On this episode of 3 & Out, John Middlekauff reacts to Jeremiah Love injuring his ankle in the Cardinals’ first preseason game, discussing the latest concern and what the injury could mean moving forward.

John also dives into Joe Brady and whether he could face an adjustment period in his current role. How long does it take for coaches to settle into new responsibilities, and what challenges come with making the transition at the NFL level?

Plus, John takes a closer look at one of the biggest conversations in professional football: guaranteed contracts. Should the NFL move closer to the contract structures seen in other sports, and why has the league traditionally resisted fully guaranteed deals?

The conversation also turns to Tom Brady’s impact on NFL broadcasting and ownership. Has Brady changed the way former players and broadcasters think about their post-playing careers? John discusses the growing intersection between media, ownership, and the business of the NFL.

And of course, another edition of Dad Diaries brings stories from life away from football before John opens up the Middlekauff Mailbag to answer your questions on the biggest topics from around the league.

From preseason injuries and coaching adjustments to NFL contracts, Tom Brady's influence, and much more, it's all covered on this episode of 3 & Out.

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On this episode of 3 & Out, John Middlekauff opens up the Middlekauff Mailbag but first, he breaks down the biggest storylines from around the NFL as the preseason continues.

John dives into the performances of the league's rookie quarterbacks, discussing what actually matters during preseason action and how much fans should read into early results. He takes a closer look at Cam Ward and the expectations surrounding his development as he begins his his second season.

Plus, John shares some of the most interesting coaching nuggets from around the league, including what coaches are saying—and what their comments may really reveal as teams prepare for the regular season.

The conversation also turns to the Dallas Cowboys, examining the latest questions surrounding one of the NFL's most talked-about franchises, before discussing Jayden Daniels and what to expect after his team starting drama with LSU.

From rookie quarterback evaluations and preseason takeaways to coaching insight, the Cowboys, and listener questions, it's all covered on this episode of 3 & Out.

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Colin is joined by John Middlekauff, host of “3 and Out” on The Volume.

They start with Colin attending the Bears preseason win over the Browns and offer their biggest questions surrounding the Bears in Caleb Williams second season under Ben Johnson (2:00).

They move to Ty Simpson having a great debut for the Rams in his first preseason game and Colin argues that young quarterbacks ending up with head coach like Sean McVay is like hitting the lottery, and that the Rams weren’t crazy to spend a first round pick on a quarterback while Matt Stafford is still the starter (8:00).

They pivot to the 49ers and the highlight trend of Christian McCaffrey getting injured the year after leading the league in touches… which he did last season (16:30). 

They also wonder whether Giants QB Jaxson Dart will stay upright after getting smoked during their first preseason game after getting beat up last year (24L15). Colin argues that Fernando Mendoza’s intangibles and work ethic are going to further elevate the Raiders #1 overall pick (32:00). 

They wonder who gave Jayden Daniels the terrible advice to send a cease and desist to LSU over his former #5 going to another player (40:00) . They also laud Sam Darnold for becoming the leader of the Seahawks (48:00) and explain why buying the Seahawks may have been the best franchise purchase years (1:00:30).

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In this episode, John reacts to the 2nd episode of HBO Hard Knocks with the Seattle Seahawks and reacts to the viral vlip of head coach Mike McDonald. Next, John dives into Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell's thinking into his QB decision. Later, John dives into the Middlekauff Mailbag to answer your football questions. 

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In this episode, John reacts to the news that Kyler Murray has been named the starting QB over J.J. McCarthy in Vikings training camp. Next, John talks about what's next for McCarthy, with potential trade destinations on the horizon. Later, John reacts to news and injury updates around the NFL. John wraps up with a Middlekauff Mailbag where he answers all of your questions. 

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On this episode of 3 & Out, John is back from the road, coming to you live from a Marriott couch  and he starts by giving Jerry Jones credit, which he acknowledges is not a sentence people are used to hearing. With the Cowboys extending Quinnen Williams (00:56), John walks through the full accounting of the Micah Parsons trade: Dallas wasn't one player away, they were three or four guys away, and once Dak and CeeDee were paid, signing Parsons would have made them a four-man team on a 53-man roster. Add up Williams' guarantees plus the two rookies they drafted with the return — Caleb Downs and Malachai Lawrence — and it lands within a rounding error of Parsons' own deal. Then he gets to Jeff Hafley and the Miami Dolphins tackling to the ground in camp (07:45), which in 2026 is about as jarring as seeing a guy light a cigarette. Miami can't manufacture a December trip to Buffalo in 84-degree sunshine, so the only lever a staff has is mandated physicality — and John connects it to his own father drawing a line in the sand and putting him on a Sacramento-area ranch every summer from ninth grade on. He also finds the one sliver of optimism in losing a top-ten left tackle (16:07): at least it happened in August, when you still have a month to canvass the league. Then the Bills' new stadium backlash (19:00) and why internet comment sections are a separate reality from the real world, and Dad Diaries (22:19) — a Friday night of tequila in Newport Beach that coincided, unfortunately, with the worst night of sleep his wife has ever had.

Then it's a full mailbag (27:34). Was the Cousins–Crosby fallout actually coordinated between the players and Klint Kubiak (27:34)? Could Anthony Richardson be a reclamation project in Baltimore — and how did the Colts let his trade value hit zero (30:22)? Should recovery peptides be legal in the NFL, and where's the line between recovery and steroids (33:32)? Bill Barnwell's all-decade team and why John thinks it's Mahomes over Josh Allen, plus why building an all-decade team halfway through the decade is a fool's errand (35:47). A high school sports administrator asks about transfer and eligibility rules, which sends John into holding eighth graders back for athletics and the Danny Almonte energy creeping into youth sports (40:47). Whether Odell Beckham Jr. can stick on a roster without playing special teams (46:11), a defense of Saquon Barkley's hands (47:59), the Chiefs' wide receiver room and whether a training camp trade is coming (49:10), his actual gambling philosophy and the two parlays that keep him coming back (52:10), and finally Ja'Lynn Polk retiring two years after going 37th overall — and why the Patriots' draft record at receiver is a reminder that you're evaluating humans, not widgets (56:44).

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On this episode of 3 & Out, John is pumped with football officially back. He opens on Carson Beck's Hall of Fame Game debut (01:46) and why a third-round quarterback's path is fundamentally different from a first-rounder's: you're not a five-star on scholarship, you're a backup until proven otherwise, and your preseason tape is your résumé.He likes the landing spot for Beck and explains why guys like Chase Daniel built 14-year careers almost entirely on August film. From there, he breaks down the 2026 Hall of Fame class (11:09) — Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Kuechly, Adam Vinatieri which John argues may be the highest-character group Canton has ever enshrined at once, plus a sober note on Roger Craig's dementia diagnosis and the taped acceptance.

Teddy Bridgewater's retirement (16:34) becomes John's case against the Lions, the one thing he thinks Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell have done poorly while otherwise resurrecting the franchise. Investing everything in Jared Goff without ever churning cheap arms behind him is a portfolio with no diversification — and he contrasts it with the Packers' Ron Wolf philosophy and the Eagles taking a Day 3 quarterback nearly every single year. He gets into the Colts hyping Daniel Jones and Riley Leonard apparently beating out Anthony Richardson (24:53), why training camp praise from famous teammates should be discounted (27:54) with a detour into why Saban and Belichick were at their best after losses and the Cowboys (31:04), where he's bullish on the roster but not on Brian Schottenheimer's Super Bowl talk. Predictions on the Saints, Cowboys and Texans (34:31), Kyle Shanahan's concussion protocol and a rant about cross-country preseason travel (35:14), and the injury board (36:19). He closes with the Kirk Cousins–Maxx Crosby scuffle and why Klint Kubiak handled it perfectly (41:16), the compounding advantage of growing up in a football family (42:35), and a Newport Beach staycation that turned into a $60 million ocean-view real estate rant (44:11).

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On this episode of 3 & Out, John Middlekauff dives into Jonathan Taylor's contract extension and what the new deal means for the Indianapolis Colts, the running back market, and the value of elite talent at the position.

John also breaks down the rise of Kahlil Benson with the Kansas City Chiefs, discussing why the young player is generating buzz and what has stood out during training camp.

With Hall of Fame Weekend here, John looks back at Adam Vinatieri's incredible NFL journey, from his clutch postseason performances to his place among the greatest kickers in league history. What made Vinatieri so special, and why does his career stand out even among the NFL's all-time greats?

Then it's time for Fugazi Friday, as John reacts to something extremely personal to him.

To wrap things up, it's another edition of the Middlekauff Mailbag, where John answers listener questions and tackles the biggest stories from around the NFL and beyond.

From contract extensions and rising players to Hall of Fame careers, media controversies, and fan questions, it's all covered on this episode of 3 & Out.

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On this episode of 3 & Out, John Middlekauff reacts to Episode 1 of HBO's Hard Knocks, breaking down the biggest moments, standout personalities, and what the premiere revealed about life inside an NFL training camp.

John also explains why football players are some of the biggest "nerds" in sports, discussing the obsessive attention to detail, film study, preparation, and football IQ that separates the NFL's best from everyone else.

Plus, the 49ers continue to battle injuries, and John examines why San Francisco can't seem to catch a break. Is it simply bad luck, or is there a bigger story behind the team's recurring health issues?

The conversation also turns to the latest rumors surrounding Aaron Donald's potential return to the NFL. With speculation continuing to build, John weighs in on whether the future Hall of Famer is truly on the verge of making a comeback and what it would mean for the league.

John also reacts to Giants head coach John Harbaugh getting frustrated with how Jaxson Dart handled himself at the end of practice.

To wrap things up, it's another edition of the Middlekauff Mailbag, where John answers listener questions and dives into the biggest topics from around the NFL.

From training camp storylines and quarterback development to comeback rumors and behind-the-scenes insight, it's all covered on this episode of 3 & Out.

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On this episode of 3 & Out, John Middlekauff reacts to Bijan Robinson landing a massive new contract, breaking down what the extension means for the Falcons, the running back market, and why elite talent at the position is once again being rewarded.

Next, John reacts to the NFL quarterback tier rankings, discussing where the league's biggest stars stack up, which quarterbacks are climbing, and which ones still have something to prove heading into the season. From MVP candidates to young signal-callers on the rise, John explains what separates each tier.

Plus, John talks about the story of Dan Lanning driving 13 hours for a job opportunity, highlighting the relentless work ethic and persistence that helped shape one of college football's top coaches. It's a conversation about ambition, networking, and the sacrifices required to make it in the profession.

To wrap things up, it's another edition of the Middlekauff Mailbag, where John answers your questions on the NFL's biggest storylines, roster construction, quarterback play, coaching philosophies, and much more.

From blockbuster contracts and quarterback debates to coaching journeys and fan questions, it's all covered on this episode of 3 & Out.

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On this episode of 3 & Out, John Middlekauff dives into whether NFL coaches really have favorite players and how those relationships can influence playing time, roster decisions, and the development of young talent.

John also breaks down the latest quarterback situation in Minnesota. With Kyler Murray expected to be the starter, what does that mean for J.J. McCarthy?

Plus, John discusses Lamar Jackson's evolution under center, examining how Baltimore continues to expand its offense and why Lamar's development as a traditional pocket passer has become one of the most underrated parts of his game.

The conversation also explores the unique relationship between quarterbacks and their head coaches, why the best partnerships consistently produce winning football, and what separates successful QB-coach duos from the rest of the league.

John also checks in on the 49ers' injury situation, discussing whether San Francisco can overcome another wave of health concerns, before reacting to reports that Deshaun Watson is seeking a new contract from the Browns and what that could mean for Cleveland's future.

To wrap things up, John shares another edition of Dad Diaries, offering a funny look at life away from football, before opening up the Middlekauff Mailbag to answer your questions from around the NFL.

From quarterback battles and contract drama to coaching dynamics and front-office insight, it's all covered on this episode of 3 & Out.

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