SiriusXM host and former NFL quarterback Brady Quinn talks with The Post’s Justin Terranova about boy-band run-ins, his big Jimmy Garoppolo concern, a Patrick Mahomes myth and a Tom Brady landing spot.
Q: What is your most interesting experience on Radio Row?
A: Last year, I had to hustle from the CBS HQ to SiriusXM setups and there was a huge crowd in the middle. I am keeping my head down, trying to cut through people. There was a smaller gentleman, I literally picked him up and moved him. And I was like, “Sorry I have to jump on the radio.” And it was one of the Backstreet Boys. It made sense because so many people were taking pictures.
Q: What is the excitement level for this matchup?
A: You got two new teams in it. It’s not your typical AFC team, whether it be [Tom] Brady, [Ben] Roethlisberger or [Peyton] Manning. You’ve got Patrick Mahomes, and it feels like a changing-of-the-guard moment. In the NFC, it’s a team coming off a 4-12 season and there’s this dominant defense. Jimmy Garoppolo makes plays in spots when he needs to. There’s a freshness to this matchup.
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Q: What have you seen from Garoppolo’s growth this season?
A: First off, he gets tagged as this game manager because of the small sample size from the postseason, but he threw 30 passes a game in the regular (season). You go back and watch where he beat New Orleans and Drew Brees in a shootout. He made the clutch plays in that game. He’s very capable of doing the things he needs to do. The biggest area he needs to grow is cutting down on mistakes. When you get some pressure on him, and it’s early, he starts to become — I hate the term happy feet — but you do get the sense of him being tense and forcing things. It’s such a stark contrast to Mahomes.
Q: How different will it be for Mahomes, going up against a 49ers defense with its ability to get pressure?
A: It’s not just getting pressure, it’s getting him down. Here’s the thing: When you get him out of the pocket, he only gets more special. So, you can’t just say “get pressure” — they have to get hits on him. They need to have him play a lot of second-and-10s.
Q: If Brady leaves New England, where could he go?
A: The last time we’ve seen anything like this was with Peyton Manning going to the Broncos. A lot of the stuff that plays into that decision — they had a solid supporting cast with a running game and good wide receivers and a really good defense. The only team that would make sense from that perspective is the Chargers.
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