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.
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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. Yeah. This is the Rich Eisen Show.
Now, let's get down to Brass Tacks here. Live from the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles. Why did Shane Steichen make the decision he made?
Well, he showed his athleticism there on a naked bootleg. I think you have to just follow what he said all along, which was he was looking for somebody who could operate the offense at a high level. Today's guests: NFL Network Insider Tom Pellisero, actor Eugenio Derbez, plus your phone calls, latest news, and more. And now. It's Rich Eyes.
That's right. Can't confirm that. And here I am, wearing purple. And I'm feeling good about it. Right here on the Roku Sports Channel, right here on the Affinity Sports Network, right here on SiriusXM Channel 375, right here on the Audience, the Odyssey app.
Almost said audienced. Almost really went back in the time machine. And at any rate, the audience out there, 844-204-Rich is the number to dial right here on the show. Tommy P. Tom Pellisero is going to join us on this program in the middle of hour number two.
And then one of the biggest stars on planet Earth, he and his gajillion Instagram followers and one of the stars of Apple TV, Apple TV's Acapulco Eugenio Derbez is going to be here in studio in hour number three. And, you know, it's going to be, we got a great. Celebrity true or false for him. And before that, I'm going to go all in on the Hollywood Reporter for their top 25 sports TV movie list of all time. Headline: it's an outrage.
And uh, but that's what lists are all about. That's what lists are all about, and we're going to be having a lot of fun here on this three-hour program. 844-204-Rich is the number to dollar. If you want to talk with me, or TJ or Jay Felly, or ladies and gentlemen. Susie Schuster in for Christopher Professor.
What's up, honey? How are you? Oh, my goodness gracious me. Did you not turn on your microphone? Did you turn your microphone off?
What do you got over there? That one? That's the button. I don't. I don't ever have to touch anything.
Philly usually has everything going for me. Can I put you under the bus? Would you mind? I'll take that one. Would you mind that bottle of water off the table since they don't have the rights to be sitting on your table?
But they could. They could. But they could. Look at you. Look at your hands.
Hi, you guys. What's going on? I'm here and I'm listening. Wow. That was very Frazier of you.
You did a half Chris Myers. I'm here. And you're there. I'm there. I'm not here.
I'm here. I'm not. You are. Good to see you. Hi.
How are you, Jay Felly? Good to see you in your position. What's going on? Like the drop. TJ Jefferson, the candle's lit.
Oh, it is. Hi, Tech. What else? You want to talk about anything today? Oh, you know, I do.
I've got questions. You always like stirring the pot when Susie sits here. I don't like to call it stirring the pot. I like to call it getting to know you.
Okay. You know, okay. Yeah, much better. Like, did you two come to work together in the same cart? Because that's all.
Oh, we did not. No, I was so late. I took Zan to school today.
Okay. It's the beginning of his junior year coming up next year. And he's in the leadership council, so he's leading the way today. He's a leader and best at any rate. Number one this week?
Stop it. Wow. You know what, TJ? Since you're stirring the pot, let me do it. Congratulations to you.
On. On. Micah Parsons is going to be In the Dallas Cowboys lineup on opening night against the Philadelphia Eagles. You don't say. Yes.
And my source. Is not anybody you told me this? Under the radar, off record or on record or on background. And it's not going to be Tom Pellisaro in our number two, but congratulations. He's going to be there.
Well, you know who said it? I'm about to say who if the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, Brian Schottenheimer. He.
So this is gonna happen. All right.
Okay. You wanna don't take my word for it. Take his. Check it out. I know you guys have to ask the questions and I respect that and understand that.
I think my tone hasn't changed. My answer hasn't really changed. I'm focused on the field. I'm focused on the guys that are working and the business side of it's going to take care of itself. I could answer those questions all day long.
Does it make it harder to scheme at game plan though as a head coach without one of your top players? No, 'cause I think at the end of the day we feel like Mike is going to be out there when we can line up against Philadelphia here in 15 days or whatever it is. And um you know, so no, the answer is yeah. I feel good about that, yeah. There you go.
Congratulations. I tell you what, though, if there's anyone who wants Micah Parsons in that lineup more than me. Is Should be Brian Schotter because his immediate future is so closely tied to 1-1. What's going through his mind, Rich? He's a man who had to wait all these years to get his shot.
He finally gets his shot. And now he has to deal with this. I guess this is what I think he's thinking.
Okay. He's thinking I have The massive opportunity of a lifetime in front of me here. I have. An offensive team. 'Cause, you know, he's that's that's his, if you will, side of the football.
I've got an offensive team that's got a top. Notch. Quarterback. I've got a top notch. wide receiver.
I've got a top-notch young wide receiver. I've got my scheme that I know how to cook up, and it's now my ship to steer. I am psyched. I go to work every day with a smile on my face. I am the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, and I knew when I signed on the dotted line.
The man who signs on his side of the dotted line. is somebody I cannot control. And he is going to say something, he is going to do something, it's going to happen every single game. My press conferences might have somebody running out the back. in the middle of it.
Because the man who signs his sign of the dotted line has decided to step in front of a camera. with a microphone. Willing to say things into that. Settle down. Mm.
I shall, sir. But he knows. The deal. He knows what's up. And he saw it firsthand in how Mike McCarthy was dealing with it last year, with not only.
The quarterback but the wide receiver in question. Last year.
So he knows. What's up? He knows he can't control it. And if he's going to Play any card. It's the.
Business side's gonna take care of things. Only talk about the guys who are here. He said those two things in that sound bite. But him saying that he's confident in happening and then it doesn't happen.
Now then. He's got bigger problems than the well, what What happened? He's got bigger problems because 11's not there. I still think at the end of the day, 11 will. Be there.
And there will be a moment in time. And it should be his first snap of the season. When Jalen hurts Steps out of the huddle. and is trying to look for 11. Where is he?
In the state of Pennsylvania, I might add. I I can't imagine. This getting to the point. of no return.
Now Adam Schefter knows a heck of a lot more about this situation than I do. And his read of it saying this is heading for divorce. Is not something he throws out there. He's not a clickbaiter, as you know. Yeah.
So, his read of the situation clearly. has more informational boots on the ground than me. I just Can't believe. That With Labor Day hitting. There isn't a ticking clock that's so loud in Jerry Jones's and Stephen Jones's ears.
That Something can't get done. Jerry knows what the number is. Micah knows what the number is. His agent, who Jerry's not talking to, knows what the number is. They know what the number is.
They know what the numbers are, and those things can get hammered out in the span of a day. But what I'm hearing is Jerry's Mr. Handshakes a Handshake, and Micah's like, I'm Micah freaking Parsons. I'm not apologizing for asking for my agent to be involved. I'm not going to apologize for a handshake agreement that's.
absurd if anybody thinks is a A Binding agreement. Yes, sir. And that may be the case. Again, I have been told by multiple people that Micah Parsons isn't going to blink.
Now, blinking might be you want to take $42, $43 million a year. I think we would all blanket that. I'm blinking right now.
Okay. So Good for Brian Schottenheimer saying I think it's going to happen. He'll be there. Business side'll take care of it. And I guess that'll happen right around Tuesday.
If it's not happening yet, he might be like. Do I call the boss and say, what's up? And the answer to that is no. He will not. He decides to stay out of it.
Yeah. He does. He'll be staring at the phone. to see if it's going to ring just like everybody else in this equation. Yes or no?
This is not done on Labor Day. This is still a question on Labor Day. Like I told you this morning when I watched watching the Dallas. Um documentary on Netflix and starting to really kind of Understand where Jerry is a little bit. If that guy is still.
Doing business the way he was in the documentary? He shall? I'm going to say no. I will agree with you. No chance.
We're going to be hanging out on Labor Day, and this is still going to be hanging over everybody. Yeah. I think this gets done Wednesday. Wednesday, September 3rd. That night.
And again, the point is, does Micah get on the plane? Yeah. Does he hold out? of the plane. And that would then begin a holdout period.
Because he is under contract and he needs to be on that plane. Unless he's hurt. Is he going to come up with a... Cool. My arm.
Ooh. Is that what's going to happen? As we're currently sitting here right now. Um This is a conversation. that we're starting the show with because the head coach is saying I don't think it's gonna happen.
And what else is he supposed to say? I love the. I love, by the way, he could say, I don't know. Don't play that soundbot again. He could, but.
Cue that one up, because you'll hear the, you know. Coachism's But he's not shying away. He's not going to sit here and just get uptight about it. I was listening for a higher register, and I didn't quite get that. Let's listen to one more time.
Here we go. I know you guys have to ask the questions, and I respect that. I understand that. Respect it. My tone hasn't changed.
My answer hasn't really changed. It's consistent. I'm focused on the field. I'm focused on the guys that are working. Only the guys are working.
On the business side of it, it's going to take care of itself. But no, I could answer those questions all day long. Break it. You can make it harder to scheme and game plan, though, as a head coach without one of your top players. No, because I think at the end of the day, we feel like Mike is going to be out there when we get line up against Philadelphia here in 15 days or whatever it is.
And, you know, so no. The answer is, yeah. I feel good about that. Yeah. Damn straight, he does.
I mean, hey. saying all the right stuff, right? Oh my god, this you know what this sounds like to me? What? It sounds like to me, sorry guys.
When a husband hears a wife talking about something, they're like, Oh, yeah, whatever you say. And I have no idea what's gonna happen because I have no control, but I'm just gonna watch my wife blow something up or not. And this just feels like he's just he's there to say yes, dear, because he has no idea what's gonna happen for him right now. Happy boss, happy life. That's it.
That's it. Let's just say that. There's only one person that he's going to have to resp you know, to report back to or be in the good graces. And that's double J. See, I'm.
I think that's a good question. Uh oh.
Okay. So when am I the Schottenheimer in this equation? Yeah. Yeah. What time is it?
Oh, go every day. Are you saying. That you married a loose cannon who's a control frame?
Well, okay. Is marvelous. That's right. I'm just wondering if this means. I'll go here.
Okay, sure. This is placating. Is that. When I'm being like Brian Schottenheimer, are you realizing? That you're the Jerry Jones and I'm placating?
Yeah, I'm not out to lunch. Of course I am. She's no dummy. It's exhausting being me. But what I'm saying is, I'm listening to him say this.
Yes. And again, it's always different depending on which position the player is. I think. And I just think it it it's different about the relationships in the locker room. Like wha when it was Dak and it's a leader and It sounds to me like Brian is just sitting there like treading water.
It's like he's the duck with the water. It looks nice and smooth up here, and his feet are just moving furiously.
Well, on the defensive side of the ball, that would be the case, but he doesn't have to do that yet. Midnight is so far away from striking right now. But Micah is in the same. category is DAC and C last year. The whole football world knows That he's going to be signed.
The whole football world knows, at least, he will be the highest paid defensive player. Uh in in the sport. Period. End of story. The question is, is.
Is he going to be a Dallas Cowboy or not on September 4th? And the Cowboys would be out of their skulls to force a situation where he is not. And because we all know unless And the whole business of, well, you know, um Who said it? Breer said he gets the sense that Dak and CD were universally loved in that building, and Micah is not. Not so much.
But Jerry Han shook on something. At some point, where he feels that this has been a reneged handshake deal.
So if the handshake meant that he was worthy of coming back as a Dallas Cowboy. Why isn't he now worthy of coming back as a Dallas Cowboy now? Ego. I don't know, man. But that said, how do you have a...
How do you have the handshake? And not the finalization this quickly You know, it just leaves a rough feeling in your In your bones, you know, for I don't know, 22 years or so. Like, you really need to have. When you have an understanding that things will be fixed and then they're not. It just breeds resentment.
And if I have Micah Parsons and I have undoubtedly one of the greatest talents, I want him happy. I want to win now. Of course. And you don't need any of this nonsense. But here's the other thing.
Said about everyone knows that Micah's going to become the highest paid, right? Yes, we've known this. Probably for the last three years. Exactly. We saw the past.
Yeah, so it's like, come in, why are we here right now? I don't know. We saw this coming and we knew this day. It's a Brownhog Day. It's a lot of fingerprints.
Susie, I say it all the time. It's not. And in that regard, to end this conversation, I got you, babe. And you've got me, and now I know you know when I'm placating you, which is fantastic. I've always thought that for the last 22 years.
Did you go Sonny and Sher there? Yeah, which is the song that was playing when the alarm clock went off in Groundhog Day. You're welcome. 844-204-Rich is the number to dial right here. It's not disrespectful.
I mean, it seems like you tried to respond.
So it's informed. I'm not showing anybody up. And how dare you? Heavens all the time. 844-204-Rich is the number to dial.
Kevin Fishbane of The Athletic, who covers the Bears, is going to join us next. Um Because there was a moment in Chicago Bears Country yesterday. From Tyson Bajant. The backup quarterback that really was nothing short of awesome. Yeah.
And we're going to hit on that. And then the state of the Bears. Oh, gosh. That's next, right here on the Rich Eisen Show. 844-204, which is the number to dial.
Phone line's already lit. 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. Their 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.
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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. Back here on the program, Susie is in for Chris Brockman, who's in Philadelphia now. Yes. Your favorite town.
I mean, for basketball season. For basketball season. Football. You know who I heard from the other night when I was on Sports Center was our buddy Kat. Who was watching, and he had some really nice things to say on text about said that he felt like a kid back in New Jersey hoping to get back on sport, get on Sports Center one day.
Watching. Yeah, everyone had good stuff. How do you not like Carl Anthony Towns? Me? Yes.
I mean, yeah, I. He's cool. He's like your nemesis. Yeah. You know, except it's like a one-sided fight right now.
I mean, for you to meet Carl Anthony Town, beat down in this video. For him to show up, I think it was right around this time last year when he showed up in his Jail and Hurts Gamer. Yeah, that was. Sat here in this studio. That was dissipated.
Met you. Yeah. And you meet him. Took a liking to me. And he did, in a way where he, you know, he starts busting your stones about being a Dallas Cowboy fan.
And then for him to beat, have his team beat the Cowboys twice and then win the championship is definitely not the way you really wanted to meet Colonel Anthony Townsend. Yeah, definitely not. Definitely not. The fact that he came like a Trojan came under the guise of friendship and did this to me. Got your own mariachi band, man.
Do you know? That's true. If the Cowboys beat the Eagles this year, you're going to have to come up with something. Yeah, but how can I top that?
Well, that's a buddy rich. But the biggest problem is the hit to the local economy. If he doesn't Win and then use a local flower and balloon shop. Like the hit to the local Los Angeles economy. I do love to support the small businessmen.
So that was the only plus about. I think I did not know that. Oh yeah, I'm a man of the people. Are there tariffs on balloons and and flowers? I don't know.
Probably.
Well, probably. I'm here. Susie Schuster is in for Chris Brockman, who's in Philadelphia to take part in his Schmecky Fantasy League. Schmecky. That's why he's there.
Yes, why he? No, no. Nice use of schmecky.
Well, I mean, seriously. I mean, the man's in his mid-40s, and he's going to meet other men in their mid-40s and early 50s to hang out for two days to do fantasy football.
Sounds like a treat, bro.
Okay, sounds like a treat. Yeah. Don't you play Fantasy Rich? I do. I do.
Would I get on a plane to do a draft? I'm with you. Because I do that for the real draft. Oh, okay. No, it's a real draft.
I do it for a real draft. I'm Rich Islands. I do play fantasy. I do play fantasy, but it's also. I do that for the real draft.
Excuse me. I'm going to be zooming in from San Paulo to do a draft.
Now you just funk Master Flax on this. How much more fun? Who are you? I'm the host of the Rich Islands. Or you just got shown up by the host.
Thank you very much. Thank you. Uh on the opposite side of this. Tyson Bagent. an undrafted rookie quarterback Out of Division II Shepherd University.
He was at the combine. And the most famous thing about him. was his dad.
Okay, the famed arm wrestler over the top. Travis Bagent, right? Tom Pelicero's. Tom Pelicero got clowned, actually did an arm wrestle with him, I believe, at the Senior Bowl. Yeah.
If I'm not mistaken. And Tom's defense, he would have beaten anyone.
Well, Tom's joining us in our number two. But uh Tyson Bayant Gets Signed by the Chicago Bears. And we all know, obviously this is when Justin Fields was there. Baychant got some run because Fields As we all know, he hurt his hand trying to extend a football play that he. Shouldn't have.
Um Long story short, Bagent shows some ability. And now Caleb Williams is there. And one is wondering Uh at any point in time. Is Tyson Bagent maybe somebody that can get traded away? Like, do you want to?
Keep them? Do you want to send them? And the reason why we're talking about them today is the Bears decided to not only keep them. But enrich him. And I kind of dig this for various reasons.
But Certainly when we're talking about Aid. $30 million a year is not enough for Player X, or $40 million a year is what got. Miles Garrett to stop worrying so much about the Browns' ability to win a Super Bowl right now. Two-year $10 million contract extension for Tyson Bajan. who then took to a podium and had this reaction to it.
Yeah, I think that um You know, a lot of people don't know this, but you know, my dad is my uh He's my right-hand man, and he didn't uh He didn't even have running water until he was in high school, so There's definitely a lot of things that. and people that I could uh that I think I could certainly help um With this gift, I've been blessed with, but yeah, just little things like that. You know, I don't really know anybody back at home with any money, so um. Yeah, it feels good. I mean, it's certainly a weight.
weight off my shoulders and my family's shoulders and Yeah. Yeah, it definitely means a lot. How cool is that? Come on, man. wearing it on his sleeve like that and Life-changing money.
Life-changing money, two years, $16 million can get up to $10 million can get up to $16 million with incentives, but that does mean that he'd get playing time that the Bears don't really plan to um have him get That said, Just hard work, dedication, Shepherd University. And Working there and going to the combine and hoping for the best and going through a draft and not hearing your name called and then get your name called the Chicago Bears. Oh, here's Caleb Williams. There's Justin Philip. There's Caleb Williams.
I'm going to keep my head down. I'm going to keep working hard. I got a new head coach in Ben Johnson coming in. He believes in me. He saw what we saw two years, $10 million for a guy from Shepherd University.
Doesn't happen too often. Awesome. And congratulations to him and his dad and his family and his whole. Um a group of Bayants. You know, w that's the that that's the thumb wrestle.
With the pen.
Well done. Yeah, man. Outstanding. Kevin Fishbane covers the Bears for. The athletic back here on the Rich Eisen Show, the senior rider from the athletic.
Kevin, were you in the room? for Tyson Bajant for that moment? I was, Rich, and it was pretty cool. And, you know, Tyson is always an entertaining press conference. We talked to him after the game on Sunday night, and he was great.
You know, somebody asked him about it, they said, you know, it's kind of underrated your athleticism. And he kind of paused and says, how many times do you have to run before it's not underrated anymore that I could just do it?
So he's always been great to talk to. And as you just said, it's an incredible story. I mean, shoot, Rich. I remember sitting down with Tyson this summer, his rookie year that summer, he was the number four quarterback in the building. He was behind Nathan Peterman, and they gave PJ Walker a two-year, $4.5 million contract to be Justin Fields' backup.
I remember sitting down with Bajan just because, you know, it was the first preseason game. I knew he was going to play. I just wanted to learn more about him. And then a couple weeks later, he. Was the number two.
They cut PJ Walker. They ate the money. And, you know, then they bring him to Case Keenum this time. And Pages like, nah, I'm good. I got this.
And he's just continued to assert himself. He deserves it. Everyone in the building loves the guy. And it was very cool to see that emotion yesterday. And that's why Keenum's presence there was the reason why they.
Was there ever anything to the rumors that Bajant was on the market, on the block? Anything like that? Kevin? You know, I mean, they opened it up as it was a competition for number two.
Now, Case Keenum injured his leg a week ago, and I think that that kind of has helped solidify. But I remember back in the spring when Keenam got signed, and you start kind of asking around about how's this all going to work. And the message from people in the building was, do not doubt Tyson Bayant. Do not think that he's not going to do everything in his power to win the number two job. But as you said, Rich, because of Keenum, and you know how this works, like it just, you know, and you hate to describe it in this way.
It takes one team to lose their starter to an injury to start looking around and figure out we need somebody that has shown it on tape that can do it. And, you know, the thing about Bajant is like, you know, Ben Johnson said it last week, you know, the guy knows the playbook like the back of his hand. And it's a brand new playbook for him. And he's wired the right way. And, you know, he's done it on the field.
He's done it throughout the preseason. He's done it in camp.
So, uh, It's a great story. And yeah, and for him, what was interesting too, Rich, is he was asked, he goes, someone said, he goes, if you want to go be a starter. You know, you don't sign this contract, right? Like, you play this out and see what happens. And he says he recognizes.
That being around Ben Johnson, this coaching staff is going to make him such a better quarterback that. If that is something you can do down the line, that it'll put him in a better position to do that.
So, you know, it makes a lot of sense on both sides to get this deal done. Yeah, yeah. I mean, everyone talks about how Sam Darnold's time with Kyle Shanahan. begot his opportunity with Kevin O'Connell and now got him this big contract with Seattle. I mean, there's so many stories like that, and obviously, that's maybe part of Tyson Bajan's thinking.
But that's the reason why he's the first order of business with us right now is because of that soundbite in that press conference. And that's being covered everywhere. He crossed over into. Other parts of the media machines that normally backup quarterbacks don't.
So that's why I wanted to start with you on that, Kevin. But the Caleb Williams performance on Sunday night. Is that what we're going to see? Obviously, you don't have the answer to that, but that's the underlying question here. Is is this the fire hose drinking?
that Caleb has been doing over the last three weeks with a coach who's demanding and also has a significant playbook. Is this the um the sh the green shoots growing? Kevin? Well, it was the Bills backups, which I always have to put out there. Yes.
But it was the Bills' backups, and Caleb looked phenomenal. Like you want to have success in that situation and you should. It's one thing to have success. It's one thing to be dialed in the way he was and to look comfortable and poised and not escaping the pocket immediately. I thought Rich, the first play was so telling.
Just under center, play action, an easy layup to Colson Loveland. You know, and you get a nice gain. And that's so much of what Ben Johnson wants to do. He wants to get these guys the ball in space. He wants to make things easy for Caleb Williams.
You know, get the ball to Olamade Zacchaeus and just watch him run. You know, get the ball to your guys, Roma Dunze and DJ Moore, and let them do the rest.
So I think you saw a little bit of that, and it was really promising to see Caleb Williams be accurate, to handle the operation well, and just build confidence. Because you know what? It is the backups, but it's the Bills' backups. That's obviously a really good team, a lot of really good players there. And as you know, I talked about this a couple weeks ago, that the camp has been bumpy.
It's been uneven.
So I think he needed it. I think the offense needed it. And yeah, the season is going to be rocky. Like it's just, it just is. It's a new playbook.
They've got a really tough schedule. There's going to be some moments where people are going to be wondering about how this is all going to work. And then there's going to be moments like you saw on Sunday night where Caleb looks really good in part because he's got a phenomenal play caller. Defensively, there was a bagel popped up there as well. What about that side of the football that we're clearly not focused on because Caleb Williams doesn't play on that side of the ball?
Kevin. Yeah, it's a veteran group, Rich. And you look at the guys like one of the things that stood out to me in camp is Montez Sweat. Here's somebody who, when they traded for him, he He came to Chicago in 2023 and earned a Pro Bowl spot. And then last year was not his year.
He battled injuries and just did not put up the numbers he wanted. And he's been there every day, starting in the spring. Has not missed time, no personal days, no veteran rest days. And he's been really good. He's looked really good.
Tremaine Edmonds, similarly, he took a little bit of a step back in numbers last year. He's had a good camp. Jaquan Brisker missed most of last year with concussion. He's been flying around the football.
So you look at those three guys at the three levels and seeing them in Dennis Allen's scheme, I think has been really encouraging. Those are the guys that have made camp difficult on Caleb Williams and the offense. And they've done all this with Jalen Johnson still sidelined with a leg injury. And the hope still is that he's going to back for week one. But I think this is kind of an underrated part of this team because I don't know how many people, you know, obviously you're big time NFL fans certainly know who Montez Sweat is, but I don't know how many know Jaquan Brisker.
I don't know how many know how well TJ Edwards has played. Kyler Gordon has. Got a new contract. That's somebody that's got Pro Bowl potential at nickel.
So they've got some good players there. I mean, this is, they talk about how they want to be a top 10 unit, and they certainly have the players to do it. Kevin Fishbane Sr. Ryder for the athletic covering the Chicago Bears joining us from Chicago for a few more minutes here on the Rich Eisen Show. Take me under the hood of watching Ben Johnson establish himself.
And his program there. What's he like? What are Bears fans? What can they expect? From from him.
Kevin? Bears fans love him. I mean, we're in full honeymoon phase here, Rich. Everyone is, and I'll say this: the media is in honeymoon phase too. He's been great up at the podium and, you know, giving us nice detailed answers, which we always enjoy.
And I I think that seeing him on the practice field, you hear him, you see him, you see how frustrated he can get, you see how demanding he can be. He really wanted to, you know, dispel this idea that he's this kind of whiz kid, right? Like he's an intense coach. And one of the things about him that I was trying to uncover this summer is like, why is he any different than any coach who says, I'm a details guy? Like every coach says that.
What makes Ben Johnson different? You talk to players and coaches, and they talk about it's the accountability. And what he will do, I was talking to Cole Komet about this, and Cole said there'll be a 15-yard completion. And he will sit there on the board and show one tiny split that was off. And make you learn it.
And he won't just say, oh, we don't need to, we'll gloss over because it was a good play. No, he will focus on it and he will make sure that everybody understands this could have, yeah, this was a nice play. But if you keep doing this, if you keep making this mistake, we're not going to get to where we need to be. I think the players are buying into it. The coaches all love it.
Talking to JM Ryan Poles this week, he was talking about how Ben Johnson, his training camp schedule, was so detailed from the beginning. And that's always a tough thing for head coaches. That, like, they for, you know, you have to build a schedule for the whole team. And that was just a little thing that Poles noticed that has really shown that this guy is just wired in the right way. And again, everybody says they're a details guy, but so far, it looks like he really lives it, he breathes it.
And if this team can buy into it, obviously, you need to have the talent and everything. You can talk yourself into. And certainly coming off Sunday night, you could talk yourself into this thing working out, maybe not right away this year, but certainly in the long run.
Well, I mean, again. Not to keep bringing up last year, but last year soon will be forgotten. Um To hear Cole Komet say that there's a parsing so specific on a play that works so well offensively. I mean, to say that that's the night and day from last year is an understatement. I mean, again, we kept hearing my colleague Stacey Dales when we were there in London last year in week six that they had just started instituting the first 15 scripted because the players asked for it.
And they've got to be out of their skulls on the offensive side of the ball with excitement. Have to be. Right now. Yeah, no, I think they're very much enjoying it. Again, it's been tough.
Like, the offense hasn't been as smooth as they've wanted. Sure. No doubt, though, but still, there's a plan. There's a plan, and there's clearly an accountability that. Um that wasn't there.
It just didn't appear to be there. Last year.
No, and I think, I think, too, like, you know, the previous coaching staff, again, they're all going to stay there on the details, but it seemed like they would kind of let things maybe slide that this coaching staff won't. They're going to make things make sure that you know it, even if it was a positive result. They're going to make sure that everybody on the team knows it. We've seen him yank the starters after a rapid practice. We've seen him stop a play to make sure they do it all over again because one guy split is a hair off.
And again, the players see it. And the other thing, too, Rich, is all they have to do is look at Detroit. All they have to do is see what the Lions have done for the last two, three years and the points that they put up to say, oh, okay, this guy obviously knows what he's doing. Look how successful it's been there. If we can really buy into this, you know, we could do something that.
Chicago doesn't score a lot of points, Rich. That's not really the Bears' thing. It never has been.
So, if he can get them into a situation where they're doing things, it's unfair to say doing things the Lions have done. But, again, it's rare territory here to start talking about 30 and 40 points in a game. That's not really a franchise that's used to it. And then to start against Minnesota at home on a Monday night, they're starting J.J. McCarthy for the first time.
Um, coach of the year, Kevin O'Connell, on the other side of the field. These two coaches clearly know each other. And then a trip to Detroit right after.
So th the the the pool gets deep right off the bat. Right off the bottom. It's tough. And yeah, and look at, I was thinking about this today. The quarterbacks they face on the road, Rich, Jared Goff, Jaden Daniels, Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Jalen Hurts, Jordan Love, Brock Purdy.
Those are the road quarterbacks.
So it's tough. You know, we never really know how difficult the schedule is until the season gets going because there's always going to be the surprise teams. But look, it goes, that's where I thought it was great that you brought up the defense because good defenses can always be that equalizer. And that's when the Bears have had their great teams. Obviously, they've been on the back of a really good defense.
You go back to 2018, and there are a lot of eerie similarities with 2018 where you have a first-year head coach with a second-year top-picket quarterback. You have a veteran defense.
Now, this defense is not what Vic Fangio had in 2018, but this offense should be better than what the Bears had in 2018 when they went 12 and 4. That's kind of the ceiling. That's like, you know, if everything works. Like it did that year when Matt Nagy's first season. And then we saw it was just a one-year thing.
And, you know, Ryan Poles has been adamant. Like, he wants to build consistent success. The Bears have been this, you know, 2001 was good and then everything fell apart. And then they go to the Super Bowl in 06 and then they don't go back to playoffs until 2010. And then it takes until 2018.
And then here we are in 2025.
So they're just trying to string together some, you know, stack some good seasons. And they obviously believe they have the head coach who can do it. Kevin, you're the man. Thanks again for the quick pop-on. And we'll chat again soon.
Thanks again. All right.
Thank you, Rich. Kevin Fishbane, everybody, senior writer for the athletic, covering the Chicago Bears. Put up that schedule one more time if you don't mind. The one game that he did not mention because he was t focused on the road. Um Again, we talked about how they were starting with the two division games.
And then they don't play another division game till week 11. When they finish things up with Minnesota. And then I'm just hoping both teams start well for the first 11 weeks that Sunday before Thanksgiving. It's another division game. 'Cause Aaron Rogers is coming to town.
And that is going to be off the charts insane. If They're going to both teams need it. And they should still around week 12. I don't think the wheels are going to fall off for either team. I hope not.
But Aaron Rodgers coming to Soldier Field. is going to be an absolute Donnie Brook. I can't wait. It's like they're renting an Airbnb and the owner's coming home for the money. Dude, I'm telling you.
That is going to be one big. Big festival of 20 years. of hatred and smack And here we go. Bears Steelers. Rabbit fan base.
That is, let me just check one last thing here. That is just a straight up. currently I don't know what that what time that is. I should have that right here in front of me, and I do. That is a Currently one o'clock on CBS.
Okay. The Sunday Night Game That weekend is Buffalo at Houston.
Okay. I don't think we're flexing out of that. Probably.
Let's something. Oh, pardon me. That's a Thursday night. The Sunday night game. Pardon me.
The Sunday night game is Tampa at the Rams. Yeah, still. That should be very important and good. Absolutely. I don't know how you can fly.
That's currently a CBS game. I would protect that right now. Bye. Boy, that would be just great. I hope everybody's healthy and everybody's winning.
That would be off the charts. Bear steals. Oh my gosh. 844-204-Rich is the number to Don. We'll take your phone calls when we come back.
The official HBO Hard Knocks podcast is back. I'm your host, Andrew Ceciliato. 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 a 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. Getting the zone, out of our zone. Brad's day is off to a slow start.
So he heads to AutoZone, where batteries are as low as $89.99. Sammy, a local Autos owner, tests his battery for free. Looks like he just needs a charge. And Sammy does that for free too. In no time at all, Brad is back on the road, ready to finish the day strong.
Free battery testing and charging at every store. No hassles, just help. Get in the zone. Restrictions apply. What was your baseball game like?
My baseball game, actually my baseball game was pretty good, but I couldn't, I didn't play in high school. I played like recreational league and Daybrew.
Okay. And I used to pitch. Pitch as well. Pitch and pit.
So, what was your pitching game like? The pitching game was pretty good. I mean, I didn't, you know, I was a heavy ball. I didn't know, I had no idea how fast I was throwing. But people used to say, Man, you got a heavy ball.
So, when we're watching you swing in major league as Pedro Serrano, is that your swing? That's my swing. Oh, and I don't know if we ever talked about this, but every ball I hit out, I hit out, except not as far as they shot it out, because they have to reverse the camera. Hold on a second, Dennis Haysbury. How many home runs did you hit?
Well, I hit it.
Well, I hit three in the movie, right? I think I hit three in the movie. Every one of them, I hit out.
Okay. And all the batting practice you used to hit. Oh yeah, I used to hip. Oh yeah, I used to hip. routinely.
So were you the best hitter uh of all the actors? I think so. I would say so. Uh so Charlie and I were the only guys that could really play baseball. Wesley was really athletic.
Okay. Make it run. But uh Wasn't much of a hit. He couldn't hit. But could Charlie hit, or he was just.
Charlie could hit. And Charlie could pitch. But you went yard more than anybody else in the cast of Major League. Except for the guy, the baseball guys that were out there. Actually.
So who was the worst? I can't. I don't want to say that. Yes, you can. You absolutely can.
That microphone works. Corbin Burnson, could he? Corbin was okay. I think Tom Baringtre was like maybe the worst. Yeah.
I love you, Tom. You forced it out of me, man. Were you superstitious as well? Are you a superstitious guy? Not really, but I realized how superstitious baseball players are.
Of that, there is no doubt. I mean, I used to have a lot of guys come up to me and say, you know, hey, man, we used to play this movie on the bus going to the game. And I used to, you know, set firecrackers off on our bats to wake them up. Did anybody have rum? Did they want to incorporate it?
They started using that. A lot of guys said they're starting to... Baseball players started. Yeah. Do you have any artifacts from the film anywhere?
I just finally got a Joe Bootal. I don't have the original because I wanted to get rid of that because, you know, that was voodoo I was practicing. And I said, you know what? Certain things you got to leave on the set. You know, and somebody took that, and I don't know where they are now because I haven't heard from them again.
Right.
So they took a voodoo doll, man. I said, okay. No. Do you have a facsimile of Joe Bu? Mm-hmm.
The Rich Eisen Show, youtube.com/slash Rich Eisen Show for our full archives. We're showing you Major League clips right there from back in the day because. Major league. Would it be on your top list of your top 25 sports movie? 25, yeah, I think that would make the list for sure.
Suze? I think so. Yep.
So fun. We'll see if it's on the Hollywood Reporters list. It's not just a bit of a situation. But now that I know, I didn't. I like that.
Look at you over there. I saw what you did. It's too high, Seuss. I saw what you did. That's why I married my wife.
She makes Bob Euchre references. That's the reason.
Well, many. Plus, she married me even though I didn't have a job. Yeah. Look, I don't want to get it. Wait until I didn't have a job.
Look, I'm not talking about it to the second hour, Suze. But once I get the green light, I do have some questions. Get the green light the green light. Very good. Very, very good.
Get the green light. Very good. The best odds on the board, if we had odds on the board about what was going to happen in this three-hour show, the best odds is that you were going to stir something up between Susie and yours truly. I mean, that's going to happen. Bob Martin.
And number two is that Susie being here would cause Jimmy from San Antonio to call. Jimmy, are you there? Yes, yes, I'm here, Rich. I can hear you. Go ahead.
What's up, Jimmy? I'm just happy I get to Talk to Susie and the Schottenheimer of the Eisen household. Jimmy, your graphic with the tequila is making me thirsty. I'm just saying, I looked at that graphic. Hi, Jimmy.
I mean, we got tequila around here. Yeah, we do. That's true. Hola, Susie. Hola, Jimmy.
Do you guys want to run? Wait for everyone else to be quiet. Hi. Come on. Jimmy, what are you doing?
But it's your time to talk, Jimmy. That's your job. Felly, close their mics. Jimmy, what can I do for you? Wow.
She's in charge. All right.
I have some Spurs news. I got to say hi to the Maserati Mold King and TJ. What up, Jimmy? Hey, TJ, do you think while Susie and the kids watched Rich on Sports Center that The number one looked up and said, Mother, Is that when you fell in love with pumpkins? All those questions are going to be answered once I get the green light, Jimmy.
Jimmy, you're the best man, because I do find it weird that when TJ. When TJ. Basically, you know. uh envisions how our children susie and and Talk to Each other that it's that it's straight out of like Oliver Twist. It's really weird, man.
Papa, that's how you make it. We all know it is the complete opposite. There was so much yelling in your house. Does Jimmy have like a ring camera or something? 100% good.
Oh my god. Yes. Two were paying attention, Jimmy, and one couldn't have cared less. Mm. All good.
Well, I I you know, I still have seen Cooper's handwriting. That's right. Yeah, he sent me a wonderful note in his handwriting. It screams medical doctor. He gets that from his, yes, gets that from his mom.
Do you have a sports question, Jimmy? Yeah, I'm just trying to shoot a gift. What's going on, Jimmy? I do. We have a big city council vote today on the upcoming San Antonio Spurs Arena.
And what this does is it puts the vote to go towards November. And the Spurs are committing reportedly up to 1.5 billion towards around an estimated four billion dollar project downtown across from the Alamo dome.
So We've seen what happens when Seattle says we're not building an arena, and we know about what expansion teams might be around.
So, this is a huge deal. San Antonio and we'll know later today if the vote's going to happen in November.
Well, we'll find out. Are you sure you're not trying to gerrymander things so the Mavericks become San Antonios? Is that the way it works, maybe in Texas?
Well, you know, it depends on which state we're gerrymandering. Who knows? It could be you could get the Lakers. Who knows? Depends on what's going on.
The Lakers. Thanks, Jimmy. Really appreciate the time. That's Jimmy in San Antonio here. to close out hour number one on the radio.
Just trying to rip straight from the headlines. Yeah. Yeah. You went there. Would you, would you gerry?
If you were a San Antonio fan, would you gerrymander to try and get the Mavericks to be San Antonios? Who's better? Wh whose future would you take? Wimbunyamas. Oh my God.
Yes. Or Cooper flags. I think it wouldn't be in your armour. You would? Yeah.
What about the surrounding cast? We got DeAaron Fox now, right? I mean, what do we got? I mean, you got Kyrie, you got PJ Washington. Yeah, I think I'm still.
Wembinyama, we've never seen anything quite like him.
So You know, you pray for good health for the kid and you want to see where he can take the game.
So. I don't feel like Cooper Flag won't be special, but Wembinyama is just another. We saw him at Fanatics Fest. Rich, have you ever seen a human being that big? I have not.
Like uh Not with that skill set. I have not seen a human being that big. Although we we have had uh We've had Bob on here. And we saw Bobon and Happy Gilmore 2. No.
And Bobon's not as big. Susie and I saw Bobon drew right up close. You know, we sat behind him as he checked in. We were gifted. Yes, we were gifted.
Remember, that was your fantasy team when in the running, like Big Bobon. Big Bobon's ass. Yeah, that was. I was still using Lavs when he was here. I couldn't reach the top of his shirt.
Did you need to step up on something? He leaned forward. I was trying to be professional, but I was like, I can't quite reach. By the way, look at the size of my fist as I fist pumped. Bobon there in celebrity troops.
I remember taking that picture and I saw you guys like going the twins. I can't believe he fit in that chair. Remember when Arnold was here and he didn't want to sit in that chair? That's a baby chow. The baby chow?
Yeah. I would take Wemby, by the way. He's so much more unique. He's so much more exciting. I mean, I will enjoy watching.
Flag play, but we've seen that before. And I'm excited. I think Wemby's just so unique and different. Yeah. Project Marvel.
That's what they're calling it. Is that right? Yeah, Project Marvel. I'm going to be 100% honest with you guys, too. I wasn't 1,000% sure what gerrymandering meant either, but I just kind of went with it.
Okay. You thought it had something to do with Jones? Jerry meandering? Jerry meandering. Geppetto.
No, it's a little different. Jones with my rubber glove is going to make sure every one of you are safe. I went to the front page of the newspaper for a split second. I'll take you for a walk after this. Susie will bring you up to speed.
844-204-Rich is the number to dial. So many people want to do Susie's favorite game, the win-loss game. We'll get to you. She loves it. She loves the phone calls.
Callers. She needs callers. And then our number three is going to be great with Eugenio Derbez here in studio. Don't go anywhere. TJ gets the green light.
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