Go Long

Anyone watching the Green Bay Packers’ 25-22 overtime win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday afternoon needed either two Advils or two IPAs immediately after.

Depending on how you process such madness.

What a bizarre finish.

All that truly matters is that Mason Crosby drilled the 49-yarder to win it and the Packers are 4-1. But on this episode of the Ty & Bob Pod, we try to make sense of it all. Davante Adams continued his weekly annihilation of NFL secondaries, Randall Cobb made the play of the day and what about De’Vondre Campbell? The linebacker signed off the street continues to be the playmaker the Packers desperately need right in the middle of their defense.

We dive into Campbell’s surreal background on this episode. (I actually got to know him well in Atlanta for this profile that ran at Bleacher Report.)

Campbell did not merely slip through the cracks in the pros to wind up in Green Bay — that’s been the story of his life.

* Nobody even wanted Campbell out of high school. He didn’t even get a questionnaire from a Division III school, let alone visit a powerhouse. His three coaches in high school never sent his tape out to colleges, so a 13-sack senior season went virtually unnoticed. His team stunk. He was a lost prospect in the state of Florida.

* The only reason he got a shot at a JUCO in Kansas was his performance in a postseason all-star game.

* His football career should’ve ended right there in Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College when Campbell suffered a severe — an extremely severe — concussion. A simple conversation with friends would trigger a ringing in his head and, five minutes later, Campbell would forget the conversation entirely.

* Campbell missed the entire football season but stayed at Hutchinson because he knew moving back to Fort Myers could mean a life of selling drugs.

* And that concussion proved to be a blessing in disguise, giving Campbell three years of eligibility once he got to the University of Minnesota. Of course, once he got to college, he could’ve lost his mother. She suffered a heart attack and needed to be rushed to the hospital. This, after surviving breast cancer earlier in life.

All details are on the pod.

As always, Bob provides his “Rating the Packers” series right here. Starting around the 17-minute mark, he begins by putting Adams’ unbelievable 2021 season in historical perspective and details how the team’s No. 1 receiver dominated a very good Bengals defense.

Just how difficult was Cobb’s reception to set up Crosby’s game-winner? Bob doubts that some of the best receivers in team history would’ve even entered that part of the field.

Dean Lowry and Kenny Clark were both excellent up front, again.

What’s going on with the kicking operation? Bob breaks it all down to a science. The answer may surprise you.

And we dive into our two-part series at Go Long on ex-Packers quarterback Don Majkowski. He’s paying for a lifetime of hits.

Thank you, everyone, for making this podcast part of your life. We’d love it if you shared with a friend. Miss a previous episode of the podcast? They are all archived at GoLongTD.com right here.

Bob McGinn’s Football Awards

(maximum is 5, minimum is one-half)

* RECEIVERS: 4 ½

* OFFENSIVE LINE: 4

* QUARTERBACKS: 4

* RUNNING BACKS: 4 ½

* DEFENSIVE LINE: 4

* LINEBACKERS: 4

* DEFENSIVE BACKS: 3

* KICKERS: 1

* SPECIAL TEAMS: 2

* OVERALL: 4

STARS OF THE WEEK

One. Davante Adams, WR

Two. Dean Lowry, DL

Three. Randall Cobb, WR

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Take these predictions directly to the bank and do not look back.
Our Week 5 Louie LOCKS are in.
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The ascension of both of these teams began with our esteemed co-host Jim Monos and the Bills' decision to trade the No. 10 overall pick to the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2017 draft. Terry Pegula wanted Patrick Mahomes -- as we've covered here -- but those Bills, under Sean McDermott, weren't ready to play a rookie quarterback.
Their consolation prize, Josh Allen, wasn't half-bad.
Now, Mahomes and Allen rule the AFC. Is Allen ready to take down the 2019 Super Bowl winner? We dig into it all with Matt Miller of the TheDraftScout.com. He knows the Chiefs, and how they're run, as well as anyone.
If you'd like, check out our whole newsletter any time at GoLongTD.com.
Also, the Isaiah McKenzie Show is up and running! Listen/watch any time at Go Long or download wherever you get your podcasts.
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And… we’re off.

What a fun time at Mister’s Bar and Lanes in East Aurora, NY launching “The Isaiah McKenzie Show” this week. Thrilled to share the show with all of our readers and listeners at Go Long right here.

We explained the premise last week, ICYMI. In a sport increasingly watered down by press conferences, the hope is for fans to really get to know one of its most dynamic personalities: Bills receiver/returner Isaiah McKenzie. These 10 episodes should show everyone a side of the game they haven’t seen before. McKenzie is one of a kind, so we’ll dive into it all: The Bills. The league. The world. His surreal background.

You can get all episodes via video or audio — whichever you prefer — right here at GoLongTD.com. Both formats are embedded in this post above. Further, you’ll be able to locate the show on Apple, Spotify and our YouTube channel as the files matriculate to those channels.

Longform storytelling is always the focus at Go Long and we’ll keep churning out the written word at our regular clip, but I’ve also had a lot of readers tell me they want to plug podcasts into their ears while they’re mowing the lawn, driving to work, changing diapers, etc. Hopefully The Isaiah McKenzie Show, Go Long Podcast and Ty & Bob Pod help accentuate our coverage here. (Note: Keep an eye out for our next big story dropping Friday AM.)

Here’s what’s cookin’ on Episode 1 with McKenzie…

* The Bills’ current obliteration of opponents. They’re outscoring teams 118-21 the last three weeks. What’s the mood internally with Sean McDermott and all of the players? More importantly, into this rematch with the Kansas City Chiefs, is this a Super Bowl-or-Bust type of season for the Bills?

* McKenzie’s unique role in it all. How do you hijack a game when you’re getting the ball a handful of times on “minimum wage?”

* His career started in Denver and, honestly, should’ve ended in Denver. A flurry of muffs threatened to ruin McKenzie mentally. He opens up on how he totally refocused when the Bills threw him a life raft in 2018 — with advice everyone can apply to their own lives.

* Growing up in Miami Gardens. It was not easy — and we’ll dig into this more throughout the 10 episodes — but McKenzie was sure to have a little fun as a kid, too. Too much fun, actually. One prank pulled on his grandmother is an all-timer… and led to a whupping he’ll never forget.

* Struggling in school. He was no fan of class, no. Yet when college football became a real possibility, McKenzie started to shape up.

* The, uh, reason McKenzie decommitted from Notre Dame. Don’t miss this. You’ll learn something new about this school today.

* His new dog, “Papi,” is in the house at Mister’s.

* Your questions. The last 15 minutes of The Isaiah McKenzie Show will always be about you and anything on your mind. McKenzie is asked who his best friend on the team is, his pregame ritual, his role on offense, Cole Beasley and what it’s like returning a punt with a tackler right in his face. (We’ll be sure to pass the mic ‘round next time, too.)

Thanks everyone. This will be a lot of fun.

Want to see a show in person? Make your reservation via Open Table through the Mister’s website. If you’re a subscriber, you get first dibs, too. (Our other five episodes are via Zoom.)

Monday, Oct. 25 (6 p.m.-7 p.m.)Monday, Nov. 1 (6 p.m.-7 p.m.)Monday, Nov. 22 (6 p.m.-7 p.m.)Monday, Jan. 3 (6 p.m.-7 p.m.)

If you can’t make a show in-person, be sure to drop any questions for McKenzie to me at [email protected]. And we’d love it if you subscribed to Go Long, right here, to get everything we have to offer:

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 open the pod by diving deep into Bob McGinn's two-part, 10,000-word epic on the Rise of Brett Favre at Go Long. Subscribers can get access to it all right here. There's been so much written and so much said about Favre, but as we touch upon, Bob found a way to dig up plenty of new material on the old gunslinger.... Favre didn't disappoint in their chat.
Speaking of Favre, and his historic Green Bay exit, what a beautiful shot at revenge for Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. They're all saying the right things but you cannot hype this game up enough. While most expect Brady to run away with this, we're not ready to count out Belichick.
And what is going on with these rookie quarterbacks? Jim Monos explained why they're all struggling in the Monos Report, and dives deeper into it all on the podcast.
I hope you see everyone at the "Isaiah McKenzie Show" Monday night, too! We're launching Oct. 4 at Mister's Bar & Lanes in East Aurora, NY. Reserve your table today -- all details here.
Thanks, everyone.

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We supply three "Louie Locks" apiece. BOOK IT.
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I figured we'd cross-pollinate podcasts here in case anyone out there is interested in subscribing to Go Long at GoLongTD.com.
Each week, longtime NFL writer Bob McGinn and myself break down the Green Bay Packers -- and whip around the NFL a bit.
Bob has covered the team and the league for decades and offers a sharp on every single player who plays every single Sunday through his extensive film review.
Here's a free episode for you to check out if you'd like. And when you subscribe to Go Long, you get access to them all.
Thanks, everyone.
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Welcome to a new weekly bonus episode on the Go Long Podcast -- predictions!
We will both call each game against the spread and provide three "Louie Locks" a week because, of course, Hamburg Brewing Company's Louie IPA is the best IPA in the business.
Enjoy!
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With Jim Monos watching every snap of every quarterback, we figured we'd talk... quarterbacks.
Teddy Bridgewater is flying high... Can he sustain this pace?
Josh Allen looks like the Allen of 2019... Can he get back to that 2020 version?
Aaron Rodgers took a victory lap after beating the Lions... Is he back?
And what in the hell are the Dolphins going to do with Tua Tagovailoa after another injury?
We dig into it all on this episode from Hamburg Brewing Company.
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What a weird Week 1.
We look back. We look forward. We try to put everything into context.
Josh Allen's Bills and Aaron Rodgers' Packers did not look good. Is this cause for concern?
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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