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It's Higgins, he fumbles into the end zone. The competition committee has looked at it. It's a touchback! I hate this rule that you fumble the ball through the end zone and the defense is the one that benefits. The Rich Eisen Show.
I'm just pissed. I can't stand this rule. Earlier on the show, host of Peacock's Pro Football Talk, Mike Florio. Coming up. Legendary NBC Sports Broadcaster Al Michaels.
Plus, Chiefs quarterback Chad Henney. And now. Yeah. Sure. Rich icon.
Hour number two of the Rich Eisen Show is on the air. Al Michaels will be joining us on this program in about 20 minutes' time. He and the Stellar Sunday night football crew had their season finale with the Bills. Taking care of the Baltimore Ravens in a game that was so tight right until the. Two possessions that blew it wide open with the Bills marching down the field for their only offensive touchdown of the night, an 11-play drive capped off by Stephon Diggs.
Who else? But the all-pro wide receiver that has changed the game along with their game-changing quarterback. And then Taryn Johnson. Taking 101 yards, right up the gut, and then right down the sideline, past Lamar Jackson, who then got concussed and knocked out of the game, and then true to Bill's mafia form. True to Bill's mafia form.
I mean, I'd love this fan base. I mean, they're jumping on tables. They're setting parking lot bonfires when they're all out there, but they respect the opponent. And Lamar got hurt, as you know. To this point, what?
A quarter of a million dollars has been donated by Bill's Mafia Foundation? $290,000. A quarter of a million dollars, closing up $300,000 to Lamar Jackson's foundation.
Okay. Unbelievable. You know, and they also. Donated to Josh Allen when his grandmother passed away. There's a new wing.
Uh in a local hospital there in Josh Allen's grandmother's name. Blessings in a Backpack is the name of Lamar Jackson's. Um Charitable foundation and/or one of the charities that he associates with. And they had tweeted out last night it was $290,000 that had been donated. Remember, they did that a few years ago for Andy Dalton's charity?
Correct.
Well, Andy Dalton got the bills in the playoffs because he beat the Ravens in a week 17, and they're like, okay. Let's donate to Andy.
So it's just beautiful, and I just love big-hearted football fans or fans in general, obviously. And that was great. I just wanted to. Mention that. Al's going to be joining us, is essentially what I'm saying in about set 13 minutes' time.
Mike Florio just talked about. what's going on in Houston. And we just discussed about how, you know, I guess the Eagles are between a rock and a hard place, and it's going to be the head coach to decide. How to navigate starting Carson Wentz over Jalen Hurts next year because it sure sounds like the salary cap. and how much whence costs Makes it must have to keep him in the starting rotation and in the saddle.
And whoever's coming in, better rehabilitate them because if not, it's just going to be a holy heck of a mess. And the most expansive backup quarterback standing right there. And the new head coach is going to be coming in saying, okay, so you fired the guy who just won the Super Bowl here three years ago, and I need to start the guy who didn't even go in the exit interviews because he hated the quarterback, the coach that much. Yeah. Yeah, exactly.
Let's take a couple phone calls here on the Rich Island Show before I get to my two cents on what's going on with the Houston Texans. Ben in Mississippi, you're here on the Rich Island Show. What's up, Ben? Richard Rich and crew, how are you, Ben? We are better from talking to you.
How are you, Ben?
Okay, so I have a question and then I will make my statement.
So here's my question to you, sir. Are you someone that likes to gloat? And have still when you you know, in in the appropriate amount of time when you're given a chance. When I'm right, you mean? Or just in general?
Or what? When it's needed, when you're correct, when you have made the prediction, when you are correct, deep down in your bones. Are you that type of guy? I am definitely that type of guy, Ben. Yes.
So am I. Let me put a little all-due respect in front of it before I get to my point of why I call.
Okay. Okay. So as I told you last week, with all due respect. I told you he would not be able to get the job done in a four-minute office, no less, and he wasn't even able to do it in the supernova. Yes, I'm talking about that man, Drew Brees.
And I know that you are an individual who You like to think about it as a glass half full. Yes.
And for that, you are a superhero. Thank you. And then there are guys like me, the supervillains in the world.
So With that being said, Rich. With that being said, I told you he would not be able to get the job. What the fuck? I mean, hold on a second. With all due respect to you, Ben, is that, you know, here, here.
He got a third-down conversion right over the middle of the field in the third quarter of a tightly contested game and was matriculating down the field, and his tight end couldn't hold on to the football, and things changed. And then you do have to, if you will, tip your cap to the Bucs receivers. And, Ben, I appreciate your call, and let's chat more about this later on. But I do want to. You get to a couple other calls while finishing this point.
Didn't mention it in the first hour, but here's the question. How the hell did Michael Thomas not have a catch yesterday? All right, and so Trust me, Breeze is looking for him. Trust me, Breeze is looking for him. And then Kamara stopped getting the ball.
It just really all went downhill. Emmanuel Sanders can play for me, by the way, any team, anywhere. You know how I feel about him. I mean, he stepped up. Correct.
So I don't know what happened offensively. Taysom Hill being out. The fact that Jameis had the longest pass of the game between these two goats was really an oddity of this game, right? Latavius Murray and Taysom Hill were out. But they got off their game.
You can't I don't know if Breeze, I'm sure, can plays a role in it. But it just started rolling downhill the wrong way. And the Packers, the team that's welcoming in the Bucs this year, can tell you when the Bucs get on a roll, it's tough to stop them. Certainly because 12 is not going to be making a mistake. Certainly not these these days.
The days of Brady And Evans not being on the same page like week one, or throwing out an easy pick six to pick off like he did in week one. The days of him holding up four fingers because he forgot how many downs there were against Nick Foles. Those days are gone. Those are. It's like it didn't happen, poof, like Kaiser Soze gone.
This guy's showing up to Lambeau Field top of his game. But the Packers know it is possible to reverse the fortune from the regular season in the playoffs because that's the reason why the Bucs are in their house. I'll be a hell of a matchup.
So much to hype for that one. Let's go to Nathan in LA here on The Rich Island Show. What's up, Nathan? Hey, good to talk to you again, Rich. Right back at you, sir.
two coaching matters. First of all, I did want to congratulate you on the hiring of Robert Sala. I thought going in, he was the ideal candidate for you and the ideal candidate for a New York market. I think he's the perfect fit for you guys. I hope so.
And my second thought is: I want to get your thoughts on Eric Bienemi not being hired yet. And my question on this is And I don't want this to be so. But is there any validity to the idea that His success with Kansas City is becoming a double-edged sword because these teams are not patient enough. to wait for him to come available. To become, to be start.
Here's the deal, Nathan. Here's the deal. You know, and thanks for the call. If you remember, the Colts waited for Josh McDaniels, and then he left them in the lurch, and then they turned out to be in better shape anyway. If you like the guy, you're going to wait for him.
It's really that simple. The Falcons did that for Dan Quinn. If you remember back in the day, they waited until Quinn was done with the Seahawks making a run. I have no earthly idea what the hell's going on with Eric Bianame. And I'll tell you this, if I'm the Houston Texans, I am hoping and praying the enemy says yes to this.
I can fix it. I alone can fix it, as you know, did not work. uh nationally over the last four years. But maybe he alone can fix it. Hire Eric Bienemy.
And then you have to figure out how you sell it. in a way to people who don't buy it. That you made this decision independently, even though you got on his interview list late. After Deshaun Watson pitched so many public fits. It could be that he is your only hope, to use the Star Wars phrase.
That Mahomes loves him so much, or has been told by Bienname by Bienname's current quarterback. in Mahomes that he's the man That he's the guy that can come in to Houston. And throw his arm around Deshaun Watson and say, I understand what's happened here. You don't like it. But I'm here.
You like me, I like you. Let's go to battle together. You saw what I could do. with Mahomes. With Andy Reid, guess what?
I'm bringing that here. And what you did last year is a mere scratch of the surface to Sean and.
So on and so forth. If that's what can actually put out. the Deshaun Watson fire that appears to be raging out of control. In Houston. They need to do it.
Because if they hire somebody who Watson is not all in on. I don't even know if Watson would agree to actually meet with the coach. His words might just be: I'm out. And there's a lot of chatty people in Deshaun Watson's group. talking to our buddy Schefter.
And more. Because their reports have been. Frequently. over the last couple of NFL countdowns. The last couple of weekends.
That Deshaun is that the Texans are assuming he's out. And he wants out. He just hasn't said it yet because, as Mike Florio said in the first. hour that that means There's no turning back. And there wouldn't be.
And the Texans might decide. And they'll have to swallow hard. Cause this'll be a tough one. They might decide.
Well, if Watson's mentally out already. And We are not really sold on Bianomy. Assuming he's going to be the one guy in Watson's mind. Who could fix all this? There's a lot of supposition in what I'm saying, but I think I've got the general sense of it here.
That if the Texans sit here and think, and this is what I thought, Chris, when we had John McClain on a couple weeks ago when this first started. Sparking. as a fire in Houston. And he's like, Texans are not trading Deshaun Watson. And that sounded like, to me, somebody who's getting that straight from ownership because he's.
So tied into the Houston community as John as covering the team. Not to. you know Out his sources or anything like that, but that's what it sounds like to me as somebody who's been in this business long enough to try and figure out. How people might be so sure of what they are reporting and saying or what they're hearing, Remember, he hung up, and I'm like, doesn't matter if they're saying we are not trading Deshaun Watson, if Deshaun Watson wants out.
Okay. They just had a front row seat about what happened with James Harden, who's like, I don't want to be here anymore. And he got his exit visas in 24 hours and all of a sudden lost 20 pounds and threw it down a triple-double. You know.
So he said it was likelier that He would be head coach John McClane. Than Deshaun Watson being traded. Still possible. They don't have to be able to do that. But again.
That's what management's like. We are not trading Deshaun Watson, and that's the final.
Well, it's not final. Because Deshaun Watson says, I don't like it here. I want out. And then the new general manager is like, hey, you hired me here, you know. I'm just walking in here.
I don't know what the hell's been going on around here, but I'm here and I'm bringing the Patriot Way with me, and that might not be what Deshaun wants, but let's hash it out. Too bad. You don't hire the right guy. Deshaun might not even meet with him. And if he does, he's going to have to sit there, take his time, and figure it out.
And I would sit there and take my time and figure it out without saying I want to be traded until it makes it even more difficult. for the Texans to Keep me based on however the new league year hits and what means in contracts. I'm not familiar with that stuff, but I'd know that. Time Ticks and there are always Pressure points in negotiations and things of that nature, and usually free agency hits like that. Draft might be that way too.
This could be a slow burn, or this could continue to just keep building. And the next flashpoint is when the Texans hire somebody. And if it's not to Deshaun's liking, I am, if I'm any team in this league that has even a slight hint of a question for their quarterback. I am calling up Mickisario and I'm saying, what do you want. We've already identified some of those franchises.
And again, the issue is Deshaun Watson. Has to sign off on it. There's a no-trade clause in his contract that allows him to say, I'm not going. You cannot trade my contract without my signature on a piece of paper, okaying it.
So good luck.
So the Texans Might wind up if they decide to move on from Watson, requiring him to be a partner in the process. To start. By saying don't declare it.
So 'Cause we need, you know, at least to get value back for you, even though you're are telling us to pound sand right now. Miami would be Obviously. What we're hearing his choice. That's the only town and franchise that I've heard reported and put out there, what do you want? If that's the case.
Let me take a moment here. And use rich eyes and show real estate. For my own wants and needs. Shall we pull up a chair? You already have.
It's your show, buddy. It is my show. It's your show. Thank you, sir. This is the Rich Eisen Show.
Deshaun, New York City is a wonderful place to play in. Wonderful place. Wonderful. Yes, it can eat you up, spit you out, but All you got to do is ask people who have great heads on their shoulders. and great hearts.
in their chests not only as hearts of champions, but hearts of Community-minded, empathetic individuals. Eli Manning. Leaves to mind Derek Jeter. Leaps to mine. Mariana Rivera.
leaps to mine. Not talking meds. Yeah. That's my show. How rude.
But I think you're picking up what I'm putting down. It's a great place. If you win, you are the toast of the town forever. You could say that about other places, but there's only one New York City, the city that never sleeps. King of the Hill A number one.
And All I have to say is this: if you are looking around and saying, How does Baker get a progressive commercial? If you're all sitting there thinking, I could sell insurance on state farm too. How come I'm not getting that? And, you know, I don't mean to put his representation in any bind. I'm sure he can get that.
But all I got to say is, Justin Tuck was selling Subway Sanchez's for a very long time. Victor Cruz is still salsa dancing in places. Neither of them had careers quite like. What you're building, Deshaun. New York City is a great spot.
Your. Future in the hands of New York City's Robert Sala. Putting together an outstanding coaching staff. Here we go. And Houston.
Who's got two first-round draft choices this year? Who's got two first-round draft choices next year? Oh man, the Jets could put a package together the Dolphins couldn't even touch. even though the Dolphins have A ton of draft choices that belong to Houston. At least the Jets could Put something out there that would be difficult for the dolphins to swallow.
Dolphins do have tour. And the Jets have Darnold. You want to make that? An evaluation. Joe Douglas.
I would give you a Canyon of Heroes parade. If I was in charge. A Canyon of Heroes parade has never been given to somebody without winning a championship. But if he can Get Deshaun Watson. And match him up with Robert Sala and his group.
That's bringing in the Shanahan system. And Hold on to first-round draft choices because it's two, he's got two for the next two years, and still use those draft choices. And trade Darnold for somebody else to. help even Supplement. More of the draft choices that you'd give up.
For Deshaun Watson. Ticker tape parade on the spot. Because the championships would be in the ether. And the Jets have to think this big. They have to.
Because this is fact. I think this is fact. No, we'll never see Brady and Belichick again. But the Bills are building something. You better keep up.
And the Dolphins are beginning to build something, you better keep up. You better keep up. and you better keep up fast. This is the way to basically say keep up. We are now Ahead.
Oh man, I'm sitting there thinking that. And I'm sure Bears fans are thinking the same thing and all that business. But it's in the ether. I can't believe it is, but Deshaun Watson is going to be the talk of the NFL from here all the way to the draft, it seems. 844-204-Rich.
Number to dollar. Let's take a break. We'll back with the great. Al Michaels, one of my favorite people on the planet. Thrilled to be able to call him a friend, fresh off of his NFL season.
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Do I lean forward? Yes, I'm not. I'm gonna fall. Is this the technology or the entertainment or the policy portion of this place? Please fall.
Please fall. Oh, I got it. Dude. I said my puzzle. Shoot, there's a light.
I mean this is not. Got a turn, brother. Hi. Dude, I'm not gonna turn you around or I'm not gonna... Look at this, look at this.
Huh? This is not going to end well. Do we have that drop? What could possibly go wrong, or do we not have that out here? No, I don't have that.
Did you just dab? Yeah. I'm flying right now. Woo! There is definitely some pro.
Oh my god, there's expensive equipment that is gonna go, oh, not into the television. That would be great TV though. into the screen. It's a good workout. It's like a Thigh Master.
I'm glad we got this out of our system after George Will walked out of here. Oh, he's too quiet. Look at this. I mean, Law, do you want to try to get away? By the way, now I want to see Log Tribe.
By the way, Chuck Todd has to broadcast an inauguration tomorrow, and we're making- By the way, I am killing it right now. Look at you now. This is definitely not going to end well.
Somebody's getting over there. Yeah. I'm good.
So how do I get off? I don't know. How do I stop this crazy thing? Jane, help! I knew this was not going that cloud.
I'm really in pain. I'm really hurting. Oh my god. I fell on the mic pack. Oh, okay.
KT of us. Are you alright? Are you seriously hurt? Yeah. I was done.
I can't watch. I was dying. It's been four years. It's today. That's the four-year anniversary.
It's been four years and I still can't watch. No, no, it's four years tomorrow. Tomorrow. By the way, four years tomorrow. The nineteenth is tomorrow.
Well, I mean, this is the day before an inauguration of Trump. Tomorrow's four years to the day. And the bruise I got from that thing, I know. Yeah, we have no photos. It looked like the island of Cuba.
Yeah. No joke, this big black and blue and purple. At least the most powerful executive in ATT and John Stanky wasn't on the other side of the wall. Oh, wait a minute. He was.
I've never gotten on one of those since and I never will. And was like, oh my god, oh my god. Oh my gosh. Are we back for the radio audience? Are we going to get Al in here?
Okay, the radio audience is almost back here on NBC Sports on Peacock. And then we'll get our friend Al Michaels here back here on the Rich Eisen Show, back here on our radio network. We're all big one happy Samuel cast family. He is the one, the only of Sunday night football, football night in America, fresh off of calling the Bills and the Ravens. He is Al Michaels.
How are you, Al? I'm great, Rich. What a weekend, huh? It was, I mean, Sunday's games were dynamite, and Saturday's games were intense, no question about it. What did you see in the Bills that makes you think?
You know, you've seen championship teams before. Do you see one? From that one in front of you, Al? I think they have a chance and and To me, going into the game, and Chris and I we were talking about it all week long going into it. and felt, you know, the whole thing would be Could the Bills defense take care of the Ravens offense.
I'll see. He held him to three points, no touchdowns. Leslie Frazier, the defensive coordinator of the Bills, what a plan he came up with. Uh and that won the game for them. And clearly when it was ten to three, And then you get the interception by Johnson and the 101-yard run back.
One of the great things I think about sports, Rich, is that you never know who's gonna be the big star, the big hero, come up with the unexpected moment I mean Up until that point. The greatest uh And most dramatic interception I recalled was was Malcolm Butler in the Super Bowl. Uh against Seattle. And you wouldn't have thought of Malcolm Butler as the guy who would be the big hero in that game. He was.
the fifth or sixth defensive back. And in this particular game, you know, who's going to be a big store? Who's going to make The interception at the end of not the at the end of the game, but the game turning. Interception Tredavious White, would it be Jordan Poyer? Would it be uh Levi Wallace?
Would it be Micah Hyde? You would think maybe Tremaine Edward Edmonds, one of those guys would be the guy, but no, out of nowhere. comes uh Taryn Johnson to be the to be the big star. Heck of a play, unbelievable interception. And then just I guess, you know, looking at it on the replay for Maybe a split second.
He's thinking about going down in the end zone. You know, he's in the end zone. Do you want to come out with it and take a chance? And then that only took about a quarter of a second and off he went and and nobody was going to catch him.
Well, and uh the next day on game day morning when I I was uh Doing the highlight, we were all getting on Kurt because you called the James Harrison interception as well. In your last game, you called with Madden in that Super Bowl. I mean, you've called some long ones. Yeah, I mean, when you think about it, I mean, the Butler pick, that was it, and he went down immediately, and they ran the game out from the one or two yard line. The Harrison play Maybe the most amazing play ever beast.
when you think about it, it's the end of a long drive. for the Cardinals. Uh The defense has to be a little gassed at that point. And then Kurt throws the pass. And then Harrison picks it off.
And goes a hundred yards right down the sideline. And of course, the classic shot of Larry Fitzgerald trying to weave his way through the bench, some of his guys are getting in the way. But people forget about that play, not only a hundred yards for the touchdown, and instead of Arizona having the lead, Now, Pittsburgh's got a two-possession lead, but he barely gets into the end zone. And as you recall, Rich, if he doesn't. The clock has expired.
They can't even take a field goal.
So that to me, you know, people say what's the most iconic single play you've seen. That might be it. And then the San Antonio Holmes catch, which came at the end of the game, might be the second most. I mean, we've talked about that 08 Super Bowl, and to me, that's the classic of classics. Tyl Michaels here on the Rich Eisen Show.
Talking to Josh Allen and McDaniels, though, I mean, with McDermott. Al. It just, again, this is the team. You know, Green Bay, we all know about Green Bay, and Tampa has been obviously down and out, but they do have Brady and Mahomes. And we're assuming he will be healthy enough for the game.
I'm talking to Chad Henney in the third hour. You know, the Chiefs are the Chiefs right now. We're all water skiing behind their yacht, but the Bills. They're kind of now the last team standing that's carrying the mantra of the, you know, why not us? Uh it's been too long.
They don't know maybe what they don't know type of attitude. What did you glean from talking to Allen and McDermott prior to this game that makes you think that this. That, if you will, they could believe in miracles. You don't mind me using that line. No, I don't mind using your line.
I'm writing this down right now: water skiing behind their yachts. Yes, that's from Wall Street. That's Wall Street. Bud Fox once asked Gordon Gecko, how many yachts can you water ski behind? Is what he said in that film.
I wrote it down. You'll hear it on Sunday night next year. Fantastic. You know, it's the old, it's the quarterback conversation. Coach.
combo platter. I mean that that's the the key to success very often in the national football league. You look at obviously with uh Belichick and Brady uh being at the forefront of that. it's almost every year that the quarterback coach combination is going to lift the Lombardi Trophy. Last year, another case in point, So I think they've got the right combo.
Platter in Buffalo right now. I think Allen's going to be a big start going down the line. He already is almost ascending to that point right now. You got Sean McDermott, who is the pedigree is defense. But You know, the great defensive coordinators know a lot about offense as well.
He's got Brian Dable running. running the offense and it looks like now that the Dable is out of the mix for the Charger job at he might be staying there, so they might be able to keep that coaching situation intact. I think the only thing with Buffalo is Can they get a running game? You've got Devin Singletary, who is a pretty good receiver and not a bad runner, but he's not the guy who's going to give you. twenty carries a a a game.
And be able to run some clock on you. And the other night we saw what they did. I think they had one run in the first half, and that was a scramble. by Alan.
So it's it's hardly A balanced offense but it became more balanced in the second half. me that's the key with these guys. I think you know offensively They can do it. They just need more balance. defensively, you couldn't be more impressed.
Than you were the other night. I mean, here come the Ravens. Scoring like crazy. How do we stop? Lamar Jackson.
a couple of good running backs as well. The receivers have gotten better through through the year. You got Andrews, of course, and then Hollywood Brown. He was coming into his own in the second half of the season. And yet Nothing.
Now I know the weather conditions That played a big factor. But I think, you know, w with Buffalo against Kansas City, Again, it reminds me of last week's game. What will that defense do? What will that defense do to. You know, to stop you, you would think Mahomes is obviously going to play.
And the potency of the Kansas City. offense, we know about that, but What's Leslie Frazier and McDermott going to go? going to cook up this week. That to me is the key of the game. Al Michaels here on the Rich Eisen Show.
You're so outstanding at so many broadcasting attributes, Al, but one of your best is to just place things in perspective. It sure looks like Breeze is done and getting ready to join you and the rest of everyone else at NBC Sports. That's just based on just his body language and the way that he was just looking around at the end of the game yesterday. Place in perspective where he stands, just in terms of how he got drafted in and then his change of address and his physical stature and then his ultimate football stature. Al, I'll give you the floor on that.
It is. Wh when you look at the body of his career, and his work Yeah. Astonishing. And he has to obviously go into the Hall of Fame. First ballot should be unanimous.
I can't imagine anybody saying we have to wait a year for Drew Brees to get in there. Uh in addition to the numbers, we know what the numbers are, the numbers are fantastic. but to come into the league as a second round draft choice with San Diego. And then to be told, okay, you know, you're our quarterback, but we're going to go out and we're going to draft. Eli Manning, and then Manning's not going to come.
And of course, Manning is then able to work his way to the Giants. and then Philip Rivers comes in that deal.
So now Philip Rivers is going to sit behind you. And then off he goes and he's got the shoulder problem. And as you recall, I think it was Miami. that passed on him. I think he was Hoping to go to Miami or wanted to go to Miami.
Yes, in free agency. Right, and Miami clearly wanted him, but. They were worried about him physically, and then New Orleans took the chance. And we we know how that worked out, and then you got Katrina on top of it, and the town becomes a mess. And it looks like at one point the league is going to have to move the franchise out of there, and they don't, and they spend a whole year playing in San Antonio and Baton Rouge and wherever else they can find a place to play.
As the city got rebuilt, and then to come in and to win a Super Bowl and to do what he's done, and to be such a part of the community. And again, you go back to this old quarterback coach thing. Perfect. You got Sean Payton. And you got True breeze.
So there it is. And again, you know, I guess the knock would be, and we're knocking everything these days, as you know. He only won one Super Bowl. I mean, come on, already.
So, you know, they. Yeah. Look, they can look at it a million ways too. You go back to the Rams game. They don't make the call on Roby Coleman.
Th what would have happened had they made the call and they'd gone on to win the Super Bowl? You don't know. Nobody seems to know at this point. But I would say with Breeze, it's you look at not only the numbers, but the quality of the individual. And it's one of the great stories I've seen in the National Football League ever.
And now we've got also, I mean, Brady and Rogers. Good Lord, we'd never seen Brady and Brees in a playoff game.
Now it's the first of Brady and Rogers, which is, I guess, the fruits of Brady moving addresses to the NFC. Unbelievable matchup. How do you see that one playing out having seen both of these guys this year? Uh in twenty twenty First of all, I couldn't be more impressed. Then Aaron Rogers, and what he's done this year.
And we all know the story, you go back to Draft Day. And he's out in Malibu. He's got a house out here. And He's watching the draft. And you're thinking about you know, you you gotta get them a receiver, some help on offense.
And what do they do? They picked you're in love. quarterback. And it's so similar, of course, to when, you know, Favre is there and they pick Aaron Rodgers. And You know, we had uh We had Aaron in the uh next to last game of the season, Tennessee, against Green Bay and Lambo.
and we were talking to him And he said on our call, he said, you know, I could have let. bitterness and negativity seep in. and he did go, as he said, to the pantry, And get, I think, what four hands I think is the measurement of tequila. That's what he did that night.
So you have all of these things in play. What are they doing? Are they trying to force me out? Do I have to doubt where I am in my career right now? And Instead, he took As he said, he could have gone one way.
Instead, he completely goes the other way. has one of the most fantastic seasons ever. totally in control. I can't tell you how much respect I have for him. And you know, I mean, look, Rich, you know how smart this guy is.
This guy could replace Alex Trebek as the host of Jeopardy. He's attempting to, I think. Right, he's going to fill in for a week. He was a great contestant on that show. He'll be great on that show.
I mean, whatever Aaron decides to do with the rest of his life, I mean, he's going to be a major success. But I could not be more impressed with what he's done this year. And for Tom Brady, I mean, what a story, obviously. You know, you think back, Rich, to There's always this tremendous overreaction. on a Monday after the Sunday games.
Now we did the game uh middle of the season or I guess it was maybe late November, we go down to Tampa And we did the New Orleans Tampa game and the Saints blew them out. It was thirty three, three at the half, whatever it was, was The game was over. And Brady didn't look good at all, and everybody said, Oh, you know, Tom may be finished, and he and Bruce Arrians don't get along. Right. I mean What nonsense does that look like right now?
Uh total.
So it's great. I mean, you couldn't have a better matchup. A more thrilling matchup, a more marquee matchup than we're going to get next Sunday. And I can't wait to see the game, both games, in fact. And I'm sure you feel the same way.
Me too. No doubt about it. Al Michael's here on the Rich Eisen Show. In the few minutes I have left, I'm going to go omnibus with you here, which means outside of football. I was thinking of calling you on this day, but I think you were getting ready for one of your final games of the year.
The passing of Tommy Lasorda. Al, I know you've got some great story. I met him, right? I think that's from your book, If You Can't Make This Up. I'll give you the floor on your memories of Tommy and.
Tell that one story about how you met him.
Well, when I was announcing the Hawaii Islanders. In the Pacific Coast League AAA baseball starting in 1968. And I was there three years. Our big rival. were the Spokane Indians.
And they were the Dodger Farm Club and the AAA Farm Club. And because of travel, The Indians would come over twice a year and they'd spend the entire week there.
So I got to know Steve Garvey. Bobby Valentine. Bill Russell. Davy Lopes. Ron Say, that's the team.
Bill Buckner, all those guys are playing with the team. and Lassorte is the manager. And then Tommy loves to tell this story. It's a little bit embellished, but very close to the truth. He always has contended he discovered me.
After every game in Hawaii, he would have to call Al Campanis, then the general manager of the Dodgers, and report in on how all of the guys had done. Garvey did this, Buckner did this, Lopes did this, et cetera, et cetera.
So one night he says, he tells Tampanis, he said, Hey Al, he said, you know, I know you got Vin Scully and Vinny's great and everything. There's a guy over here, though, there's a young guy doing these games on the radio. This guy is really terrific. Al Michaels is his name. You know, you should keep an eye on him.
So Campanis doesn't say anything. at first, and then at the end of the conversation, according to Tommy, Campana says, Hey, Tommy, this this Kid, you're talking about this Michaels guy. How do you know he's any good? And Tommy says, I've been thrown out of the last four games. I'm out in the clubhouse listening to him.
So what had happened was with sort of one night he gets thrown out in the third inning of a game.
Now, in Hawaii, the clubhouse wasn't behind the dugout. You'd have to walk all the way out through center field, 425 feet, get serenaded by the fans, and then another 100 feet to a ramshackled clubhouse. You could not sneak back in. Truly, you'd have to listen to the radio.
So that's the third inning.
So I know he's listening to me for seven innings one night. The next night, he's so angry, he comes out, he gives the lineup card to the umpires. He gets thrown out with the lineup card. And irony of ironies, you know who the umpire at home played that night was Bruce Freming, who would go on to have the longest umpire in career in Major League history. He would go to the major.
So this is crazy stuff. He gets thrown out again.
Now he's listening to me the whole game. The next game he did last. He lasted the game, and then the following game, he got thrown like the sixth or seventh inning.
So Tommy truly was able to hear me do, you know, probably 20 innings of baseball. And so he always loved to tell that story. And of course, I love the fact that Tommy was such a big part of my life. He was. Just a wonderful man on so many levels.
So many. And just, I mean, an ambassador, a character, and a damn. Good manager, Hall of Fame manager, former teammate of Jackie Robinson's with the Brooklyn Dodgers, like a true Dodger through and through, Al. And so he says basically that's how you got your first. Major League Broadcasting Gig?
Well, I wound up in Cincinnati, of course, is one of the Dodgers' great rivals. He goes as a coach under Walt Alston with the Dodgers.
So Tommy and I went all the way back, and in fact, when they got A nice honor about six or seven years ago. I I had Tommy come up and and present it for me.
So and and I'll tell you another thing, too. He was in the hospital. And I got the Ford Frick Award recently, which was totally totally surprising and shocking and wonderful for me. And he called me. Yeah, I he uh his caretaker called me and said, can you talk to Tommy?
I said, of course. This was about a month ago. He did not sound well, but it was it was unbelievable to hear from Tommy Lasorda. And I was so happy when I heard that He was out of the hospital, but clearly he had been taken home to die at home. And one of a kind.
What a wonderful, wonderful man. You're the best, Al. Thanks for the call. Let's stay in touch. Let's go have a good round or two, if you will.
At least, maybe 10 or 12, right? Let's do it. Al, you're the best. Thanks for the call. Take care, bro.
You got it. That's Al Michaels, everybody. One and all. What a great. I love that story.
Gotcha. That story. He told that to us, I think, off-air once. He never told it on the air or one or the other. I just, you know, he's one of.
Oh, may Tommy Lasorda rest in peace. Your phone calls when we come back here on the Rich Eisen Show 844-2040. A great old-gen stack based on yes, Tom Brady, that's coming up. What if I told you you can take you and your family and your friends to the ballpark with such low-priced tickets you can invest more in buying food and drinks, merchandise, and easily on top of all of it, get a larger group to come with you? That's where Game Time Tickets comes in.
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Call 562-314-4603 for details. Let's get to it with the big Lebowski. How are you introduced? Two. That film.
I ran to the Cone brothers a couple of years before that, I guess, had a party and they said, we're writing something for you. I say, oh, great, because I was a big fan of Blood Semple and some other early issues. And then I got the script and I said, what? This is not like anything I've done. Were you spying?
Did you crash some of my high school parties? And you're going to go, I mean, where did this guy come from? But I was thrilled to work with those guys. They're real masters. They know how to do it.
Was there a character based on anybody that you know? Yeah, it was based on a guy named Jeff Bowd. For them, you know, they used him quite a bit. I met him. He came on the script.
I didn't. use him too much. Uh myself and You know, and the script, you know. When did you realize that this film would become. In many ways, you can't even call it a cult.
It's a classic. It's just a flat-out classic now. Yeah, yeah. For the big housekeeping. I was surprised because we had a great time making it and we were all, you know, laughing and.
You know, thinking, oh, you know, this was a fun movie. We didn't think it was going to be anything like it was today. But I was surprised when it first came out and did nothing. It was like, you know, kind of a bomb. And then it played in Europe and they got it.
And then it splashed back over on our shores and he grew to become a wolf. As one of our colleagues on this show has a friend who went to a Lebowski bar in Iceland. Oh yeah, we got these we have uh Lebowski Fests. I've been to it. I played with my band at a Lebaski fair.
That was my Beatle moment. And, you know, can you imagine? Let's go! Playing to a sea of dudes and bowling foons and moms, which is totally surreal. Oh my God.
It is like a psychedelic journey in itself, right? Basically, it's just... It's just such a great movie, executed so well, and like many. Masters, you know, the Cohn brothers make it look like it's just nothing, it's falling off a log. But when you really look at it, Man, it is executed so brilliantly.
Well, they're geniuses. I mean, for Raising Arizona, we could go on and on about it. Roger Deacons, the cinematographer, did such a beautiful job. And you don't think of it as thinking of a movie that is shot beautifully, but if you look at that, Movie. The camera is right just where you want it.
It's nothing showing, there's no showing off. It's just. Everything is just right. And some great news on Jeff Bridges' website just four days ago. He says that his tumor is shrunk considerably.
Thank you. Well done, Mike. Great job right there. Just fun stuff. Right here on the Rich Eisen Show, 844-204-Rich is the number two dial.
Do you have the old gen stat? You want to fire up the old gen staterator here? Because when. When Brady when Brady hit it, when Brady hit the uh the Victory Lab. I reached out to NFL Network and I'm like, hmm, I wonder about this particular stat.
Can we hit it here? on the Rich Eisen show. Uh are all gen staterated. Old chan stats.
Okay. When Brady made the NFC Championship game, I thought to myself, I know Montana made an AFC championship game after. leaving the Niners. Are those the only two guys? To have done it.
Are those the only two guys to have made the AFC and the NFC Championship game? The answer is no. At quarterback or quarterback.
Okay. At quarterback. The answer is no. I've got this stat right here. Tom Brady joins the list of Joe Montana.
Craig Morton, who made the AFC and NFC Championship games for the Broncos and the. And the Dallas Cowboys. And Jay Schrader, who did it for Washington and Oakland. No way. Wow.
Wow. If Brady wins the NFC Championship game, he joins Craig Morton as the only people to have won. in both. Yes.
That's your old gen stat here on the Rich Eisen Show. Old Gen Stats. Thank you very much. I like the stat that I saw that Tom Brady has more NFC championship appearances than the Dallas Cowboys in the last 25 years. MG.
Oh, MG. The bus just splatters mud right on T.J. Jefferson's Dallas Cowboy fandom lap. We ain't got nothing to do with this. We just minding our own business waiting for my quarterback's ankle to hear.
I don't have the patience to jack with you today. Dan in Ohio, let's take your phone call. What's up, Dan? You're on the Rich Rising Show. What's up, Dan?
Hey, Rich, thanks for taking my call. Big fan of the show. I appreciate you guys. I appreciate some hope that you gave me about a year ago today. I don't know if you remember, I called, I was so frustrated.
I'm calling today to give you and the Chargers fans and the Lions fans. I'm a huge Browns fan. And I called and I asked whether. The NFL could make Jimmy Haslam sell the Browns because I was so frustrated at the coaching changes and. The fans are ready to put Baker Mayfield up on eBay and sell him.
And what you told me was. You just got to hope they get the right guy in there, the right coach that can turn this thing around. Ma'am, are you right? And I just wanted to thank you for giving me hope as a Browns fan, and also ask you: out of all these, as Al Michaels just said. Yeah.
Quarterback combo, which franchise do you feel next year could be the Cleveland Browns of next year that's close to getting that? Coach and quarterback combination? Good question. Thank you for the call, Dan. Appreciate that.
Let me sit here and think. I don't know. Is it possible that Arthur Smith could be that guy for Matt Ryan? It's not like Matt's never done it before. I'm just going here.
Dan Campbell's j you know, bringing um Bring it I I I mean he's not I assume he's going to be bringing a Saints, if you will, mindset, but the only people who. might remember Dan Campbell as a other than a player. If you remember, he was the Big burly dude who took over for the Dolphins after they bounced Joe Philbin in the midst of all the stuff. I think about four or five years ago. Yeah, I remember that.
And that looks like a player is absolutely yoked. I know. And so he's going to bring some accountability in that regard, I guess. I don't know how he can who is the OC that he's going to hook up with Stafford if Stafford's the guy. Detroit needs to do something.
But again, you know, who's a young guy who needs that? It could be Sam Darnold. if the Jets stick with him. Mike LaFleur coming from the Shanahan McVeigh if you will world. Can he can he be that guy who Gets the Jets on the straight and narrow and all their draft choices, and suddenly they start winning football games.
Same draft year as Baker. You know? Because you're talking about is it possible? Is it possible? that the Eagles can hire somebody to Fix went and everything that I said over the last hour about.
Not fixing the quarterback problem and leaving that to the next coach being a disaster doesn't become one. It's possible. But I do want to say something about the Browns. I do want to say something about the Bratz. Because they are not the same old brons.
They are not. No, the same old Browns lose that game by forty. The same old Browns lose that game by forty yesterday. Yes, sir. The minute that, that ball hit the pylon and gets knocked out due to a hit that Richard Higgins took that was should have been flagged, So, you know, no call there.
And then the worst rule in the entire rule book. Rears its ugly head at the worst possible time. It's not 1610. The Chiefs, who's Defense is now on their heels, and the Browns score a touchdown right before the half. which is crucial for them because they're going to get the ball to start the n Second half, too, they can take a lead.
This is huge, and the ball just bounces the worst possible way. What a disaster! If the Browns had then folded L fold old if they had just lost that game by twenty, thirty points. I'm serious. We would be talking about this game: the fumble, the drive, and the pylon.
Yeah. Yeah, you know, even though the fumble and the drive happened at the worst possible moment at the end of the game, so that they could not recover. Right, right. You know.
Um The pylon happened at the end of the first half, but it was really a brutal thing to absorb. But they go went ahead and crushed it. And look, I don't really want to crush the guy because I don't know what's going on in his life or not. But can Johnny Manzel pipe down? You know, I mean, all that stuff that the reason why it didn't work out for him in Cleveland wasn't because Cleveland gave up on him.
No.
Okay. You know, he, he, the lack of self-awareness that appears to be in his tweets and his memes about celebrating and the Browns losing. Makes me wonder, you know, what he's thinking. Because it sure looked like he was trolling on the Browns for losing. And again, the Browns gave him a shot.
And he blew it. I'm sure there were lots of other circumstances that might have led to him, assisted in him blowing it, but he blew it.
So, you know, it's not the same old Browns. You got to like that. Cleveland, congratulations on that.
Now then, I haven't really gotten into that pylon rule. Have I?
Okay. Your news update, your news update, and my Complete distaste for this rule, and that's the lightest way I can put it. And Chad Henney. Who got the Chiefs home yesterday? He's an hour number three of this busy Monday program.
Still here on Peacock. Just uh following up on that caller's uh suggestion here, who's the next team to make the leap? I was trying to put together some teams for the poll question.
Okay. Like Browns, Chargers, Cardinals, who would be that fourth team? Would you put the giants on there? You could. You could.
They got a young coach combo quarterback. No, I know Dom Bowie, our EP, just got me here saying who's the next Peyton Breeze. We already have it in. In Reed and Mahomes. I mean, and Kingsbury.
Kingsbury and Kyler, I need to see a little bit more out of. Honestly, dude. I mean, they have an excellent combination, but the number of times. And, you know, I'm a fan of Kingsbury. A couple of times there were some really bad play calls that came out of nowhere and then terrible execution of them by Murray in situations that caused them to not make the playoffs.
The second half of the season was a total disappointment. Certainly since they were set up. I mean, let's just go for it. Urban and Trevor.
Well, Urban's not calling the place. Urban's a CEO standing up there. I understand.
So they're going to be linked together for a while. Obviously. That's the reason why he took the job. I can't wait to find out who's calling the place. Who's that person gets that golden ticket?
Open up the candy bar and here we go. Right. Off to the chocolate factory in Duval County. Here we go, man. You bet they did.
Off to the pool on the stadium. We have to go through the factory. Mike TV. Zach Taylor and Joe Brown. By the way, did you see Del Tufo's eyes light up when he heard Al mention that?
At Aaron Rodgers as a place in Malibu. You're thinking, I'm going to take my no-name boat all the way up there and try and get into it. Just swim in. When Alice gives us a lot of things. By the way, I've never heard anywhere the actual location where Aaron was taken in the draft.
Al knows it's up in the boo. And Del Tufo's sitting there thinking, that's what? How fast can you get to Malibu from Marina? 30 minutes. Half an hour?
30 minutes. 30 minutes. Just drop anchor outside of Aaron's house and hold up a boom box like you're in say anything. Just swim in. Swim in the shore.
That's more than two pumps, though, to get to Malibu. Ah, ah. Ah The unnamed boat, take it up to Malibu and hang out with Aaron. That's the name of the boy. Oh, boy, that's a terrible name.
Come on. Inappropriate. It's for oysters. Family show. There you go, very good.
That's my story. Chad Henney's coming up in hour number three: the man of the moment, the quarterback of the moment in Kansas City. Um
