: “I was made to play football.”

* Trent Dilfer: From “terrible” teammate to Super Bowl champ to QB Renaissance Man

* The impossible life of LeRoy Butler

* Why we should put Ronde Barber’s name right with Charles Woodson

* Don Beebe still gets letters on the “Leon Lett Play” every day

* Darren Woodson opens up on avoiding gangs, wild Cowboys days, depression, finding purpose

* Mario Butler's father was murdered in the most unspeakable way. This is what Butler did next.

* Bruce Smith is still seizing the day

* Donte Whitner thrived in a “scary place”

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 San Francisco 49ers came within inches of another Super Bowl.

This is a roster loaded with talent — Hall of Fame-level talent — at important positions.

And yet? This offseason exposed fractures. As of this posting, the status of Brandon Aiyuk remains a mystery. We expect San Francisco to be in the NFC title conversation again, obviously, but a door has cracked open for the Los Angeles Rams. Their reset year in 2023 went better than planned.

Our podcast previews continue with the NFC West. I am joined by our longtime NFL personnel man — and 2009 Super Bowl champion — Jim Monos. He tells us why we better keep an eye on the Arizona Cardinals, too.

Also, at the top of the show, we discuss the New York Giants and my three-part series, One Giant Leap, accessible to Go Long subscribers.

Video and Audio of the podcast is above, as well as on Apple, Spotify and our Go Long TD YouTube channel.

Miss a divisional preview this past month?

* AFC West Preview: Michael MacCambridge and the art of the three-peat

* AFC South Preview: It’s Stefon Diggs Time in Houston

* NFC East Preview: They Might Be Giants

* AFC East Preview: Buffalo’s WR gamble, Dolphins stand by Tua & Rodgers (finally) takes NYC

* NFC North Preview: Why the Lions and Packers should think Super Bowl

2024 NFL Season Preview features, to date, icymi:

* David Long Jr., and the beast within

* ‘Undeniable:’ Christian Kirk will attack this defining moment

* ‘We’ll get it done:’ The Buffalo Bills enter the great unknown at wide receiver

* Jordan Love will be an all-time great

* ‘All game long:’ Will Anderson Jr., The Terminator, is the Houston Texans' foundation

* ‘Let’s be bold:’ Inside Press Taylor’s office

* INTO THIN AIR, Part I: Why It’s (Nearly) Impossible to Win Three Straight Super Bowls (three parts)

* One Giant Leap: Our series detailing the New York Giants’ total reconstruction

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

Patrick Mahomes is a different competitive species. This is a quarterback who hears management secured him a left tackle and — re-fueled with adrenaline — immediately chips a shot out of the 16th-hole bunker at Augusta within six feet of the cup. There’s plenty of magic to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Now, the best player in the sport tries to make history.

No team in the Super Bowl Era has strung together three straight Super Bowl wins.

Here at Go Long, the great Michael MacCambridge delivered a three-part series detailing the Chiefs’ mountainous challenge ahead. MacCambridge, author of the timeless “America’s Game,” analyzed the eight teams that won back-to-back Super Bowls — with a sharp look ahead to the 2024 Chiefs.

So, let’s continue the conversation here on the podcast.

MacCambridge joins me to discuss his series, which of those eight teams were most fascinating and whether or not the Chiefs can complete the three-peat. As he says, “this is the most competitive era in the history of the NFL.” (Especially in the AFC.)

In the spirit of our division-by-division preview podcasts, we also touch on those Los Angeles Chargers. Jim Harbaugh’s schedule is set up to realistically win 10 or 11 games this season.

You can catch audio and video of this episode above, as well as Apple, Spotify and our Go Long TD YouTube channel.

New here? It’s a perfect time to subscribe! In addition to MacCambridge’s series, we’ve got a three-parter live for paid subscribers on the New York Giants meticulous rebuild. Turnarounds don’t always slap us in the face. The Giants are hoping a more holistic, Detroit Lions-like reconstruction pays off.

All three parts are linked below:

* One Giant Leap, Part I: Joe Schoen's Vision

* One Giant Leap, Part II: Building a Champion

* One Giant Leap, Part III: Daniel Jones' best shot

Thanks, everyone.

Enjoy the show.

2024 NFL Season Preview features, to date, icymi:

* David Long Jr., and the beast within

* ‘Undeniable:’ Christian Kirk will attack this defining moment

* ‘We’ll get it done:’ The Buffalo Bills enter the great unknown at wide receiver

* Jordan Love will be an all-time great

* ‘All game long:’ Will Anderson Jr., The Terminator, is the Houston Texans' foundation

* ‘Let’s be bold:’ Inside Press Taylor’s office

* INTO THIN AIR, Part I: Why It’s (Nearly) Impossible to Win Three Straight Super Bowls (three parts)

* One Giant Leap: Our series detailing the New York Giants’ total reconstruction

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

Bring up the Buffalo Bills to anyone in Western New York and “Stefon Diggs” inevitably comes up. Locals are excited for change.

This name is also a hot topic of conversation in Houston… for much different reasons.

Our division-by-division podcast preview continues with a (suddenly fun) AFC South.

The excellent D.J. Bien-Aime joins me to discuss. D.J. covers the Texans for ESPN, and you can follow him on Twitter/X @Djbienaime. We get into everything Diggs, his locker-room impact, how targets will be divided up in Houston, offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, potential pitfalls for quarterback C.J. Stroud and why D.J. sees the Indianapolis Colts as Houston’s greatest threat in the South.

You can access all Go Long podcasts here at GoLongTD.com, as well as on Apple, Spotify and YouTube.

Our 2024 Season Previews to date:

* David Long Jr., and the beast within

* 'Undeniable:' Christian Kirk will attack this defining moment

* ‘We’ll get it done:’ The Buffalo Bills enter the great unknown at wide receiver

* Jordan Love will be an all-time great

* ‘All game long:’ Will Anderson Jr., The Terminator, is the Houston Texans' foundation

* 'Let’s be bold:' Inside Press Taylor’s office

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 is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.golongtd.com

A sincere thank you to everyone who carved out time for our latest Happy Hour.

The always-entertaining and authentic LeRoy Butler joined Go Long subscribers and there were stories galore.

Full audio and video is available to our paid members. Remember, just let me know who you want to hang out with on a Friday night and I’ll do everything I can to make i…

Our podcast previews continue a rollicking NFC East discussion.

Conor Orr, the exceptional scribe at Sports Illustrated, joins me to break it all down.

Brian Daboll has taken matters into his own hands this summer. Clearly, these practices are different. The Giants don’t want to get pushed around again. That “Click Click Boom” by Saliva you hear on the speakers is no accident.

Granted, Daniel Jones is central to any Giants conversation. Is Jones primed for an Alex Smith-like renaissance? Or do New Yorkers see more of the same?

In Dallas, Orr’s “Disney” analogy is perfect. Jerry Jones is drawing droves of fans into AT&T Stadium with the flashy names — Dak! CeeDee! Parsons! — but, once you’re in, the product isn’t nearly as glamorous as you think. There’s long lines, mayhem and overpriced beverages.

Philadelphia, conversely, does have a very strong roster… but there’s sneaky pressure on the quarterback.

You can follow Orr on X, and read all of his excellent musings and feature stories at SI.com.

Video and audio is above. It’s always easy to listen to podcasts right here at GoLongTD.com or inside the Substack app.

You can also access Go Long podcasts at Apple, Spotify, YouTube, everywhere you pod.

As a reminder, paid subscribers can access all longform features at Go Long:

I’ll have more on the Giants next week. Daniel Jones sat down with Go Long for a 1 on 1 last week. Here’s that conversation:

1 on 1: Why Daniel Jones 'absolutely' believes he's one of the best QBs in the NFL

Our 2024 NFL Season Preview features continue. Links below, icymi:

* David Long Jr., and the beast within

* 'Undeniable:' Christian Kirk will attack this defining moment

* ‘We’ll get it done:’ The Buffalo Bills enter the great unknown at wide receiver

* Jordan Love will be an all-time great

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