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Now. On with the show. You're out! There is confusion on the field. Sal Freelick took away a grand slam.
The Ridge Eisen Show with guest host Tom Pellisero. Earlier on the show. Three-time Super Bowl champion Mark Schlerin. Coming up. Tenure NFL veteran defensive tackle Malik Jackson.
Writer and director Ron Shelton. ESPN NFL analyst. Chase Daniel. And now, sitting in for Rich, it's Tom Pellicero. Welcome back to a Rich Eyesless edition of the Rich Eyes and Show.
Tom Pellisero in for Rich. Malik Jackson, I believe, waiting backstage right now. One of the better defensive linemen of his era, played a long time in the league, played in Denver with Peyton Manning, played with the Eagles. What do you think is going on in Philly? We will get into all of that with him.
Thank you to those of you who are watching us on Disney Plus and the ESPN app, listening on ESPN Radio, presented by Progressive Insurance. We've got a doubleheader from last night. We dove into. Falcons, the class of 2024 quarterbacks, how they're playing earlier on. There's also the bills side of things that I think we need to unpack.
A little bit further. Big game for Bijan Robinson, by the way, last night for the Falcons. No doubt. The the guy that We'd been waiting for you. Remember back the first couple years where there was just the constant weirdness of why is he not getting the football?
Why is Tyler Algier getting the ball? That's two words, Tom. Arthur Smith. It's more complicated than that, though, right? If you're Arthur Smith, There's an element of who do you trust in certain situations?
And was Bijan ready to take on the larger role? You watch him now. And Raheem Morris, every opportunity he gets, he said again last night, best player in the NFL. Which is high praise, but you watch it. With Bijan Robinson.
Which is, of course, complemented by the way that Michael Pennix is playing, the way that Drake London is changing things from a physical perspective. Here's Bijan. After the game, talking about the way that things have kind of evolved early in his career here. It's like a three-point shooter. I heard the analogy with Steph Curry.
When he starts getting in the groove, you know, the basket looks this big to him, and it seems like he can't miss.
So, with me, like with the O-line, you know, I feel like with them, they're all three-point shooters, like, they're all spot-up shooters, and they're just creating. Space for me, for Ty, you know, to do what we do.
So, you know, when those guys are on, when those guys are clicking, when those guys are, you know, knowing everything that they got, and, you know, Coach Led always harps on, you know, just being, you know, great and straining with those guys, and that's what they do. Then with me, like, you know, I just use the God-given talent with the vision and stuff like that. And, you know, it just opens up. And when I find those creases, like, You know, you got to take advantage of it and you got to make those guys miss tackles and make them not want to be there anymore.
So that's what we did tonight. I appreciate the twist in that quote there. You thought he was talking about himself. No, he's talking about his offensive lineman as Steph Curry. Those guys are in the groove.
I've never seen an NBA Jam style call on a run play of the They're heating up. He's on fire. Boy, what a block by Ryan Newsi. Another pancake. But he knows.
He knows when the. The bread is buttered. As Marshawn Lynch once said, I'm taking my boys to Sizzler. B. John's very happy.
Please know Jake Matthews down the stretch last night, too. The durable left tackle wasn't even out there down the stretch.
So they've done a fantastic job. Flip side of it. There was a lot of things going on for the Bills last night, particularly defensively in the first half. It was not good. It could have been even worse if Drake London doesn't end up all bounds at the one-yard line, which probably swung how many thousands of fantasy games across the country, too.
He was already having a night, too. Gets pulled back. But Josh Allen Little bit of a you know the turnover bug popping up. A little bit of maybe trying to do too much. Here's Josh talking a little bit after that game.
We gotta take advantage of our opportunities. The ones I alluded to earlier.
Some things that absolutely completely went our way, and you know, it sucks when you feel like. Two-thirds of your teams, the offense and the defense, are doing their job and you're the team not to pull your weight. Uh it sucks, so it's gonna eat at me the next two weeks. Um So yeah, I mean a lot of stuff to clean up. We'll put our focus to our next opponent and go from there.
That's about as frustrated as I think you see Josh Allen get right there. 4-2 entering the buy. They're not quite in Eagles' territory, but you get some of the similar. Types of vibes here, which is like we all think that they're going to be okay. They're going to figure it out.
They were 4-0. And everyone was thinking, who exactly is going to beat the Bills? Not having Dalton Kincaid last night, I think, is a bigger factor. I know he threw a touchdown to Dawson Knox, but Dalton Kincaid arguably been their best and most reliable target in the passing game. You take that guy out the way that he can create mismatches as a detached receiver.
That probably made an impact in the game, but... Four and two bills. One in five Ravens. Four and two Eagles. There's a lot going on, a lot to overreact to, I think, Brockman.
Oh, you know it, Tom. And it's Tuesday. It's overreaction. Monday on a Tuesday, let's. Hit it.
That was terrible. That was the crap. That was the garbage. That's why it just sucks. Overreaction.
Mondays. Monday. On a Tuesday. Hey, what's up, everybody? You guys good?
Yeah, what's up? Did you guys battle the elements this morning? No, you guys didn't drive very far. It took me an hour and a half to get to work. That's all cool.
Here's the thing. It took me 11 minutes. If you can't drive in the rain, don't. Stay home. Call out sick from work that day.
Stop clogging up the roadways by getting in over accidents. Absolutely not. Nope. This is one of the spots in the country. Washington, D.C.
is another notorious one. There are certain places where rain has even more of a bogged down effect. Than any place else. I can drive easier in Minneapolis in a blizzard than I can in Los Angeles in the rain. If it makes you a little nervous or you're a little scared to go out there, just don't.
Stay home. If you don't know what you're doing, If you don't have a lot of ways to get around, they're professional drivers. You can get an app on your phone and just call someone else to do a ride from someone who literally had SCAR professional driver by their name. You think we need one more? Yeah.
Exactly. Here's the deal. I was watching the game last night, obviously, a huge Falcons win. And, you know, I'm thinking about the Bills, and everyone just kind of penciled them into an AFC East Championship. That would have been, what, six in a row or something like that this year?
Uh going to the Super Bowl for the first time in a while. Yeah. Mm. The Bills are not going to be one of the top three seeds in the AFC this year. Ooh.
I don't know if we can get the standings up, but at this stage, there's still four and two. The Colts are 5-1. What's up? Yeah, but you know what? Who have either of those teams really beaten?
This is what I'm saying. The Holtz are 5-1. What are we doing? The Bills' victories are against teams with one win, one win, one win, zero wins. If I'm not mistaken, the Colts right now would be the number one seed.
They are, yeah. The Colts are number one seed. The Bills would be fifth.
So they have right now, all right, the top five and one Colts. Followed by the 4-1 Steelers. Also a fraud. Then you have the Chargers, Patriots, Bills, Jaguars, and Broncos. All at 4-2.
Oh, there's only one good team on that list, TJ. Chiefs would not be in the playoffs. Texans would not be in the playoffs. Bagels would not be in the playoffs. Ravens Obviously, we would not be in the playoffs.
We are one-third of the way. Through the schedule here. I would just say this. And listen, Shane Steichen. Lou Anarumo, Chris Ballard, they all deserve credit.
for what's happened so far in Indianapolis. Are they going to sustain over the course of the season? Are they going to be a 13 or 14 win type of team? We'll see. And we'll see how they approach the trade deadline here.
Do they make an acquisition? Do they try to upgrade? I would just say this. The Bills are one game back of the number one seed right now. The idea that they're not going to be a top three seed, that they're not going to win their division, the Patriots just beat them.
No question about it. They're a lot of fun to watch. That's going to be the biggest thing. Can the Patriots. Continue to sustain and take the bills out of that spot.
Because if you're a wild card, you're no higher than five. Right. I still sit in here right now, those two teams are tied atop the AFCs. I would say it's an overreaction to say they're not going to be a top three seed. Job.
Way to play the game, Rhett, and make a decision.
Sometimes the person in that chair doesn't always make a decision. It's normally me, but I'm trying to give you what you want right now. Thank you. And here's the deal: giving me what you want. You know who gave me what I wanted last night was B.
John Robinson. We had him in our chop league. TJ, glad to see you. Advanced last night, thanks to Zach Earth.
Sorry, Smitch is out. Dijon Robinson was an absolute beast. And I'm just gonna say it. I know his coach has been saying it for a while. He's the best player in the NFL right now.
So your question is, is he the best player in the NFL? Nah, is he the MVP? Nazi going to win it. He's obviously not going to win MVP. Look, Saquon didn't get it.
Neither did Christian McCaffrey. It's no longer a running back. Dijon Robinson is the best player in the NFL. I mean, you have to have Saquon and McCaffrey in that category, too. McCaffrey has been putting up volume like he hasn't since his last MVP caliber season, right?
He's been great. The whole offense is going through him at a time that everyone else is hurt, including the quarterback. He's in that mix. I don't know that you have a wide receiver. Jamar Chase would certainly be in there.
For my money, Justin Jefferson is always in that conversation as well. Quarterback-wise, it's been a weird year. Weird year. I mean, right now, if we are, again, to twist this slightly, I'll answer your question momentarily here. If we're talking about Tom.
MVP candidates? Are you taking a quarterback over Baker Mayfield at this point? We've looked at the odds. Patrick Mahomes is actually now the betting favorite. But that's based on where the money is going to go.
She's people figure Patton Wolves is figuring it out. He gets for she-Rice back this week. I got it. They're playing better. Mahomes is what Bill Belichick was to coaches for like 20 years, where every year you could give him coach of the year, but people don't vote for him.
Right. Best player in the NFL always. I think through six weeks right now, Baker Mayfield easily the MVP. But I believe still Patrick Mahomes is the best player I've seen in my lifetime, including over your boy 12. That's too bad.
That's how good Patrick Mahomes is. B. John Robinson, though, I mean, if you're lining up top 10. I'd have them in my top 10. I will.
Man, he was awesome last night. It's an overreaction for Repijon, yeah. I would say overreaction. I thought that was clear by my answer.
Well, I just wanted you to definitively say it. Overreaction best player in the NFL. Top 10? I think he's in there right now. We had a caller earlier.
Trevon called in from Washington. Top five Cable Williams victories. Really interesting list. Niche. Love it.
But it was a big win last night. Put the Bears in the right direction. That's now three straight wins. I think the Bears are going to the playoffs. They certainly are giving themselves the opportunity.
That's going to be one of the most interesting teams over the next three weeks. To see what they do at the trade deadline, Ryan Poles has been unafraid, for better or worse, to make big deals. He's traded for Montez Sweat at the deadline. He traded for Chase Claypool. He's now out of the league.
He's a second-round pick for the deadline. Second-round pick for Claypool. Second-round pick, I believe, for Montez Sweat. He's made obviously the trade with the Panthers for the number one pick, getting DJ Moore as part of that deal. They're always active.
but are they in a position where they feel like they should be buyers? In other words, first year with Ben Johnson. Are they a Super Bowl? Are they winning the Super Bowl in 2025? The Bears?
Are they winning the Super Bowl? Because I would argue, if you're not winning the Super Bowl and you don't have an opportunity to fill something specific you don't think you can get next year's draft, You're at times overextending yourself just to say, hey, we got to get into the playoffs this year. There are times where you're better off amassing things for the future while building culturally from within. That's why I'm saying I think they're a fascinating. Type of a team at the deadline here.
Are they a playoff team? I would say it's an overreaction to say right now they're a playoff team. Because even within their own division, you've got the Lions who you still have to talk about as an NFC favorite. even after taking their second loss against the Chiefs. The Packers.
I know that there's frustration. One of their wide receivers yesterday retweeting something about how they should replace Matt LaFleur as the play caller, which is a heck of a way to get yourself more opportunities. on the team. It's also a ridiculous thing to say, and Atlanta Floyd is one of the top play callers in the league. And a Vikings team that, listen, they were so beat up for the first five weeks, the whole, almost the entire offensive line being out, no Aaron Jones.
Jordan Addison getting suspended for a first quarter. The quarterback goes down in week two. Defensively, they've had all kinds of things. Harrison Smith hasn't even played a full game yet. Neither has Christian Darasaw.
But they're still a really good team and a really well-coached type of team.
So the Bears, right now, if you're stacking it on paper, I think objectively you'd still put the Bears four out of four in their own division. But at 3-2, do they have an opportunity to make this interesting? Absolutely. But no, overreaction to say they're a playoff team right now. All right, two more, and we'll finish up.
Mike Jackson's coming out. TJ, before the year, we did, how many teams do you think you win the Super Bowl? And Rich had, I think, almost half the league 15. I think I had a dozen, and you had seven, which was very admirable. I respected that.
I was actually jealous that you did that instead of me. I was just keeping it real, yo. And so, but through six weeks. I think this is the most wide open we've seen the NFL in quite some time. In fact, 21 teams.
Have at least three wins. Rich is gonna do his power rankings tomorrow, and I bet that he has the Chiefs in the top five. And they're not even in the playoffs if the playoffs started today. Playoffs? I think there is not a single elite team.
Through six weeks in the NFL this year. I don't think that's an overreaction. Schlares said the same thing. We had him on in the last hour here. Like, who is the dominant team?
Well, by virtue of the fact that we'd have to go back through and look at historically, but there's not a lot of years where you don't have a team that gets through the first one-third of the season. Six games undefeated. Everybody has stumbled at some point, including the Mighty Colts, who if A.D. Mitchell doesn't decide to prematurely celebrate at the goal line or fumbles the ball. They might be 6-0.
They would be the last one. And while they've played again really well, and I give a ton of credit to everybody involved. With that thing, are they a dominant team? Are you saying the Colts are the one team in the league we don't want to see right now? I don't think many people.
are looking at it. Like that.
Now, they almost lost to Jake Brisket on Sunday. Yeah, I don't think that it's an overreaction at all to say that there's not. I can't remember what your phrasing was, but a dominant team? There isn't a single elite team through 60. I would say not a single elite team based on the performance that we've seen so far.
But if you ask me right now, who are the teams? that you're gonna be scared to see? For the next two-thirds of the season. It is the Chiefs. With three and three, would miss the playoffs right now.
But Rashid Rice coming back, a top 20 receiver, that is a big deal for that team. The Ravens. I know this is going to sound like I'm out of my mind and don't know how to do math. They need to win nine or 10 of their last 11 games. just to get into the playoffs at this point.
But that division, even with the Steelers at 4-1, is still wide open. They should have Lamar back. They should have Roquan Smith back. They're not a dominant team by any stretch, but they're not a one in five team. They're two Derrick Henry fumbles away, even setting aside everything else.
From being three and three. from beating the bills in week one.
So the fact that you have teams like that in the conversation I think just goes to show there's not that single Dominant team. There's not a, oh my gosh, there's no way. Even if they get into the playoffs, they're not beating this team. If they make that type of run, if the Ravens get in the playoffs at 10 and 7 as a wild card. and pick your division.
The AFC West champion goes to Baltimore. For a wild card game? I'm still scared of the Ravens. In that study. Unless it's against the Chiefs, and then history would tell you.
It's probably Kansas City. You got one more? Yeah, last one. Last year, guys, this dude told us to just Google him. And I was like, okay, so we Google him, never heard of him.
He's a really good coach. And with Brian Callahan going down yesterday and James Franklin going down at Penn State, we are now in the all right hot seats. Coaches are going to start getting fired. And I think as we enter probably later this year and when the hiring cycle starts, it's going to be a hot name. Kurt Signetti is going to be coaching in the NFL next year.
Google me. That's a fascinating. Has Indiana third overall in the AP poll right now?
Well, I'd say this. After winning at Oregon. And I know Mel Kuyper put out his first mock or his. Big board, right? The top 25.
Mel's big board is out. He had the Oregon quarterback at number one. He's got the Indiana quarterback who just beat Oregon. Three. At numbers three.
Fernando Mendoza. Yeah. It would not be the first time.
So we've seen a scenario where You have a match. It is extremely rare. Obviously. Once upon a time, Cliff Kingsbury. Went into the NFL.
had recruited Kylan Murray, had the perfect fit. And all of a sudden, Kyler Murray ends up in Arizona. This would be far more direct, Kirk Signetti coming with Fernando Mendoza. With the way that things are going in Indiana I mean, the best case scenario for Kirb Signetti might be just getting a monster contract to just. continue to be a Big Ten factor.
in Bloomington, Indiana. But I would say this, in a year where it's wide open. In terms of who the coaching candidates are, It's a very short list. in terms of the guys who are dialed up. And I talk with GMs.
Agents, other coaches about this all the time. There's not like a list of here's the 10 guys, these are all really strong candidates. It's not one of those years. I wouldn't be surprised at all if somebody is looking to the college ranks, whether that's for a Marcus Freeman, a Matt Campbell. I don't think it's completely outlandish.
to say Kirk Sugnetti is a good enough football coach. that's at least worth making a call and seeing.
So I don't think he's gonna be in the NFL, but if you're saying there's a chance. Was that it? What was the premise? Was it he will be in the NFL? Will be coaching in the NFL next year.
Overreaction. To will be coaching in the NFL, not an overreaction. To an NFL team might want to call him and say, Would it be an overreaction to say you could be coaching in the NFL? In 2026? Jets go 0-17, have the number one pick.
Obviously, need a quarterback next year. There you go, Tom. There's your match. Google. That would be edgy.
in New York. 0 and 6? Not great. Especially the way that 016 has happened. 0-17 comes around only.
Once, twice a lifetime. I don't think they're that bad, but they're another team over these next three weeks, depending on how they decide to handle the trade deadline. Those losses might mount. Amount a little bit. All right, Blink Jackson's in the house.
Longtime NFL defensive lineman. He's got a lot of opinions and also a great turtleneck. Look at him. He's with me next, The Rich Eisen Show. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast.
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We got a guest here who stands out for a couple of reasons. One, because it brings the grand total of Super Bowl rings in this room to one. And number two, because he's the rare guy who's been retired from the NFL for a few years and still fits, it appears, into the same clothes that he wore while he was in the NFL. Malik Jackson doesn't know this, everybody. Let's go.
I'll take that as a compliment. I appreciate that. I'm telling you, there's a lot of guys they walk in, they've lost 100 pounds, or they have gained 100 pounds. This guy, I'm like, yeah, that could be the same Alika I used to see back in the log room. I got cheekbones now, and don't ask me to get back out there because I tried to do some running the other day and my calves are killing me.
You're older now. We all age like that. Let's see that ring, by the way. Look at that. Oh, yeah.
You know, it's the 10-year reunion of the Super Bowl 50 team. Have an event this weekend going back to Denver. And also, it's pretty fitting that Tupos in San Fran.
So it's kind of cool, just full circle. What do you remember most? From that season and that run and beating the Panthers? Really, just the few things. The camaraderie, right?
This, the way we were as a team, the way guys got together, ate together, the fights we had, but the brotherhood we had too to get over it. And really, for me, it was really, that was my contract year, right?
So I was really fighting to be one of the best and put myself in position, which is what I did. And so, yeah, it was just fun, man. You know, you walk around the house now or just walk, take walks with my dogs and think about those days and giggle and truly appreciate them. You talk about the fights you had. I was around that team some.
You had some. Characters in that locker room. You had obviously Vaughn's on that team. Talib is on that team. Chris Harris, who's not quite as out of his mind, but also still a big presence in the room.
What's one that stands out? What's one thing where you guys had to work through that season? It's kind of what you spoke on, right? Just all those characters, all those identities, right? All those emotions going around.
Because it's funny when Keeb came in, you know, you see Chris Harris kind of get a little more boisterous right back there. You know, Dee Stews back there, TJ Ward.
So really Roby.
So really just saw those guys really get more boisterous. And I think that was it, right? Everybody had an opinion. Everybody was right. But then, you know, when Coach came in and Coach Wade came in and gave us the game plan, everybody was on the same page.
One of my favorite stories from that Super Bowl, which, I mean, you guys dominated defensively. It was a terrific defensive performance.
So that was also known for after the game. Cam Newton walking off the podium in the middle of his media session.
So, the way that this was set up, and you might have been in that room as well, there was just a sheet, it wasn't a wall.
So everybody, both teams are in one room, and there's just a sheet separating the podiums.
So. I'm on one side of the sheet. Talking to Chris Harris. Unbeknownst to me, Cam is sitting on the other side of the sheet. I asked Chris, like, it looked like you guys basically.
Just for trying to take away the run.
So that's what we want to do: make you throw the ball. Can you throw the ball? Mm-hmm. I then see the video of Cam walking off and I hear myself ask the question and Chris's answer and that's why he walks off the podium. But that was the plan in that game was basically like we are not going to let Cam Newton and that run game run on us.
We're going to make you put it up in the air. Yeah, because you know back then they were doing a lot of play action, right? Get him out the pocket, max protection. And so we took that as a challenge. You're going to keep in, what, five to seven guys.
We're going to add to it and let our DBs do their thing.
So, you know, I think he had Cam had three hours to really show himself and get out there and prove us wrong. And luckily that day, we had the best game plan and the best team. Peyton Manning in 2013 through 55 touchdown passes was unbelievable. 2015, he was not the same guy. He missed time.
He had the foot injury. Osweiler plays for a while. Peyton eventually comes back in. He couldn't throw the same way. It was kind of like a t-shirt cannon where it's like it would pop and it would just kind of float to the receiver there.
What's your favorite Peyton Manning story from those years? My favorite, it's funny, right? Because I was what you consider a brokeie, right?
So being able to look at Demarius Thomas, Von Miller, D.Ware over there with Peyton having a good time, I'm just like, God, that'd be a cool table to say that. But you know, for me, I think just want to shine light on two guys that really meant a lot to me, which is Demarius Thomas and Ronnie Hillman, right? Two guys that aren't here with us right now, but really put a lot towards the team, gave a lot of character, gave a lot of insight, man. And so, really, just, it's really just the laughs with everybody. You know, it's like you can't pick one moment, but it's really just having the laughs, having the team, the teammate.
And just understanding who everybody was, but also being able to learn. Because, as you know, in the NFL, you know, guys have full-bone families, right? And so when you actually get a chance to get together, eat, talk, learn, right? Everybody was cool with sharing. I remember Robert Ayres came into locker.
I mean, as your rookie, when you come in, you know, everybody's like, oh, this guy's going to take your spot, or you got to be careful, tell him the wrong play. But he just took me under his wing, which made me a lot more of a benevolent leader.
So when I got older, I would just tell guys what the play was, help them out as much as I can. And, you know, Push myself to say, Well, they can't take my spot, right? And so it was just a great team. You also played in Philly for the Eagles. There's still some guys there that you know.
From what you've seen, from what you know about the people involved, what's going on right now with the Eagles? I just think it's just any given Sunday, you know. It's been tough because. They lost two tough games, right? One was a blocks field goal.
The other was a drive at the end by the Broncos. And so, yeah, it's just been two tough losses. But I think, you know, as a lot of people, like analysts and we know as players, but everybody else has to realize, you know, you truly win or lose a game by the mistakes.
So if they can just cut down the mistakes, the little mistakes, they'll be fine. Did you ever see Jalen Hurts come out of his shell? When you were there. Not really, man. You know, he was just a quiet young kid rookie when I came there, when he was, when he came in, just quiet doing his thing, waiting for his turn.
So he's very even-killed, very, you know, I wanted to rile him up, but he's just chilled, just as cool as the other side of the pillow. What's it been like watching Carson Wentz through these past year? The first guy ever to start for, what, five different teams or six, whatever the number is in consecutive seasons. I mean, it's been an interesting year for me watching these quarterbacks get second chances, right? The Sam Donovans of the world, the Mac Jones of the world, right?
These guys get drafted high, and then next thing you know, they're on the couch or. Preferably backing somebody up, right? And you know they want more.
So to see Carson really get a second opportunity and actually take the bull by the horns and do good, man, it's cool to see. Because I know he wants that. How difficult is that? Obviously, he didn't play quarterback. Yeah, but there's pressure on everybody.
Coming into the league, right? And there's some guys who, especially if they're high draft picks, and then their first, whatever. Game season, couple of seasons, they're not making impact performances. There's this constant deluge of social media reaction and fans and people sending them messages, bro, you suck and you're a bust. I'm sure you weren't in that category, thankfully.
But I'm sure you were around guys. How do you deal with that in the locker room? I mean, it's tough, right? Because I'll tell you my personal story.
So I came from Denver, went to Jacksonville. I was still the guy. You go to Philadelphia next, you become a guy. Why they have Fletcher Cox, Brandon Graham, right? They have their draft pick.
So now you're seeing myself like, okay, this is interesting when you're a backup, right? Then you have. Javon come in, Hargrave come in, right? And so now coach is like, hey, tell him he's starting. And I'm like, the hell?
So it's one of those things that, you know, it takes a lot out of you, but you just learn to be A team player. You know, you understand your role, you understand what you have to do, and you make the best out of your opportunities when you get out there.
So, and then I go to Cleveland, I'm still the guy, but the body was breaking down, and the play wasn't where it's meant to be.
So, that's when I was like, you know what? I'm done. You mentioned Jacksonville in there, and I was thinking about this this morning because you were there when there was chaos.
So, they lose in 2016, right? They fire Nathaniel Hackett as the offensive coordinator pretty early in the season. Gus Bradley gets fired late in the season. Yesterday, we had the first hit. Head coach firing in the NFL this season with the Titans, firing Brian Callahan six games in.
Does it make a difference? In the locker room, What is just like the ripple effects? You hear that news? And is there anything changeable once the train has left the station in the season? Not really.
That's why I don't understand the old mid-season firings, right? They treat it like soccer, where you just get rid of these guys, bring a new manager in. But it really doesn't change anything in a locker room because at the end of the day, we still have to do what we have to do. And the position coaches are the same. The scheme is going to stay the same.
So you just got to go out there and really. Just try to play for the new coach, right? I mean, and do your job because at the end of the day, it was Titans. Did they win a game yet? They're on five or five.
One and five. They won the game where the Cardinals had a 21-3 lead and then Amari Demercado dropped the ball on the goal line and turned it into a Titans win.
So, yes, they would be 0-6 if not for that. But I think you have to understand, too, you got a rookie quarterback, right, who needs development. You know, we came from the days when an Aaron Rodgers was sitting behind a Brett Fire for a few years, right? And so, gone are those days where quarterbacks hit to watch, sit, and understand what the speed of the game looks like and learn from somebody that's a Hall of Famer.
So, you know, I think they should have gave Coach Callahan some more time, but it's the NFL, man, and some heads roll. You know, sorry, never mind. We're on Disney Plus. It's okay. We'll scrub that in the post-production.
When you look at the current state of line play in the NFL, are there defensive linemen who every time you see a highlight, you're like, That's it. Like, that's that's the dude. Man, it's funny enough. Uh, Kalaius Campbell, right? Uh, great friend, ex-teammate.
Um, I'm just still amazed by how he's out there walking the way he walks, how big it looks like. He's taking every step he takes hurts. But to see him, I watched the game got a sack arm over. I was like, Man, this guy's still exactly who he is, right?
So, for me, I'll tell him, like, hey, man, retirement's fun. You know, come come hang out, you know. But he's still playing at a high level, so I don't know if he's going to try to get another three years in. We'll see. He's unbelievable because he's the biggest human you're ever going to meet.
Just he's so tall. I mean, he's listened 6'7 or something. He seems taller than that. But just like this naturally massive dude with a really deep voice, like he's just one of those guys that you feel like if he wants to play till 45, he might be able to do it. But it's also a very rare thing.
You get to Cleveland, you know, your body's breaking down. Like, there's not many guys, if it's genetic or whatever it is, you can go that long. Nah, it's funny enough. When he first got there, we got together in Jacksonville and I'm watching Do Stuff. And I tried to do an arm over like he does and got punched in the chest.
I was like, whew, I can't do that. You know what I mean?
So it's just funny to watch guys and see what they do. And try to make it your own, right? But I mean, I love Cleus, man. I'm hoping the best for him, you know. Hope he stays healthy and can keep going as long as he wants to.
You know, now, granted, this is an Elysium where he can lay on the table and everything's fixed. You know what I mean?
I'm sure he's going to be dealing with some stuff. But man, he knows how to handle himself, take care of his body, and perform at a high level. Malik Jackson is with us in the studio here. There was an incident. At the end of the Sunday night game with the Chiefs in the lines, if you saw it, Brian Branch.
Well, I wasn't thrilled with being pushed in the back earlier in the game by Juju Smith Schuster and decided to blow off the quarterback, go and punch Juju in the head. Were you ever inclined? Or did you ever Have to Let's say finish the job post game. Uh there were there were a few times. Um I know two, remember two times where one was like Taylor Luan right there in Jacksonville.
We're playing them on a Thursday night. He's just chirping, chirping, chirping. You know, they're running zone schemes and everything. We just got beat fairly well. And, you know, at the end of the game, I told him to meet me on the 50.
And, you know, we got there, but he was. He was a lot nicer then.
So I couldn't just attack him, right? And then there was the tight end for the Arizona Cardinals, Grisham back in the day. We were getting after it. And luckily, back then, cameras weren't everywhere, especially after the game, everything cut, right? And so you kind of have a little few words and then get out of there.
So I think what Branch did was he stood on business. And it's one of those things, you know. Everybody understand. Not everybody's um You know, push around the boat.
So let's keep it within the lines. Let's play the game. But, you know. You saw the bloody nose he had, so So so when so you say somebody was nicer to you once you met at the 50. Yeah.
Is it full apology mode? What did you hear? He was awesome. He was awesome. I was like, hey, da-da-da-da.
And I was like, nah, I'm not with that. Let's go. And he was like, ah, you know, they won. He's like, nothing to fight about, right? It was just his character and how he gets in the game and moves, you know, from his Michigan days or whatever.
So there were no apologies. He was just like, oh, what's up, man? All smiles.
So I had to kinda calm it down a little bit.
So uh yeah. There's some guys who probably are a lot better at turning that off instantly than other guys. Yeah, you know, but me I was just so turnt up. I was like, nah, I'm not hearing that. You know what I mean?
So uh so yeah.
So right now, we brought this up earlier in the show. If you go back. And you look at the betting favorites going into the 2020 NFL season, end of August. Who are the people that people are putting money on? It was the Ravens, it was the Eagles, it was the Bills.
Yeah. Who all have some level of issues right now? The Ravens are one and five. Obviously, the Bills and Eagles both four and two, but not perfect teams right now. Is there a favorite in your mind you're picking one team you wouldn't want to be seeing in January and February?
Might be a wild card, but I'm really hoping the Jaguars can get it going. I think the Shaikh Khan and the family want to see them get a ring, right? We got close, but NFL's rigged.
Sorry, I don't know if I said that. But, you know, I just think that. Brockman's a Patriots fan. He might have a few things to say about that AFC Championship game, which you guys were leading in the third quarter. We had it.
Miles Jack was down. Miles Jack wasn't down. You know what I mean?
But, you know, when you're making rules for guys in the middle of the game, anyway, I'm hoping the Jaguars can get it done. Brockman, your response to that? I'm sure you remember that game. You were throwing things at the TV and probably until that play. Hold on.
Let me take the rings out of my ears. Hold on a second. I didn't know he was on a team. No, no. He's on Team Buffet during the game.
That's where Brockman is. Ha ha ha ha. Uh They hate us because they ain't us. I mean, what do you want me to say to that? He's way bigger than me.
I'm not going to talk any smack. The week before that, though, it is still the wildest NFL game I've ever covered in Pittsburgh against the Steelers. Mm-hmm. And this was Blake Bortles as the quarterback. You guys had a talented team.
Bournet was on that team. Jalen Ramsey was on that team. Obviously, you guys up front were really good defensively. But everyone forgets that game in part because immediately after it, The Minneapolis Miracle game was on, which now is still played everywhere. And Stephon Diggs making the play.
I was, even though I live in Minneapolis, I was in Pittsburgh going, this is, this is the wild. It was 45 to 42. A score that Kalaius, when I interviewed him a few days before, just threw out there. It was like, hey, okay, okay if we win 6-0 or 45-42. A score that had never happened.
And then they won 45-42. Kalaus sees me in the locker room after. He's like, hey, you go find that tape. I said 45-42. And I had our people going, find the tape.
He called the score. But it was, there was no reason to think this Jaguars team was going to go into Pittsburgh and win. But there was something about that group, especially the way that you guys were on defense. Like you made it hard on everybody, everybody, every single week. Yeah, we were just a rough, ragtag group.
You know, you thought Denver had a, you know, loud, boisterous, you know, imagine a bunch of akeep Talibs out there, right, in the back end, and then guys with, you know, something to prove on their shoulders in the front end and the D-line, the linebackers, right? Talvin Smith, Kalaius, Abra. Jones.
So Dr. Farrell is still there. I mean, there were a lot of dudes. There were a lot of good dudes there.
So, you know, we were just, you know, the ski mask versions. We were out there, didn't care. We're out here pushing people around and, you know, saying and doing things you can't say on Disney Plus. But, you know, it was. I already spoke the code.
I say, just go for it. Let me say it all. Tell me, real quick before I let you go. What else are you up to now? Um yeah, so for me, you know, once I uh retired I just realized that A lot of everybody gives their all to their business, their family, their mission, right?
But there's no care given back to them in the same level. And so, what I did was went out there and created the Care League, where concierge's lifestyle and wellness company, really looking to give access connections back to whether you're athlete in retirement, uh executive running a company, or a um Parent just trying to figure it out, just let you guys know that we have your back and everything, whether it be health and wellness connections or lifestyle needs.
So that's what I'm working on now. Just I understand truly the access and the support that we get from an NFL when you're in an NFL, and when that's taken away, you're lost, right? You're a novice.
So I realize that I can give this type of service to everybody and keep athletes thriving in retirement. Great seeing you again, man. Thanks for being here. Likewise, I appreciate it. Give me a flash that ring one more time at Progen on your way out.
Believe everything is crazy. Everybody, Super Bowl champ with us in studio right now. Ton more to come here on this edition of the Rich Isenless Show. Tom Pellicero in for Rich. The Rich Heisen Show, the podcast.
Got it. Welcome back to the Rich Eisen Show on Disney Plus, the ESPN app and ESPN Radio presented by Progressive. Let me talk to you now about Sonos, the speakers that bring every game to life at my own house. With studio quality sound, Sonos makes you feel like you're right there in the stadium. Whether you're cheering on your team, binging your favorite show, or listening to the hottest songs, Sonos fills every room with incredible sound.
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Sonos, they look as good as they sound. We're talking about that 2017. January of 2018, AFC divisional game. Jacksonville and Pittsburgh, okay? 87 points in this game, 38 in the fourth quarter.
You have no recollection of this, right? I, I, I, it could have been white in the collective unconscious. This game is insane. Yeah. Ben Rothesberger threw it 58 times, 469 yards.
Nice. Five touchdowns.
Okay. Antonio Brown. We've all forgotten how amazing Antonio Brown was. Seven catches for 132 yards.
Okay. Vance McDonald had 10 catches for 112 yards. Leonard Fournette had three touchdowns.
Some of the names of the guys that scored in this game. TJ Yeldon, Martavis Bryant. Tommy Bohannon. Wavion Bell, Juju Smith Schuster caught a touchdown from Ben Rothesberger. And nobody remembers that game because the moment it ended.
was the Minneapolis miracle beginning.
So I live in Minneapolis. All right, not a Vikings fan. Everyone I know is a Vikings fan. But so I'm in the locker room talking to Callais Campbell, who had somehow predicted the exact score of that Jaguars victory. Doing my on-the-field stuff, get to the airport, I'm on the plane.
Watching The Minneapolis Miracle on the Plane.
So, you know. At some point, the TV cuts off.
Now, that doesn't happen as often. I think they've got like a better system for it, but at some point, like you're getting below a certain, you know, the flight deck, whatever the top gun line is. Hard deck. Hard deck. See, I love that movie.
Watch it on a plane. And so like my internet cuts out with like 30 seconds to go. We get down onto the ground. I turn, my phone pops back on, and it's just a bazillion messages. Boom.
Every tweet, every text, I'm like, What happened? The game was over. And then you see the play. I almost forgot about the Steelers-Jaguars game, and the main reason I remember. Was Calle His Campbell a scoreigami prediction?
Never in NFL history. And days before it said, don't care if we've win 45-42. The exact score. Of the game. I mean, Minneapolis Miracle also insane.
17-7 going into the fourth quarter, 29 fourth quarter points. Obviously, the Stefan Diggs. Walk off. Joe Buck's epic call. Marcus Williams, who missed the tackle on that play, he had a great rookie season, I believe it was, for the Saints.
And I remember talking with him the following year, just being down in New Orleans. Like he was. He was so mature about the whole thing that there's a lot of people who would be like, bleep you, I don't want to talk about that ever again. There'd be other people who just like crushes their soul. Marcus William developed into a really good player and then went to the Ravens and got a big free agent contract too.
But you think back at who else is involved in that playbook? It's Case Keenum. Throw it at the Stephon Diggs. Why Case Keenum? Because Sam Bradford had hurt his knee early in the season.
Why Sam Bradford? Because Teddy Bridgewater's knee had exploded the year before on the last day of training camp. There is so much weirdness. Sam Bradford was on the Eagles to start that year. He was on the Eagles throughout training camp.
Bridgewater gets injured. I want to say on like August 30th. And then on cutdown day, the Vikings trade a first-round pick and more to get Sam Bradford who played pretty good his first year. And then the second year, that's when knee gets hurt. In week one, can't go week two.
Keenum takes over, he's hot. Bradford goes out and tries to play at one point. Can't move anymore. Kingdom comes back in and they go on one of the great runs of all time. Every great Viking season.
Is somehow marked by something bizarre happening to quarterback. 1998, it's Brad Johnson gets hurt right out of the gate, and Randall Cunningham leads the run. And it's unbelievable that 89 is the acquisition of Brett Farve, who is not even there until the end of August. 17 was the run with Case Kingham. And now, who knows, the Vikings make a run this year will be.
The story of Carson Wentz. J.J. McCarthy, God knows what else. You'd hope just those two. The next man up is uh Max Brozmer.
That's the uh That would be the next guy, the undrafted rookie. out of Minnesota. ESPN Radio is presented by Progressive Insurance, supporting you every step of the way. Progressive. We still got a lot more to come on this episode of the Rich Eisen Show.
We are going to have Chase Daniel on. In the last hour, one of the best guys that you're going to find anywhere breaking down. Quarterback play. Within the NFL, I'm curious as Chase. What impact, if any, the fire to Brian Callahan could make on Cam Ward.
as that thing moves forward with a highly drafted player. in Tennessee. The Ridge Eisen Show Podcast. Mm-hmm.
