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Live from the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles. Angelus. I kind of don't know how to feel about this. This is the Rich Eisen Show. Where you just don't act professionally, and then you get to go where you want to go afterwards.
The Rich Eisen Show. The guys are all in. They've all said the right things. That's what you needed to hear. Earlier on the show.
Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist Tony Baselli. Actor Josh Charles. Coming up. Pro Football Hall of Famer Kurt Warner. Plus, your phone calls, sneaky good games, and more.
And now. It You're ready. Rich Eisen. Our number three of the Rich Eisen Show on the Friday before divisional playoff weekend in the National. Football League is on the air.
Chris Brockman's news update is coming up. It's a higher register Friday. Every single Friday we have a take, Chris Brockman. TJ Jefferson and I give you our higher register takeaway. We got to go up here in order to say what we believe.
It's tough to believe, but you know. When you see it up here, you can actually believe it. Like, that's the way we roll it. I think the Browns might win this weekend. Oh, is that your.
It is not. I'm just throwing it out there. It's Kyle Brantz. Oh, that's his higher registration. Kyle Brandt went full Herb Brooks today on morning.
He said he was going to do that on Wednesday. He found the plaid pants and went for it. And that was his another.
So he's inspired. That was to inspire the Cleveland Browns? Yes, to go out and win the game. Say that's for the ramps too, man. Yeah.
You know what's really amazing is it's Rams. It's McVay versus LaFleur. And You know, whoever wins this game will be in the NFC Championships game two out of the last three years. And um That's what you want out of your coach. Obviously, if somebody's under the age of 40, it's really unbelievable.
And these guys know each other. They're best friends. Like LaFleur said he's like a best friend, they're best friends, but that goes out the window on Saturday. And if McVeigh if McVay takes this team to the NFC Championship game. The hell of a coaching game.
You know what I mean?
Well, you know what it is. The thing, and that's what I'm before we get to your news update. That's what all of the teams that hire coaches and general managers right now are hoping for. Is to have the right hire Just spark something. be hired the right Either paired with the right GM or you hire the right GM.
I'm telling you again. I was on that flight home. On the Rams flight home, I don't take many flights with teams, but I took this one home so I could do our show. on a Friday. After a Thursday night game, After a Thursday night game, Uh in Seattle.
And if I'm not mistaken, Chris, memory serves, this was Jared Goff's first career start. I believe it was. Will you look this up when Jared Goff's first career start was? Because the Rams had just fired Jeff Fisher. And John Fossell.
The special teams coordinator was installed in the short week Installed in the short week as the interim head coach. And good luck. Interim head coach, short week. Division game in Seattle. Good luck.
And they got smoked. They got absolutely destroyed. And The flight home was miserable. It was just miserable. Not his first start, but.
He was close enough. Yeah, close enough. They lost 24-3. It was miserable. Yeah.
It was miserable. Todd Gurley was disgruntled. He was saying that it was like a high school offense that they were running, and they knew that it was untenable, and they knew it had to stop. And they fired Jeff Fisher, and that flight home was miserable. Yeah, Goff started week 11 in Miami and lost all seven of his starts.
Little did the Rams know. that they would make the right move in keeping less need. And little did they know that they were with Keeping Less Need and hiring Sean McVay just a few short months removed. From being The blueprint that the Copycat League would copy off of. Hire a coach.
Young, unproven? Sure.
So what? Right fit? Do it. Hook them up. To your quarterback that needs the assistance because you drafted him so high, you can't run the risk of this guy not being the guy.
Hook him up, see what happens, and go for it. Right guy, go with the gut, go with the feel, go for it. They did it.
Now, look, now age isn't just a number. Everyone's hiring everybody that's. In their 30s now. And now here's McVay. And LaFleur, you could say he got a shot in Green Bay because.
McVay was so good at what he was doing in Los Angeles. And the fact that that was born, in a way, out of that flight home. Every single team that's hiring a coach right now. is hoping that they could be the Rams.
Now it's tough. You gotta have somebody like Les Need. You gotta have somebody. like Kevin Demoff as a team president. You got to have somebody like McVay all together.
Everybody's hoping to be that. 844-204-Rich is the number to dial. Chris Brockman, are you ready for your news update over there? Let's do it, buddy. And now With a report of the day's news from the world of sports and entertainment.
Someone who is not a journalist or newsman by any definition of the word whatsoever. It's Chris Brock. All right, Chris, what do you got over there?
Okay, Rich. The big news of the day down in Jacksonville, Urban Meyer is the head coach. No, we haven't heard any details on money or length of the contract, but Urban is there, obviously. The big decision he's going to have to make is who he's going to take at number one overall. And Urban talked about that today.
You see Trevor, you see Justin, you see Zach, you see, you know, this is going to be, you know, as Shad said, this is a montumental moment for this franchise. And we've seen some franchises explode and we've seen others fail. And I've said this many times, you know, throughout my career, is that when the NFL says it's a quarterback league, you know, I would say, well, so is college and so is high school, so is Pop Warner. It's a quarterback sport.
So whoever takes that snap, we have got to be right on. Our owner, he is invested in an organization. And I'm telling you now, the reason I'm standing behind his mind, he wants to win. He wants and he wants to win, not for himself, he wants to win for Jacksonville. and who we pick at that quarterback spot.
Oh. That's going to be one of the most important decisions I've made in my lifetime. And along with the partnership of our owner and our. general manager and the ones that are out there My initial study, because I have been studying a lot. Um I like to use the term elite.
I I see some elite quarterbacks out there right now. Wow. We got drama at the number one pick, Rich. Yeah. Do you have it, Mike?
What were they really thinking?
Well, I can't sit here and say Trevor's our guy right now. I mean, we haven't drafted him yet. Anything can possibly change. Last thing we're going to do is say Trevor's our guy right from the get-go. And then all of a sudden, Trevor doesn't want to come.
I mean, until he's ours, he's not ours.
So I can't sit here and say it's Trevor Lawrence. But yes, the reason why I'm sitting behind this microphone is because Shad Khan wants to win. And yes, I am saying all that because I believe he wants to win. And I also believe the reason why we haven't disclosed the terms and the dollars of this contract is because it's so astronomically huge. That's the reason why I'm sitting behind this microphone.
But are you out of your mind? I'm sitting here because Trevor Lawrence is coming and we're going to get him. And I can't sit here and say that he's going to be gotten because what if somebody does decide to go all Mike Ditka crazy and send us every single draft choice to make the Brooklyn Nets blush? But yeah. It's Trevor.
Please. Please. And yeah, it is a quarterback league in college, in high school, and Pop Warner. He's correct in all of that, but unlike college, College and high school in Pop Warner, you get one shot at getting it right in the first round. One.
Or two if you're lucky to have multiple picks, like the Jaguars do, in fact, have. Sure.
But, you know, we s we've used this before and And unfortunately, one of us here has, in fact, or two of us here has, in fact, eaten. A hat, correct? Mike, you've eaten a hat here because you said if the Eagles had made the playoffs last year, you were going to eat a hat, correct? That was me. And then you ate a hat.
I ate that. And then Mike Del Tufo said you would eat a hat if Gronk came out of retirement, and then you ate a hat. You ate a part of a hat. I actually didn't know. Mike didn't eat that hat.
He didn't eat the hat? He didn't eat that hat. Did you get out of not eating the hat? He didn't do it. Oh, you're paying that off.
Did he never eat that hat? Did you skip? Hey, Rich, you know he didn't eat that hat. You think Del Tuo is going to talk about it, but he's not going to do it. Come on.
Oh, my God. I ate a hat in a PBJ and was sick for a week after. I will use Tom Brady as my response. I plead the fail. Wow.
Wow. Well, at any rate, I'll come out and say it. If Trevor Lawrence isn't a Jacksonville Jaguar, I will eat the hat. I will eat a hat. I'll finish that hat.
How about this? I'll eat a bat. I'll eat an Ohio State hat. Wow. Oh.
Wow. I'll eat an Ohio State hat. Wow. Somebody ate. Please.
Clip that. Please. Hoskins. Please, please. Please.
He can't come out and say Trevor Lawrence is our guy because Trevor's not there yet. The reason why, and I. This is the truth. This is the honest truth. The reason why You don't see draft picks in the green room when they're about to be picked.
anymore is because The league doesn't want the picks spoiled. By a shot of the prospect on the phone with the coach or the team. And so. I don't think it was ever broached. But I said at one point, well, here's the fix because I want the best television product.
I mean, you want to see that moment when the kid's like crying on the phone and all that stuff. You want to see that moment. Outside of that, if we can't show the kid Getting Chosen. Right? The moment he realizes he's in the NFL.
If we can't get that because we can't have the phone call. How? about you tell the teams you can't call a prospect. How about the teams make the pick? And then we show the kid learning that he's, you know, won the Oscar.
Call him out. You know what I mean?
Like, you don't show, you don't see Meryl Streep. Winning the Oscar in her first moment is just walking up to the stage. You see her face. They show your face when your face went, using the fame meme. You know, your face when?
You win. But we don't see that for the draftees anymore. We don't. That's on tape now because you can't see them on the phone. And I said, why don't you just tell the teams, don't call the players?
And I was told that will never happen. Why? Because they have to call the players. Why? They have to see if the player is.
Is alive, is what I was told. I'm like, what? What?
So nuts. What they have to see. If the player is healthy, and alive. I am about to choose you. That's what they call him.
Where you're about to become a cowboy. Jerry Jones makes videos out of it, too. You're about to become a cowboy. You ready to become a cowboy? Let me hand the phone off to Jason Garrett, whoever I have here.
You ready to be cowboy? Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Are you alive?
Excited. It's not just to do that, just to. You're not dead, are you? Yes. Can you fog up a mirror?
Yes. Are you okay? Yes. You're hired. That is really stupid.
That is really stupid. And I love your idea, by the way. Just tell them don't call. Yeah. Call them after.
That's why Urban can't sit here and say Trevor's our guy. Because we got to make sure Trevor Lawrence isn't dead somewhere in the world. Or that Trevor, some reason, thinks I don't want to play for Urban Meyer. You know, I heard all these stories about him at Ohio State. I don't want to play for him.
Jacksonville's, you know, he pulls, you know, and so Jacksonville's like now egg on their face. Yeah. Now they can literally say, well, we've been looking at a bunch of people anyway, so let's go. And then Robert Sala gets Trevor Lawrence. Yeah, and then Rich.
Other big news: Jets hire Robert Sala. That's Have you sat on a couple hours? You could go to my first blush reaction. You can see it on our YouTube feed, youtube.com/slash Rich Eisen Show or Right here on Peacock when the show's over on the sports tab, the Rich Eisen Show tab. But I'll just sum it up.
I have no earthly idea. It's just that everybody loves him. I haven't heard a single crossword about him. He was interviewed by everyone else. And the Jets were smart to go get him.
If he's their guy and Joe Douglas is the general manager and says he's our guy and he's going to be the CEO, because again, Urban's not calling the plays. He is not. That's who I would want. I want the CEO. Because I don't want somebody like Rex who's like, well, I'm going to have my back to the offense because I'm on defense.
You know, and Salah, if he's going to call the defense, fine, but I don't want my head coach calling the plays. I just don't. I don't, unless they're like nineteen, twenty years in, like Andy Reid, and he you know, he knows how he can call the plays and sit down next to Mahomes and then rally the defense if he wants. I just don't need a first time head coach calling a play. I just don't need that sort of thing.
It doesn't usually work out. And I'm scarred.
Now, I know LaFleur's calling plays, and McVay's calling plays, and they can do it, but. I don't know. I like the CEO coach. Yeah, me too. And then whoever he brings is the offensive coordinator, you better make sure.
That you're grooming his replacement. Because if Darnold stays and becomes the Quarterback the Jets hoped he would be. then Mike LaFlore's getting a job somewhere else. He'll be around two, three years, and see you later.
So you need a CEO, head coach to groom that sort of thing.
Some other coaches. At least that's my coaching. I assume it's going to work. Dan Campbell has emerged as the favorite to be the Lions head coach. Dan Campbell.
According to Ian Rappaport and Trump. Do you remember he was the one who took over after Joe Filmman got the gate when everything was going crazy in their offensive line room? He's been down in New Orleans as their assistant head coach in the middle. Wow. Anthony Lynn has been in talks with Pete Carroll about the Seahawks' offensive coordinator position.
That'll be interesting. Ian Radport saying the Falcons are engaged with talks with Titans OC Arthur Smith to be their head coach. And 49 is expected to promote D'Amico Ryans to replace Robert Sala as defensive coordinator. You heard Russ report saying that Russell wants to have a hand in who the offensive coordinator is. And that's smart.
Uh yeah. I hope, you know, Pete does take that into account. And I assume Anthony Lynn would be somebody that that Russ would uh appreciate since He's got an incredible resume, and I know it didn't work out. In um in uh here in Los Angeles but I don't know. It just makes makes sense that somebody with that resume could come up to to Pete Staff and be the OC, but I would absolutely do it.
Makes total sense that Russ would get to change. choose what the menu is if he's cooking. Hoops Note, Kyrie Irving has been fined $50,000 by the league for violating health and safety protocols when he attended an indoor private party last weekend. And as long as tests are negative, and he clears protocol, could be available to play on Saturday against Orlando, as would James Harden, who passed his physical today, but not allowed to practice because a thing in the NBA where every player involved in the trade must complete their physical before anyone can participate in any on-court activities. James Harden expected to meet the media shortly.
Okay, today, you mean? Today, when you're in the middle of the minutes. Be held live when that happens, please. Or does the earth have to really be flat before he actually talks to the media? And by the way, kudos, kudos.
To the Houston Rockets, who won their first game minus Harden. Last night against the San Antonio Spurs. They did. Of course, saying a bunch of guys and no John Wall. Wall sat that one out.
They had a bunch of guys who hadn't been able to shoot the ball or score in two years.
So, of course, they were hyped. You know what we need to do for Monday's show? Not today. Not today, because we only have about a half hour left, and I want to take a break to get to Kurt Warner. But you know what we need to do for Monday's show?
I want to know which. NBA stars have played every game this year. Uh Like every game. Haven't missed a game and forget about COVID. Tatum shouldn't be involved in that sort of stuff.
Outside of COVID. Can we get guys playing two, three games in a row or two game two, three games in a row? LeBron is one of them. LeBron's one of them. He's out there.
But I mean, honestly, this whole day-to-day stuff and back spasms, this, and I got to work on that. And. Tightness this, tightness that. It's just, what are we doing here? I'm noticing it more than ever now that we're in our fantasy league that TJ Jefferson is now suddenly tied for DFL.
Yeah, you know, that's not my fault. That's Kyrie's fault. Yeah. You know, because he decided he didn't want to come to work. You know what I mean?
Like, I can't win if he's not on the court.
So, you know, it's not really my fault. You know, I'm not. If you believe it, it's also not a lie if it's the truth. We need to burn sage around your fantasy team. We need to smudge the fantasy team.
I burn incense every night, trust me, and it should damn act together. Take a break, Kurt Warner, Pro Football Hall of Famer. What does he think about Brady versus Breeze and all the other quarterback matchups? That's next on the Rich Eisen Show. This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance.
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Getting the song. AutoZone! Welcome to AutoZone. What are you working on today? Hey, that's the spirit.
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restrictions apply. Not once have I been able to live out my long dream. As a young top growing up in Staten Island, New York, I've always dreamt. To do a show like this one wearing a mustache with one of my colleagues in full clown makeup and a black wig and a red clown nose, Chris Brockman. Wearing that on this show, having March sadness.
Rich, I'm so sad. And you will be out on the DirecTV thoroughfare. Dressed like that, with a Rich Eisen Show sandwich board that reads, I have March Sadness. This is the most public yet of my many humiliations. I have March sadness.
Can you come give me a hug? I'm so sorry. I'm so sad. Thank you. Congratulations to you for getting more out of the clown makeup this year than last year.
At this point, last year, hour three, you had already removed it, crying like a baby about how your skin had hurt. That's very interesting what it was. You kind of look like Zach Galifanakis in baskets right now. Oh, yeah, that's a good idea. You kind of look like that angry, sort of disheveled clown.
right now. This is not a good look for me. I disagree. For a third consecutive year, he has finished dead last in the Rich Eisen Show bracket competition, thus having to wear clown makeup for all three hours. None other than Chris Brockman from Modern Family, our friend Eric Stone Street.
How are you, Eric?
Well, I'm not doing very well, Rich. Oh, no. Take that wig off right now.
Okay, take it. I'm watching you. Remove the wig, Brockman. Come back. I have March.
I'm just going to follow you. I don't know where you're going.
Now this is creepy.
Now this is creepy.
Come on, I have March sadness. Just give me a hug, my man. You get it. You get it. Chris Long!
I have March sadness! Chris! I need a hard. Yeah. Yes.
Look at that. Management approved! It's a tradition unlike any other. For a fourth straight year, and as per the specs of Eric Stone Street, you are dressed as an August clown. You're like the Buffalo Bills of this contest.
Can I get a hug for March Sadness? Anybody? No? Oh, boy, the sandwich board's flying all over. What a mess.
Millennials. Come on, Millennials. There you go. Come on, big finish. Finish up strong.
There you go. Nicely cut it slow. Mm-hmm. Oh, that's not that. Peace.
Fantastic. Stone Street was so upset because we were not doing it. We weren't doing it the right way. Yes, we were applying the clown makeup improperly, unprofessionally, and he called in really upset about it. And then he gave instructions on how to do it one year.
Because we don't want to piss off Eric. By the way, remember hugging people? That was awesome. I remember that. I know.
Ha ha ha ha ha. Yeah. Well, you were the Buffalo Bills four years ago. Like, I'm a clown. I abuse you.
You did, Brock. Thanks, Mike. Back here on the Rich Eisen Show, everybody. Back here on the Rich Eisen Show. We're here on NBC Sports on Peacock.
And on Peacock, right now, you could stream the office every episode, extras and exclusives. It is one of the most amazing shows ever put on television. And that is not. Hyperbole. It's must-see television on NBC Comedy, and then now you could see it only on Peacock Streaming.
right now. 844-204-Rich, number to dial, and we have dialed up my Hall of Fame friend making his way from the great state of Arizona, the great state of California, so he can be part of NFL Game Day Morning in studio tomorrow. My buddy Kurt Warner. How are you, Kurt? I am good, my friend.
How are you? We have lit a candle for your cell reception, Kurt, because you're in a car, right? On an interstate right now between the two states. Is that where you are right now, Kurt? I am.
I'm rolling right now, so I'm hoping we can hold out for this interview. All right, where GPS are you right now? Where in the world is Kurt Warner? Like, literally, what was the last exit you passed, Kurt? Are you in Arizona or are you in California?
Where are you?
Now, I have no idea where I'm at. I'm just. Driving blind back here and just worried about gaining for the. We're all good. We're just good.
We're going to get there.
Okay, very good. Very good. Kurt Brady versus Breeze, my word, my lord. I mean, these are the two quarterbacks we've been talking about all year with Breeze. And does he have the arm strength anymore?
What does he have left? And Brady was, well, I mean, the offense was never in sync, and Will could ever be in sync. And now here we are. They're both in the divisional round. I cannot wait for this.
How do you suss out this all-time matchup? Curt. Yeah. I I mean, I can't wait either. I mean, these are two guys that I have enjoyed watching for so long because They played the game very similar to the way I played the game, played neck up.
Uh it's about making good decisions and uh obviously the physical stuff comes secondary. Um but I I I really when you look at this and we're going to talk about the quarterback uh you know, ad nauseam this weekend, but To me, it's really about the front four of both defensive Units and whichever one wins, I believe, wins this football game. And up to this point, It has been the Saints defensive front. That has created all kinds of havoc, which has freed up their back end to be able to do numerous different things against. All those weapons of Brady.
And that has been the difference, whereas Tampas front hasn't really got after Drew Brees, you know, part because Drew Bre Drew Brees gets the ball out so quickly. but part because um they're not quite as dynamic up front. As what the Saints have.
So that to me is where this game will be won or lost. Um I expect both quarterbacks to play well when given the opportunity, but uh but that to me is what I'm what I'm looking for more than anything else in this game. And then what about uh being uh a future Hall of Fame quarterback? Um what what what was that game for you, Kurt, when you were playing where it's just like, okay, I know this guy has got a similar resume to mine. And you know, I know I'm not going against him per se, I'm going against his defense, but this still just gets my my my game up.
Who was that guy for you when you were playing? I mean, it's not really one guy. I mean, it's anybody that falls into that. And so, you know, I remember playing against Brett Favre. Uh, you know, one of the playoff runs.
You know, playing against a guy like that that you had watched, and a guy, obviously, I was with. For a few weeks in Green Bay, but a guy that I'd watched his career go and just knew he was a surefire Hall of Famer. But there was all kinds of guys like that. You know, Peyton Manning along the way, when you get a chance to play against Tom Brady. Um, you know, even later in my career, you know, the Last playoff game I played in Arizona was against Aaron Rodgers.
And even though it was the beginning of his career, You knew that he was going to be something special.
So every time there was one of those guys that you would match up against, it was important and it was something that you wanted to prove that you belonged in the same category. And more importantly, you wanted to prove you were the better quarterback. On that day. And then anytime you ratchet that up and you get closer to the Super Bowl and you get into this realm. Of things.
I look at Drew Brees and say, Drew's been great. But this is a goat. This is a guy that wins at this time of year. What a great statement if this is. Is his last year.
To be able to beat Tom Brady in this moment. And shoot, mate, he may have to beat Tom Brady and then Aaron Rodgers. If he's going to make another Super Bowl run.
So, um. You know, they're they're all those guys. You pay attention to it when you know That they're in that category. Obviously, these two guys are in that category, but you face those guys every once in a while, and it was always a big game. Kurt Warner here on The Rich Eisen Show, and you say, you know, Breeze, to make it.
To the mountaintop may have to go through Brady and then Rogers, and then it's possible Mahomes. After that, and I said earlier on the show that that you know we don't have You know, you can always say this error against that error and things that I don't have the statistics from NFL research in front of me here. But you could make the case this is the greatest quarterback. uh divisional playoff weekend ever occurred where you've got Four Super Bowl MVPs and Brady, Brees, Mahomes, Rogers, four. Regular season MVPs, you remove Breeze and put Lamar in.
Five Super Bowl quarterbacks where you add Goff to the mix of Brady, Mahomes, Brees, and Rodgers. Two first. Overall, drafted quarterbacks in Goff and Mayfield, three kids from a draft. in the first round just three years ago. It's really Amazing.
To what do you owe, I guess, something the longevity of the position or the youth being served so quickly is to go completely macro on you on you here. Would you agree with something? A statement like that about this weekend? I mean, I you know, again, like you said, it's hard when you don't There were some other interdivisional round weekends that were pretty impressive. With different guys, been to Super Bowls.
But yeah, I mean, you know, i in this latest era, and when you look at what's been accomplished and the fact that, you know, Tom Brady just in and of himself, how great he is. Getting more towards the end. I think you could definitely make an argument, especially if you kind of project. Mahomes forward based on what he's done so early. where he may sit when this is all done.
I mean, you know, you're talking about you know, possibly four guys that could really be in that mix for you know, greatest ever or top ten ever. I mean, that's That's pretty impressive. And then we've obviously got some great young guys. here, some guys that are under twenty five that have been pretty impressive. Early in their careers as well.
So maybe when we look back ten years from now, it even has more stature when you look at what's well these you know, eight teams. Have at the quarterback position and what they mean to our game from a big picture standpoint.
So let's talk about some of the other matchups here, Kurt. This show in particular, we haven't really hit both early games of Saturday and Sunday. Let's start with the defending Super Bowl champs. We've been talking all year long which team would have an opportunity to derail. The Chiefs, and now the first one up to actually have that opportunity.
Are the Cleveland Browns coming off of an absolutely remarkable first quarter against Pittsburgh that they rode to victory? How do you see this matchup and whether the Browns could in fact wind up being that team to one and done the Chiefs, Kurt?
Well, I mean, I I look at it and I say I think the Chiefs are by far the better football team. you know top to bottom Across the way, obviously starting with Patrick Mahomes, they're to me the better football team.
Now, we know that that doesn't automatically mean a win in the playoffs, but. I I do believe it's going to take a special performance by Cleveland. You know, they're going to have to dominate Up front. Run the football. I'm still not convinced as good as Baker's been at times this year.
He can go swing for swing. for 60 minutes with Patrick Mahomes and make the right decision. And not put the ball in harm's way. I'm just not convinced of that.
So I believe it's got to be a perfect game plan for Cleveland. being able to run the football dominate there. Baker be a complimentary piece. I don't think they have enough defensively. to really slow down or shut down the cheese?
So I believe the Chiefs are going to score points outside of some type of debacle like we saw. last week in Pittsburgh, especially early in that game. Um Yes, I think this is even a much longer shot. for Cleveland to win. Than it was last week.
And, you know, I see it going the way of the Chiefs, and I think it's going to be a handed victory for them.
So then give me the chances for the Rams. How can they pull this off? Because they can take Jalen Ramsey. And put him on Devontae Adams, as we're all ready and excited to see. And then Aaron Donald, whatever percentage he is, to try and hunt the other Aaron.
And to try and stop the other Aaron and the way to the other Aaron, if that makes any sense. How do you see the Rams' chances in this game in Lambeau Field?
Well, you. You know what, Rich, if uh if Jared Goff is healthy, I would give the Rams a good shot at being able to knock off the Packers. I think. They're going to be able to do some things defensively. I think they've got the pieces to be able to force it.
away from uh you know Devontae Adams and force some of those other guys you know, the other guys to have to beat them. Can the other guys step up Uh and make some plays. uh are enough plays to beat them. Um But I'm just not sure Jared Goff. with where he's at with his hand.
in the cold with the struggles that he had controlling the football last week, I'm not sure what they're going to get offensively.
Now, they can run the football. They're better with Whit Whitworth back there. Um, you know, so that's a chance. You know, the Packers at times have struggled against the run.
So maybe that's their Saving grace. They run the football. It's a low-scoring game, and they get just enough from Jared Goff. Um, but you know, to me, I I just think Aaron's going to do enough In his home, in that weather against this defense, to score enough points. just not expecting the Rams to be able to really get a whole lot going Offensively, you know, with golf throwing the football.
So I think it's a lower scoring game. you know, mid-twenties. Um and I think it will be a close football game. I think their defense is good enough to keep it close. But I I think Aaron Rodgers finds a way to uh To win this one however he has to.
And then give me your take on the last divisional game we haven't really discussed with the Ravens, Lamar finally winning his first and then Josh Allen coming off of his first, the seventh and thirty-second overall picks of the 2018 draft. How do you see that Saturday night game playing out? Sure.
You know, this one's fascinating to me because We all know how the Ravens have been playing. We all know what they do, and they've gotten back to running the football. And they're going against a Bills defense that has not been great against the run. especially in their losses, they give up about 200 yards rushing.
So you say from that standpoint, man, it seems to Really, really well for where the Ravens are and what they're doing well to maybe run away with this one. But then you have. Josh Allen, who's been obviously so good, but where Josh Allen has been great. This year has been against man-to-man defenses using his speed receivers. to get big play after big play.
What does Baltimore do? They love to play press band. They love to get up in your face and challenge you. that fits very, very well for what Buffalo is offensively. And so, does Baltimore choose to do something different?
Do they think they can hold up against these speedy receivers? And does Josh Allen go off in this game because it's set up for what they do well offensively, also? And so, I love this matchup. I think it's going to be a great matchup. And I'm not really sure.
I'm still kind of. Going back and forth, there's moments I go, Oh, yeah, the Ravens are going to run all over them and they're going to be able to dominate this and win. You know, you'd rather have the run than the pass. But then you look at Josh Allen and how good he's been, and you look at their receivers. They got all their speed receivers back.
And I think it's going to be tough for Baltimore, as good as they are on the back end. To match up with the speed of Buffalo as well. And so there's other moments I go back and forth that I think Buffalo is going to win. I'm not really sure. Probably leaning a little towards Buffalo right now just because they seem like they're a team that's feeling good about themselves and playing at home.
Uh but I may very easily change that before we uh we pick tomorrow morning.
Okay, and before I let you go, Kurt, uh what do you think of Urban Meyers hiring? In Jacksonville, and if Robert Sala's hiring with the Jets makes you think. that they're going to keep Sam Darnold and bring the Shanahan system there and let him go and try and be much better. I'll give you the floor on the news of the coaching day. Yeah, you know, I'm excited about both moves.
I actually ran into Urban on an airplane last year, and we started talking a little bit, and I could tell then he had the itch to coach again and really got the sense That his itch was to try His hand in the NFL. And so when I started hearing the rumblings a little bit, it did not surprise me that he was kind of back in that mix. And, you know, I think it's always exciting when you've had a great college coach, a guy that has done great things with different organizations over the years.
Now he gets a chance to see if he can do it at this level. And I think it's good and exciting for our league. And he's been a winning You know, presence in this game for a long time, so I'm excited to see what he can do at this level. And then Coach Salah, I mean, I'm pumped. Just from what you hear about him and the presence that he brings, we all know New York is a huge market and you need a big personality, a strong personality to lead that group.
I believe he has that. I think he's a leader of men. And you mentioned it. I think we've seen a lot of quarterbacks that may not be considered great quarterbacks that have had some success. in that shanahan type System and Sam Darnold, we've seen moments where he looks really, really good.
If you can build A system around him to make the game a little bit easier and not have to make him drop back 35 or 40 times. I think you can get him back on track, and you can have a quarterback that can be successful. um in this league and then we'll get a chance to maybe see What he can become, but it would be nice to have a system that would help Sam Darno because. You know, quite honestly, he hasn't had system, he hasn't had personnel. to really help him much.
Since he's been in New York, and so that excites me as well because I know that system. Built the right way. can have success even with a quarterback that may not be great. At this particular point in time.
So I'm excited about the hires. I think every year you hate to see coaches fired, but you're always excited about new guys. Getting opportunities and what they can be, and how they kind of write their legacy in the coaching world moving forward. And I'm excited to see how these two guys will do it.
Well, Kurt, I'm. Always love when you come on and I love you and I'm thrilled that you took my call, especially since the way that game day morning ended last week. How many suits did you bring? How many suits did you bring this weekend? Kurt.
I only brought two. Just the two. I only brought two. One for one for each day.
Okay. You don't recognize it. You don't give me any love after you ask me to do it. I'm not going through all that work again for nothing. I'm going, man.
No, I know. TJ, I think you saw the end of it. Kurt Chris on Saturday show when he was home changed his jacket just because that's what it was part of the joke that was going on in the show. And I said the Saturday show, maybe he could change once an hour the next day. And sure enough, we were wondering before the show, is he going to do it?
Is he not going to do it? And then we saw in between hours one and two, he did, in fact, change clothes. No, but we decided to treat it like one of those. Teammates you love that hits a home run, but you ignore him when he comes back to the dugout. He didn't say anything?
He said nothing. I know. And that got you pissed, Curtis.
Now, that's one thing if I just did it on my own. To kind of play that joke, okay, get it. But you asked me the day before by my host to do this, and then I go through the whole show and go through all the effort and he doesn't say a word. I mean, come on, that's just not right for the host to do that, to set it up like that, and then no love whatsoever. No, when you say not right, I mean, you know, it.
There were some who thought it was actually the right way to play it. You're the best, Kurt. You're the best, Kurt. I'll see you next time. I will see tomorrow.
I'll see you tomorrow. You got drive safe. That's Kurt Warren, everybody. That's how he decided to play. We saw he made the change, and we're like, let's not say anything.
He did it again, and he did it again, and he starts tweeting it out. And then we start showing tweets about other people who were commenting on what's going on on the show, and it wasn't about him. You can see him off camera. He's just like, what kids? What do I have to do?
Higher register and Mike Del Tufo's weather report takes us to our divisional weekend that's coming up. Let's talk O'Reilly Auto Parts people. They're in the business of keeping your car on the road. OOO O'Reilly Auto Parts offers friendly, helpful service and the parts knowledge you need for all your maintenance and repairs. They've got thousands of parts and accessories in stock either in store or online, so you never have to worry if you're in a jam.
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Your coach got slimed. I noticed that. I saw that. I did an interview right after the game with one of the Nickelodeon kids, and I was like, yo, if this slime buck comes out, I'm taking off. I saw Sean had his Retro 11 low J's on.
He did. And you hate to see a good pair of J's go because those are done. You can't clean those. You sure? Donate them call it Dunn.
There's no way for those shoes to be cleaned or anything like that, huh? Not at all. I think that slime is going to be in there. Like, that goop is probably never leaving. I know there's dame time.
Is there, can we come up with something? Is there a McCollum moment? I know that's a lot of syllables. You can come up with something, man. I don't.
I didn't get fucked, then I go home. My guys right now are turning all shades of red. They don't want me to do this, right? Obviously, we love CJ, so we want what's best for him. Right.
So we got to really make sure it's a good one before we unveil it.
So you don't want a nickname, is what you're saying, essentially. It doesn't matter to me, man. If you come up with one, I'll embrace it, depending on what it is. The dependent came after I heard that.
Okay. What's the moment, Calais, where things began to change for the better? We kind of got a spark because when Lamar came back after getting the IV against the Browns to win that ballgame, you said Lamar came back from an IV. Is that what he was coming back from? I give people, they were, they weren't as fine to me.
So the man said he's come back from an IV after he comes back from. I wasn't there. I don't know what happened in the locker room. But my man said he came back from IV, so that was it. We'll just leave it at that, right?
That's my story, and I'm sticking to it. Your best Bills Mafia story in your time. What do you got? Last year, I got reached out to by some. And they said, Hey, will you do a tailgate appearance before the game?
This guy's drinking again, and I must have said something that he thought was funny. He spits into the top of this.
Solo cup of Gennett, and it just covers me.
So I'm covered in Genneth's fear now before a broadcast. And then we all agreed that the only proper repercussions is that I just slam them through a table. Are you in advance telling members of your friends and family, sorry, in advance? No, no, no, no, no. I'm just letting them know.
I don't want the negative vibes about me. I don't want my phone. And they call my phone. Turn the phone off, right? You're turning your phone off, right?
That's for sure. Oh, yeah, definitely, definitely. They know, dude, I call my phone talking about this thing. I don't care nothing about football because I know deep down they root for me, but they're going for the same thing. Is it true that extras on that film were John Bon Jovi and Tom Cruise?
It's absolutely true. John Bon Jovi got his sad card by getting shot on camera coming out of the pit. No kidding. 100% true.
So John Bon Jovi got his Screen Actor's Guild card by getting shot in a cameo and Young Guns. John wanted to hang around on set for a couple of weeks to write the soundtrack. And then one night it's like, hey, let's throw John in there and shoot him. No though, that isn't. Fun week, fun week here on the Rich Osen Show.
Youtube.com/slash Rich Osen Show, or just keep it right here on Peacock TV. to watch us. What a day. What a day. Back here on the Rich Eisen Show to wrap up our Friday show and take you to Divisional Playoff Week.
And every single Friday, we have a higher register Friday where we got to, you know, talk like this to kind of believe what we were. Thinking or go against what we were saying? Regular register. It's called Higher Register. Let's hit it, please.
There's a chance the rich eisen shows that there could be higher Register! Take of the week. All right, Chris Brock, when you're ready, you go first. All right, I'm going to talk NBA Rich. All right.
The news all week: the gigantic Harden to the Nets trade. It's worked out. Harden's meeting with the media right now, called himself an elite player, an elite teammate, an elite leader. That's a lot of elites. Kyrie Irving is expected to play this week.
He's elite. Kevin Durant's been an MVP throughout the first part of the season. The elite. I think this hardened trade's gonna work out for the Nets. You do think so, huh?
I think they're going to the finals. Wow. Ooh.
Okay. By the way, he's saying he's elite in terms of a teammate. And a leader. Yeah. He said he regrets how it ended, but it worked out for both sides in Houston.
Whatever that means.
Well, I mean, Houston's got a huge future, and they won without him last night. What a feeling that must be for me. And I have Harden on my fantasy team, so I really are, very good.
Now we know why you want higher-register. What do you got over there, TJ Jefferson? What's your higher up?
Well, guys, you know, when you believe in things that you don't understand, then you suffer. Superstition ain't the way. You know, superstition plays a huge part in sports. No doubt. You know, whether it's Tiger wearing red on Sunday or Noma.
Remember Noma and all his batting. I got nervous watching. MJ in his UNC shorts and Wade Boggs eating all that chicken. You know, and as a fan, we have our own superstitions. You know, you got to wear the same jersey or the same socks.
You got to eat off the same plate or drink out of the same cup.
So I was thinking this: the Cleveland Browns won their first. Playoff game since 1994 last week against the Steelers. Correct. And what happened? Their head coach, Kevin Stefansky, was sitting at home in his basement watching a 100-foot TV screen.
And because sitting in the same seat is something that's kind of like a superstition for sport fans, maybe, and I'm just saying, just maybe, Kevin Stefansky should stay home for this playoff game. That's tremendous. Maybe. That is just an epic, you know, topic. Maybe he should stay home.
I'm telling you, I have extended, I extended many a Don Manningley hit streak. By staying in the same spot where I was watching the game, I totally get it. Nate Zagura, my boy, think about that, man. Maybe Stefanski stays home. Excellent.
It's not the Kansas City Chiefs. It's the fact that he did not stay at home and watch the game from last week.
Well done, TJ. Thank you, sir.
Okay, so we were all wondering: what the hell was Doug Peterson thinking by putting in Nate Seidfeld? What was he doing? And we were wondering, is he trying to get himself fired? And then we thought, okay, he's just doing what was asked of him. We found out after the season was over that he was going to have his job.
He was going to stick with his job and he was going to have an exit interview with Jeffrey Laurie and it was all going to be just fine. Then he has the exit interview with Jeffrey Laurie. And then he's fired. And even Jeffrey Laurie admitted he didn't deserve to lose his job. But the way it looks like.
Is that the organization, because they are so financially tied to Carson Wentz, And that Wentz and his relationship with Doug Peterson was so destroyed because Wentz couldn't handle the benching. And anything else that was going on, that Wentz admitted to the Associated Press that he did not go to the exit interviews with Deck Peterson, couldn't even look him in the face. That was the relationship that was going on. And if the owner was looking at Doug Peterson and saying, Forget Jalen Hurts. I know he's really talented, but we've got to go with Carson Wentz.
And that's what it sure sounds like what it was. Here's my higher register. Maybe Doug Peterson knew what he was doing all along. Maybe Doug knows what he's doing after all. Because if he had to go back and run it back with Carson Wentz.
with the coaching staff not the way that he wanted it anyway. See ya. See ya. Out the door. Jonah Hill, Jeff.
And that's our higher register for this week here on the Rich Eisen Show.
Well done, boys. Instead of, and thank you, yes, I agree.
Well done. That was a great man. That might have been your best one ever, TJ. Thank you. Now, normally you, Mike Del Tufo, chime in with your own higher register, but you don't have one.
No, you don't have one. You don't have one. Maybe you don't have to do that.
So then I'll do my bonus one. You'll do both. Maybe Mike Del Tufo's weather report. He won't flop sweat. Hey, have the weather out there.
Del Tufo with the weekend weather report. It's raining sideways. I mean, seriously, that's an abomination. All right, Mike. That's divisional.
It's a divisional playoff weekend. They've discussed four crucial games. There are four crucial games. Go for it. Mike Del Tufo's divisional weekend.
And Sunday divisional weekend, because we had a super wildcard weekend last week. Yes. First game up, Los Angeles Rams. The Green Bay Packers, Lambo Field. I like this music.
Actually, goes with Gret Lambo a lot. Yes, it does. But. There won't be a lot of weather in a profit of the game because. It'll be cloudy.
Yeah. 30% chance of some snow flaring. A very light wind blowing from the northwest.
Okay. At a nice balmy 36 degrees. That's game number one.
So that game's going to be, they're going to be throwing the ball, they're going to be having a lot of fun on the field. But Game number two, Saturday. There's a lot of butts. Baltimore Ravens, of course, because it's weather. Come on.
Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills. That game is gonna be... A problem because There is not only going to be gusty winds all day.
Okay. At 12 to 17 miles an hour.
Okay. But there is a 30 to about 45% chance of snow flurries, snow showers, rain, and precipitation the whole game, which means. That game is definitely going to be a running game. Brockman's take of the over-under, of taking the under. Let me just stop you right here.
I don't come here for your football analysis. I want the weather, Mike. I want the weather. Let's not branch out. Stay in your lane.
I don't mean to go all Levar on you.
Okay, I'll stay in my lane. 34 degrees.
Okay. So it's going to be cold. There's going to be gusty wind. And of course. Snow almost the whole game.
Unless there is. There might be some rain. It could be snow showers. Keep it moving, Mike. You call that wintry mix, as you would say.
Keep it moving. Then Sunday, Cleveland Browns at the Kansas City Chiefs in Arrow. TJ's laughing over there. I love it. It'll be mostly cloudy, light winds, 7 to 12 miles an hour at 37 degrees.
In Kansas City. In Kansas City. So that game will be like kind of a little bit like the Green Bay Packer. Keep it moving. Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans States.
Yes. Well. There won't be really any weather. Yeah. Other than the fact, some people may be under the weather after they've partied on Bourbon Street, walking to the game in some nice.
Beautiful sunshine. But it's going to be sunny outside. What's the temperature in New Orleans? The temperature in New Orleans is going to be, well, inside the stadium? No.
You don't have the outdoor inside. We don't care about the outdoor. We don't care. The game's inside. We don't care.
Just dress worn. Might be cold. Mike Deltimo. Mike Stelto. 59 and sunny in New Orleans.
Great weather report. Great weather report. I have no idea.
So I'm not more enlightened about that Bill's Raven thing than I was leading it. I said snow and rain. Wintry mix. I told you. Why didn't you just say that?
I don't like using the term wintry mix. Many words. I don't use that term. He delivers it like he's about to tell us it's a free skate session. All skate.
All skate skate. All skate. All free skate. Everybody all skate. Years ago in Pittsburgh, Jarmir Yager used to do the weather on the Killer B94, and I thought he was the goat of weather.
No. Del Tufo, man. I got way better. I mean, I sucked in the beginning. I'll admit.
All that's missing is the Dallas radio. You don't even get in my head. You don't get in my head anymore. I thought you couldn't get rid of it.
So, for all of our new viewers on NBC Sports on Peacock and listeners on NBC Sports Audio and listeners on the Rich Eisen Show Radio Network, that's an improved weather report for Mike Del Tufo. He's advanced. I mean, have I not gotten better? Just keep getting better. You have not gotten better.
Tony Bacelli, Josh Charles, and Kurt Warner, I want to thank them. We've got a great weekend of football coming up, everybody.
So have a great time. I will see you on NFL Game Day morning at noon Eastern on NFL Network and right back here at 12 Eastern on Monday.
