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Check the Mic with Steve Palazzolo & Sam Monson

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

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes338Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
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Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Check the Mic

Latest Episodes

Steve Palazzolo & Mike Renner preview one of the most loaded drafts in the recent memory and break down Mike Renner's big board.

00:00 Intro

3:10 The Quarterbacks

27:38 More 2027 Draft Talk

Check the Mic w/ Steve & Sam is presented by FanDuel.

T... more

Steve Palazzolo & Sam Monson previw and predict EVERY matchup in week 3 of the 2026 NFL Season!

00:00 Intro

3:30 Falcons @ Packers

12:34 Bengals @ Steelers

23:40 Panthers @ Browns

35:07 Texans @ Colts

43:55 Sponsor: FanDuel

45:30 Chiefs @ Dolphins

5... more

Steve Palazzolo & Sam Monson break down take a lot at the group of 0-2 teams and decide if it's time to panic or not and discuss Dallas Turner's week 2 PFF Grade.

00:00 Intro

5:06 Miami Dolphins

9:05 Houston Texans

13:20 Indianapolis Colts

24:30 ... more

Steve Palazzolo & Sam Monson review every game from week 2!

00:00 Intro

1:56 Bills Defeat Lions

16:21 Bengals Defeat Texans

28:20 Vikings Defeat Bears

54:04 Browns Defeat Buccaneers

1:08:26 Sponsor: FanDuel

1:09:46 Patriots Defeat Steelers

1:22:30... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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

Recent Guests

Cynthia Freeland
Guest introduced as a participant in the episode
NFL Network (analyst role inferred)
Episode: 2026 NFL Week 1 Storylines: Buying or Selling? + Caleb Williams Week 1 PFF Grade
Ari Mehrolf
Guest mentioned as opponent in a segment
NFL/33rd Team context (guest role)
Episode: 2026 NFL Week 1 Storylines: Buying or Selling? + Caleb Williams Week 1 PFF Grade
Paul Dehner
Bengals expert, The Athletic
The Athletic
Episode: 2026 NFL Season Predictions & Awards
Paul Daner Jr.
Bengals beat writer for The Athletic
The Athletic, Cincinnati Bengals
Episode: 2026 NFL Storylines: Rams Super Bowl or Bust, Rodgers Last Dance & Other Notable Storylines
Nick Underhill
New Orleans Saints beat writer for New Orleans Football
New Orleans Football
Episode: 10 People Under the Most Pressure in 2026
Brian Nemhauser
Hawk Blogger, Seahawks analyst
Hawk Blogger
Episode: Ranking the BEST Offensive Lines in the NFL
Aaron Schatz
FTN Football Outsiders analyst
FTN / Football Outsiders
Episode: Inside The Myles Garrett Trade W/ Les Snead + Every Underrated Team in 2026 W/ Aaron Schatz
Les Snead
General Manager of the Los Angeles Rams
Los Angeles Rams
Episode: Inside The Myles Garrett Trade W/ Les Snead + Every Underrated Team in 2026 W/ Aaron Schatz
Vic Troha
Wellness clinician; host of Boo Boo Breakdown on Check the Mic
Cincinnati Sports Club (Cincinnati)
Episode: Biggest Injury Risks for ALL 32 NFL Teams w/ Dr. Vic Troha

Hosts

Steve Palazzolo
Co-host and monologue lead; long-time NFL analyst with roles at The 33rd Team and Pro Football Focus (PFF)
Sam Monson
Co-host and analytical counterpart; referenced throughout episodes

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 1.1k ratings
  • Voice volume varies widely

    I end up setting my device volume to max. I still can’t understand Sam 15 to 30% of the time. Steve’s a little better so I have trouble hearing him 5 to 10% of the time.

    I really like the content.

    Varying voice volume is an effective tool in person to person communication, but not so good on podcasts.🐯

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    mdwthetiger
    United States2 months ago
  • 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 States4 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 States4 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 States5 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 States5 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate deep dives on roster-building and front-office decisions.
Insightful, detailed NFL analysis that stays grounded in data.
Banters with strong chemistry; hosts deliver thoughtful takes even when opinions sharpen.
Some praise the guests and expert context, others note occasional high-energy delivery.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#65
United States/Sports/Football
Apple Podcasts
#181
United States/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#12
United Kingdom/Sports/Football
Apple Podcasts
#25
Canada/Sports/Football
Apple Podcasts
#198
Canada/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#228
United Kingdom/Sports

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

2027 NFL Draft Preview w/ Mike Renner
Q: What stands out about the edge rushers and the defensive line depth?
Colin Simmons and Dylan Stewart are the top two edge rushers, with Simmons being more refined and Stewart offering exceptional athleticism; the defensive tackle group is noted as particularly deep and potentially the strongest phase of this class, with several prospects possibly entering the first round.
2027 NFL Draft Preview w/ Mike Renner
Q: Which other quarterbacks and players are shaping this class besides Arch Manning?
They highlight Dante Moore for a high floor with good mechanics, Drew Mestamaker's late-blooming path, Lenora Sellers as an athlete with accuracy concerns, and Trinidad Chambliss as a strong tape producer whose height is a concern, among others.
Inside The Myles Garrett Trade W/ Les Snead + Every Underrated Team in 2026 W/ Aaron Schatz
Q: So let's start with DVOA and your baby, what goes into it, and how has it evolved to be predictive for 2026?
DVOA started in 2002 and is built to measure success on every play relative to a league-average baseline, then tweaked to weight turnovers less and garbage time less, with added dimensions like coverage DVOA for corners. It's now designed to be highly predictive, incorporating context like down, distance, and opponent, and updated as new data and charting become available.
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.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About Check the Mic

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

Two NFL analysts provide data-driven, commentary-rich breakdowns of games, rosters, and front-office decisions with a strong emphasis on coaching deployment, player development, and scheme fit. Episodes mix preseason and regular-season analysis, quarterback debates, injury context, and roster-building strategies, often weaving in deep dives from analytics, filmStudy, and front-office perspectives. Guests have included former players, coaches, and executives, offering insider viewpoints to complement the hosts' evaluation lens. Notable strengths include a fast-paced, banter-rich dynamic, extensive use of data-informed framing, and sponsor integration that keeps each episode punchy and informative for teams seeking guest ideas or sponsorship ... more

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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.

Which podcasts are similar to Check the Mic?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Check the Mic:

1. The PFF NFL Podcast
2. NFL Stock Exchange: An NFL Draft Podcast
3. Football 301 with Nate Tice
4. The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL
5. NFL News Hub

How many episodes of Check the Mic are there?

Check the Mic launched 2 years ago and published 338 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Check the Mic?

Recent guests on Check the Mic include:

1. Cynthia Freeland
2. Ari Mehrolf
3. Paul Dehner
4. Paul Daner Jr.
5. Nick Underhill
6. Brian Nemhauser
7. Aaron Schatz
8. Les Snead

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.

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