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Now, on with the show. Live from the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, it's the Rich Eisen Show. And those are ready to take the steps. Jeremiah Wall touchdown Sonny Stars. The Rich Eisen Show.
In this hour, Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley and GM John Eric Sullivan. Ravens head coach Jesse Minter. Plus, latest news and more. And now, it's Rich Eisen. For the first time ever, the Rich Eisen Show comes to you live in person at the NFL Scouting Combine in downtown Indianapolis.
Thrilled to be here with you, not just with my guys, Chris Brockman and TJ Jefferson. Good to see you guys, but also to see you with us right here. This is a big moment for our program that's been in existence since 2014. This is the first time, as I mentioned right off the top, that we've ever done this show live from an NFL Scouting Combine with me here and you there. And we're thrilled to be on ESPN right now.
To be honest with you, my mind's kind of blown that I'm sitting here on the Rich Eisen Show on ESPN at the NFL Scouting Combine. And we're also live where we're usually found every day, 12 to 3 Eastern. We're streaming live on Disney Plus and the ESPN app. We say hello to our ESPN radio audience, SiriusXM Channel 80. As you heard off the top, we've got a lot of general managers and coaches coming here.
And there was also, as you heard, the and more portion. I'll tell you about the and more portion. Yes, Jesse Minner, the first guest that we have, the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens, is going to come here, the new head coach and general manager package together from the Miami Dolphins, Jeff Hafley and John Eric Sullivan. And then Omar Khan is going to be joining us from the Pittsburgh Steelers, Robert Sala, Brad Holmes, and hour number two. If you have hair, you're not allowed on the set.
That's actually going to be a good one. That team should be pretty much safe. But we're also going to need the seats, to be honest. Our three: Todd Bowles, Howie Roseman, Kevin Stafansky, the new head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, and then Dan Morgan, the GM of the Carolina Panthers, wraps up our first of four days live here at the NFL Center. Let's go, baby.
This is my 22nd combine. How about that, man? Oh, this is my third. Let me tell you something. When this started, You We're sitting in a convention center.
Massive room where there's all the podiums where the GMs and the coaches speak, and then the prospects start speaking tomorrow because the on-field drills that I'm going to be hosting with Daniel Jeremiah on NFL Network 3 p.m. Eastern on Thursday, defensive line group gets out there every time a group goes out on the field the day before they speak to the media here.
So the D-line and the defensive line group is going to be out at these podiums on Wednesday, which is why a lot of the coaches and GMs speak on Tuesday. And then when we first started, On NFL Network, there wasn't a room like this. There wasn't a room like, because on the other side it's Radio Row, just like Super Bowl. It wasn't anything like this. As a matter of fact, we were fighting with the competition committee just to get our cameras in here.
Really? Yeah. Come a long way, Rick. Not kidding you. I've mentioned this on the air many times, and Bill Pollion has confirmed it.
He was. He was like the, what should I say, Dominic Haushick, Patrick Waugh, and Martin Brodor. He sticks everything away. Like he was sticking everything away. Like, no, though, no cameras here, no cameras there, because this is a laboratory.
Hellgabuck, Richard. Hellabuck's pardon me. Very good, thank you. This is a laboratory where all the prospects come. And back in the day, though, they didn't let the prospects have cell phones in there because they wanted nobody to have an outside influence in the way these kids are working out.
Now we know. you know, people are now FaceTiming after they break a record and they're crying because there's mom on the phone, you know, like DK Metcalf a few years ago. There's been some incredible moments here over the last 22 years that I've been covering this combine, but I, this. This, I don't recognize a room like this. This is wild.
It does have a Super Bowl kind of feel and buzz to it right now. And it's been just two weeks since the actual Super Bowl that you're referring to. Have they played that game yet? Yeah, I'm really excited to watch it.
Well, Vrabel's going to be here tomorrow at 1 Eastern time. Try to bit with Mike on Wednesday. Try that bit with him when he's here. Ask him if he's played the game yet. Yeah.
I'd say no, don't do that. Which, by the way, it's amazing he got out of New England with three feet of snow hitting that area. But in all seriousness, this is the beginning of. the non-playing season, all right, where the prospects are all here, they're being interviewed, they're being poked and prodded by medical staffs, they're being tested mentally, they're being tested physically, they're also part and parcel of an offseason, a non-playing season where franchise tag decisions are right around the corner, and then the new league year is just three weeks away. It's all jammed into a three-week period where all 32 teams are making news.
And the biggest story of this combine coming in isn't the first overall selection because it's Fernando Mendoza. I think it's going to be him. He's not throwing here on Saturday. He will be at a podium on Friday and we put our hat in the lottery ring to get him to sit down with us and be when he's walking around this room here. And we do hope you appear on this program.
I'm also freshly on LinkedIn. Fernando. You know, I started out. I should follow them. Maybe I should reach out.
I did too. I started following them the day after you brought it up. That's my first following. Yeah, sent him up. I didn't read.
Long story short is usually the first overall selection is the story for a franchise that's holding that. And the biggest story involving the Las Vegas Raiders, though, is Max Crosby. Is there any there there? with Max Crosby being so uh upset with the decision makers who are still there. From the previous year, is he still so upset about being deactivated with two games to go?
With an injury that they said we don't want you to run the risk of having a problem with for your offseason, for everything else. Is there something bigger than that? Has he told the team that he wants no part of them? That makes no sense because he was in the facility on the day Clint Kubiak was named the new head coach. The new head coach said he had coffee with him.
at the facility, which is great, like the silver and black drip coffee machine, I guess, is where they had a chit chat. Is there any there there with Max Crosby, who says he just wants to be left the F alone? I'm wondering if the general manager, John Spytek, felt that when the subject of Max Crosby was brought up to him at his podium appearance in this room just moments ago. What is it? Trey talks around at Max Crosby.
Do you anticipate MD in a raided uniform when it sees the start? I do, yes. What has been your communication like with Crosby over the last month or so? Max and I have a great relationship. He's in the building every day getting healthy right now.
We talk on the phone, we text.
So I have a great relationship with Max.
So Okay. Move on. I don't know if. I don't know. I feel like we've heard similar things from GMs in the past, and then a few weeks later that player is on a different team.
Well, he didn't say the magic words. Right, right now. At this time. Right now is the two-word version of it. At this time is the three-word version of it.
You know, I expect him to be here at this time. At this time, yeah, yeah. He's on the roster for now. For now. There's a for now.
There's a right now. Yes, and there's a future. At this time, those are markers that you look for. Right, right, right. And Spy Tech was wise enough to not go down that road and just say, yeah, I do expect him to be here.
Um and And maybe. It's because he's going to be there. At the end of the day. Right. As I Have said, and I'll just repeat it one more time here now that we're.
hanging at the combine together, all of us, right? that you do not trade.
Somebody like Max Crosby. Stephen Jones is slated to be a Friday guest here. Stephen Jones. I need a walk. But you don't.
I need a warning. You don't. You don't, because you're going to be looking for somebody like him. Yeah. You're going to be now, now, listen.
Um the reason why Micah Is in Green Bay now is different from the circumstances as to why Max Crosby might wind up somewhere else over the next few. Weeks. Yeah, Max President got paid. Micah was trying to get paid. Plus, though, I mean, someone like Spytech and the rest of the.
You know, Raiders' organization could sit down and say, We have so many holes to fill. This is a way that we can amass so many draft choices to do all that. Once again, though, the draft choices that you amass would be to find the next Max Crosby. It's not like ideas like him are easy to find, right? Exactly.
That can prove out to be that guy. Right. You know, and that's the first line group, that's the first group of. Of players that we're going to see at the scouting combine. I've got my research binder from the great Jack Android.
Okay. Your researcher.
Well, I left mine at home. I did. You want to call me out in front of everybody? Wow, that's right. I've got stuff going on, Chris.
He literally has stuff going on. He's got to go. I got to do our show. I had to do our show. I had to do Overreaction Monday, the podcast, wherever you get your podcast and the Rich Island Show YouTube channel.
It says Jack Android. I'm just saying it doesn't say your name. On our flight out here, we were watching the Overreaction Monday on our seatbelt. That's why we're lucky we even made it here. Understood.
All of those things happened.
So, yeah, mine got left at home.
Okay. You don't have to say it, but I'll admit it. I didn't say, I mean, all right, we've got to stop talking like this. You should have just had Liz package. At any rate, the reason why I'm pointing this out is I'm a great team player.
Of course. Of course. I need a check to give me an extra one. But the defensive line group are the first. groups that are going to be out there.
And these are the guys that you would want to take a look at and say: if we trade Max Cross. Yeah, that reminds me of Max Cross. Hey, I like that guy right there. And plus nobody in my estimation. Bree breathes and lives.
And personifies the concept in the 21st century, a quarter. of that century in. Nobody personifies the Raider. mentality and who you think is in Las Vegas. Than Max Crosby.
Yeah. All right. You know what I mean? I get it. Like he looks like he's in Mad Max.
He's got two X's in his name. In Las Vegas, you're one X short of just being, you know, home. Oh, sorry. Home. Home, my bad.
What's the matter with you?
So, long story short, is. But two number ones for the Max might be. You'd give it. You'd give it up. You're going to find Elliott Wolfe here in Seattle.
I'm going to look around for him and try to talk. Flip him and flip him. Either him or the other guy we might get. Your first round draft choice is too low, though, Pat. Too low.
If I'm Vegas, I'm like, nah-uh. No, I know. I'm trading him to somebody that's way up there so I can have the first and fourth overall pick if they're the Tennessee Titans. First and third. This year, TJ.
First and third. Let's go. Yeah. But I still wouldn't do it. This guy.
I I still wouldn't do it. I still wouldn't do it. No.
Okay, not at all. Because you're going to be looking for him. You need to build around Fernando Mendoza, right?
Now, you choose him, unless he's basically come out and said, forget it. I find that hard to believe. But that is the, honestly, as we're walking around here, and you could see how. You run into everybody every two feet, right? Like it's a convention here.
And everybody's like, you know, happy that football's back and we're talking ball and everybody loves ball. That's number one conversation.
Sorry, Max, I know you want to be left the F alone. This is basically the conversation here is what's up with you, what's up with the Raiders and you? Did you tell the Raiders you're not coming back and you're just not going to tamp down? I don't know. Whatever it is, until we hit that new league year or until we hit the training camp, I mean, I shouldn't even say that, training camp is when you lost your micah.
But sorry, TJ.
Sorry, TJ.
Sorry, Max. That's the story here. That's what everybody's talking about right now. Because everybody believes the Raiders are going to take Fernando Mendoza. All right, so we've got a lot of speed dating to get to here.
Yep.
So you guys can free to walk about the cabin. I got some guys. Yeah, well, hold the tab. You can't go. By the way, you know what we forgot today.
What did we forget? We forgot to. Oh, light the candles. We forgot to light the candle today. What did you bring?
You know, just a little. Hey, look at that. Because we don't know fire regulations where we're at, so we just want to make sure the candle was lit. Did you really bring a candle here? I mean, I could say I did it.
But it wasn't me. How did you say that you did? It was one of our wonderful crew that looked out for your boy.
Okay. You know what I mean? So, yeah. But now I feel like this is a show and the candle's lit.
Okay. Yeah. So there we go. And you're looking for every patriot you could possibly find on this show. Yeah, yeah.
Well, he's uncomfortable because he doesn't have his laptop in front of him. I don't know what to do with my hand. Both of us, I'm over here. Just like, what do I do with my hands? All right.
Well, Jesse Minter's on the podium. Oh. Can you go up there and ask a question? Yes, no, no, no, no. Don't delay him.
He's got to be here. Oh, he must grab it. He's supposed to be here in five minutes. I'll go get him. We'll make a hole.
That's what I'm saying. I think if you want to do something, by the show muscle today, you are the show muscle. I'll take that. The two of you. I'll take Strawberry.
I'm show photographer today. Let's get them all.
Now I'll get the muscle. And we've gotten a bunch of them. We've got a lot of money today. And actually, in hour number three, when the show moves to ESPN2, you should definitely stay tuned for that because we, I believe, are switching from Howie Roseman to Kevin Stefansky in the middle of this. Like a hot change.
Like a hot change. All right. I don't know how we're going to do that. Let's go. We'll figure it out, though.
That might need the muscle for you then. I mean, Howie's not a big guy. I could just. Literally pick a match. I mean, plus, I mean, what am I going to ask Cowie anyway?
He's not going to.
Well, you know, there's nothing. Is the tush push going to be banned? AJ Brown. What's going on with your new offensive coordinator? What's happening with A.J.
Brown? What else are we going to be talking about?
Well, she stakes and Phillies are the best. Yeah. You know what I mean? Who's the best? When you're choosing 23rd overall, who's the best Georgia player available?
What SEC guy are you looking at? I mean, is there X number of Georgia players they must draft? Yes. Yeah, what's his plan? Yeah, correct.
All right, let's take a break. Jesse Minners off the podium. And I'm sending my muscle throughout the rest of the room. We're off and running here from the scouting combine with the new head coach of the Ravens when we come back. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast.
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The professional parts people will even install your new wiper blades for free. Choose Rainx Latitude Wiper Blades at your local O'Reilly Auto Parts store or online at O'ReillyAuto.com. Our radio audience just returned here on ESPN Radio. We're here live with the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens, Jesse Minter, here on the program.
So, what was your conversation with Steve Bascioti like? What was that like to be in that man's office and chit-chat knowing What this organization means to him. It means the world to him, and wanting to, and continuity means the world to him too. It must have been awkward for him to be in a situation. Like switching head coaches.
Yeah, it was humbling, and I think the head coaching change was a major thing weighing on his mind, obviously, over that time frame. I think in the end. You know, it came down to there was a chance for it to have a little bit of continuity, but also a new, fresh. Leader, and so I think you get a little bit of like, hey, let's not throw away, let's not tear down what's been built here for 18 years. It's been very successful.
They've been an organization at or near the top every year, in contention regularly. And so now it's like there's some things that you can keep, there's some things that you can maybe update and change. And I think he felt really good about all the things we talked about. Tell me about the offensive coordinator you hired and why you hired him. Declan Doyle, I think he's a.
Creative. I think he's a connector with the players. I think it was really helpful for him to be with Ben Johnson last year in Chicago. Tons of respect for Ben, how he operates, and being part of a new staff as the offensive coordinator.
So he was able to really kind of set the table week to week for Ben as the play caller, Ben being the play caller. But he's been preparing for this. He's been in the league since he was 22 years old.
So I don't think the age is a major factor here. This guy's been rolling in this level for a long time. Worked with Sean Payton, Ben Johnson, some great offensive minds. And I'm excited to see what he can do.
Well, obviously, with Lamar.
So let's get to this conversation. I've got, Jesse, you met you here on the Rich Eisen Show. Your conversations with Lamar, what can you share with me that you've had with him? Great. You know, very similar.
Like, at the beginning, there's normal. You know, there's an openness to want to learn about me. We do know each other. We crossed over for a couple years in Baltimore.
So I think there was, again, like a little bit of a familiarity.
Okay, this younger guy, I remember him. We've had a lot of opportunities to talk. I'll try to probably keep a lot of what we say to each other private between the two of us, but I feel like the relationship is off to a great start and headed in a great direction. Questions that he has for you that you're willing to? You know, I think he was involved in the interview process.
So he was in an interview room with you at one point? We were on a Zoom.
Okay. And so that was cool. He wanted to hear my vision, you know, for him, the offense, the team. What is that that you're willing to share? Yeah, I think it's a really well-connected team that plays team football, that cares about each other, that plays for each other on the field, an offense that takes advantage of his skill set, but also has plays off of plays, off of plays.
It's a very systematic approach that we can take some pressure off of him in the run game by handing the ball to Derrick Henry as many times as possible. You had a big smile on your face because you said it. I'm excited about that. And so, really, just building a system that allows him to thrive and be the MVP caliber player that he's been. Run more?
I don't know that he needs to run more. You know, I actually think there's times where he can run less. If you build an offense that takes advantage of the under-center, the downhill run game.
Now that opens up a lot of boots and play action and plays. And then the great quarterbacks have that ability on the key play to execute the second play.
So the first play is maybe not there, it's not the perfect play call.
Now he can take advantage of that with his athleticism, his skill set. That's what he's always been able to do and will continue to be able to do that. Which is the, you know, listen, I understand the sensitivity of this question. Or this subject matter with him about running, we're here in Indianapolis, where he refused to run. Purposely, and it made sense.
Where it's just like, hey, you know, you wanted a quarterback, I'm your guy.
Okay, and Ozzie Newsome and the Ravens were the ones who said, we get it, we're going to trade up in the first round and get that fifth year of contractual control. We believe in you, and we're going to get you up and running. Literally and figuratively. But, I mean, he is in this league where the two-way threat, you as somebody who's, you know, built to try and stop that stuff, know how. much of an advantage it would be to you to get him to do both.
And the question is, is how do you do it? You know, does he want to do it? Do you want to tell your new OC, we have to do it? And that's the question that I kind of high-leverage moments where. The quarterback's willing to do what he needs to do to win the game or win the play or whatever it might be.
And then I think there's times where you got to-you know, this is a franchise player. This is a guy you want to be the quarterback for a long, long time. Yes, and so there's a health element and a protection element that needs to be in place to where he's not taking some of the hits that he doesn't need to.
So I think it's a great balance there. You want him to be what's made him great. I think you look at Mahomes and Josh Allen and all those type of quarterbacks that can make that second play. And so he's certainly up there. You know, in that stratosphere, and again, it's like: can we make the offense help him?
And then to where when he does have to do that, You know, he has that opportunity to do that.
So, best Michigan defender available with your first draft choice as a head coach? We'll see. First, yeah, you got some targeted here? Yeah. I mean, you know how I feel about you, man.
And how I just loved watching you do what you did. And when I When I first saw you with the lightning bolt, I'm like, you know, of all the guys that Jim took, you know, you're the one that really just stuck it in the guts, but. The fact that you left with a championship and now you're trying to bring that to Baltimore. I'm excited for you. Yeah, thank you.
I'm really excited for you. Are you all situated? You got everything going? Getting there.
Okay. Getting ready to maybe make an offer on a house and how many kids do you have? Three kids. How old are you? Yeah, nine, seven, and four.
Okay. So my wife, Rachel, she's the. She's the rock star. She has her hands full right now. Right.
Kind of going back and forth. Figuring out schools, figuring out schools. People don't get that while they get it, but they don't think about that when she changes. You know, for example, is fourth grade, and she's gone to. Five different schools.
Oh, my word.
So we've had some different moves. Of course. Now we hope that this is one where we can stay somewhere and be somewhere for a long time.
Okay. So, and again, what was your first memory of a combine? Where's the first combine you were at? Oh, probably. Probably 2018, just doing like a lot of the informal interviews with the secondary.
Kind of seeing it and just being amazed. Just being amazed at how big of a deal it is and really just how big the NFL is and how everything is entertainment, everything's a production. And you realize quickly that it's a business, but it's great and it allows us to be able to do what we do. Like this league gives us that platform to do what we want to do at a high level. And so, who did you, over the years, spot?
That you can take credit for that wound up somewhere? I'd say really the first one for me was Geno Stone. He was a safety that we drafted in Baltimore.
Now, ironically, he went somewhere else first, came back there, had a really good year. I think in 23, he had six or seven interceptions. Is now a place for one of our rivals in Cincinnati.
So that's definitely one that jumps out. Jumps out at you.
Okay, fantastic. And what's your message to Ravens fans who are still wondering who you are after 18 years of John Harbaugh and having a team that again, You know, where the results didn't get didn't hit in a manner that Steve Bascioti was concerned about. I think the message is: we want the Ravens fans to have the highest expectations possible, which is to win the last game of the year. We want to internally create standards and create operating procedures that allow us day by day to chase that, that allow us to get a little bit better each day, not worry about the end result right now, but really focus on the process of getting a little bit better at a time. Right now is the time to build a team, you know, through free agency, through the draft, through the offseason program.
And then when we go out on the field in September, we're ready to represent our great fan base, put a product out there they can be excited about. And the defensive side of the ball: what are you going to do? Yeah, we're going to play Ravens defense. You know, historically, this franchise has been the The bar for defense in the National Football League, I would say. We plan on getting back to that, and we plan on doing it very quickly.
Fair to say. Kyle Hamilton is sort of in the Derwin-James role for your defense. Is that fair to say? Fair to say. They're their own players.
They, you know, their own strengths. They're both unbelievable. Derwin was such a joy to work with for two years. Love that man. He loved you.
And so Kyle. Kyle's love. Yeah, really, really excited to work with Kyle, kind of what he brings to the table. He's younger, so he's, I think, his fourth or fifth year now and has been already first team all-pro a couple times.
So could not be more excited to have him.
Well, I'm excited for you, Jesse Minter. Thanks again. Really appreciate everything that you've done in your career to get to this point. And I'm fired up to see what you're going to do for. A fan base that is second to none, you know, and an owner who is as generous as they come.
He's so great with my charity run every single year, he and his wife. And I'm a fan of the organization and for you. Thank you. Really excited for you. Appreciate that.
You got it. That's Jesse Minter, the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens, right here on the Rich Eisen Show live from Indianapolis. When we come back, the new coach and general manager of the Miami Dolphins, Jeff Hapley and John Eric Sullivan, together when we come back. Mm-hmm. The Rich Heisen Show, the podcast.
Jeff Hafley, the new head coach of the Miami Dolphins and the new GM, John Eric Sullivan, here on the Rich Eisen Show. Did you guys know at any point in time in your careers? that you were on the radar screen of Troy Aikman. in any way, shape, or form. For me, that's a no.
Not until this Miami Dolphins kind of the Miami Dolphins situation came into play. I will say it was a privilege and an honor to, once I came on board, work alongside of Troy to get him in place. What a resource, what an asset. It goes about it the right way, and just a good guy. Like a tremendous sounding board.
For me, when we were going through the head coaching process, to have Troy and Dan Marino, you know, sitting sideways. By the way, I shouldn't leave him out. My bad. My bad. But Troy's new to the new to the operation.
That Stephen Ross is putting together. Exactly. But from my vantage point, to look at Troy and Dan, two of the best that ever did it, at the most important position, and I look at them and I say, Would you follow that guy, whoever it was, and to get their feedback? I mean, I'd be a fool not to. Weigh that heavily into the equation.
Obviously, they both thought the world of him, as I knew they would. But yeah, he with Troy was awesome. And so you never really had any conversations prior to a Packer game on the field on a Monday night or a Sunday or anything like that? No, I met Troy years ago, so I'll give you probably more information than you want to know. I'll make it quick.
I have time for you. My dad grew up in Miami. And grew up with Joe Avezzano's family. He lived with Joe Avezzano.
Okay. Bounced around in the foster care system. He lived with him? Yeah, Joe's family raised him. They both went to Florida State together to play football.
And so their relationship is lifelong. Obviously, Joe went on to be a longtime coach of the Cowboys. He and Troy are close.
So I met Troy very quickly on the field when the Packers played the Cowboys. It's a five-minute conversation in 2007. I remember it because it was Troy Eggman. He doesn't remember it. I was just a.
young scout at the time but uh but anyway so that was our one and only Kind of crossing paths, memorable for me, not for him. But it's kind of cool how life works out, you know? Yeah. Small world. Yeah, I had done the broadcast meetings with Troy.
Sure. Just being back in Green Bay for the Monday night games. And then he actually reached out to me. I I forget at some point, you know, before all this. Happened, and I remember getting a text and said, Hey Jeff, it's Troy Aikman, can you talk?
I was like, Yeah, Troy Aikman, if you want to talk, I'll talk whenever you want. I was like, At first, I thought it was one of my friends, just kind of playing a joke on me. It's like, This is Troy Aikman. It's like, Okay, yeah, sure. Sure, it is.
But it was, because I called him, and it was Troy. And we just talked. And then he said, He asked me if I ever thought about being a head coach again. And I was like, Absolutely. And we kind of kept in touch a little bit and then went through the process.
And really cool to get to know him. And be able to pick his brain on a lot of things.
So that was really our first interaction. Who's the GM mentor for you? Is it Goudekundst? Is it his predecessor? It was Ted Thompson.
Ted Thompson. And then Brian Goudekins. I mean, both had a tremendous impact on me.
So you're not going to trade for anybody? That's all my Packer fan friends. What I will say, like, within the pillars of our process, those never changed. But Brian was more aggressive than Ted was.
So it was cool to me to see within the same process how they can be a little bit different just based on your personality and your way of doing business. Yes. But both had a tremendous impact on me. I kind of chased Brian through my career. He was a Southeast Scout, then I was the Southeast Scout.
He was the director of College Scouting, so then I was the director of College Scouting all the way up. And so he was a tremendous sounding board for me. He's a very forward thinker. He's aggressive. He's got a great eye.
He's good with people. I have nothing but respect for him, but Ted was kind of the guy. Godfather for all of us. Sure, and still for so many in the league, for sure. And it's interesting that you both come, professionally, at least for you, Jeff, you both come.
From an organization that's gone from one Hall of Fame quarterback to another Hall of Fame quarterback to a kid that's really balling out right now in Jordan Love.
Now you're part of an organization that. for the lack of a better phrase, is still looking for the next Merino.
So, where are we right now on your quarterbacks on the roster right now, John Eric Sullivan?
So, everything's on the table with Tua. You know, I've said it multiple times today in different media outlets. We've talked to his reps, we've talked to him, we've explored the possibility of trades. We are very appreciative of everything that Tua has done and accomplished with the Miami Dolphins. It will be interesting to see where this goes with the Dolphins or elsewhere.
Quinn Huers is obviously on the roster. He did some nice things down the stretch. My job is to make this as competitive of a room as I can. And that goes really for every positional room. We'll see what that looks like down the road.
There's a lot of factors at play. I can't give you a definitive answer today, a lot of conversations that need to be had. But every move you make affects the next one.
So we'll kind of see how it all plays out. What are you willing to share about the market that you've seen 4-2? Since you say that you're talking on that front, I think whenever you're talking about a quarterback who's accomplished some good things in the National Football League, who's played at a high level, there's always going to be interest. The details and specifics of that, I'll obviously keep to myself. I think it'd be irresponsible and unprofessional to come on live TV and share that, but there is interest.
And I think to a I know Tua still thinks he can play at a high level, whether it's in Miami or elsewhere.
So I hope that he has the opportunity to do that one way or the other. A couple questions if you don't, more questions if you don't mind about Tua. Um you said everything's on the table. Releasing him, cutting him is also on the table. I think it's all on the table right now.
And keeping him, is that on the table right now? On the table. Yeah, it's on the table. And in terms of keeping him, what conversations, coach, have you had with him that you're willing to share? With John Eric?
No, with Tua. Good one. I had a great conversation with Tua. He was on vacation the first time I called him in the Bahamas with his family. And he came by.
He came by and saw both of us when he was in the office. We sat down and talked for a while, just really just like I would with any other player who's on our current roster and got to know him, wanted to know about his family, and kind of talked about his football career and where it was going. You know, we kinda left it like that. And I just I told him, I'm gonna I'm gonna treat you like you're playing quarterback on this roster until I'm told otherwise. And that's just, I can look in the eye and tell you that's the truth.
That's my job to do right now. And the rest of the offense, what can you tell fans this is going to, in your estimation, look like? What is a Jeff Hafley? Head coached offense look like here? Yeah, well, we've hired Bobby Sloick, who I have a ton of respect for.
I love the person. Coached against him when I was in Green Bay. I love the pedigree. You know, really learning for years under Kyle, which I have a ton of respect for as a play caller. I think it all starts with running the football.
And I know that's. Probably what everybody says, but I believe that you have got to be able to run the ball in this league.
Well, you got a pretty darn good one to start with, right? We do. We've got some good pieces up front and then watching A-chan. How fast is he? He's really fast, but he can accelerate so quick.
He's got such good vision, and he can make people miss, and then he gets vertical and just gets the extra yards. When we played against him on Thanksgiving, not this past season, but the year before, he caught a screen on us, which I was worried about that screen the whole entire game. And he made two guys miss, and he is just a dynamic football player.
So, being able to run the ball with a guy like that certainly helps. And then, obviously, we've got to throw the ball, take some shots, hunt explosives. But I'm really going to lean on Bobby for that, and I trust him in doing so. John Eric Sullivan, again, the new GM, and Jeff Hafley, the new head coach in the Miami Dolphins, kind enough to finish up the hour here of our first day at the NFL Scouting Combine Live on ESPN and Disney Plus and ESPN Radio. Who are you looking forward to?
Which position group? do you think can shine out here? At the combine that you're looking forward to seeing, John? You know what? Every draft is different in terms of strengths and weaknesses.
The thing that I. Pay close attention to is how they compete, how they interact with one another. I like to watch them all, to be honest with you. I grew up, my dad's a longtime wide receiver coach. I played receiver, I love watching the skill guys, but then we got to build this team inside out.
So, I love watching the offensive linemen, the defensive lineman. It's hard for me to say one group in particular, but I just like watching these guys compete, interact, see what kind of professionalism they have, talk to them when they get in our room, find out what's important to them in terms of their priorities, winning versus individual accomplishments. We're trying to build something that has a certain culture, certain feel to it. And I think you take this week as it is, and you can start to connect a lot of dots and cross a lot of T's. What's a meeting room at the Combine look like?
Jeff Hafley for the Miami Dolphins and for you guys. What's it look like? What does the army look like? Yeah, like, I mean, are you trying to scare these guys? These guys, sometimes, I've been in some meetings, I want to try to scare the crowds.
I wanted to scare all of them. He told me I was out if I did.
So I'm not allowed to. He looked at me and I started trying to go on the first one, and he gave me an elbow, and he's like, knock it off. No intimidation. No intimidation. He said, you're the head coach.
You're not a defensive guy anymore.
So lay off the hard questions. But there's a grease board, right? There's all that sort of stuff. We don't have a grease board. Ours has been, and I think he's done.
A really good job of leading it because last night was our first night, and I didn't realize we were sitting there for about four straight hours.
So, I mean, welcome to the machines. Welcome to the machines.
So, I got a lot of respect for what he's been doing for all these years. Right. But it's really been about getting to know the player and having a plan and having questions that he's come up with so we can kind of have something to compare each player to. But really making the player feel comfortable so that we can get to know him rather than just intimidating the guy and not getting anything out of it.
So, truthfully, I think. I think he's done a really good job and I'm not just saying that because he's sitting here.
Okay. Now again, I've been in some places where they they dim the lights. And they just put the light over them. It's not like an interrogation situation. Do you want to come and interrogate someone for us tonight?
By the way, I'm for hire. I'm a Michigan man.
So I go to a campus where the boss's name is everywhere. You know, the business school. I'm not messing around. But sure. Yeah.
I know Aikman, too. I really can't. I know Aikman to do that. This is his deal.
So I'm all for it. You're welcome anytime. Put the light on. No, don't just say that. What if we give you the floor?
What if we put you in the chair and get to interrogate you? I'd love that. I think we should do that. That'd be good for TV. That would be great for TV.
Which is what I'm all about. Just do it. Which is what I am absolutely all about. In the few minutes that we have left here on the show, give me, John Eric, a. Moment in at a combine.
Where you were part of the process, where you identified somebody on the field, like, I need to dig in more on this kid. And then you dug in more, boxes got checked. Draft hits, you pound the table, you get him, and he showed out. You got somebody for that? Eddie Lacey.
Awesome. How so? Just uh you know Eddie Eddie was obviously a very good player at Alabama.
Okay. There were some questions coming out. We peeled back the layers. What we found out about Eddie Lacey is he loves to play football. When the lights come on, he performs.
Incredibly tough, loves to compete. And I think that showed itself in his time with us. We had to have a lot of conversations, but you couldn't find anybody in the building that Alabama that in their own way didn't say, hey, listen, you know, are any players perfect? No.
Right. But here's what you need to know about this guy. When the lights come on, he shows up. Incredibly tough. Teammates love him.
And he was all of that once we got him. And so when you see somebody like that, Right? Like that that moves him up a board when you just know that there's a love. Of football, and everybody just says he's a gamer, that's a metric in your world. That's a huge part of it, and he was actually at his pro day in terms of the workout.
You know, it's kind of what we do as evaluators. Like if he didn't blow up the testing numbers, he actually ran 460, 459, which on the metrics would be marginal to poor. I think he jumped 30. None of that stuff would light it up. But once they put the ball in his hand and he started going through the bags, I mean, you're looking at each other like, this dude's a Cadillac, man.
Like, he's really good at what he does. And then when he came to the Green Bay Packers, I'll share this story with you. You go through phase one, phase two, you never put on the pads. And we had drafted a guy by the name of Jonathan Franklin the same year out of UCLA. Sure, remember that.
Really good football player in his life. Great Newman, great dude. Great dude, really good football player. But in shorts and t-shirts, through those phases, everybody's going, man, I think Jonathan might be the better player of the two because he's twitchy, he's fast. As soon as the pads came on and we put the ball in Lacey's hand, all that went away.
The balance, the contact balance, the vision, the feet. He was a marvelous player. Really fun to watch. Anyway, that would be my example. That's why you get the Bucs, man, is to try to figure out who.
Who in pads, right? I mean, Sheryl Davis didn't run very fast at his combine. You put the pads on him, he's in the Hall of Fame. That's what you're hiring him to do, is play football. You know?
You can't get away from that. This is all great. It's important. Of course. But it's a means to an end.
It doesn't drive the ship.
Well, congrats on your new gig. Thank you. Thank you. Appreciate it. Both of you.
Thank you. Obviously, congrats. This is the team right here in South Florida. I'm excited about it. This is it.
You got a message for Dolphins fans, coach? What do you got? My message is: it's like what I said at the press conference. You know, they deserve a winner, and I think this is the starting point for us to build this foundation. And in time, we're going to make them proud.
Thanks for coming on. Thank you. Say hi to the boss. Tell him, go blue for me. And I also met Aikman.
Say hi to Troy. Will Trump. Fantastic. Thank you. That is the new general manager and the new head coach of the Miami Dolphins here, John Eric Sullivan and Jeff Hafley, to wrap up our first hour here.
When we come back, Omar Khan, the GM of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Robert Sala, the new HC in Tennessee, coming up. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast. Mm-hmm.
