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Now, on with the show. Live from the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles. Are we really doing a hotness ranking on the Rich Eisen Show? Rich Eisen. Henry Goldlad is number one.
The ball is. Wait, what? She said it was such this name. Earlier on the show. Super Bowl champion tight end Martellis Bennett.
Coming up. Author Roger Bennett. Actor Mila Jovovich. And now, it's Rich Eisen. The show is on the air.
844-204 Rich number to Donald. We just said farewell to Martellis Bennett. Highly entertaining. That was such a fun time chatting with him. Very, very funny.
Another funny Bennett, Roger, is going to be joining us to talk about soccer about his book, We Are the World Cup. He's joining us in about 20 minutes' time. Um and then um we have another celebrity, true or false, Mila. Jovovich is going to be coming in studio from back in the day, Fifth Element. That's a Bruce Willis movie, wasn't it?
It was. Back in the day. Um Resident Evil as well. She was in He Got Games. Dazed and confused.
Yeah, I mean, she's been in quite a bit.
So, a fun celebrity, True or False, coming in our number three. She's coming in support of Protector, which is going to be in theaters tomorrow. This just, then she plays a complete badass in that one. Imagine that. Uh-huh.
So, there's all of that. Speaking of Resident Badass, Susie Schuster hanging there with Chris Brockman's chair. Good to see you, Jay Felly, T.J. Jefferson. Phone lines are lighting up.
844-204-Rich is the number to dial. We'll get to that in a second. We know what the draft compensation is now in the DJ Mortre that we led the show with. Wow, it's a second round pick. The Bears get a second rounder.
and DJ Moore and a fifth rounder goes to Buffalo, so a pick swap, but one in which Chicago tri uh turns a fifth into a second. and then we'll just have to fill the shoes of DJ Moore somehow, some other way. Free agency, clearly, as a way to go about it, or their own roster currently, or drafting somebody. It is. Quite a Um a piece of draft compensation for the Chicago Bears.
Second-round pick. You know, talking to some Bears fans that I'm friends with, like, they think they were expecting DJ. to get moved. And look, you've got two really great tight ends. for the Bears, right?
You've got Luther Burton, you've got Roma Dunze, like So You sure do. I think the Bears fans knew this was coming. The thing that is freaking Bears fans out was the surprise retirement of their center, Drew Dahlman, who just is 27 years old. And making a fortune and is uh the anchor of that revamped offensive line that featured Um to all pros. Not named Dahlman, and he just up and retired out of nowhere.
at least maybe to us. I think that the the Bears have Uh have more knowledge. It's not like he just knocked on their door two days ago and said he was gone. Um but you know there there's a center, Tyler Lindebaum, who's a free agent. For the Baltimore Ravens, who the Ravens are probably trying their best to re-sign between now and next Monday.
Um That that's an option or There are tons of of kids in the draft that were Guard centers, center guards, or just flat out centers that I saw at the Combine. Yeah. That might be a good second round choice and I know going with a rookie as opposed to a 27-year-old vet decorated, one of the best in the business centers. Um isn't what you want to normally do, but That was that that is what's freaking Chicago Bears fans out, I think, more than anything else right now. is that line that got vastly improved.
That led to Um the running game being as good as last year's. turned into I that's that that's freaking Bears fans out and I kinda don't blame him on that front. 844-204-Rich. Number to dial. Lee Jay in Oklahoma City.
We'll take your call. What's up, Lee Jay? Hey, Rich, thanks for having me. First son, long time. Yay.
Thanks for joining. What's going on?
Well, big Jets fan here. I moved to Oklahoma about three years ago, and I got a question for you. kind of I know it's not Friday, but it's a what's more likely Let me frame it real quick. This is I always talk to my buddy Sal in New York, another Jets fan. And a few years ago, you know when uh the jets We were talking about the other day when we had all those great picks and everything and it was going well.
I made a bet with him that Robert Sala would take the Jets to the playoffs. And he bet me that he would get fired before he does that. Obviously I lost the bet, but I'm still a big Robert Sola fan. And now that he's with Tennessee, my what's more likely is Who makes it to the playoffs first? Robert Sala or Aaron Glenn?
Oh, I think it's Robert Sala. Anyone? Anybody else? I think so too. I mean, isn't that a big mistake for the Jets to fire a coach who's going to make the playoffs before you do?
I don't know. I thought it was a mistake to fire Robert Salah when they fired Robert Sala. A third of a season? In the middle of the season? Honestly, I was bought in.
So hardcore. And the fact that we got rid of them, I mean, we still talk about all the things that could have been, right? I mean, we had Aaron Rodgers that year, what could have come out of it. Uh but I thought, you know. I tried to make that bet with my buddy.
He was like, nah, I don't think I'll take that one either. Yeah, again, I have no idea what Aaron Glenn's going to look like this year as the HC of the NYJ. I have no earthly idea what the Jets are going to look like at all. But we were talking about it yesterday, and thanks for the call, Lee Jay. 100% if the Jets could somehow, some way convince Kyler Murray to go there.
I I I don't know if that's a fit. At the end of the day, I just do not know. But the New York Jets having two first round picks In next year's draft as well. Three, I believe, actually. They've got one of their own.
They've got one the other one from the Sauce Gardner trade and the one from the Quinnen Williams trade. Oh, right. We got Dallas flipped them a one for Quinnen, but the Jets said, don't do it this year, do it the next. They did that on purpose.
So you've got something to look forward to.
Well, what they've got is they've got three pieces on on the the the draft craps table to try and hit the point at quarterback if if If it's not this year. Again, I don't think they're taking Ty Simpson in this draft at either of their draft positions, their own at second, obviously, overall. Or Indianapolis, that's their other draft choice, right in the middle of the first round.
Well, it's like we said i i at at the combine, Rich.
Next year we know it's a march for arch. I think if you're a quarterback needy, that too. I understand that. And everybody's saying, well, if you have all your draft choices there, then go trade up and get the quarterback that you want, unless the team that's sitting there first overall needs Archmanning for themselves and they'll tell you to go forget it. The the draft that had Three Quarterbacks at the top Caleb, Jaden Daniels, and Drake May, there was no chance.
the Bears, Commanders, or the Patriots were trading out of those spots, not a shot. Didn't matter if you were godfather off him or not. And I think the Giants apparently did for Drake May. And they, you know, and as it turned out last year, it's a reason why the Patriots told everyone to pound sand. We're third overall.
We're taking this kid. End of story. But the reason why, again, Kyler Murray is perfect for the Jets is the Jets have. Need a bridge quarterback. They really do, or at least a quarterback that they can try this year.
And if they try them on for size and it works, Then they can use three first-round draft choices to build around this guy. And if Kirk Cousins isn't that, because Kirk is somebody that's towards the end of his career. Tua, it might be that too, but are you really going to take the quarterback from in your own division? That you kind of know and you know how to beat, and also has been beaten up to the point where he's one bad. takedown away from being gone.
Right. You could try Malik Willis, but Malik Willis is not coming unless you pay him. 25, 30, 35 million bucks if his agent creates this Uh bidding war. properly. But he's also going to want a two, three year deal.
Why? Of course he's going to want that. Right? You know, you could try, right? You could try who else on for size?
You want to try Derek Carr on for size? But he's also in his mid thirties coming off of a shoulder injury that required surgery. I mean, you kicked the tire on Derek Carr. Speaking of Robert Saul, apparently he's the one that told Derek, You come here, you we'll put you in the Hall of Fame one day. Right.
I don't know if I got to speak to Robert Saul. Was he mistaken thinking that he was. Talking to Rogers at the time? Like. You ain't got no haters, you ain't popping.
You know what I mean? You mean the pro football Hall of Fame? That's. Again, who can fit the bill? By exciting the fan base.
Sign for the minimum because that's what he wants to do. He wants to stick the largest tab possible. On the team that's cutting him. Where's that rank on your petty scope? By the way, right there at the top, Richard.
Richard the King? Richard the King, petty, right? Who's second on the list? Kyle? Kyle.
Right. Sure. Um, hell yeah.
So 1.3 million bucks, you can get Kyler Murray to do that. utilize this team and basically say Show us what you got. Yeah. I think you've talked the Jets Nation, if that's what you're nicked. I don't know if he's a fit.
I don't know if he's going to do well. Again, you have an offensive coordinator in Frank Reich, who once upon a time had a choice between C.J. Stroud and Bryce Young and chose Bryce Young. Who's you know. Oh.
You know, scramble before Bryce Young could walk, right?
So they're similar. I'm just saying, you know, a vertically challenged guy at the. Most important position who costs $1.3 million in an offense of a guy who didn't have a problem drafting that guy first overall. Former first overall pick with a chip on his shoulder and an opportunity to take over the team. You're making a lot of sense, retirement.
That's what I'm I'm looking at. Like the Jet I just don't know why would he choose the Jets? It's been such a honestly, no, why would he choose them? They're in a full rebuild, it's obvious. The head coach is now calling the plays out of the blue in some weird.
The process of trying to hire Wink Martindale to do it and then being told, No, I'm going to do it at the end. Oh, you thought Wink, you were calling the plays around here? No, I'm doing it. It was weird. You know, why would you do it?
Garrett Wilson's there, yes. Brees Hall is there, yes. Two big reasons. A.D. Mitchell's there.
I mean, there are some pieces. Mason Taylor, offensive line of healthy. New York market. could do worse, but Kyle's going to have a choice, I'd imagine, because he's walking around saying, I only cost $1.3 million. How about everyone else around here?
The answer is no. I guess two might. As well, because you can try and stick the largest tab on the Dolphins, too. Absolutely. I don't know when that move's coming.
The Rogers piece. When is that going to drop? He went on Pat's show. First time in a long time. He went on Pat Show and talked about where he is in this process.
All we're hearing from the information. Um, man and woman set is It it ain't happening in June this time around. The Steelers want an answer much sooner. New league year right around the corner. That's been the narrative.
You know how Rogers likes taking in narratives. And uh this is what he had to say about the timing. If I've talked to Mike, I've talked to Omar. There's been no deadline that's been, you know, that's been put in front of me. There's no contract, you know, offer or anything.
So there's nothing that I'm, you know. having to debate between. Uh you know, free agent and You know, I think there's conversations to be had down the line, but But uh Right now, I'm not. There hasn't been any progressive conversations. No progressive conversations.
Yeah. I don't know. When we saw Omar Khan at the Combine, he sounded like a guy that wants to sign Aaron Rodgers. Yep. The same what I just basically said With all due respect to him, I'm talking about a first ballot Hall of Famer here.
Um it's similar to the Kyler Murray setup that I just said about the Jets. which is Not as expensive as everyone else. Um Will definitely be there for a year, if not two. If you want them, even longer, who knows? But that's Father Time's decision, really, one would think.
and how it would prey upon Rogers to make a decision about how long he wants to play. But um If you think Will Howard's the guy needs more seasoning, if you will, then let Rogers come back. If you want to draft Ty Simpson and let Rodgers give him some seasoning, Great. Do you tell Rogers if you sign here, we're drafting a rookie in the first round at your position? Why would they draft Ty Simpson, though, with Will Howard there without even seeing him?
Unless they think he's just ain't it? I don't know. The kid was really good when he got a shot. You want it all. He took a shot from my school and kept ticking.
won the whole damn thing. And he's been sitting there in Pittsburgh unfortunately got banged up.
So um But he wouldn't have. I think even when Rogers couldn't answer the bell against Chicago and Chicago, of all teams. The one game that Rogers could not physically answer the bell was the one I really wanted to see him play in. Outside of obviously taking on the Packers in Pittsburgh. But, um,.
Yeah, man. I don't think Howard would have started. for Rogers, it would have been Mason Rudolph's gig there anyway, but You never know. I I I don't know, but It's kind of weird that they haven't had any contract talks or put something in front of him? He made it sound so casual, didn't he?
Like, Oh yeah, no contract in front of us, just we'll see what happens and it's his style, but I mean, it's not like he doesn't have a coach there who doesn't know him inside and out. Mm-hmm.
So maybe that's part of it? It's something that they Listen, if they want him, they're going to have to put a contract in front of him in the next seventy two to ninety hours if they want him to make a decision before the new league year. I mean, yeah. Or they're going to go into the new league year with Mason Rudolph as their guy and Will Howard as their guy, and Rogers comes around great, and if he doesn't, Then Ty Simpson's gonna Um be on their radar screen. I would think, but at some point they're going to have to put a contract in front of him.
It does sound like he's, it did sound like on Pat's show he would be willing to receive one from the Pittsburgh Steelers. Door is not open. He referred to himself as a free agent. I I don't think he's going to go somewhere else. But what do I know?
I shouldn't speak for him. I know that's always a touchy subject. He'll get on you about that. No, I I listen.
Well, the Jets are in the market. He's got no interest there. No. As well, he shouldn't. Um you know I don't know if Miami is that ring chasing spot.
I don't know if Atlanta's that ring chasing spot. I don't know. You know, Matt Ryan's up there and Stefanski's there. I know they love Pennix, but if Rogers wants to go there and let Pennix come back from his knee injury and just chill axe In his rehab. And we can also throw the thing you hate in there: the Vikings thing, which you'd.
I hate it because I just think J.J. McCarthy showed enough to be given the grace that sh is normally afforded other young quarterbacks in their first foray at starting. of having an up and down campaign. It's just they let Sam Darnold. I can't believe I'm saying this.
They let Sam Darnold walk. Or they caused Sam Darnold to walk because they were sticking with the kid that they traded up one spot to draft in the draft with a. Yeah. I'm not including Paddocks for quarterbacks that have proven to be Quickly, franchise Quarterback worthy. Monikers and statuses in the league.
but there's no grace being afforded to him. That said, I'm not in the building. I'm biased 'cause the kid won a national championship for me and I think has a a heart of a lion. Uh he's being memed everywhere. The number of memes I get, you know, because, yeah, no, that thing, you know, with his eye black on and he looks mean and.
You know, he that was the nine character that he he referred to himself. Oh, yeah. I'm seeing all sorts of memes that do not reflect well on what people feel about his. abilities that he's just a guy or something like that. But again, I'm not in the building.
And if they feel that he does need to have some sort of competition, then they need to bring somebody in. But if they bring in Aaron Rodgers, There's no competition. Right, yeah. I mean, that's it.
So, what's your spidey sense tell you? Do you think it goes right back to the Steelers? Yes, I do. If he wants to play. But if the Steelers aren't putting a contract in front of them and want them to give a decision bef between now and the new league year, which is essentially next Monday, is when this stuff is going to start flying.
Um They should put a contract in front of him. Which might have been uh his message. Appearing on Patcho. Because he doesn't have to do it. And I know he's friends with Pat and Pat asks and um he might be so inclined, but There's always a reason he was like sitting in a chair looking at the ocean somewhere.
What do I envision him? He did say, by the way, he did say on Pacho, he's not living there anymore. Really? Yeah. He's not living there.
He said the paparazzi was got insane. There are a lot of ocean places to sit, Rich. I just set the table. I'm envisioning him, TJ, floor to ceiling window, looking outside. He talks about it might be coming in.
Yeah. Yes. Sipping on some herbal tea, some shearling. I like it. And a nice warm blanket.
Sounds like I'd like to do that right now. But Roger Bennett's about to join us. We Are the World Cup is his book. We're going to talk a little bit of football. With Roger Bennett, the man in a blazer, joining us next.
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The Rich Eisen Show Podcast. Here on the Rich Eisen Show, 844-204-Rich, number to dial. We Are the World Cup is the latest book from the New York Times bestseller. A man in blazers, who I don't believe is in a blazer right now, the wonderfully naturalized. Roger Bennett, good to see you, Roger.
How are you, sir? Rich eyes and it's so lovely to see you. Hello, America. Are you popping a collar on me right now, Roger? Is it what's going on?
You know what I mean? I think when you become a naturalized American citizen, they do make you look like James Spader in a 1980s movie. You're more than zero, Roger. How about that? How about that?
Some days I don't know.
Some days I don't know, but it's great to see you. You look very handsome, Rich Eyes. Right back at you, Roger. Right back at you. Are you wearing a bears shirt or sweater?
What are you going to do? There you go. I am. I am. I am.
I'm in Chicago.
Okay. The greatest city in the world. I'm delighted to be here. The city that the World Cup kicked off in 1994.
Okay. And it's coming back, Rich, in 98 days. But who's counting? Who is counting? Where is it coming back?
Which is the first city in our country to it'll be Los Angeles, your own sweet, fair, and incredible city, which probably will win the World Cup. I don't know who will win the World Cup, but I think Los Angeles will. The biggest games in the opening stages are going to be there. And God, I mean, it feels like a lot is going to happen between now and then, Rich Eyes, and a lot of life, but it please God will be magnificent. I know.
I hear you. We are the World Cup is the book, and we have the future winner of the FIFA Peace Prize, Roger Bennett, here on The Rich Eisen Show. All right. Let's get to it, sir. Why did you write this book?
Where'd you get started for? I moved here in 1994 and the World Cup was coming. Right before the tournament, there was a poll done of American fans and they announced that soccer was the 67th most important sport in the United States. Tractor pulling rich ice and I crap you not was number 66. And there's just been...
a steady that World Cup was still to this day the best attended World Cup of all time. Americans love a circus. They love an excuse to daytime drink. They did feel, I think, the electric sense of connectivity that this tournament, you know, 200 million people give or take watch the Super Bowl. 5 billion people watch the World Cup.
There is a sense this is the last global billboard visible from out of space. And every single World Cup since, the joy of my life, the story of my life is watching America become a proper football nation, falling in love with this sport, the Premier League, you know, our women kicking ass taking. Names driving up the popularity also. And 2026, I wanted to write a book that allowed viewers who live that journey to relive their electric memories because it is such a special tournament for a variety of reasons we can talk about, and those that haven't. To feel like they did and know they're messy from their maradona and be tournament ready by the time this thing kicks off.
Sure. What's your first World Cup memory, Roger? I was in England because you know I love America more than Kenny Powers. But viewers, I am actually from England, seven years of age, Argentina 1978. And I watched English football.
There was no live football in those days. We didn't know anything. Football was played by balding men or muddy pitchers. They just lived to kick the crap out of each other, then go and have a cigarette and a pint at a half-time in a locker room while the fans tried to make each other bleed. That's what football was.
I was very proud of our local team. And then we saw Argentina, the first game I'd ever seen. Huge stadia. Sun. It took me a while to realize what that big kind of orb in the sky was.
I was like, what is that colourful thing? Why does it look so uncold there? And then the teams came on, Rich. And the stadium exploded in a burst of confetti from the bleachers. Thousands of toilet rolls cascaded down.
And I turned to my dad and I said, Oh my God, this thing, football, which is just a pleasure that hurts, that's the phrase that we all talk about in England, it can be joyful. And I was hooked from that very moment. No kidding.
So I'm just reading this book, but the essay isn't throughout. World Cup to World Cup, you go. Um I guess which is your which which do you think was the greatest World Cup? And the reason why I asked that is we just had, obviously, here in America, arguably one of the greatest World Series that we saw this past year, the last couple of Super Bowls, not so much, but In recent years, there there were Super Bowls that you could peg, like that's the best one. Which tournament wise, do you think was A standout.
Oh well, you're asking me right after the 2022 World Cup final in which Leonel Messi, that tiny little joyful Ewok, went head to head with Killian and Bappe. I mean it was like football rip from Plato's cave. It was I don't like to be hyperbolic Rich, you know that, but it was like watching Homer write the Odyssey in real life time with millions of people watching along around the planet. Pretty bloody good cliffhanger to end on, watching that tiny little man who looks like he's just strolled out of your local supercuts. There he is.
Just become, just become in a second, become immortal after failing four times, leaving crying like Prince. This is what it sounds like when doves cry. Finally winning to cement his status as the greatest ever and becoming in that second immortal. By the way, not just as an athlete. You know, it was a joy last night.
I was on stage in Houston celebrating the World Cup, coming there with Hakeem Alajawan, who I was shaking to be on the same stage as, and the magical JJ Watt. Those are demigod athletes. But Leonel Messi in that moment became part of his nation's history. Bona fide in their Argentinian human civilization.
So that was a pretty great ending. But for me, you know, the joy of the World Cup, Rich, is that when two teams take the field, their nation's histories, politics, cultures take the field. Alongside them. That's what gives this tournament the depth that I think no other has. Walt Whitman would say it contains multitudes.
So, honestly, every single game, every single moment, and with the world in the chaos that it is right now, that sense of electric global connectivity, positive. connectivity that this thing offers. There's no bad World Cup. There's really only positive memories that are being made. And I wish, oh my Lord, the same for this one that's fast coming towards us.
And then just I guess some sides. To to To focus on, you know, England, the three lions, right? All three. All three. It just seems to always come down to some sort of a penalty kick in some way, shape, or form.
Where you can't just sit in a rocking chair and go, okay, we're going to win in regulation. We've got this thing. We've got a two-goal lead. We're good. It just doesn't seem to ever.
be the case. I know. I know. I mean, why would you want to win something when instead you can self-immolate your down belows with the nation watching? Look, it's the English lot.
Does Charlie Brown ever kick the football with Lucy holding? No, and that's what England are. They are a very good football team now, but there is that sense of history. It's incredible. You know, the shirt made of polyester weighs like chainmail when these English footballers put it on.
John Oliver came on our show a couple of weeks ago and he laughed and said, you know, with Lucy and Charlie, what if, what if. Lucy never wants to hold the football, but Charlie likes the pain of the joke. And it's Charlie commanding Lucy, do that thing you do where I run and kick it and you pull it away. He said, That's what England is. We almost, the English almost willingly throw themselves off the cliff like the footballing lemmings, and it is magic.
By the way, if they do win, On United States turf in our 250th anniversary. Oh my lord, that would be that wouldn't just be revenge as a dish served cold. It would be revenge as a deeply belated dish served by fans who will never let us forget it by firing rockets out of orifices that we didn't even know you could fire a rocket out of, Rich. Ah That said, what are the American prospects? What do you have?
Oh, Rich. I've got a dream. I yearn. Um yeah, well women win things or men. I mean, this is almost shocking to me.
America, you know, put a man on the moon, but we've won one knockout game in our entire human history. It's almost shocking when you think about that. There's tiny teams, you know, that go into tournaments. Iceland, 220,000 people have gone deep into major tournaments. Morocco at the last World Cup, a delirious fairy tale for all of Africa.
So what I can say is this is the most talented group of individuals we've ever been able to call upon, the most accomplished. And whether we can pull it together as a collective with the nation watching and the nation expectant, so much ride, it's so crazy for this American team. Let's say England don't get out of a group stage. The sport's popularity, it's not a litmus test of, it's not a referendum of. These players all know, you know, in 1998, when we lost to Iran with the nation watching, which I write about in the book, you know, every American fan was watching because they wanted to see America open up a canawapass on Iran, how things change, how things don't change.
And Iran beat us 2-1 with the nation watching, and it set the sport back 20 years.
So I'll just say the stakes are incredibly high. We love a dream team in the United States. This men's team have been a dream-on team for too long. They're beautiful human beings, so many of them. You know, Chris Richards, a kid from Birmingham, Alabama, who's beating up attackers in the Premier League.
Wester McKinney, just a fearsome bowling bull from Texas, who's having the season of his life in this area. Obviously, Christian Pulisic, who some of your viewers will know. And I just pray for them as individuals. They've sacrificed so much, they've worked so hard that they're. Of dreams come true.
And it's just, there's always something epic. There really is. And, you know, Susan and I, we were driving. in Italy For some reason, we were on vacation. I don't know why, but.
Um, listening to the radio the day after Zidane got sent off. And they, you know, this moment right here. And the Itali, I don't, Susie, you speak Italian. I don't, but I couldn't. They were making fun of it.
Yeah, they were playing French sports talk radio hosts screaming, Pourcois, why? Why would he do this? And they were giggling, laughing at the French, hysterically. Even in two different languages that were not my own, I could pick up on the sports talk trolling. That was going on.
I mean, that man set back bald rights around the world for all of us, Rich. I never thought of that. I never thought of that. By the way, the Zidane story, humanly, again, Greek epic poem, 1998. France, I write in the book, constantly in the 80s, very good.
Always lost harrowingly. And the French loved it. That's who they were. We love to lose with valiance, noble honor. And they saw themselves as a little France, petty France, petty France.
And then Zidane came in, 1998, on home turf, led them to victory. And they roared this multi-ethnic team, a deeply diverse team, when Le Pen, the far-right leader, was trying to stir up a lot of hate against the whole issue of diversity. And Zidane became a legend. His face beamed against the Arc de Triomphe, Zidane for president, everybody chanted. And he transformed the way France saw itself.
I mean, they became pretty unbearable for a spell. They became France qui gagnier, France who can win and dominate. This football has the ability to change the way nations see themselves in these moments. And then, of course, you know, 2006, eight years later, in that same final, when it was going to be his last game to cement his legend, he did that irrational thing. Why, why, as Suze translated for us, he head-butted, you know, a hail, a hockey hail, Matarazzi, essentially.
And that was his last ever moment on the field, walking off past the World Cup trophy, he dreamed. Of winning. That's human. I mean, that is, Scorsese would say, that is cinema, Rich. It was.
I'll never forget that, obviously. And. Roger, right, Roger Bennett, you write about these moments so eloquently in your book. Do you want to chime in on the Bears at all before I let you go? Or you're sticking to football, Roger?
No, I'll chime in on the Bears. And again, the power of football for me is the global connectivity, is the sense of cross-generational memory making. My most powerful memories, I wrote this book because the rise of football in the United States, World Cup to World Cup, is the story of my lifetime. It's propelled everything that's been possible. But it's also the storehouse of so many, I think, 73% of my most profound memories of losing and winning and feeling alive that I share with my parents, that I share with my kids, my grandparents.
And the Bears are the same. Rich. I mean, last season when we got into the playoffs, I flew in my kids to watch in person to commune in Soldier Field. And even when we lost, Against the Rams. It still felt a little bit like France in the 80s, a valiant loss.
And the joy of it, I can't remember other than the Super Bowl season. We've won with defence. We've had Erlacher era. We've had some incredible teams that just created pain and suffering for opponents. To see this Bears team play joyful football, to look forward to watching this Bears team again.
That man is so beautiful. I adore him. He's a great American. I'm grateful for everything he did. And to march out of Soldier Field, even in defeat.
And have thousands of Bears fans immediately chant: Green Bay sucks, just getting back to business essentially with what's really important. That's what life is all about, isn't it? Ready to take your kids to Indiana, Roger? If that's what it takes, we will hitchhike across the skyway with the rest of the Chicagoans. And it's never going to happen, is it, Rich?
It's never going to happen. I would find I don't know. It does smell of a negotiating tactic at present, if you press me, but one does not know. You never know anymore. At any rate, it's such a joy to see you on the screen, Roger.
You're a beautiful human being. I'm so grateful for you. May the Bears win another Super Bowl in my lifetime. May the U.S. men just win one.
World Cup in our lifetime, Rich. We don't ask for much, do we?
Well, if you make it out here to Los Angeles for the Cup, or if not, we'd love to see you, Roger. Oh, Rich. Congrats on the book. Thank you, thank you, thank you, and thank you, America. Big, big love.
Ladies and gentlemen, Roger Bennett, go by. We are the World Cup wherever you get your books. Right here on the Rich Island Show. There he goes. I love talking to him.
Garage is awesome, man.
Okay, can we just break this down really fast? Certainly. He mentions. Plato's The Cave, he mentions the Iliad, stadia, not stadiums, which I really appreciate. I mean, he went next level.
He is next level. Him and Michael Davies, who as you know, Michael. I've known him for forever and a day. The man behind Jeopardy right now and wheel of fortune where I dominate? whenever given the chance.
I mean, you really did. That's very much so. Yeah, yeah. I stood tall. How's that ping pong table?
Is it in the box?
Next up. Just saying. You want to throw it a break? Is that what you're saying? I mean Do we have to?
We have to. We got to pay some bills. We do. Let's go to break. We'll be back for more right here on the Rich Eisen Show.
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Slash Eisen terms and conditions. Apply. Let's go back to the phone lines here. Pablo in Austin, Texas. What's up, Pablo?
Hey, Rich, how's it going? What's going on?
I was curious as to why the Jets don't just stay pat Use their draft picks to fill the roster this year and next year, and then sign Mac Jones in free agency, or even trade.
Next year's one of their next year's pick, a first-rounder to the Niners to get Mac Jones.
Well, that would get Mac Jones. You trade the 49ers a first rounder, it would get you Mac Jones. I just. That's a hefty price, man. That's a hefty price.
And I understand Mac Jones In my estimation. Has the stuff to be the next Sam Darnold. You know? to now go somewhere and either on this next team or the team after. Find the right spot at the right time in his life and make the throws and be Sam Darnold.
And surround him with the right people at the right time, with the right crew and the right coaching, he can do it. I I I don't know about that one. And I I you know you'd have to wait another year. Um Again, that's why and thanks for the call, Pablo. I that's why I think Connor Murray's the right guy.
I again, I don't know if he's the right fit. long term, but for one point three million dollars to try one more year, and if it doesn't work, then that your own draft choice of the three that you have next year winds up being Top five again. I don't know if Aaron Glenn is going to be still around there. I don't know if Woody Johnson would countenance another. top five pick season.
Maybe you would. depending on the way it looks. Um But being first overall and having a shot at Arch would, I think, be another house clean. Scenario. Caleb in Boise, Idaho.
Let's take your call. What's up, Caleb? Hey, Rich, how's it going? What's on your mind? Hey.
So I have a pretty elegant solution. To the on-site kick fiasco that we've been talking about for years, and I want to get your opinion on it.
Okay. So the idea of like a fourth and fifteen play and how are they going to officiate it, throw that out the window. If you remember a couple of years ago back when the kick kickoff used to be from the twenty five, And the entire stadium would cheer when the kicker would boot it through the uprights, but it doesn't count for any points and it doesn't actually do anything.
So my proposed solution to all of this is keep it a special teams play. You trot the kicker out to the twenty five or the twenty yard line, and then the opposing team gets to send out one returner. If he makes it, the offense keeps possession. If he misses, well, you are screwed anyways and the returner just scores on you for a touchdown because no kicker's making that tackle unless you're Pat McC. All right.
Problem solved. Caleb. You're saying an NFL game should come down to one guy from the 25-yard line. trying to make a field goal that if they get, they keep possession to try and win a game. And if they don't The other team gets basically a free shot of trying a one-on-one out Outdodge the kicker.
Is that what you're saying? Yeah. That's what I'm saying, because in the beginning of the season, where the kicks are easy to make, it's like, okay, how often are you really going for offset kicks? But late in the season when there's snow, because I'm a die-hard Packers fan, if you want to trot out the Chicago Bears in the playoffs. In the snow and do basically a free kick from the 25-yard line.
Keeps it a special teams play. increases the odds over the course of the season But the risk reward is that if you miss, Well, you were going to lose the game anyways. I love your passion, Caleb.
So don't take this the wrong way. Do you need a hobby in Boise? No, I keep myself rather busy.
Okay, good. Yeah, again, the NFL just doesn't like gimmicks. That's why there's no fourth and 15 play. And thanks for the call. Thanks for the call, Brody.
I just you you heard Sean Payton say it the other day when we were it was one week ago. yesterday actually when we spoke with him at the combine. He's like, We we can tweak the way the lineup the way that players line up for for a um an onside kick We could tweak the way that players just line up. to get to the right percentage that the league wants for onside kicks to work.
So basically, the league comes up with: we want 9% of on-side kicks to be working, 91% of them to fail. That's the sweet spot. We could just go 10 and 90 to make it a simpler math equation, right? Ten of them. One out of every ten onside kicks work.
And then you reverse engineer it from there. That's the way the league's going to eventually handle this business. They're not going to come up with some other play or. This moment that our friend Caleb and Boise just came up with. It reminds me of that end of the naked gun montage where a jaguar or leopard comes out and just jumps on somebody who stole second base.
Like, we're just going to bring animals into this too? Like, what else are we going to do? 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.
