AI Summary
5 min read“If Lamar were any good, wouldn't this competition have been declared dead three weeks in without all precincts reporting in?”
On the Thursday edition of The Ben Maller Show, the host tackled three NFL storylines that share a common thread: the gap between what teams say they want to do and what they can actually pull off. The episode’s throughline is the difficulty of genuine reinvention — whether it’s a quarterback trying to change his game, a franchise trying to change its reputation, or a coaching staff trying to change its quarterback room. In each case, the gap between ambition and reality is wide, and the evidence suggests the outcomes will be messy.
Lamar Jackson’s pocket-passing pivot
Lamar Jackson told reporters he is willing to adjust his playing style heading into the 2026 season, emphasizing that he will do “whatever it takes to win.” The implication is clear: he plans to run less and operate primarily from the pocket. Maller gave this a decisive thumbs down.
Continue reading the full summary in the app — free to try.
Read Full Summary →Free • No credit card required
Never miss an episode of The Ben Maller Show
Get every new episode summarized in your inbox — free, ~5 minutes to read.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
What you'll learn
- 1 (03:07) **Hour Four Kickoff & Topic Preview** - Ben opens the hour with a teaser of the three main NFL debates he’ll tackle.
- 2 (06:04) **The Great Reinvention: Lamar Jackson as a Pocket Passer** - Ben argues that stripping away Lamar’s running ability makes him a lesser quarterback and the Ravens a lesser team.
- 3 (11:33) **The Mike Tomlin Coaching Carousel: The Jets Lead the Pack** - Ben predicts a season-long circus of desperate teams being linked to Mike Tomlin, with the Jets as the most embarrassing suitor.
- 4 (18:46) **The Falcons’ QB Trepidation: Tua Tagovailoa’s Indictment** - Ben argues that Atlanta’s hesitation to name Tua Tagovailoa QB1 is a massive indictment of his ability.
- 5 (29:37) **Michael Jordan’s “No-Show Job” at NBC is Over** - Ben quickly notes that Michael Jordan’s role as a special contributor for NBC’s NBA coverage has ended without much impact.
- 6 (31:00) **Caller Segment: Trailer Parks, Super Bowl Predictions, and Jed York** - Ben takes calls from listeners, including a discussion on Jonathan’s trailer park scandal and Danny DeVito’s Super Bowl pick.
- 7 (41:41) **Fact or Fiction Segment with Celebrity Judges** - Ben plays a game where judges must identify which of three stories is fiction.
+ Full timestamped outline available in the app
Guests on this episode
Show Notes
Ben Maller discusses if the Baltimore Ravens can win a Super Bowl with Lamar Jackson operating primarily from the pocket, which desperate franchise will embarrass itself the most chasing Mike Tomlin, reports saying Atlanta has "trepidation" about making Tua QB1, Fact or Fiction, and more!
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
More from this podcast
The Ben Maller Show →