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Now. On with the show. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the Rich Eisen Show. Here they are! The Rich Eisen Show.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. puts them in the lead with a two-run shot. From the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles. Today's guests. Pro Football Hall of Famer Kirk Warner.
CSPN MLB announcer Boob Shamby. Actor Keegan Michael Key. And now, it's Rich Ice Cent. That's right. Welcome to this edition of the Rich Eisen Show Disney Plus, the ESPN app everywhere, ESPN Radio Buy, presented by Progressive Insurance.
My Hall of Fame friend Kurt Warner is going to be first up here to talk about what we just saw and witnessed in week number eight. He called. Uh, the uh, the radio call of Monday night football of the Chiefs dispatching of the Washington Commanders. He's also, as you know, Mr. QB confidential.
He looks at every single piece of film that's out there.
So we'll come through week eight. We'll preview week number nine that starts on Thursday night between the Ravens and the Dolphins. And then tonight, game five of the World Series here in Los Angeles, California. It is one of those proverbial pivotal games as we are now tied at two games apiece. Boot Shamby, who's calling that.
Action for all of us on ESPN Radio is going to join us in studio in hour number two and then in hour three. I wouldn't miss it. Very funny. And talented, hilarious, and awesome. Keegan Michael Key stops by in studio, and it's always.
an A-plus event when he does that. We have some fun in store and planned for him when he joins us in our number three. Good to see you over there, Chris Brockman. How are you, sir? Rich, I'm excellent.
How are you? TJ Monkey D is in D's nuts is back in his chair. Good to see you, sir. And TJ Jefferson, I see the candle is already lit over there. Good to see you.
How are you doing? I'm doing fine. We also have a follow-up on what we discussed. on yesterday's program about would you take your bestie. To a game?
Like a playoff game, like say a World Series game? Just would you take a good friend to a game? If they are rooting for the team that is preventing your team that you're going to see from moving on in life. And guess what? Ashton Kutcher has, in fact, chimed in on that front because we talked about it yesterday.
That's later on in the show. 844-204-Rich is the number to die. We always love him. Hearing from you. The World Series is now tied at two games apiece because the Toronto Blue Jays woke up.
Uh on short rest. And heard the entire free world talk about what a unicorn showy otani is. And I don't know if they internalized it and said the heck with that. Uh also, it helps when um you know Their lineup is mostly intact. George Springer not in there, but...
It wasn't like the game was on the line, and all of a sudden, a bunch of guys who weren't starters were in the game because the game is now 19 and a half hours long and they're running out of baseballs. And they also had a pitcher of note of their own, albeit not. An all-star, all-world hitter in his own right, but Shane Bieber. Had a lot to say about last night's action. Don't forget, he's a Silum Award winner.
He's been there and done that, except a World Series start. And sure enough. When Shoey Otani stepped to the plate after getting the Blue Jays out, In the top of the inning. Um He wasn't intentionally walked, although it looked like it was one of those... Uh intentional.
Non-intentional, intentional walks, right? He did, in fact, get on base to start the game for 10 consecutive. played appearances to put himself on base. But uh Bieber got out of that. And the Blue Jays wound up falling behind again.
only to have Vlad Guerrero, junior stepped to the plate, And get Uh spinner of an Otani mistake right around the letters. And he just smoked it into the left field stand to give the Blue Jays a lead that they would not. relinquish because They are A team That is equipped. to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in a way Last year's American League East opponent for the Dodgers in the World Series. were not.
Big to do in New York City when Buck Martinez, longtime major leaguer and longtime. Toronto Blue Jay announcer said the Yankees weren't as good. As the Blue Jays, or weren't as good as many people in the Yankee organization or New Yorkers thought that they were because they don't put the ball in play. They strike out too much, and if they don't homer, they lose. And I understand last night the Blue Jays homered and won.
But the Blue Jays keep showing you why they are a better team equipped to beat the Dodgers than last year's New York Yankees. And it's not just because they officially now have. More wins in this World Series than the Yankees were able to get against the Dodgers last year. It's because the Blue Jays Do put the ball in play. They've got guys who can get base hits.
not just seeing I base hits, they have guys who can come up with an extra base hit.
Now and then, and also put the ball in play instead of striking out like most of the Yankees are. And I know I'm making it about. another team right now. I'm just trying to compare and contrast the two teams. That Come from the AL East over the last two years to take on the Dodgers in a World Series.
And the Yankees didn't last year didn't have to deal with Otani being a healthy. B off the hook and see a pitcher. And You know, Andres Jimenez was a perfect example last night. He's down in the count. winds up get an account in his favor.
And loops a base hit to left field instead of striking out. And guess what happened? The Blue Jays scored a run. And then the next pl uh guy gets up. and has a productive out to knock another guy in and then another guy gets a base hit and then another guy has a productive out.
And then you get into the Dodgers bullpen. A day after the pen has been used excessively, And suddenly you can break this thing open a little bit. And Blake Trinan, who I think is maybe the last guy other than Tanner Scott that a Dodger fan wants to see in the game right now. He comes in, he gives up a couple of Extra runs and that's all she wrote. And the Blue Jays don't even have to use their closer.
Jeff Hoffman, because they didn't want to if they didn't have to, because he pitched two innings the night before.
So now they're Kinda set up? For tonight's game five.
Now, obviously, the Dodgers didn't use Sasaki either last night. But the Blue Jays come away with the win against Otani when Otani is just as on fire as he could possibly be. And um Dave Roberts admitted. What we all do know, but sometimes it's tough for us to see, certainly in the media, that Shoei Otani is mortal. He's mortal, but there's also a lot of energy, obviously, on the pitching.
Exerted, but they made good pitches. You know, there were some backdoor cutters, some breaking balls, crowding them a little bit, and I thought his intent tonight at the play was good, but You know, you look back at those are bads. They made good pitches on him. They really did. Do you think it's unfair to put that much Pressure on him to expect him to do those extraordinary things every night?
You know, I know he doesn't see it as pressure. I would say that's what he expects from himself. It's part of. You know, being a fan and seeing great things from great players.
So, you know, every time he He steps up, I expect great things to happen, and maybe unfairly.
Okay, so the Blue Jays are now even with the Dodgers in the series. They're two and one in World Series games that aren't wildly off the hook and take 90 hours to finish. Mm-hmm.
So they got to feel good about themselves going into game five tonight. And this is a fun world series. I hope everybody out there is tuning in. Certainly, the ESPN radio Boog Xiambi is going to come in. Boog Xiambi is coming in in hour number two to talk about it.
And whether you're watching it or listening to it, this has been wildly entertaining. And George Springer, you know, John Schneider let everyone know during the broadcast last night. He thinks that it's possible that. Springer could come back to night. Wow, which would be something else.
Mr. October for a game five tonight in Chavez Ravine. Again, we'll talk about it in hour number two with Boog Shambi in studio. Uh some NFL news to get uh to. It's very rare to see a big fat contract signing announced in between weeks eight and nine of an NFL season.
Usually, if it's not done before week one, It gets tabled for the rest of the season, but not in the case of the Lions and Aiden Hutchinson. Aiden Hutchinson, who at this very point last year, Was overcoming an injury that maybe Cam Scatabu is going to have to overcome. Again, I'm not a doctor, I don't see any x-rays or MRI, and I wasn't in the operating room. Um With Cam Scataboo in Philadelphia. Although Big Dom might have been.
Do you think Big Dom scrub up for that one? Wouldn't shock me. Big Dom can do anything. Did you see, though, that he did stop by and give Scataboo some Philadelphia goodies? Yeah, pizzas and cheese.
I love that. Love it. But at any rate, at this point last year, we're wondering when Aiden Hutchinson is going to come back, if at all, from a horrifying. injury to his leg. And now, one year later, The Lions are 5-2 coming off of a bye.
Getting ready for the Minnesota Vikings at home, and Aiden Hutchinson has a new four-year deal. worth 100. And Eighty five. One million dollars. Did I get that number right here?
It just happened, but just before we came on the air here. On our program. Yeah, I think 180 and 141. 180. Yeah, 140 and 141 is the guaranteed guarantee.
A four-year contract extension. And all Aiden Hutchinson has done is just be awesome. Since coming off of the campus at Michigan, obviously I'm biased when it comes to him. He is a game changer. He was absolutely the first guy, along with Harbaugh's program to plant a flag and say it changes.
Now And He has been nothing but terrific. for the Detroit Lions when healthy. drafted second overall. I mean the Jacksonville Jaguars let him go to the Detroit lines. And choosing Javon Walker instead out of Georgia.
And What he is is an absolutely perfect Avatar on the field for what Dan Campbell wants: grit, determination. and unstoppable He plays like he's coming for your kneecap after taking a bite of X, Y, and Z, right? And. And the Lions, as you can see. Are spending.
He is now the fourth guy on the team to have a nine-figure deal. Penay Sewell, Amon Ross St. Brown, and Jared Goff. Are the others? And um Also, the way that he has been bawling out this year.
You got to also Yeah. Um I don't know if amazed or surprised is the proper word. It might be a little bit of an exaggeration. Eeeeee. You know how negotiations go.
I mean, at some point, they're a little bit spinning sideways, and it's just like. If you've ever been fortunate enough to buy a house, or a car. You think the deal is going to fall through? It's going to be over, like at least once, twice, three times in those deals. It looks like it's not happening.
And He was able to just... Nobody knew this was going on. I mean, I'm sure the insiders in Detroit might have known. Or only the people inside the building. Yeah, this kind of popped up out of nowhere today.
It's just very rare for it to happen. And just the latest example: I'm sorry to do it, but I have to do it. Anytime somebody at this position. Signs for the amount of money like this, and again, the guaranteed dollars. are significant.
I think about where Miles Garrett is today. you know, on his bye week with his team absolutely adrift. On their bye week at 2-6, coming off of a five-sack game of New England's. Revelatory Drake May. Sitting by himself at the end of the bench in New England.
with a team record that Doesn't matter to him. You know, he's getting ready to put his tombstones on the front lawn and you know One of those tombstones I'm sure that won't be out there was here lies the 2025 Cleveland Browns because their season is. is particularly Um Cooked.
Okay. Adrift. I'll be nice about it. Better way of saying that, yes. And.
There's two guys now. At this position. Game changers. Who Miles Garrett could sit here and say, I'm better than them, and I have been better for them than them for a very long time. Longer than they've been in the league.
You could stack both of them on top of each other in terms of the length of their careers. And it's Yeah. The length of mine that I have been dominating since I came out of. Texas AM first overall. For Cleveland.
And they're now making more money than me. And There 100% in the mix for the Super Bowl, and I am not. And I had my finger on the eject button, and I didn't press it. I stayed. in Cleveland.
And I'm just wondering what he's thinking wherever he is right now. He's probably at Turks and Caicos. No, no, I understand. His life is great. He's set up forever.
His descendants are set up forever. And he's also. Regardless of if he does ever leave. Cleveland, he's going to finish in Ohio. No doubt.
With a first ballot Hall of Famer, and he's going to be one of those Hall of Famers who show up as a 50, 60-year-old man, knock on wood, who looks like he can still give you some snaps in that. Back. Gold jacket is going to fit him perfectly. Him and Mel Blunt. Yeah, Micah Parsons and Aaron Donald when he's there too.
93 and a half career sacks combined. Miles Garrett, 112.5%. Yeah, I mean, because we're not even talking about his resume or his. In terms of being in doubt here, it's just... We'd like to see him get a different type of ring.
Sure. And I'm sure he does too. And he had it set up. And for whatever reason, he decided not to do it. He might actually like it living in his house in Ohio and didn't want to leave it, really, and he just wanted the bag.
Oh, you got the bag. But so now does Micah and Hutchinson. And on Thanksgiving Day, they're going to be on the same field in Detroit. with the division and um seating for the conference on the line. And um I just um This is what I think of whenever I see these guys hit it like that.
So, congratulations to Hutchinson and the Lions for getting it done. And also, um To um JJ McCarthy. You're back. And there's a fellow Wolverine on the other side who's going to make your day long if he has anything to. say about it on Sunday.
844-204-Rich. Number 1. I've got my. Power rankings, I believe. If I'm not mistaken, Um after beating the Knicks Giannis Atetakumpo is here in studio today off of just one dribble.
He made it all he traveled all the way to here. We'll talk about that. 844-204-Rich is the number to dial. Kurt Warner is going to join us next to break down what we saw in week eight. what he saw on film and preview week 9.
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We're back on the ESPN radio feed presented by Progressive Insurance. I just asked you, Kurt Warner, have you ever lost your confidence at any point in your career? You know, I never did, but there were definitely times where I questioned. What I was doing. Because there's times you go through stretches.
I remember kind of my last year, starting with the Rams, started six or seven games that season before an injury. And it was like, Three touchdowns and like 11 interceptions in that short period of time. And you know, I would go back and I would watch the tape and I would go, okay. What could I have done differently? Should I have done something differently?
You know, if I was doing this all over again, or if I was somebody that was. You know, not in my shoes and just watching this, would I tell my quarterback to do something different? And You know, obviously there were times that obviously you go, yeah, it's a dumb decision. But for the most part, it was just like. This is crazy.
You know, I'm completing almost 70% of my passes, you know, seven out of every 10 passes. It just seems like. Every time I make a mistake. It's an interception. And, you know, I dealt with the same thing with my son, EJ, is that, man, he can play great football and we can talk about it.
And then he's like, Dad, but every time one thing goes a little bit off, instead of the ball hitting the ground, it finds its way into the hands. of the opponent. And so I've gone through stretches like that where where you struggle with Why is this happening? And how is this happening? And is there really something I could do differently?
And every time I went back and studied myself. I always came to the same conclusion is that sometimes Things just don't bounce your direction, you know, whether that's a little bit something off with your communication with your wide receiver, or every time the ball's tipped, it gets intercepted instead of hitting the ground, or you're anticipating something and the defense does something a little bit differently that you don't really know until you throw the football. And so, There's just so many things that go into it. And I think that's part of that confidence thing: you have to be able to. realistically go back and watch what you're doing.
And when I say realistically, you have to be able to say, you know what, that was a bad decision, and this is why that's a bad decision. And you have to avoid that decision. And then on the other side, you have to be able to go. You know what? I would do that every single time.
And I know it didn't work out there, and I know it ended up in the hands of the opponent, but. That's how I've always played. And I understand why I did it. And I would do it again. And so you have to be able to go out there and go, I'm not going to worry about.
that part of it. There's just so many different aspects that go into it because you can talk about, I was talking about the interceptions that happened in the Monday night game, you know, and late in the game, Marcus Mariota throws an interception as they're trying to come back. You know, there's things like that too, where it's like. I would never make that throw in a regular situation. But when I'm down two touchdowns late in the game.
I've got to put the ball in harm's way a little bit more and try to make a tight throw a little bit more than I would. Otherwise, so you also have to take into consideration the situational football and what was presented to you. And so I think there's so many elements that go into it, but if you don't have a realistic viewpoint, Of what you're doing right and what you're doing wrong, I think it's easy to get kind of mixed up and mess with your confidence. Either being overconfident, thinking, oh, it doesn't matter, just keep doing what you're doing. That can't always be the right decision.
And then other times to get tentative when you really shouldn't be tentative and you've got to just let it rip and play because you're not necessarily playing bad football. Kurt Warner here on The Rich Eisen Show, my NFL game day morning compadre, and also QB Confidential is his spot on YouTube. Check it out, it'll make you smarter. Listen, in terms of all Um impressive performances. Let's hit Jordan Love here.
You just gotta sit here and wonder, Kurt. When he's sitting there Waiting for Rogers to be done with his job, essentially, right? I mean, that's just one way to put it, right? Waiting for his shot, waiting for the time where they were going to turn to him. He had to think to himself, at some point, I'm going to start here.
At some point, Rodgers is going to go somewhere and still be the Hall of Fame Aaron Rodgers, and I'm going to maybe play against him. I'm going to be on the same field as him. And for him to have that opportunity on Sunday night football, And come out with a 360-yard three-touchdown, no interception performance that included 20 straight completions to make him as he was just named 20 minutes ago. NFC offensive player of the week. What a dream come true for him.
Right? Honestly. No, no, no doubt about it. And I tell you what was most impressive to me was the way. That he played that game.
You know, if there's been one thing that we talked about. With Jordan Love. I talked about it with him on our sit-down on game day morning, just about the gunslinger mentality: he's kind of got that gunslinger mentality. Like, I can make the big throw and I can make the big play. And there's been stretches in his career where.
He's tried to do that and forced some balls and thrown some interceptions. And so here he is on the biggest stage, you know, in this moment, like you're talking about, you know, wanting to show everybody: hey, you know, the Packers made the right decision at that time to go with me, all of that stuff. And I thought he played so well with it. I mean, there were even times in this game where I thought. Man, why didn't he push that down the field?
You know, like, I thought he had an opportunity, yet he was playing a very intelligent. Smart. Football game. He didn't let the hype and he didn't let all of this. I got to outperform Aaron Rodgers and I got to show people on a big stage.
And all of that stuff. It was, no, I just need to go out and play the perfect game for my team. And he was taking check downs and taking the shorter throws and not. Forcing things down the field for the most part. And so I was just really impressed with the maturity on that side of it because I could.
I mean, I've been in those situations where you want to go out and you want to throw for 360 yards and three touchdowns and you want to do it in wow fashion and you want to make. big play after big play, and you can get outside yourself. At times, and I thought he handled that game perfectly, made the throws he was supposed to make, didn't. didn't put the ball in harm's way, didn't try to do too much. And in doing that, he shined brighter than anybody else on the field.
And then, in terms of Rodgers, I mean, we established on NFL Game Day morning this Sunday, you know, for those who missed it, you, Kurt. We're showing some wow throws from Rogers that look like he's turning back the clock, and he's also moving out of the pocket in those same ways. That said, just struggling in the red zone, the high red zone. And what ails the Steelers' offense? right now.
I mean, what ails them for me is is. Playing on schedule and on time. And whether that's just looking at the weapons and the offense and being able to create.
Some easy opportunities within structure and within their scheme. I think Aaron continues to be a little uncomfortable in the pocket. I showed on Sunday was a couple of those big throws from inside the pocket that I hadn't seen earlier in the year. And it was kind of like, and you're hoping that maybe he's getting more comfortable with his guys and in this offense, so he's more comfortable in the pocket. But I think there's some missed opportunities on schedule.
I think there's some lack of opportunities on schedule. And so a lot is falling on Aaron to have to be more creative or forcing him. to be more impatient in the pocket and want to get out of the pocket and where he's been really good, whether it's the design naked bootlegs or whether it's him creating on the out of the pocket, he's been really good in that facet. I just think they have to get better. On schedule.
That's Aaron starting, being comfortable, and making some of those reads and throws. And it's scheme-wise and it's player-wise, creating some opportunities on schedule. Because it's just, I don't care who you are. Doesn't matter what player you are. trying to live in an off-schedule world.
In the NFL does not work very often. It can work three or four times a game and it can be great, but it is hard for it to work for 60, 65 snaps a game for 60 minutes.
So they've got to get better on schedule in their passing game. It's Kurt Warner Wednesday right here on the Rich Eisen Show. All right, Kurt, you saw and called the first. Chiefs game of the year, I was next to you. You saw and called the latest Chiefs game.
I imagine it's Kevin Harlan sitting next to you for the national radio call. I don't think there's any question the Chiefs have turned the corner. It's now about how far they're going to go. And what a big game this Sunday against the Bills. Walk me through how you see the 10th all-time meeting between Mahomes and Josh Allen going and how they need to play to win.
Yeah, I'm with you on the Chiefs. If they're just back to doing what. they've been doing for the last couple years. And it's a really hard thing to stop because it's hard to create negative plays. against them, you know, because their offense is so much.
you know, short throws. Yards after catch. finding creative ways to get their players the ball in space. And so if you can't get them. In negative situations where you force them to have to hold the football and throw it down the field.
They are a tough team to stop because Patrick's as good as anybody at dealing the football and creating positive plays when there's not a lot there. I'll even say this: I don't. think Patrick is playing his best football yet.
Now, he's playing great off schedule. But in that game on Monday night, I thought there was a number of opportunities in front of him, you know, within the scheme of the offense that he missed. But You know, the offensive line gave him time. And when you give him time, there's nobody better off schedule. Than Patrick Mahomes.
And I feel like a lot of this season, he's been playing more off schedule. than on schedule and part of it was because of the issues. early on and the lack of comfort with the guys around him. Um, but you know, that's the amazing thing is that they're playing well. And, you know, Patrick's playing great, you know, off schedule.
And those guys work so well together. They got their, their weapons back. But I think they can even be better. Like, I, I, I think they're going to get more comfortable, and Patrick's going to settle back in more because he's gotten into this mode of having to create more. I think over the last year and a half.
And it's taken him a little bit away from some of the things that he does really well in terms of processing and seeing and getting the ball out on time. That I think this team can get. Even better than they are right now. And so it's pretty amazing with what we saw week one in Brazil to the way that they flip things now. And I think most people see them as the team to beat.
in the AFC, even though they just snuck into the playoff picture. I think it's going to be ascension from here. And then on the other side with Buffalo. I like what they did. Last week, of course, you know, the big win and getting back to running the football and establishing the run.
You know, Josh is another guy that I believe is playing. Too fast this year. I think Josh is awesome when he plays on schedule and in the pocket, and he settles in the pocket and reads it and throws it. I feel like he's gotten really impatient. And again, is it the weapons on the outside and the lack of the ability to create separation?
But there's often times where you'll see him drop back, and it's almost as soon as his back foot hits on the top of his drop where he's moving and his feet go sideways and he's looking to run or get on the move instead of letting the play. Work for him, and so um, I think he's got to do the same thing, he's got to settle back in and trust. The offense in front of him. I think part of that is getting back to running the football, which made them so good a year ago that it wasn't all about Josh Allen making plays. Um But yeah, I think he's got to slow things down a little bit and get back to playing.
Some of that MVP football that we saw a year ago. Who was the quarterback when you were playing Kurt that you knew leading up to the week, I need to have my best game, period, end of story, because I know he is too in the same way that potentially both Alan and Mahomes are thinking about this week. Who was that guy from? Yeah, I mean I I mean, all the great ones. Like, anytime you, you, you went against.
The guys, you know, that would be, you know, the Mannings and, you know. Barv is the beginning of Um, you know, of my career far far as because the Packers cut you too, right, Kern? I mean, like, that was, there was a, there was a little bit of an edge to that one. Uh, I mean, it's always. Always an edge.
Come on, I want one. I want one. Like one guy that you knew, because honestly, Alan and Mahomes know right now, with all due respect to everyone else. Yeah. I mean, Lamar is maybe another one.
Yeah. I just don't know if I had. I don't know if I had a matchup like that. I mean, for me, it was more. Certain defenses.
And so for me, it was like when I went up against Tampa's defense that I knew that the only chance we had to win was if I. Played my best game. And that was to me more the matchup. I didn't have. a Brady Manning type matchup or, you know, like you're talking about.
Mahomes against Allen. I didn't have something like that that was ongoing necessarily in my career, especially as I buy. Bounce to some different teams.
So, me, it was, you know, like I said, any great quarterback coming in, you knew you were going to have to play well. But for me, because of the style that we played, I think it was more.
Okay, the great defenses, and specifically that Tampa defense. When I played against them, you know, I knew that was the game I had to lock in and knew I had to play well if we were going to win.
So it was more Saps, Brooks, Lynch, Barber than Sean King? Yeah, Steve King. Yeah, definitely. Definitely in that situation. Poor Sean King.
And I'm dragging Kurt down to my level, right? Sean King's somewhere going, wait a minute. Yeah. I need to describe that all about it. How'd I get into this, right?
When my name get dropped. Oh, man. Listen, we always talk about quarterbacks under pressure here, Kurt, right? And my philosophy is a quarterback most under pressure is when. A, he's got to prove something.
To be save his job. That there potentially might not be another year. I don't know if that's the case for J.J. McCarthy. Because the Vikings have clearly committed to him by Not giving Sam Darnold, I guess, the term in dollar or Daniel Jones, and that's the conversation we're seeing.
And Sam's five and two, and Daniel Jones is seven and one. That's the backdrop here of him coming back and now taking the Lions. What's the... What's your expectation and two cents of advice you have for McCarthy, Kurt, do you think, here? It's such a unique situation, Rich, because we often know that when a young guy gets drafted high and often in the first round, with a team.
the team's not usually very good. And so you get. That year, you know, maybe like a Caleb Williams or a Drake May, you get that year. To go through your own growing pains and to struggle through some things and learn and grow as a quarterback in the NFL. You know, the unfortunate thing with JJ was that This team won 14 games a year ago.
And they got rid of the quarterback that won 14 games and they put their trust in you. And so we don't give this kid, this kid's got no chance to have a year of growing things. Because we know what this team was a year ago, and all they've changed, so to speak, is the quarterback. And so, all this pressure is on him to have to play really, really well right off the bat. And so, I don't look at it that way, I don't come into this and say, man.
I expect JJ to go through.
some growing pains. I expect him to go through some of those rookie Issues that I saw, you know, quite frankly, yeah, you know, first couple games when he played. Um, you know, for Kevin O'Connell that we have to make some adjustments on. How he calls a game, you know, that it can't be, you know, he's so used to it being QB-centric and around Justin Jefferson and throwing the football and doing all of that.
Well, you know, maybe you can't do that right off the bat with J.J. McCarthy. In his first year starting. And so I think there's a lot of transition going on here that. We need to understand, but it's hard to understand.
Because all we want to look at is a 14-win team and a quarterback that played there last year that's lighting it up in Seattle. And did Minnesota make the wrong decision? Let's just give him some time. I mean, you know, maybe he plays like Drake May does next year, you know, in his second year with the team. And now we're forgetting about.
All of that, and it doesn't really matter. But I think he was against the eight-ball from the drop. Um I think he's got room to grow and a ways to go. Uh before we can really know who he's going to be at this level. But you're exactly right.
There is pressure on him because of all the things that I talked about. And to me, it's undue pressure to expect. Him to step in in his first year and just pick up where Sam Darnold left off last year. But that's how we're going to continue to look at it one way or another, whether JJ becomes. Um, you know, a great player or not.
Right now, this is this is the narrative, or if he doesn't. Become a great player in this league. We're going to look back at this moment, you know, and talk about what did Minnesota do and did they make the right decision and all of those different things. But I just feel like he's in a really, really tough spot and was from. You know, from the get-go this year, because any first-year starting quarterback to have that kind of pressure on him.
Is just an unfair proposition. And the final minute with you, Kurt, my usual question: Who wins the best all 22 tape of the week award from week eight? From you? Is it Jordan? Was it Jordan?
We talked about Jordan Love. He would have definitely been up there, but I would actually put Bo Nick's. Uh, up there now, caveat is he played against Dallas's defense, so I'm not sure they covered anybody all day long. Oh, boy, uh, but. Regardless, you know, you can only play against the teams you play against.
And I thought, Bo. played really well. You know, I kind of been clamoring and even when we called the game a couple weeks ago, you know, so much of their offense is like, you know, bubble screens and quick throws and all this stuff. I want to see them push the ball down the field and kind of open up their offense and let the young man wing it around a little bit and build a rhythm. And they did that in this game.
They threw the ball down the field. He made some really great throws. I thought he looked really good. I thought it was his best game of the year. I thought, you know, when I watched the tape that he made more big-time throws than anybody else in the league this past weekend.
Well, he messed with Texas at home.
Now he's got to go to Houston and see what happens there this week. Kurt, thank you for the time, sir. Really appreciate it. All right, see you this weekend. See you this weekend.
QB confidential, everybody, check it out on YouTube. That's Kurt Warner and as usual, Wednesday. Spock Uh when we come back, some housekeeping. About the friend that you take to your as your plus one to a must-win game. Oh boy, this'll be fun.
The Rich Eisen Show, the podcast. ESPN Radio is presented by Progressive Insurance. Keep your career moving forward. Visit careers.progressive.com.
So TJ Jefferson, Kurt Warner on the Dallas Cowboys just went.
Well, you got to play the teams that you got to beat the teams in front of you about the Dallas Cowboys defense. Which kind of hurt me because I'm always defending. I look with Kurt with the way you kind of like, you know, always kind of backhand compliment him. And I'm always like, leave Kurt alone. Cardinals Cowboys is Monday night.
Do you think if Kurt suited up for Arizona, he could throw for 300 yards against this Cowboy defense? Listen, he just basically went on the Cowboys' defense about looking at the all 22, said. They didn't basically they didn't cover anybody and um About how Bo Nix looked great and he He said about the Cowboys defense, what you normally say about an 0-7 or a 1-6 team up. You just gotta play the teams that's in front of you. I mean, you don't need to be an all-22 guy to pick that out, though.
I'm just bringing this up because of the prideful nature of the Dallas Cowboy fan in front of you. And when we were looking at game three of the World Series. and seeing all the celebrities out there. And I saw how Jason Bateman Celebrity Dodger fan was with Sean Hayes. and that terrific Smartless podcast.
that he does Jason with Sean Hayes. The third guy in the mix is... Will our net? And there was some supposition online, social media, etcetera. That the reason why Sean Hayes got the plus one over Will Arnett is that Will Arnett is a Blue Jay fan.
And I said, if that's the case, then. I salute Jason Bateman because if it's ever A do or die. Playoff game between the Yankees and the Red Sox, and I have a plus one. The last person I'm inviting is you, Chris. I fully on board with that.
And you agreed with the same thing. If you got a plus one, you're not inviting a Yankee fan to sit next to you and root. For the team that's making you miserable. Absolutely not. And you, TJ, said, if it's, I said to you, you push back.
I'm like, what if, what if the Bears and the. And the Cowboys play, you know. You know A an NFC championship game. You know, would Ashton invite you as a plus one? You said 100%, 1 million, he would do it.
And they would do it for him. They ain't even a question, like Ja Rule said. And I said, you got to ask Ashton about it. And he was unable to respond yesterday and said he can't. Appeared today live because he's traveling.
So he recorded his answer to this question. And here it is.
Okay, I was listening to the show yesterday. 1000%. If I had two tickets and the Bears were playing the Cowboys, 1,000%. I would take TJ. No questions asked.
Like, in fact, he should expect that we're like the like if he couldn't afford the plane ticket, I'd pay for the plane ticket. The whole point. The whole point of having a team, having friends, is to root against each other. If the Bears are playing the Cowboys, I want to see TJ in as much pain. Pain he can possibly be in.
That is the delay. It's funny when friends get hurt. That was the line from that 70 show. I believe in it. Kelso said it.
He also speaks truths. I can't control the weather, and it's funny when friends get hurt.
Now, as far as Bateman and our net and the Dodgers game. which I was at, by the way. Hey, I brought my wife, my best friend. I look, maybe they're not that good of friends. We don't know.
We don't know if it was really a Blue Jay Dodger thing. And by the way, I'm not trying to start rumors. I'm not trying to start gossip. I don't know anything. I have no information.
I because there is a tier. Right, like I would say, like my top-tier friends, like topless, like, and there's about five, six people on it, tier one. If I'm playing your team in the Super Bowl, you're coming with me. For I for sure. Two tickets, you're coming.
Tier two Yeah, yeah.
Well I believe orange and blood is thicker than water. Tier two. Tier 1, you're coming with me. That's all there is to it.
So there it is. I mean TJ's TJ TJ only tells truths. That's all I'm just saying. My guy TJ tells truths. Mm.
I mean, look. Tier one, TJ. We knew that already. I mean, you think he wouldn't when he would?
So, okay, so I understand that you want to see your friends miserable. I do understand that. But, you know, and I just have been around enough, though, that it doesn't matter the amount of confidence I have in my team, what if. It doesn't turn out to be... A good day, and my confidence is misguided.
Now you're there. Yeah. And I don't want to see you there. Oh, I don't. Come on now.
I don't want to see you there. Right? Like, I'll call you later when I'm over it. Then, what's the point of that in like a week? I need to be there.
Am I? I'm bad friends. I am. That's where I bring it-like the tearing of the friends, yeah, remember my tier system about arguing football with you? Like, yeah, there's a friendship tier system.
No, I understand. You used to have a tier about whether you, as a cowboy fan, would argue football with you. Like, you needed to have at least a Super Bowl appearance or had a shot at it.
Some people who never sniffed a Super Bowl came out. I am sorry. I've I don't care what tier y'all are. At all. I am not gonna have you Root against my team in front of me in a seat that I'm providing you.
End of story. Like I said, man, you don't have story. Friends, how many of us have them? I've got tier ones. I don't know, man.
Apparently not.
Well, they brew for the same team as you. I mean, yeah. Call us 844-7 rich number to dial on that front. Boog Shambi's coming up to talk about the World Series. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast.
Mm-hmm.
