Name Change Pending...

Name Change Pending... is NFL conversation from a small panel of fans, led by host Brian Preece. Tommy Giron and Josh Keil join him, sometimes one at a time and sometimes together. Previews are the show's natural shape. The 2019 season came in division installments, with titles such as '2019 NFL Season Preview-NFC North-Name Change Pending...', 'NFL 2019 Season Preview-AFC North & West-Name Change Pending...' and 'NFL Season Preview-NFC East & South-Name Change Pending'. There is also a 'Super Bowl 54 Preview'. In a preview, the panel takes one team at a time through roster changes, injuries, coaching and contract situations, then lands on a prediction. The reasoning stays practical. On the Eagles, the question is how the play-calling might change to keep Carson Wentz and his knee out of harm's way, perhaps with fewer run-pass options. On the Chiefs, the one word offered is terror, followed by a discussion of how any secondary is supposed to account for Tyreek Hill. On the Bears, a 10-3 loss to the Packers gets the verdict that it is not yet time to panic, along with a quick correction that Trubisky goes by Mitchell. News-driven episodes work the same way. The episode titled 'It's FOOTBALL SEASON!!!' lines up teams reporting to camp, Cam Newton in New England, a name change drawing attention in Washington, the first $100 million guarantee for a defensive player, and way-too-early 2020 predictions from Tommy. That episode also turns to quarterback durability, weighing Michael Vick, Tom Brady's torn ACL season and Peyton Manning's neck trouble against Cam Newton's running style. Jarrett Stidham takes a quick joke about how seriously anyone can talk up a quarterback competition with Newton. The humor stays brief. A pronunciation drill on player names turns into a detour about BYU ties on the roster and sideline. One sign-off finds room for a nod to the Chargers, a jab at Cowboys fans and some encouragement for Washington and Alex Smith. A season preview for Utah State football also comes up in passing at the end of the AFC West installment. Episodes tend to open on a reel of famous broadcast calls, and several close by asking for five-star ratings and new verses for Ruthless Lupe. The delivery is dry and brisk, and the interruptions, restarts and quick agreements are left in. A listener new to the show could start with any of the division installments, where the team-by-team prediction loop is easiest to follow.