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The Rich Eisen Show. Give me one good reason you're not a noose. From the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles.
Well, I would say little Steve. Oh, because of your little Steve. Because of his little TJ. Today's guests, former MLP pitcher Jim Abbott, actor Freddie Prince Jr., plus your phone calls, latest news, and more. End now.
It's Rich Eisen. That's right, everybody. The Rich Eisen Show is on the air, otherwise known as the not DFL at the ACC program. Yeah. 844-204-Rich is the number to dial here after our dark week is complete.
We're thrilled that you're all with us here once again. We're all happy together here again on the Rich Eisen Show, on the Roku Sports Channel, on this terrestrial radio affiliate on the Infinity Sports Network, smart enough to have us, Odyssey. We say hello to everybody out there taking us in on our podcast network as well. 844-204-Rich is the number to dial to have a chat with us. Major League Baseball is in its all-star break now, and we're happy to be here with lots to talk about.
It's a Monday, which means it's overreaction Monday. Good to see you over there, Christopher Brockman. Rich, great to see you, man. TJ Mikey, Diaz and D's nuts. Good to see you, Mike.
Good to see you, Rich. Good morning. How are you? TJ Jefferson, getting back at it on the no-contest wrestling as well with O'Shea Jackson Jr. later on.
Good to see you, TJ. Good to see you. Had a huge weekend of wrestling. O'Shea and I split up. He went to Georgia.
I went to Texas. All right. A lot to talk about. Lots to talk about on this. Program as well and scheduled to appear still, despite what may have happened physically to him over the weekend.
Seth Rollins will be hosting this program Wednesday and Thursday, right here on the Rich Eisen Show. I'll be here for the next two days, and then after all of The summer vacationing. We're back and off and running here.
So it's good to see everybody here on this project. Good to be back.
So. The American Century Championship. Yeah, buddy. In which I participated for the first time in over 21 years. Participate is a good word.
I played. I I well, excuse me, sir, from karaoke to from karaoke to Birdie Potts. Plural? Hey. Didn't make any of them.
to golf, to camaraderie, to Everything else, it really is an amazing event. And it was special. To say the least. In A beautiful spot of our country, Lake Tahoe, Nevada. at the uh Edgewood Edgewood uh resort resort in the Edgewood Gulf and community all together.
It was truly one of the... Best weekends of My professional life. Be in there. meeting everybody that played in that tournament. From Name it, all the football players that were there, basketball players.
And getting out there with my Running Man gear, the hat and the logo, the Running Man logo on the hat and on the shirt, courtesy of Travis Matthew. And uh my PXG clubs out there. And I bless them for Making me look good because I don't know if I was so reciprocal in my golf game. But you look good. You play good.
I appreciate that. That's the idea. Suze came out, and it was great to. Have her be part of this weekend as well, meeting everybody from again the American Century. Family and Jonathan Thomas, his wife Cindy, and the charitable contributions that they make.
Um Giving out millions of dollars to local and national charities, and then donating 40% of the profits of the American Century Championship to fight. Um childhood and teen cancers, and you know that speaks Near and dear to my heart. And over the years of this tournament, they've given out over $2.2 billion in that regard. And so, like I said, just to be part of it. And I have is special.
I have nothing. I have nothing but more newfound. Deep. Mad respect. For a professional players.
After playing in front of other human beings, I can't tell you. I cannot tell you. The first round I played on Friday was with The Miz. and Matt Ryan. Awesome.
Okay. And Uh this just in The Miz and I were occasionally neck and neck. All right. Matt Ryan is a zero, which, by the way, is a terrible thing to be called in sports, unless. It's golf.
Correct. And there are some times where it depends on the course, he will show up and give the course strokes. That's how good he is. I don't understand how that is. All right.
Where it's just like, you know what? I will give the course strokes to play here today. Hey, it's an easy course, you know, on the easiest halls. And he's his ball flight, Matt Ryan's ball flight, is something so beautiful to behold. And it's even more beautiful because it was frequently, oh, all the time, not frequently, depending on which hole you're on at Edgewood.
It is framed beautifully by mountains, or a lake, or a tree forest that is just. As gorgeous as it comes, hot air balloons or both. And you just, I'm just, wow, it's unbelievable. Teeing off. At this Tournament, the American Century Championship, on Friday on the first hole.
I mean, my heart was thumping out of my chest. I bet. Standing over it. Mm-hmm. And Matt Ryan.
Tees off and it's gorgeous. It's perfect. I, of course, topped mine into a red steak area. Oh, no way. Your first T-shot?
It's as embarrassing as it gets. Because I'm envisioning the entire months after accepting this. Uh invitation. How's it going to go? And I'm envisioning the perfect ball flight.
Jim Murphy, the author of Inner Excellence, is telling me: live in the moment. Just don't worry about it. Go tee it up. And I took that approach. It's just operator error.
Yeah. But The one thing is, despite Matt Ryan putting it in position A and me putting it in position Z minus. Um We both walking up the fairway. And he says to me, Do you have the feeling back in your hands yet? Oh.
Yeah. He goes, because I don't. And this is a guy that's been in the Super Bowl and he's been in the name it. He's got a Hall of Fame resume, Matt Ryan. And he's been sacked, arguably, I understand.
He's yeah, by big men. He's like, Do you feel your hands yet? And by the way, he said, I don't think you're going to be. He goes, Trust me, the first time I played this, I didn't feel it until like the end of the second hole. Wow.
I got A text today from a professional player. Uh now um on the senior tour. I didn't get his permission, but I'm sure he wouldn't care if I said his name. But long story short, he said at least you didn't finish DFL. Exclamation point.
I finished second and last. And uh and he said Um Yeah. Try What do you think? Try doing that. for a living.
And I'm thinking to myself. Yeah, man. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, especially since, you know, like just say, again, forget about those human beings watching on home, on television.
Like, I'm not thinking about that right now. We're on TV and radio, right? Right. You can't see them. But even if they were sitting here, I I love doing a live audience.
I love d Being in front of people. I don't mind it. But standing there trying to hit a golf ball. And I'm like, there's some people standing there like, I'm a professional player. I'm like, you need to move back, ma'am.
You know, like, I don't know what this pulse is going to be. Honestly, I don't. You were in the line of fire. Yeah. I try, but I, you know, like I said, operator error.
But so much respect for the men and women who do this professionally. I cannot imagine it. And and then you know, like say you're at 16 at waste management. Because I got that sensation. being at seventeen at the American Century Championship.
Now this is the hole that's on the water.
Okay, par three. And there's a massive yawning. Amount of What would you call it? Tan sand? That is technically not a hazard.
But it's not a bunker. But it's not a bunker either. And then there's grass, and then there's bunker, and then there's green, and then there's grass. I mean, and then there's green, and then there's another bunker. And then to the right is all out of bounds because it's filled with boats and partiers and beach balls and bikinis.
And behind my Sunday pairing with. Dylan Dreyer of The Today Show, who's delightful, and her husband as well, and Jay Demarcus of Rascal Flats. You see, back there, there's an American Century backboard of a three-point Um Setup of basket. Because invariably you've got to wait. Because there's somebody on the green, they want you to shoot hoops, and there's music layering, and it is the only way to describe it.
Is a fever dream. Yeah. Because you're coming out They create like this alleyway that's covered. From the 16th green to the 17th T that goes around the I think it was like three tiers or two levels of fans that are right behind the T-box with a big ass jib camera and the golf channel set up with their own desk. And then to the right, shoot hoops.
To the left, it's like, hey. You know, the fans are like 10 deep. And they're playing music, partying. Like it's 1999 having the time of their lives which I'm trying to I'm trying to figure I'm having the time of my life too, but I I gotta peg it up in front of all these people in this environment And there's a DJ. And people, you know, in the boats with the bikinis and the beer, they got footballs and they.
tape a Sharpie to it and throw it. You gotta sign it, throw it back. Sign it, throw it back.
Okay. Unbelievable. Fans were amazing. The atmosphere was my heart was thumping.
So How'd I do on this one? Oh gosh. Peg it up on Friday. First time doing the Thursday was the pro-am. It was similar to this, but this is now the tournament, okay?
And I teed off the front.
So You know, I'm playing 17 and there are some real sticks behind me. Like, Steph Curry's behind me. And all these other folks are behind me, Twellman and Pavelski, right?
So they're. They're waiting. This is the, I mean, this is a massive crowd. And um I peg it up. I take out my seven iron and I cooked it.
Left. It hits The Hospitality tent, or one of the stands of the fans that are there around the green.
So I was able to get a free drop to the drop zone, which is about 50 yards away from the. From the uh the green. I got a 56-degree in my hand, and this is not my forte. But I did take thanks to Lucas Walt. Thank you, Lucas.
I did take lessons for my short game. And I just said. Jim Murphy, this thing. Be in the moment. In the inner excellence.
Be in the moment. Live in the moment. This is great. Don't worry about it.
Okay. Forget about everything going on around you. The boat moving. It's insane. Bikinis and the boot.
TJ, it's insane. I cannot, and by the way. Knowing you? TJ, hey, we're going next year.
Some of the beach might have distracted you a little bit. We're going next year. You know what I'm saying? I saw some things down there. I saw some things.
I saw some things. All right. And some of them are fans of this show. Hey, now. Sir, I'm telling you, there's a lot.
happening that will cause you to not think there's a 56 degree wedge in your hand and a 50 yard shot and everybody from the bikini blondes to the beer drinkers To all the fans, anywhere they are, this 56-degree could be Vince Scullied right down in their grill. Take the shot. And I took the shot. And it was 20 yards right over the stick. And came back a little bit to 20 feet.
20 feet. Yeah. Okay. Golf clap. Yes, sir.
I did the wave. I waved. I did the wave. I even did the little touch, the breath. The king and round.
The king and rally. That's just a touch. Just a touch. I'm thinking to myself, I've got a par put here. On seventeen I stepped over it.
Center cut. Dropped it. Bam. And I parred 17. Out of boy.
Didn't start well, but it's how you finish. No pictures on the side. Keep it coming back. Keeps it coming back. My God.
And the gauntlet that you run of fans to the left and the right. going from 17 green to 18t is like 10 deep And there's a Travis Matthew three-point shot opportunity as well. Steph Curry was like, Did you see some of these videos? I did. He switched it by flipping it over his head.
Yeah, Vince Carter hit like five, six in a row. Like, it was nothing. And fans are there and they're loving it. And by the way, fans are, you know, these. The fans were awesome.
They were awesome and they're accessible and they're children of all ages. And some kids are like asking me to sign their hats, like four, five, six years old. Sign this, sign that. There's no question in my mind, they have absolutely. Absolutely no clue in the world who I am, just knowing that I'm a player.
All right. And they want an autograph. A player. I just want it. Yeah, damn straight.
Don't be a player hater. Right. No, I'm a player in the tournament, not a player. Either one. I finished second and last.
I'm not a player. And again, just going through all of that and then having your 18th. T-shot. where there are f and and Fans everywhere. and atmosphere everywhere.
And I'm just telling you from my perspective.
However, you see it on NBC, and thank you to John Miller and the rest of everybody there at NBC Sports and Rick Cordella. They are so welcoming to everybody. To the point where everybody talks to each other about, you know, make sure you come back. Make sure you come back. Because this isn't easy.
Stay here. Everybody wants to stay in the circle of trust. Yep. And Everybody from everybody, soup to nuts, it's first class, first rate.
However, you see it at home. It is exactly how you think it is. And man, I do not know how these professional players do it for a living. I just don't. And you're sitting there and go, oh God, this.
These this this guy's got the yips or mm-hmm. This, you know, this player can't do it. This player is never going to do it. Like Rory. Yeah.
You know what I mean? Sitting on his career and slam. Yeah, can't win at Augusta. Always choose. You try it.
Yeah. Because I just did. Golf is so hard. You're going to treat this like a real ass golf tournament. All of it.
Because it is. It just happens to be. You know. Celebrities playing in it. And God bless it.
I'm standing on the first he, I'm fighting the range right before my first. Hole on Friday, and somebody from the tournament comes up to me and says, Just confirming you're playing as an amateur. And I told the guy, that's incredible. That's what he said, just to confirm you're playing as an amateur. Excuse me, what now?
Here's my response. My response is. Yes, I can confirm this. And I feel like I've just been. Carted for a drink at age 56.
I know you gotta go through it. But I'm flattered by the question. You know? Thank you for carding me for a drink. You know, like when you get a beer at the stadium, like it's their job.
They have to ask you, no matter how old you are. I appreciate that. Thank you. I like it. Yeah.
It's been a while. Still got it. I still got it. Just to confirm, you're playing as an amateur in this event. Yeah.
Uh-huh. I am. Not turning pro. No. I'm good.
I am. Oh, God. I got tons of stories, man. It's great. I want all of them.
It looks like so fun. I watched all of it all weekend. You know, it's funny because there's only about 10, 12 people who can actually win this thing. Right. You know, and like Joe Pavelski finally won this year, the former NHLer.
He had been so close in the last few years. Our buddy Marty Fish, defending champ. You know, John Smoltz came on and said, I got two new hips and I'm ready to go. He finished second. Like, it's cool.
And the whole rest of it is just one giant big hang with kind of the golf is kind of secondary, but it's so cool to see you out there and competing. And you're not a golfer, you haven't played in a long time, but you grinded the last, unlike your 40, you actually kind of trained for this. Yes, I did. And you put yourself out there, and that takes a lot, you know, to do what you did, put yourself out there like that, and kind of be subject to like, oh, Rich Eisen, second to last. Dude, who cares?
It's fine. It's awesome. I have no idea. It's good for you, man. Thank you.
Yeah. But you have no idea the pressure. Like that. It's unreal. It's unreal.
you know, how pressurized the whole damn thing is.
So Congrats to Joe Bavelski. This ain't easy. Oh man, Eagle on 18 to seal the deal. That's awesome. And they set it up like that, where, you know, that for me, if I'm walking to the T and I'm like, this could be a birdie hole for me.
You know, for those guys. Right. And for, you know, Annika Sorenstem is in this tool, in this tournament. Yeah, she finished seventh. Right.
So, you know, for them. That's what they want. They want massive movement atop the leaderboard second. Yeah, when Steph Curry won, he made Eagle on 18 to win.
Well, that's the beauty of the Masters is on the back side, there's some serious movement that can be made. If you're way back, you still have a chance, you know? And so, again, the American Century Championship, if I sound like I'm raving about it, can confirm it. Unbelievable. Unbelievable.
Got more stories to come. 844-204-Rich is the number to dial to contact us. I saw Matt Miyoko there as well. It's kind of funny. Our, if you will, 49ers insider, saw him there.
And the oh I did his show. as a reciprocation of the number of times he's done ours and he's about to do it again. Um We're like, hey, you know, it's kinda crazy. There's no drama. Niners have signed everybody.
I know Jawan Jennings is like, hold my beer, please, or give me a new contract, or I want a beer somewhere else. I know.
So we'll talk to Matt Mayoko next on what's going on with Jawan Jennings. Yeah, it's an actual NFL story here on the middle Monday of July. Even the safest drivers still encounter unsafe conditions, so it's important they do it in a safe vehicle. And Hyundai's offer available class executive advanced safety features to help keep you protected against the many challenges the road throws your way. Basically, in a Hyundai, you can drive as safely as possible and enjoy your journey in confidence and style.
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All right. I sent some pictures to Hoskins and the crew.
So you just roll through them, and I'll just roll through them before we get back to our radio audience. And Matt Mayoko, just pop them up one by one. I'll just. Whatever you want to throw it.
Okay. So, this was the karaoke night. That's Brian Baumgartner and Rob Riggle. You were two hosts, along with Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flats. The band was amazing.
Oh, yeah. And we'll talk about that throughout the program. Roger Clemens saw him for the first time in over 30 years, I feel, on Wednesday night upon arrival. Here's Brian as well, hanging out there. All right, there's my fellow Staten Islander.
Did not tell Colin Joes that I've been mentioning him and his wife's name, which is here in regards to the next coaching search. I'm glad that you didn't do that. But the college is Staten Island, which is where I learned how to drive. Oh. I took driving lessons at CSI.
Larry Charles at the driving range right there. He had an incredible first day. He hold one out. Yeah. Susie Hison's husband.
That's right. Shout out to anyone. This is the group behind us on Saturday. That's the GOAT, Jerry Rice, Vince Carter, and. Matthew Kachuk, who, by the way, sang We Are the Champions on Karaoke Night.
And I think he's on the back end of a three-week bender celebration. Fitz and Demarcus Ware. As you can see, Demarcus' dimple game is as good as a golf ball. That's how I recognized him. I'm like, wait, who is that?
Oh, Dimples, Demarcus Ware.
Okay. You can't mistake the beard. Have you run through him?
Okay, there we go. There's Kittle. Here's Kittle. He was a first-timer. Nice.
And then, of course. Travis Kelsey, ladies and gentlemen. With the Edgewood hat. Anyone with the Edgewood hat. Love it.
There's T. Kelsey. Oh, this is a great story.
So leave this up on the screen for a second. A bunch of kids playing wiffle ball right there on the grounds at Edgewood.
Okay. You know who's pitching to him? Joe Mauer. Did they know it's Joe Maurer? They knew it was Joe.
Some of these kids are Joe Maurer's kids. And then a bunch just started coming around and. Maurer just brought a whiffle ball, a bunch of whiffle ball bat, and a bunch of balls. That is the coolest. And it just reminds me of back in the day at the Pro Bowl when Troy Palomalo used to play two-hand touch on the beach with kids.
Joining us here now at NBC Sports. Uh, Bay Area friend, right now, uh, covering the uh Niners. I saw him at Tao at Edgewood at the American Century Championship, ladies and gentlemen. Matt Mayoka returns to the program. Good to see you, Matt.
Look it up. Good to see you, too. When I left your set there on Wednesday, I didn't think you'd be on Monday's program. I've got to be honest with you. Certainly, since right, we're sitting there, we're talking, hey, you know, it's kind of crazy that the 49ers are drama-free.
Certainly from last year, all the contracts are signed, and now. Jawan Jennings wants to trade. Because his seven and a half million dollars, uh, I would agree, is not commensurate for what he stands to uh have to be. for the 49ers potentially.
So I give you the floor. And what's going on with Juwan Jennings, man?
Well, he has plenty of leverage. There's no question about that. When you think, you know, no Debo Samuel, he's been traded. Brandon Ayuk, you know, likely to miss a handful of games as he recovers from the ACL. You have Demarcus Robinson, who started 17 games with the Rams last season and the 48 signed as a free agent, a veteran guy.
And his availability is a little bit in question as the NFL ponders whether to slap him with some league discipline under the policy for substances of abuse.
So Jennings coming off with essentially a thousand-yard season last year, as you noted, underpaid with an exploding wide receiver market. The the problem for him is he is under contract. And You know, if you are under contract and you hold out from training camp, you face significant fines. Um, what will end up happening? Uh, if he requests a trade, the foreigners are only going to trade him if they can feel like they're getting something out of it and it benefits them.
There have been a lot of players through the years, uh, while John Lynch has been general manager who have requested trade as a negotiating ploy. He hasn't traded any of those guys except for this last offseason when Debo Samuel. That was more of a mutual thing. They figured that that had kind of run its course. But Um If he bets on himself and he has the kind of season in 2025 that he had in 2024, he stands to.
Double his salary for next year, so it'll be interesting to see how this thing plays out. I'm actually a little bit surprised that it's taken this long, that this wasn't something that you know maybe was more prevalent during the offseason when he could have just stayed away entirely from the offseason program and maybe put the screws to the 40 hours a little bit. Then it just now it kind of seems a little bit late in the process for this to be gaining some momentum and some steam.
Well, I guess better late than never to get it out there. I guess if you're on the side of Jawan Jennings and You know, as always, I say here all the time, Matt, that you know, we just see the tip of the iceberg. There's a larger iceberg when it comes to virtually every NFL story. This kind of reeks of maybe Juwan Jennings' side got a response they were not happy with very in recent days, or they thought that there could be a change of a stance by this point. Um maybe that's what's up.
Matt, just to speculate. Yeah, no, I mean, I think even if you look a year out, you know, was it possible or did it seem likely that this was going to be Juwan Jennings' last season with the 49ers? Probably. You know, when you think about all of the big money contracts that they've doled out to keep their own guys in this offseason, you know, huge money, obviously, for Purdy, for Kittle, for Fred Warner. And so last year they drafted a wide receiver in the first round, Ricky Pearsall.
They also drafted Jacob Cowing. This year, they drafted Jordan Watkins.
So they've tried to kind of stock up with some young wide receivers. With the money they've already given Brandon Ayuk a year ago after a very tumultuous and roller coaster of negotiations, which included, by the way, a trade request, which was not fulfilled, but certainly the Foreigners did do some homework on that front. But, you know, do they have the wherewithal to pay two wide receivers? 15 plus million dollars per season while also having high-priced players at nearly every position group.
So, you know, there was certainly a line of thinking where you know, this probably would be Juwan Jennings last year because if he hits the open market, teams with a lot better salary cap shape can sign him to a contract that the 49ers probably wouldn't be able to match unless they decide that they're going to move on from Brandon Ayuk.
So it's not clear-cut how the 49ers approach this. But ultimately, I'm skeptical whether the foreigners can give him the kind of contract that he would want at this stage, which, as we talked about, would be a significant. Raise over what he has. It probably wouldn't have to be up to the level that he could get on the open market, but something maybe can kind of placate him by giving him a little bit more security, extended out a year. And so we'll see how this thing all transpires.
But you can look at it. from both sides you know both sides probably feel like they have leverage from the freyar standpoint he is under contract for this season and didn't they improve it last year yes they did right yeah so like that they could be i i understand you know they could be sitting here saying well we we we we gave you a little extra toast last year so here we are now like how how many more times we have to do this and i guess you know jawan jennings is like we you know more i i saw i i you can see obviously two sides of the coin here matt um what is the scoop with iuk what do you know uh as we're we're on the cusp of training camp around the corner.
So what I've heard, he's making really good progress. I mean, even above and beyond kind of where they expected him to be.
So he had that surgery in mid early to mid-November.
So he's about eight months out from having the ACL surgery. What complicates it was he had, it was an ACL, MCL, and also some other damage in there, some cartilage damage.
So he looks very good. Four Airs are very impressed. They're optimistic about where he is. He's going to start training camp on July 22nd when they report. He'll start on the PUP list.
And there are some people who think like, well, gosh, there is a chance he could be ready for the start of the regular season. In all likelihood, the Fort Airs are going to pump the brakes on that and just make sure that when he comes back, he's fully ready to go. I mean, he is under contract through 2028.
So they're not looking to just milk him for everything he's got this year and then cast him aside.
So. My guess, best guess would be that he opens the regular season on PUP, and then week five would be the first game that he'd be eligible to play. But that's a short week. That's a Thursday game against the Rams.
So to me, if I were a betting man, I probably week six would be the area that'd be so week six against Tampa Bay, give him a full week to practice, to get up to speed and everything else.
So I think that's where now that's. All subject to change based on how he's looking in training camp as he's working behind the scenes and everything else, or if he has any setbacks, anything of that nature. But my best guess would be week six, seems pretty logical.
Well, there's only a handful of teams for whom rookies report. Tomorrow. 49ers are one of them.
So Robert Sala, I imagine, will be the guy welcoming most of these rookies off the bus, right? Since that's the side of the football that they drafted. on the most. Dying to arrive in Santa Clara that can be a significant contributor. Yeah, it was the Robert Salah draft.
The first five picks for the 49ers, all defensive side, starting with Mike Williams.
So, you know, he's the guy that, you know, obviously at 11, 49ers had their eye on him. You know, you hear it from every team. Can't believe he was there. But I think for the 49ers, they really couldn't believe he was there because they did try to trade up and get Mike L. Williams.
They ended up staying at 11. They got him.
So based down defensive in, where they lost a lot of guys on the defensive line, he's expected to be a starter, set the edge in the run game, and then maybe even move inside and rush the passer.
So he's definitely one. Probably the biggest concern would be their second-round pick, Alfred Collins from Texas, who didn't participate in the offseason program because of a calf injury. And he's one of 30 picks around the NFL second round picks who doesn't have a contract. And then probably the third guy would be Nick Martin, a linebacker from Oklahoma State. Where the Fortners did make an attempt, albeit a little bit late, to re-sign Dre Greenlaw.
Those linebacker spots. Other than Fred Warner, they were a weakness last year when Greenlaw wasn't out there. And so they're expecting Nick Martin to step in and play a significant role. Then the other. The other four and five guys of the defensive players, upton stout, a nickelback who can step in right away and certainly compete for that nickelback job, playing two-thirds of the snaps.
And then also CJ West from Indiana, a defensive tackle who should be a rotational player.
So, unlike maybe some of the past years where the Four Irons roster was pretty much set and they didn't need a whole lot from the rookie class other than to just develop them for bigger roles down the line, this year is different. This year, the 40 Irons, with a lot of veteran players leaving, they need these rookies to get on the field and produce in a big way from day one. Day one is Tuesday. It's pretty, we've made it, Matt. Certainly, in terms of.
Of you covering the 49ers. Last one for you, you know, I don't know how much you got around the American Century Championship there. Um in Lake Tahoe, but uh obviously we're in nor you know that part of Nevada is right right next door to Northern California, 49ers country to say the least. And I got a lot from the gallery. Hey, how do you think the Niners are going to do this year?
I'm assuming you did as well. How would you answer that question before I let you go? Man.
Well, I think they're set up well, schedule-wise, and just everything else to certainly have a bounce back season. I mean, they're not going to finish 6th and 11 unless some.
Something catastrophic happens. Health-wise, they're in a good spot, but there are a lot of unknowns. And it's this rookie class that they're placing a lot on. I don't think they're the juggernaut that they were during that run of four straight NFC championship game appearances. I don't think they're that team right now, but they do have a lot.
of potential. And there's a lot that has to go right. Those veteran guys like McCaffrey, Trent Williams, those guys have to stay healthy. But they are definitely set up to have a major improvement over last year. I would expect them to be right there at the top of the NFC West.
I think the schedule. Really favors them over the Rams, where the Rams have that first place schedule, the Free Airs have the last place schedule.
So just listen to this: the Rams play the division winners in these divisions. They play. The Eagles, the Lions, and the Ravens, whereas the 49ers don't play those three teams. Instead, they play the Giants, the Bears, and the Browns.
So that conceivably could be a one or two, maybe even a three-game swing when you think of the games the Rams should lose on paper, obviously, and the games the 49ers should win.
So that to me kind of pushes the 49ers over the top as far as being a favorite in the NFC West.
Well, as Kenny Maine once famously said over and over again, my colleague from back in the day at Sports Center, they don't play the games on paper. They play them inside television boxes.
So we'll see how that works out. And in a week from Tuesday, do you think we see Jawan Jennings when training camp opens? I do. You do. I do.
I don't know that the contract that he'd be looking at would be such a huge contract that it would make total sense for him to hold out and incur those. Kinds of fine.
So I my guess. Is that ultimately, again, just a guess, that Juwan Jennings bets on himself, has himself a good year, and then probably cashes in big time in 2026. We should have known better when we parted ways last Wednesday, Matt, right? Hey, the Niners are just drama-free. Yeah, really drama-free.
Now, I'm a question for you. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. How nerve-wracking is it? Because when I play golf and I'm with three buddies, I'll often say to them, Hey, don't stand there.
I don't know where this is going. When you have people lined up on both sides of you, what was it like? It was harrowing. Is the only way to put it. It was, well, let's put it, it was life affirming that we're all on the same planet and we all have nerves and we all have yips or can actually stripe it in those conditions.
And I have nothing but the greater utmost respect further now of professional players. My gosh, Matt. Unbelievable. It was uh He was handshaking, but it was all good, man. As you saw, it's so beautiful there.
It's such a great spot, and it's such a great tournament. Thanks for the time, Matt. Really appreciate it.
Okay, Rich. Great to see you. Right back at you. That's Matt Mayoko of NBC Sports Bay Argue. Love it.
So Of the football jerseys in the gallery.
Okay. I will give you a guess of the three teams and if you want to name the players. Top three on the board. Here's your question.
Okay. These were the most worn jerseys. At the American Century Championship for any of the patrons. Yes, Chris, what do you got? George Kittle.
George Kittle is number two. Hmm. George Kittle is number two on the board. Mike, you want to go, Mike? Mahomes.
Mahomes is not on the top three. Ooh. Not on the top three. Elsa wasn't playing in there. He was not playing.
Doesn't matter, though. It does matter. They want it signed. TJ, you want to go? Oh, that's a good idea.
Is this just football? I get it. Just football. Because if you want to include all sports, there were number 30 Warriors everywhere. I should have.
Yeah. That was number one. If you want to include all jerseys. Just football. Just football.
I'm going to give a wild guess and say Matt Ryan. Matt Ryan is, you are incorrect. Travis Kelsey. Travis Kelsey is number three on the board. Jerry Rice?
Jerry Rice is not on the board. I did hear Joe Montana popped in. Number one, just think about it. Think about it. Josh Allen?
Bingo. Are he playing? Did Hoskins just chime in in somebody's ear? No, no, no, I said it. I knew he was playing.
I didn't know. He was playing. I've seen a picture of him. Obviously, he's got the advantage of having watched. I watched.
Josh Allen, number one. You saw more Josh Allen jerseys. I'm assuming. I don't know if it's because he's from Fireball, California. He's from Northern California.
So I mean, kind of a hometown guy. And you know. The mafia's everywhere. Absolutely, everybody. Josh Allen jerseys and shirts and Everywhere, but Kittle was a close second, and Travis Kelsey was right there, and Curry.
I mean, just a quick story on that one, then we'll throw it a break. Um I'm going to say something potentially ignorant. Because I said this to Grand Hill. As a matter of fact, while we were getting PT together prior to yesterday's round, yes. What's my guy?
Crazy. Crazy. I'm next to Grand Hill getting P.T. Getting worked on, getting ready to play golf. Anyway, long story short, I told Granhell this: I've never met Steph Curry before.
No? In person. Never. First time ever. And the ignorant thing is, I'm about to say.
potentially uh ignorant I could not believe how tall he is. If you think he's like six foot, six foot and change six one, you know, little guy running around these screens and just popping it. And get knocked over because he's a little guy. He's like 6'3, 6'4. Dude, he is pocket passer quarterback tall.
Yeah. I met him, I'm like, I couldn't believe how tall he is. He's 6'4 if he's a centimeter. Yeah. I think he's listed at 6'3.
But I think he's taller. Yeah. Because they're out there with giants. When he came, because he came, he was coming from one green to another T-box, and I was on the green that he's passing. Just said hello to him.
We had a real quick exchange. Listed 6'2. Dude, not a chance. I had to look down to see if he was standing on a hill. And I looked down, I'm like, we were on flat ground.
You know, and he, I'm telling you, man, the fact that he's that tall running around these screens and making these threes. But looks that small in comparison. Like, it's crazy. It's nuts. One summer, I got to hang out, I hung out in New York with Tony Parker and Steve Nash randomly.
And I'm fairly tall, right? And you thought those two guys were small. Right. They were both at least an inch taller than I was. And I was shocked.
T.J. Jefferson, I couldn't believe how tall he was. Yeah. He's unbelievable. Getting the song.
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What did you think of Aaron Rodgers' beer chugging attempt at the Milwaukee Bucks playoff game a few weeks ago, Matt? I'm like, it might have been an IPA or something like that. Those IPAs, that's not easy to chug. Folks like Trubisky, Mahomes, your buddy Stafford. Stepped up and they were talented, very talented when it came to that.
So, where do you put yourself in this mix, Matt? Where would you rank yourself? Middle of the road. Middle of the road. Really?
For sure.
Well, I mean, and that's why I'm wondering why you would go by the name of Matty Ice, Matt. That's why I'm wondering, I mean, that's a beer. infused nickname and it doesn't fit anymore. Would you agree it doesn't fit anymore, Matt? Are you is the natural coming back or are we making a push for the natural here?
No, I'm I'm I'm well, I'm pointing out that certain nickname that you've had for a long time just just it I like beer. Just throw it out there. I do like beer. Right. So when it comes to it though, you're just you're not you're not slamming them back, right?
Is what you're saying?
Okay. You're drinking something that would be responsible, something that would be a natural light of some sort, man? What are you drinking? What are you drinking? It's been a long time.
See, you keep making my point. Why won't you take the natural from me, man? Just why won't you do it? I mean, how many times do I have to ask? How many times do I have to ask?
There's just nobody else wants to ask. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Um Are you aware I offered it to Stafford, your buddy? Is that right? Yes.
He didn't take it either.
Well, I mean, he. That's a no, Matt. Hold on a minute. Excuse me. Hold on.
I gave him full disclosure that it was a retread and that you had rejected it. Because I know you guys talk. I know you guys are tight, right? He forgot to mention it to me the last time I saw him. I can't believe that wasn't top of mind for him.
Okay, so just on behalf of all my loved ones who are cringing right now, just tell me to move on, Matt, and I'll move on. Just tell me to move on. Rich, you gotta move on. You gotta move on. I love you, but you gotta move on.
Thank you, Matt. Thank you so much. Even if I gave you a t-shirt or anything. All right, Matt, I can take a hint after nine years or so.
So I know you're wondering. Because we were paired up on Friday. I'm dying. As soon as you saw that, it was me, along with the Miz and Matt Ryan, I sent you guys that, and I knew. This is the perfect golf threesome.
So I. Perfect.
So step up to the first tee. Good Matt Ryan. And I said to him, I said, you know, the guys back on the show are delighted that I'm playing with you because they think I'm gonna try and You know. Get you to one final time, just one last time. And he looks at me, he goes, the natural you got to move on.
You got to move on.
Now, that drop I have a problem with because you removed the I love you part. I love you, but you got to move on. Remember for years, Rich Moon. And Mike said it didn't exist. I know.
You heard that. And then we didn't say it. I didn't do it the rest of the day. Even when you made a putt? Not even like, hey, you're naturally great.
Because he was playing great to start. He is really good at golf. He's outstanding. And just, as you might imagine, a delight to spend 18 holes with. We're going to go in the Wayback Machine for the final two hours of the program.
We're going to go to the 90s. Remember, I used to do the I Love the 90s. I love those shows.
Next hour, Jim Abbott's going to join us. Remember that day, September 4th, 1993, he threw a no-hitter of the. Uh Cleveland Indians at the time. And by the way, do you know what's in that lineup? I looked it up.
Uh Lofton, Bierga, Bell, Manny, Tome. Five of the members of that. You could make a case that's five Hall of Famers. Right. Kenny Lofton, Carlos Ballerga, Albert Belt, Manny Ramirez and Jim Tomey.
Jim told me he was playing third that day. Jim Tomi and the Hall fan. Indeed. And then I Know What You Did Last Summer is available in theaters nationwide this Friday. It is a new installment of I Know What You Did Last Summer from 97.
We might also talk, she's all that with Freddie Prince Jr. when he joins us in studio R3. Summer catch. Summer catch. Right.
He did the movie about the Cape Codley. I remember. Oh, Peter Gammons was so excited about that movie. I bet. Because he loved talking Cape Cod back.
He's like on the Cape Wig, man. With Peter Gamons, Amadi Gamons. You know, and I'm like, I was excited about it for Jessica Beale. Not gonna lie. I mean, Okay.
At any rate, that's an hours two and three and overreaction Monday. Will be coming up in the next hour as well. 844-204-RICH is the number to dial. Everybody on Hold, stay on Hold, we're going to take your phone calls for sure. Talking about Matt Ryan, he finished 11th.
He did. Yeah, he's great. He's awesome. 74 yesterday. I saw Taylor Twellman coming in for a little PT love as well before his round yesterday, and I said to him.
Is this like a no-hitter? Do I not? Sadie, because he was the leader. He was after two days, you know. And he was leading heading into the back nine yesterday.
And then just kind of It's kind of lost. I cannot even imagine what that feeling must be like. Because whatever that feeling was like, I was the exact opposite. Just were you free and loose? Like, what was your mind space as your rounds were going on?
I was trying to be free and loose days two and three. Thanks to uh Um a suggestion by uh the man on the bag. Money Manager Don, Money Manager of the Stars, Don Weir. Um A transfusion. Oh, yeah.
Great, great golf drink. You never had one of those before? Oh, I have. Yeah. Just not at 9:30 in the morning.
I mean, sometimes they hit.
Sometimes they hit.
Sometimes they slap. Yeah. And both occurred, sir. Yeah. Sometimes it's needed.
Well, it was this time around. Yeah. That helped. Transfusion helped. It does.
You know? Does that answer your question? It does. Because that, you know. How many did we have?
One on each side. That's good. One in the front, one in the back. Pro move. And so, good Lord, man.
And I just went from. Um You know, feelings of elation to feelings of self-love. loathing like yeah that's golf absolute self-loathing like Despising every fiber of my being. I should never play again. All my clubs should go on the lake.
Oh my God.
So you're a golfer. Yeah, you're a golfer. You know, I think on tomorrow's show, I'm going to have the top five, a top five. new titles of my golf memoir. I thought of them.
They were all like coming out of my mouth. I made mental notes about it. I like it. Sort of like the way we do our fantasy team names. Yeah.
I have my top five golf memoir titles. We'll do that tomorrow. I don't want to. One of them might be I. I just hate myself.
That might be. That might be the winner. I don't know. Turn in tomorrow. I just hate myself.
That's tomorrow. I like it. You know what I mean? Yep. Oh, I know what you mean.
Oh, but my last drive went right down the fairway on my final hole. It's coming back. I'm coming back. And I was right with Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flats.
So I did sing Life is a Fairway. Wow. And then he sang the next line. It was great. I felt like lightning kachow on the last hole.
Jim Abbott, coming up. Hmm. Jim Rome takes on sports. Why? Because you're not playing me.
With rapid fire takes. And a lot to get to, and I'm not sure you're going to like all of it. Honestly, I don't even care if you like all of it or not. I have a job to do. Scorching debates.
On any given week, you have lots to beef about. Take advantage of it. Get up in here. He's the Spitfire of Sports Smack. Which is not my fault.
We will get to all of that. The Jim Rome Show podcast. Get up in here and we'll beef later on. What's your beef? Follow and listen on your favorite platform.
You've been warned. Yeah.
