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Well, his nickname is Showtime. This is the Rich Eisen Show. Neither of those counted as a tip. From the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles. We should have they dunk however they wish.
Wembanyama must dunk flat-footed. Today's guests. NFL Network Insider Ian Rappaport. ESPN MLB Insider Jeff Passon. ESPN NBA Insider Ramona Shelberg.
And now, it's Rich Eisen.
Well, hey everybody, welcome to this edition of The Rich Island Show. Hope you all had a fun, restful three-day President's Day weekend. We're back here in our Los Angeles studios here on our usual spots: Disney Plus, the ESPN app, ESPN Radio, SiriusXM Channel 80. We say hello to the ESPN viewing audience for the first two hours of this show. And then ESPN2 will carry us the rest of the way.
We're here on the Rich Eisen Show, where we always handle the stone. By the handle. Can you imagine if we just spent the next three hours on curling? Everybody. They probably could.
They probably could. But Ian Rappaport's going to join us from his ski vacation. That's how we're handling the Winter Olympics slightly here on this show. Our number one, our number two, Jeff Passon, joins us, I believe, from Lakeland, Florida, the side of the Tigers spring training facility, where he'll be talking about the news that broke earlier today that Tony Clark, the head of the Players Association for Major League Baseball, is expected to resign just in time for a playing season that could end in a lockout.
So there's lots going on in the baseball world. Ramona Shelbert, on what we saw just up the road at Into It Dome, we saw actual competitive basketball in an NBA All-Star game after a slam dunk competition that should be absolutely euthanized after what we saw on Saturday night.
So there's lots to talk about in the NBA world as we're waiting for the All-Star festivities to, well, we're waiting for the second half of the season to start later on. This year, good to see you, Christopher Brockman. How are you, sir? Hey, Rich, I'm great. What's up, man?
Good to see you, Jason Feller. This lot of Mike Del Tufo is still seller. He's still, you know. The hangover is celebrating McKinley's presidency over the president's weekend. Is that what it was?
Celebrating somebody's. I mean, you got to be careful. You know, when you just get hammered celebrating Warren Harding like that, you might miss Tuesday's bell for the Rich Eisen Show. How are you, T.J. Jefferson?
The candle is lit. Candle is lit. You better put some respect on Calvin Coolidge's name. I didn't mean to disrespect. Calvin Coolidge.
By the way, do we mention No Contest Wrestling off the top of this program? Do we do this? Because being on ESPN and as ESPN's only wrestling podcast, we should.
Okay, so later on today, as soon as we are done, you and O. Shea Jackson Jr. will be recording the latest episode of No Contest Wrestling, wherever you get your podcasts and our Rich Eisen Show YouTube channel. Who is showing up today to appear for the first time on this podcast, sir?
Well, we hope he appears because most of the time you cannot see him. And that is this man on my shirt. This is the 17-time world champion, John Cena. He will be in the studio.
Okay. Report with us and recorded today, and it will be released on our normal day of Wednesday. Very good.
So that's wherever you get your podcast. Really cool. Congrats. And the Rich Eisen Show YouTube channel, youtube.com/slash Rich Eisen. Sure.
So listen, I would talk curling all day. Which is just fascinating. You know, Team Canada getting the finger pointed at them.
So we'll discuss that. It's great. As conditions warrant. Not the index or the. And Ramona Shelburne is going to help us handle the NBA All-Star Game festivities later on.
But as you know, I always have football. on the brain here uh on this program. Um, and um, I got a top five list to start us off. Oh, I kind of do this every year because one week from today, we will be at the uh NFL Scouting Combine, and um, and we'll have our entire uh world of shows from there, and it's going to be lit. Yeah.
We'll be wheels up, and this show will be uh emanating here on ESPN and the rest of the family of networks next Tuesday from Indianapolis. And Ian Rappaport's going to join us in 15 minutes' time to help set the table for a National Football League offseason that is going to be lit, as the kids might say.
Now, it was right around this time last year where we're hearing rumblings that Matthew Stafford might be having some wanderlust. And, you know, remember the Giants kicked the tire on him, and he's like, Yeah, okay, thanks, but no thanks. Um, a whole bunch of teams kicked tires on him. We wondered if maybe the Steelers would be a fit, right? Um, And he wound up returning to Los Angeles.
Um at the end of the day. And so I have a top five list presented by Hyundai of the top five storylines. And I expect to rule the day for the NFL over the next few weeks, the NFL offseason, if you will. High five. One, two, three, four, five.
Richest top five. Here we go. I need my music right here on the Rich Eisen Show. Here we go. I need my music for my top five, number five on my top five list.
Of top storylines for the NFL offseason is which new head coach. will get the most reinforcements. There's 10 new head coaches in the NFL. Crazy. Which team has a front office and an ownership group.
That in their internal meetings looks around and basically goes, hopefully, not higher register. You know, I think we can be the next New England Patriots. I think if we come up with the right mix. of free agents and we nail this draft. That we've got a shot to turn things around right away, which.
facility is going to be lit with activity. Who has the cap space? Who has the gumption? Who's got the general manager in the ownership group? that's going to go for it.
You're already hearing with Tyreek Hill apparently being released. You're seeing a whole bunch of teams kind of Go for it, at least uh You're hearing the rumors of it. You're seeing some players maybe throw their hat in the social media ring to start getting something going. I saw a handful of Tennessee Titans folks. Who are blogging or rooting or whatever on my social media saying, Tyreek Hill, you need to come here because that's where everybody who gets released shows up.
All these great wide receivers towards the end of their career wind up showing up here at Tennessee. I saw pictures of DeAndre Hopkins in his Tennessee Titans uniform and things of that nature. Honestly, like, could Cam Ward? Be that guy. To get a bunch of reinforcements.
He was the one, you know, just last year. Could he be a second-year guy? Can Robert Salah get this group together? That's just one. Can the Raiders start putting some people together?
Will the Ravens start throwing a little bit more on top of what we believe to be a ready-made roster? Just add. A new coach, which new coach is gonna get the most reinforcements, I think is kind of an under-the-radar, in a way, storyline of the NFL offseason. Number five. Number four, I'm gonna remove this one quarterback question.
from the ultimate Carousel conversation that I'm already teasing at the end of this top five. But I'm going to focus on what do the Steelers do at quarterback. That, I think, over the next month is going to be eyes on Malibu, California. Will Aaron Rodgers be out there staring at the sunset again with a blanket around his shoulders? I thought it was in Ober.
I don't know what it was. But, you know, is Rogers, and again, we're going to have Ian Rappaport on here shortly. Is there any there there just because McCarthy and Rogers together back in Green Bay? Um Can be hooked up here for one more year. Is there any there there?
Is Will Howard a possibility for them to say, all right, coach, we hired you to groom a young quarterback? We drafted one last year in the sixth round. We like Will Howard. We're going to send Will Howard out there. I I or do they draft one?
Or do they go in the free agent market? As you know, Kirk Cousins is available. I don't know if that would be the right fit to me. I think Malik Willis would be a great fit. spot um for him in in Pittsburgh PA.
Uh I I kind of dig This is a major storyline. Number three on my top five storylines of the NFL season is what? Will this team do? After having A rare Tumble. for them in their era.
of dynastic football. What do the Chiefs do? To reload. What is the plan? Where is Patrick Mahomes?
Going to be in his rehab by, say, the summer. Can we tell over the next? few weeks. What do they do? At the wide receiver position, what does Travis Kelsey do?
Will he come back? Chris Jones was one of those folks who came out and said, hey. Uh Tyree Kill, you should come home. That was something he threw out there. Is that even in the cards?
Would that even be possible? What do they do? in the draft. Do they go and get Jeremiah love none overall? Do they get a major piece?
On offense through the draft like that with a rare top 10 pick. What do they do on defense? Does Eric be enemies return? Auger anything for the Chiefs over the next few weeks. Brett Veits, you are on the clock.
What do the Chiefs do to reload? Is number three. You'll get handle winning. Is number two on the storylines of the NFL season top. Five storylines.
Is there anything going on for real with Max Crosby? Is there anything up with Max Crosby? In Vegas. I know he's like, leave me the F alone, and I want to play football. But what did he tweet today?
Should there be This conversation. Is Max Crosby? this year's version of Miles Garrett. A top-notch pass rusher Who, well, I mean, Miles Garrett made it plainly apparent he had no desire to play for the Cleveland Browns anymore until the Browns said: here's the number of zeros. with the number four in front of it.
As you know, I kind of like having a little bit of fun with this bit of I'm never playing for the Browns anymore until college? Is it? And is that what's up with Max Crosby? He tweeted today: stop making excuses, go be great.
Okay, okay. Listen, you can tweet out, you know, like you're Jalen Hurts at the podium, you know, saying things that. Are straight out of a fortune cookie or anything that you can do to inspire yourself, that's great. But what is up there? Is there anything up there?
Was the way that his season ended where they told him you're out for the last two games truly pissing him off? Did he really say something? That he doesn't want to be there anymore, even though He was there on the first day the coach showed up to have him run into him at the coffee machine. What is up with Max Crosby? And I think that is going to consume everything until at least the new league year.
I think next week and the combine, I'm going to have my ear to the ground and there's going to be a bunch of people. Chatty cat thing about this subject matter. Good one. Number one is a kind of evergreen, but in this year, I don't know how much of a rotational poll we're going to see from the quarterback carousel.
Now I every time I think that, it spins off its axis. But the question is, you know, who's going to be the first? domino on that to fall. Who's going to be the first cut? Is it Tua with the Dolphins?
Is it Kyler Murray with Arizona? Are those guys going to be available? Kirk Cousins cut, but will he sign back with Atlanta? Because that seems to make sense. With he and Stefanski having great times together in Minnesota and Michael Pennix clearly not being ready potentially for the season with his knee, and maybe he's not the guy there anymore anyway, and Cousins can stay after all and finish his contract.
Those are just three off the top of my head. You got Malik Willis. As well, you've got a bunch of questions with some guys that might be under the radar. What's going on? Can Mac Jones be acquired if somebody's going to go and pluck him?
What are the Vikings thinking? With Sam Darnold having left them. And winning a Super Bowl, and JJ McCarthy having an injury marred up and down. season in which he's now a meme In a way that nobody in the NFL wishes to be a meme. How fast will the quarterback carousels spin and where do those leave pieces?
Who's going to be the quarterback of the Jets? Is Deshaun Watson and his salary that remains mandating the fact that he's going to be the Cleveland Brown starter there? I will tell you this: if Matthew Stafford retired, this would have been number one without a doubt where who wants to be the next Rams quarterback? Who wants to throw their career in the hands of Sean McVay with Cooper Cup? I mean, with Puka Nakua, pardon me, and Devontae Adams being their wide receivers.
Literally, everyone. You know what I mean? Like, this would have spun completely off. The pinning. But he stayed put And there's always a surprise as well at the quarterback spot where you don't see one.
So I'm going to leave this one here, and this is the clear number one storyline of this upcoming offseason, to say the least. You have one more. I did not know. Thank you for using the boy for that one. This is one more that's definitely going to be one in March.
After the new league year is all finished, and the annual league meeting, which is the official name for the owner's meeting. That's going down, I believe, in Arizona this year. And the question is, will the owners Ban do away with the onside kick. And or the tush push or neither. What's going to happen here?
Now listen, the tush push came close last year to being banned. This year it didn't seem to be an unbeatable play. There were a couple of plays that actually were made off of it as a fake. Um It's boring. I'm sick and tired of it, to be quite frank.
But listen, um It's not as significant this time around because the team that's the best at it didn't jam it down everyone's throat all the way to the winner's podium. Right? You know, like the Seattle Seahawks ran it with their tight end every now and then. And as a matter of fact, the Seattle Seahawks won the Super Bowl. finish the postseason.
as being the only team In the playoffs, to not even go for it on fourth down on offense once, zero times. They didn't do it in any of their three playoff wins. this year.
So it's gonna have less heat on it. And there was actually an onside kick. That worked. To the Bears' favor against Green Bay in a crucial contest towards the end of the regular season.
So I don't know if there's as much heat on this one. Either. My guess is always neither because owners need to keep kicking the tires on things before they make a change. Certainly, when it could be as significant as a fourth and 15 or a fourth and 13 play instead of an onside kick, that one would kind of stun me. If the league makes that move.
And those are my top five storylines of the NFL offseason. Presented by Hyundai to kick off this edition of The Rich Eisen Show that rolls on when we come back with Ian Rappaport tapping out of his ski vacation to tell us what he's working on on his notebook. You're never out when you're in NFL information, at least until I pull you back in. from the ski slopes. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast.
Rich Eisen here. You know that feeling of handing off your taxes and then hearing nothing? Total radio silence.
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Visit HyundaiUSA.com and search Hyundai Hope on Wheels to learn more. Is there, does that mean that whatever happened last year wasn't Pete Carroll related? That whoever ordered the code red for him to sit down is still there, essentially, Ian? Is that good? Because.
One would think a change of regime might have automatically taken care of whatever he was pissed about.
So I guess we can sort of connect dots. No? Yeah, I mean, it was an organizational decision and also a medical one because, like, he did have a major injury. And I think that's what's tough. And this is sort of the reason that players are not always great sources on their own injuries.
Everybody wants to play. Everybody wants to play. So I understand why. He wanted to be out there. It would be my thing.
He has been as loyal soldiers you could ever imagine. He has been a great raider at a time where there's not been a lot great. I've always wondered over the past month or two months, does the organization say, you know what? We are going to do right by you and send you to a real contender. Rebuild with the drafts.
That is an option. I just don't know at the end what they end up doing. I just know, like, for him, Like, yes, you could say like things will be better, but he's heard that, to be fair, probably like five times.
Okay, so what do we look for? You think if anything happens, we're talking about August? Or could this be a similar situation as Miles Garrett? Um and you know they they uh Sprinkle a little bit more. Davis dollars on top and this thing goes away.
And Money solves a lot of things. I am not naive.
Okay. When in doubt, uh you know Money, generally money. He's got two new two raises the last two years. Right. And I really feel like he just wants to win.
So, look, if they give him a big bag. People like money, so My guess is that would probably help. But I really just think he wants to be part of something that is meaningful and headed in the right direction to play like good football in December and January.
Okay, and what do you think the The Raiders do it at one overall. Is it Fernando Mendoza coming in? You connect him to the new coach and Clint Kubiak and off they go. And that might be something that could be sold with Bowers and Genty and a draft and free agency. And suddenly this is a A fixable situation in that regard, Ian?
That's the argument. I mean, that is absolutely the argument, right? It's Draft Fernande Mendoza, which I do believe will happen. You know, we're going to get a closer look. It's such a great picture.
Yes, right? I love the kid. I mean, that is him. Like, all emotion and energy, a little awkward, but all emotion. That is a great picture.
Um You can sell it. Like you just did, they got great weapons. I think the offensive line was coached horrendously last year. They are going to play better because they'll be better coached. If you were to say to me, like, what's their offseason look like?
I would think it looks like the Commander's offseason from two years ago. Where they spend in freightancy, but it's a lot of like mid-level guys to make up for some bad traps.
So, like, just fill the roster with pretty good players. And, like, here's the real problem. And again, like, you kind of just said it, we've seen teams turn around so quickly. Bye. Every year there's a couple worsts to first.
So, like, if you're the Raiders, like, you know, this is what they're thinking, right? Right. Ian Rappaport here on the Rich Eisen Show.
So if you were in a quieter place and we were then not saying any words here and we could all hear a pin drop, would we be hearing the sound of Fernando Mendoza's agent telling him not to throw in a couple of Saturdays, leaving us at NFL Network all bummed? Or what are you hearing out front? I'm so biased. Ian. Of course we're biased.
I don't want everyone to throw. I know you want everyone to throw. But my guess is he doesn't. I feel like he sort of has insinuated that he might not. Um I I never quite know if it matters if a guy throws or not.
Um, I hope he does, but my guess is because he has nothing to gain and only things to lose, that he probably doesn't throw. But look, he's going to do the interview, he's going to talk to. We'll see how many teams he ends up talking to. It might be just one. But I think we're going to get a better sense of them over the next week or so.
All right. A few minutes left here with Ian Rappaport kind enough to get off the Deer Valley slopes to join us here. What are the Dolphins up to? Ian? You know, yesterday was a An interesting day because it was what we all expected.
I mean, I think everyone knew Tyreek Hill would be released. Obviously, Bradley Chubb, we knew he was going to be released. A bigger question for Tyreek is just like, when does he play again? Like, that is as bad of a significant injury as you could get. Is he able to play by mid-season?
Hopefully, I think that's realistic, but we don't know.
So I think that one. made sense. It does feel like a full reset for Miami. Like even Tua himself has said a fresh start would make sense. That seems to be the direction they're going.
I don't know what form it's going to take. Like, can they trade him? I know they would like to. But how feasible is it? I think that's certainly a question.
But It certainly looks like a full reset and like You know, when we were all kind of freaking out, when the Dolphins fired Mike McDaniel, and it was looking like a rebuild. This is why you do it.
So you can say, you know what? We are not worried about the previous regime. We are not worried about people's feelings. We're going to be hurt because we signed them or we drafted them. We're just going to start new.
And I liked the hires they made. I think John Eric Sullivan has been. you know, a GM in the making for several years. Um I think the personnel staff that he is creating is going to be really good. I think athlete's going to be really good.
They just need to start new.
So, my guess is that it's with a new quarterback and Um, the only thing that's weird for me here is Such that. Quinn yours may be good. And what we saw last year was pretty promising.
So, I'm really curious what the internal evaluation of him is going to be because they may say, like, they're going to add a veteran anyway, but they may say, like, okay, we think we got one and we'd like to have him go play.
Well, wouldn't this be a spot um For Malik Willis, aren't people already saying that, right? Like he's somebody that has shown. Significant potential over the last two years when he's gotten in for the Green Bay Packers. And you know uh but the question is is How much would he command? And I'm not a capologist.
I don't play one on T V. I I would find it hard to believe that somebody knowing the cap and a hard place or hard rock place, if you will, that the Dolphins are in with Tua That someone would say, let's make this trade. We'll take that contract on and not leave it at your feet. that so I I imagine this would have to be a cut. W would you mind in Best Than You Can Tell, what the cat ramifications of cutting Tua would be?
And would they be able to go and get somebody of Willis's stature and salary demand. Yeah. Okay, so first the the two a part of it. If they are going to do a trade. Um They are gonna eat a lot of the salary.
So it would really be just like, can they save Whatever the number is, five or ten. and get some sort of draft pick like a A mid-round pick, something like that. Either way, capitalize, it stings. Like, this is. This is a problem.
And if you're sort of understanding why the move for Chris Greer was made, like, this is one of the reasons, right?
So it's going to hurt. And they afford Malik Wellers isn't Interesting question. Because you're right, everyone in the world is saying, well, obviously, he's going to go to Miami. It's the people who traded for him and they know him well. And it's like.
I think Malik Willis is going to have a really, really good market. When he's played. In some tough situations, he has been really impressive.
So, can they find a way to keep him under the cap? I don't know. Because they're going to have competition.
So, like, that's one thing that happens this time of the year.
Okay, so he has a background here, he's obviously going here. When you actually look at the money, That would be tough for Miami to do. They could do it. They got smart people, but. Might be too big of a challenge.
Okay. And then you've got a market that could include Pittsburgh, depending on what Aaron Rodgers does, or Pittsburgh's evaluation of Will Howard. And then you've got Arizona. Right. Would you mind hitting both Pittsburgh and Arizona's quarterback?
Situations best you can tell. Here in the few minutes we have. Yeah, I mean, I think Pittsburgh would like to have Aaron Rodgers back. They've been in touch, they've been in contact. you know, I think there's some hope there.
And Pellicero did a good job. Of explaining the Super Bowl Sunday, like the fact that he's already in contact with Mike McCarthy, the fact that he's going to decide before free agency. Um This is a good thing.
So. You know, there's definitely some smoke there with Aaron Rodgers.
Okay. As far as Arizona. They have a tougher decision to make than Miami does. Like, it feels like Miami is. probably parting race with two of them.
With Kyler, he's due less money. Hmm. has played good football. And has not, you know, look, I think the best case scenario for Kyle is he's cut and goes the Russell Wilson route of. Siding for $1 million, the minimum, whatever it is, and just is a good value.
But there's a new regime, and if you're Michael Floor, you know, if you look at it and say, like, Who are we going to get it better? And also we're paying for them anyway. I think Arizona, to me, is more of an open question, but it's like. When he's white, Kyler's still pretty good. Right, okay.
And the timeline on all this is before the newly year in less than a month. Is that what you're saying?
Okay. Yes, it is. Yeah. So this all should be handled, I think, before. before the middle of March.
Free agency period to look like? Give me a crystal ball it for me as you sit there from your post-President's Weekend ski launch. It's going to be very trade-happy, I would imagine. You know, because the actual free agency is The actual free agency is probably not as talent-fresh as you'd want. And teams are being smarter and more.
Proactive about signing their own guys now.
So, free agency has not included as much talent as you want.
So, generally, what smart teams do, and we saw a bunch of it last year, is who's available for trade.
So, that's where, to me, the sort of fun market is going to be is. Who can you trade for? What can you get? And how wild does it get? Because There's a whole group of, you know.
Risk-happy GMs that will make trades and go, you know what, we will live with the results. And it could be a little wacky for us, but I think it'll be fun too. And then the question is: the last one for you before I let you go: is the franchise tag situation and who's going to be allowed to be free and not? That it also includes, you know. One of the best receivers that came out of Pittsburgh, right?
And Pickens. And then there's the Super Bowl MVP and. And Kenneth Walker, the third, who apparently used the parade podium to counsel the general manager on the bag. What do you got for me on that front, Ian?
So Ken Walker, you know, there's a couple of running backs who are out: Ken Walker and Brees Hall. I'd be a little surprised if they got tagged. Transition tag is interesting, though, because it's a couple million dollars less, and it lets an agent go out and shop. I'm not saying that's happening, but it would be certainly an interesting option, I think, for both those guys. The Pickens one stands out to me.
Um Cabo's made an incredible trade last year, one of the best trades that you're getting him. If they, you know, do they do a long-term deal with him with David Mulgetti, the agent? Interesting, possible. But I know a lot of teams are interested. I know they'll have some trade options.
If they say, like, okay, we trade him for three, but we can get a two back and let someone else do a long-term deal. Is that beneficial for them? I think the tag and trade option for Pickens is fascinating as well. Ian, thanks for the time, man. Go hit the slopes, be safe, ski safe.
All right. And thank Mrs. Rapsheet and your family for letting me take you away. She says hello. She made sure to have me tell you hello.
Are you a chili guy? What are you what what what's the what's the what's the ski slope uh stuff that you uh Take in the gear? Sure, no. What do you got? Like chi no, chili, like food.
You got you know the chili. Oh, yeah.
Okay. A lot of chili. I would say some rice bowls. Very good.
Vacation.
So you can eat whatever you want.
So pizza, it's all good. I love it. We got good food here. I'll be doing well. You, the man.
Well, I'll see you in Indianapolis. Take care, bud. Thanks. Awesome. Look forward to it.
Thanks, Richard. That's the co-host, The Insiders Rap Sheet. Here it goes. I I I asked about that because You know what my Olympic sport would be? Apre skier.
I'm a gold medal, Apre skier. Wow. Gold medal. Multiple gold medal apparatus here. Oh, yeah.
I thought Ian would be in the gym getting ready for Combine Week. Why would you say that? Because that's when he squares off and there's big. Oh, that's true. I don't know.
I just thought he'd be prepping, getting his mind on. I should have asked him about that. I should have asked him. Is he still on? Yeah, no, he's gone.
Well, maybe he's getting a better leg base. Yeah, right. You know? That's right. I forgot about that.
Oh yeah, the old Indianapolis Starbucks champion That's right. Face down, man. I want to hang out there for a few minutes. No, you don't. I think we met Adam Gates there one night.
I can tell you, he knows where it is. I will take you there. You want me to take you on the sites of Indianapolis? It's pretty great, actually. Yeah.
This is where Ian Rappaport is throwing down over a Venti. I've been to India like twice, and the TSA guy knows me from the show. Oh, good. I appreciate that. Three times, yes.
Oh, that's good.
So I can take you through all of the Indianapolis. Jeez, is this my 20th, 21st combine now? I just hear you always talk about a breakfast spot that you like. A steakhouse that you like. It's incredible.
It's incredible. Um yeah, I've I've got some standing uh breakfast. Um you're rich hysterical sit-downs and stuff like that at the Combine. Um and um yeah, two thousand five was the first one. That's where I I know that because that was when Terrell Davis said I couldn't run the 40 and I said I'll show you.
You know, in certain terms and run, rich, run was born. You know what? Go run another 40 in your suit. 6.77 seconds in the old. RCA dome.
Dress shoes back then. That's right. And the Combine Man, that was when I'll never forget, you know, they sat together. At the 40-yard dash line, right at the starters line. Right at the starters line in the first row.
Right in the old RCA dome. Bill Parcels. Al Davis. Gil Bryant. And then the fourth seat was rotational.
Like it would be one coach after another, after another, would sit down and chat with them. Al Davis, Parcells, and Gil Brent. Just holding court. Hold in court. And I don't think they were hand-tying anybody.
I don't think they were. But I remember at one point, I just looked at everybody at NFL Network. I'm like, how much for me to go and sit down next to him where I would take that fourth seat? Excuse me, guys. Excuse me, guys, this seat taken?
Please tell me you did it. I didn't. No. I didn't have the temerity. That was just year three of NFL Network.
Now, today you would take that seat. And a couple of years later, I was, you know, when Twitter just started. Hmm. Boy, I'm really dating myself. Twitter just started.
I would. Take my BlackBerry and take photographs. And just post them? Because I was, you know, just started and I was really into getting my follower count up. 09, baby.
Different times. Dude, I remember. Again, there were coaches that get lined up. Um, right at the starters line, so they can get the best hand time to start. And again, they just sit when I say lined up, they sit in the seats.
that are as closely aligned all the way from the front to the back. With the starter, Line. And then they do the same thing at the 40-yard finish.
So they got the best time. Viewpoint to when hit the thumb to the stopwatch when the guy crosses the finish line. And then there would be a handful of coaches that sit there at the 10-yard line because the 10-yard split. for linemen is the crucial number. You know, because a lineman runs 40 yards in a row.
Something during a game, something's up. Like, you don't want a lineman doing that. They're chasing somebody who's just picked up a fumble or running back for the pick six. Or. They're running in a thick six themselves.
But bottom line is the 40-yard dash time for a big lineman is not really the most important thing. The 10-yard split is because that shows the burst that you can get off the line, maybe get down the field to block somebody on a screen pass or get to the second level.
So there'd be a bunch of coaches that are lined up on the 10-yard line. And I remember I took a snapshot once of Tom Coughlin sitting there. With my blackberry, and he goes, Come on, Rich, you're better than that. First of all, how'd you let him see you take a picture? Dude, he's the air.
Did you not hear what I said? He was using my BlackBerry. Like, I wasn't as savvy then as I am now. I mean, he would know if I'm sneaking a pic of him now. Plus, you know, I got a different phone, I could zoom in from the middle of the field.
He wouldn't know. But I just I Are you like two feet from him? No. I'm standing on the field and it's clear that I'm using this big, huge blue square, pointing it at him and hitting it. He would say, maybe it did.
Come on, Rich. You're better than that. Man, I never had a Blackberry. I feel like you said. No, you didn't.
You didn't miss out. Blackberry was for like real business-minded cats. I did a T-Mobile sidekick. That was all about it. That's right.
You had the Blackberry so you could send an email on the spot once somebody paged you. Paged you. Yeah, by the way, I watched Bruce Almighty with Taylor over the weekend, and there's a scene where God pages him. I had to explain to her what that was. How did you explain that?
Well, once upon a time, people would hit you in this device that's on your hip. That It'd be a number, and then you can find a payphone. What's a payphone? That's an extra map.
Now it makes me think maybe we should do a poll question. What do you wish could be brought back? The Motorola two-way, the T-Mobile sidekick, or the Blackberry? Do it. Or none of the above.
844-204-RICH, number to dollar, or competitive all-star games. Hey, now. I mean, I think we had that. That's right. It's been brought back.
We'll hit that next. The Rich Heisen Show, the podcast. As you know, managing maintenance, repair, and operations is never easy. But for the ones who always rise to the challenge, Granger has your back. From professional grade products you can count on to fast, dependable delivery.
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Brian Pata, senior defensive lineman from Miami. Gun down. The key to this case, it's blind. An hour before he died, he was on the phone arguing with Tabaka. This might be a hit.
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Discover why Pella is a trusted choice for homeowners everywhere. Visit pella.com/slash Eisen today. That's pella.com. Slash Eisen Listen, a lot of people like to dunk on the NBA for their all-star game, and I have nothing but sympathy being an NFL guy. I mean, the NFL Pro Bowl, what it used to be, then what it became, and what the NFL is attempting to do.
Um it ain't easy. Major League Baseball has the best all-star game. And even then, you know, with guys now who throw 100 miles an hour every single time they come out of the pen, you better score your run on or two on a starter because these guys who just come one after another out of the pen. Yeah, so sometimes the last few innings of a Major League Baseball All-Star game doesn't have much action, whatever. Listen, what the NBA attempted to do, I think, worked.
Um you know, play f a round robin. Um competition Just four games, if you will, of a 12-minute quarter. World all-stars versus young American stars and veteran American stars. But I appreciate they don't call them old, the old guys, the OGs, right? Anthony Edwards faced the league winning the MVP of the all-star game and then being surprised about it, right?
It was kind of endearing. He's just. Awesome. He's a great face for the game in terms of his personality, and Adam Silver's got to be, you know, stoked. Certainly, you know, when I guess the other image of the day is an NBA goat.
Not being at the NBA All-Star Game, but winning the Daytona 500 and being as psyched about it as any of his six trophies when he was with the Chicago Bulls. Michael Jordan. I mean, Michael Jordan was losing his mind over his team winning the Daytona 500. As he should, as he should. But certainly an upgrade in competition.
Um you know Scotty Barnes winning one game at a three-point shot, you know, and Wembun Yama being upset about you could see they were into it, right? They were into it, which is all we as fans, we just want it to mean as much to you as it does to us, which is why the load management stuff drives us crazy. And it's an upgrade in everything, including Adam Silver's trophy presentation. If you remember it, two years ago, after. You know, one All-Star game ended ninety million to, you know, A million.
This was two years ago, his trophy presentation. Moment.
Well Congratulations. Big gulps, huh? Exactly.
Well, you remember that? We just cut that down because he was talking about how it was a 211, 186-point victory for the Eastern All-Stars. And he's like, end of the Eastern Conference All-Stars. You scored the most points, and then added the.
Well. Congratulations. All right, so this was Adam Silver when he awarded the trophies. and all the accolades this year and in uh up the road in the intuitil.
Now for these all-stars, both US and world, thank you guys for competing hard on the court tonight. We all appreciate that. There could only be one winner and it's the USA stars, so come accept your trophy. There you go. Thanks for trying, says the commissioner of the Association.
And we appreciate that. Very, very good. Which is as honest as you can get. Thank you for having it matter to you and showing it. And showing it.
Because there is, you know, a a perception. You don't care. Put them in the right situation. Upgrade. Check the box.
It was fun. The dunk contest, it's over. I mean, that's just over. Come on. Yeah.
When one guy hits his head on the side of the basket and then needs maybe a concussion protocol. By missing the dunk. I mean, that there's no more. Um You know, there's no more, I guess, of a perfect image to end this thing. Just end it, which is unfortunate because I remember it when I was a kid.
I don't think they should end it necessarily. What are we going to do there? You should get the influencers and the YouTubers who are doing these incredible dunks. I mean, it's a stars of the game do it. Stars of the game do it.
Let's go. The stars of the game can't spend eight hours a day practicing dunks the way these influencers can. They got to work on other facets of the game. Stars of the game. They do it for.
Hey, listen, baseball's been lucky. to have some stars of the game do the home run derby. Not all of them do, but a lot of them do. And it makes a difference. We'll talk about all this with Ramona Shelburne in hour number three, but Jeff Passen's coming up shortly, speaking of baseball.
The Rich Eisen Show Podcast. Mm-hmm.
