Episode 611

The Answer Is Eric Hendricks, And I Will Not Explain Further

Hosts	Arif Hasan, James Pogatshnik
Guests	Justis Mosqueda
Type	Regular Season

Norse Code Episode 611: Scoop and the City was the season preview episode, covering the NFL International Series Australia game, Harrison Smith's re-signing, and a full Packers week-one preview recorded with Justis Mosqueda of Acme Packing Company. The mailbag included the inaugural Hell League kicker scandal, the Vikings-linear-Super-Bowl trophy update, Arif's cottage pie revelation, Aaron Rodgers and Sandy Hook, and the Nathan Fielder documentary. Justis Mosqueda, for the first time in recent memory, showed up on time.

Overview

The cold open covered the NFL's Australia game between the 49ers and Rams — the 49ers apparently immune to jet-lag science, the Rams' Netflix stream deteriorating progressively in resolution for Arif until a reload was required. Harrison Smith's re-signing was announced and discussed before the show's first guest interview of the season: Justis Mosqueda of Acme Packing Company, whom James DMed without censoring himself to confirm attendance. The mailbag ended with James refusing to explain the episode title.

Segments

Cold Open: The Australia Game

The NFL International Series game between the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams in Australia — streamed on Netflix — prompted discussion of the Rams' much-publicised sleep science preparation. The 49ers, the most-injured team in the league, came out looking energised regardless; the Rams were lethargic. Arif noted the irony with satisfaction, having predicted a Rams win. The Netflix stream suffered progressive resolution degradation for Arif throughout the game, requiring multiple reloads with no buffering or time lost, which he found infuriating. James experienced the opposite problem — extreme darkness and incorrect colour correction, attributing this to Australia having a literal visual filter over it, akin to Breaking Bad's Mexico sepia tone.

The sleep science discussion was addressed: Arif had initially prepared to defend the Rams' approach citing circadian rhythm research, noting that the 17-hour clock difference between the US West Coast and Australia resolves to 7 hours of actual circadian disruption given the international date line, meaning a week's preparation should theoretically solve it. The Rams losing made this defence difficult to deliver. He retained it as technically sound while acknowledging it was not helpful on the day.

Harrison Smith Re-Signs

Harrison Smith signed a two-year deal with a cap hit of $3.4 million in year one and $8.4 million in year two ($11.8 million combined). Tom Pelissero reported an $8 million base; the actual structure is a $1.3 million base salary plus a $7 million signing bonus, with $4 million in per-game roster bonuses spread across the season. The maximum value is approximately $16 million. Arif reviewed active safety salaries and confirmed Smith ranks below Kyle Hamilton, Derwin James, Antoine Winfield, Kerby Joseph, Jessie Bates, and many others — including Josh Metellus and Julian Love — making overpay claims difficult to support.

Arif addressed the bot-heavy Twitter reply section under Tom Pelissero's tweet, where AI-generated accounts posing as sex workers had contextually replied with variations of "Vikings fans cheering a 37-year-old is why this franchise never wins anything." He walked through the mechanics: LLM bots reading images and video to generate contextual takes, generating engagement for Twitter payouts, harvesting session tokens from people who click the links. He noted they are often not run by the actual content creators whose material they use, and that clicking the links sometimes routes to paywalls or data-harvesting operations.

On fit: Smith's return frees Josh Metellus to operate closer to the line of scrimmage and in the box rather than playing a top-of-defence coverage role he is less suited for. It also creates creative space for Jay Ward deployments. Arif noted that if Jamal Adams had remained healthy, the roster construction would have been confusing — possibly moving Adams to a linebacker role — and concluded the injury, while unfortunate, led to a sensible outcome.

Packers Preview: Interview with Justis Mosqueda

Arif conducted an interview with Justis Mosqueda of Acme Packing Company ahead of the season opener. James confirmed cursing was left in. Justis arrived before 10 AM, having proposed recording before the injury report given it would tell them nothing.

Offensive Line The Packers are transitioning back toward their traditional outside-zone, tempo-based identity after two to three offseasons of building toward inside-heavy, power-run blocking. Anthony Belton, a massive guard suited to the old system, has been repositioned at right tackle. Jacob Monk, a fifth-round rookie, is likely to start at right guard. Zach Tom is expected to play (partially torn patellar tendon last year, had surgery, timeline fits). Aaron Banks has knee tendinitis and may not complete 60 minutes — if he cannot go, Elgton Jenkins would likely slide in. Jordan Morgan is at left tackle, a position he played at Arizona before being misused inside. Sean Rhyan at centre — Justis proposed "Sean Rhyan, best centre in the NFC North" as a bit, which Arif confirmed might simply be true given Garrett Bradbury starting in Chicago and Juice Scruggs starting in Detroit.

Running Backs No primary ball carrier. Marshawn Lloyd has played ten NFL snaps going into year three, exclusively due to injury and pass-protection issues. Chris Brooks is a reliable pass-protection option averaging approximately two carries per game. Caleb Johnson is a rookie from Iowa with connections to multiple LaFleur staff members — coached by Tim Lester (former LaFleur analyst) and played under Arthur Smith (former LaFleur assistant in Tennessee). Justis assessed Lloyd and Johnson as likely to split touches roughly equally.

Breaking News: Josh Jacobs During the interview, news broke that Josh Jacobs had pled no contest to misdemeanor battery and criminal damage. He is ordered to avoid contact with the victim, attend counselling, and pay restitution. Jacobs' attorney confirmed he had already voluntarily begun counselling. Justis had previously consulted a Wisconsin district attorney about likely outcomes; the domestic-violence enhancer did not apply because Jacobs' girlfriend had not previously lived with him, which both hosts noted was a troubling legal threshold. Expected suspension: four to six games. The presiding judge was identified as a former Packers board member whose father also played for the team.

Receivers Jayden Reed as the primary weapon. Christian Watson confirmed as a true Z this year rather than moving around. Matthew Golden at the X — Arif noted this was an unusual body-type assignment but smart scheme-wise, citing Stefon Diggs as a precedent. Skyy Moore and Bo Melton as backups to Reed and Golden respectively. J. Michael Sturdivant — whose first name is legally J. Michael, his father being Michael Sturdivant Sr. — as likely backup to Watson. Arif noted Watson was 10th in yards per route run over the second half of last season but carries the deepest depth of target in the league, which could be a misfit if the offence does shift to shorter, rhythm-based throws.

Tight Ends Tucker Kraft healthy, assessed as the best skill-position player on the roster. May have been on a pitch count but likely ready for full usage given his ACL timeline. Luke Musgrave in his usual role. Mark Redman acquired as an inline blocker. John Fitzpatrick likely a healthy scratch, with Mark Redman doubling up his tight-end/fullback role.

Jordan Love vs. the Vikings Love's EPA per dropback against the Vikings turns negative — the only opponent split in which this occurs. Justis's solution: have Chris Brooks declete someone every play to keep Love clean. Arif proposed the Packers blitz to manufacture pass rush given the edge rusher room; Justis agreed Gannon has been blitzing more than Hafley, more than a typical Fangio-school coordinator, running heavy Cover 1 and Cover 3. Jonathan Gannon confirmed as having intel on Kyler Murray from his time in Arizona.

Defence: Jonathan Gannon's System Gannon leads the NFL in Quarters coverage since becoming a play-caller in Philadelphia, but also calls heavy Cover 1 and Cover 3. The Penny package — a 3-4 front replacing an inside linebacker with an extra defensive back — was explained: three true safeties, with Xavier McKinney operating 15 yards deep as a near-invisible post safety, Evan Williams and Javon Bullard below him. Arif compared it to Greg Williams's Browns defences.

Edge Rushers Lukas Van Ness (first career start last season — he never started at Iowa). Barryn Sorrell (run stopper, will play early downs). Brenton Cox Jr. Nique Dennis-Sutton — fourth-round pick, Penn State, 250 pounds, 4.6 forty, sub-7.3 three-cone. Justis wanted him in the first round. He overheated in practice early, missed two preseason games, then wrecked shop in the third. Arif confirmed for listeners: a 250-pound pass rusher with a sub-7.3 three-cone is a significant athletic outlier — these players typically develop into All-Pros. The Packers are rostering only four edge rushers; Dennis-Sutton will have to play significant snaps.

Cornerbacks Keisean Nixon at left corner. Bryce Cain likely at right corner with potential rotation from Carrington Valentine. Javon Bullard in the nickel. The Packers are institutionally resistant to playing first-round rookies — Lukas Van Ness made his first start in year three, average Packers first-round pick starts: six as a rookie. Benjamin St-Juste on the roster as emergency depth; Arif observed that if he sees St-Juste on the field at cornerback, something terrible has happened.

Kicker: Trey Smack Perfect in preseason, hitting from 56, 58, and 59 yards. Background: grew up in Severna Park, Maryland, was a lacrosse player, pivoted to kicking when COVID eliminated other training options, earned a scholarship to Florida. On the relevance of his name to his profession: a Smack That video exists; Justis noted the creator may currently be in prison. The judge who sentenced Jacobs was briefly referred to as a "capital smacker" before Justis admitted he had forgotten the word "judge."

Coaching Staff Described by Justis as "incestual" — every hire traceable to a prior personal or professional relationship with LaFleur or his coordinators. Key connections: Luke Getsy (quarterback coach, former offensive coordinator candidate, LaFleur's sleeper cell), DeMarcus Covington (promoted to assistant head coach), Noah Pauley (wide receivers, coaching fellowship alum), Sam Zeikel (defensive staff, former Gannon Arizona hire), Daniel Bullocks (cornerbacks, former Shanahan staffer), Bobby Babich (secondary coordinator, LaFleur's first DC interview candidate). Free-agent signings equally traceable: Skyy Moore (Shanahan), Javon Hargrave (Gannon), Tyler Taylor (Jason Vrable in Buffalo), Zaire Franklin (Gannon in Indianapolis), Caleb Johnson (Lester/Arthur Smith). LaFleur on record calling firing Joe Barry the hardest thing he has ever had to do.

Score Prediction Justis: Packers 50,000, Vikings 3.

Mailbag

Jack Rackham — Is JJ McCarthy better than Drake Maye? Arif: not close, Maye is better. Maye's three-interception game against the Seahawks ended with a positive EPA per play — his receivers dropped passes (including Romeo Doubs), his offensive line was poor, and his success rate was high relative to other bad-game performances. The picks were his fault; they don't define his level of play. Arif compared him to Josh Allen: high ceiling, sometimes low floor.

Arif's Pet Jimothy — Is Kwesi vindicated for moving on from Darnold, who won a Super Bowl and then got injured? Arif: technically yes, that is what happened. Is it entirely Kwesi's fault? Not really. Is Kwesi vindicated? Not exactly. The Seahawks would take it every time.

Damian Bolsharif — How much should we ask the Seahawks for when they inevitably ask about trading for JJ McCarthy? James: a seventh round pick and a bag of Dick's (the beloved Seattle burger chain, where Arif and James once biked from a bar to eat). The Rams announced Ty Simpson as their third-string quarterback before the Australia game, opening the door for a Ty Simpson/JJ McCarthy swap as an alternative.

Kyle Segall — Where do we get James's sultry vocals and precise sound editing after Norse Code ends? James: he is a voice actor for hire. Also does PA announcing for athletic events, where his disagreement with calls can be detected by a slight upward inflection — "personal foul, number seven, golden eagle, that's his third team — foul" — identifiable as Ron Burgundy energy.

Alex (Hell League corner) — Auto-drafted two Packers: Trey Smack and Jayden Reed. Should they be cut? James: the existential crisis is the point. Arif: requests an automatic loss if either is dropped while healthy. Also from Alex: The Five Kickers Incident — I Hate Carmel, Indiana had drafted five starting kickers (Spencer Shrader, Jake Bates, Nick Folk, Matt Gay, Chad Ryland) with only two bench spots remaining. James caught it, called it out in the league, and the perpetrator fixed it after making a Discord scene about thinking the first week was free. Also from Alex: Vikings-Linear-Super-Bowl Trophy Update — after their offseason half-life decay, the Vikings hold half a trophy. If the Packers win week one, the trophy ceases to exist. If the Vikings win, the Bears can acquire a trophy in week two. The Seahawks hold a quarter, the Commanders a quarter, the Falcons three-sixteenths. Arif and James confirmed they do not know the rules they themselves invented.

Tank B — Arif's mother messaged James asking why the Vikings signed a 37-year-old safety. James ignored her for two days. Analogy for explaining Harrison Smith: Tom Cruise is 64 and still playing a perpetual 38-year-old in Mission: Impossible, still doing his own stunts, still running at full speed. That is Harrison Smith. The thetans help. Also from Tank B, culinary corner: Arif recently cooked cottage pie — ground beef, not lamb — with his ex. He confirmed this was, technically, cottage pie, not Shepherd's Pie, while acknowledging nobody calls it that. He also shared a pork tenderloin sauce recipe: brown pork tenderloin, add olive oil and butter to the pan, add a shallot, quarter cup of dry vermouth, two-thirds cup chicken broth, three tablespoons Dijon mustard, two-thirds cup heavy whipping cream, fresh basil and parsley. Described as one of the most delicious sauces capable of being applied to pork; the triple batch is in the freezer.

Nolan Kehler — If Nolan beats Arif in their week-one Hell League matchup, will he have to pay a tariff? Arif: yes, just for that. James: raise your hand and swear allegiance and you're fine.

Arif's Midlife Crisis — For the Definitions Corner: are Phoebe from Friends, Walter White, Michael Scott, and Lorelai Gilmore petite bourgeoisie? Is Walter White proletariat as a teacher and union member? Arif: class in the original Marxist and Smithian sense is about relationship to the means of production, not income. Walter White is technically both proletariat (his teaching knowledge is not owned by him) and petite bourgeoisie (he runs a small business, which, regardless of revenue, employs fewer than 50 people and therefore qualifies legally as a small business — making him eligible for Small Business Saturday). A Data for Progress poll showing 8% of Americans don't consider the nanny from The Nanny to be working class was cited as evidence of poll noise comparable to the Lizard Man hypothesis (4% of Gallup respondents believe lizard men control society — not because they do, but because 4% of people give nonsense answers to polls). Also from Arif's Midlife Crisis: James has insisted in the Discord he can fix Elizabeth Holmes, who is currently in prison. Nathan Fielder's documentary trailer was discussed — described as "an Olympic-sized swimming pool of crazy behind those eyes." Arif's counterposition: he can also fix her. James confirmed he would be toast within approximately one exchange.

Raul — Playing a professional football game after a 15-hour flight is counterintuitive even if the science is unclear. See Australia game discussion. Also from Raul: parenting corner — eldest has started kindergarten in Carmel, Indiana, a competitive academic environment. How does she win kindergarten? Arif: be able to read, raise her hand first. James: revealed he himself skipped kindergarten. His parents brought him in to discuss it; the principal (Dr. Rankleff, remembered fondly) noted that kindergarten is for social development, not academics. During this maturity discussion, James stole a paperweight off the principal's desk and began tossing it. He was still allowed to skip. He was subsequently nearly held back in fourth grade.

Room Temperature — With Arif doing three podcasts this season (Norse Code, All Ball, 60 Minute Drill), is he winning the podcast Royal Rumble? Arif: he has not slept in 40 hours. He is losing by every measure.

Minneapolis Cinnamon Cheerios — When can we expect James to start a podcast with David Roth? James proposed Scoop and the City with Dianna Russini. Arif immediately agreed this was the correct title.

A Second Jet Has Hit Drew Bledsoe — For the Hypothetical Scenario Corner: would last year's Vikings be a playoff team if they'd ended up with Aaron Rodgers, and how much worse would Arif's mental health be? Arif: they might have won — last year had the talent. He would not have been talked into a second Rodgers season under any circumstances. If Rodgers had led a Super Bowl win it would be "the lowest leave-it-on-a-high-note moment in history," all Patreon bonus episodes would go to YouTube, and the remaining content would be Arif and James arguing about AI girlfriends. Also covered: Arif's column about Rodgers' Sandy Hook conspiracy beliefs — originally reported by Pamela Brown at CNN (Rodgers stated at the 2013 Kentucky Derby he didn't believe Sandy Hook happened, and separately a source reported he believed it was a false flag). Rodgers never denied the Kentucky Derby statement, only addressing one version of the conspiracy. Arif discussed the exhausting experience of having a reply in his mentions argue the CNN report was "unverified," a word they appeared not to understand. DK Metcalf's "shout out to my quarterback" post about Rodgers was the trigger.

A Second Jet Has Hit Drew Bledsoe — For the Stadium Tour Corner: at which stadium are you allowed to sample the water from the urinal? Context: a sign at Levi's Stadium reads "WARNING: RECYCLED WATER, DO NOT DRINK" directly above a urinal. Arif concluded such signs exist because someone, at some point, did the thing the sign prohibits, invoking the no-boogie-boarding sign from How I Met Your Mother. The Lizard Man hypothesis was applied: if 4% of poll respondents believe lizard men control society, someone definitely drank the recycled urinal water at Levi's Stadium, possibly reasoning it came from a clean municipal source, or because they brought a dog. James noted it probably tastes like a Brita filter. The JMU bathroom with the window at the fifty-yard line was cited as a contrasting example of elite stadium bathroom design.

Key Bits & Lore

Justis Mosqueda appeared on time. James noted he did not know what to do with this information
Arif made cottage pie (ground beef) with his ex and confirmed out loud that this is technically not Shepherd's Pie — while also confirming nobody calls it cottage pie
I Hate Carmel, Indiana drafted five starting kickers in the Hell League simultaneously. This has been resolved but will not be forgotten
The Vikings-Linear-Super-Bowl Trophy is at half strength and ceases to exist if the Packers win week one
James skipped kindergarten after stealing a paperweight off the principal's desk during a discussion about his maturity
Scoop and the City — a James/Dianna Russini podcast — was named and immediately agreed upon. Has not been confirmed by anyone involved
Arif on three concurrent podcasts: Norse Code, All Ball (with Drew McGarry, The Defector), and 60 Minute Drill. He has not slept in 40 hours
James's closing statement: "the answer is Eric Hendricks, and I will not explain further"
Nique Dennis-Sutton — 250-pound Packers edge rusher with a sub-7.3 three-cone — flagged as a likely future star
Aaron Rodgers has thoughts on Matt LaFleur again, also revealed details about his relationship with Shailene Woodley that neither host wanted to know