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Seahawks Defense Event Leonard Williams. Monday night preview. And now, it's Rich Eisen. Hour number two, the Rich Edison Show is on the air. Hello, ESPN Radio, presented by a progressive insurance audience listening to us.
Sirius XM audience, hello to you. If you're listening to us on our podcast, we appreciate it. All three hours available at the same spot, you can listen to the latest episode of Overreaction Monday, recorded before the show, meaning recorded before we learned, as we did in about the last 20 minutes, that the New York Giants have parted ways with Brian Dayball.
So we've got a new interim coach in the National Football League, and it belongs to the New York Giants, Mike Kafka, the offensive coach that's been around there, Philadelphia as well. He's going to be taking the reins of the New York Giants, who lost in Chicago yesterday, despite leading 20 to 10 instead of 24 to 10, like Maybe Dayball would go back in time right now and try and go for a touchdown on the half-yard line rather than settling for a field goal. The Giants will be visiting, going back home to take on the Packers next before they go to Detroit and then a Thursday night visit to New England.
So that's only against a 5-2-1, 6-3 and 8-2 teams. Good luck, Mike Kafka, in that gig. 844204 Rich Number Dial Leonard Williams of the 7-2 Seahawks after boat racing. Arizona getting set to take on the equally now 7-2 Rams after they boat raced the 49ers in the spot where Super Bowl 60 is going to be going down. In February, 844-204-Rich.
Number 2DAO. We'll take your phone calls in a matter of moments. Don't you worry about all that.
So, I'm again fortunate to do what I do for living here and NFL Network and other. Opportunities that come my way, as you know. Um I'm able to uh globetrot calling games. Call you Metalark Rich. Thank you, sir.
I appreciate that. Oh, God. Metalark Isa. Metal Lark Lime. Oh, there you go.
Okay. Metal arc etrogue for those uh It's a Sukkot reference for all those non-Jews out there. Yeah, I don't know. Yeah. The Jews right now are pulling over their card laughing.
Let's see. I've been able to call and see a couple Chargers games in person. One of them I called. I called a Charger's Home victory in Brazil. And last night, as a spectator, I watched the Chargers road victory in Los Angeles.
Because that was a road game. Sure was. In the home of the Chargers last night. I don't care what they're, you know, with the bugles and first down and all the Charger PA guys screaming and yelling at me for four quarters. Look at that shot on the screen.
That's not Pittsburgh PA. That was SoFi Stadium on Sunday night. A lot of terrible towels out there. Dude. My buddy has charger tickets.
He texted us that he went to the bathroom and it was 40 Steeler fans and him. Honestly. Honestly. But The Chargers fans were the one last standing. And they're the ones who know: dude, you've got to beat the traffic.
You got to get going. There was one shot on the Oculus last night when it was. 22 to 3. Or 20, whatever the hell the score was at the time. And they showed the fans leaving en masse, and the Charger fans who were there were just giddy.
Excited. Because this team that is down there All-world left tackle, only to be replaced by their Terrific future right tackle moving to left tackle, and Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt, they're missing those guys. They They were the ones who were delivering the blows to the team that turned the Colts over six times last week and the Steelers. And the Steelers drew blood first with their serial killer of a kicker hitting one from the middle of the lightning bolt in the middle of the stadium. From 59, 60 yards out.
But Khalil Mack got things rolling for the Chargers with a sack safety of Aaron Rodgers beginning a very long night. For the Pittsburgh Steelers offense. Very long night. Steelers went 2 of 11 on third down. You are not winning football games.
Giving up a sack for a safety, unable to protect your quarterback, not getting the chunk plays down the field, and certainly putting your defense back on the field because you can't convert a third down for your life. Jalen Warren had another nice game, but Aaron Rodgers, it looked brutal last night. He couldn't do anything. And you got to tip the cap to the Chargers. on that front.
Because they watched the Broncos go to 8-2. And The Chiefs are sitting at home on a bye week at 5 and 4. Last thing you want to be, man. Coming out of this mix. is you're only a half game above the team that Or a game and a half, one game, let's put it this way: one game in the lost column.
Without putting more distance between you and the Chiefs after you beat them in week one and you've beaten everyone in your division.
So just keep winning these games. You've already won games in division. And win a game like this in the AFC. This is a massive win for the Chargers. Absolutely massive win for the Chargers, who are now seven and three as opposed to six and four.
Over the Chiefs. Had to have it. They are in the mix for this division 100%. And then the Steelers. Yeah.
I mean Even in week six, right, when they're four and one. coming off their bye after winning that game in Cleveland. or against Cleveland at home. And they're four and one. And the Ravens Lose to the Rams.
And they're all banged up, they're injured, they're one in five. Even at that point in time, there's still people saying, This is the Ravens division. Yeah. And The Steelers had a two and a half game lead. After week six, they're going to enter week 11 with a one-game lead.
That's it. And the Ravens offense is cooking. Even though they, you know, it's not easy against Minnesota. But the Ravens are now a game behind the Steelers. And the Steelers Win over the Colts, that just got erased.
By the Los Angeles Chargers last night. in front of the home faithful. And by that I'm referring to the Steelers fans who were there last night. Really? I mean, it's loud in that building.
It always is loud in that building because neither Los Angeles home team can let you sit in that stadium in silence for a split second. And I'm not talking about the fans. But I sound like an old man on the front lawn. I should not. Your text message did seem a little front lawnish.
I mean, listen, SoFi is an incredible stadium. Like, you go in there and it's like you're watching a game through VR goggles. It's unbelievable. But long story short, It is A wild Wildly missed opportunity by a Steelers team that could not do anything well last night. Other than, I guess, not even kick, right?
I mean, their kicker, their serial killer of a kicker, missed one, too. Which was a surprise. And Mike Tomlin was chippy with the media after the game, and I can't blame him. I'm not lacking confidence. I don't need a pat on the back.
We stunk it up tonight. We'll be back. I'm not trying to frame it in any way. I'm just telling you guys what happened. You guys write the narrative.
How would you assess error? How would you? Do you think you could have run the ball more often? Guys, like you 0 for 9 or 10 on third down, you're not going to have enough snaps. Like, we've been over that discussion a lot.
Next. A lot of next.
Something out of the uh Drew Rosenhaus uh Yeah. Press Conference Lexicon.
Next question. Um Rogers talked about He was a little bit off, is what he said. I've got to play better. I will. If it's better, checks, if it's better throws, whatever it is, I got to play better, I will.
Well, they have to. Because it's now a one-game difference. And I'll tell you what, you finish second place in this division, you might not make the playoffs. You may not make the playoffs. This may be a one-team situation.
Oh, and by the way. Guess who in the middle of this?
Soliloquy on the AFC North. is just returned to practice in a limited capacity. His name is Joe Burrow. Heard of them. There you go.
I knew he wasn't going to sit around and go, oh, we're 3-6. Oh, we might be 3-7. I'm not coming back. God bless, a doctor may step in. Mike Brown may step in.
I don't know what's going to happen. But Boy, have the Steelers had that four and one situation. Leading a Ravens team at one and five, and a Bengals team that was clearly. After Six weeks of this campaign struggling with Jake Browning.
Now they look towards Flacco. They've only won once since. This is now you'd look at the Ravens and. It was everybody could see it coming, right? The Ravens.
At one and five, coming off there by With Lamar coming back. Everyone's like, here we go. And then Snoop Huntley had a start. That win, that win with Snoop Huntley is something that we may be looking back towards the end of. This season, once the regular season in January hits, and then moving into the later parts of January, we may be talking about that win by Snoop Huntley coming out of the bye at home against Chicago.
Which that win only looks more and more impressive. Like we take a look at it in terms of college football terms, right? Victories that become stronger as another team begins to get stronger after you beat them. Um This is now two wins in a row with Lamar being back. The defense, though, that's the answer.
That's the one. The defense that in the First five games of the season. Giving up 37 points to Kansas City. That was their best. in terms of points allowed.
in those five games. And then the defense gave up 17 to the Rams. Puka did get hurt in that game, but it's still a Rams team that we've seen what Stafford's done since then. It's done nothing but throw touchdowns and no interceptions, and all they've done is keep winning. 16 points against the Bears, 6 against Miami, and 19 against The Vikings yesterday.
That's the win. And now they're at Cleveland and home for the Jets. And then they got Cincinnati. Who knows? Three weeks from now, if Joe's limited now, maybe they come back.
That would be amazing. Prime Video is basically begging for that to be. a burrow return game in week 13. If not, You'll see Borrow maybe week 15. Against the Ravens.
They've got two against the Ravens. The Ravens have two against Cincinnati and two against Pittsburgh left. Their next game is at Cleveland, which is announced. It's still Dylan Gabriel's show after the Browns lost to the Jets. Jets, who are now, by the way, 2-0 against Ohio and then winless against the rest of where football is played in America or internationally.
Somehow that makes you feel just a little bit. Oh, listen, you know, I love, you know, when.
Somebody can say, oh, we don't lose against Ohio. At any rate. I digressed. Tom Petty. But the Ravens.
This is kind of like right now playing out. Like one of those horror movies. And I know this is like the Steelers fans thinking this is a horror movie. It's like all those horror movies, it's just like, okay, listen. Don't you see the guy with the axe?
Standing right there in your shed. Why are you walking outside without your phone or no lights on? What are you doing? You know, the calls that are coming from within the house. Are you really going to go down to the basement by yourself knowing what's happening?
I mean, come on. You're walking to the basement in a movie with the words Halloween in the title. By yourself? Yeah. Don't you hear that noise with the hockey mask guy standing outside like he's Ashton Genty waiting for a handoff?
Could never be me. Listen. It's happening. It's happening. Everybody saw it coming.
Ravens are only a game out of first place, and Lamar Again. What do we we don't call it a balaclava? What are we calling this? Oh, a shyste. A shyste.
Okay. I mean, indoor shysty, outdoor shysties, 80-degree shysties. He's still wearing it because he's. He's coming for you with his shyste. Hit it.
Do you feel this team has turned a corner yet? Yeah, but um you know there's still a lot of ball left. You know we gotta stay locked in. Can't make a place or nothing like that. You know we gotta stay locked in.
You know, everyone's happy when they win, you know, but I feel like our who hasn't changed. You know, we still locked down, you know, still feel like we won the FACO, we still behind, you know, in our division.
So. We gotta like I said, can you get a place to stay locked down? Yeah, I look at him like I look sometimes at some of these guys in the gym here in Los Angeles, you know, with their pimples and spots that there shouldn't be pimples, and they're wearing these winter hats, working out. I'm like, listen, where I'm from, that's a necessity, not an accessory. You know, that's a cold weather gear.
I can't get over it. Why is he wearing it? He's playing a dollar? He just played indoors. I mean, the last time he did it was he played in South Florida.
That just might be a cultural thing because I'd be wearing scullies.
Okay. But that is a ski mask. That is like, it's zero degrees, and I need to feel my face after. You know what he does? You know what he does?
You know what? If you're the Ravens, it's just like... You be you, man. No ping pong tables, we get it. Long-term deal, we got it.
Because all he does is win football games with the win in Minnesota yesterday. He now has 73 wins in his first 100 career starts. His first 100th career start was in Minnesota. Look at the names he's on this list. Most quarterback wins in his first 100 career starts in NFL history.
He's fourth on the list. That win yesterday separated him from the snake, Ken Stapler. Once upon a time, as you know, studied plays from the light of a jukebox. I seek five Hall of Fame. Three behind Starback.
And Brady five behind Mahomes, and everybody on that list. Our Hall of Famers are future ones. How about that 73% win percentage for Lamar Jackson? Not bad for a converted receiver, right? Still waiting on Bill Polling, still waiting for that route tree to be.
By the way, guess what? They might be able, if Bill Polian, knock on wood, may he be so lucky, can one day be at that induction ceremony and be able to, as Lamar unveils his bust. with the jacket put on him. Uh say, yeah.
Sorry, Major. Say no to working out at the combine as something other than a quarterback. Is Lamar's bust going to have one of those? Is it the first time of a Shamsty bust? Why not?
By the way, that would be great. I can't believe these are words I'm saying. But hey, man, Lamar's shasty bus. Is there any question the Ravens aren't winning this division right now? Bueller?
Bueller? I wouldn't be stunned if they didn't. Like I said, the Steelers had a path, and that path has been blocked. No, no, it's not. But that's the point I'm trying to make.
It's not blocked and it's not over. But You're not feeling good about it. Would you bet you're firstborn? No, it would not. Definitely not his third.
Well, again, I told you, was it two, three weeks ago? Like, I look at the Ravens schedule and I don't know the next time I won't be picking against them. And it may be that game against the Patriots if the Patriots keep winning, but New England's got to go to Baltimore. Man, some old school stuff right there, right? John Harbaugh against the newest Patriot.
I'm not, you know, victory-laden team. That's the only where I'm going to go and call them right now for New England. But again, two against Cincinnati, two against Pittsburgh, and their next two are against Cleveland and the Jets, who I think it's amazing. For the second straight week, we saw the clocks turn back. One actual and one figurative.
Yeah. Browns of the Jets, turn back the clock. Remember my higher register? My higher register last week was that the Jets, despite everything that happened, were probably going to beat down the Browns.
Well, my higher register last week, the Jets are going to win more than you think. And his higher register is about Caleb Williams, right? Caleb Williams. Which is why, Del Tufo, you were wrong in going higher register about that. That was a good segment.
Because it really was. You don't have to go higher register about it. I love checking our work. Despite the fact how long it takes to get to that point, these honest. All right.
That's your AFC North update. Let's take a break. Your phone calls. When we come back, we'll talk about the Bears, Leonard Williams, and the Seahawks still to come here on this busy Monday. Yeah.
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Stop by O'Reilly Auto Parts today or visit us at O'ReillyAuto.com/slash Eisen. That's O'ReillyAuto.com/slash Eisen. ESPN Radio presented by Progressive Insurance, along with Disney Plus and the ESPN feed as well. We're live streaming every single day. Let's go to Michael in Arkansas.
You're here on The Rich Hisen Show. What's up, Michael? Beautiful. Rich, I'm doing, I guess, okay. I thought I was gonna end up jumping off a building last night after watching my Steelers.
Looking like the sixties. I'm sorry to hear that, but you seem oh you seem in good spirits this morning though, Michael. I'm getting better as I go along. Once I had my cup of coffee and And sitting here relaxing in 25-degree weather, but uh I have a serious question for you, Richard. Sure.
It's been a couple of years since I've spoken to you.
Okay. Do you still think Tomlin should be our head coach. Why are you looking at me like that, Chris? Why are you looking at me? I'm just, you know, awaiting your response.
Chris knows. What does he know, Micah? He knows. What does he know? Um I know what you know.
Let's put it this way. I think he's a Hall of Fame head coach. I think he is remarkable at plugging into the athlete. I think he is remarkable. Yeah.
Taking the passion for football and instilling it in a team. Um And I think that If this falls apart, I wouldn't be surprised if the Steelers finally say, let's figure something out. And then Tomlin shows up somewhere else. Like the Giants. And let me ask you if I may.
The Giants wouldn't be a bad spot. I think Tomlin is 100% going to be a coach in this league for as long as he wants to be. But I totally understand that Steeler fans are like, we're done with seeing something that has flashes of excellence in the regular season only to wane prior to the playoffs. This wane is now the middle of the season, but we are still, let's be honest, eight days removed. One week ago, we were talking about how the Steelers looked terrific and the Colts.
Uh maybe uh they turn him back into a pumpkin and the reverse happened. And I'm telling you, last night was a home game. Last night was 100% a home game for the Steelers, and they just blew it. And you but you gotta take it back to the to the Chargers, though. But we're the Steelers have become the retirement home.
Wilson last year. Aaron Rodgers this year, I mean, if we can get him to stop burning the incense out there and maybe come alive a little bit. We might have something. Every throw, and again, I get it. It was just last night, and he's done some good things, but come on.
I I mean, do we not have Will Howard? On our team? Oh, well, he was hurt. No, you're not turning to Will Howard nor Mason Rudolph, which was brought up by Chris. I'm assuming tongue a little bit in cheek because it was an overreaction Monday subject matter on our podcast.
And thanks for the call, Michael. It's just, it's Rogers. Like, that's what the Jets did for two years. It's Rogers's, you put your eggs in that basket, which is why I would have gone ahead and gotten another receiver in the trade deadline. Tech with the fourth, fifth, or sixth round draft choice.
Let's go. I mean, let's go. They're clearly missing a gear on offense. I don't know why he can't connect with DK Metcalf in the same way that. You know, he did on occasion with Garrett Wilson.
I don't know why that is. I have no idea. But something just isn't working. It's not clicking. A little bit off, is what Rogers called himself on Sunday night.
And the next final. Eight games are a measuring stick, as they should be. It is the National Football League. The good news is that you're going to finish up your series with Cincinnati prior to Joe Burrow returning, which our friend Jay Glazer just tweeted out from Fox that he is expecting Joe Burrow's 21-day window that just opened in the early parts of this hour. Um For him to return from it.
Which means in the next three weeks, you're going to see Joe Burrow, and that might be a week 13 Cincinnati date. against San Francisco uh pardon me against Baltimore on that Thanksgiving night, by the way. You think NBC's rooting for that one? on Thanksgiving night that borrow returns on Thanksgiving night. Just in time to potentially save that season again, if their season is savable.
And then after that, you send Rogers to Chicago and hope that he finds that magic there again, which wouldn't be surprised if he did. Home against Buffalo, which at this point in time could be hit or miss on which Bills team shows up. Is it the one that beat the Chiefs? The one that smoked the Carolina Panthers, or the ones that just got beat? In Miami.
similar to the way that they God beat in Atlanta. Which one is that going to show up? And then you do have a Monday night home date against Miami, where I imagine Mike McDaniels will look as cold as they always do whenever they're on the road. At Detroit before two home dates, let's go. I mean.
You're not making a change. You're not going to. Um Mason Rudolph or Will Howard. It just isn't it. You've got a guy neck up who's one of the best ever.
And if physically he can do the stuff like he did against Cincinnati in Cincinnati to win that game. Or against the Colts to win that, help win that game on the defensive side, finally catching up to what the. offense was doing with Rodgers Then you can win more games. This might be a little bit knee-jerk, but it does look like the Ravens are coming to try and take him straight out. And if the Ravens go from one and five to beat a team that went from four and one or whatever they are.
Maybe it is time for the Steelers to sit down with Tomlin and say. Where do you want to go? Because we'll let you set that up. Certainly, if the Giants are raising their hands saying, we'll take you, Mike Tomlin, you can coach up that defense and let's find the offensive coordinator for Dart. Just as an example.
Ripped straight from the headlines of hour number two of this week 10 Monday edition of the Rich Eisen Show. Alan Dallas, what's up, Albert? Ian, I'm in right now for what you said. I mean, we've had seven coaches since Tom Lunt's been in Pittsburgh. It's It's got to stop.
I mean, it has to stop. We need to bring a legitimate head coach in there. to run to help run this organization that knows what the hell he's doing. Uh this is insane. Um I mean, that defense, if I told you in the beginning of the year You know, and I was playing tongue-in-cheek when I put my prediction, but in the beginning of the year, that defense plays with zero heart.
Zero. They, I mean, it's embarrassing how poor that defense played. And I don't want to see Jackson Dart. Jackson Dart has nothing to prove. Jackson Dart's good to go.
He's legit. He's the reason why he wants to come here. I don't want to see that kid on the field for the rest of the year. I mean, you just put them in harm's way. It's just insane.
And I like Dave Ball too, but man, we need a lockdown professional. Immediately. And if the Pittsburgh Steeler fans, who've been whining and complaining since they hired this guy in 2007, if they want to fire him, We'll take him. In a heartbeat. It's crazy.
Well, I mean, if you appreciate the two cents, Alan obviously won't want to hear from you as we've, you've, you've been one of our. Regular since day one. Thanks for the call. I mean, that's a giant fan right there. Who would take it?
Tommy and a heartbeat. And I know, again, this is middle of the season, and it's stirring something up. And I know Tom doesn't want to hear any of this stuff, and I'm sure he's just sitting in his Film room or his office or whatever going about his business to get ready for the Cincinnati Bengals next. Because they need to win that game, and they do. They're six and four.
They've split with the Bengals, and then they. Move merrily forward. into the teeth of their November and December schedule. But I will just say this. Giants have an opening.
And The giants and the Steelers owners sit next to each other at every owners' meeting. Every owners meeting. They are tight. There's a reason why one of the actresses from the Mara family's first name is Rooney. By the way.
Yep.
So That will only intensify if the Steelers start to fall apart, or they just stumble into the playoffs, or they get to the playoffs and don't win. or they stumble and don't make the playoffs, that'll be the conversation to be had. What about Bill? Belichick? For the Giants?
Yeah. Let me ask you a question, Chris. And I'm saying this with the ultimate of respect, and I know I'm going to be getting and stepping in a direction. Let me ask you this. Would you want to hand a young quarterback off to him?
and say, oh, who are you going to get for him? Joe Judge? I'm going to get Patricia stopped being the defensive coordinator for the first overall rank Buckeyes, bring him in. I mean, I understand, like, that would be amazing. As the GM and ownership group, you say, hey, Bill, this is going to be our OC.
Why not have Bill for a couple years? I'm sure Bill is looking and get the ship back on track. The Giants have been awful this decade. They need someone to write this thing. Chance to come home, give Bill a chance to save face with the way his career has gone the last few years.
And I know they love Bill. I mean, who doesn't in New Jersey? Who doesn't for Giants fans? And he is still the greatest of all time. Yeah.
But he's going to be a Hall of Famer. No, he will be. You'll have a Hall of Famer on the sideline. But as a Patriot fan, would you counsel the Giants to do that? Yes or no?
Yes or no? Yes, with a caveat that he does not get to choose who the OC is for the young quarterback. Why would you ever put any sort of thing on Bill Belichick? Like, this is the way we want you to do it. If he wants to coach in the NFL again and get the all-time record, you say, Bill, this is how it's got to be.
Interesting, if Tomlin says no. I don't know why Tommy would say no if things fall apart there and you have to sit there and wonder, you know what? I could be the coach of the Giants for a long time to come. And and I have I am part of an or like, and honestly, you got to take stock. You sit there and go.
I don't know. Again, I shouldn't say this sort of thing because there's so much of a personal aspect of it. I think he's now an empty nester. He must love living in Western PA, all of that stuff. There's a personal thing to this.
But just a football-wise sort of thing, we just had a a caller from Arkansas, a Steeler fan, talk about why are we constantly in the geriatric mode of the quarterback spot. Jackson Dart is a massive Plus for this job. Massive. Massive. Scataboo neighbors.
The high draft choice, defense that can get after it. Get after it with young, young people getting after it. There's a lot of reasons to take this giant's job. over other ones that are going to be open. Yeah, there's going to be at least, what, four or five others usually.
There's always in that six to eight number each year. I want to take a moment here before we take a break. Um Paul Taglebu passed away. on Sunday. And this one hit me personally.
Um Because He was one of the first people I met. After I was hired, To host the NFL network. As a matter of fact, in our green room, hung up in there is a letter I received when I lived on the Upper West Side of Manhattan from Paul Tagley Boo A welcome aboard. Letter. from him.
I saved everything, the piece of paper and the envelope, because it kind of felt big when I was hired by NFL Network in 2003 after being handed a cardboard box by our current Rich Eisen Show benefactors. Up in Bristol, Connecticut. Um just about eight days before I got married. And so, if you don't mind putting it back up there, Mike, he hand-wrote out. At the end, most important for now, in parentheses, he wrote.
And the long-term exclamation point: congratulations on your marriage to Susie. who he had never met. by that point. A personal touch from the Commissioner of the National Football League. And Obviously.
The NFL network is not born without Paul Tagliabou's stewardship. And I'll never forget we're in our first year, I think, of NFL Network. There was an Irish bar down the street from our studio in, um, in uh in Culver City. And After A show, Tagliaboo showed up. He was, by the way, the first ever A guest in the history of NFL Network.
We interviewed him and showed him how he is in the top. Five or ten rebounders in the history of Georgetown basketball. He was a tall man who played hoops for Georgetown. Before, obviously, he became what he became, a lawyer and then the commissioner of the NFL for 17 years. And I remember going with him, Joe Brown, who was the keeper of the flame at his right-hand man, and also the COO of the time, his eventual successor, Roger Goodell.
We all went. With the crew after an NFL total access to the Irish bar. And the bartender and the people there were so excited to have the commissioner of the NFL in there, they handed him a shillale. There's a photograph of Taglibu holding a shillale and just cutting loose as only one would think he could. That's as far as I've ever seen him cut loose.
Um And then, just again, his stewardship of the NFL network is so crucial. part of the 17 years highlighted by Very important. Items on his to-do list. Expanding the league from 28 to 32 teams if you're a fan of the Panthers. the Jaguars, the Texans.
Or the Cleveland Browns. He's the one that. Expanded to those spots, including giving Cleveland its franchise back. Let's not forget he was the one. when 9-11 happened.
That He was the one who canceled the games. that weekend, and everybody was looking for his leadership to what do we do? What do we do? A lot of other sports leagues were like, what do we do? The NFL canceled its games, and then a bunch others did follow suit.
If you're a fan of the Saints, you still have a team because this man refused to let Katrina blow the Saints off the NFL map from New Orleans. I'll never forget. NFL Network, we were there that night when the Superdome reopened on a Monday night. We all will remember what happened in that game. That was when Steve Gleason blocked a punt.
There's a statue in front of the stadium that still holds the saints because it told Paul Tagley moved from that night. The moving of the Super Bowl. Man, there was just so much that he helped with us at NFL Network and. you know 17 years, no labor stoppages. This is after two strikes in 82 and 87.
This handshake came at an owner's meeting that we were covering here. He was so welcoming to all of us at NFL Network. We worked at his uh large S and back and call and And I'll never forget I asked him once. One of the first things I did prior to NFL Network launching Is he brought a contingent of NFL folks to Lambeau Field for the opening of the 2003 season? NFL Network didn't come on the year till week 11.
of the O three season. And um He was leading a contingent to Lambeau Phil because they had just renovated. And um Dante Culpeper spoiled the party. Never forget Joe Brown. Yeah.
I love you, Joe. He said to me, He goes, Rich, sitting next to Taglabo, he goes, So. Vikings beating the Packers. Did that. Knock you out of your survivor pool?
And I'm like, Joe, I don't. I don't know what you mean. Because he was asking me if I was gambling in front of the NFL commissioner, and Taglibu laughed at that. But I did ask Taglibu on that flight home. I asked him.
because he invited me to come with them. which was very welcoming again. Um He didn't have to do that. And I asked him, I said, you know, you came up through the ranks as a lawyer for Washington. And you were a seasoned ticket holder.
Do you still have your season tickets? And he said no, because when he took the job From Pete Rozelle, Rozell told him That you never you no longer have one team in mind. You have all teams in mind. And the only team you root for as Commissioner is the team that's losing. Because you want close games.
And I'll never forget that. Is basically he's just like. It's all about These games The competition. and what's going on on the field. Obviously there's lots of the business acumen I'm sure I was not privy to.
And we do all know what was going on with concussions at the time. And he even said at the end of his career, he regretted a lot of the things. that he was saying on that front while he was commissioner for 17 years, and I'm sure this some folks listening to me. Right now, saying I should be mentioning that. And he talked about it himself.
But he was always about the shield. He was always for us at NFL Network. My God, without him. There wouldn't be one. Up the road.
And for that, I say thank you. I'm forever in his debt there. And to his wife Chandler, his son Drew, his daughter Emily, his extended family, and of course his National Football League family. I say, rest in peace. Paul Taglebu passed away at the age of 84 on Sunday.
The Rich Heisen Show, the podcast. Rich Arzen here for Sonos, the speakers that bring every game to life in 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. Setup is easy.
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You need to have separate rooms playing music. All right? I'd imagine. I'm just saying, just to keep the peace.
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Sonos, they look as good as they sound.
So listen, blowout's galore, right? Yeah, late games for sure. There wasn't a blowout with Houston coming back from 19 down on Jacksonville. Right. The Bears coming back from 10 down on the Giants.
There's also a A nice game, tight game between the Patriots and the Bucs that we talked about to lead this show. But in terms of Intensity and in terms of excitement and in terms of the whole country kind of sitting down to watch. How about the big noon? Game on Fox. Where Indiana put its undefeated record on the line trying to win for the first time in Happy Valley, which desperately needed a win with their interim head coach.
And they come back from double digits down to take the lead. And Guys. This catch by Omar Cooper Jr. of Fernando Mendoza's. Perfectly thrown ball.
I mean, he was Mendoza was so on point in this final drive. It was amazing. Was so spectacular, but this catch. in the back of the end zone, high pointing it. And then getting his.
Look, did he get both feet down? I thought that as well. I'm like, dang, this was an NFL legit catch. But he wasn't. He got one.
He got one. That's all he needed. People are saying he got two. Just let me give it up. He looked like he.
Let me give it up. Give it up to Penn State for giving Indiana a game. Give it up to Indiana for. Coming back after blowing the lead. Give it up to The quarterback who was so dynamite.
Gus Johnson, when he finally got his voice back, said, Give him the Heisman now, which I'll be honest with you, even as a Wolverine. I'm just saying. That's not done yet.
Okay. Because Julian is pretty amazing. Yeah. And Jeremiah Smith, too. But this kid Mendoza was awesome.
And that catch was amazing. And all I could think of was this. Let's just say I'm not trying to speak this into existence. Let's just say Ohio State does beat Michigan for the first time since 2019.
Okay. In the big house. Which is uh a distinct possibility, to be very honest. There's a chance.
So Indiana and Ohio State being undefeated. are going to play a meaningless game. which the Big Ten championship now is.
So, one of these undefeated teams will go into the playoffs. Awful loss. and not undefeated. And I don't want to hear, like, hey, it's for a bye week or it's for seeding or any of that stuff. Because the equivalent would be this.
Last year, the Lions and the Vikings played each other for the top seed, the winning of the division, and. going into the or going into the playoffs as A road team. And this would in effect be that. Yep.
But last year, the Lions and Vikings had to play because it was on their schedule. This is just like, let's do it so we can rake in more cash in a system that has now made such games fully Antiquated. And let's Give a team that's sitting at home. Oh light up! Let's show them Indiana and Ohio State spilling their guts out.
before you may have to play one of them. As a more defrayed team because they've played one more game and you didn't make your conference championship, but you still make the playoffs. You get to sit at home. You get to not put a thing on the line. You get to put nothing on tape on film.
At all. It's so stupid. And that's coming down the pike. That's possible. Why make Indiana like if Indiana plays Ohio State undefeated?
Now you've got a playoff in which to do it.
Now you put it for all the marbles. And whoever wins stays undefeated and maybe wins at all. The Rich Heises Show Podcast. Mm-hmm.
