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Now. On with the show. This is the Rich Eisen Show. Austin down the middle of the guns to win the game! To win the game.
From the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles. Vladi rocks the ball. It is gone again. Back-to-back plus in the first today's gasps. NFL network analyst Daniel Jeremiah.
Oregon head coach Dan Lenning. actor Gabriel Luna. And now, it's Rich Eye Sen. All right, everybody, welcome to this edition of the Rich Eisen Show, all three hours on Disney Plus, the ESPN app. Which has ESPN everywhere.
We're on ESPN Radio presented by Progressive Insurance. We say hello to listening on SiriusXM Channel 80. That's how you can get ESPN Radio via satellite. Hey, podcast listeners, what do you think of you too? Because you listen whenever you want.
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YouTube.com/slash Rich Eisen Show for all of that. The actor, Gabriel Luna, is in studio an hour number three. You might love him from Last of Us. If you do, guess what? You're going to love something just a little bit lighter than that about John Wayne Gacy, who's a serial killer.
But anyway, he's in something called Devil in Disguise. John Wayne Gacy, available streaming now for Peacock. It's a limited series, eight episodes. It's great. He's in studio in hour number three of this program.
Dan Lanning, the head coach of the Oregon Ducks, ranked sixth overall. We've never had Dan on the program. That ends in hour number two. He's on his. bye week.
And then coming up, Daniel Jeremiah in 18 minutes' time to set up the stage for week number nine of the National Football League that begins tonight with Lamar Jackson back under center and in shotgun for the Ravens, as expected, taking on the Miami Dolphins winner. I guess it moves on towards digging themselves out of a hole, and the loser essentially goes home, will set the stakes. On all of that. Daniel's also going to set the stage for some of the teams that are already looking over the steering wheel at next year's draft, this year's quarterback class coming up. We'll also hit him up on everything else going on with the Chargers.
He calls the games with that. And he's a big San Diego Padre fan, so I imagine he'll be joining us with a Canadian accent. In about 17 minutes' time. Good to see you over there, Chris Brockman. How are you?
I just like the idea of Daniel doing a Canadian accent. I mean, the whole segment. I don't think Daniel's a drinker, but you'll know he's really rooting against the Dodgers if he's having a La Bats at 9:20 Pacific time. Sponsored by Molson, this segment. Good to see you over there.
What's up, DJ Mikey, D's and D's nuts? Good to see you. And TJ Jefferson, candles lit over there. How are you, sir? What's going on over there?
I'm swell.
Okay, great. I'm swell.
I find it kind of funny, you guys that take joy in your rivals losing games. I think we need to talk about this at some point. What?
Okay, we'll talk about all this. 844-204-Rich. You were out here earlier. You were out here earlier. 844-204-Rich is the number to dial on the program.
So I was at Game 5 last night, saw it with my own two eyes. I don't believe I've ever seen a game. Uh in person. Where the first two guys Homer? I don't think I've ever seen that.
I can't recall the last game I saw with the first pitch. Went yard. One pitch, one run, one swing, one. Swing of momentum. Um that uh we've seen the Blue Jays now carry.
for a couple of games in a row in Los Angeles. And I don't think I've ever seen that. And it's the first time a World Series game has ever began. with back-to-back Home runs. Davis Schneider, again, who I had 15 of his cards.
If he played in 1979, I'd have 15 of his cards on top. He's got like that Doug Drabeck look about him with glasses. Oh, that's a good one. You know, and he took a 97-mile-an-hour fastball from Blake Snell up and in, got his hands out, threw it. And yanked it into the seats.
And then Vlad Guerrero Jr., who's now one game away. I would say nine innings away, but we all know World Series can rock. He's one game away from being the most valuable player of the World Series. And what a capstone that would be on his. Season and a feather in his cap for his career.
Absolutely. And he'd have a ring and he'd be able to give it to his dad and all that sort of stuff. And little did we know. that those Two home runs. Those two at-bats, the three pitches into this game in which the.
Blue Jays took a 2-0 lead, was would be all the runs that they would need. Literally, there were people. stuck on the 101 freeway. coming into the stadium, looking up, go, oh, it's 2-0. That's how quickly this thing had happened.
It was. Uh only about 10 minutes after five o'clock local time. And this is a Yeah. A series in which a game ended at three in the morning Toronto time, or you know what I mean? And um.
That was all the Blue Jays would need because of this Young stud named Trey Yusavage. And this photograph on the screen, I'll describe it for everybody who's listening on ESPN Radio, presented by Progressive Insurance. and SiriusXM and our podcast. It is a guy who's Pitching style is so over the top. That The ball looks like it's coming from The hand of Victor Wembanyama standing flat-footed.
And I'm not kidding, it's about seven feet six inches off the ground. And so when he throw uh uh they they they documented this on on Fox, I believe, in game one. that his wingspan and his ability to come over the top is the And release point is the tallest off the ground of anybody in Major League Baseball. I might be wrong about that. Tyler Glass now, as we all know, has got the longest stride.
Right. Because he's so tall, but this guy. He creates such a release point. That it's jarring. And normally, if you got them figured out in game one, which the Dodgers.
uh did before, you know The roof fell in on him in Toronto. You'd figure that they might have a better chance at him in the second time seeing him around, but not this time. And It's an incredible story. I mean, I think it's been well documented for those who have been. locked in on the World Series and the postseason.
But I'm sitting in this game.
Next to My boy, Coop. who goes to summer camp in Main. And because Susan and I want him to have an East Coast, a different experience than living in Southern California. And um it's Awesome. The camp Every year takes kids on a field trip.
to the Portland Sea Dogs double A Affiliate of your Boston Red Sox, Christopher. Correct. And Cooper. I covered the Sea Dogs for many years. Cooper.
And I kind of mentioned this before your Savage's first start in the World Series. I'll repeat it here again. Coop. saw a Portland Sea Dogs game. Against the Toronto Blue Jays AA affiliate from New Hampshire.
And Sure enough. Who were they starting the night that Coop was there on July the 6th. The Fisher Cats had started a guy who had just been elevated from single A ball in Dunedin, Florida. for the Toronto Blue Jays. And his name is Trey Savage.
He saw him. In AA baseball in Portland, Maine, this summer. By the way, you can look at the box score. I'll read it out for those. Who are listening right now?
Connerly Early was the starter for the Sea Dogs. I know. He started game three of the wild card series against the Yankees in Yankee Stadium. But the The kid who gave up, by the way, three earned. On four hits in three innings against the Sea Dogs.
He wound up. Catch and fire? And he wound up. Pitching for the Blue Jays. And he wound up On the mound.
in games one and five of the World Series, and now that guy that Cooper saw in July And so last night Set a record for most strikeouts by a rookie pitcher in the history of the World Series. And this photograph of him striking out Shoe Otani so. With a pitch that fooled him so greatly that his helmet came flying off. And he lost his balance. Is something that I don't know.
Do you print this out and put it on your wall and Or put it on a t-shirt or walk around the rest of your life going, I did that. No, that goes up in the crib for me. You know what I mean? For sure. And the guy he Surpassed Don Newcomb.
of the Dodgers organization. And he became the first Pitcher to have 10 strikeouts in a World Series start. Through the first five innings of that start. Since one of the folks in the crowd Sandy Colfax. Who was there again?
Trey, you savage. Going through seven innings. And just Pounding that strike zone. Yeah. And had this to say after his remarkable Game Five victory.
to make the first two At bats. Results of the night stand up for the rest of the night. to give the Blue Jays A shot at winning the World Series at home. One of two different chances to do so. This is what he had to say after the game.
It's a crazy world. Crazy world. Um Hollywood couldn't have made it this good.
So Just being a part of this, I'm just very blessed. Walking from the bullpen to the dugout, I took a moment to look around the stadium, see all the fans I wanted to. I was I was hoping I'd send him home uh upset, but uh Yeah, it was it was just a cool like Full circle moment. Kid born in Potsdown, PA is now the toast of Canada. as he became the first To have 12 strikeouts and no walks in a World Series start.
How about them apples? Just three hits. The one earned was a Kiki, no doubt about her. That guy is. Just a beast in October.
Playoff KeyKing. Right. That was a no doubt about it. Made it 2-1, and it could have been a game. And then, you know what the Blue Jays do, man?
I'm telling you, I keep... pounding this Because They play baseball in a way that can take down the most well healed Future Hall of Fame studded. Line up. and franchise. in the sport.
Which is timely hitting. And timely connections with the baseball. Their ratio of productive outs to non-productive outs. Is They're superpower. I turn to Cooper whenever there's a runner on third with less than two outs, and I'm like, is there any doubt the Blue Jays?
Are you not scoring that run right now? Whether it be by a base hit like Isaiah Connor Faleffa late in the game to give him. A 6-1 lead, or a flyout, or a ground out to the right side to get someone from second over to third. And again, I use the Yankees as the measuring stick. for various reasons, for personal reasons.
But also This is the Second straight AL East. winning opponent the Dodgers are facing in the World Series. And this team that they're facing doesn't strike out as much. doesn't need the home run to score. has timely pitching, has timely relieving.
Has a manager who's pushing the buttons that work more than not Does have Don Mattingly in the dugout. Also This team, guess what? didn't completely disintegrate after a Gutting. Loss in Dodgers Stadium capped by a walk-off Freddie Freeman home run. The Yankees disintegrated.
Last year in the World Series, the Blue Jays, since losing to Freddie Freeman in the 19th inning and all the Dodger fans going home happy, listening to Randy Newman talking about how much he loves Los Angeles, they rallied. They have not lost yet. Not only have they rallied, they haven't lost. They said, you know what? We're going to just...
Sweep the rest of Los Angeles. We'll win games 4 and 5. We'll beat Otani after the whole world's talking about what a unicorn he is. on the mound and then we'll send our kid out there. and give him a lifetime photograph memory on the wall.
of Otani Losing his balance and his helmet. They're unbelievable. They're a great baseball team. They play the game the way it's supposed to be played. And you know what?
You could take Davis Schneider's salary. I bet. I don't even know what their salary is, and Ernie Clement's salary. On top of each other, right? And Barger's salary and Lucas's salary, and just mount them up.
Did they even equivalent? Come to the equivalence of of a fraction of one one of these Dodgers Deferrals are? David Schneider is making $820,000 this year. Yeah. And you know, the Dodgers lineup is not making contact.
They aren't playing baseball as well as the Blue Jays. Mookie Betts, man, I love this guy. He's raising his hand saying, look at me. Edit. I don't want to speak on anybody else, but for me personally, um I've just been terrible.
It's been terrible and there's no uh I wish it was from lack of effort. I really do, but it's not, so. I don't have any answers.
Well, that's one thing you know it will never be for Mookie Bets, it's lack of effort. He's hit one third in the World Series, but his talent is so great. Normally, when you hit 130 in a World Series, you're dropped from 2 to 8. They dropped them from 2 to 3 in the lineup. Because you just never know.
He catches fire and he'll change the entire fortunes. Good news for the Dodgers. Is Yamamoto's on the mound in game six? And all he's done. is finish what he started two times in a row.
Got to do it again. They need that, man. I need link from him. They need to score some runs. They do.
That's true. They have four runs in the last 29 innings. I ain't gonna get it done. Because the Blue Jade pitchers make you swing and miss, and all they do is make contact with the baseball. Yeah.
It really is amazing. Like the Dodgers just hit solo home runs. Yeah. That's it. That's all they do.
Rich, you beat me.
Sort of like who? What does that remind you of? The Yankees. You were hype that. Yeah, sure.
The blue jays are turning the Dodgers into the Yankees? Is that what you're telling her? It seems like it. Rich, you being there, what was the feeling like in the crowd going down 2-0 that early, man? Did you sense that the fans were just taken out of the game?
No, not really. I mean, it... Because it doesn't matter. I'm going to say that deflation. Kiki got him right back into it.
I mean, Kik's home run got everybody right back into it as deflating as it might be. That thing was gone. And Dodger fans know their lineup is so loaded. Yeah, you can't really get it. And here's the kid that they cuffed around.
well enough to keep it a game in game one until again, as I mentioned, the uh roof caved in. But Unbelievable.
Well done, Blue Jays. They go home, grab your passports, and If you're the Dodgers and uh Look out for this one. I'll just put this one in your head because Coop said it to me on the way home. What's that? Because, you know, Otani pitched in game four.
Mm-hmm. He says, What if Yamamoto gives you seven, Otani gives you the eighth, and Sasaki gives you the ninth? What if it goes Yamamoto? to Otani. to Sasaki in game six.
And I'm like. The only thing that might be you know, not reasonable about that is Yamamoto just goes all nine. But it's entirely positive. game on game seven. Got it.
Should it get that far? Should it get that far? Yeah. Which will be wild because at that point in time, Yeah. Otani can only warm up after he's hit and gotten off the base paths.
Right. Odd enough, he starts and then Glass Now comes in relief. Is that how That's wild. You got to get there first, obviously. Yes, you do.
What a series. It's been highly entertaining. It's been fun. To say the least. And just for the Toronto Blue Jays, an absolute.
How about this exhibition? Remember, they used to play in that stadium? It's been an exhibition of how to play the game. How do you play the game? Make contact.
Put the pressure on the other team. Because you make contact. and then pitch well enough where There is no contact. What was it, 23 swings and misses? A lot.
Yeah. Wow. All right, so the Dodgers are down three games to two, which no doubt delights the Padre season ticket holder that's about to join us. Again, I'm wondering if Daniel Jeremiah, when he joins us next, we'll have a Canadian accent. 844-204, which is the number to dial.
We will talk to Daniel Jeremiah. A actually, you can't spell Jeremiah without A. Yeah. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast. Daniel Jeremiah, voice of the Los Angeles Chargers on radio, right here on the Rich Eisen Show on Disney Plus and ESPN app and ESPN Radio.
Let's just jump into tonight's game real quick. Are you of the mindset here that the the Ravens can? actually put a run together and win this division at the end of the day. Daniel? Yeah, I think so.
You know, and look, I'm confident in the offense with Lamarbach that they'll, you know, they'll get rolling offensively. I'm not confident that the Steelers are going to, you know. Put so much distance between them that they can't catch them. The deciding factor is going to be whether the Ravens defense can do what they did last week, you know, and look more like a more vintage Ravens defense where there's no blown assignments, where there's a little bit of pass rush, and where the tackling is solid. You know, Roquan Smith coming back and the way he played and kind of like a force multiplier with just the energy, the effort, and the playmaking, kind of all that rolled together.
I think that made a major difference. But that, to me, is just the one question mark. Can they get consistent defensive play? The offense is going to be fine.
Well, I mean, you mentioned the Steelers. You're going to see them in person in a week 10 Sunday nighter here in Los Angeles after they play the Colts. At home And um Are the Steelers in trouble? Daniel? I'm worried about their defense, Rich.
You know, I talk about tackling, and this is a team that. It's just been really, really poor. And you go back to the Cincinnati game, you know, when you're watching the tape of that game and you see how much separation and space they allowed, you know, for the number one receiver in the NFL and Jamar Chase, and that should be, you know, focal point number one. And he's that uncovered. That was an issue.
And then you go to this last week's game and they can't tackle. You know, it was not just one person, it was a whole collection of guys at the second and third level of their defense. They can't get guys on the ground. And I know there's a lot of, you know, I've heard a lot of chatter about, okay, where's this pass rush? This pass rush isn't getting home.
And I'm like, well, you don't have a chance to get home when you got guys that open that early. And when there's such a low-risk, high reward for just completing a pass in the flat, knowing that instead of a five-to seven-yard gain, it could go for 35 or 40 because they haven't been tackling well.
So that to me is a major cause for concern.
Well, you've seen Denver in person. You've seen Indianapolis in person because, again, I'm looking at all the games that the Chargers have played. You also saw. Yeah. Kansas City in person in Brazil, just like I did, but that's just not the same team, right?
I mean, just in terms of who's healthy, in terms of, you know. Uh do a joke. Tranquil barking at Chris Jones to do your job and everything like that, they've turned a corner. Um And you know, the Chargers, again, are in the mix themselves if they are healthy. Just overall, based on what you've seen with your own two eyes and then watching on all 22 as much as you do.
Who's the best team in football entering week nine? Daniel Tarmo. I'll put it this way, Rich. Clearly, to me, the Broncos were the best defense that I've seen in person this year. And they are so fast up front, and they have a mix.
I talk about it this way: you've got darts off the edge, right? You've got just two of the elite get-off guys coming off the edge, and then you've got disguise with how Vance Joseph sets up this defense.
So, if you cause a little bit of hesitation, you've got that much speed, particularly with Benito coming off the edge, it's a problem. And then you have when they're healthy in the secondary, it's really, really deep and talented back there.
So, that's been clearly the best defense. The Colts' offense is the best offense that I've seen. And just their physicality, the play design creativity. Jonathan Taylor is playing as well as any back in the league. Daniel Jones is playing consistent, efficient.
That was impressive display seeing them in person offensively.
So, those are the units to me that impressed the most. And then, you know, the way the Chiefs have started to get rolling, they weren't all. Hands on deck when we were together and saw them there in Brazil.
So I'll have to wait till I see them a little bit. uh down the road. But you know in terms of the best combined overall team Yeah, I mean, I I don't know. I think those teams are kind of all in the mix. I don't know if there's a separator at that point in time.
I guess you could compare the Broncos' offense to the Colts' defense. I might lean a little bit more towards the Broncos' offense there.
Well, and let's open it wider to, as I said, all 22 or whether you're sitting at home watching Sunday Night Football like I'm Sure you were because the Chargers had a Thursday night game last week. Just seeing Jordan Love playing as well as he did, the Packers playing as well as they are a host of Five and two and six and two teams in the NFC. You've got the Seahawks coming off of a bye. Same thing with the Rams. You've also got the Lions coming off of a bye themselves sitting there currently in the NFC standings.
Let me get this exact number right. They're fifth at five and two. What do you see there in the NFC? Daniel.
Well, it's going to be a fun ride. I think health is going to go a long way in deciding that because I don't think there's much that separates those teams. If I was looking at it right now, I would say if they hit their ceiling, if all of these teams hit their ceiling, I might lean towards the Lions slightly over Green Bay and the Rams and the Eagles are still lurking out there as well. But I think the Lions best. Uh, healthy and their best, I think, is the best in the NFC right now.
Daniel Jeremiah here on The Rich Eisen Show. Speaking of Green Bay, when we were on the set there for the draft on NFL Network, over and over and over again for three straight days, you're like, You know what? The Patriots are having an incredible draft. They are set up. And then we didn't even discuss Drake May becoming an MVP caliber quarterback.
By the middle. Uh or the first third. Of the NFL campaign that was to come. Are you even surprised with how he's looked and how the Patriots have put it together? Right now?
I mean, look, I believe in his talent and I believed in what they were building there. I thought they hired the right coach. I thought they had a great draft. I thought they, you know, were targeted in what they did in free agency. I thought this was going to be a team that was going to be ascending.
That being said, I did not think they would be where they are, including a road win over Buffalo and a quarterback who's not like fringe MVP discussion, but one of the favorites in the MVP discussion.
So they are way ahead of schedule. The talent was unquestioned with Drake. I didn't think they'd be able to support him enough. You know, at this point in time, it was going the right direction, but I didn't think they'd be able to support him enough to be this good right now. And I think it's them meeting each other halfway where, yeah, the supporting group is ahead of schedule.
And I also think he has just got to his upside in a hurry. And I think you got to give, you know, for whatever people want to say about Josh McDaniels as a head coach, you've got to give him his props as an offensive coordinator and as someone who can work with quarterbacks because he's got the absolute best out of him. All right.
So now I put you as the foreman in the Caleb Williams jury room. Where are we right now? And deliberations entering week nine of his first year. with Ben Johnson, Daniel. I would say we're trending positively.
It's, I, you know, as someone who had a big grade on him, you know, going through the draft process. I was hoping it'd be a little bit. you know, further along in the advancement where you'd see some, you know, a little bit more of the good stuff, a little less of the bad stuff. But, you know, it's still it's getting better. You can see the frustration on when you're watching the T V copy.
You hit pan to the sideline. You can see Ben Johnson because he's got some things dialed up and there's some opportunities that he just hasn't been able to hit.
So, I think there is some frustration there just watching the TV side of things, but I still go back to you can, you know, last year in a game, Rich, you could pull out. Six plays, and you could get really excited about these six throws from Caleb Williams. And this year, game by game, you can probably pull out 10 or 11 of those plays.
So it's getting better. It's not where it's going to be. It's not where it necessarily needs to be right now, but I think it is trending positively. It's just hard when you look up and you see what Drake May's doing and the fact that Jaden Daniels has already been in a conference championship game. You know, that's kind of who he's going to be compared to, for better or worse.
Well, I mean, what are you seeing then? What is the issue? Do you think it's a processing? Is it an awareness issue? What do you think it is?
Those are just two things I'm throwing out there, Daniels. Quite simply, it's just some ball placement stuff. I mean, he's seeing it, and it's some misses down the field when you've got opportunities.
Some of it's just deep ball stuff where he's, you know, he's got to understand where the leverage of the defense is and give his guy a chance to make a play on a ball.
So that to me. Is a big part of it. And the other part is there's just times when I know he's going, he's getting to his progression. His eyes get where they need to be, but he's still just a count late. He's just got to play a little bit faster in that regard.
Well, doesn't that sound like comfort? Yeah, doesn't that sound like a comfort thing as a just reps thing? Oh, 100%. I'd rather it be that than he doesn't see it. Then that's a problem.
Yeah, no. You know what I mean? No, that's what I'm saying. And this is why you're seeing improvement because these are areas that you can improve in, and he's getting better. He's just not there yet.
But by no stretch, the best thing to happen to him, in my opinion, is that you've seen guys with incredibly high talent levels that have been high picks, Baker, Sam, and now you're seeing it with Daniel Jones, eventually find their success. I'm hopeful that that example is going to buy more time and believe in the talent, believe in the person, and know that this is going to get there. You just got to be patient. Yeah, but. Will we ever see that list expand of quarterbacks who finally get their opportunity and finally get it and finally hit?
to match their draft status. Uh for the same team. You know what I mean? Like, are we ever going to see that? I mean, name me that one example of, oh, they finally got it.
Their patience over three, four, five years has paid off. Usually, somebody's got to go somewhere else. You know what I mean? Yeah. Yeah, I would go back to, I mean, you go in the wayback machine, but you remember Breeze?
He had to go some Chargers for the Chargers, though, but that was, you know, after he kind of did and ended up establishing himself with the Chargers, then he hurt his shoulder. If he doesn't hurt his shoulder, I think he, you know, he doesn't move on. All right.
But it clicked in for him after a few years. It sure did. You know, golf is a you know is another example. Yeah, he ended up going to another team, but he got the Rams to a Super Bowl after a little bit of a rocky start.
So it's a great question. It's a great conversation. And patience is not something that people like to major in in professional sports. I like that line. Daniel Jeremiah, in the few minutes I have left with you, this weekend's action.
collegiately and professionally. is the uh is the first November football, which means it's now time to look over the steering wheel. And I think we've had enough time, I guess, for two months of collegiate action. to potentially sort out the quarterback class of 2026, unless it's not enough time. Handicap it for me right now for those fan bases that might be wondering about draft positions for their current professional franchises.
Daniel.
Yeah, I'm early on in my study of it, but I mean the guys that are kind of sitting there with teams right now that they're trying to work through, the two names you hear more than any other, Mendoza at Indiana, he's a good player, and then Ty Simpson at Alabama.
Now, neither one of these guys, you know, approached the grade level of that class we were just talking about with Drake May, Jaden Daniels, Caleb Williams. No, I would say even below Cam Ward from last year in terms of the grade that they'll be carrying. And there's a bunch of other guys that coming into the year I thought would be no-brainers to come out. Lenora Sellers was my favorite one. He just hasn't quite had the year that he'd like to have and that hasn't been a great supporting cast around him either.
So he's kind of one of those candidates.
Okay, he can go back to school and help himself. The Arch thing is kind of played out. We get a really good sense he's not going to be coming out.
So yeah, it's an interesting group. There's a lot of things to like about these guys. I don't think there's, you know. Mm. I know at this point in time, there's not that buzz of being like, man, I thank goodness we got the first or second overall pick.
Wow. So if you've got a high draft choice and your quarterback needy, this currently isn't turning out to be the draft class. that you're hoping for. at the quarterback spot. Yeah, I mean, there's more season left.
I mean, we've seen guys, you know, we're going to have some big pressure games coming up as we come down the stretch. We'll get the conference championship games and the playoffs, and maybe somebody, you know, really goes on a heater against some really good competition and wins over some doubters. But at this point in time, I would say there's some good. I don't necessarily think that I've seen some great.
So then who's the first overall pick of the 2026 draft? Is you and I... And the rest of the NFL network crew are convening in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Handicap that for me as we get set for the first weekend of November. Yeah, I've got no earthly idea because some of the best players are at non-premium positions.
Jeremiah Love's a great player as a running back. You got the tight end up at Oregon's a great player, he's a tight end. You know, Caleb Downs, you know, excellent players of safety.
So there's a whole host of defensive ends that are good players, and that might be where it all ends up: you end up with one of those defensive ends all the way up there. But that's a crowd of four or five guys that are in that mix.
So, what do you counsel the Cleveland Browns to do? I mean, they traded away their draft rights to Travis Hunter to get something else. In the first round, back pocket for 2026 to give them two, then they go ahead and draft two rookie quarterbacks. One of whom is, you know, just got elevated to second string in Shadur Sanders, and everybody still believes the Browns just. You know, wish they didn't have him to be straight up, you know, and then Dalen Gabriel.
um has gotten a few starts and hasn't lit the world on fire. He has played Well, enough, but what do you counsel the Browns to do right now? With this knowledge, Daniel?
Well, I would say let's see how this plays out with the rest of this quarterback class. We'll see where they're picking. And then at that point in time, you're either laying the groundwork, you know, more foundational pieces for when that quarterback comes. You know, you've got a chance to build up that offensive line, you've got a chance to add some weapons. You know, that would be kind of the place that I would go: instead of reaching for a quarterback, I would try and lay more foundation there.
And then maybe you take your shot on one of these reclamation projects. Um, you know, that are out there. I've I think I've told you this before, Rich, but like I'm um yeah, maybe it's 'cause I know him and I've been you know close to him 'cause he 'cause uh Coach Harbaugh and Joe Ortiz brought him on board, but I haven't given up on Trey Lance. And maybe I'm on an island there, but that's a guy who was picked up there for a reason. The only knock on him was he didn't play.
He didn't play a lot, didn't have a lot of experience, and he was raw. But he's big, he's athletic, he's got a huge arm. He's smart, he's high character. Like, you know, to me, and rather than reach for a quarterback you might like, not love, I'd rather continue to build up the foundation in this draft and then take a flyer on someone like that. Yeah, I was going to ask you: give me the name of somebody who's a so-called reclamation project.
So that you just identified Trey Lance. Is there any other? In the league that you've seen or come around, or you've heard people are talking about? That could be that next, what is it, Mac Jones? That's what, I mean, that's where I was going to go.
I mean, Mac Jones has shown enough that he's going to get some opportunity somewhere. And he hasn't been fully healthy. He hasn't been fully healthy, but he's, yeah, so they got to figure out what they want to do up there. But obviously, they're committed to Brock Purdy and going forward with Brock Purdy.
So that could be one that's. That's out there and that's available at that point in time. Man, isn't this crazy, too? DJ, one last thing for you, just to.
So we're sitting there on the draft set a couple years ago. Pennex gets drafted. You're like, what about Kirk Cousins? What about him? Then Pinnex finally gets the start last year, and they hold on to Cousins.
They hold on to him. Nobody has a dire need to blow them away. They have To trade him because you never know when you're going to be needing him. They need him last week, and it was one big fat goose egg. Isn't that it's just crazy.
how these things all work out. Yeah, that's why I think I, you know, look, I think about, let's see what happens and how J.J. McCarthy looks the rest of the year. What do you think? I'm intrigued.
I think some people have tried to make that determination without having seen enough of him. It feels like there's. You know, there's a lot of questions out there, but the thing that's going to be held over his head, unfortunately, is that that's a quarterback room last year that consisted of Sam Darnold and at the end of the year, Daniel Jones. Two guys are absolutely playing winning football.
So there's a lot of intrigue with a team that's ready to win right now. Is JJ going to be able to do it?
So, yeah, those decisions you got to make on going young or staying with the veteran, not easy. And we'll see how it plays out in Minnesota. Yeah, Colts and Seahawks only a combined 12-3 entering week nine. Daniel, thanks for the time. Great to see you.
You know, enjoy your Canadian syrup while you So, what do you got? What are you going to have? Because you don't drink either, right? I mean, you don't. I don't.
I don't. But can I tell you real quick that on my Savage Power Rankings, Randy has now been passed by Trey Yee.
So that's. Ah! I like that. I knew you'd love the savage power rankings. I never even thought about that.
Yeah, brother. Freak out, freak out. Trey Macho Mania Savage. I got to go. I'm going to snap into a Slim Jim.
You boys have a good day. Thanks for joining me. Jeremiah, everybody, right here on the Rich Isaac Show. I love our chats with him. Snap into a Slim Jim, he says.
Thank you guys. We take a break. 844-204-Rich, number two dial. The Rich Eisen Show, the podcast. ESPN Radio is presented by Progressive Insurance.
Save when you bundle motorcycle, RV, and boat insurance. visit progressive.com. You know, there's a f You know, there there's a phrase i i in New York, it's a very jet thing. It's a very jets thing. Isn't that a very jets thing?
That's no, that's a jets thing. I hate this team. And as you know, it is not usually associated with things that are positive. Oh, no, no. Here's another Jets thing.
that you start 0-7. You potentially need a new quarterback. And the draft in which you're first overall. pick that you have potentially. Is in a draft where Daniel Jeremiah.
On the last day of October football tonight.
Okay. in the NFL. I have no idea who the first overall pick in the draft is. The quarterback draft that I went into the season thinking was going to be pretty good. Last year, you heard that when the Browns charged.
Traded their first-round pick to move down three spots to let the Jaguars have Travis Hunter, and then they draft Mason Graham, which, in the very long run, who knows, professionally might turn out to be a wise decision. And a first-round pick in your back pock for the next year. Everyone's like, well, hey, a quarterback draft next year better than this one. Better than this one. And Jackson Dart looks like he is for the Giants.
And you're kind of thinking, oh, okay, you're seeing what Cam Ward looks like, despite. Once upon a time, um calling their start donkey. Um you know don't get no no Who knows?
Next year could turn out to be better than you think. That's a higher register and a higher register Thursday, which we'll get to later on. But how about Daniel Jeremiah saying the draft class of the quarterback spot? Nobody's stepped up yet. Although, as you pointed out in the commercial break, Chris.
At this point last year. You know? Cam Ward was the first overall pick, right? He wasn't the first pick at the end. He was only beginning to.
Right. Show up on your phone every Thursday night with like, whoa. He did that in the last three minutes of the game for Miami?
So, a lot can happen in the next two months. But, I mean, if you're the Browns, too. Better kick the tires on your door while you can. This year, to figure out maybe he's the answer. And I know that I know a lot of folks think that is a long of long shot, but you never know.
in this league. Or give Dylan Gabriel a few more. Reps at it. And then you make that decision. They're on a bye week right now.
Very important stuff to be done on a bye week, honestly, for the quarterback position when. When he, you know, Dylan Gabriel has shown that he has the ability to be accurate. He has the ability to, you know, not turn it over, although that technically was a turnover in his own end zone where he. Intentionally grounded it from the middle of the pocket in the middle of the end zone to no one in particular. For safety.
Gary in East Meadow, New York, joining me here on The Rich Hisen Show. What's up, Gary? Hey, Richard. I was thinking about the Jets' first draft pick and I was thinking about uh the quarterback on Oregon as as their first pick. Dante Moore you're referring to.
I don't know, man. I mean, listen, uh the last Oregon quarterback to make Make it to the professional level. Looks pretty damn good right now for the Denver Broncos. And when you thought he was just a. Uh a a you know What would you say, parting gift for the for the for the Denver Broncos?
Choosing sixth on that quarterback depth chart in that draft, like, oh, let's just take a flyer on the last guy who we think has a first round grade and look at him now. And then obviously, we see what Justin Herbert's doing professionally as well. I don't know. We've got his coach coming up. We'll ask about how he gets quarterbacks ready for the professional level.
Because I was surprised Daniel didn't mention him because, you know. Everything I see hasn't been going either one or two. You know, him and Mendoza seem to be flip-flopping. depending on who the hatch number one pick at the time, but I really like them.
Well, we'll find out. We'll see what he does for Oregon as they definitely are playing in the college football playoffs, if that means anything. If he can, as a thanks for the call, Gary, as DJ just mentioned, catch a heater. and then suddenly become like the Cam Ward, right? He's only a sophomore and he's young.
He's 20.
So he's not. He's not going to be, he's not draft eligible unless he's three years removed from high school. Right. He might be, but he could also come back next year. Dan Lanning joining us in hour number two coming up in the middle.
um of the next hour Coming up next hour, I'll set the stage for tonight's Thursday night football contest. You know how I feel about the Ravens. The Dolphins, it's kind of do or die for them. As well, every week when you start one and six, this just did, right? And I have an update for you on the uh.
Conundrum of whether you take somebody to the game or not if they're rooting against actively the team you're rooting for. That's coming up. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast. Mm-hmm.
