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Learn how we'll match price at Lowes.com slash Lowes Price Guarantee. That doesn't love Rich Eisen. We certainly appreciate all you do for the NFL. Earlier on the show, CBS Sports Broadcaster Jim Nantz. Still to come, Bills tackle Deon Dawkins, founder and CEO of Clutch Sports Group, Rich Paul. And now it's Rich Eisen.
Our number two, the Rich Eisen show is on the air. Deon Dawkins of the Buffalo Bills, star of Hard Knocks coming Deon Dawkins. He's going to join us shortly on this program. I've just been informed that, again, this is a possible, which is why we haven't mentioned it yet, because he was going to be at his son's or one of his children's graduations. So he didn't know if he could join today, but I have been told he can and he will in 40 minutes time to talk about the passing of Jim Irsay, Jeff Saturday, longtime Indianapolis Colts. And as we know, former interim head coach of the Colts when Jim Irsay put him in the gig. So Jeff Saturday is going to join us to talk about the passing of Jim Irsay. Rich Paul, the CEO of Clutch Sports, is going to be joining us in studio.
Our number three, lots to talk about with him. Your phone calls 844-204-RICH, number to dial. We will have nothing but time to take your calls in between our guests for sure. So if you're on hold, please stay on hold. We had a nice chat with Jim Nansen, our number one, and also led this show with what happened in Madison Square Garden last night in front of God, Country and Shalomay.
844-204-RICH, number to dial. In that order, by the way. God, Country and Shalomay. Shalomay. But you know, we appreciate here.
The Father, Son and the Holy Shalomay. If you say so, as you know. I'm Jewish. This just in.
I've heard that. But we appreciate people who speak things into existence here in the program. Last time he was on this show, back in early March, I asked Deon Dawkins if he had a rule that he would change if I waved to one and made him commissioner. And he says, no, no, no rule change. I would just create a new award honoring offensive line, calling it Protector of the Year. And at the owner's meeting this week, the NFL announced there's a new award at the NFL Honors this season called Protector of the Year. So the George Washington of this award, zooming into the Rich Eisen Show, ladies and gentlemen, Deon Dawkins.
Deon, you're a factor. Yeah, man. Congratulations. Congrats.
Thank you. It's a cool deal. It's a cool deal to really to really put thoughts in the air and then grab it and put it on paper. It's it's it's been a long time coming, a long time coming. We've been working on this for a little while.
A lot of meetings, a lot of Zooms, a lot of a lot of time away, a lot of, you know, figuring out how this is going to go. But we got it done. Protector of the Year Award is here.
And now all the big boys around the world have something to look up to and go after as they, you know, work out and play football. Did you have to explain the hashtag of you already snow to the commissioner? Did you have to do that down? Of course not. OK, he knows. Are you schnoz? Of course not. He knows who the snowman is.
He schnoz. I know you did say when you were here in March that you were talking to RG one about this. So what were those conversations like? Yeah, the conversation, I mean, honestly. The conversations were were were a lot of pressing, you know, like if I seen him, I'm right at him. I'm running up to him like garage, you know, that one of the most recent ones that really hit it was a commission's party for Super Bowl.
Yes. Like that. Like that was pretty cool. And I got to just get in front of and be like, look, man, you got Orlando Pace over here. You got this guy over here. You got the young guy.
I'm right in front of you. Look, you got three, you know, guys, real, real dudes of the old line. And we need this award. And, you know, chuckles and chuckles and chuckles. And then, you know, text, text, text.
All right. Let's let's let's get serious about it. And then it gets serious about it. And then that's when, like, you know, we jumped on board and O'Hara and and everybody tried to come on board and support it. But, you know, like it's been a it's been a thing. Like, I'm not sure how early this has been talked about. But I know that I've been adamant about it for at least three years. Yeah.
And you're referring to, again, with Andrew Whitworth, Walter Peyton Man of the Year, like Sean O'Hara, who you're mentioning, a Super Bowl champion as well. How's this going to work? Tell me how it works. So it's there's a panel. OK, I won't be on the panel until I retire.
I can't be a current player on the panel, but there's a panel of I think there's about five or six guys. OK, they're going to they get analytics every game. They get analytics. But there's going to be analytics that come out quarterly for the award for people to track so they can see who's in first place.
So how is it going? And it's going to be based off of, you know, snaps played. It's going to be about. Penalties, pancake blocks, you know, one on one blocks and just the dominance of a football game, almost like how a D.N. can take over a football game. It's going to be, you know, judged if you're holding down your goal and if you're holding down your your guy and dominating your opponent consistently. Play after play after play. Reach block left, reach block left.
All right. You know, if they're double teaming, how is your everything based? It's it's a whole type of, you know, analytic battle of wins and losses. You know, it is not just based off of PDF and all of these things, but there is going to be guys that are going to have to sit and they're going to have to study every single rep from every single player that has an opportunity to be able to win. And it's going to be cool because whoever gets it first, you know, it'll go down as history. And this is the start of something great, you know, for football. And I'm just honored that I'm a part of it. That, you know, I brought this to the table and I'm honored that this would be a part of my legacy for the rest of my life.
And we did it for the big boys. I love it. I love it, Dion.
It's so great. So because we were wondering if it was just going to be another award that the same group of reporters or observers of the game vote on the MVP and coach of the year. It is not.
It's going to be a select panel of former alignment. Do you have to play to be on this on this list? Well, you had to have played at some point. OK, I got it. All right.
So you had to do that. But there's no current players. So there's no current players.
All right. And do you think this is going to create maybe competition within the National Football League current players? Interior linemen versus tackles as to who's going to be the first to be the protector of the year? So now that now that's a great point that you can bring it up because that point has also came up and it was more so like, well, tackle is going to get it every year and this and that. But not really like we've had guys that have been dominant and you just have to be that guy like you have to be dominant. Like like in the previous years, we've had centers, right? We have like we had Kelsey, right? We've had guards like the like like Martin from the Cowboys just and retired. We had Nelson previous years ago and then previous years we had Trent Williams. We had Laramie Tunzel like you had Armstead. You've had Whitworth. You like you've had all of these different guys.
Sure. And every year the world knows like, all right, it could be Wyatt Teller, whatever. Like every year it has been an up and down flow of center guard and tackle. So when it comes down to it, you just have to just be that guy and outbeat the rest of the of the of the positions because every year it changes. Like this past year, well, these two years ago, I'm telling you, it was it was Kelsey and he was dominant. He was the one doing it all.
And it was his world. But then maybe three years previous, it was Trent. And, you know, it'll go and guys will show and theirself and, you know, hopefully it's not a tackle thing for 10 years. But if tackles are out beating the guards and the centers, it is and what it is, you know, come up to the gridiron to like with your shoulder, your helmet and your and your shovel and get them guys up out of there.
Deon Dawkins, one of the founders of a new award. I couldn't be happier for you, man. So that news came out on the same day that Hard Knocks is coming to your training camp. I can't wait. I bet.
I bet. I can't wait. I can't wait.
You're going to dominate. Yeah, I can't wait because realistically, we're in a place where, you know, McDermott allows us to show our true personality. We're going to try. As always, not to let it be a distraction, but it's a part of entertainment, but we're going to be able to show our personality more and more and more with this hard knocks thing. And I think that it's that is pretty cool. But, you know, day in and day out, we're going to keep working.
And we're going to do whatever coaches plan and, you know, show our personalities, but still just play football the way it's supposed to be played as Buffalo Bills ball. Who are we not thinking of that's going to be a star? Because obviously you're jumping out. You jump on the screen here.
Yeah. Who am I not thinking about? Who is going to be the underrated Hard Knocks star? The underrated Hard Knocks star.
Give me a name of a guy to watch out for. Who am I watching? Yeah, I would say the underrated Hard Knocks star will probably be. Probably Will Greenberg.
OK, I would say Will Greenberg, which is a strength coach. You know, we have we got Mr. Boyko, you know, like we got guys that are behind the scenes, they have a they have a large personality and they keep us on point. And when they show their self, I think it's just going to be like, wow, this is why the Bills is why they are. Because these guys embrace the personality of the individuals.
And I hope members of the I hope the members of the Mafia also get a little run here. Right. Some of the fans that for sure, you know, like all it takes is one guy to run on the field.
I can't. No, we're not we don't want to encourage that. But you know what I'm saying?
The fans are going to do what they do. OK. All right. You can never stop the Mafia. The Mafia is going to show up as well. I get it.
And we jump through tables. All right. Before I let you go, are you invited to the nuptials? Apparently that's coming up.
Your your quarterback, the marriage, the wedding that coming. I don't know nothing about that. Oh, I don't know nothing about any of that. Is this like Fight Club? You're not allowed to talk about it or did I know this is you have no idea what is going on. We're all here.
We're like we're all here in Buffalo working out. So I'll give those guys a face time call and and see how everything is going. But I have no idea. I have no idea.
I mean, I would think one of the protectors of the year of Josh Allen would would kind of know what's what's up with that. Again, I don't know. I don't know.
Again, it's very private. I'm in the fog. I'm in the fog. I'm in the fog. I am.
I am currently in Orchard Park. And, you know, I'm I'm focused on Hallmark and I'm focused on on eating a nice batch of wings today. OK. Is there a story he's sticking to? No, see, I'm going to keep digging.
Is there a registry? Is there something? Did you get him something off the registry like like a gravy boat? Did you get a gravy boat for your any any China?
I don't I don't even know why I'll be getting them anything because I don't even know what's going on. And I think when it comes down to it, I think one of the gifts that we've got Josh this season is we've sacked him the least. Well, he's been sacked the least amount of time.
I like it during the season. So I think that that's one of the best gifts that, you know, his parents will admire. I think Josh will admire his future. As far as that, you know, just just a batch of wings. The fact that the fact that Josh is showing up down the aisle in one piece is your gift. That is my gift to the world.
OK, that Josh can walk down the aisle in one piece and be happy that he's walking down the aisle with all fingers and all toes. Fantastic. All right. What flavor are the wings?
Well done. Yeah. Honey, butter barbecue with blue cheese and Josh Allen napkins when your fingers get dirty. Ah, OK. I didn't know Josh Allen had a wet nap.
A wet nap. OK. And Hallmark, is that the movie? The movie you're talking about? Yeah. So I don't know.
I mean, like, are you going to love it? The world knows, but the Hallmark is doing a movie on on it's like a Bill's love story. Yes. I saw a love story. Yep. Yep. It's a Bill's love story. And you're in that.
You're in that. I will make my acting debut. Oh, OK. Is it breaking entertainment?
You know, is this breaking entertainment news? You're in the Hallmark movie. I will make my acting debut, man, as you or as yourself.
Not as. Yeah, as a snowman, as Deon Dawkins. By the way, a wintertime Hallmark movie has to include somebody named the snowman. The snowman will be present. OK. Hopefully I'll be throwing snowballs or, you know, just being just being dark. OK. Just being myself, being a pro bowl and award creating individual second to none. Did I get that right?
Somewhat. You know, I had help, but good people. Deon Dawkins.
People over here, man. Congratulations on it, Deon. Thanks for joining. Thank you, brother. You be well. Appreciate you. And that's Deon Dawkins, the Buffalo Bills, everybody right here on The Rich Eisen Show.
OK. Did you try? Did I just get the Heisman? There's no way he does not know about Josh Allen's wedding plans.
There's no way. Well, I think this is the man who has his back. He's the one that has his back. This is the man who if anybody wants to object, they're going to have to go through him.
That's a good point. According to the Google machine, he's the one that spilled the date originally. So I think he I think he's been embargoed from talking about it.
So I really did step into something. He doesn't know nothing. He knows nothing. He knows nothing. Nothing. While knowing something. He's still there laughing.
Pop him back up. You've been hacked. I know nothing.
You've been sniffed out. That's his story and he's sticking to it. So all right. All right. I'll say goodbye. Those is, you know, tomorrow's third hour guest because we're talking about going way back. Body by Jake is coming in the studio tomorrow.
No way. Guess list. I tripped a little. Well, you know, body by Jake. Jake Steinfeld. Yeah.
It goes way back with the ESPN days. I mean, I was watching him. The repeats of body by Jake, waiting for the two a.m. Sports Center hit. Magnus Ver Magnussen was holding all those big old cement balls. The world's strongest man. I'm standing there.
It's a two thirty a.m. Sports Center back in the day. Get ready to do it. Larry Beal waiting for this thing to start. So Jake and I go way back. So does my rabbi Steve Bornstein. Hey, Jake. Jake on the show.
You have Jake. So. So, yes, my favorite impression on tomorrow. You've never even met Steve.
I've never met him. But it's an act. It's a spot on Steve Boystein.
Confirmed spot on. But you don't have it up. All right.
That would be the most intense assignments at NFL Network as we're launching. And he would just pull me aside before he said, just do whatever you do. Those don't have it up. And he didn't just say F. Anyway, the reason why I'm mentioning this is Jake's niece. Yeah. Yeah.
Is, in fact, the future intended. Yeah. OK. So that's tomorrow. That's tomorrow. The wedding's next weekend.
That's what we're going to do it live. All right. Let's take a break here on the rich as a show.
Come back. Phone calls. Eight four four two or four rich number. Brock Purdy has spoken about his fifty gajillion million dollar contract. Hey, that's coming up. And Jeff, Saturday into the hour.
Rich Paul in studio. In the NFL, there's zero margin for error. As we all know, one single mistake can change the outcome of a game, a season, livelihoods.
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Get their newest arrivals in store, online and in the app. Eczema isn't always obvious, but it's real. And so is the relief. From Evglis. After an initial dosing phase of 16 weeks, about four in 10 people taking Evglis achieved itch relief and clear or almost clear skin. And most of those people maintain skin that's still more clear at one year with monthly dosing. Evglis, LebriKizumab LBKZ, a 250 milligram per two milliliter injection, is a prescription medicine used to treat adults and children 12 years of age and older who weigh at least 88 pounds or 40 kilograms with moderate to severe eczema. Also called atopic dermatitis that is not well controlled with prescription therapies used on the skin or topicals or who cannot use topical therapies. Evglis can be used with or without topical corticosteroids. Don't use if you're allergic to Evglis. Allergic reactions can occur that can be severe. Eye problems can occur. Tell your doctor if you have new or worsening eye problems. You should not receive a live vaccine when treated with Evglis. Before starting Evglis, tell your doctor if you have a parasitic infection. Searching for real relief?
Ask your doctor about Evglis and visit evglis.lily.com or call 1-800-Lily-Rx or 1-800-545-5979. Rule change. You make a rule change. Josh Allen can make a rule change. And you could just go into the competition committee and pound the table and say, this is it. This is what I want.
What is it? We've got a guy on our staff. His name's Mark Lubeck and he is basically the encyclopedia or he's the NFL rule book. He's got everything. He's got all the answers.
He's very smart. And I always talk about throwing the ball downfield. If a receiver can catch it on one leg and throw the ball downfield, that's technically an illegal forward pass.
He never gains possession of it. So I just eliminate that rule altogether. If you can catch the ball with one leg and chuck it down the field, like if you catch it one handed and chuck it down the field, more power to you.
So I think that's the one rule I would change is the double or legal forward pass. Oh, this is fantastic. I've asked this question of many folks in my day.
Never heard this. So let me just. OK, Josh Allen, you fade back to pass. You've got a nice clean pocket. OK, your guys are protecting you. You see him. Him is open.
You hit him. Him grabs it with one him hand and and and and or or both hands are fine. He's just got to be on one leg when he catches it. Like, I mean, again, the whole rule of a catch is two feet plus a football move. Correct. Right. So if you don't have two feet and make a football move, you technically don't have possession of the ball.
That's true. Therefore, you could pass the ball further downfield. OK, Gabe Davis is now open because everybody thinks the ball's going to him because you have thrown it to him.
So Stefan Diggs, before touching his second foot down on the ground, can throw it to Gabe Davis for a touchdown. That's correct. And like you've seen, like DBs, right.
Quarterback throws the ball to balance, but a DB makes a jumping catch and he throws it back into the field of play. Yes. Right.
You've seen those. There was an interception just, I think, last week, two weeks ago. It was in the end zone. It was Titans, right? Yeah, right. Yes. Roger McCreary.
Yeah. And made a heck of a play. But again, did the ball go forward? Is that technically an illegal forward pass?
They're never going to call it a defense, but eliminate it just completely. The delightful Josh Allen, one of his many appearances available on our YouTube channel. Please check it out. A great conversation with Deon Dawkins. Again, one of the things that I've learned over the 10-plus years of doing this and in the years of the pod that we had before it that this show is born out of. When you're interviewing somebody, the toughest thing to do is listen, right, because you're sometimes on to your next question. But the best conversation is when you hear something and you listen. I mean, sometimes I hear it and I listen, I hear it, and I'm wondering, do I say it here? Because if I say it, it's going to interrupt the flow. I mean, I'm just a little bit telling you how the sausage gets made.
But I will make mental notes if I don't mention it. So help me if I heard this right. The Bills have a strength coach named Greenberg? Yeah, I actually just looked him up. Did I hear that? Did I hear that right?
Yeah, yeah. He's got a Twitter account, too. He's not related to Mike, is he?
I would guess not. Who, again, I love the guy. I've known him a long time, and I think he can understand when I say this. Mike Greenberg doesn't look like a strength coach. No.
You know what I mean? He does not. So the Bills have a greenie of their own? What's his name? Mike Greenberg. Will Greenberg.
Will Greenberg. Yeah, so he's been with the Bills, according to his LinkedIn page, for eight years. I wonder if he's related to a certain Inglourious Basterds character. Well, funny that you mentioned a military. Well, I think you've been referred to as in many days, right? The Bear Jew.
He was the strength and conditioning... I'm trying to be... I was trying to be subtle. Oh, he doesn't understand subtlety.
That's not my strong point. That's why the two of you hang out now. He was the strength and conditioning coach for Southern Utah University. Greenberg at Southern Utah. The US Military Academy.
The clock thickens. App State. University of Florida. Clemson. He's been around. Okay. Now he's been with the Bills since 2017. Good to know. And he's going to be an unseen or unheralded star of Hard Knocks, according to Dion Dawkins.
Who knew? Yeah, according to his About section, my mission is to invest in the excellence of others. Okay.
That's what a strength coach should say. Mazel tov. Mazel tov. Phone lines. 844-204-RICH.
Number denial. Johnny in Cincinnati, first off. Is your last name Fever, Johnny? Doctor. Johnny, are you there?
You know the Gram Slam? That's my last name. Anyhow. Okay.
This is the greatest day of my life. Let's all do it. Hey. Johnny in Cincinnati. Come on. What's up?
Hey, I didn't know you took calls from little guys in Cincinnati. I love this. I appreciate this. Why wouldn't I?
What does that mean? Okay. What do you want to say, Johnny? Hit it. Good to chat. I want to do this a loss game, man.
I want to do my Bengals. Okay. Are you driving around Cincinnati right now, Johnny? I'm at a light. Yes, I am driving.
Okay. Can you pull over real quick? Yes, Johnny. Pull over safely.
Yes, please. Safety first. Safety first. Another John has been pulled over live on the radio before. Remember John McClane got pulled over in the middle of an interview? We got him out of the ticket.
We did because we have that sort of pull. Juice. All right. Johnny in Cincinnati. Let's get some music. The win-loss game for the Cincinnati Bengals.
Here we go. First up, Johnny in Cincinnati. Cincinnati's opener. It's always tough against the Cleveland Browns, certainly in Cleveland.
What happens? Oh, we're losing that game. Johnny, come on.
Together in training season. All right. Then home for the Jaguars. You're getting a realistic Bengals fan. Okay, Johnny. I got it. You're getting a realistic Bengals fan.
Okay. That's a loss. Home for the Jaguars. We will win that. Jaguars, new coach, I'm sorry, no Duvall. It's going to be a dummy up in the Bengals. At the Vikings.
Duvall. I think that will be a win. I think the Vikings have a great team, but they're still figuring out the quarterback situation. So I think that'll be a win. Monday night football at the Broncos. That's a loss.
They're mad about us from last year. That's a loss. Two and two home for the Lions. I think we'll win that at home.
If it was in Detroit and we lose that, I think at home we'll win that. Three and two at the Packers. Yeah, I know. That's a loss. Okay. Okay, Johnny's making noises on the side of the road.
Hey, Johnny, don't hurt yourself here, okay? We're six in. Home for the Steelers on a Thursday night on Prime Video.
That's a who day. That's a W. Four and three home for the Jets. Oh, come on, Jets. Rich, you know the answer to that. Five and three home for the Bears.
Steven Hoeven. So disrespectful. I actually think we will lose this game. I think by that time, Caleb Williams will be up to speed. Dude, if you're five and four going into the bye, there's going to be a lot of hand-wringing and people freaking out in Cincinnati at the Steelers coming out of the bye.
What do you got? Well, after the bye, there's going to be a lot of pitchforks out here in Cincinnati, so yeah, we're going to get a W there in Pittsburgh. Six and four home for the Patriots.
W. All right. Unlike week one last year, that was for you, Chris. Seven and four at the Ravens on Thanksgiving night. Oh, God.
OK, guttural. That's pain. I lost track of that. That scared me so much. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven and one, two, three, four, five, seven and five at the Bills.
Oh, boy. I know you just had him on, but he's going to take the L, so that's an L for the Buffalo, the W for the Bengals. Eight and five home for the Ravens. Oh, we're mad now. We lost on Thanksgiving.
Oh, we're coming. Nine and five at the Dolphins. Who's their quarterback again? OK, ten and five home for the Cardinals on a Saturday night. Do you know how cold it's going to be Saturday night Cincinnati for those Cardinals?
No way they're winning. Eleven and five home for the Browns. Finish strong. We will finish off strong. If it's Brown, you flush it down. We're going to win that game. OK, twelve and five, Johnny and Cincinnati.
If it's Brown, flush it down. I hope that's not what was happening during this conversation on the side of the road. Johnny and Cincinnati, thanks for calling. Very spirited, Johnny and Cincinnati. Thank you for getting my WKRP reference.
I know it's kind of old. Johnny Fever, one of the best characters, right? Listen, you know, I'm a Brock Purdy guy. I'm a Brock Purdy guy. He's one of your sons.
He's one of my boys. Whatever Rich Eisen says is true. That is Brock Purdy saying that. One of my favorite drops, just in and of itself, those words. Anybody can say that.
Thank you. But Brock Purdy saying it, it just means that much more for me. So when he gets pizayed like he just got pizayed, I am biased, but I think he's worth it. I think he has shown what he can do. I think the coach say what you will about his ability to win close games when it goes all on the line. I know you love Brockman, one of the, I guess, the forefront Kyle Shanahan bashers.
I have statistics and the truth on my side. You also have the love of your life whispering in your ear all the time. She's not a fan. So, Women's Sports Now, available on Roku.
Sarah Tiana. No one, anyway. Anyway, he deserves it. He's shown how Kyle Shanahan wants the quarterback position to be played. I think he's playing it better than Garoppolo. He doesn't make as many mistakes as Garoppolo does over the middle. He also takes off with his legs.
Man, it would be worse if he took off with his arms, but I think you know what I'm saying. I'm very happy for him. He met with the media yesterday and talked about the contract and whether he took less and what this means and whether he's worthy of it. Is that a good setup, Mike Hoskins, for the soundbite we're about to hear?
Hit it. Man, I have so much respect for everybody in this organization from the top down. I think they know who I am and what I'm about.
I don't know if there was a narrative of Brock's going to take a pay cut because he's a nice guy or this or that. But for me, man, I play in the NFL. There's 32 starting quarterbacks and those guys, it's not the easiest job in the world. For me, with what I've done and everything, I can hang my hat on the fact that I've had success in this league. I'm capable of leading an organization all the way to the end, the Super Bowl.
I've proved that. For me, I know who I am. I'm going to obviously want to get what I deserve but also surround myself, like I said, with guys around me and not just try to take every penny for myself. But that's the whole point of negotiating.
You go throughout that, you try to meet in the middle ground and where we ended, man, I'm extremely grateful and happy with. Man, we live in a crazy-ass sports media world. Isn't it crazy that he's talking about maybe he took a pay cut and he's now going to make per game what he's made as a sum total in the first three years of his career? Instead of us saying, hey, man, you were picked last.
Nobody thought you were going to mount to a damn thing. You got an opportunity because everybody in front of you got hurt, including the guy who was already so gone from the organization. He said goodbye after his last NFC Championship game loss. And then they also said, you are still around here because you got shoulder surgery. We're taking your playbook away from you because you're so damn far down the depth chart in training camp. We don't want you to get hurt, so we're going to trade you.
Oh, wait a minute, we still need you because the kid that we just drafted isn't ready behind Trey Lance, who may not be ready. And he still gets the job because that guy gets hurt. And he takes the team to the playoffs. And he also does well in the playoffs, even though they lost. I get it. And he also takes the team to the Super Bowl along with the rest of the team.
Sure. And he plays well in that Super Bowl. And now they're basically saying you only took fifty two fifty three million dollars a year. Maybe you're not the highest paid quarterback in the league because your owners and your coach and your general manager doesn't think you're worth it.
So did you take a pay cut, Brock? What's the kid supposed to say? It's nuts. It's crazy. He's shown what he can do. Is he the best quarterback in the league? No. Can he win a Super Bowl with this team based on what we've seen before? And the coach?
Yes. Is he better than most quarterbacks in the league? You bet he is. Oh, but he was picked last, so he wasn't going to mount anything. And then he does. And then he gets paid, but not as much as what others are being paid.
So maybe he's not worth it. They got that right? That's the context of all this. It's nuts.
Just tip your cap. What a story. Great story. And that's what we love, right?
At the heart of it, we all love great stories. I hate deniers, obviously, but a kid, 199, he was last. You know what it's like to be picked last for something? We were talking about Chidor Sanders waiting as long as he waited. And he got picked in the fifth round. And by the way, if you want to say who had a better Big 12 career, that would be Brock Purdy.
You know, but again, this isn't like, you know, comparing this person, that person or anything like that. It's just like what he's done is pretty amazing. He's gotten paid. Now we'll see what happens from here on out.
No, he'll have to prove people wrong if that's what it's about. It just doesn't make any sense. The only people I kind of feel bad for are the sweet people who put on the Mr. Irrelevant week here in Southern California. It means a lot to them because the patriarch of the family helped found it.
He's no longer with us. And it kind of makes the term Mr. Irrelevant kind of irrelevant when one of them now makes 50-some-odd million dollars a year and has started a Super Bowl. Well, it actually gives them something to strive for now, too, right? Yeah, it's showing you right there.
You, too, can suddenly hit it rich and then be the avatar for maybe not being worth it. It's crazy. It's like Billy Madison. Remember when Billy moves upgrades and the kids are all stunned and happy that Billy got to move up? That's how I'd feel if I was one of them.
Yes, the Billy Madison of football. Rock pretty, everybody. All right, we'll take a break. Stay on hold if you're on hold. We'll take some real phone calls.
Best we can. Jeff Saturday is going to be next to remember the passing of Jim Irsay. This episode is brought to you by Chevy Silverado. When it's time for you to ditch the blacktop and head off road, do it in a truck that says no to nothing. The Chevy Silverado Trail Boss. Get the rugged capability of its Z71 suspension and 2-inch factory lift. Plus, impressive torque and towing capacity thanks to an available Duramax 3.0-liter turbo diesel engine. Where other trucks call it quits, you'll just be getting started.
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No doubt. Morning loss of Jim Irsay. Let's just take a phone call while we can right here on the show. Anthony in Lansing, Michigan wants to chime in on something. Let's take his phone call. What's up, Anthony? Hey, Rich. Can you hear me? I can. What's up, Anthony? How are you? Hey, I'm calling as a fellow Michigan alum.
I also like to speak with my chest. And I wanted to let you know that today is actually the 2000th day since Ohio State has beaten Michigan. Oh, this just warms the hearts. Wow. 2000. It's been 2000 days. 2000 days. When you say 2000, you mean 1000 days plus another 1000. To create 2000 consecutive days. Since the last time Ohio State walked off a football field with more points than the Michigan Wolverines football team. Is that what you mean, Anthony?
Hey, hopefully we can get it to 3000. Oh, God. You know what? I don't even know. I don't even know.
I can't even I can't even fathom that. Honestly, guys, in the 10 plus years of this show, has a sporting event or result made me any happier than that? Guys? No. Honestly, right?
No. Because it brings you joy. Thanks. Thank you, Anthony.
Bless you for your counting and your abilities to communicate the counting. And November 30th, 2019. Oh, I remember that was when Justin Fields. The last Ohio State. Was the quarterback.
Was the final score that game 90 to 90 to zero? A lot. Yeah, 56, 27. A lot to a little.
Yeah, a lot. Thank you, Anthony. Bless you.
That's my man right there. Yeah, it is. Oh, my God.
2000 days is roughly 5.48 years. That's been that long, huh? It's been a long time. Yeah. It's been that long. Yeah. November? You know what's crazy?
What is it? Ever since I came on the show here, you've won. Every time. Every time. I should have had you on sooner. You should have.
Should have had you on sooner. Oh, this is a wonderful development. Because, again, in case anybody's wondering. Ohio State was kicking Michigan in the nards over and over and over again. And that was all in the first several years of this program. First eight? Eight in a row, actually. I wound up making stupid wagers. You did. Yeah.
With a lot of people. Right. That I will wear this hat. I will wear this jersey. I will do this. I will do that. Oh, yeah.
And I wound up wearing all different sorts of scarlet and gray clothing. Yeah. Yeah.
Pictures are still littered around the studio. Awful. Terrible. Graham Ray Hall. Yeah. And then Aiden Hutchinson and that team took a win. And then J.J. McCarthy went in the horseshoe the next year and was like, we're going to beat this kid.
Nope. And then J.J. McCarthy and Team 144 beat him again. You know, when everything was going on, Michigan versus everybody. But the sweetest one had to be this year.
Because this was the one that Ohio State paid like 12 million bucks for, right, with the NIL. All that stuff. And then we had so much of a problem that we had to walk on quarterback. Four in a row. 2,000 years is, 2,000 days is like four different sets of 500 days. Yeah, we break it down to it. Yeah. Right. Yeah.
Two different versions of 1,000 days, four different sets of 500 days. I'll help with the math for anybody in Columbus. I know you have trouble because you run out of fingers. Back on the Rich Eisen Show, 844204 Rich number to dial. We reached out to this man because he was literally the first person I thought of like, let's get him to talk about the passing of Jim Irsay, a longtime Colt, not just a great human being on the planet, but a longtime Colt. And we have Jeff Saturday on the football program. Good to see you, Jeff. How are you, sir? Doing well. Obviously, I had better days as a Colt than losing Jim. But man, just here to talk about and celebrate his life.
That's all we can do at this point, right? Yes, absolutely. And so I'd love to give you the floor.
What should we know about Jim Irsay, Jeff Saturday? Most generous man I've ever encountered, Rich. I mean, yeah, I tell people as a player, you know, we had a very unique relationship. A lot of, quote, five minute meetings, we'd walk in and you'd be in there for two hours, right? This pep talk and, you know, he's, hey, we got to do this and we're going to do that. And, you know, here's how we're going to turn this thing around.
It's how we're going to win and close the deal, whatever it was. But that was such a small part of who he was as a man. If there was anything, Rich, and I mean anything, that was a passion of yours as a player. If you went to Jim, he would support it wholeheartedly.
And I mean, not just financially, but financially. Never want anybody to know. Never asked, you know, never asked for his name to be put on anything. Just wanted to be a part. Help the community, help his players. Just a tremendous, tremendous human being.
And so much bigger than just an NFL owner. And I know that's big enough, but that's such a small part of who Jim was. And I'll be honest with you, I'm going to miss a whole lot more of Jim than just the owner of the Colts, Jim. I'm going to miss the friend, Jim.
And man, it just, it sucks, bro. There's no other way to say it. First time you met him was when he called you a draft. Was it during the night or, or was it during the process? First time, so undrafted. So when I first time I met him, oh gosh, yeah. First time I met him, uh, Howard Mudd and, uh, was my O-line coach. They were mocking me and laughing at me because I wasn't sure if I should stay, if I should, uh, extend my lease on my apartment. And they were just like, you know, to be a smart guy, you're kind of a dumb guy. And, um, I'll, I'll tell you, you know, you'll, you'll love this because the, the prankster of, of, uh, Jim or say is, is probably not one that's well known, but as offensive linemen, we would find each other for conduct unbecoming, which meant if you got attention that was, you know, relegated to you alone, as opposed to the group, then you would have to pay a fine and we'd take those fines and we would do a Thanksgiving deal for the community or a Christmas deal for the community, whatever it was, right? Like those fines would all go together.
We'd pull them together and do something to help the community. Well, needless to say, when Mr. Ursay found that out, he shows up and every time he comes out to practice, he comes out and gives me a hug or shakes my hand and make sure somebody's taking a picture and he's giving it Art, Glenn and Ryan, and you'll love this, that the end all be all. He shows up bro in my uniform.
He is wearing a 63 with eye black on and gives me a hug. So the foundations in Indy were much better off because Jim had the type of sense of humor he had. He just, again, he just loved to be a part and he wanted to be a part of, obviously he knew his role as the owner of the organization, but when it was time to have fun with players, he could do that as well. And those are the moments I really cherish. I love that. Great story, Jeff.
I appreciate you sharing that. In terms of the community, you're as rooted in the Indianapolis community as anybody that I saw when I was there and covering your team, obviously Peyton Manning and the Children's Hospital is second to none as well, but have you got any stories about Irsay in that part of the world, Jeff? My wife and I tell this story, so we've been a part of the Who's Your Burn camp, which is a camp that we put on for burn survivors from the ages of 8 to 18. Every year we would get a quote, anonymous donor would give some amount of money and it would just so happen to be coupled with like eight tickets and food for any game throughout the season, some kind of on the field passes, you name it. But he did that every year.
And I mean, this isn't just when I'm playing, this is well after retirement. He still does it, like every year for anything I come up there for, whether it's the MS Foundation there in Indy or the Who's Your Burn camp, I mean, he constantly would give, he'd call, we joke about different stuff and then, you know, somehow, some way he always made sure he supported what we believed in and what we gave our heart to. And he knew, he knew if it was a true passion, one that you showed up for every year and he was more than willing not only to lend his money but his passions as well. And just, again, that's just who he was. And again, Rich never wanted anyone to know, didn't want, you know, didn't want the organization to know, just always wanted to keep it under wraps. And I'll tell you another thing too, for guys that had passed or their family had passed, I know he would pay for funerals constantly. I mean, he just, it was those kinds of things, man, that he just, anything that he thought he could step in and help ease the pain or burden for someone else, that was his true mission in life and what he cared most about. And you know, what was he like winning a Super Bowl with, Jeff? You got good memories of that rainy night in South Florida?
Oh, so much fun. Listen, I don't know if anybody would have a better owner. You know, the dude can, he can slay on a guitar, he loved to sing, you know, and everyone knows about his passion for music and guitars. And again, when you're sitting down having a conversation with him, that's usually what he's talking about. I mean, he, it was so little about just the game of football and so much more about life, but he would consistently rip it up and have fun at Super Bowls. You know, as you're successful, he'd bring you in and just hug your neck, man, and tell you how grateful he was for what you were doing. It's just the little things like that that I'm going to miss.
Yeah, me too, man. He was great with NFL Network. He was always so supportive of what we were doing and being there.
And you know, it's just, it's going to be kind of wild to think of the Indianapolis Colts with him not being there, Jeff, to be honest with you. No doubt. Listen. And, and, um, he and I were texting here just recently and he loved, and I'm sure you've got the same, he, he loved to send you like voice memos, you know what I'm saying?
And it would, you know, it'd be a seven minute, you know, voice memo, right? And so you're sitting here just listening and then, you know, you'd send him one back or send him a text back and he'd always send you, you know, like the two guns, you know, the two, uh, like, uh, biceps, biceps, always flexing up and, and, uh, and a football, man. And I just, oh, it's, it's those things that, uh, oh man, just, uh, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm so sad. I'm not going to get those again, man, because it's, uh, I love them every time I got him.
Yeah. He's going to be, he's going to be missed for sure, Jeff. So, uh, before I let you go, I'll just give you one last word on, on, uh, what, what he meant to you, Jeff. Oh, great, great friend, uh, mentor, you know, just, just one of those guys, like I said, when I, when I actually took the job to go coach for those eight weeks and, uh, he just said, man, you know, will you do it? And I remember my wife and I said, and I said, I wouldn't do it for anybody else in the world, but I know if I had asked the same of him, he would do it. And, and if I need to stand in the gap for a short time, I'll do it, I'll, I'll do whatever it takes. Uh, and that's the type of friendship we had, man, and I loved him and, uh, going to miss the heck out of him.
Rich really am, man. Thanks again, Jeff. I really appreciate you taking the time. I guess I was told today, uh, graduation day for someone in your family as well. Yeah. Uh, youngest Joshua graduated high school this morning, man, so we're, we're celebrating as a family, uh, after, after, uh, after the big, the big moments this morning.
So you're zooming in from a future empty nest, what you're telling me right now. Okay, man. Hey, Jeff, you're one of my favorites, seriously. And thank you for saying yes, um, on, on an emotional day, clearly for you. Um, well, I appreciate all that you do, man. I miss, I miss chatting with you. Thanks again, Jeff.
Take care, brother. You bet. That's Jeff Saturday, everybody. One of the most popular calls I've ever, I've ever been around. Uh, I think I've told that story. Remember the book that I wrote that five people read, um, you know, and, and, uh, I was having book signings where there weren't a lot of people at it and I'm like, you know what?
I need to get some football players, maybe to boost these book signings. First one did it at combine, did it Indianapolis. I asked Jeff Saturday to do it. He said, I will do it.
And he showed up to the bookstore line around the block and they were all wearing 63 nice. And Jim or say was supportive as well. That's it for our number two, rich Paul's here.
This is going to be fun. Our number three, I wouldn't move if I were you. And uh, one last, uh, stroll down memory lane with Jim or say when Ryan leaf was here, Jim or say called in and chatted with the guy. He passed over in the draft for Peyton Manning and talked about that draft decision with Ryan leaf. You know, going back to that time, I tell you, you know, I can unequivocally say it was a very, very close call. Um, it, uh, a lot of people in the league, um, I won't say it's 50 50, but it could have been 60, 40 one way or the other. Um, it was a very difficult decision. Bill Polian and I talked and had many, many long talks and in the end, um, made the decision towards pain, but it was really a close call. I had, um, uh, a long, long trusted individual, um, who'd been in the NFL a long time, just hours before the draft is said, he said, I take Ryan, you know, um, over Peyton, but, but in the end, Dylan, I, um, just, just, you know, we, we just kind of felt that, that, um, you know, that, that we are going to be, um, better off, um, picking Peyton. But again, it was, it was very close and people forget how close it was back then. Cause really it was close to flipping a coin close. Well, you know what?
I think he, I think he made the right choice and maybe, maybe Colonel Depp had something to say about it too. Who was CC there at the end of that letter, referring to the letter we showed earlier at Hunter S. Thompson, it's James or say, man, we've had, we've had, uh, we've had some moments here when I'm not in the chair. And when you are sometimes I wasn't fishing, I really wasn't fishing, but I appreciate you saying that. Don't worry.
I'm, I'm good. It's been 2000 days since, uh, Ohio state beat Michigan, somebody just told me, which is, um, as you know, um, 20 sets of a hundred days, you know, like if you took a hundred days and then another a hundred days, and they have 18 more of those, it's 2000. That's right. That's Jim Harvall.
Thank you for these drops. They did win 15 out of 16. So you got a ways to go before, uh, it doesn't, why is what? I don't need that perspective.
Why do I need that perspective? It's 2000 days. I get it. It's 2000 days. You know, just be happy for me.
Rich Roman Reigns was champion for 1,316 days. It's like 700 less. So I know how it feels. Yeah.
Seven or less. Don't you? Yeah.
Former MLB All-Star Sean Casey, AKA the mayor keeps hitting it out of the park. Take my 30 years of experience, take the wisdom and knowledge I've learned from the failures when I got sent down my rookie year, all the injuries I had to overcome your mind is the most important tool you have in life. Be relentless. Keep charging. It matters how you talk to yourself, how you look at the world that matters. We talk about that.
I don't know. I'm fired up. Baseball's back and it's going to be incredible. I love it. Join us next time with Sean Casey from Believe.
