Necessary Roughness Podcast

In this episode of the Necessary Roughness Podcast, host Nikolas Donadic dives into the 2026 NFL Draft. He also gives his take on the flurry of moves since our last episode, focuses in on the Rams picking QB Ty Simpson, and briefly touches on Mike Vrabel’s eventful last few weeks. Enjoy the show and join us the weekend of August 22nd for the following episode!

In this episode of the Necessary Roughness Podcast, host Nikolas Donadic previews the NFL’s upcoming Free Agent Frenzy. He also debates if Daniel Jones is really a “franchise-altering” signing, discusses his surprise that the Seahawks let Kenneth Walker hit the open market, and touches on the best fits for some big-name veteran FAs. Enjoy the show and join us the weekend of April 26th for the foll...

In this episode of the Necessary Roughness Podcast, host Nikolas Donadic dives into Super Bowl LX. He also touches on the fledgling prospects of a Seattle Seahawks dynasty, discusses what the Patriots could’ve done differently, and looks ahead to the NFL offseason. Enjoy the show and join us the weekend of March 6th for the following episode!

In this episode of the Necessary Roughness Podcast, host Nikolas Donadic dives into Super Bowl LX. He also touches on the 2026 NFL Hall of Fame class, takes yet another ride on the coaching carousel, and debates which team would make for a more compelling story as champion: the Seattle Seahawks or the New England Patriots. Enjoy the show and join us next weekend for the following episode!

In this episode of the Necessary Roughness Podcast, host Nikolas Donadic recaps last week’s NFL Championship weekend and gives his picks for the NFL’s end-of-year awards. He also touches on the Steelers hiring Mike McCarthy, weighs in on the Hall of Fame snubbing Bill Belichick (and Eli Manning…again), and makes his case for some dark horse NFL Awards candidates. Enjoy the show and join us next we...

In this episode of the Necessary Roughness Podcast, host Nikolas Donadic dives into the NFL’s Conference Championship matchups. He also touches on why Josh Allen is more to blame than the refs for the Bills loss, CJ Stroud’s disastrous playoff run, and discusses past SB Champions who had easy roads to glory (like this year’s Patriots). Enjoy the show and join us next weekend for the following epis...

In this episode of the Necessary Roughness Podcast, host Nikolas Donadic dives into the NFL’s Divisional Weekend matchups. He also touches on why the Carolina Panthers season was a resounding success, praises the Jacksonville Jaguars a bit more cautiously, and wonders what comes next for the Pittsburgh Steelers after another early playoff exit, as they enter the Post-Tomlin Era. Enjoy the show and...

In this episode of the Necessary Roughness Podcast, host Nikolas Donadic dives into the NFL’s “Super” Wild Card Weekend matchups. He also dives into this year’s rendition of Black Monday, touches on the oddity that was NFC teams backing into the playoffs, and tries his best to predict the wild script for Super Bowl 60. Enjoy the show and join us next weekend for the following episode!

In this episode of the Necessary Roughness Podcast, host Nikolas Donadic dives into the NFL regular season’s Week 18 matchups. He also raves about the 49ers-Bears shootout, touches on a pair of tough losses for the Rams and Chargers, and weighs in on the wild west that is college football’s offseason, in the NIL Era. Enjoy the show and join us next weekend for the following episode!

In this episode of the Necessary Roughness Podcast, host Nikolas Donadic dives into the NFL regular season’s Week 17 matchups. He also praises the “small market” Jaguars for a huge upset on the road, wonders (again) if the Ravens missing the playoffs will finally spell the end of the Harbaugh Era, and discusses the oddity that is the Chiefs moving from Missouri to Kansas. Enjoy the show and join u...

In this episode of the Necessary Roughness Podcast, host Nikolas Donadic dives into the NFL regular season’s Week 16 matchups. He also touches on the Patriots collapse against the Bills, campaigns for the Bengals to sit Joe Burrow, and wades into boxing discussion to give his take on Anthony Joshua’s KO of Jake Paul. Enjoy the show and join us next weekend for the following episode!

In this episode of the Necessary Roughness Podcast, host Nikolas Donadic dives into the NFL regular season’s Week 15 matchups. He also touches on the Eagles rough MNF loss, weighs in on the coaches on the hot seat around the NFL, and rants about the “very unique” ending of the Raiders loss to the Broncos. Enjoy the show and join us next weekend for the following episode!

In this episode of the Necessary Roughness Podcast, host Nikolas Donadic dives into the NFL regular season’s Week 14 matchups. He also touches on the Texans upset win over the Colts, gives his opinion on the NFL’s new playing field “quality control” program, and discusses Big Ben and James Harrison’s takes on Mike Tomlin’s job security in Pittsburgh. Enjoy the show and join us next weekend for the...

In this episode of the Necessary Roughness Podcast, host Nikolas Donadic dives into the NFL regular season’s Week 13 matchups. He also gives his NFC and AFC power rankings as we approach the playoffs, offers a glass half empty take on Myles Garrett chasing the single-season sack record, and weighs in on the odd Lane Kiffin-related conundrum Ole Miss finds themselves in. Enjoy the show and join us...

In this episode of the Necessary Roughness Podcast, host Nikolas Donadic dives into the NFL regular season’s Week 12 matchups. He also heaps some praise on to the upstart Jags and Panthers, touches on Justin Fields being benched (again), and dives into the odd developing story that is the Brandon Aiyuk-49ers contract situation. Enjoy the show and join us next weekend for the following episode!

In this episode of the Necessary Roughness Podcast, host Nikolas Donadic dives into the NFL regular season’s Week 11 matchups. He also touches on how the Steelers let their divisional lead melt away, weighs in on Jerry Jones’ comments on being controversial, and debates if Joe Burrow can come back in time to salvage the Bengals season. Enjoy the show and join us next weekend for the following epis...

In this episode of the Necessary Roughness Podcast, host Nikolas Donadic dives into the NFL regular season’s Week 10 matchups and gives out his midseason awards. He also touches on the NFL’s flurry of Deadline Day trades, argues that the NFL awards don’t show linebackers enough love, and weighs in on Tom Brady cloning his dog. Enjoy the show and join us next weekend for the following episode!

In this episode of the Necessary Roughness Podcast, host Nikolas Donadic dives into the NFL regular season’s Week 9 matchups. He also touches on the 4-day resurgence that might save the Ravens season, weighs in on the terrible officiating in the Giants-Eagles game, and touches on an interesting FG idea floated by Fox’s Greg Olsen. Enjoy the show and join us next weekend for the following episode!

In this episode of the Necessary Roughness Podcast, host Nikolas Donadic dives into the NFL regular season’s Week 8 matchups. He also heaps some praise on Slingin’ Sam Darnold and the Seahawks, rambles about Jacoby Brissett’s career, and predicts that the loser of this week’s Thursday Night Football game (BAL @ MIA) will leave their Head Coach unemployed. Enjoy the show and join us next weekend fo...

In this episode of the Necessary Roughness Podcast, host Nikolas Donadic dives into the NFL regular season’s Week 7 matchups. He also discusses the bizarre sequence which cost the Lions a TD, touches on Mike Tomlin’s remarks about the Joe Flacco trade, and gives his take on JJ Watt’s criticism of PFF. Enjoy the show and join us next weekend for the following episode!

In this episode of the Necessary Roughness Podcast, host Nikolas Donadic dives into the NFL regular season’s Week 6 matchups. He also touches on the Bills upset loss to New England in primetime, touches on the Eagles rough week, and weighs in on Jerry Jones flipping the bird at MetLife Stadium. Enjoy the show and join us next weekend for the following episode!

In this episode of the Necessary Roughness Podcast, host Nikolas Donadic dives into the NFL regular season’s Week 5 matchups. He also rants about replay review in sports, touches on the Vic Fangio revelation about the new “kicking balls,” and discusses the Robert Saleh/Liam Coen beef. Enjoy the show and join us next weekend for the following episode!

In this episode of the Necessary Roughness Podcast, host Nikolas Donadic dives into the NFL regular season’s Week 4 matchups. He also touches on yet another Ravens loss in primetime, gives his take on Drew Brees’ remarks about the Eagles “boring” offense, and is confused by Commissioner Goodell’s comments on Tom Brady’s conflict of interest. Enjoy the show and join us next weekend for the followin...

In this episode of the Necessary Roughness Podcast, host Nikolas Donadic dives into the NFL regular season’s Week 3 matchups. He also debates jumping ship on the Dolphins (already), discusses the oddity that was the Shedeur Sanders-Ravens report, and touches on Tom Brady’s conflict of interest issue. Enjoy the show and join us next weekend for the following episode!

In this episode of the Necessary Roughness Podcast, host Nikolas Donadic dives into the NFL regular season’s Week 2 matchups. He also weighs in on Aaron Rodgers’ Week 1 resurgence, touches on Micah Parsons’ comments on the timing of his trade to Green Bay, and weighs in on a Ryan Clark-related nontroversy for the second week in a row. Enjoy the show and join us next weekend for the following episo...