Follow the Money | October 14, 2026 | Hour 2

SPEAKER_1 (0:00)

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SPEAKER_2 (1:17)

Yeah, yeah. This is Follow the Money with Mitch Moss and Pauly Howard on VSiN.

Mitch Moss (1:24)

Welcome aboard, our favorite hour of the entire week.

The maestro Mike Palm in studio in 30 minutes. As always, we begin the hour with the Hall of Famer. The great Sal Paolantonio joins the program from ESPN now in his 30th, 50th year of covering the NFL, and he is on the progressive guest line. Sal Pal, great to talk to you as always. How are you?

Sal Paolantonio (1:44)

I'm pretty good. I'm doing very well.

This is the best part of my week. I love Follow the Money. I like Mitch and Pauly. I love you guys. You're the best.

Mitch Moss (1:52)

Let's start here.

So McVeigh said that he was, quote, never that pissed, end of quote, after that game on Monday night, took the blame. And we had countless coaches basically say the same thing over the weekend. Your guy, Nick Sirianni, took the blame. Others, Dan Quinn, Jayden Daniels in that game, a lot of other coaches said basically, yeah, that's on me. Why do you think this is five weeks into the season?

Sal Paolantonio (2:18)

You know, it's inexplicable, frankly, and inexcusable. Let's start with those two words. But it's not shocking to me because there are so much pressure on these coaches. You had 10 coaches, 10 new coaches this year hired. You had 15 new defensive coordinators, 21 new offensive coordinators. You think of all the coaching changes and the fact that they just can't get the game operation correct. The fact that we have a record number of one score games in the National Football League for the second season in a row, games are coming down to the last minute. You have a record number of games decided in the fourth quarter of an overtime going into week six. Last year, it was the same issue. Game management, the amount of pressure these head coaches are under is unbelievable. It is at its height. It's never been more diabolical and the results are not good. And if you can manage the fourth quarter, either as a quarterback or as a head coach, you have a big advantage. Now we had a couple of, and you have to be sound in the special teams game. You gotta be sound at all three phases. Just look at the Browns and the Jets.

That one was the one that really struck me. Here you have the long snapper. He snaps it over the head of the punter. He had a shot to catch it, but it was wet and rainy. Doesn't catch it. Jets get the turnover and get a quick score and win the game. All they have to have is a competent hunting operation and the Browns win on the road against the New York in terrible conditions. Bought special teams with the Philadelphia Eagles.

I mean, to begin with, Sirianni admits one of the biggest blunders that I've ever seen a head coach have in the fourth quarter.

And the stain of that or the scar of that is going to last a long time. I know they said they kind of flush it after 12 hours, but even Nick Sirianni admitted this is something that's going to stay with him forever.

And then they could, they couldn't cover the kick. That is another part of it. They couldn't cover the kick. They kick it right to the kick returner who has a straight line. And then they don't tackle, they have poor coverage. The Rams have a bad situation on a special teams. And for the commanders not to be able to line up to kick a field goal is just coaching malfeasance. I know Jane Daniels blew it, but the coach has got to take ultimate responsibility in my view.