What's up, everybody?

Welcome into the next Pats podcast.

I'm Phil Perry.

We've got a great episode lined up for you today.

There is so much to get to.

And we're going to be getting to a lot of it with our good friend.

Friend of the podcast, James Palmer, Underdog Fantasy.

Also, do we work at the Bleacher Report, formerly NFL Network.

Guys, so plugged in, so connected.

So to talk to someone like James at this time of year, when there's so much going on,

is an absolute pleasure for us.

So we're going to bring him in in just a second.

And we are really going to focus in on

the two top candidates for the Patriots open head coaching job, Mike Brable and Ben Johnson.

I know, I know. We've been on a bit of a next Pat's hiatus here. Apologize for that.

Holidays, end of the season. Lots, lots happening here. Hopefully you've been keeping up with us on the Patriots Talk podcast.

Myself, Tom Karin, every time we're on there, emptying the notebook, if you will, every single time.

And so plenty of intel there in terms of how things shook out at the end of the season, the how and why of Gerard Mayo.

We'll get to a little bit today about the alacrity with which this search has been characterized

by many in the NFL and even by you at home as you're watching this thing.

And you see Pep Hamilton and Byron Lefich get interviewed in the same day and they've already satisfied the Ro Rooney Rule. And now Mike Brable is going to win an interview on Thursday. And this thing could be done by Friday, kids. Strap in. Buckle up. Do whatever you need to do to ensure that you are prepared for a news bomb at some point late in this week, maybe early next week. But I don't anticipate this going very long at all. We'll get to all of that. But first, let's get to our conversation with James Palmer. Great detail here on Mike Vrable. What would make him a good coach here in New England? What would make Ben Johnson a very different kind of coach, but also an attractive candidate, not only for the

Patriots, but for many others.

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