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Check the Mic with Steve Palazzolo & Sam Monson

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes318Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
FootballNewsSportsSports News

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Check the Mic

Latest Episodes

Steve Palazzolo & Sam Monson rank the best offensive lines in the NFL ahead of the 2026 NFL Season.

00:00 Intro

3:29 Is Offensive Line play better in the NFL?

6:10 Broncos the best offensive line?

9:21 Brandon Thorn’s Offensive Line Rankings

32:17... more

Steve Palazzolo & Sam Monson break down what rookies have impressed them the most so far ahead of the 2026 NFL Season.

00:00 Intro

3:50 Kyler Murray QB1

30:00 Ja’Kobi Lane impressing

37:00 Cyrus Allen a new weapon?

40:45 Caleb Downs balling out

48:... more

Steve Palazzolo & Sam Monson rank the BEST position groups in the NFL.

00:00 Intro

5:03 Offensive Line

24:20 Sponsor: FanDuel

26:00 Receivers

43:00 Sponsor: SeatGeek

45:08 Backfield

54:00 Front 7

1:09:30 Secondary

1:32:00 Coaches

1:44:28 Qu... more

Training camp is in full swing, and the headlines are flying! Steve Palazzolo and Sam Monson dive into the latest performances from across the league to separate the real progress from the summer hype. We’re breaking down the buzz around Luther Burde... 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

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
Nate Tice
NFL analyst and writer
Yahoo Sports, NFL Network (past)
Episode: Nate Tice: The NFL Trends That Will Define 2026
Lance Zierlein
NFL.com scouting writer
NFL.com
Episode: The BEST & WORST 2026 NFL Drafts w/ Trevor Sikkema & Lance Zierlein
Trevor Sikkema
Stock Exchange contributor
Stock Exchange
Episode: The BEST & WORST 2026 NFL Drafts w/ Trevor Sikkema & Lance Zierlein
Ari Meirov
Guest from The 33rd Team, draft analyst
The 33rd Team
Episode: Our FINAL 2026 NFL Draft Preview Show w/ Ari Meirov
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

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 States3 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 States3 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 States3 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 States3 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 States4 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
#80
United States/Sports/Football
Apple Podcasts
#235
United States/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#22
United Kingdom/Sports/Football
Apple Podcasts
#32
Canada/Sports/Football
Apple Podcasts
#241
Canada/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#18
Italy/Sports/Football

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
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.

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.

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How many listeners does Check the Mic get?

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How many episodes of Check the Mic are there?

Check the Mic launched 2 years ago and published 318 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?

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What guests have appeared on Check the Mic?

Recent guests on Check the Mic include:

1. Aaron Schatz
2. Les Snead
3. Vic Troha
4. Nate Tice
5. Lance Zierlein
6. Trevor Sikkema
7. Ari Meirov
8. Brett Kollmann

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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