“Just watched A.Q. Shipley’s press conference with the media. I always liked him as a player and now I think I’ll really like him calling the games, but Darren, no one can replace Wolfley. I’ve been listening to you guys saying some very positive things about Rabbit lately. I know he’s been emulating Budda but when I watched him last year in preseason games, he really reminded me of the Honey Badger. Do you see that too? Also, please explain what exactly a ‘Will’ linebacker” is. I know they’re inside but that’s all I know.”
I do think A.Q. is gonna be good. No one is expecting him to replace Wolf. Wolf is one of a kind, and I only hope the fans will judge Shipley as Shipley and not whether he is Wolf. (To be honest, it took Wolf a little time to learn how to be Wolf too.)
I believe Rabbit has a chance to be excellent. I won’t be surprised if they decide, depending on free agency, that Rabbit is Thompson’s 2026 replacement. (Although they like this three-safety stuff.) I do think it’s early to talk about Tyrann and Rabbit in the same breath. Rabbit has promise. But as Calais Campbell said recently, Mathieu was one of those rare guys who was one of the best players on the field from the first day he showed up.