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What the hell? This is the Rich Eisen Show. This one made no sense to me. Tight! The longest touchdown pass of the year.
From the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles. This one made no sense to me. Will Levis is having season-ending shoulder surgery. Earlier on the show. Longtime Cowboys Insider Clarence Hill.
Coming up. Host of Pro Football Talk, Mike Florio. Actor Paul Walterhauser. Plus, latest news and more. And now.
It's Mr. Rich Eisen. Hour number two of the Rich Eisen Show is on the air. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk is going to join us in 20 minutes' time. Lots going on as now every team save the Falcons and Steelers have opened training camp for the 2025 National Football League campaign.
Mike will also give us a primer on what's going on with the NFL Players Association and what's happening with leadership being all. Blown up. Um, so Mike will join us in uh just about 20 minutes' time. Uh, some news that I'm eager to learn. Mike doesn't know, so I'm just going to ask.
everybody here in the Rich Haisen Show studio. Uh who Brought the thin mints to the equation back there. Anybody? I have no idea. Anybody brought the Girl Scout cookies?
No one knows. But here's the thing: I've been back there for over two weeks and they're not gone. God, you know, I've been, that's because I've been out of the chair. I just discovered them on Monday. What this?
Oh my gosh, yes. Oh, courtesy of who? Who? Oh, Emma Bruce. Emma Bruce.
The official niece of the Rich Eyes. Thank you, Emma. Thank you, Michael. Yeah, I just had one about 10 minutes ago. It's only fitting that Mike Hoskins' niece is a Girl Scout.
You know what I mean? Like, he's like the Boy Scout of the Rich Eyes Asia. Eagle Eagle Scout. Eagle Scout. Pardon me.
Yeah, the top of the top. The top of the tip of the top. I don't know the hierarchy. I don't know the hierarchy of this. I understand.
All right.
So we got to the bottom of it, like we are at the box right now. I didn't want to ask questions. I'm just glad they were there. Oh, my God. I think there's three sleeves left, so get in while they're getting is good right now.
Are those the best Girls Guy cookies? Then Mint, we've done this before. I have. I think, yes. Other people, you know, like peanut butter ones.
Are those the tangles? By the way, are you the one who lifted one sleeve out of the box yesterday? I don't know, TJ. Why, if that's a problem, you tell me. Why do you think it's combating the freshness?
Well, it was leftovers. Oh, that was left forced them in the freezer. Let me ask you this question. Could thinmins last an entire generation? Of people?
Yes. No. Finmints are those are those are How do those go bad? Yeah. Oh, I'm just saying.
Is there a little bit of a bunch of people? Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I thought you meant like a Twinkie, like a Blasco. Like a Mascow cookie that could last a while. Oh, you mean like a Big Mac that people still have from like the 80s?
What? Oh, you all know about that? What? Like a Twinkie.
Somebody would, like, you know, I've seen stuff like people have preserved the Big Mac since 1980 to show that it does. How? I don't know. What? There's a lot of mold going on.
Dude, hey. Fellow's looking for business. Belly's trolling for business. Once again, anybody needs mold remediation, check things out. Anybody who just needs remediation or mold, check on Mike Del Tufo.
There you go. All right, great. We got you covered here. We do. We do.
Okay. 844-204-RICH is the number to dial on the program. Let's take a couple phone calls and then we'll update you on some other holdouts of note or hold-ins of note in the National Football League. Veronica in Los Angeles, right here in our hometown of the Rich Highs and Show. What's up, Veronica?
Hi Rich, how's it going? What's going on? What's in your mind today?
Well, hopefully you're feeling better. I appreciate you guys. I feel like I know you. TJ, Chris, Mike, you all are amazing. And it's an honor to listen to you.
And go blue, baby. I pray. Thank you, Veronica. And that, that, by the way, it sounds like I've got a bad cold. I know that.
I'm dealing with allergies. I don't know what's going on around here. Is that what it is? It was bad in Maine, too. But I just blame that on Brockman used to live there.
All right.
What's on your mind, Veronica? I'd like to play the win-loss NFL game. All right, ladies and gentlemen, for which team, Veronica? The Detroit Lions. Ah, d'étrois.
The New Americas team. Right? Listen. Hey, now. Damn, let's do it.
Oh, man. Come on, Veronica. All right, Veronica, are you from the great state of Michigan, just living here in Los Angeles now? Because you said go blue, and you're a Lions fan. I am from Michigan.
Where are you from? I'm a die-hard Michigan fan. Where are you from? I am from a small town called Saginaw. Saginaw, okay.
I'm pointing to, you know, right around the. Should I point to the middle of my hand for Saginaw? Where am I pointing for Saginaw? If you know, you know.
So, yeah, I would definitely put it in the middle. People say it's your dumb. I disagree. But, you know.
Okay, reporting in the middle, my hand is great for radio. All right, here we go. Here are our three guests, Paul Walderhauser from Saginaw. Ah, look at this. Let's get this.
All right, what's going to happen when they visit Green Bay to start the season, Veronica? Oh, come on. Rich, they're gonna win. Oh, pardon me. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
How dare you ask Veronica?
Okay, Veronica, then what happens when they're home for the Bears? Ah, I was wrestling with this one. I think it's gonna be a lot. Why? You think Ben Johnson's gonna come in and teach a lesson?
Is that what you're saying? He might. He might. He heard a few things about Detroit. At the Ravens on a Monday night.
That might be a loss as well. A one and two start. for a home date against the Browns.
Well, then they get bounced back and then they're gonna win.
Okay, then they're at the Bengals.
So you have them three and two going into Kansas City. This rice wrestled with this too, but I think it could be a win as well.
Okay, just like a couple of kickoffs ago. Four and two. Home for the Bucks on a Monday night. I think that's going to be a win as well. All right, now you're cooking.
A four-game win streak into the bye, coming out of the bye home against the Vikings.
Sorry, JJ, I'm going with the Detroit Lions on this one. 6-2 at the Commanders. That's gonna be a loss. Six and three at the Eagles. And they lost as well.
That's on a Sunday night. Six and four, home for the Giants. That's a rain. Come on. Oh, oh, oh, oh, okay.
By the way, I like Veronica's attitude. Moxie. Not usually associated with the state of Michigan.
Now you've got seven. And four. Packers Thanksgiving. When Sweeping the Packers 8-4 home for the Cowboys a week later.
Sorry TJ, that's gonna be a win. 9-4 at the Rams. Watch. 9-5, home for the Steelers. Win.
10-5 at the Vikings on a Thursday night. By the way, that's Christmas. My bad. And now you got the Bears at Chicago to wrap it up.
So I wrestled with this one, but they learned their lesson, so it's going to be a win. All right, a three-game winning streak to wrap it up. That's one, two, three, four, five losses.
So you got a 12 and five season, Veronica. Yeah, I think that's a good one. There you go. Thanks for the call, Veronica. Fun playing the win-loss game for the Lions.
It's only the third run. That's the best result we've gotten. Billy in Michigan and Kyle.
Well, that's not true. Billy in Michigan at 10 and 7, and Kyle in Michigan, pardon me. He had them winning them all. 17 and all. He was a real winner.
All right.
We like when people lose their heads like that. 16 and all, man. 844-204 rich is the number now. on the program.
So we talked about the Cowboys at length in hour number one. Don't worry, TJ, we're going to drop that subject. I doubt that. No, no, no, but because I mean, Micah Parsons is absolutely the guy with the contract. situation unsettled, although Jerry will point out he's still under contract.
Yeah. Okay. But so is Terry McLaurin and so is Trey Hendrickson.
So let's start with Terry McLaurin first, since that's the guy Brockman wants. Terry KTV. Very few people are on the radar screen here with these contracts. Conundrums, Um That Brockman has put his thumb on the scale that he wants more than anybody else. It's Terry McLaurin.
You want to add Terry McLaurin? Add Terry McLaurin. Top-notch human, top-notch person, top-notch player, top-notch teammate, top-notch wide receiver. All the above. And is a God who is viewed amongst all the.
But nuts that I know. Um I just coined that. I might use that a lot more. I'm going to write that down. But you got to stress the B.
He went to Ohio State. He's viewed as the OG in this line of receivers. Obviously, Chris Carter's raising his hand somewhere saying, You remember where I went to school? But of the current crop of stallions that play the position coming out of Columbus, Ohio. No doubt.
He's viewed as the OG here, and he played like one for Jaden Daniels. And he is making... Man, it's amazing how I wrote all this stuff down because I knew I'd keep referring to it week, day after day. He is making $15.5 million. And the final year of a three-year deal that he held out for Miss OTAs last time in 2022.
The end of a three-year $68.3 million deal. And as you know, that's now half. of what the top receivers in the NFL make or even less than half. And so he wants his. Last we heard was McLaurin, I believe, at a local event.
Was he just finished shooting a commercial or something? Yeah, like a car dealership or something. And. And you could see he was just kind of... You know, resigned to yet more time.
Yeah. Being needed for a deal that I think he would think requires only mere seconds to just. Mm-hmm. Give. The man who no doubt is On top of this, is Adam Peters.
The general manager of the Washington Commanders, who's sitting next to Dan Quinn, another new arrival last year to the franchise. had this to say the latest on the McCluren contract. Yeah, without a doubt, I think everybody in this building values Terry very much. And we knew that coming in, and we knew that even more after spending a year with him. In terms of where we're at, we've had conversations recently, and we'll look to have some more conversations, and we're going to do everything we can in order to get a deal done.
Well, that's, you know. As good as you're going to get. From the general managers, we're talking. We've talked. Uh we're talking.
And we look to have more talks. And the idea of getting something done. And I just feel against the The same way I did about TJ Watten saying, this is just has to, you have to get it done. In the same way with TJ Watt needing to get done. Because they have A quarterback who's 41 and they only have him for one more year and they got to go all in.
when they're clearly all in at the most important position. in a way where like, okay. He says he's got one more year left. I know Cam Hayward told Seth Rollins, when he sat in the chair, like, maybe they're going to ask him for more by the end of the year, if he does well enough. Um and In the same way that I'm like, you can't.
Have a money holdout with TJ Watt. When Aaron Rodgers is there, maybe for just one year. This is year two for your stud quarterback. You've got basically One More year left before that year four when they're going to redo the deal. for Jaden Daniels.
Okay. You basically have two more years, maybe, if you're just going to extend Daniels, right? And you also got to keep this. Train moving in the positive direction, you're not going to just. Not have Terry McLaurin though.
They've got goodwill with the fan base back now, it seems like. And I don't know. Clearly, I don't think McLaurin, does he have the same relationship with the fans that TJ Watt has with the Steelers? I don't know. I'll take that for a Commander fan to call in to say.
I know one, and I think he doesn't. But it just makes no sense to. But if Terry wants, you know, Justin Jefferson money, then.
Now we're going to be. I don't know what he wants.
Now, the general manager is going to have to swallow and figure out. I don't know if that's going to happen. But figure something out. Get the guy in. My gosh, he and Jaden Daniels were one of the top Receiver quarterback combinations last year.
Top, tippy top. Number two in touchdowns, 13. And so we've got to keep this train moving. Gotta figure this out. Yeah.
The way the results were last year? I said no, but I have to think no. The way the results came in last year? Let's see.
So Uh I I He was 15th in yards, second in touchdowns. That one has to just. That one has to. Get done. Then there's Trey Hendrickson.
I don't know. This is the one where I don't know. This is the one where, because with the Bengals, you just don't know, man. You never know.
Okay. And um with McLaurin It's still uncertain if he's showing up to training camp. Um we'll see. The Bengals We know Trey Hendrickson is not in training camp because he Instagrammed out what appears to be a sunrise over Florida, or is that a sunset? We can't tell.
Don't know if that's looking east or west. On this, uh, I know it ain't Cincinnati. Anyway, that's not Cincinnati.
Well, he geotagged it in case you're wondering. Could that possibly be Ohio or Kentucky? Don't know. 'Cause it's just uh an interstate, what it looks like. Life's a highway.
And he's driving it all night long away from Cincinnati. Pears it up. That one I don't know. If I had to guess would anyone get done? Potentially not.
Cause it's always Cincinnati. You know. I think I know Parsons going to get done and you know I think McLaurin's going to get done. I don't think he's going to be traded. But Hendrickson Don't you think that's the one that could potentially be last second or just him missing games?
Where he's just gonna carry this into the regular season and to prove his point. And they're going to lose the first couple of weeks. They're going to give him 35 points on game. And he's going to be like, you need me. Into the season.
This guy is so underpaid. I guess that is the definition of I don't know if it's going to get done. This dude, man. He turns 31 on December 5th. McLaurin turns 30.
On September 15th, he and my mom share a birthday. He doesn't know that. I do. Trey Hedrickson younger than TJ Watt. McLaurin, man.
DK Metcalf turns 28 in December, and he signed that massive deal with $60 guaranteed million dollars. Yeah, I don't think Terry's getting that. Mm, no. I don't know. Why can you meet it like $27, $28 million a year?
If you're them, you have to do that. The question is: what's the figure for Hendrickson? With what and Garrett making 40 million per. I wonder if it's a simple car office making $23 million per. You wouldn't just throw it right in the middle.
And if you're him, you're like, why do I need to middle it? Yeah. I'm just as good as Garrett and Watt. I'm just as productive as those guys. I'm wondering if it's just as simple as Mike Brown doesn't have the cash.
Dude, everybody assumes that. That's why we have this drop. For knowing when the Bengals Signer, man. That's like the audio version of the white smoke. Yeah.
for the Pope. I mean, is there an is there any other white smoke? Maybe I don't know coming out of your ears. I don't know. I appreciate your clarification of what I meant by the white smoke.
Just in case the people out there don't know. No relation to white snake. Yeah. It's still within that.
Okay. Yeah. So let's ask Mike Florio of his thoughts on all of this. Love it. And then the phone lines are late at 844-204-H, number to dial.
We're going to have overreaction Monday. On a Tuesday, that's later on, Paul Walter Hauser. Of Saginaw, Michigan will be joining us in hour number three. I had no idea about that. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk when we return.
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Back here on the Rich Island show, everybody. Chris, can you say something so I can be off camera to send a text? Hi, Chris. You just got to walk straight through the front door. Yeah, no problem.
No problem. TJ, what do you got planned for tomorrow? Absolutely nothing, but I do know what I want out of you for the birthday thing that he brought up. Oh, that's it. I want you to do Cowboys Win Loss.
Yeah, that's what I want. I want you to go one full hour of this show. Being extremely positive about everything that comes up. I don't want you to be down. I don't want you to be negative.
One hour. Is that tomorrow? Tomorrow. One hour. This is ridiculous.
Straight. Oh, this is amazing. Oh, this is great. Not that someone says something that you don't like. Oh, this guy's lying.
May I chime in Mr. Jefferson? Rich Mr. Jefferson. Yes, please.
Yes. Can we bait him?
Well, of course. Why wouldn't we? Oh, okay. Yeah. So we need for an hour, a full hour tomorrow.
I was going to ask for the whole day, but I thought that might be tough. No, no. Just because 60 minutes. Because all he's asking for you is just I'm asking for like five minutes. Right, yeah, yeah, for a win-loss game for the cowboy.
But that's going to carry over for the whole season. That one lot. They're going to be on me for the whole season. It does leave a mark early. No, really?
What'd you do the last couple of years? What was your win-lot? No, we didn't talk about it. We do it once and we forget about it.
Well, we don't because I've usually hit the number every year. You guys know that.
So you reject his birthday wish? No, I'm not going to reject. I mean, it's like the God Farmer.
So tomorrow. I'm not going to say that.
So tomorrow, how old are you tomorrow? 45.
Okay. How old are you tomorrow? Ah. Nice try. I tried.
By the way, I could still make one phone call to HR. Yeah, but then you do, and this whole bit were done for. Franchise and production, HR. By the way, you know, I have purposely not done that. I get it, because once you know, the bit's done, and you love it.
It's not a bit, I really am curious what your age is.
So, for your 45th birthday, your wish. Uh For TJs to play Windwell's game, and for your birthday tomorrow, your wish is to have him be nice for just one full hour. One full hour positivity. Very good. I like it.
I like it. Back on the TJ. I like it. You're having fun. It's going to be difficult.
Joining us here on the Rich Isen Show, the man who puts the pro in Pro Football Talk, ladies and gentlemen, Mike Florio back here on the program. Good to see you, sir. How are you? Back off the P No Mind list. I've been seeing that.
Why do you say that? That's so untrue. I'm not going to name names. Is it because he's closing up with Pablo? Come on now.
There's no reason to name names. All I know is I see others popping up. A lot more frequently than I get the bad signal. But that's fine. No.
I'm here when you want me. I'm here when you don't want me. I have a constant presence like a fungus that will not go away. And every once in a while, you scratch it, and you're scratching me. This is not true.
This is untrue. This is all of it is. It's muckraking, Mike. That's terrible. When you are back on the mothership, will I be invited?
A million percent? One Million percent, Mike. And when you're on the mothership, you know what's going to be a top-selling e-book. Put it up on the screen. It's very well done.
Put it up on the screen. We've got a big shield, everybody. It's about the mob, gambling, and professional football, but not the NFL. It's not the NFL. It's not the NFL.
None of the teams depicted. In Big Shield or NFL franchise. Zero of them. All similarities are coincidental. Yeah, absolutely.
Yeah, when I'm on ESPN, we'll have you come on and talk about Playmakers. They'll love it. Awesome. Wait, which playmakers? You mean the series?
That's the name of the book from a few years ago. That's right. A nod to the series. Ladies and gentlemen, my florio. Let's go.
Okay, what's going on with the NFL Players Association, Mike, and why should fans care about it? I give you the floor on that.
Well. Currently, it's chaos, and it's the aftermath of the abrupt resignations of both Executive Director Lloyd Howell and then former NFLPA President and, more recently, Chief Strategy Officer JC Treddor. And it really had been kind of a drip, drip of news. Pablo Torre and I did some reporting. We found a collusion ruling that had been hidden for more than five months, and we still don't know why the NFL PA elected to hide it because it was a partial victory.
One of the findings was that the NFL management council, with the blessing of the commissioner, urged teams to collude as it relates to guaranteed contracts following the Deshaun Watson deal of 2022. That was stuffed in a drawer for more than five months by the league until, and the union, until Pablo Torre tracked it down.
So there were other things too. ESPN has done some great work here with Kalin Kaler and Don Van Natta Jr., different items that just increased the pressure. I think it was an impending report from them last week about the strip club expense report misadventures with Lloyd Howell that caused him to resign. But As of right now, I don't know where they go. I don't think they know where they go.
And the players who are leading the charge. Have a training camp to focus on. This is not an ideal time to be figuring out who the interim executive director should be. But here's why fans should care. It's critical that there be balance.
in this relationship between the league And the players. And you don't want it to get out of balance. I think if it gets out of balance, it sets the stage for a work stoppage at some point. You know, the league could push and push and push. And at some point, the players say enough, and you got 1982 or 1987 all over again.
No one wants that. And if it gets out of balance the other way, then you get a lockout in 2011 where the league felt compelled to try to claw back some of the gains the players had made in the 2006 CBA talk.
So you want both sides to be strong. You want there to be a healthy tension and you want there to be balance. And right now, there's a risk that based on how this goes, it's going to become grossly imbalanced between the league and the players.
So the question is: once the players can actually focus on it, your opinion of what would provide the most balance, somebody who's a lawyer or somebody who's from the world of business? Mike. An interesting question for a variety of reasons. One of us, Mike, you know that. That's true.
You know that. Not to be confused with your normal, boring questions. This is an interesting one. Um Because there's a perception that Pablo Torrey and I had like. A magic wand that was waved that has caused these vacancies.
People think they can try to get me to. Like, push for their preferred candidate or for them. I'm staying out of the who the next executive director should be, but there are different ways to look at it. And in the past, they had kind of a bulldog in Demorris Smith. Lloyd Howell was the other extreme.
Let's do business. I'm a businessman with no labor experience, but I know how they think. I'll be able to do our deals. You know, it would be helpful to have a former player who's got some labor relations chops and knows how to preside over collective bargaining talks. And one of the things I thought of today: I mean, if you really want to make things interesting, You think about somebody who's in the NFL right now, somebody with the league or one of the teams that maybe could be lured for the right price to switch sides and come lead the union.
Wouldn't you want somebody who knows what their recipe is for making the sausage? That happens in business from time to time. I'd be thinking about, and again, I'm not naming names because I'm not here to play Game of Thrones. But man, it would be interesting to see somebody come from behind Big Shield, not to be confused with the completely unrelated Big Shield that is the title of the book. To leave the NFL and leave the union.
That would be high drama. Pro Football Talks, Mike Florio here on the Rich Eisen Show. We're on the subject of drama, your take on the Jerry Jones. training camp opening Opus. In Oxnard, Michael.
Well, I saw a screenshot today of him giving the finger, and I texted Clarence Hill, who posted it, to get some context. Because you never know, like, I cut myself. Where'd you cut yourself?
Well, it just happens to be my middle finger.
So I don't know why he was flashing the middle finger, but, but. JJ Watt noticed what he said about Micah Parsons and Dak Prescott missing games due to injury and had a very pointed tweet. Micah Parsons noticed it and reposted it. And I'm a firm believer that Micah should have held out, that because he's there, and I don't want to get too deep into the CBA weeds, a player has much more leverage if he doesn't show up than if he shows up and thinks about leaving. We'll leave it at that.
That's true. So once you're there, pendulum swings to the team. And I think what they're going to do, Rich, they're going to lowball him. And whatever the last best offer is before week one, it's going to be less than it would have been if he had held out. He's going to have to ask himself: do I take this deal that is less than what I could have gotten?
Or. Does he play for 24 million this year? It's eight times what he made last year. Does he play for that? And do they kick the can to next year?
Because the Cowboys don't act until the clock is in the process of striking 12. By him showing up. And even if he holds in and doesn't practice during training camp or the preseason, a time will come to grab your helmet and go get ready to play, like it did for Roquin Smith when he did a holding with the Bears a few years ago. Eventually, we're not going to get a deal done. You're here.
You need to work. I think that's what's going to happen. I think right now, my prediction would be: no new deal for Michael Parsons unless he takes less than. No new deal, and they figure it all out next year. Interesting.
All right, that's one to put on the board. put a pin in. Um what do you think about the Terry McLaurin? scenario um here for the commanders, Mike. You know, when you talk to people about does Terry McLaurin need a new contract, the easy answer is yes.
He's making $15 million or so this year. The market has shot north of 40. Does he land north of 30, between 30 and 35? Garrett Wilson-ish. You can make the argument yes, but that's the problem.
You got to get the two circles of the Venn diagram to kiss, and so far they haven't. And I think Terry McLaurin looks at this and says, hey, this is my last best chance to get paid. They have two more years with Jaden Daniels on his slotted rookie deal, which is going to be peanuts in comparison to what he's making after the 2026 season, and he's eligible for a second contract. I'll take mine now. Give me mine now.
And when Debo Samuel comes through the door making more money than the guy who's been there through the hard times and now the front end of the good times, I can understand why McLaurin is pushing for more than whatever they're offering. I know Adam Peters, the GM of the team, talked about it today, the being hopeful. But at the end of the day, it comes down to. What they're willing to pay. And beyond the average per year, because there are ways to play games with it to pump it up, the structure it's signing is critical.
How many years are going to be fully guaranteed? How many years are guaranteed is a practical matter. That's never part of the initial storm of tweets when a deal gets done, but the structure is critical to how good or bad a deal really is. And then, Trey Hendrickson, I go back and forth. about Am I being unfair to a Bengals franchise that did?
Find the money for Joe Burrow, right? That did. Put a sponsor's name on the building to, you know, pay the pay Joe Stadium, pretty much, right? Um to make sure that they're keeping burrow. They did get Higgins and Chase under long-term contracts, right?
They did keep them together, they haven't lost them. I'm just wondering if I'm being unfair to think that this Hendrickson thing, along with Shamar Stewart as well. is is emblematic of the Bengals having got it all out of their system. Mike. And I don't think they have.
Look, they paid Joe Burrow market value because they had to. But with Jamar Chase, I think he could have held out for more. He could have squeezed them for more than what he got. Still a great deal. but I think he could have done more than what he got.
T. Higgins, when you look at his deal. They took advantage of the fact that he grew up a Bengals fan and wanted to stay in Cincinnati. He. I think he would have been better off playing under the franchise tag for a second year.
He would have had a guaranteed shot at free agency next year. They got lucky that those guys didn't push for every last penny.
Now, Hendrickson is pushing, relatively speaking, for more. And I think he wants Max Crosby money. He's not trying to catch TJ Watt. He's not trying to catch Miles Garrett, but $35,5 million per year new money. When the guy's due to make $16, that's a huge raise.
I had heard months ago that they offered him $28 in new money. Shefty reported earlier today that the structure is an issue. One year guaranteed, not three years, either straight or as a practical matter guaranteed at signing. That's a big part of it for a guy on the wrong side of 30.
So they are being stubborn. And here's the thing, and I made this point a couple of months ago, and this isn't a shot at Trey Hendrickson. It's just an acknowledgement of how the Bengals are. The Bengals don't care. When Carson Palmer was done with the Bengals, they didn't care.
They said, Stay home, we'll gladly keep your money. He will become this year's Hassan Reddick, staying away. For training camp racking up non-waivable fines, getting into the regular season, giving up game checks unless they find a way to do a deal. But the Bengals are. of all the teams out there.
That will become weak need because of a holdout. The Bengals are the last ones to do it because I firmly believe, Rich, and this trickles over to Shamar Stewart as well. It's not about money, it's about power. And it's about reminding the players who's in charge. And we'll do without you, Trey Hendrickson, you, Shamar Stewart, you, Carson Palmer.
We'll do without. If we can preserve our ability to let everybody know who's boss, I feel like that is the core of what the Bengals are all about. And if their fans are fine with it, Well Okay, have fun. You know what I mean? Mike Brown did call what's going on with Shamar Stewart foolishness.
And he did basically say, like, why should I pay him if he's in jail? He wants to be in the jail. But he wouldn't be paying if he's in jail. Rich, he wouldn't be paying if he's in jail. Here it is in a nutshell.
Yes. They have had language in their contracts that. would trigger a default of remaining guaranteed money.
Okay, they've had that language in there for years. They put the same language in the Jamar Chase and T. Higgins deal. Same language that they've had. Same language Amarius Mims got last year as the 18th overall pick.
Same language.
Now for Shamar Stewart. Oh, we want to change it. We want to change it. And this is basic. negotiation.
If you're going to make a unilateral change to a key term in a contract and you're going to offer me nothing to go along with it, what are we doing? You gotta offer me something. And the fact that they did it. The the old language With Higgins And With Chase, and now they want to jam the new language onto Stewart. This is an interesting thing to watch if they would sign Hendrickson.
Does he get the old language? Does he get the prison insurance that some are now calling it? That Chase? And Higgins and Mims and all the other players that have had that term in their deal gotten? Or does he get the new one crammed on him too?
Again, Rich, for me, it's about power. It's about, I think, Shamar Stewart not signing the participation agreement. And showing up for offseason workouts. And I think they're just trying to send a message to a guy who dared to stand up for himself, and they're not going to bend. And that's the problem.
They're not giving him any opening. They're not looking for a win-win. They're just going to stand firm until he buckles. Mm-hmm. Mike Florio here on the show.
Before I give you the runway on your e-book, what are we not talking about? What what uh what's on what's on your mind? What have what's in your What's in your uh Your inbox, what are we not talking about as we're set for all 30 minutes? There's plenty we're not talking about, and it's amazing. You know, we are in week six of the annual PFT live hiatus, and people think I'm on vacation.
I mean it's like You know what? I've been busier. the last five and a half weeks than I have been before.
So, slow time, there is no slow time. I do a 45-minute podcast every day on everything that's going on. It never slows down. It really is strange to me, though, that I think all this talk of holdouts, hold-ins, Hi. I'm surprised that We've just kind of forgotten about Aaron Rodgers.
in Pittsburgh. Like we all knew it was coming. It happened. And we're like, okay. This is a huge deal.
I mean, the Steelmas have never behaved this way before.
Now they have TJ Watt happy. They have DK Metcalf. They have Jalen Ramsey. Like, this is a hell of a chemistry experiment. For the Pittsburgh Steelers, in a division that is loaded, in a conference that is loaded.
And Fascinated to see what the Steelers can do. And they have three winnable games right out of the gates at the Jets, Seahawks at home. At the Patriots, and they go to Dublin to play the Vikings. Hey, that week one game, I wish we could do a week one flex. Not that I have a problem with Ravens Bills on Sunday Night Football and NBC.
You got a piece of money. Not complaining about that. That's a good game. Yes, it is. I want that Steelers-Jets game, Rich, to be standalone so we can all watch it and nothing else.
Yeah, I know CBS is ecstatic to have that. And you know, clearly the schedule makers were laying down. A marker that they thought Rodgers was coming to put Rodgers at the Jets and have, you know, Justin Fields be the Jets quarterback. And they basically swap quarterbacks like those old. You know, body swap movies, right?
And then you got those games at the top. And then you got the Packers and Rodgers on a Sunday night as well. You've got the visit on a Sunday night out here to Los Angeles with Jim Harbaugh. The rest of the stroll through the AFC East, the rest of his final stroll through the NFC North. I mean, it's all.
Every game must see television. And you talk about chemistry experiment, that's that's. That's supposed to be Tomlin's forte, isn't it? I think it is. I think that's part of his special sauce, to know how.
How to motivate different guys based on on what he knows about them. And I think Rogers and Tommy are going to click very well. I really agree with that. I absolutely agree. Absolutely agree.
Tomlin is that chef from the cooking show that takes a bunch of stuff that's laying around and turns it into a board meal. He's the emerald of the NFL. Is that what you're saying? I don't watch any of the shows, so I can't make any reference beyond that.
Sorry. Just knows there is one. I'll take care of it for you. I'll take care of it. Yeah, he is.
What do you think of the god-awful uniforms the Steelers are going to be wearing on NBC and Peacock week eight against the Packers? Those were the 1994, 75th anniversary throwbacks, and I was hoping they'd be thrown out for good then. They're back 32 years later. That one I haven't seen yet. Yeah, not good.
So I'll give you the wear special protection for your eyes. Nice. Big shield. What do we have here, Mike? What do you got here?
So. And Rich, look. Ever since the Supreme Court opened the floodgates for state-by-state legalized sports betting in 2018, I've had concerns that there are different ways scandals could rock professional football. And once I started into this whole fiction thing, and most of my books are not sports books, they're just mob type books, crime somewhere at the center, I had an idea one day. that I could take this Concern that I have for a scandal that could seriously undermine the integrity of the sport.
And anyone who's connected to the sport should be concerned about that and care about that. Let's make that come to life as kind of a cautionary tale for the players who might think there's a way to make easy money by giving people inside information, for the league to come up with effective ways to protect inside information, because I'm. Not sure. They have effective ways to do it. And so the whole book is premised on a setting in the not too distant future where everything is streaming in real time.
And there's a third string quarterback on Las Vegas, not the Raiders, who Is tied in with the mob and is providing inside information before the game and, more importantly, during the game in a very low-tech way that lets people betting in real time know: is it a run? Is it a pass? And that is the kind of thing that can happen very easily once we get to the point where everyone is able to see exactly what's happening during the game in real time and lock in action before the snap happens. You could have people on the inside providing that information.
So that's the premise, and it all goes from there. And it's not the National Football League, but it is professional football. And I fear the league will hate it. But I'd like to think if they really understand the message and the themes, they'll love it because it might scare some players straight. Pre-order now on Amazon.
The question is, Mike, and this is your last one for you. In terms of the hatred level, the NFL for Big Shield or you for these Steeler uniforms? Uh, that you have a problem with. What do you think? What's more on the hate level, do you think?
It would be impossible for the league to hate Big Shield as much as I despise those uniforms.
Okay, those are horrible. And they're even worse now on modern equipment with the modern helmets. They were bad enough in 94 when all the helmets looked like little kids' Halloween costumes. They're even worse now. I don't mind the yellow helmet.
I just hate the whole look. Mike Florio, ladies and gentlemen. Good to see you, Mike. Marked in about, what, five months? No.
No. But we have. A smear and untrue. But thanks for the time, buddy. Good to see you.
See you. Mike Florey, everybody. Go get Big Shield right now available on pre-order on Amazon here. Mm-hmm. This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance, fiscally responsible, financial geniuses, monetary magicians.
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So, you know, we love talking movies around here. You know, we love talking comedy around here. We also love talking about classics around here.
So, you know what I'm all about. That said, All of that said, you know. You know how I must have felt when I was sitting in the movie theater like I was the other day watching the previews, and up came a preview. for the naked gun. with Liam Neeson as Frank Greben, junior.
That Preview had me at hello. I loved police squad back in the day. I loved the naked gun back in the day. And here comes the naked gun once again with yes, Liam Neeson as Frank Drebbin Jr. Come on now, son of the celebrated police squad, Lieutenant Frank Drebbin from the original movie, Paul Walter Hauser's in this movie, also Pamela Anderson.
Guess who also makes an appearance? WWE superstar. Cody Rhodes, and the producer of the movie is Seth McFarlane, the creator of The Family Guy. Come on now. This is going to be so much fun.
I'm excited to see The Naked Gun in theaters on August 1st.
So. What do you do on August 1st? Of course, you're going to a theater near you and you're seeing the naked gun. I might even be there.
So I have here, word for word, verbatim, three of the great sports rants. of all time. And we would love for you to do your best. Victor Newman instead of the best. The first one is Herm Edwards.
Yes, Herm Edwards. The first one up. Herm Edwards, on October 30th, 2002, after a week eight loss to the Cleveland Browns. Here is play to win the game. as told by Victor Newman.
This is great about sports. This what's the greatest thing about sports? is you play to win. Hello? You play to win the damn game, right?
You don't play just to play it. That's the great thing about sports. You played to win. And I don't care if you don't have any wins. You gotta play to win.
When you start telling me it doesn't matter, get your ass out of here, then retire. Cause it matters. you Well done, that's number one.
Next up And October 16th, 2006, after the Cardinals blew a 20-point lead against the Bears on Monday night football. Oh, man. Dennis Green, they are who we thought they were, as portrayed by Victor Newman. Bears are who we thought they were, you know? That's why we took the damn field.
Now if you want to crown them, then crown their ass. But they are who we thought they were. And we let them off the damn hook. Very good. Very well done.
Alright, last one for you. I'm glad that we got it rolling because here's the last one. I can feel the hole. On May 7th, 2002. The famed practice press conference of one Alan Iverson as recounted.
By the man who plays Victor Newman, Eric Braden, hit it, Mike Delta. Great Alan Iverson, my God, man. Go for it. I mean, listen, man. You're doing my practice, okay?
But a game? Not a game! Not a game! Alright? He told me about practice.
Not a game? Not the game that I could have then. Die for and play every game like it's my last. Not the game. You're talking about practice, man.
I mean How silly is that? I know it's important, yeah, I do, I do, I do, I honestly do. Hope you're talking about practice, man. What are we talking about? Practice.
You told my pride. Practice, man. Eric, I think that's your finest work, if you don't mind me saying that.
Well, thank you very much. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I think our claps after each one of them is my favorite part about that. I can feel it. I think that's your favorite drop.
Oh, yeah. Yeah, I do. I do. I do. I honestly do.
You love them all. I can feel it. I can feel it. I can feel it. That's your favorite.
That's it. Oh, man. Oh, man. That's a great question. We talk about what it is, though.
Fantastic. Um everybody uh Check out our YouTube. Channel, please. Yeah. Do you think Mike Fourier could do an hour of positivity?
Okay. Um don't don't Don't um play into his Brand. You know what I mean? Mike and I are cut from the Samorka. I know you are.
I know you are. I know you are. I know you are. Doug in North Carolina, line two intrigues me. What's you?
What's up, Doug?
Well, Rich, I'm a proud graduate of Eastern Michigan University. Ypsilanti, Michigan. Wonderful. Right next door to you guys in Ann Arbor. Washawa County.
Yes, sir. What's up? But.
Okay. I've never called into this show before, and I'm just stirring the pot. I'm a frequent caller into the Dan Patrick show.
Okay. And earlier today, I called in because they were off last week, and I shared TJ's allegations that Fritzie cheated on the family food, and it did not go over well.
Okay. It did not go over well. They can't deny that it happened because it happened. It totally happened. They said, you guys.
have sour grapes, that you were owned by them that you um that the doubt that you had the answer that Fritzie the second answer that Fritzie gave because, as Dan said, you guys didn't come up with one correct answer all evening. And then he really heated things up. He read a text message on the air That he claims came from your wife, which said, Congratulations, I'm embarrassed by Our team's performance.
So, just wanted to throw that out. All of that stuff might be true. One second. Let's walk through here. Walks through here.
Sour grapes? Absolutely. Yes, absolutely. Do we get everything wrong? Do we get dominated?
It's not true. We didn't get everything wrong, but they didn't dominate us. You won control of the board. I did. That's the top answer.
Right. And then when Dan won control of the board to start, we stole and we got it right. Right. Right. So that's not true.
We had that answer line. And we did have the answer. And we were specifically. We've been told at a pre-meeting not to do what Fritz did. One second.
Let's take one at a time here.
Well, let me answer. Please, please, please, please. Let's take one at a time here.
And so, does that sound like a text from Susie? 100%. Yes. I'd like to do that, Susie. Can they know that we had.
The answer that Fritzie had, they can't. They have no idea. They have no idea. Now, in the meeting beforehand, Specifically, they told us: if you say an answer that's already been done, it's over. That's an X.
That did not happen. You know, I mean, and it was carefully edited.
So you didn't see what would happen. You didn't see the edit because I was okay.
So, yeah, we deny the way we've never denied that we got dusted. And it wasn't sour, I wasn't sour grapes. I'm just pointing out a fact. Right. That happened.
Correct. We lost. We got murked. And we're not denying that. And Fritzie did something they specifically told us not to do in the pre-meeting.
Well, because the answer that he gave. Wasn't exactly similar to what was on the board, according to my recollection. It wasn't word perfect about what was on the board, but it was something very similar to it. He said spiders, and Bugs Critters was already on the board, and they let him give another answer. He did.
But before the show, they told us: if you do that, you will be given a strike. And it didn't happen. And it didn't happen. And we were even commenting about it. While it was happening live, right, and afterward, after we had lost, we were all talking about it afterwards.
Oh, that's right, with them, right? With them. Doug, you still there? They said that while they were enjoying their victory, jumping up and down, that one of your one of you guys ruined the moment by saying you guys cheated, you guys cheated. Oh, well, that's definitely not true.
We were celebrating with that. Yes, that's not true. I don't, I just, I can't see anybody saying that you guys should jump. Tufo's the only one who's not here. But he that doesn't sound like him.
No, we were more than overjoyed that they got the 200 points on the final round. Right, yeah. Because I think, if I'm not mistaken, the Boys and Girls Club of Milford, Connecticut won $25,000, which is great. Which is great. Doug, is this what you were looking for?
That you're stirring it up. I just wanted to get everyone on the record. You know, I listened to their show just because of the time of the day. By the way, Dan, I listened to Dan's show on the way as well. I mean, we all do, so we love him.
But this means war though. And for the record, you should know two things. Fritzy says he has no memory of this happening. And recently, in a pickleball, Episode that they have where the Danettes were playing each other, he was accused of cheating by staying in the kitchen.
So, cheating allegations against Richie are a common thing.
Well, we already know this about Todd. No, but it was nothing that Todd did, it was the gameplay. And we're like, we were told this was going to be a strike, and they gave him another option. And by the way, if you're playing pickleball and you don't call someone in the kitchen in the moment, that's on you. I mean, but that said, we.
When you took control of the board, that was our high point. Yeah, we were going to go to the bottom. Everyone went down hell after that. And we had to do that. They got everything right.
And I have not seen the edit yet because I was at the American Century Championship. I should watch it. It's on Hulu. And so was Dan, but they had a watch party. We did not.
We didn't have a lot of time. I still haven't seen it either. I was a solid one. And Susie definitely hasn't seen it. I'm a little disappointed in Susie.
Why would she sell us out like that? Because she believes I'm saying that. Because, you know. It makes it does sound completely like her. She's a frizzy brand.
It's completely like Dan to use my wife's. Yes, exactly. It's all on brand. It's all on brand. Including Fritzie cheating.
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. Uh
