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Now, on with the show. Bye, five, five, five. This is the Rich Eisen Show. Sam Darnold is one of the best stories we've seen entering a Super Bowl week in quite some time. Live from the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles.
I'm happy to be a part of this team, man. You know, I'm really happy to be here. Earlier on the show, ESPN analyst Marcus Spears, three-time Super Bowl champion, Mark Schler. Coming up, your phone calls, and more. And now, it's your Rich Eisen.
Um Power number three, the Rich Eisen Show is on the air. Mike McCarthy is being introduced as the newest head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers. As we speak, we're going to turn those sound bites around and mix and match them with not only. Kevin Stefansky in his introductory press conference today in Atlanta, but also the latest. Mike Vrabel on Wait for it.
Drake May's shoulder. Ooh. There's a lot of chatter about that as we're waiting for Super Bowl 60 to start between the Patriots and the Seahawks team that I've been on all year long. You know, I have seen it stressed from day one, right? I've been talking them up.
We had that we all had them winning the division. Wait a minute, wait a minute. That nobody paid attention to that in Seattle. As a matter of fact, just only my comments about the Rams or the 49ers, that got picked up. And I think was fodder for quite a day.
For our next guest, Brock Heward, joining us here on the Rich Eisen Show, the host of co-host of Brock and Salk for 17 years running up there in the great Emerald City. Good to see you, Brock. How are you? Right? Am I correct in assessing all of that?
Uh A day? How about a month?
So, I guess you're welcome on that front. A day, Richard. You gave us content for months.
Okay. I appreciate all that. Guys, you ready for this fun fact? My son Cooper likes giving me fun facts. Do you know who the first quarterback Mike Holmgren drafted?
When you got to Seattle. Do you know the answer to that question, Brock Hewitt? The first quarterback Mike Holmer drafted in Seattle. Who would that be? I do.
Would that be? I do, Rich. And I think he took me in the third round. You want a quick story before we brag all about the Seahawks and enough about me? Yes, sir.
The QB coach was a wonderful man by the name of Mike Shepherd. Mike went to Buffalo after that, head coach, longtime receiver coach, great coach. Mike was into me, I think, more than Mike Holmgrim was. And I had a private workout at the Seahawk facility. I was a husky, and it was literally a 10-minute drive across 520 to their facility that was then up in Kirkland.
Nice day, sunny day, which was surprising in April, kind of pre-draft workout. And he said um You know, I got an idea for you. Why don't you take your shirt off? Because you kind of like fit. And at that point, I had a pretty good little washboard, Rich, and I was pretty lean.
And for kind of a 6'5 stiff quarterback, right? I wasn't Steve Young. I wasn't Brett Favre. It's like, I think. I think you'd look I think coach would like that, you know, like So I did.
Took my shirt off, had my little six-pack abs, and that's why Mike drafted me, I think, in the third round. There you go. I think that went a long way.
Well, and then after that, that's why he got Hasselback. You know? Yes, for his washboard ass. No, no, for his charming good looks, his flowing hair, and his great smile. All right, let's get into the current team here.
Listen, walk me through when you and everybody in the area realized. This had a real shot. In Seattle. Oh, that's a good question. That's a good question, right?
Lose the opener. And we chatted with Mike McDonald on our show yesterday. And my co-host, Mike Salk, after that opener to Sam Fray, I could just feel, man, Mike was really pissed. Like year one, 10 wins, up and down a little bit. Couldn't beat good quarterbacks, good teams, took care of everybody else.
Game one, like just surprisingly ticked off, was Coach McDonald. And it was because even at that point, I think the coach knew like we're better than that. And we outplayed San Francisco many ways and just didn't win. And so to respond the next week and to go to Pittsburgh and then just start stacking win after win after win after win. And to see them, quite honestly, even in great adversity, go to LA and Sam really struggle and yet they've got a kick to win it.
At that point, you're like, these dudes are really good. And I'd say, Rich, quite honestly, to watch the team react to Sam's adversity in that game. It was real. It was not like Geno or Russell or the guys that preceded him. It was Ernest Jones like dropping F-bombs and the Seahawk brass being okay, putting that out there.
Like, no, this is how these guys feel about their leader. They love them. Everybody else cannot believe in them, but in the building, they love them. That struck me. And that was probably the moment right there.
And then to see them not lose since that game and play some of their best football. And for Sam, in particular, to just be at his very best, Rich. The Rams were clear, right? It was clear. You're not going to run the ball.
We're going to make Sam Darnold beat us. And you know what Sam did Sunday night? Beat him in that building. I was there. He beat him.
He beat him. He beat him. He beat him. And some of those throws, the one that I was mentioning with Mark Schlerith last hour, Brock, was the third down one of Cooper Cup that essentially. you know, that that put the Rams really in a dire situation.
And we're all focused on whether it was a catch or not and what what McVay did, you know, calling timeout and then not challenging. And we're all focused on that. But the fact is that that all came about because Darnold made that dart of a throw in that situation. He did. I would also say it was fun, Rich.
I was able to watch the game in our station suite, actually, with my big brother with Damon. And 12 years in the league, been around some of the very best, watching Stafford in person for the second time. It's also at the Thursday night game. That guy is just not a human being, right? He just does, he's just an android.
He's an alien. He just makes throws that other quarterbacks, just like, oh my gosh, not supposed to be able to do that. But I would say, Rich, honestly, it was the three touchdown passes by Sam. Every one of them, he was pressured. Two of the three, he takes it right in the chin, stands in there, delivers.
And that's why the guys love him. And he'll take no credit like the coach, like John Schneider, like the culture there. He is not a credit hound. He is not a look at me. He's about everybody else.
And Man, you get behind the scenes, Rich, and that is real. As you get close to this team, as you'll be around them, as you'll be on Radio Row, as you get even more touch points, you'll be like, damn. This team is all about each other, and they don't really care and don't need any credit. A little different than the last team that went to the Super Bowl 13 and 14. Right, they love yelling at everybody.
This team just loves one another quite a bit. Is that Mike McDonald's secret sauce? Is that where it comes from? 100%. 100%.
100%. I don't know if you saw the little thing that went viral on her show yesterday where he We asked them, like, where did this come from? And why did you say? We don't care. Like, why did you say it that way?
You know, and he went into the whole background of like, Sitting up there on stage. Can't hear Pam. I think I've got to be loud. And he even said he's like classic overthinker. That's what I am, classic overthinker.
And that's who he is, Rich. He's like the most vulnerable, transparent. And we better appreciate it now while he's in his 30s. Because as we know, this league will age you. This league will kind of take maybe some 10% of that over the years.
But right now, man, he's a real one. He's a vulnerable one, transparent one. And the guys are all in.
Well, that photograph that we just had up on the screen, Brock Hewitt here on the Rich Eisen Show. And for those who are listening, it's John Schneider smiling and taking a selfie with the coach that he chose after surprising many by ending the Pete Carroll era. And can you walk Everybody through what John Schneider has done. to make this moment happen, building And also ending Prior to the building, what was in the building there? Yeah, Brock.
Yeah, there's a lot there, Rich. I think John will speak to that next week at the Super Bowl. You'll hear more of that. He would say really quickly, like, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, I did not end that. It was Jody Allen, the ownership that did.
Had to make a decision there of kind of what direction do we go? Do we blow the whole thing up? Do we get a new GM? Do we, you know, get a new head coach? And it was the trust that Jodi.
Allen placed in John and gave then John the opportunity, Rich, to oversee the whole deal. And we've played the clip a bunch on our show. Pete Carroll's final words, and he loves John. Yes. And his final words at his press conference when he left was.
Hey buddy, now it's all now it's you.
Now it's on Johnny. Like, go get him. Because now John was in charge of the whole coaching staff. And that was the biggest deal, Rich, in the end. It wasn't about Pete lost his feel for coaching, it was.
You know, the coaching tree died up and dried up. And some of the loyal coaches and loyalty he showed to some of them, it just ran its course. And so for John to come in and man, Russell Wilson was the first big swing back in 12, and it helped propel them with everybody else. This was a huge swing to wait for Mike McDonald, to wait through the AFC championship game, to land him and those two, man, Sympatico. It's why their offseason was so good.
And the only reason it's ever good in the offseason through the draft, through the free agency, through the trade, is those guys are totally and completely aligned. McDonald is blunt. He's to the point. He's really clear in his conviction of what he wants with the groceries. And then John is incredible through his relationships across college campuses with other GMs to get what needs to get done for those groceries to be delivered.
And man, did they cook this year? Man, the groceries, too, right, Brock? I mean, it's hard to pick one. Eamon Warrior, Woolen, Witherspoon, Charles Cross, JSN. I just named five.
There's more. And then there's the groceries that you can add in free agency. Demarcus Lawrence, my goodness gracious, going to get Leonard Williams a couple of years ago. Um by by trade. Wh okay, what what sticks out To you.
Oh, it's the two free agent acquisitions because that's where they've been really good with trades, Marshawn and others through the years. They've been really good in drafting through the years. It's the free agent acquisitions. It's Aiden Durdy's background in Dallas, who was the D-line coach, who convinced Mike and John, like, no, no, no, Demarcus Lawrence still has gas in the tank. I didn't think he did.
I don't know if you did. None of us thought he could be this effective and play almost every game this year and be an absolute dog that makes that whole group better. And then it's Cooper Cup, who may not run like he used to run and he's not as explosive as he used to be, but my God, what he did for JSN and that room and those blockers and that leadership.
So like what? Like what? What do you got from me there? Just ask JSN. Just say, hey, and Rich would be 25 minutes.
But it's more than anything. Both those two veterans play like their league minimum guys. They've got tens of millions in the bank, but they play as if they've earned nothing. They block their butts off for Cooper. And DeMarcus runs people down and sacked fumbles and sacks and effort plays that you don't see from veterans.
And, you know, it's Cooper Cup is, he's different, man. In his years with McVay and Stafford, he's just different. Listening to him talk, watching him on a practice field, the level of detail, how much he sees the game, knows the game, plays the game like a quarterback, brings all of that. It's as if you have Sam Darnold in the receiver room, and that is uncommon in the NFL. And so he brings all of that to life for those guys.
And that's not coincidence. The JSM became the best receiver in the league this year with Puka. Oh, and Puka became right there with him as the best receiver in the game because of his time with Cooper Cup.
So he's extraordinary as a teacher and developer. No doubt. In the few minutes I have left with you, Brock Hearward, let's give voice to the fans who listen to you and fans that you meet. All the time. I had Adam Ray, the comedian, who I'm sure you know, Die Hard 12 on the program a couple weeks ago prior to the Niner game.
And I'm like, what's the dream scenario? You beat the Niners, then you beat the Rams, then you go to the Super Bowl and you exercise the Patriots' ghosts at their expense, and it's sitting right there, right? I mean, is the fact that it's the Patriots. And you know what we're going to be seeing over the next week and a half. I'm already seeing it on my timeline.
You know, does that mean something that it's the Patriots in this Super Bowl, Brock? Yeah, I mean, you want to come back on the show and just talk about how great Belichick was and how that play, Malcolm Butler, I'll have whatever you want me to do, Brock. I appreciate your appearance here today. Oh, you have been so sweet to Salk and I jumping on this year a couple times. And you are not alone, by the way.
You know, a lot of folks picked the Seahawks to finish last in the division and to be a 4-5-1 team. And oh my gosh, you get rid of Geno and DK and you pivot to Sam Darnold and rebuild. There was no rebuild, right? Unlike a lot of the teams, even the Patriots, who had three really struggling seasons and were able to draft Drake and Ad. Seahawks never did that.
They never hit a bottom, right? They just kind of pivoted and everything. I'll tell you, man, they'll be ready to go. This is a, this is Jordan Palmer said this. Was it with you?
I might have even been on your show. We played Jordan Palmer was talking about how Sam is not an externally motivated guy. Yeah, that's what he said. He is. Yep.
Yeah.
So we played that great sound that came from your show and talked about being internally motivated. And that SEDOC team and those teams were so fun to cover. They were so noisy, so loud, so externally motivated, ripping on Deion Sanders, you know, pedestrian receivers, who's talking about us? Like that was, they were all noise. This team is all business.
They are internally motivated. All of them. Cooper, D-Law, Leonard. You would rattle off all the names. Yeah, but your fans aren't.
I'm talking about the fans. They want this. This is it, right? Like the Patriots are here to heck with Malcolm Butler and all that nonsense. Sick and tired of hearing about Marshawn didn't get it and that this could, you know, obviously that will still always exist, but this, you get Super Bowl 60 in the house of the Niners at the expense of the Patriots?
That's. That's the sort of stuff the grist is at. Right? Yeah, with a coach that, you know, didn't play obviously in that game. Variable was done by that point, but it is a Belichick disciple, and Robert Kraft is the owner.
And they got a cool image, Rich, in the Seahawks meeting room. It was for many years shown with Pete Carroll having the basketball hoop bolted up to the stage. And they do shooting competitions and all of that stuff. We were curious: like, would Mike McDonald keep that around? How would he build his own thing?
You know what he built? Like this spear/slash totem. Up on stage there, and they put a helmet of every team that they behead over the season, and they keep stacking them and stacking them and stacking them. That's totally right. And they got one more helmet to be had and put on the top of that totem.
And that would, I think. Yeah, make a lot of Seahawks fans pretty happy. That was part of the change of scenery that I was criticizing Mike McDonald of doing as soon as he arrived there. No doubt giving Brock and Salk a ton of stuff to talk about on that for that day and weeks and months after that, right? Right, Brock?
Right. Oh, Rich. We love you on our show. That's all I'm looking for. Thank you for giving me that.
I greatly appreciate that. Before I let you go, you were also a backup one year for Peyton Manning. Your favorite Peyton Manning story, please. You got one for me? Just, oh, gosh, just a brilliant guy.
Just seriously, just a brilliant dude. I don't know. He tried to fight me one time. What? Yeah.
There was only, I think I only could do one thing kind of competitively with him, and it was throwing the ball over a net into a bucket or something. And maybe I overcelebrated, overzealous in my joy of getting one minor victory. And yeah, he may or may not have wanted to pound my face.
So, yeah, that's about it. Wow.
Okay. Okay. Okay. Just you had to go through Saturday first, right? I mean, he had a lot of protection there.
I'm sure it. I knew my place very clearly, and I told this joke the other day, and it's not a joke. My better story is that Tom Moore, the offense coordinator who's just finally retired in 87, I don't think he knew I was left-handed. Rich, I'm pretty pretty sure of that. Because they don't practice F there, right, Brock?
That's the story. Is that if Peyton, you were the you were the you were the F that they were practicing if he was out. We finally found it, Brock. Thanks for the time, man. Uh, we'll have you on in short order, obviously, Super Bowl 60.
It's going to be all about Seattle. Hey, Seattle's going to get the attention. Here it comes. Here it comes. Okay.
Let's go. Thanks for watching. Thanks for the time. Appreciate you hopping on. Everybody check out Brock.
Heward, right here on the Rich Eisen Show. Certainly listen to him every single day up there in beautiful Pacific Northwest. Is that a little Ken Griffey Jr. sweats? I don't know.
Or is it a backwards? Hold on. Hold on a minute. Let's pop him back on there. Thumbs up in the Griffey.
That's Griffey. Yeah.
Okay. That is. There you go. That's Colin Coward's favorite sweatshirt. You know?
So that's the backwards cap. Backwards cap. Oh, yeah. Very good. If only he'd worn his cap to the front, think it might have been on.
Okay, that's an old school. Yeah, I know. I don't mean a rope you end of mine. I gotta go now. There it goes.
There goes Brian. Yeah.
Yeah.
What a year, huh? Big dumper. Right. Seahawks. I mean, Seattle, man.
Right? Title Town. Here we go. Can you remember? Have you never been?
I got to make a trip up to. Oh, have you never went to Spotify? I've never been anywhere in the North. They don't want people moving there, so they don't want people talking about it. The traffic gets worse every year people talk about it.
It rains too much for me to want to live. That's what they want you to know. That's what they want you to think. That's what they want you to know. They don't want any of us there.
Just skip out. Yeah.
You know? They're uh they're what are they they're uh internally motivated?
Okay. I like that people listen to us. And then users for content. They were bashing me. I know they were bashing me.
Brock's like, reaching out, hey, you want to come on? I'm like, you're bashing me, aren't you? The comments have not been kind to our Seattle takes. You know what? It's okay.
We're fine. I mean, what's worse, though? Them bashing their people going, I've never heard of that show. What do you think of me? Oh, Seahawks fans better get ready.
You're going to see Malcolm Butler 15 million times between now and then. Cooper told me that he's hearing a rumor that Malcolm Butler might be an honorary captain for the Patriots in that game. He's seen people suggest it. Is that what it is? Yeah.
There's no rumor, but it's just been suggested. Oh, this would be funny if they brought him out as an honorary captain. I mean, it would be funny. You know. Oh my goodness gracious.
The curse catch before Forgotten great play in NFL history. That set them up inside the 10. I like that. And got everyone, including you, thinking this game is over. Yes.
Because here comes Marshawn. My thought exactly at that moment was it happened again because it reminded me of Tyreek Hatch. I saw this again showed up in my threads timeline today. Um the entirety of the Moment from the NBC broadcast, Al Michaels, Chris Collinsworth at the mic. And the germane curse grab.
Yeah.
Because I think he had just wa he was the one who caught the bomb from Russ to end the NFC championship game. If I'm not mistaken. to beat the Packers. And And then in this game, Russ goes up to curse. Yeah, he did catch it.
And he quadrupled, bobbled it. And the reason why the ball was loose to begin with is it was broken up initially by. Malcolm Butler. Butler was involved in that play. You heard Collinsworth mention his name, or Al's like, did that get broken up by Butler?
And they watched the replay, and then it went on so long. Seattle had a fire. What went on so long was, I guess, the hubbub of it or whatever. The Seahawks had to fire off a timeout. Otherwise it would have been a delay of gain penalty.
And so it allowed NBC to roll in. The helmet catch. And Al's like, this is the scene of the crime. It's the same stadium. It was in Phoenix.
Yep. Or, pardon me, Glendale, Arizona. God, that catches insane. And Al's like, it's the scene of the crime. And they show Brady, and it's just, and the last line of the clip.
Colin's worth saying they're not in yet. Nope. Yeah.
And you're like, it's unbelievable what was just about to unfold. I was in that stadium that day, obviously. And um I have never in my life Seeing a crowd of fans. Who are thrilled and happy be crying the next, and fans who are crying be thrilled and happy the next on one play. I've never seen it in any sport in any time.
And Seattle fans are going to have to get ready for it. And that's why I wanted to ask. Brock Hewitt about it because Seattle fans are, when I say get ready for it, it's going to be talked about non-stop. Between now And next Sunday, or two Sundays from now on on Super Sunday. And it's of no consequence at all to any of these players.
I don't even think there's anybody still on the team, right? On either team. Oh, it can't be, right? I don't think so.
So It's of no consequence except for us to just say, Isn't it interesting that they're playing each other last time they played? This is what happened. And it's one of the things that everyone keeps talking about because it's one of the most mind-blowing plays ever. Or decisions or sequences ever, and it did start with that curse catch. How did they get inside the red zone?
That way. Against the Patriots, who are thinking it's happening to us again. It's crazy. And instead, It happened to Seattle a few minutes later. And um like I said, of no consequence.
But I'm just Wondering again, you heard from Adam Ray for them to get to Super Bowl 60 in the home of the Niners after beating the Niners and the Rams to get to the Patriots and deny them. Oh boy. Oh. It won't obviously erase this, but it would no longer be the first subject matter. talked about when these two teams are In the same sentence.
844-204 Rich, number to dial here on the program. Mike McCarthy is talking. And Kevin Stefansky has talked. And is there something up with Drake May's shoulder? It's coming up.
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So it's our 12th Super Bowl that we're going to next week in San Francisco. Fifth Patriot Super Bowl out of 12. Unbelievable. I love it. Absolutely crazy.
So let's get to the teams hoping to get back to the Super Bowl, having new head coaches introduced and. This is crazy. Because these words aren't usually said. Except once every two decades, the Pittsburgh Steelers have introduced a new head coach. We all know Mike Tomlin stepped down.
The day after losing to the Texans in the wild card round. And he steps away. And instead of again. Going back to the well. That's 20 years old.
Or the well before that, or the well even before that, 56 years old. It was today, it was yesterday that they announced Chuck Knowles. Hiring there 56 years ago. Um Here's Mike McCarthy. In his early sixties, not some new coordinator.
turned head coach for the first time in his thirties to grow old together. This one, however, like Bill Cower is from Pittsburgh. This hiree. and he was really emotional about it. You know, oftentimes coaches and players You know, you put on new team colors and it takes a minute to feel comfortable.
in those new colors. but to be blessed beyond any measure one day to put on the colors you wore since you brought home. I apologize. Brett, I told you not to see my family not here. This is so unfair.
when you come home from Mercy Hospital. I do want to thank, I want to thank Art. Art Roney, Omar Kahn, Dan Roney, and the entire Steelers organization. For the trust they placed in me to represent one of the most storied franchises. in all sports.
I understand and embrace the responsibility of the privilege and the weight that comes with this stewardship. Odd City disfranchise. This fan base. Uh means the world to me. He's one of my favorite people I've gotten to meet.
I love that. Wear your heart in your sleeve, man. Wear your heart in your sleeve. It's so cool. Pittsburgh guy, he probably cannot believe it.
You cannot believe it. After his distance traveled of being an assistant, going to Green Bay and then being fired in the middle of the season, Dallas comes and gets him when. Hardly anybody else was going to go out and get him. And even after the way that ended, You know? Couple coaching cycles.
His name's not called. He's sitting there with Pat, passing the time, keeping his foot. in uh in the sports world. In the football world, best he can. and then the Steelers come knocking his hometown team.
The guy after Mike Tomlin is the guy that beat Mike Tom on uh in in that Super Bowl for the Green Bay Packers. Can't make it up. But of course, you know Now comes the Hard part. About getting to the Super Bowl and winning it for a Steelers. Fan base that is sick and tired of just making the playoffs.
And and and again, since Both of the mics in question, McCarthy and Tomlin, made the championship games. We're talking about. you know, the Patriots being back in it. Patriots got through Mike Tomlin. in uh twenty sixteen To get to the Super Bowl to be down 28-3 against the Falcons team at.
made the Super Bowl by getting through Mike McCarthy's Packers. And um Since that time Tomlin didn't win another playoff game. And McCarthy only won one.
So we need to see what McCarthy can do that Tomlin was unable to do. Obviously that's not a will question with him. Certainly wanted it. Question is the quarterback. 'Cause the idea is you hire him to groom the young one.
And the question about their previous quarterback. Who is uh In his early 40s, Rogers' name was indeed brought up to Mike McCarthy. And asked him if he wants Aaron Rodgers a reunion with his old Packers quarterback in Pittsburgh next year. I mean d definitely. I mean I don't see why you wouldn't.
You know, I think just like anything, you know, no one there long enough going through seasons. You know, I think when players You know, to see Mel Blunt here. I mean, with guys. Or up at that stage in their career, they need to step away and decompress it. I think that's very important.
Uh the game is so emotional. you know, what these men commit to and what they put into it. I think that time away is important. And I have spoken. Too, Aaron.
And so that's really where we are there. I was able to sit back and watch the games. I watched most of the Pittsburgh games on TV, and I thought he was a great asset for the team. There's no question about that. Just like, do you want to move on to the young guy or not?
What's young guy? I told you who. Malik Willis. Who's not on the roster? Right.
He's going to be on someone's roster next year that's not Green Bay. Green Bay, I mean, Pittsburgh has a quarterback they drafted on the roster. That's another one. Man, that's gonna be an interesting and then how long do you wait? Yeah.
You know, we're just assuming Rogers' new league year isn't going to be like, oh, I'm in. I know. Again, the danger of assuming with him. When did he sign last year with them? June, don't you remember?
Cam Hayward is currently booked to be our first Super Bowl guest in San Francisco next Wednesday. Remember, we had our fun with him. Because he went on his pod basically, like, hey, we're the Pittsburgh Steelers. You want to play for us or not? Right.
Yep. And then. And then he and Rogers and Tomlin were Sympathy covering. Right. Walking off the field together, BFFs.
So the Steelers announced it on June 6th last year. Yeah.
You know? Malik Willis, we're all new that. I will tell you this: when's a new league year? I think it's March 13th, something like that. Malik Willis will be on a new team March 13th, and we're going to know about it on March 11th.
You don't think it happened before the. Yeah, I guess March. No, it's March 11th.
Okay, so we'll know about it on March 9th. On the 9th, yeah. You know what I mean? The first second. I imagine.
There's going to be a lot of teams that are in on that. But you heard him say, that's a great answer. Absolutely, I'll take him. You got to keep your door open, that is for sure. Although I'm just thinking, if you hire this guy to be the groomer of a quarterback.
You know? That's supposed to be there forever. That's supposed to be your Josh Allen or your Lamar Jackson or your. Sam Darnold. Ha ha ha ha ha ha.
Got to talk about him that way now. At any rate, we'll see what happens on that front. A Pittsburgh kid getting the steel. It's great, and he's just a good dude. He's a good dude.
I mean, that was all genuine right there. Yeah.
Kevin Stafansky introduced as the new head coach in Atlanta. He asked me. What he learned from his time in Cleveland.
Okay. Career in this business, it's sometimes you have to navigate tough times. And I certainly have seen my tough times, and I feel like I'm a better coach on the other side of that. And like Matt mentioned, I want to learn from all those things. I hope that there's things that I learned on a day-to-day basis.
I hope there's big picture things that I've learned and taken from that.
So really excited about where I am, but I wouldn't change anything about the past. Kevin's to fancy everybody. Looking good for all those years in Cleveland, huh? Yeah, yeah. You know what I mean?
Did he get some color? Give me the what were they really thinking? You just gotta. I mean, what a loaded question that is. You know what I mean?
What were they really thinking? What I learned in Cleveland. You really asking me what I learned in Cleveland? You have a set of eyes, a set of ears. What have you been under a rock?
Last few years Wasn't this the spot? That might have been interested in uh Deshaun Watson. You said no.
Now I'm here. Partially 'cause you said no. Come on. And see Ha ha ha. Oh and um We all know the quarterback thing that was there.
And uh Deshaun Watson came when Baker was there, and D. Orlando Ledbetter, who is one of the. Deans of sports coverage. around the country, certainly in Atlanta. Writing about how Stefansky had a dumpster fire at quarterback in Cleveland.
and uh mentioned Deshaun Watson and Baker Mayfield as failed quarterbacks. They failed.
So Baker retweeted that one, failed as quite the reach pal. And he's upset with D.Orlando Ledbetter and fired in Stefansky's direction. Saying he's still waiting on a call text from him after I got shipped off like a piece of garbage. Can't wait to see you twice a year, coach.
Well, the coaching question was asked about all this today too. Yeah, you know, Baker is somebody that I have a ton of respect for as a player and a person. I love rivalries in sports, and obviously Buccaneers, Falcons have a great rivalry. It's something that I'm excited about. But I would not get into the specifics of those type of things other than to say I have a ton of respect for Baker as a player, as a person.
That's a great team with a great player. All right, Hater, one more time. He said, What? I had nothing to do with it. What are you talking about?
Talk to the Haslams. They're the ones who gave him every penny guaranteed, not me. Right. Exactly. All right.
This guy wanted to get rid of Baker. I mean, this coaching thing is amazing to me.
Well, I mean, one, two, three, four. Six years, two winning seasons. By the way, two coaches a year. But Baker is his quarterback. Laugh game.
And Baker, what were they really thinking? I won the playoff game. He was... Drinking Gatorade, you know? Pop him for COVID in his basement.
That's a trick that's mm. Oh, it's going to be fun. Pardon me. I didn't mean to interrupt you. It's fine.
It's not fine. What do you mean? Just go for it. I'm just saying, man, like you had two winning seasons out of six, and you get fired. You won eight games in two years and you get rewarded with a five-year contract.
That's exactly what I say. This is just wild. And some coaches will get one shot and boom. Let me ask you this question. Let me ask you this question.
Would you hire a two-time coach of the year that you have heard from others and you also believe to your core when you've met him has a clue and knows how to be a leader of men, and you're just going to chalk it up to it wasn't great in Cleveland? Or are you just going to say I'm hiring somebody new? Me personally? Yes, sir. I'd probably look for someone new.
Okay, very good. I would too. Arthur Blank did not. He knows more than I do.
Well, Matt Ryan, Matt Ryan was hired, and Matt you trust. And I think Just to start. What do I know? I'm just sitting in the corner. I'm sure, reach out to RES Consulting first.
All right. Look who's here. Yeah.
Yeah, Suze is hanging out here. Hey, do you want to come out here? Happy New Year, Suze.
Okay, that's a no. All right. Can you talk Vrabel and Pats when we come back here? Because apparently Drake May's got a shoulder problem. Oh.
We have to double our mass holes. Tom Brady had a shoulder problem for years. Oh, my God. This is going to end terribly for all of us. What do you mean?
You know, I want to see the glasses half full. Suze is here. The Patriots are in the Super Bowl. And the segment's only going to be five minutes. You can handle that.
I'm fine to say the story's already written. I feel like this crappy story's already been written. Crappy, and we're going to have to live through this junk. That's a shame.
Okay. Take a break. 844-204-RICH. Number to dial. They've lost too.
The Rich Eisen Show, the podcast. Hey, Chris. Back here on the Rich Eisen show, everybody. Our radio audience has just returned.
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You know what else is a great idea? No one. Mike Rabel.
Well, yes. He's opened a Super Bowl window, and they closed the door on Gerard Mayo just for that. How's that sound? I'm trying to transition. We've got three sound bites from Mike Fraver.
Oh, it's all three of them. Let's go. Perfect timing for you to be sitting in on all this. He was on the Greg Hills show on WEEI and was asked about May's health. Is he 100% healthy today as you guys get ready?
There's not a player on our team that's 100% healthy. Is he healthy enough to play at a high level? I would imagine we'll go through the injury report, and whenever we have to turn that in, we'll turn it in. But nobody's 100%. This will be our twenty-first game.
Okay. I love Va Boffin. Very Belichick. Who's healthy at this point? Everyone's hurt.
No one's healthy. No one's healthy. Not even we're healthy. I don't feel healthy. The punter is probably healthy.
Oh, Brockman's limping around for no good reason. I feel fine. Maybe. Did you play ruffle ball the other day? Is your shoulder hurting?
Is it a Drake May? Should we call Dr. David Chow and ask him about your shoulder?
Okay, look at you.
So obviously, there are people who listened to that. And at his press conference later in the day, He was asked about it. hurt anything. You know what I mean? Again, this is a This is a sport where there's going to be things that come up, but I don't think that there's a, you know.
Well we'll talk about whatever Status each player has for the game. Once we're required to, we understand that, but. You know, we were able to function offensively, throw the football, run the football. Um So that's kind of where everybody's at.
Now you know where the next question is going. Yeah.
Because that's not a satisfactory answer to those in the media. And basically, you're wondering because no coach is going to talk about an injury. Why would a coach talk about an injury before the Super Bowl? No. Um So maybe he's hiding something.
Covering it up. Not being completely forthright when So the The last vestige. Is the Are we making too much of this question? Yeah.
That's the last vestige. Are we making too much of it, hoping that we can get an answer? From that sort of last bite at the apple. That I mind true. And here's how that went down.
And here's what I'm going to start saying about this radio show. This is like the Miranda rights. I can't, there's nothing that I can say on there that can be used against me when I come back in here.
So, going forward, That that's what we're gonna have to say. Like that's those are like free interviews. I'm in there, we're doing breakfast shots and uh But I think that everybody and including Drake is not one hundred percent at this part of the year. And we'll do everything that we can to help our players be prepared and get ready for this game. Did he just mention breakfast shots?
I guess so. Like shots? Yeah, what are we doing? What are we doing? I've never liked him more.
On the Greg Hill ever hats. What's he doing? I don't know. I brought donuts.
Next time I'm going to bring breakfast shots.
Well, Bailey, what are you talking about? You bring mimosas here when you're in the breast. I do. We do a better show. We do.
You're the one serving the breakfast shots around here.
Well, actually, it's TJ you should.
So if he's hurt his shoulder, what was it on the perfect throat and booty? Like, you know what I mean? Like, he's been a little bit more. On one of the runs, he awkwardly slid, and one of the Broncos players kind of fell on him. He gets up, he kind of puts his arm on his right shoulder.
I thought initially he was just fixing his jersey. Oh, okay. Yeah, I remember that. But people were pointing out that might have been the play. Here's a news flash: when you fall on the turf in Denver when it's zero degrees and snowing, it's really hard.
It's going to hurt. It's going to hurt. Have you been to a game there in the winter? Yeah.
Yeah, you have, right? Didn't you call a game there? Uh On Christmas Eve, it was Belichick's last win. But thanks for watching, Sue. Are you not home then?
Anyway, I once was there and I was wearing gloves and I put them near the burner behind the Broncos bench. And burned my gloves off, and I had to get a replacement pair from somebody on the team. It's so cold. Of course, his shoulder hurt. He's, what is he, 22?
He'll be fine. 22. Yeah, exactly. I mean, he'll be fine. There we go.
He's fine. There you go. That's my official. By the way, this is my official Patriots report. From a mother from New England, he'll be fine.
Yeah, just rub some dirt on it. Bake mag's going to cook them up some bake mag. Bakemeg. All right, very good. That'll wrap up this Tuesday show.
Kurt Warner, Jerry Rice, and Andrew Whitworth on Wednesday. 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.
