Uh Did you know that driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal? Driving high will get you a DUI. And if you're wondering if law enforcement can tell you're driving high, Well, everyone else can. Friends? I can tell you drove high.
Parents? I can tell when you drive high. Relatives. I can tell. You drove here high, didn't you?
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Listen, the way you sleep is unique to you, and that's why having a sleep number smart bed is so crucial. Cause you can adapt to your changing needs for just right. Can't wait to nestle into bed, luxurious comfort.
So whether your needs softer or firmer, cooler or warmer, you are never stuck. You can adjust your comfort whenever you like. And it Gives you your best night's sleep night after night, year after year. I love my smart bed. My sleep number setting is 60.
My wife's is 70. Just 10 numbers apart, but it means the world of difference because I can change my side of the bed to however firm or soft I want. And the same thing. For Suze.
So, why choose a sleep number smart bed? Again, so you can sleep just the way you like. The only bed that lets you make each side firmer or softer whenever you like, your sleep number setting. Sleep number's biggest sale of the year is here. All beds on sale up to 50% off the limited edition smart bed limited time, exclusively at a sleep number store near you.
Sleep number, official sleep and wellness partner of the NFL. See store or sleepnumber.com for details. This is the Rich Eisen Show. Mark the fuck out! Pump up the volume, told you so.
Told you so. Live from the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles. Shane Steichen named Daniel Jones the Indianapolis Colts starting quarterback. For the season. He's proven that he's played good football in that 2022 season.
Earlier on the show, 15-year NFL veteran quarterback Rodney Pete. Coming up. Seven-time NFL Pro Bowler Steve Tasker. Senior writer for the MMQB, Albert Breer. And now.
Yeah. I'm not sure if I can do it. Hour number two of Richardson Show is on the air. We've just been finished hour number one. On the uh Roku side of things, it's um I guess we should bring it here to the radio audience that Front Office Sports talking about how I'm going to start doing more sports centers with.
One of the top executives there saying that they're into the idea. Feelings mutual. Tell you that. Yes, sir. I'm just upset that that story...
didn't include my news that I started the show with that I'm I'm returning to RPM tonight. I am I guess that wasn't part of release. Should I quote tweet that and be like, also coming to night? Tonight. Tonight.
Tonight. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, we're going to break down on RPM tonight my review of. Cars?
Which is available on Disney Plus right here on the Roku portal. Yeah, yeah. Right? Cars 2. Thanks so much.
See, I'm okay with cars too. I know you hate it. I think it's fine.
Well, I mean,. Have you seen cars too with Cage? Yeah. Didn't have a problem with Mader going toes up? That's what happens.
But it was a yeah. You know, they're fooling 'em. I I I get it. You know. That this air is a Nah, we watched it was a rough one in our world when that happened.
We watched Major League and the Marvel movies. Oh, okay, got it. Oh, yeah. I guess I gotta toughen my kids up. Yeah, I mean, I didn't want to say it, but.
What are you laughing about over there? What's going on? TJ thinks you wouldn't have had kids based on what he thinks. Yeah, according to TJ, you're lucky to have kids at all. Yeah.
Be thankful. Let's take a phone call. Brian in Los Angeles. What's up, Brian in Los Angeles? What's going on?
Brian in Los Angeles, everybody. Let's go. Put him on it. Hey, what's up? Thanks for having me.
Congrats on the Sports Center as a fan. It was wonderful. Oh, thank you. I appreciate you saying that. I had an absolute blast doing it, and I clearly am learning how it's been received and.
And it makes me thrilled, obviously.
So thank you. For that, Brian. Thank you. Love seeing the emotion.
So, listen, I'm calling today to share: I'm a Las Vegas Raiders fan, die hard, and this season. I'm going for a Guinness World Record for the most NFL games attended in a season. And the current record is 33 games. Two ladies from Los Angeles, Chargers fans, got that a couple of years ago. And this year I'm going for over 50 games.
So every Thursday, Sunday, Monday for four months, I'm going to be traveling to a game all over the country. Wow, my gosh. That's awesome.
Okay. It's going to be insane. Wow. A few years ago, you'd have been Connor Stallion's dream. That's what you're right.
Am I wrong? Chris, am I wrong? I don't want to go down this story. People going down to going to games? I'm so sick of it.
17 games? My God, what a gold mine that would be, huh? I'm so sick of this story.
Sorry. Brian, I mean. What's first up, Brian? Like, what is your schedule like? Yeah.
Yeah, first weekend is awesome because it's Thursday night, Cowboys Eagles in Philly. This is their Super Bowl celebration. Yes, sir. So you'll be there. And from there, I travel to New England for Raiders Patriots, and then Monday night is Vikings Bears.
That's a fun weekend. Why do you choose New England Raiders out of all of the is it because it's geographically sound to Philadelphia? Is that why? It's a little of both. You know, so what I've done is the last three and a half years, I've been to the last 56 Raider games in a row.
I have a street going. I haven't missed the home or away. I've been traveling, and I think this year I'm just building upon it and going to other games as well.
So I'm going to keep the Raiders street going a little bit.
Okay. At some point this season, I'll lose it. But I've been blogging the whole thing, the Raider Nation experience, the party the night before the game, the tailgate. Got it. And I'm going to be vlogging this entire NFL Guinness World Record run as well.
And if you don't mind, you can check it out on YouTube, Instagram.
Okay. It's under all in autumn wind. All in autumn wind. It's okay. I like it.
It's a pirate. When you're, you know, going through the schedule, I'm just going into my head. You know, obviously week one would be a four-game possibility, but... Brazil is quite geographically unsound. But but Thanksgiving week, right?
Like you got a Thanksgiving game if you can make it now to Philadelphia, where I believe the Amazon Friday game is right. Then you've got a day to travel somewhere to Sunday. And then the Monday. Right, you got that as an opportunity. Are you going to do that?
Because you can clip four in one week, which is what you got to do if you want to get to 50. 50. I'm doing absolutely four games and whatever it is, five days. Yeah, Thursday, Friday, Sunday, Monday. And then later in the season, there's a couple of Saturday games that I'll go to as well.
They haven't, some of them haven't been determined yet, some of them will.
So I've been booking all my flights, got it all locked down. Look at you, man. I'm ready to go. This is dope. Do you eat vegetables, Brian?
Occasionally.
Okay, that's a problem. Because otherwise, I'd offer to hook you up with Al Michaels for a flight. Yeah. Cause I mean, you know, because if you're going to go to all these Amazon games, if you're going to go to all these Thursday games, you know what I mean? Like, Al could have maybe helped things out.
But are you retired? Like, how are you able to navigate all this? I'm not retired, but I'm in media localization, and I'm taking a little bit of a sabbatical to do this.
Okay. Too much to be worried about. Brian, don't lose our number. Congratulations on saying, you know what, I'm going to do this and keep us posted. Keep us posted.
I'll check in throughout the season. I'm in L.A. too, so if you want me to stop by, I'll stop by. Let me know. Thank you, Brian.
And we'll do that. Thank you. It's Brian in Los Angeles. That's awesome.
Brian in Los Angeles. Love it. When he's all done, bring him in. It'd be cool.
Okay, Mike, you set that up.
Okay. Great. Um I was never, you know, it it. It took me um a while to figure out what I wanted to do in my life, you know? And I got a sense of it.
Um And what I turned out to be neither one of my Grandfathers So on. You know, I never really talked to my Mom's dad, Grandpa Leo. about being a sportscaster. I didn't talk to him about much of my career. Same thing with my dad's dad, Grandpa Morris.
He did pull me aside, though, and asked me if I wanted to be a rabbi once. And I had to break his heart.
Okay. By telling him that wasn't going to happen. How old were you? Probably as a teenager. I knew that.
At least I knew that. You know, there was sports casting. There was hosting, late night hosting, sliver still of a dream of being an athlete. Sure. You know, there's still.
Sure. You know, you know what I mean? Like that fire was never doused until. The obvious set in. The reason why I bring it up is so I've never.
really had My uh grandfather on either side, chime in. On what My career path should be. Yeah. with the exception of being a rabbi. And imagine, again, Archie Manning has never said that about Arch.
Okay. I mean, just making these assumptions. By the way. As an unofficial Manning's son, as Archie knighted me as such. On the first Super Bowl I ever covered for NFL Network.
when I was in the Gatorade suite late night. the night before the game, Between the Patriots and the Carolina Panthers and the whole Manning family came in and I sang karaoke for them. and with them. And I asked Arch, I love my dad.
Okay. Can you be my honorary dad?
Okay. And he said yes.
So I feel free in assuming special. It's quite the setup, don't you think? The wind-up is still going. Oh, I got it. It's like, what do you see on it?
My back's just like, ugh. Here's the pitch. Arch Apparently, heard what Archie said and that. Yeah, he he's he's not leaving for the NFL after this even season. He's going to stay at Texas.
And You know, Arch is now getting in front of microphones. He is the starting QB. He's QB1 there. He's got to do media now. One of the most famous QB1s in Texas since the Dillon Panthers, right?
Right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And so. Um Here's Arch on his grandfather saying. that he's not turning pro at the end of this year.
Arch, your grandfather gave an interview where he said he expects you to be here next year. Is he right? Yeah, I don't know where he got that from. He texted me and apologized about that, but I'm really just taking it day by day right now. See, that's another thing my grandfather never did was text me.
Either. All right, so we can the hype trains now on. We're ramping up number one pick now. It's official. He basically just okayed it that we can now go forward with all this conversation.
100% will you. He beats Ohio State. Look, here's the deal: he beats Ohio State. And Daniel Jones looks like crap week one. It's on.
Arch to Indy. Or Joe Flacco looks terrible. It's on. Arch to Cleveland. Like, Tyler Schucker Rattler, they look terrible week one.
Arch to New Orleans. This is all on now, and Arch just okayed it. Can we let the kid play in the horseshoe at least? That's what I'm saying. Can we then let him go through his schedule?
Can we allow him the opportunity to have options? I'll tell you what. I'll let you guys do that. I am not going to do that. That's in Christianity.
I am fully on the hype. I'm getting pressure on Arch, all right? The kid, he doesn't need all the pressure. No push putting the horse. When he was born, he got pressure.
He has Manning on the back. His name is Arch. It's on. I don't understand your take. Because his take Means your card.
Is insanely valuable. For your card, you don't need. Arch to have another year of Sarkeesian seasoning. Oh, that's a good fancy. I need that.
Oh, you like that one? Yeah, that's good. You don't need that. You need what. Chris is advocating.
That's why we stop talking about the kids' future. That we're not going to. Can you live in the moment? I feel like this is what we, Susie and I tell our kids all the time: live in the moment. And Susie's like, I'm going to live in the moment.
And then she sees me on my phone and she calls me out for that. And then I say, you're right. And then I try to tell her something and she's on her phone. Wait a minute, is it some? Can we just live in the moment?
I am this kid. He's taking questions about. But he's not. He's taking questions because his grandfather, the headline of that is. Archie apologized.
Spoke out of turn. Because it is his life at the end of the day. Which is what I've been saying this whole time. Right. I know that.
You've also said, though. What you just said is now the hype train is on. This doesn't confirm the station. This does not confirm that he's leaving Texas at the end of the season. What it confirms is he wants to leave, keep his options open and also.
Tell everyone apparently including the patriarch It's my choice. That's when I win the Heisman and the Natty. I'm out. This guy. See you later.
Austin in my rear view. I get that, Rich. That sounds great. But after, I don't know, week three, when Archae's. I don't know, 13 touchdown passes, then, you know.
Why not make it 14?
Well, because he'll come out. Why is eliminating him? He'll come out at one point, because you know, you got to. And he's like minus 500 to win the Heisman, and Texas is 2-1 to win the Naddy. By the way, not 1-1 on getting a boat.
There's a lot for some of the things that we're doing. In the Heisman radio. Yeah, cool. And you know what? Their names aren't?
Not Arch Manning. Oh, stop it. Manning. Come on. You know I'm his number one fan.
Let's see him. If if if we're going to Create A fiction. Which you're doing right now.
Okay. Damn, I started this. We're going to create fictions. Can we at least just start? with weak one.
Where he goes into the horseshoe. Which is what you want to have happen. I'm allowing myself this week-to-week fantasizing of this. I'm in with you on this front because I've asked for you to go week to week. I've asked you to live in the moment.
involves him First up in front of the whole nation. going into Columbus, Ohio, and clowning them all. Absolutely denuding. This team as they are showing up. That's a great word.
all in one scarlet and gray party. to watch a banner get raised. to celebrate a remarkable playoff run. that delighted an entire Buckeye Nation. and also cause them to stop.
Screaming for the scalp of their head coach. Who's now just the king of all kings? But just four quarters after Arch comes in. And then Plants the flag. Please bring the flag to Ohio.
Please. Because I want to see some. Shmagag. In the State capitol. Try and pass another law to say no flags were allowed to be planted in.
Ohio Stadium on a Saturday and blah, blah, blah. I want to see all Shmeg means nonsense baloney. Shmageg is somebody who is a Shmagegi or does some Shmagegi things. I had to look this up. Shmagegegi.
Shmageg. Yiddish-derived word. Ugh. Please, again.
Something Archie's never told Arch. Listen, week to week. is all I'm asking for. Let the kid play. But the first week.
That's what's gonna have to happen. I'm glad we're on the same boat here. Please. We're rowing in the same direction. I am.
Funny we can. I'll do some words there, Chris. August 30th, a co-minister of culture. Oh, my God. Look at that.
From my couch in Los Angeles. See, the week, the week thing is Kareem McConaughey. You know what? I'm going to be like, I'll be in the black hole knocking on the... Knocking on the books.
Like interstellar? You know what I mean? I got the bugs. Everybody's gonna wonder what's going on, how do we know the place?
Well, I'm in the black hole giving it to 'em. That's what we do. I think the week, the weekly is passed, Rich. Two years ago, we were going to put Arch in the NFL Hall of Fame, right? Remember, I said that Busta's already made.
I'm clearly having my fun here. Let him be. Nah, I can't. Let. Him be.
Let him be. I don't know. It's going to be tough. That's going to happen in January. Let it go.
Let it go. Except for week one. Then we're all no, but I'm saying live in the moment. This is the moment. I mean, we're in what?
10 days from that moment, please. Let that moment happen. I will be incorrigible. Our third, our guest. Albert Breer will maybe have two cents on this subject.
He's not going to like this.
Okay, Steve Tasker is going to join us next. Hey, all right. Let's stroll down a little memory lane with one of the. Uh best bills on one of the best bills Teams and a dynastic team to say the least. What does he think?
Because he calls preseason games for the Bills. What does he think about what we just saw in Chicago and how it means the season might go? Steve Tasker, seven-time Pro Bowler, and so much more next on The Rich Eisen Show. Hey folks, let me ask you a serious question. Did you know that driving high is considered driving under the influence?
That's right. Driving under the influence of marijuana is against the law in every state. That means. even in states where marijuana is legal. That means driving high could get you a DUI.
And if you think law enforcement officers can't tell when you're driving high, well my friend, you're wrong. If you're high, they can tell. Your friends can tell. Your co-workers can tell. Even your parents can tell.
Everyone could tell.
So, what makes you think that law enforcement officers don't know when you're driving high? You'd be wrong. They can tell too. Driving under the influence of marijuana can slow your response time and change how you perceive time and speed.
So, even if you think you're fine to drive when you're high, you're not. Because the bottom line is if you feel different, you drive different. And driving high is driving under the influence.
So remember, drive high, get a DUI. Paid for by NHTSA. Listen, the way you sleep is unique to you, and that's why having a sleep number smart bed is so crucial. Cause you can adapt to your changing needs for just right. Can't wait to nestle into bed, luxurious comfort.
So whether your needs are softer or firmer, cooler or warmer, you are never stuck. You can adjust your comfort whenever you like. And it gives you your best night's sleep night after night, year after year. I love my smart bed. My sleep number setting is 60.
My wife's is 70. Just 10 numbers apart, but it means the world of difference because I can change my side of the bed to however firm or soft I want. And the same thing. For Suze.
So, why choose a sleep number smart bed? Again, so you can sleep just the way you like. The only bed that lets you make each side firmer or softer whenever you like, your sleep number setting. Sleep number's biggest sale of the year is here. All beds on sale up to 50% off the limited edition smart bed limited time.
Exclusively at a sleep number store near you. Sleep number, official sleep and wellness partner of the NFL. See store or sleepnumber.com for details. Uh The official HBO Hard Knocks podcast is back. I'm your host, Andrew Ceciliano.
We're joined by NFL and Hard Knocks Insiders as the Buffalo Bills prepare to make history. We're going to do whatever we can to bring Lombardi back here to Western New York. Catch Hard Knocks, training camp with the Buffalo Bills on HBO Max. Then watch or listen to the Hard Knocks podcast, wherever you get your podcasts. I have Interstellar on the Brain because I watched it for the first time on the flight back from Europe.
Oh my God. Yeah, I still have never seen that. Oh, God, what a couple of my boys talk about it all the time, and I still have never seen it. Unbelievable. Unbelievable.
There's a girl dad. Theme to it that just gutted me. I was crying, I was a puddle. An absolute puddle.
so much so I didn't recline my seat. Oh, you knew that. And then I, so, so I had, because again, it was 11 hours. I went from that.
Okay. to Batman Begins. Because I'm like, you know what? Christopher Nolan is amazing. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
And I haven't seen that one more than, I think, once. That was a little bit different than when you compare it to the next two. Right. But I had not I think I've only I've only saw it the first time and that's it Do you know there's a scene in the movie? Katie Holmes, who plays Rachel Dawes, the Assistant District Attorney.
Encounters a young boy and shields her. She shields him from the scarecrow, who is, by the way, Killing Murphy. Murphy, right? Yep. Do you know who the little boy was?
Oh, let me think that's a good idea. I paused it. I'm like, I was so blown away by it. It's the kid who grows up eventually. to play King Joffrey.
Oh, right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh, right. Yeah, little kid actor. Played one of the most hated, hateful people in the history of television.
Right. And then I went from that. To and I went down to Christian Bale. It's sort of like it was like a theme. I re-watched The Big Short, which is one of them.
Great flick. Oh, God, it's so great. Great flick. Ryan Gosling's so funny. Oh my god, he's so funny.
He's so funny. The whole scene with the quant. Yeah, yeah. You know, this is my quant. And it's like, that's racist.
Yeah, yeah. You know, by the way, you know, Jeremy Strong is in that too. He's one of the things that's around. It just reminded me of how much I miss succession. This guy.
Uh seven times in the Pro Bowl five times a first team all pro. And then back in the day. The uh Ninth round selection, 226th overall of the 1985 draft. Ladies and gentlemen, Steve Tasker, back on the program. How are Steve?
I'm doing great, Rich. Thank you for the awesome introduction. That's great. 226th overall pick, ninth round draft choice in 1985. of the Houston Oilers.
Right, that's right.
Okay, that's right. I walked into a lot of that locker room, had Mike Munchak, Bruce Matthews, and Warren Moon in it. And eventually, Jerry Glanville is your head coach, Steve. Yeah, after my rookie year, he was my second year's starting head coach. It was, uh, I love Jerry.
Jerry was a great guy, a good friend of mine. In fact, yes. Speak. He coached my son in the Canadian Football League back in 2018, 19. He was the defensive coordinator for the Hamilton Tiger Cats, and I got a chance to go up and say hi to him.
Him and June Jones were working up. It was awesome.
So, is that where you met Elvis then? You met Elvis? No, I have yet to meet Elvis, but I am on the list.
Okay, just want to make sure. You know, go to Will Call, check that one out.
So give me your favorite Glanville story. He used to tell me. I thought it was cool because I was a rookie and I was, you know, I was a scared-to-death rookie. I didn't know anything. Right.
And. He's the head coach. It was just my start of my second year. And Jerry was the new head coach. And, you know, he had his thing going on.
He goes, hey, Minnie, he called me Minnie. And he said, hey, Minnie. I want you to stand right next to me on the sidelines. Don't. You gotta be right next to me the whole game.
I was like, okay. And I was like, wow, this is awesome, right? And he's gonna, you know, kick me there because I was doing some stuff, you know, kick returning, playing a little whiteout.
So I thought I was utility guy and he wanted me handy, right?
So we're there after a game or so, two games, he goes, Yeah, don't forget you got to stand by me. I go, What are you going to do? I go, He didn't do this. He goes, Well, I just want you to stand by me because people think football players are tall. And so when they see you standing next to me, they're going to think I'm 6'1.
Sorry. I'm like, okay, Jare. Oh my. And Marv Levy said the same thing to you when you got to Buffalo. Is that what happened, Steve?
Yeah, no, Marvin Levy, that was not Marv's style. Yeah. Different story. Different. Yeah.
Different vibes. I bet so, man. And so, when did you first realize things were beginning to cook there? in uh western New York. Um I think when we, after at the end, we went 12 and 4 in 88.
Right. It felt a little bit like we caught lightning in a bottle. You know, certainly we had some talent. We had a bunch of Hall of Famers on the crew, but we were kind of missing some ingredients, maybe. And it was hard for a guy like me to tell.
At the end of 1989, Our team was known as the Bickering Bills in that season. We had some guys like Jim and Bruce and Thurman. Corny is Bennett. Mm-hmm. A bunch of guys and they we had a bunch of talent, but they weren't We didn't have any chemistry, didn't have any culture, didn't have any, you know, like that.
And they, we had some, we were, they were bickering, man. They didn't like each other. They were. you know It was not a, it wasn't, it was my least favorite season in my entire career. Kidding.
No kidding. And then at the end of that season, At the end of that season. Jim Kelly, bless his heart Just reached out and said, listen. Talk to Bruce. Cornice Bennett, Thurman.
Can't hold. Daryl Tally, some key guys. Yeah. And he said, dudes, we're. We're in this together.
So When we get home tonight after this game, why don't you come over to the house? And hang out a little bit, and we'll start hanging.
So, when those guys started breaking down the walls of their personal lives and started, being friends. Because they were they were great players. Yeah. And they started to be friends. And that changed the entire vibe of our team.
And those last three games of 89, we lost in the wild card round in Cleveland. on in one of the great games ever, when Bernie and Ronnie Harmon dropped a pass late in the game. Clay Matthews picked Jim off at the very end to seal it. It was a fantastic game. And After that season, we really felt like we turned the corner.
Marv made some very shrewd releases and signings in that offseason, and we came back and went to four straight Super Bowls from that point on. At the end of 89, We went through some really hard growing pains and came out of it right at the end of that season pretty good. And it carried over, and you know, that team became what it was. I mean, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'll ask Jim next time he comes on, but can you add any context to what caused Jim to just say, you know what, heck? I'm just going to call everybody up, invite them over.
You can feel the tension. You can feel the tension in the locker room. And For whatever and Jim was one of five sons.
So he knew what it was to be in a group. You know, and have strife, you know, when you fight with your brothers, that kind of thing. And he just dropped his guard and said, listen, what, you know. There's no reason for us to be a team like this. And those other guys were all about it.
Bruce Cornelius Ken Hull, Daryl Talley, they were all about it. And they, you know, they kind of put their arms around Jim came over. They, you know, downed a couple bottles of wine. And then it happened. Then it started to happen every week.
They got together at Jim's every week. And then it turned into this post-game thing that. Really took on this mythic status. Jim, He was single back then. He had this huge house over in Orchard Park.
And after every home game, He said he invited the entire team to his house. And he'd he'd feed him. You know, he'd had he had open he had a bar and he had a like this bar in the bottom of his house. I mean, a real bar, like with a dance floor and a pool table and a different thing.
So everybody showed up at his house. And he was And he, and I, you know, then you'd have like my mom and dad would come in, or my brothers would come in, or all my family members or college buddies would come in. I said, Jim, I can't get to your house tonight. I got these people in. And Jim would say, Hey, Bring them over with you.
It was more, he said, bring him with you.
So we had this, Jim had this get-together in his basement after home games. That was Everybody, my mom and dad were there. They're like, my dad was a pastor.
So he had those guys in and you know, so my mom and dad came over. I mean, everybody was over there and it became this mythical kind of gathering and our team became much closer because of it. And We started playing for each other and even each other's families that we knew. We started playing for something bigger than ourselves. It carried us through.
Four pretty good years. Love it. And, you know, one of our favorite Jim Kelly stories was at the Hall of Fame years and years and years ago. And the bartendering staff in the hotel where all the Hall of Famers were. We're we're staying um They needed help.
Like they, they, there were, there, there is a, there are many more patrons than than folks behind the bar. And Jim decided, you know, I'm just going to start helping this staff. And he hopped behind the bar and started serving everyone. And um So, this tracks is basically what I'm saying, Steve.
Well, I'll say tracks. Jim cut a wide swath, and this is this is a true story. When Jim went in the Hall of Fame, he was a first ballot guy. Oh, yes. The Hall of Fame said, How many people do we need to accommodate for your group?
How many friends are you bringing with you? And he said, 37 busloads. And they said, 37 people. He goes, No, no, no, 37 busloads of people. And if you remember, that's the first year where they had to move the Hall of Fame.
induction ceremonies from the steps of the Hall of Fame into the stadium. That was the first time they did. And Boomer started, you know. You know, Chris Berman started hosting it. It became this big event, and they had to open it up.
Because The entire region of Western New York showed up at Jim's induction, and they just couldn't accommodate all those people. And now, now it's a big deal, and they do it every year like that. But Jim was the guy who forced them to do that. Yes, the story that I was told by the Hall of Fame about this, Steve, I didn't, this is the first time I've heard 37 bus loads. That's a first for me.
But the story that people say is you could draw a line from western New York through his hometown of Pittsburgh all the way down. To Ohio. And it just would it was just a a massive migration of Jim Kelly lovers that needed to be accommodated within a larger space than the front steps. of the Hall of Fame and I-77. That was that you just couldn't fit everybody.
And that's why it's that's why Jim Kelly is the reason why there is a ceremony every year in the stadium. And also, that there is a personal bar for the Hall of Famers. Jim created that one too. Like he is, he's got the legend left, right, up and down. I got Steve Tasker.
I've met a couple hundred people who bartended at his house in our parking lot. Steve Tasker here on the Rich Eisen Show. Let's talk about the here and now. With the Buffalo Bills. And starting with the most recent preseason game, very simple question: what was that?
Steve. That was a stinker. What do you think? What do you think? Yeah.
Certainly that I've seen that before. I mean, I was a part of it. It was all too familiar to me. We used to go 0-4 under Marvel Evie before we'd go to the Super Bowl in the preseason. But that was a stinker.
And I think it shocked a couple of games. It's not that they were bummed about losing the game, but they just didn't feel like they were competitive. I think there's a lot of things in it. You know, the road trip, the couple of days flopping in a hotel with nothing to do. They showed up flat.
They didn't game plan. And I think. I don't know anything about the Bears and what they, but I get the feeling the Bears wanted to look good in that game.
So they game planned, played their ones. Um I think they gave Caleb Williams, a few extra things to work with offensively. They let him air it out a little bit. And that's a testament to how thin the margins are. You got a team that won five games.
I think Chicago won five games last year, and the Bills are in the conference championship. And if they don't show up, if you don't show up with your guys, you're going to get your head handed to you by anybody. Even in the preseason, the Bills didn't play their top 25 or 30 guys.
So there's a little bit of that in there. But you could tell in Sean McDermott's post-game. press conference in talking to some of the players. Yeah, that was a little embarrassing for him. I don't know how much different it'll be this week in Tampa Bay on Saturday.
But yeah, that was a little too much even for a preseason game, and I think they felt it. Yeah, because again, it really, you know, with all due respect to the Saturday game in Tampa, that might be more to see who's going to be guys 40 to 53 on the roster, right? More than a. Prism or an indication of what things are going to look like when it really starts in a big, huge way, you know, on the first Sunday night of the season with the Ravens coming into Orchard Park.
So that said, I mean, just nationally, Steve, the conversation I think last year was disrespectful, and the Bills responded. By basically saying, Yeah, we're just going to win the division again. And as a matter of fact, we're going to wrap it up with five weeks to go. And then we're going to have Josh Allen as an MVP and a true Hall of Fame candidate down the line here.
Now, I guess the respect is: sure, you can win this division. But outside of that, let's see it again. Roster-wise, who else is there? Is that a fair assessment of the Buffalo Bills? Or are we over disrespectful again here?
Well, everybody has doubts. I mean, every team in the league has some doubts about what they're going to do. I think the Bills, some of the doubts kind of reflect where they were last year. You know, nobody's really sure about their wide receiver room. And they did it last year with Mac Hollins and Marquez Valdez-Scantling on the roster, and Khalil Shakir, who nobody knew about.
And they started and they picked up Amari Cooper mid-season, who now is still looking for a team.
So the expectations were justifiably different last year. But in this year, they feel even better about that group that overachieved last year.
Well, different guys overachieved last year, but they feel confident in their ability to do it even better this year. They scored more points in the NFL than anybody through the regular season and postseason last year. And it looks like they're going to be that good again. Josh seems at the height of his abilities. He just seems like there's nothing that gets around him.
Pre-snap, post-snap. And of course, he's the most difficult quarterback in the league to sack.
So teams really have to take that into account when they're putting together a game plan. You can't even count on sacking the guy or getting pressure on him because if you do, he's even better. He's a real problem. And with the guys they've got now and the philosophy they put in their wide receiver room and their skill set, particularly since they signed James Cook back. The Bills offense is a real problem.
A real problem because they are not afraid to hand it off half the time. And their offensive line, they're good. I mean, they may not be an elite offensive line, but they're big, they're athletic, and they run the ball really well.
So you couple that all together. And that offense is, I mean, they're going to be right there again. The question mark around this team has to center around the defense. They did nothing of note last year except one thing. They consistently churned out turnovers.
They couldn't get teams off the field in third down. They couldn't stop the run. They couldn't rush the passer. The best they could do is middle of the roads type numbers defensively. But they did get turnovers.
That got him to the AFC championship game. But defensively, if they can get any better. Any significantly better in any part of their game, I think it'll achieve exponential results for the rest of the team. Because all the offense needs is just make the other team miss on a couple of drives, and you're going to win by a couple of possessions. Because this offense is really difficult to stop.
But defensively I mean, you look at their draft, five of the first six picks were on that side of the ball. Three of them were on the defensive front. And they got a number, a good, really good corner in Max Harriston, who when he gets back, he'll be plugged in pretty quickly, I would think. But. That if The defense is where the question marks are.
And if that does get better. This team is going to be an even tougher out than they were a year ago when they got the conference championship. And then with Alan, Steve Tasker, I mean, I think the only question left for him to answer is: how long can he stay this great, right? I mean, he's reached the zenith of human beings, right? Like, he's, he's, he is the real deal.
I'm, and he. You can't say enough about him as a person, and you can't say enough about him as a talented quarterback who leads a city and a fan base. that is so starving for him to bring a parade to town. That's the only question I have about Alan because he can't get any better, right? Like, he's unit for that.
Would think as well. Yeah, you go to the analytics, even point to it. I mean, even in crunch time and in playoff time, and when all he plays as he's as good or better than anybody, even Mahomes, his numbers are even better than Pat's when the chips are down. I mean, the guy just doesn't miss. He's impossible to get off the field.
It takes. A supreme effort by, you know, Steve Spagnolo seems to be able to do it at the right moment late in games, which is where it all comes down to. You know, you're going to get into a spot with this team where you're going to be in a tussle. Even if you're playing your best, you're not going off and leaving them. Last year, they, you know, in the last, you know, 65 games, they've lost one game.
By more than a possession. And that was week three last year to the Ravens, when they almost climbed back into that one after a couple of plays.
So just after halftime. This is a team that is really difficult to beat. You know, even if you do manage to beat him, it's going to be a one-possession game, and you're going to have Josh with the ball at some point late. It's they're tough. They're going to be right there again this year.
They really will be. And it'll be a question of. You know, you always hear this stuff about this team is cursed and that team is cursed. This team is cursed. It's not a curse of, you know, always losing the Super Bowl or whatever.
It's the curse of losing your last game. That's the curse. They are good enough to beat anybody on any given day, but you gotta play well. on that last day of that last game. And they have just not played well enough on those days.
They're good enough to go to and win the Super Bowl and have been for five years. But you got to play well on the final day. And they haven't been able to do that just yet.
Well, I guess before I let you go, Steve, maybe another intangible is this is the last year in the stadium. And that that could lead to the good tidings, the good karma, the football gods. I don't know. I mean, it's just going to come down to is it going to be in high mark? Is it not going to be in high mark?
Is it going to be against the Chiefs? Will it be against the Ravens? Could there be another team? That pops into the mix here that that the bills need to get passed on that day. I mean, maybe it'll be the old Rich Stadium.
That brings it through? I don't know, Steve. Yeah, well, the perfect case scenario is, you know, and because I'll say this, like I said, if their defense plays well and raises the level. Um, the one seed will be on the table for this team, they're going to be that good. I think their really their biggest challenge of this entire schedule is going to be opening night Sunday night against Baltimore.
I've been on Baltimore's side of the schedule where you get put out of the playoffs by a team when you've got a really good squad and you go in and you get put out on the road and you get put out of the playoffs and you really feel like you had a chance to go the distance. Baltimore is going to come into Buffalo on Sunday night football opening weekend and they're going to punch him in the mouth. If the Bills find a way to scrape out a victory in those circumstances, Uh The sky's the limit for this crew.
Now, I'm not saying I'm not. The Bills will probably be favored, but I'm telling you what, I know John Harbaugh, and I know those Ravens, and what a good organization they are. That's going to be a tough team to beat on opening day. But that's the challenge, I think. That's the game on this schedule.
The Bills really have a favorable road after that. I still think the one seed's going to be on the table for them, assuming they're health. Right. Mm.
So yeah. Best case scenario, Rich. AFC Championship game for the final game in Highmark Stadium here in Buffalo before they move over to the new venue and off to a Super Bowl in Santa Clara, right?
So we'll see. And a parade. Don't forget that. That's the one before. And a victory cigar that's this big.
Yeah. And Jim Kelly's personal bar in his basement. Steve, thanks for the time. Let's do this throughout the season. Would love to chat as much as you're willing.
Call me anytime, Rich. Good seeing you. Right back at you. That's Steve Tasker right here on the Rich Isaac Show. Awesome.
I mean that was great. You saw the bills schedule. He says, like the Ravens are the toughest test. I mean, They have both teams that were in last year's Super Bowl in their house and also Cincinnati. Right.
Yep. I mean, Last year in the old rich Carne Highmark. There's some pretty big teams coming in for some massive contests. And most of the country is going to see, if not the entirety of them, like Sunday night. In week one.
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Everything you need, nothing you don't. Get in the zone out of- Yeah. Restrictions apply. Taking a 747 and 100%. Driving it into a building.
Did you really do that? That actually happened then? We did. We really did it. We looked at doing it with miniatures and CG and set builds and everything.
And when you added up all those numbers, it occurred to us that it might actually be cheaper to buy a real plane. Originally, we had our eye on like a 737, something like that. Yes. And we went out to the airplane graveyard or where we could buy an old 737. And while we were looking at the 737s, I started looking across the field.
You could see these. MD11's 747. And I sort of thought, you know, and I said to the library, well, hang on a second, why can't we get one of those big ones? Let's see if we can do it.
So I actually had the unique experience of impulse buying a 747. and then getting to crash it. Before I let you go, what is your remote drop movie, Christopher, wherever you're watching television and you see a film that is a favorite of yours or you just don't mind binging it, even it's not yours, obviously. Which one is it? Just a fan film?
I haven't heard the remote drop as a phrase. That's a fantastic one. There you go. Yeah, I love it. And there are so many.
I mean, I think by Kubrick, you know, it's a remote drop, but some of the great comedies do. And I mean, Talladega Knights, I'm never going to be able to screw it up.
Okay, now then. Really? What? The ballad of Ricky Bobby is a Christopher Nolan mic drop movie. Is that what you're saying?
If you ain't first, you're laughing. You're not wrong, Christopher. You're not wrong. You're not. I'm just, that's fantastic.
That would, does Will Farrell know this? Did you just reveal that? He does now. He does now. Yeah.
Just the way he says that with his accent, if you're not familiar with that. There it is. It's very magical. I mean, he's right. That's true.
He's not wrong.
Well, you could be second, though. Second place is the first loser. Oh, good point. I'm telling you, watch Interstellar. You've never seen it, huh?
I haven't. And I do have a long flight tomorrow, so maybe I'll check. Oh, that's right. It's your fantasy draft. I am.
I'm going back, back to the fantasy draft. Yeah. Going to Philadelphia this weekend.
So if you see us out and about, say what's up. But you don't go out and about. What are you out and about? How do you go out and about? I'm going out and about.
If other people want to join me, that's up to them. I can't wait to dig into this because we're digging into this now. It's your favorite fantasy league. It's my least favorite fantasy league, but uh I'm I'm uh I'm appreciative of the old school. Like, how long have you been with this now?
Let's see. This is year 23? 23. 23. Okay.
And everyone's in original? No, no. I think 10 or 11 of the 14 are original.
Okay, very good. And this goes back to college, right? This goes back to college.
Okay. Which makes sense if you're a bunch of guys in college, let's all get together and have a fantasy draft where there are no time limits on the draft. Oh, really? Choices, which is why I have news for you. Hold on a second.
How many teams are involved in this? Is it 14 is automatically absurd? Automatically absurd. I love news for you on that front. And 14 teams, because that means the waiver wire is just nothing.
And you'll never have a chance to get better because unless you're that, you know, like if you're you gotta be that bad to have a shot at the one person who's available, that's worth it. Back on the Rich Hodson Show with our radio. And so you were saying. There's 14 teams in your fantasy league that you're flying off to Philadelphia because every year the draft is held in the city of the Super Bowl champion. Correct.
Which is a cool thing. I get it.
So there's no time limit on the draft choices, which is absurd. Yes. However, we did institute a kind of. Time guideline this year of five minutes. What a time.
That means we're going to kind of keep people honest now. And if you have five minutes and if you haven't picked, you're getting skipped. Oh, so there is a time limit now. It finally passed. It's not a hardened, you know, like what does that mean?
I'm just saying, like, the 90, like you would do online, like a 90-second and then on to the next. It's like five minutes. We're kind of watching the clock. Hey, man, it's been five minutes. Can you pick now?
I'm not ready. You're getting skipped.
So it there So yes, it's a time limit. It's a time limit. Why aren't you? I just mean that it's not online draft where it's like you're in person. Yeah, we got more in their stickers and all that stuff.
Right, right.
So, but There is a time limit. Yes. Now they're actually. Why won't you? Call it that.
I don't know. That's the point. I'm curious to see it in action. I guess I'm. Who's the enforcer?
Exactly. I don't know. And I'm skeptical that it actually will be enforced. I nominate.
Well, a lot of people don't like me anyway.
So I know. That's perfect. You're perfect for the role. You're perfect for the role. But why do you want to hang out?
Why do you want to be able to leave this show? Why do you want to leave this show?
Well, I don't want to leave this show, but I didn't go last year. I understand. You were also traveling for the show to Kansas City. I didn't want to go back to the next one. It's not that also.
You also didn't want to go to somebody's house that was in the practical years in a row. Right. For the second straight year.
So where is this going to be? In a hotel? The Airbnb rooftop situation.
Okay. It's going to be fun. All right.
So you've actually... Yes. Wow. You're like adults with disposable income and a sensibility of like, you don't, this isn't your life. Like, you're going to just sleep.
We don't have eight hours. It's three days. Let's keep it moving. Right. Right.
Oh, congratulations. Yeah, we stepped it up a little bit. They're all grown stuff. They're all grown stuff. I'm proud of some of these guys for recognizing.
That's great. That means you're evolving. People are evolving in their 50s, which I think is inspiring. We're going to have a great day today. Mid to late 40.
This is equally as inspiring. Oh, congratulations. This is great. I'm happy for you. Thank you.
Yeah. And I just moved for the Rams and Chargers so you don't have to even get on a plane next year. That would be awesome. Right? That would be fantastic.
Yeah. Although, what? You didn't have to invite people to your house and you don't like these people.
Well, if they don't like you, I don't like them. Thank you. You're welcome. I've got your back. Thanks, buddy.
It's okay if we don't like you. Other people, though, that's right. Yeah. I'm looking forward to it. It's going to be a fun weekend.
You don't have to say that when you don't.
Well. Congratulations. That's the way I feel about it. You're a fantasy lead. They're all great.
Good, Mike. You're the enforcer of the time. I nominate you. I nominate you. Look, I'll take it on.
I'm glad to be like, let's go. Yeah. Because I want to see a situation like, you know, in the NFL draft, I want to see people get skipped. Oh, skipping it. Who's in charge of the stickers?
Who creates the stickers? There's just like a site you can just kind of order. No, I know. You can order. Who's the one who's in charge of the time?
No, order. They're just kind of laid out. And when it's your turn, you just go up and get in charge of ordering them. Oh, our buddy Scott.
Okay, that's it.
So why won't Scott be the enforcer of the time? I can ask him. What do you mean you can ask him? I'm not the commissioner.
Now I'm concerned. I'm not the commissioner, so I'm not in any charge. Our buddy Mark is the commissioner. Is Mark one of the people who likes you? He's coming to dinner tomorrow night.
So, yeah, I think so. What does that mean? I organize kind of like a charge of the dinner. I organize a Thursday dinner. Where have you done that in Philadelphia?
Ocean Prime in Philadelphia. Oh, fancy. Disposable income. I mean, my God.
Well, he is moving. Once upon a time, these guys were doing it in their underwear with no time limits.
Now there's a time limit. They're in an Airbnb, and now they've got a seafood tower. You're a grown-stop. It's a grossed up and you're groansed up. That's what I'm so happy.
We've hit them all now while we've got coming up. TJM's in 4F tomorrow morning. Oh, okay. Come on, he's a father. Come on.
He's a father. We're all moving on now. Come on. You know what I'm saying, Rich? All of us are moving on.
Come on, Rich. Come on. What does that mean? Come on, Rich. I mean, I used to take videos of me going to coach.
That's true. Now look at him. You won't do that anymore. That's always worrying about a hot towel. Yeah, you don't change shit.
I want a mimosa. I want a hot towel. Let's go. Let's go. Let's go.
And you're going to be the enforcer. You're going to have to be. All right.
I'm going to have to be. You're right about that. I am going to have to be. But somebody's going to have to get skipped. Yeah.
Somebody's getting skipped. I guarantee it happens. Then the fight breaks out. Because you got to adjust. We can't take 15 minutes to figure out your wide receiver five.
It's absurd. Like, what are we doing? It enrages me, and I'm not involved. I know. Could you imagine if we're involved in that?
And imagine being involved, how much it enrages me.
Okay. Leaving your Your spouse. By Meg. Yes. Okay.
Our new dog. Your new dog. Your baby. You're leaving us. Yeah.
To go do this thing. Yeah. You are not going to let somebody take five and a half minutes, not even five times. Not even 505. 501 is outrageous.
Five minutes, you step in. Boom, you're out. You should get a gavel. I got one. Do you have a gavel?
Yeah, you want to take it? I'm bringing it. Yes. The judge. Judge Brockman's chambers.
Keep it moving. In an Airbnb somewhere, the like the downtown Philadelphia. Like four seasons landscaping. Is that what your airbnb beat? You have the gavel?
A box and everything. No, that's a mallet. Oh, no, that's a gavel. That's a gavel, baby. And I got the thing thing, too.
And you got the thing. Oh yes, bringing it, it's coming.
Now TSA is gonna stop them. What's the devil for Judge Judy? I am Michael Rosenbaum. I am Tom Welling. Welcome to Talk Bill, where it's fun to talk about small bills.
We're going to be talking to sometimes guest stars. Are you liking the direction Plois is going in? Yeah, because I'm getting more screen time. That's good. But mostly it's just me and Tom remembering.
I think we all feel like there was a scene missing here. You got me, Tom. Let's revisit it. Let's look at it. See what we remember.
See what we remember. I had never been around anything like that before. I mean, it was so fun. Talk, Bill. Talk, Bill.
I just had a flashback. Follow and listen on your favorite platform. Let's get into it.
