36 episodes

An unconventional perspective on the latest NFL news with Jenny Vrentas and Conor Orr.

The Weak-Side Podcast Sports Illustrated

    • Sports
    • 4.8 • 74 Ratings

An unconventional perspective on the latest NFL news with Jenny Vrentas and Conor Orr.

    Introducing: The Bag - A show about Sports, Money, and Making It

    Introducing: The Bag - A show about Sports, Money, and Making It

    Ever wonder how some teams can seemingly do everything wrong and still generate record-profits? Or how some athletes end up going broke? Or why suddenly, everyone in pro sports seems to be obsessed with cryptocurrency? Former NFL running back (and Dancing With The Stars champ) Rashad Jennings has teamed up with award-winning journalist Lindsay McComick to help make sense of all the dollars, NFTs, cryptos and contracts that make up modern sports. They'll talk to gambling experts, NIL insiders, star athletes, agents, business mavens and more to bring you insights from all the intersections of sports and money. From Sports Illustrated and iHeart Radio - what are you waiting for? Get The Bag.
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    • 1 min
    Weak-Side Podcast Finale

    Weak-Side Podcast Finale

    Listeners and friends, it's been a tremendous run. Thanks to all of you who listened, wrote to us and made the Weak-Side Podcast a truly special community. With that in mind, our final episode is based around questions, feedback and ideas from each of you. For the last time, Conor and Jenny, along with Shelby, discuss...
    +In any given year, if you were to give an expansion franchise exclusively draft picks 1-53 to build their best roster, would they rank dead last come the end of that year, asks Alex from the UK?
    +Can you see the Buffalo Bills making a repeat statement and potentially going back to the AFC championship game, submits Chase from upstate New York?
    +Why are QB passing yards in a game so disingenuous, queries Tane from New Zealand?
    +And Jack from New England has a burning question: Can either of you specifically define the terms “froggy” and “spicy”?
    Plus, reader brainstorms on "doink points," the KC Elephants and a suggested new segment for the Monday show, "Gramling's Grumbles." We will be responding to the wonderful emails our loyal audience sent to weaksidepod@gmail.com. You can now find us every Monday morning with Gary Gramling on The MMQB Monday Morning NFL Podcast—and in the future, at our vegan taqueria, Root.
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    • 56 min
    Weak-Side Podcast: Penultimate Mailbag

    Weak-Side Podcast: Penultimate Mailbag

    In our penultimate episode of the Weak-Side Podcast, we turn to what we enjoy the most: listener mail. Among the questions Conor and Jenny discuss...
    *John from Portland says he was "horrified" when the Seahawks ignored other positions of need and took a receiver with their first selection in this year's draft. He later began warming up to the "Legion of Zoom" but then wondered: Was he right to worry?
    *Reece from Australia, in addition to reminding us about his country's notable contributions to the sport of basketball, asks which team will benefit most from a more "normal" NFL season?
    *Jack revisits an important topic that has yet to be fully addressed: Should the Chiefs become the Kansas City Football Team, to move away from disrespectful imagery and chants?
    *Plus, an Orracle about the news of the week, which was also the news of last decade: Tim Tebow.
    Important programming note: Next week will be the last episode of the Weak-Side Podcast. Please write in to weaksidepod@gmail.com with comments, memories or even your own Orracle so we can sign off by celebrating our loyal listeners and the community we have built.
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    • 56 min
    Post-Draft Diagnosis and Lottery Pick Secrecy

    Post-Draft Diagnosis and Lottery Pick Secrecy

    Jenny and Conor rip into five compelling storylines from a fascinating 2021 NFL Draft. While there are many teams to get to, Jenny and Conor were particularly taken by: 
    + The 49ers' lauding of secrecy. A victory for CIA-obsessed coaches or a troubling trend in office politics? 
    + Rating the Mac Jones experience on a scale of 1 to 10. One being no Super Bowls and 10 being six more Super Bowls, of course. 
    + Tracking the rising stars of the formerly embattled Dave Gettleman and Ryan Pace. What it's like to watch old dogs learn new tricks. 
    Plus, discussions on Dear Abby, Mock Draft scoring etiquette and more. 
    Loyal listeners, we want to keep hearing from you! Email us at weaksidepod@gmail.com. 
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    • 1 hr 1 min
    Pre-Draft Mock Draft Regrets

    Pre-Draft Mock Draft Regrets

    First was Conor's mock draft, then Jenny's mock draft, and this week it's time for another annual show edition: Our mock draft regrets. (Yes, already). The lead-up to the draft is a simultaneous faucet of both information and non-information, and with days of hindsight, among the decisions Conor and Jenny are already obsessing over: 
    +The 49ers' QB decision at No. 3. Reports say the 49ers are choosing between Mac Jones and Trey Lance. Could the Niners really still be deciding, and if they do already know who their guy will be, what are the reasons for continuing to keep this pick close to the vest?
    +Conor didn't mock any running backs in the first round, while Jenny regrets only allotting three first-round receivers.
    +The sixth QB Conor thinks could sneak into the first round, and the offensive lineman Jenny thinks will go higher than expected.
    Plus, a discussion of Kevin Colbert's comments that if two players are close, "we're going to take the player that played" in 2020 over the one who opted out. And make sure to check out Conor's *new* mock draft on Thursday morning.
    Loyal listeners, we want to keep hearing from you! Email us at weaksidepod@gmail.com or leave us a message at our brand-new voicemail line: 929-445-7349.
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    • 42 min
    Jenny's Annual Mock Draft

    Jenny's Annual Mock Draft

    On the heels of Conor's wildly popular mock draft, Jenny reluctantly takes her turn (By the end of the show both she and Conor are considering taking another try). This week on the Weak-Side Podcast, the hosts discuss:
    +The 49ers are playing their QB pick close to the vest but Jenny has her reasons for putting them down to draft Justin Fields at No. 3.
    +Why the Falcons choosing an offensive line at pick No. 4 isn't out of reason.
    +The year of the tight end continues with Florida's Kyle Pitts, who could be the highest-drafted player at his position in 15 years. 
    +A potential Patriots trade up, and why Belichick's history of not drafting QBs higher than the 62nd pick isn't necessarily pertinent.
    Plus, Conor makes a wardrobe prediction for the NFL Draft, and Jenny hopes we don't allow the narrative that NFL prospects who opted out of the 2020 college football season don't football to persist unchecked. Loyal listeners, we want to keep hearing from you! Email us at weaksidepod@gmail.com or leave us a message at our brand-new voicemail line: 929-445-7349.
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    • 47 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
74 Ratings

74 Ratings

markbakerprague ,

Don’t Leave us

Best football podcast out there. Funny, informative, great chemistry. I hope this shutdown thing isn’t connected somehow to the to mock draft debacle? ;)

Akdhoptron ,

Melancholy

I could write a long review about covid times, humor, fun with football and also much needed accountability in my own love of a sport that still has soooooooo many issues around race, misogyny, money, punishment, who gets away with what, who doesn’t and why. But really it’s just that when their pod came on, I listened and laughed, thought, and sometimes cried. I was just excited and loved that other people that seemed like me loved football while also realizing how deeply flawed it is, just like life. And I would have spent bank at their vegan taco joint.

nofaithmed11 ,

We will miss you!

Looking forward to having you on Gary’s show, but we will miss this pod.

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