Rephonic
Artwork for Check the Mic

Check the Mic with Steve Palazzolo & Sam Monson

The 33rd Team
NFL
NFL Draft
Seattle Seahawks
Kansas City Chiefs
New England Patriots
Baltimore Ravens
Miami Dolphins
Dallas Cowboys
Pittsburgh Steelers
Green Bay Packers
Cincinnati Bengals
Buffalo Bills
Cleveland Browns
New York Jets
Los Angeles Rams
Detroit Lions
Tennessee Titans
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
New York Giants
Chicago Bears

Check the Mic with Steve Palazzolo and Sam Monson is the ultimate NFL podcast for the dedicated football fan. Join Steve & Sam as they bring their unique perspectives and unmatched football expertise to dive deep into the game. They’ll preview and review every single NFL game and break down every team building decision from your favorite NFL team. In partnership with The 33rd Team and their unriva... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes305Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsFootballSports NewsSports

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Check the Mic

Latest Episodes

Nate Tice joins Steve Palazzolo to map where the NFL is actually heading: lighter, smarter defenses that have decided to dare you to throw short, and the offenses trying to punch back over the top. They get into why post-snap disguise replaced Belich... more

Steve & Sam break down the BEST NFL player at every position.

00:00 Intro

5:05 QB

28:48 RB

38:00 WR

50:05 TE

54:39 Sponsor: FanDuel

55:20 OT

1:02:55 G

1:06:10 C

1:08:40 EDGE

1:16:00 DT

1:25:00 NT

1:28:00 LB

1:31:50 CB

1:37:20 Slot Corner

1:41:40 Saf... more

Steve & Sam talk through their offseason grades for all 32 NFL teams.

00:00 Sam is a U.S. Citizen

10:23 Philadelphia Eagles

16:30 Dallas Cowboys

22:04 Washington Commanders

26:00 New York Giants

31:20 Chicago Bears

36:00 Green Bay Packers

42:... more

Steve Palazzolo & Sam Monson discuss the best players they saw at PFF.

00:00 PFF History

18:00 Justin Smith

25:00 Aaron Donald

28:00 JJ Watt

31:00 Darrell Revis

37:30 Evan Mathis

41:25 Chip Kelly story

48:30 Chris myers

50:20 Sponsor: FanDuel

52:... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Recent Guests

Trevor Sikkema
Guest from NFL Stock Exchange
NFL Stock Exchange
Episode: Guest Host Trevor Sikkema: Best & Worst 2026-7 NFL Schedules
Brett Kollmann
Football analyst, Bootleg Football contributor
Bootleg Football
Episode: 2026 NFL Draft Philosophy w/ Bootleg Football
EJ Snyder
Football analyst, front-office perspective
Episode: 2026 NFL Draft Philosophy w/ Bootleg Football
Jon Ledyard
Edge rush breakdown analyst
Audibles and Analytics
Episode: Ranking the BEST Edge Rusher Draft Prospects w/ Jon Ledyard
Brandon Thorn
Offensive line scout for Bleacher Report
Bleacher Report (scouting department)
Episode: Offensive Line Draft Prospect Rankings w/ Brandon Thorn
Mike Renner
Special guest, longtime PFF contributor
PFF / The 33rd Team
Episode: The REAL Story Behind the Death of PFF (w/ Mike Renner)
JJ Zachariason
The late-round QB, fantasy analyst
Late Round Fantasy Football Podcast
Episode: 2026 NFL Draft RB Rankings + Fantasy Breakdown with JJ Zachariason
Greg Cosell
Executive NFL analyst, expert on QB evaluation
NFL Films / Media analyst
Episode: 2026 NFL Draft QB Rankings w/ Greg Cosell + 3-Round Jets Mock Draft!
Mel Kiper
Hall of Fame draft analyst, ESPN analyst
ESPN
Episode: Mock Draft Monday: Mel Kiper vs. Daniel Jeremiah

Hosts

Steve Palazzolo
Host of Check the Mic w/ Steve Palazzolo & Sam Monson; co-host of the show with a long-running presence in NFL analysis.
Sam Monson
Co-host of Check the Mic; longtime NFL analyst with deep dive capacity and strong drafting/dissection insight.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 1.1k ratings
  • Takes itself WAY too seriously

    A lot of good info here but it’s just football and when Monson started shouting “THEY’RE ALL 3 YEAR DEALS” in regards to free agent contracts in general and Diego Pavia’s specifically, I checked out. Give it a rest, pal.

    And of course there’s the inane and ludicrous talk about “war rooms” and “when the bullets start flying.” In case the podcasters forgot, there’s actual bullets flying in real wars and people getting killed in real life.

    It’s a game, guys. Enjoy it and talk about it but do it w... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Yankee Doodle 30
    United States2 months ago
  • The hate CJ Stroud show

    It is getting to be all you can hear is the CJ sucks but Bryce is awesome! Wow hypocrisy anyone?

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Another SEC podcast
    United States2 months ago
  • Good work

    Never boring and always give me something to listen I was amazed in how much I learned on the rookies this year just keep talking and they never curse

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dantevius Micilroe the 3rd
    United States2 months ago
  • GREAT!

    These guys know football. They are blunt and don't add any fluff which makes this an easy listen.

    Audible
    5
    Just Another Dude
    United States2 months ago
  • Done

    The actual podcast is fine, but having your listening interrupted by prolife commercials means I won’t be listening or subscribing anymore. The market is far too flooded with football minded podcasts for me to waste my time supporting something I vehemently disagree with.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    bumbuddha
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Sound quality has been critiqued in at least one episode.
Draft coverage and rookie insights are frequently appreciated.
Chemistry and banter between hosts is a highlight; some perceive bias.
Listeners praise deep, detailed NFL analysis and honesty.
Some dislike political ads and long episodes.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#48
United States/Sports/Football
Apple Podcasts
#245
United States/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#16
United Kingdom/Sports/Football
Apple Podcasts
#23
Canada/Sports/Football
Apple Podcasts
#30
Australia/Sports/Football
Apple Podcasts
#30
Germany/Sports/Football

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ranking the BEST Edge Rusher Draft Prospects w/ Jon Ledyard
Q: What about Arvell Reese, is he more of a linebacker or edge rusher at the NFL level?
He is exceptionally talented with linebacker traits, but his edge potential exists if he transitions. The challenge is finding a role where he can use his physical tools to rush the passer while not compromising his strengths at linebacker.
NFL Conference Championships Preview & Picks
Q: Which team is favored to win and cover the spread?
New England is favored by four and a half points against Denver, but opinions are mixed on who will cover the spread.
NFL Wild Card Round Preview & Picks
Q: How does the addition of DK Metcalf impact the Steelers' offense?
His presence elevates the entire offense, creating opportunities for deep, explosive plays, which may help them in a crucial playoff matchup.
NFL Wild Card Round Preview & Picks
Q: Are we seeing any additional coach firings?
No major firings within the last 24 hours, aside from Todd Bowles being confirmed back with the Bucs.
Top 5 NFL Defenses w/ Cody Alexander
Q: What do you think accounts for the defensive resurgence this season?
Cody discusses the increase in blitz rates and innovative defensive strategies that force offenses to adapt quickly.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Check the Mic

What is Check the Mic about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Two NFL-focused hosts share data-driven breakdowns of teams, schedules, and player development, blending analytics with candid takes and banter. Episodes frequently explore coaching changes, quarterback health, and roster construction, often linking schedule dynamics and rest disparity to team outcomes. A notable strength is their willingness to challenge conventional wisdom with both statistical framing and accessible storytelling, plus regular interviews with former players and personnel when available. The show consistently covers game previews, team-building decisions, and draft-related topics, making it especially valuable for listeners who want thoughtful, numbers-informed perspectives alongside entertaining host dynamics.

Where can I find podcast stats for Check the Mic?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Check the Mic. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Check the Mic and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Check the Mic get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Check the Mic, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Check the Mic?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Check the Mic, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Check the Mic have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Check the Mic has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

How many episodes of Check the Mic are there?

Check the Mic launched 2 years ago and published 305 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Check the Mic?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Check the Mic?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Check the Mic from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Check the Mic?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Check the Mic. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Check the Mic?

Recent guests on Check the Mic include:

1. Trevor Sikkema
2. Brett Kollmann
3. EJ Snyder
4. Jon Ledyard
5. Brandon Thorn
6. Mike Renner
7. JJ Zachariason
8. Greg Cosell

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days