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Now, on with the show. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the Rich Eisen Show. Oh, look at Steve Curry. Oh, Steve, don't get thrown out. English.
Live from the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles. You look at the top picks, except for the Jets are on to a new coach. Earlier on the show. Pro Football Hall of Famer Bill Cower. Fox Sports NFL analyst Mark Schlerin.
Coming up. Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham. And now, it's Rich Eisen. Hour number three of the Rich Eisen Show is on the air. Always love having Bill Cower on the program, as we did in hour number one.
I go way back with him, like a car seat to Thursday night football and On NFL Network, when it was a CBS product for a couple of years, and he was the first coach to ever stop by the NFL Network set after a Super Bowl win, because Bill Belichick went right past us the first two years. Bob Kraft stopped by with the trophy. But so I've known Bill for a very long time. Schlerith, I've known for 20 plus years as well. Our next guest, I've never met, but he has no idea.
He's my best friend forever. My new BFF coach of Michigan football. Ladies and gentlemen, Kyle Wittingham is here on the program. How are you doing, coach? I'm doing good, Rich.
How are you doing? Are you aware that we're best friends forever? Are you aware of that? I am now. Very good.
And friendship accepted. How about that? Fantastic. I have committed to you in the friendship portal. I'd say I've committed.
I'm all in. I'm all in. And I come free. I come free too. I work cheap as a friend.
That's refreshing. That's very refreshing.
Okay, are you you finally got your breath and your legs under you? Coach, what do you think? For last year, yeah, it's been a whirlwind, you know, drinking from a fire hose, obviously, the first few weeks. But things are starting to get settled in. We've got all our new early enrollees in here.
We'll get going in the weight room next week. And as soon as that happens, then everything is business as usual. All right. If you don't mind, I want to hit a little bit of the Wayback Machine here to way back in mid-December. Um, you know, and I'm sure you've heard this from a bunch of Michigan folk like myself.
That are basically throwing themselves at you, thankful that you are in our world. My hair was on fire, whatever my remaining hair was on fire, based on everything that was going on. And then I read on my phone an alert that you were leaving Utah. Retiring, and I'm like, wait a minute, what in the world is this? Because I immediately thought.
There could be some sort of rescue plan for our program through you. Were you still thinking of coaching on that day that I'm reading this on my phone? I was. I felt like I had some gas in the tank, and that's why I didn't use the word retire. You know, it was a step-down situation at Utah.
I just felt the time was right. You know, we're coming off a really good year, and I've been there a long time and felt that maybe it was time for the program to have a new voice, a new leader. We had named our defensive coordinator Morgan Scally, the coach in waiting, probably about a year and a half prior to that.
So I thought, hey, you know, let's end on a positive and not be that guy that wears out as a welcome.
Okay, and so in that regard, were you reaching out to Michigan? At that point, I don't know what the first contact was through my agent. And so it was shortly thereafter when I stepped down that he said, Hey, do you have interest in Michigan? And I said, Who wouldn't? I mean, it's a top-five job in the country.
And really, you can count on one hand the number of schools that I would have been interested in because I was not completely bent and determined that, hey, I got to keep coaching. But for the right situation, I was more than willing to listen. And this is absolutely the right situation here. Why do you think? Why is it a right situation?
Michigan. It's Michigan. Like I said, a top five job, excellent athletes, phenomenal tradition, resources. You got it all here. I mean, I was strolling through the building there just back in October, brought my youngest son to the game against Wisconsin.
And I I mean, the facilities there are nothing like they used to be. It's beautiful. There's a lot going on there. And I'm wondering what you thought of also when you saw you and your wife walk through the big house after you came away. You went through Chrysler watching the Hoops team.
You went across the street and went in the football stadium. What was striking you when you walked in there?
Well, just what I said, tradition. The place reeks of tradition. It's one of the most traditional programs, if not the most, in the country. The big house, we've played there three times actually during my time at Utah. But to see it in that setting, with nobody there, it's an awesome sight.
The Chrysler Arena was incredible. The basketball team, man, what more can you say about them? Number one in the country. And I get to go to the hockey game this weekend. I'm the puck dropper.
I'm the honorary puck dropper for the number one hockey team in the country.
So we'll play in Notre Dame Friday and Saturday night, so I'm fired up about that.
Well, I mean, it's not too far from your office. Yost Ice Arena is just across the parking lot right there. And that's one of the greatest barns, by the way, anywhere. If anybody wants to ever see a hockey game in an old school barn, that's one of them. Kyle Whittingham of Michigan football here on the Rich Eisen Show.
And last night, again, I'm just so happy sometimes when I'm looking at my phone, which I'm not supposed to do with my children being around, but I saw Bryce Underwood post. He's staying. What was your conversation with the kid, Coach?
Well, you know, he was the first guy I met with. I went down to the bull site when they were down in the Citrus Bowl and sat down with Bryce. What a great kid. What a young man, I guess, and what a great attitude. He was saying all the right things.
And I just had a good feeling at that time that, you know, he was more than likely going to return with us. And made it official last night. And that gives us a great start on retention and trying to make as many of the players here in the program as we can stick with us. And again, I'm going to ask you a development question here. Even though he's just committed to stay, and you've only seen him with your own two eyes, I imagine, once, and that was that bowl game against Texas.
How can you coach him up? How can you get him to the point where, again, I watched him against Ohio State. It didn't seem like, to be honest with you, he was seeing the field very well. It was a big-time environment, as we all know. Know he's used to that.
He's used to the bright lights since he was a prep star. How can you coach him up? What do you see there that you can do?
Well, that's our job. The raw talent is the, you know, the ceiling is so high. Jason Beck, our offensive coordinator, is an absolute master at developing the quarterback. He played quarterback. The quarterbacks that he has trained and worked with have all had success.
Devin Dampier last year was a tremendous player for us. He ended up eighth or ninth in the country in QBR.
So he's in good hands here at Michigan. I can promise you that. And Jason will make sure we smooth out some of the mechanics and some of the things that he does need to work on.
So what is that? Honestly, I really would love to get in the nitty-gritty footwork? I mean, what are you seeing? What have you seen on the ground? A little bit of footwork, a little bit of spine angle, the processing, going through the progression.
Now, one thing about Jason's scheme, it's very user-friendly. You don't have to immerse yourself in it for a couple of years before you get it. I mean, there's not much of a learning curve, but yet it's effective. We were, what, fifth in the nation last year in total O, fourth in scoring O, second in rushing O. He knows exactly what he wants to do and how to get there.
And in this day and age of the portal, we have so many new guys. You better have a very user-friendly system on both sides of the ball. You can't be complicated anymore. You got to plug in 40, 50 new guys, and they better be able to help and contribute right away. And if you've got too much thinking going on, that's not a good situation.
Defensively, what are we looking at? Four down front, a 4-2 nickel setup, which is what 90% of the people base out of these days. You know, it's geared towards 11 personnel. If we go to 12 personnel, then we go ahead and jump into a 4-3 and we substitute with the offense. But it bases out of that 4-2-5 scheme.
Okay. And what sort of style can we expect here? Again, I know what the University of Utah has done, but Big Ten country, is it any different, or really it's just we're We're still talking about a football field that's 100 yards long and things of that nature. The latter, exactly that. A lot of pressure, a lot of man coverage, mix in some zone pressures, a little bit of split safety look, and there you have it.
And Jay Hill, our coordinator, I recruited him at Utah, was an outstanding player there, finished playing, wanted to become a GA. We hired him on as a GA, finished his GA stint, and we had a full-time spot, hired him for that, and he just kept working his way up through the ranks. His last three years, he was down in Provo at BYU and did a phenomenal job with their defense. And he's from my tree and played in our scheme. And the scheme has been tweaked a little bit along the way, but the real essence of it has stayed intact.
Okay. And you are aware, again, I understand your background here. You are aware you're not allowed to like Urban Meyer anymore. You're not allowed. It's not cool.
It's just not cool. I better cancel my date with him on the podcast and I'm going to be on his podcast. I'll have to. To break the news to him, well, it wouldn't be news to him that I would say that to you. That is for sure.
I mean, but that's, I understand you go way back like a car seat, but this is this is different now. You know what I mean? Like, uh, is there anything else that could help you with the culture? How can I help you? How can I help you?
Well, coming from the rivalry that I just came from, saying go blue was not real natural, but now it's become second nature. Yeah, you got to do that. Have you learned the victors yet? Have you learned the fights on it? Yes, I've been studying it.
I can't verbatim say it word for word. Understood. You know, it's hail to the victors. Valiant. Yeah, I did.
Okay, Hell to the Conquering Heroes. You got this. We played it around the clock when we played Michigan those three times when I was the Did you really? To get your team ready for the non-stop marching band music and things of that nature. Exactly.
It must have worked because we were 3-0 against them. That's awesome.
So are you going to play the Ohio State? Fight song now? Is that the same thing? Are you going to do that or what? We may do that.
We may do, you know, we always have a little something up our sleeve, but that probably will be in the equation at some point.
Okay. And again, I know I'm stooping you down to my level. It's called Little Brother. That's Michigan State, right? You got that.
You got to refer to them as Little Brother. Or, by the way, let me do you this favor. Because you're a high-class guy, I shouldn't be having you stoop down to my level here. But referring to Ohio State as Ohio. Really pisses them off.
That's just one way where if you refer to them as Ohio, not Ohio State. That really gets them upset. Gotcha. More so than the team down south.
Well, I mean, we can still say their name. You know, like they're the ones who. Who can't wear blue and X out the letter M. They're the children, basically. We're the adults in the room, is what I'm saying.
Okay, that, and if you come at it from that point of view, you can still maintain your class and just say to people, What are you so upset about? I'm the classy guy here, you know what I mean? Like, that's a way to go about it. That's one way to do it. Um, do you like deli food?
Do you like deli food? I love deli food.
Okay, you've heard of Zingerman's in town. I have, and they were gracious enough to give me a $50 gift certificate when I first got on campus. I'm doubling that. I'm doubling that. I would love for you to have free deli food on me, Kyle.
All right, okay, if I may be, if I may be so, I don't know if I've just did I commit a violation. I hope I didn't come. I don't want to get you in trouble. We're good with that. Yeah, okay.
Um, uh, and do you like um uh Philly cheesesteaks? There's Mr. Spots. I love a good Philly cheesesteak. Mr.
Spots. I've taken Chris there. Chris, you've been to Mr. Spots. I have been.
It was fantastic.
Okay, there's another, you've got to go there. They would love to have you. What else? Have you spoken? Have you spun the cube yet?
Have you done that? Have you spun the cube? Not familiar with it. There's a cube that's right next to the Michigan Union. You spin it, and it starts the university.
At least that's the. That's the uh the theory, you know.
So, okay, so this is the way all right, listen. Uh, I cannot um. tell you what sort of calming influence you've had. I literally was able to sleep better. When you took the job.
Have you sensed that from Michigan fans that you've come across? I got a feel for that, yes. I got a feel that it's time to put all the drama aside and get back to the business of just football and winning football games. And these players should be commended for the. Drama, for lack of a better word, that they've experienced the last three or four years, you know, to go 9-3 this past season.
And, you know, they've handled it very well, and they're to be commended. All right. And I'd be remiss if I didn't ask you again of your deep pass. You played for the Los Angeles Rams in 1987. Scab ball.
Scab ball. Yeah.
Well, but you played for the Rams. And I don't know if it made the rounds. That your teammate was Sug Knight. Is that true? That is true.
Now, I don't know. You know, I'm not an internet guy. I'm not a rapper. I don't know what exactly that means. But yeah, that's him right there.
There, you see him right there on the right. Yes. You and he have taken different career paths to 2026. Just put it that way. But any you like that, TJ?
You see any recollections of being a teammate of Shug's back in the day? Zero recollection.
Okay. Very good. Well, I just had to throw that out there. But do you still have the neck roll? from back in the day?
You know what it is? It's in a duffel bag somewhere in my garage.
Okay. Well, we'll take that. If you want to autograph that, we'll take it for our man cave out here or anything, you know? Because you know where BFF's now. I don't know if you're aware of that.
Right. I accepted that. Yeah, I'm good with that.
Well, I am a Michigan man of my word. I was told I would get you off the show at 15 minutes past the hour. I've got eight seconds left. I don't want to take up another second of your time because I might feel like I'm stunting the growth of the program.
So thanks for the time. Appreciate you, Rich. Thank you for having me on. I thank you for taking the job. I welcome you and your family to the University of Michigan, if I may have the temerity to be such, to welcome you.
Um and go blue, sir. There you go, go blue. As Kyle Whittingham, everybody, the head coach of the University of Michigan football. As he goes off and says goodbye, and he looks healthy and happy. And I'm thrilled about all that.
Good. There he goes. As he should be. On time. On time.
Yeah.
How do you think? How are you feeling? Oh, I'm ecstatic. Here's what I feel now after learning the Sug Night thing, Chris. I feel like someone's got to show, maybe Bryce someone's got to show coach the Sug's Sug Source Award video, right?
And then he goes and recruits, and he can just use that same line: you know, come to Michigan. If you don't want to coach all up in the video, in the video, dancing. You know, you don't want your coach all up on TikTok making Instagrams. Come to Michigan. Like it.
I'm sold. Cosine. I'm in. We should we're gonna we're gonna take this clip and send it. And then they could do the other shirt things like maybe hold somebody by their steep.
Nope, no, no, no, no. I was thinking more like top hat. He could wear blue. Yeah.
You know, you know what I mean? Suge Knight and Kyle Whittingham were on the same Rams team during the strike of 1987. Who would have thunk it? Not me. Different career paths in 2017.
You like that one? There's a certain delicate way to put it. There is. Listen, I don't want anything going wrong or sideways with this man. Certainly, not anything that comes from his appearance on this program.
And I just wanted to get deep into. the nitty-gritty about what is his plan for Bryce Underwood. That's what I want. And then I want him to understand what he means to all of us here in the University of Michigan World. And at the end of the day.
This urban Meyer friendship, it just got to go. It's gotta go. No, it's going to go on his podcast.
Okay. Sounds good. But that's the beautiful part about this thing, too. is that all the Ohio State fans Or the Ohio fans. All of 'em.
They know we got the right guy.
Now, can we win football games? I don't know. But in terms of all the holy heck that had broken loose when we were in New York City. Oh, man. I was a basket case.
That was crazy. I laid it all out on the air. You know, I just. That's my default. Whenever there's something that's emotional, I'll just show the emotion.
I mean, that's my default. That was a wild night. Yeah.
And then a wild day, and then the next day, and then we're wondering what the hell's happening and who are we going for. Thank goodness. But he w he It made it seem like he was retiring. And he was done. And he's like, no, I was thinking of coaching on the spot.
And I'm glad w we uh we landed on him. And he landed on or with us. And he knows good deli food. 50 bucks. Was that a sandwich?
Like two sandwiches for him and his wife? We put a couple zeros on him? What are you talking about? What are we doing? Fifty bucks.
But you're doubling it. I am. I'm sending that right now. Who are you saying? I thought it's the commercial break.
General to the SI, to the sports information director? No, it's Shem Beckler Hall.
Okay. I know where his office is. That's true. I forgot to go. Again, it's across.
If you walk out the back, there's Chrysler, and after that is the football stadium. And if you want to. Walk out the front door past Bose's statue. There's Yost Ice Arena. I've got to take you to Michigan.
I took him once. You're not allowed. I've had a great time. I've been in the big house. But you're not allowed.
You're not allowed. You're not allowed. They didn't beat Michigan when I saw him. You're not allowed. Be in the big house.
Yeah, it's a kid. It was 10 years ago this fall. What was us going to Michigan? Was it really? 10 years ago.
That's right. Remember, you had me speak to the team and I blacked out. September 16. 10 years. Woof.
Damn. It's time for you to go. Yeah.
I went back with Coop in Big House is great. But you didn't speak to the team that time, did you? No. Yeah, so I'm saying that. No, no, no.
I just went as a civilian. You're no civilian. I was an honorary captain. You're a civilian. Jim invited us to hang with the team and watch 8-mile.
We did. We watched 8 Mile with the team before. Eight with the team. We did Movie Night. Right.
That's pretty cool. It was awesome. And then you remember the game against Central Florida. It was raining. We got these cool Jumpman jackets.
And Central Florida went ripped off this run on their first possession of the game. And that's when it first hit me: like, oh, we're not, we can't lose with me being in the honorary captain. Yeah, that's bad. That can't happen. Is it me?
But it was kind of over after that. And it was. Yeah.
All right. Memory lane.
Okay. I'm just ecstatic. Can I talk about Kyle Whittingham all day? Sure. It is the Rich Eisen show.
All right. We'll take a break. It's over Fox. Hey. Coming at you.
Maze and blue, but this whole business of liking urban gotta work on that. Uh The Rich Eisen Show Podcast. If you're ready for an oil change, trust the professional parts people at O'Reilly Auto Parts to recommend the best products for your vehicle. Right now, get five quarts of Valvoline full synthetic motor oil and a Wix filter for $35.99 and receive a $15 O'Reilly gift card after rebate. Upgrade to a Wix XP oil filter for just $2 more.
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Hopefully, for you. I need a cigarette, and I don't smoke. Kenny in Massachusetts is here on the Rich Eisen Show. What's up, Kenny? Oh good.
Hello, good afternoon, Rich. I'm calling 'cause I'm a Dolphins fan and I have an idea for how to solve the Tua tobacle. Tua debacle. By the way, the Tua Bacle is what you're saying. The Tubacle.
That wasn't me trying, that's me being dumb. Anyway. I think that something I have not seen suggested is something that's rare in the NFL, but it's happened with the Brock Oswalder trade, right? Trade him and a valuable asset. And I really I can't think of a player that I'd honestly put on no trade list for that or a pick.
Um, I'm looking at the top two like the top teams with cap space. My eye catches the Raiders and the Rams, right, who have $180 million respectfully. Raiders, right? Maybe they say, hey, you know, for whatever reason, not that I would say this, they don't want Mendoza or Kenny. Let me stop you.
Let me stop you, Kenny, because you seem like a nice guy. Nobody's trading for Tua. Uh who who would do that? Who would say we will take that contract on even if they send assets? Which, by the way, I understand you said Brock Osweiler.
Don't forget. The Rams sent assets with Jared Goff for Stafford. You know, that was the ultimate, like, oh my God, Goff's career is over because they had to throw in draft choices with Goff for Stafford. 'Cause Goff's contract was so significant The Lions needed that to take it on, but golf was. At least in a Super Bowl, man.
I mean, Goff at least stared down my homes on a Monday night football game and won it. You know, and that was before the offense began to explode. I mean, golf. showed the ability that we've yet to see from Tour. To be very honest with you, And thanks for the call, Kenny, in Massachusetts, just to set this thing up.
I mean For sure. Tua is a talented guy, but at this point in time, he's insanely expensive. And I don't know what the answer is going to be, but that's for the new general manager to figure out. Certainly, when two is open to the idea of leaving. I mean, this quote has made the rounds.
I don't think he made it on camera. We scoured it to look for it everywhere, and I haven't even seen it on the SPN site either. When asked if he wanted a fresh start after the events of this season, I guess he was in front of his locker yesterday. Quote: That would be dope. I would be good with it.
And just to make sure that, you know. Everybody heard him right. Apparently, the Miami Herald or a reporter reached out to him. asking him if he was referring to a fresh start with another team. Uh he confirmed.
That's what I mean. Didn't go so far as that he said he would request a trade. You know, but it's obvious when they bunch him for the final three games of a season, it's like we're done here because we don't want. You know, we'll figure out if we're if we aren't done here, but one way that we would definitely not be done here with you. is if you get hurt right now and we're forced to keep you.
Remember, that's what kept Garoppolo around on San Francisco as he got surgery. And they were pissed about it. until they needed him again and then he stuck with the team anyway. Mm-hmm. And that's what led to the Purdy year.
Crazily enough, So I I can't im I mean, he's so expensive. I don't have this, you know, the cap numbers in front of me.
Well, I'll tell you, hold on. But I mean, it would it would have to be somebody who falls so in love with him, and he's a lovable guy in terms of his His personality I mean But the issues that appeared out of Um out of his play this year, just Finally, he caused his relationship with McDaniel to be viewed through the lens, as McDaniel would say, of, you know. Of the coach glasses that he had to put his personal feelings for Tua aside and basically say, We're done. We're going to see what Quinn Yours can do. And then What the new general manager may say.
Trevor Burrus, Jr.: If he is released pre-June 1st, it's $99.2 million in dead cap. I mean, it's just it's it's just not gonna happen. Yeah, a post June one trade, however, saves the Dolphins $43 million. I got it. But which team would say we'll save you from cap hell?
And we'll take your guy off your hands because that's better than drafting one or finding another veteran. That's uh less expensive. You know, and that's for the new general manager to to deal with. What do you think, new G M? And apparently, in that meeting, might be Mike McDaniel because he said he's part of the interview process for the new GM.
And when they fired Chris Greer, Right before the trade deadline, after Tua and the Dolphins looked terrible against the Ravens. Um on that Thursday night And they fired him, I think, the Friday morning. I thought that would be the end of McDaniel because when you hire a new GM, they want to bring in their coach, but they love McDaniel. And he's going to stick around. And he says he's going to be part of the GM search.
which is unique. That doesn't happen very much. Um and he had this to say about bringing in another quarterback too. In 2026, I think there will be competition for our starting quarterback, what that is and how it looks. There's a lot that remains to be seen.
You know, we we have uh uh it it's the most important position on the football field, and you have to make sure that you do everything possible to get the best person out there on the field. Who that is, whether they're in-house or somewhere else, you know, that's something that we'll be extremely diligent on. But I know that. There will be competition for those reins. That much I do know.
That much I do know. He's the coach, so he'll say there's a competition and. That I assume Dua Tua would think is not dope. There.
So we'll keep an eye on that. That monitors that bears checking it out. Because again, you know When you Look at a situation, it's normally the GM hires the coach, not the coach part of the hiring of the GM. Um like say in um East Rutherford, New Jersey. The New York Giants bouncing Dayball, but Joe Shane is staying.
And every press conference he has, I guess, until he hires a new coach. He'll be asked the same question. He was asked it after they fired Day Bowl, and I'm assuming they asked him, you know, oh, they did ask him today, why you? Why are you still around? I mean, how many times can the New York media ask basically the general manager, How are you still here, sir?
Roll it. For me, it's you know, early on, I made mistakes. I'm fortunate to have great ownership here where you're allowed to stub your toe and try to course correct. And over the last couple years, we've been able to add. A franchise quarterback.
You've been able to add up a number one receiver in league neighbors who, again, I'm looking forward to getting him back. And there are the defensive line, the pass rushers. There's pieces in place that also make this an attractive job.
So looking at where we're going, where the build is, what the plan is moving forward, and seeing the vision through is why I think that's the case, sir. That's why he's still there. Mm. And I guess then they ask him, well, well, okay, while you're still here and choosing another head coach. How did the last time that you went through this help you with this time around?
Ah! Having this runway has really helped. There's not a lot of positives of making an in-season coaching change. But having this runway to really do a deep dive on Um you know, a wide array of candidates. Um You know, sit in my office and watch Thursday press conferences for coordinators, you know, integration of.
AI on some things that we've we've utilized. It's going to be a very thorough search. I feel really good about the information we've collected already. There's some really good candidates, you know, again, on both sides of the ball, collegiately. We're going to look everywhere.
Collegiately. I said it yesterday. You gotta call Kurt Signetti and just be told no. He would just be such a massive hit. A massive hit in New Jersey in the New York area.
They would love him. He just has this Parcels way about him, an old school gruff sort of way that I think would play really well. In that neck of the woods. And then outside of that, you know, go ahead and hit it. What were they really thinking?
Joe Shane would love to say this. Do you see Jackson Dart? You see Scatterboo, do you see Malik Neighbors? Do you see I traded for Brian Burns? Do you see Thibodeau still here?
Do you see Dex? I know he didn't have a great season. I know Abdul Carter didn't rack up. You know, he sometimes racked up more off-the-field headlines about, you know. His tardiness than his sacks, but he's still Abdul Friggin Carter.
I think, as a matter of fact, he led all rookies in. Quarterback rushes and hits and things of that nature. But the bottom line is, I just want to say this to the New York media. Go talk to the Jets because we're not them. You see the chats?
Are you serious? You're coming at me? Look at the Jets. I hate this team. Yeah, I mean, that too, yeah.
Wouldn't that be great if Joe Shane basically said, what are you. What are you bothering me for? I know we haven't done very well and I'm still here, but Do you see what's going on with the Jets? They should. That'd be hilarious.
Because they're picking before us. And their numbers. From this year. are positively absurd. This is the problem.
When you are the coach and the general manager of a team. That is second overall on the clock. Which is unbelievable. The Jets were this bad and aren't picking first overall. Um that It's tough to It's like the proverbial, as my parents would say, I can still hear my mom saying it, you know, it's like selling ice in winter.
Is the phrase she would always use growing up, and she still does, God bless her. It's like selling ice in winter. when you know You're you just put put the put the graphic up.
So their leading passer. Let's start with the positive. They're leading rusher. Brees Hall had a thousand yard season. It's the first season the Jets have had a thousand-yard rusher since Chris Ivory in the middle of last decade.
But um They're leading passer. who they benched midway through the season. had twelve hundred and fifty nine passing yards.
Okay. And Justin Fields. And Garrett Wilson, who hasn't caught a ball since week six, led the team in receiving with 395. Receiving yards. And as we mentioned yesterday, since the league started counting interceptions until somebody had the bright idea in 1933.
Um Listening to a fireside chat saying, you know what, maybe we should start counting interceptions in the NFL. The Jets are the first team to ever go through an entire season with no interceptions. And just to throw it one more time out here as to just how remarkably. Bad that is. The number of passing yards Justin Fields had to lead the Jets this season, 1,259.
153 more yards than what Matt Stafford had in weeks 14 through 16. When he was at Arizona, played against Detroit at home, and then went to Seattle in that epic game. He had 1,106 yards in those three games alone. And in those three games, Puka Nakua had 573 yards receiving, which is 178 more than what Garrett Wilson had the entire season to lead the Jets. I mean, I could go on and on and on and on about All this But I do want to hand it off to the gentleman selling the ice in winter.
And that's the head coach Aaron Glenn who had this to say. For our fans, listen again, there's a vision that we have, and um. And there's a trust that we have in that, also. And I expect and I will want our fans to have a total trust in us and being able to do that. And we have to earn that too.
And our plan is to do that. And we don't expect to have another season like this here.
So we're looking forward to this offseason, looking forward to getting to work and using the draft capital that we have and the money we have in Free Agency to continue to build what we've been trying to build. I honestly, I love the guy. And that goes back to the playing days. I don't know him all that well. I think he deserves better than to have to go out.
And have to say stuff like that. It just rings hollow to a team that's like, really, we're going through. Uh another rebuild. And he, you know, trust us. I got to, we got to build the trust.
They were the first team in NFL history to lose five in a row by 23 or more points. But that's. That's A mission accomplished because they removed all. I keep telling you, NFL teams don't tank. what front officers tank.
Front office is tanked by removing Players by saying Garrett Wilson. I'm assuming he was. We're just not going to run the risk. You're out. You're out.
Bless Brees Hall for being the guy to be on the field as the best offensive player by far. On the team and carry the load. That alone should get him a second contract. From the Jets and Darren Moogie, the general manager who traded away Sauce and traded away Quinn and Williams, and is now, he's on the clock. This guy is on the clock.
Because he's got to turn the players. Um The draft picks into players. All the picks, the one that they earned. by trading away Sauce and Quentin Williams By having the second overall pick, there's no, I don't know who the quarterback's going to be. I don't know who it's going to be because, in terms of the trust, it's not just the fan base, it's going to be the free agent class and also college players.
You heard what You know, I mean what's happening? My goodness, Todd McShea basically saying no college player wants to come out and be a jet is really. Tough to swallow. Darren Moogie, the general manager of the New York Jets, your friend, right? Um The man the man filling the Izzik shoes, who I think is three general managers ago in terms of Jets rebuilds.
I think that's right. The original rebuilder. Yeah, trading away uh Darrell Ravis back in the day. This is what he had to say. I'm excited about the offseason as we go into it.
Obviously, the draft capital we have, the cap space, and just being here now a year with AG, working with AG, the staff, getting to learn the staff, getting to learn the players, getting to learn this division. I feel more confident today than ever moving forward with what we have going. Again, RAS consulting would help him learn the division because it's just like it's the Bills division and the Patriots have a good chance. And now, you know, the Patriots are. atop the division, and the Bills have a good chance.
And um I don't mean to pile on here. But it's it it it's just again. The jets are on the clock right now. This is it.
Now obviously there'll be more Jets football even if they do have to hit the reset button, but Um This is it. I don't know who the quarterback's going to be. It's not going to be Justin Fields. I don't know who it's going to be. The Falcons just made a.
Mac Jones is not walking through that door. They'd have to acquire him, and I don't think the Niners are going to flip him. I think the Niners are going to hold on to him. I think he proved his value. There.
I mean, would Malik Willis want to come to the Jets? But do you want to come to New York and take the money? But who are you building around them? The Jets don't have the weaponry that the Packers have. The line is built, like the line is building.
I don't know. Free agent's gonna have to say yes. Or you draft somebody. But get it right this time. They certainly have the picks to do it.
And kudos to them for not firing everybody. I know, you know, Jets fans are pissed about what happened this season, but. You put your trust in these two guys. They have set things up for the future. And um And we'll see.
But now's the time. 844-204-RICH, number to DAL. Don't go anywhere. We're back with your phone calls to wrap up this Tuesday and let you know about Wednesday. The Rich Eisen Show, the podcast.
Back here on ESPN Radio talking about Matt LaFleur in Green Bay and And yeah, the Packers have made the seventh seed and have made the use of it to make the playoffs and then haven't done with anything from it. But they're they're in the mix. They're division title worthy. They're They're There they're a better team than most in the NFL and And LaFleur I would just counsel Packers fans to be careful what you wish for if you want him gone. If they lose to the bears here, it will be a bitter pill.
to swallow. The guy's really good. If you let him go, if the son of Carmen decides to not re-sign him, and I think they will. He will be the next head coach of fill-in-the-blank of one of the six teams. In a heartbeat.
In a heartbeat. The Giants would be Ecstatic! If Matt LaFleur popped free. Are you kidding me? And at the end of the day, of all of his amazing qualities that I think he possesses.
The one that I love the most is he loves water. He loves water. Just telegraph. His first round selection is always hydration. And that's important.
You don't want to be cramping up. That's the one thing that's not going to happen in Soldier Field. On Saturday night. It's gonna be cold. It doesn't matter.
You can still cramp in the cold. Get out of here. Please, they get blown out by Chicago. Great. Then that would be the best thing for the Giants or any of the six teams looking for a head coach.
Awesome. And then I guess what the Packers would hire the defensive coordinator and Jeff. Halfly that's sitting there. Because he's going to get some run other places, I imagine. Yeah.
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So we've had two from Utah, right? A Holly and a Molly.
Now here's a Mo from Ohio. Oh. Lima, Ohio. Mo, what's up? You there, Mo?
What's going on, my man, Rich? How you doing today? How are you today? Hey, Mo. Good, sir.
Good sir. Hey, I'm a proud Wolverine fan living in Ohio. Bless you, sir. Happened to be a high school teammate of Desmond Howard and Elvis Gerbach.
Well, that makes you awesome, adjacent. Bo? That's all good. That's all good. Yes, sir.
I just want to commend the interview of Coach Witt because me watching this press conference. Uh I was a little disturbed and My fellow Wolverine buddy here in town was trying to calm me down off the off the ledge, but I couldn't get over the fact of. You gotta understand the Ohio Uh situation here. Um there's no buddy buddy here. And so I'm glad I was thrilled to hear you bring up the point.
It's kind of uh urban who, you know, dig in a little bit. Oh, you go, who's who is who's urban? I don't know him, I know rural. More than urban. You know what I mean?
Stupid. That is stupid. You're not wrong. But I'm so happy I'm saying stupid things. You're suburban.
You know what I mean? You're in that phase of the devil. There's a honeymoon going on right here. Father, be quiet. I'm talking to Mo.
Sorry, Mo. You don't mind. You tell everybody there in Ohio there's a horseshoe visit coming from Urban's old friend. And I can't wait for it. Thanks for the call, Mo.
You hang in there. Call back again, please. Will you, please? There you go. That's Moe in Ohi in Ohio.
I have just received word about tomorrow's program. Kurt Warner is already on it. Sean Williams Scott is on it. Nice. Jesse Palmer and all his hair to talk about hair.
Amazing. Which is infuriating, but I like Jesse so much I said, okay. Um He's on Wednesday's show. We have a a fourth guest just added. And I don't usually start shows with guests, but this is when the guest is available.
And I said, okay, his name's Mike Tomlin. Stay by your phone, man. I may need Coach T. Whoa. He's just been at it.
We start Wednesday's show. With Mike Tomlinson. How about that? Second time. We got Bill Cower today.
You know, we might have a seance and have Chuck Noel on Thursday. I got to make some calls to the 412. Let people know. Yes, let the people know, sir. Let the people know.
Thanks for listening to the Rich Eisen Show Podcast. You can watch and listen to The Rich Eisen Show live weekdays from noon to 3 Eastern on ESPN Radio, Disney Plus, and on the ESPN app, The Rich Eisen Show, the podcast.
