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Now, on with the show. Yeah. This is the Rich Eisen Show. And I'm living my best life right now. Rich Eisen.
Michigan makes the final floor by curb stomp in Tennessee. From the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles. Duke gets latener in front of the whole country. Earlier on the show. ESPN NFL draft analyst Matt Miller.
Coming up. NFL network reporter Mike Garafolo. NBC Sports Bay Area 49ers reporter Matt Mayoko. And now, it's Rich Eisen. All right, everybody.
Our number two, the Rich Eisen Show, is on the air. 844204 Rich is the number to dial here on the program. Mike Garfolo is going to be joining us from the NFL Owners Meeting, and we'll explain why, one of the many reasons why we called upon him. Matt Mayoko, who covers the Niners, he's at the NFL owners meeting as well. We're keeping an eye on any of the rules, proposals, and changes.
At some point, that's going to be voted on, and then we'll get some results. And then the commissioner will speak on Wednesday, and then off we go to everybody back to their homes and facilities. And then the draft hits as April starts tomorrow. Again, I said 844-204-Rich being the number to dial right here on the program. Let's go to, you know what, we'll go to Sid in Baltimore.
Let's start with Sid here to kick off our number two to the Rich Eisen Show. What's up, Sid? Hi, Rich. How are you doing today? I asked Paul Feinbaum the same question yesterday, but I wanted to know your opinion because I have a sports podcast with my friend Wiam called Not What I Meant, and I asked him this the other day.
I'm wondering what you think is harder to win, March Madness or the college football playoff. And I'm going to give my opinion because I think it's a hot take. I'm going to say the college football playoff, just because I think March Madness can sometimes be a little more fluky. And teams receiving a first-round buy in the college football playoff are one and seven. I know it's a small sample size, but it's not nothing.
Well, uh part of the reason why Sid the teams that got a by uh are one and seven in the college football playoffs is because the teams that get a bye sometimes um I'll just say it. Screw it. Don't deserve it. They're in conferences that aren't as strong as the Big Ten or the SEC, which is the truth. In college football, and they get it because everybody's kind of got to get.
You know, a buy from well, everybody who wins their conference has got to get in. And sometimes they get the buy because they've won their conference, which they got to get a better seed than somebody that didn't, even though somebody that didn't might have, say, lost to Michigan in the last game of the regular season. And they get in and go on a run and win it all anyway because they're the best team in college football. who lost to their rival at the last second, You know, so disagree, but I feel like most of the buys are like to teams like Oregon and Ohio State and those well I know and then and then again Oregon got a buy and then ran into this the app pre You know, the aforementioned Ohio State Buckeyes, you know, and so that's. That's the reason why they got one and done right there.
But I would just say this: I'm going to go the NCAA tournament, and I thank you for the call, Sid. I'm going to go the NCAA tournament because you said, you know, fluky. I mean, that's the whole thing. The the um college football playoffs Is Eager, dying. to get a UMBC moment.
Out of say James Madison. They would love to have a team that everybody's thinking: why are they in the college football playoffs over, say, the second or third-place team in the SEC or the second-place team in the ACC or the third-place team in the Big Ten? Why are they in? They shouldn't be in because their competition is different or what have you. But at the end of the day, They are in.
And I think the college football playoff committee would love to have that Sienna. scaring Duke moment. Right? They would love it, but football's different than basketball. And the difference also in winning the NCAA tournament as opposed to the college football playoffs.
is you've got to play two games in three days. Right. Survive and advance is, I mean, just again, just to use this example of my Wolverines. from this past weekend. They beat Alabama and Tennessee.
in the span of 48 hours. And if you take a look at both of those team styles. Vastly different. Alabama wants to go running up and down the floor, shooting threes like crazy. Keeping you out.
Of your game by going helter, skelter, keeping things going, wearing you down because you're, you know. You're going up and down the court. Transition this, transition that. And then Tennessee's different. Let's beat the crap out of you.
We're just as tall and big as you. That's why Bruce Burrell said he didn't think Michigan could punk them. But my point is not that Michigan beat them both. Andly. But my point is is that Yeah.
Dusty May and his staff. Had to have game plans for both in the span of 48 hours. And the same thing with Illinois, and the same thing with. Yukon? UConn had a goal against Michigan State.
And Duke In a span of 48 hours, in college football playoffs, you're getting like a week, a week and a half off, not even a week, more than a week. Would you agree with that or no? No, I'm just thinking.
So we've had the 12-team college fold playoff each of the last two years, and. The best team won the championship each year, right? Ohio State was the best team in 24 and they won, and Indiana was the best team, and they won, right? When we say that doesn't happen in college basketball, the best team doesn't, the number one overall team is Duke. They're out.
So. That shows you it's more difficult to win. More difficult to win the basketball. That's my point. TJ?
Yeah, he's got a good point there. I mean, football, like, obviously. With the top dogs are gonna use the same I guess again, the regular season's different. If Arizona or Michigan wins, it would be, people would say the best team did win the tournament. Probably, but that's but the beauty of the NCAA tournament is if somebody like Illinois wins it, it's just like that's Cinderella's the glass slipper.
It fits. Yeah, they're a three seed. They won. They weren't, you know, a three seed. They're conceivably in the nine, ten, eleven, twelve range.
Heading in heading into the bracket. But I guess that the question isn't what's more fitting. The question is what's more difficult. And I think, again, because of the six games, again, like I said, Michigan played two teams of thoroughly different styles. Yeah.
And you've got to be versatile enough to... To do what they did. But you get a week off, but you've got to play two games in three days, break two games in three days. Yes. Two games in three days.
You got to do it three times. Yes, you do. I think that's much more difficult. I agree. 844-204-RICH is the number to dial here on the program.
Mike Garifolo of NFL Network is going to join us. He's at the owner's meeting. His information is terrific. Part of the reason why we want him on. Uh the the the other reason is because he Listen, we look forward to this every year.
We've been doing this for quite some time. Quite some facts. We've been around this neighborhood now. This is our 11th season for this program. Crazy, man.
Um The NFL has a class photograph of all the owner of all the um Of the coaches. Notice they don't do this for the general managers or the owners. Wouldn't that be great if the owners did? They do a GM photo, they do? There's no owners.
There's a GM photo. Why don't we? Why isn't that shared?
Well, because GMs, you know, it's not as lesser known.
Okay. That's our own and there's no owner's class photo, huh? There's no owner's class photo. They were all like, to heck with that. We're, you know.
Back to my yacht. Yeah. They need to have it. It's been a long time since Jerry Jones took his Sears photograph class photo, right? It has been.
Yeah, these guys and ladies are like, yeah, we're done with that. There needs to be an updated one. We need to see where they put Carly Ursa Gordon. Because we do love this because of where coaches sit and how they are looking and whether they're happy to be there or not. And it's a moment in time, it's a snapshot in time, and we kind of dig it.
We love it.
So the first photograph we see online of it. We're going to use it. We're going to go for it. We're going to go off the top of our heads and we're going to have fun with it.
So when Mike Garifolo was the first out, we're like, okay, put it up on the screen. It's just not usable. It's off to the side. What is this thing? Like, is that a light?
That's a light. That's a light. Sure, that's a light. Or is that? No, that's an antenna.
No, that's a light. You can see in the chat. Yeah, it's a light. Yeah, it's a light. Yeah, because we can't, there's shadows, it's in the sunlight.
Hardly make anybody out. You know, and then we just. I was just like, Mike, what are you doing? What are we doing? I gotta be honest, like, I.
But that's not his forte. His forte's information. I don't know Mike well enough to stand up for him, but I'm sure if he would have known that this picture would be traveling around. He knew it. He posted it.
He even added Kyle Brent. Like, Kyle's the only one who does this.
Okay, that's true. All right. Then you know what? No defense. At any rate, he's about to join us.
He took around the poll. I tried. But so, so put up the real one, the one that here.
Okay. Class. But that's done by professional operators. No, I know that. No, I know that.
So this is the one that we'll use. And um it's now time to break down the uh annual meeting annual coaches photograph. The first thing that I notice is they put the brothers together. The black eyes? No.
Different ones. Oh, okay. Actual siblings. Good one. They are their harbar harbas next to the LaFleurs.
John and Jim and I'm not sure. And uh Matt and Mike. Mike now the head coach of the Arizona Card. He's a home head coach right there.
So there they are. The brothers are hanging. Altogether, isn't that nice? Or brother? Made me think there's Matt LaFleur.
Where is Ben Johnson? In relation to Matt LaFleur, since you know, they don't like each other. They're not next to each other. That's okay.
Okay, notice that Matt is in between. A Harbaugh and his own brother. Right, Harbaugh.
So we're wondering: is Ben as far away from that as possible? And the answer is no. He has just three coaches as a human shield in between him and his nemesis. God, Joe Brady is huge.
Okay, Joe Brady is bigger than you think. He's in the bigger than you think category. Or is Matt LaFlore just a little guy? No, Mike is, I don't think, as tall as you think, but I've been around Joe Brady. Joe Brady's taller than you.
He might see eye to eye with TJ. Yeah. Yeah. So it's, it's, it's three new head coaches in between the uh The nemeses of the NFC North Although, you know, Stefansky has been in this photograph the last few years as the Browns head coach. Newcomers Mike LaFleur, Joe Brady, and.
There's Stefansky, just three coaches. I thought it would be more than that. I thought he'd be in the Kubiak spot.
Well, that would be so. I would just be at least one more away. Just on the end. Yeah. Or standing off to the end.
I think, is it Siriani is on the far? Yeah, we'll get to that in a second.
So you mentioned Clint Kubiak. If you zoom in on him, he just doesn't look very happy. You know what I mean? Sun is in his eyes. Yeah, these guys are looking directly into the sun.
No, I understand, but they'll warm black today. I don't know if you can.
Well, I mean, greater nation. And there he is, long sleeves, too. Interesting choice. You better change that. He's moving to the desert, man.
But he doesn't look very happy. You'd think that he would be sitting next to Ben Johnson. Like, if thankfully, I was glad that you did not take my job two years ago so I could have this job now. Right. Two cycles ago, you know.
Maybe that's why he's sitting next to him. It could be that. I don't know. And it's plus, hey, Clint. You are one of only two guys in this photo to have won a ring just a couple months ago.
Now you're wondering, where is Mike McDonald? That was my first thought. Look at that. Where you put that?
Well, I thought he might have been front and center because Andy Reid, usually, I'm the champ, I'm front and center. I was wondering the first time I saw him. Mike McDonald is sort of center-ish, but he's next to the two guys who used to hire him. Oh, okay. Okay.
He's right next to John. And Jim. Right? He looks a little swole right there. Yeah, he sure does.
So there's Mike McDonald right there next to the two guys that had previously employed him before he became a head coach of his own right. And see, he's smiling like, I won the Super Bowl. You know what I mean? He's a happy sky. Geez, I am the only head coach in this photograph who won as a head coach.
Klink Kubiak is just like, bro. Smile. You know? You think he was big timing people all day?
So where's Vrabel? Where's Vrabel? Where's Vrabel? Yeah, where's Vrabel?
Okay, Vrabel is just a couple over from McDonald on the other side of Sean Payton. Oh. And there he is next to Jeff Hafley. Looks good. And Halfley looks like he's cooking up something, man.
Doesn't he? By the way, he does. He looks like he knows something that you do. You know what I mean? Like, I'm cooking up something.
I got a master plan here. Richard also could be there. You want to talk about like. Man spreading Vrabel's taking up half his seat, so maybe he's just like, I mean, Vrabel is a big man. If there's anybody who's going to man spread, it's going to be Mike Vrabel.
Oh, you know, if it's not Reed.
So you got Half Lee sitting next to Vrabel right there. And they play each other twice next year. I don't know if Halfley's already game planning or something. He's cooking something up. Cozy and up to him.
Speaking of two coaches that are going to be playing against each other as well next year, Liam Cohen and Mike McCarthy's back photograph. And I don't know what it is, man, but Liam's leaning away. From Mike. Maybe it's warm. Maybe Mike ripped one.
I don't know. Ah! You can say that about every pick so far. Get out of here a little bit. Liam and Jim are the only ones wearing shades.
I don't know if Jim got transitioned. Liam just looks like he's wearing shades. Styling.
Okay. Liam's just cool out. Cliff Kingsbury School of.
Now, you mentioned this like. Normally, Andy Reid's sitting right in the middle. Right in the middle. Man spread centerpiece was the name of one of our fantasy team names that won a championship in the Jerry Cantrell. Celebrity League, when we were invited to that back in the day.
I think it was his birthday yesterday, by the way. Jerry Cantrell? Yesterday. One of our favorites. By the way, what a year from him.
Seahawks, yeah. Celebrating a birthday. A Seahawks went. Jim's in the middle wearing shades. Where is Andy Reid?
He's standing up this year.
Now, I think that's because he had knee surgery and he might have a brace on or something. Oh. That might be. But there he is. There he is.
Look at Andy. Still in the Hawaiian shirt. He's the only one I think that is wearing his team's logo. As well. Oh, it's a cheese Hawaii.
It is that watermark.
Okay, oh, is John Harbaugh wearing his? I believe John is wearing his too.
Well, at any rate, he is. That's a choice, man. That's a choice. He's got to remind people that he's the Giants coach. All right, so now let's get to this part because you know how we feel about Robert Sala.
Well This is a man comfortable around other bald men.
Okay? He's hired an entire staff of bald men. Dan Quinn. Right next to Dan Quinn in this photograph. Beautiful bald coaches sitting there.
Look at those guys right here. Shanahan screwing it up. And, you know, Shanahan looks like a Siriani screwing it up. But there they are, the two got now it's not just a bald thing. It's a shoulder thing.
It's not just that. In 2024, last time Sala was in this photograph, he was next to Dan Quinn. And there's Dayball. They looked like a ball brotherhood of cell phone. No, no, of cell phone reception bars.
Okay. You're going to go Russian Nestor. Right now, you know, and Dayball is now. Sala's offensive coordinator and the most bald coaching staff of all time. There's Stefansky, too.
Is Stefanski doing the same seed as he is in this? Is it a same seed policy for Stefansky? Is that what it is? Third from the left. I don't know.
Yeah. And Sirio is but Siriani is in the uh dayball spot. And he looks swole. Jeez.
So, do you like Sala better beard or no beard? 24, there was that beard. No beard. I'm just glad that goes back. But look at Siriani.
This is, by the way, you know, you always have to, with your spouse. Take the bullet of being on the end because you get distended on the end. And you always got to take that bullet. Cause Siriani looks swole here. And it's interesting also that one thing that it looks like a cactus is photobombing them.
I'm just looking over. And I was just wondering, you know, in terms of Arizona. Figures Cactus or the current head coach of the Arizona Cardinals. Who wore it better? Little Us magazine to finish this thing up.
Is it this man? Or is it the Cactus in the back. Who wore it better? You kind of have a similar style. Just kind of like spiky.
Very spiky. Very spiky. Very thorny. Spiky. That's great.
And that's our breakdown of this year's coach's photo, everybody. Nice. Oh, and not pictured. You always have to have it not pictured. Not pictured.
Todd Monk and Sean McVay. Why was Sean McVeigh? One of the most photogenic. Were they at the bathroom or something? I don't know.
Perhaps. Sir, not appearing in this photo. There you go. Father and son. Playing the role of Belichick, who never, who rarely ever is like, screw it.
I'm not taking that. That's the cactus. That's the cactus. That's our breakdown. Round of applause, everybody.
All right, we appreciate having a usable photo, unlike the one that Mike Arafolo posted yesterday. He's joining us next right here on the Rich Eisen Show live from the owners' meeting in Arizona. Yeah. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast. Save money and get a better view of the road when you replace your worn-out wiper blades at O'Reilly Auto Parts.
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So McVay wanted to be in the photograph. But Somebody just decided to go early, which is crazy. Like, so like Coughlin time times four? Like, that's what it is? Like, they moved it up 20 minutes?
That's crazy. They gave him a well, they didn't move it up. It was like the meeting broke. Everybody was right there. They're going to head to lunch in a second here.
And it's hard to keep 30 NFL head coaches in the same place.
So it wasn't like, you know, you guys wait here and see if we can find them for five minutes. Like, we got to go. We got to do this.
So it was quick the way that it happened. And I felt for sure. And Munkin, I mean, listen, Munkin finally becomes a head coach. He's breaking down at his opening press conference about the road that it took to get him to be a head coach. You know, he wanted to be part of that photo.
So behind you, are they putting the NFL Tuesday night party together? Is that what's going on? No, tonight's movie night for the kids, right?
Okay. So, um, That could be the screen they're setting up. I can't I can't see it. No, this looked like an NFL shield that that was just brought behind you. I don't know.
Like there's you back when I was there, there used to be like a a commissioner's party. Al Davis would stare a hole through you when you looked for a fifth cheese cube. You know, like that's what it happened when I first went there. Mike, you know, uh, yeah, there.
Well, that there's a there's a Sunday night gathering that we're not invited to. Uh, and then there's last night that's the pond where they're at the pool, you're at the pond. And last night, last night was credential required because you're at a party, like who wants to? It kind of kills the vibe of wearing the credential. Yeah, but when you walk in and you see, you know, NFL executives, I believe Roger was wearing his, um, and all the head coaches are wearing theirs.
Okay, how can I take my credential off at that point, right?
So everybody's got the lanyard.
So, uh, but it was the far lawn. I don't think they ever had anything on the far lawn before.
Okay. This time they had. It was a lot of stuff for the kids. They had a donkey over there. They had arts and crafts.
That's where the hamburger food truck was, which is fantastic. Awesome. They went all out this year, which was fantastic. Mike, my face is my credential Garifolo here on the Rich Eisen show. What is today's?
Is that Gilligan walking behind you? What is happening right now? What is happening?
Okay. All right. Makes you wonder who she thinks I'm talking to. Yeah. Okay, what is the news of today?
Like, what are we getting out of today? Anything? Yeah, today's going to be minor rules changes. I say minor. They may have a major impact, but it's not like.
The rules changes in the past, right? There's no tush-push. There's no hot-button issue.
Okay. I would say the biggest thing is going to be the officiating rules, which are twofold. One, can New York now eject a player if there wasn't a flag on the field? Previously, they couldn't do that. They couldn't consult with the officials on site unless there was a flag down.
We actually had in the Super Bowl, we had a little bit of a scuffle late in the game. Josh Job from the Sea Arc threw a punch. I believe it was him that threw the punch, and they couldn't do anything about it because there was no flag on the field.
So that I expect to be approved.
Okay. And now that is. I wouldn't even call it a step. I'd call it a a little bit of a toe. Forward.
Uh toward at some point, the New York office being able to officiate part of the game or have an impact there. Um the league is has been reluctant. To allow that and to move in that direction. This will be the first tiny move in that direction. And that's going to be regardless of who the officials are.
Now, the second. Officiating change that I expect to occur today. It's not so much a change. But it's in the in the event of a work stop at the officials. To prevent another fail marry situation, it'll be New York having the chance to officiate.
Major Moments in the game, again, such as the fail Mary. To say, if we've got replacement officials and they screw something up, we'll be able to backstop them with folks who are full-time league replay officials from New York. That is twofold. That's one, to make sure that they don't They're preparing for that potential situation. But Rich, it's also negotiated, right?
It's saying towards the NFL Referees Association, we're locked in a dispute right now. If you think you can hold that over our heads, get ahead. Good luck without us. You'll have another fail Mary. No, no, no.
We're already preparing for that situation.
So that's part of the negotiations between the sides. And they try to get something done ahead of May 1st. May 31st, excuse me, is the day that they would like to get something done by.
Okay. And we'll just table that because I don't. As you know, I don't think anything bores or turns fans who listen or watch a show like this one off more than labor conversations.
So we'll just leave that there.
Well, I tried to tie it to a pivotal. No, but it is. No, but you're right. Like the league does not want to get into a situation where the New York office, the Art McNally Center, where there are eyeballs on the big, the big eye in the sky on all of these games, puts flags on the field at a stadium that they're thousands of miles away from. And not part of the conversation on the sidelines and on the field and things like that.
They don't want to do that. But finally, getting rid of a, you only get. You only penalize the second person in on a push-shove fight and not penalize the first. It's time to get that out of the game. And I appreciate that.
What other news is coming out of here? Let me jump into this. We heard Clint Kubiak talking today about. Great to have Max Crosby in the building. I'll ask you this question: What's more likely?
That this is everybody going back to the same corner. To try and get the same trade to happen with someone else for the same, as close to the same draft compensation as the Raiders would have, or Max Crosby truly, based on what did happen. To him and with him. in Baltimore, that now supersedes whatever hard feelings he had. To ask for the trade to begin with, and he's going to stay a raider.
What do you think? You know, I don't, yeah, I, and, and it's. I'm I'm almost Um I pushed back a little bit on asking for a trade because it was almost the. Sides realizing maybe what was best for everybody. I mean, the Raiders at the time, and I think they're a better team now because.
Frankly, they went about their business not expecting Crosby to be part of the team, and then you sort of add him back in, and all of a sudden you go, hey, wait, the Raiders are not that bad. Um But at the time, it was this is going to take a couple of years to get going. And we're drafting rookie a number one overall quarterback. And I understand that rookies can often come in and play a lot better than they used to play years ago in the NFL because they're more prepared for a variety of reasons. But It's not like, hey, Max, we're competing for a Super Bowl this year.
So I think that that was the conversation between both sides that got to the point of getting Max traded to Baltimore.
Now, given everything that happened and the fact that That the physicians who consulted on this one, Rich in the end, Are physicians from other teams.
So, other teams are sort of in agreement with where Baltimore eventually got on this one.
So, that's going to be an issue for the Raiders to turn around and try to negotiate with some of these other, including the Cowboys. I mean, Dan Cooper is one of the physicians, the Cowboys team physician, who was in on the final decision there.
So, it's sort of a dead end, not only with the Ravens, but with a number of other teams. And everything that I've been told is that everything is. Pushing toward Max Crosby back to being a Raider, going out there, being motivated. I don't think anyone is, including the Ravens. Is questioning the fact that he'll play football this year and play football at a high level.
The question was: how long would that knee be able to hold up? And I do know, and we reported this, Jane Slater and I, at some point. There was a thought toward, well, maybe we can renegotiate the trade and say, well, maybe it's not two ones, maybe it's one one, or maybe it's some other kind of compensation. But that never really got off the ground because as soon as the Ravens got to that frame of mind, which was in that five-hour window that Crosby claimed they weren't talking to him, which is not entirely accurate, by the way. Once it got to that point, they got more medical info that said, no, no, no, we're going to be off this thing completely.
My favorite quote, Mike Garifolo here on the Rich Eisen show, my favorite quote of the Of the entire owners' meeting to date. I mean, you never know. Obviously, there's tonight, there's today, tonight, and then there's tomorrow, the farewell. Was Howie Roseman talking about the A.J. Brown trade, saying, I unfortunately don't have a home under a rock.
But my answer to any question on A.J. Brown is: A.J. Brown is a member of the Eagles. Anything you ask me about A.J. Brown, I'm going to go right back to that answer.
Um And I, you know, this is not one of those moments where media member is asking another media member about why does this keep coming up when media member keeps talking about it. Or media member keeps being asked about it. That's you. But there is a there, there, right? No?
Mike? Yes? A there in what regard? An A.J. Brown.
being um asked about. and um potentially tradable. Mike. Right here in Phoenix, he could have. He could have said, AJ Brown is a member of the Eagles for this upcoming season.
There's no question in my mind, you know, with any with any finality, he could he did. And neither did Nick Siriani. And I'm not Knocking them. I'm actually grateful that they're answering it in as honest a way as they possibly can. Because there's a scenario where A.J.
Brown is back with the Eagles, and there's a scenario where he's not back with the Eagles. And I think that this thing got closer to being done than people realize, Rich. I mean, I think there was positive momentum. On a number of fronts. You heard Sean McVay talk about Devontae Adams and the fact that he had conversations with him about potentially making a move at the receiver position.
The Rams were intimately involved in having conversations with the Eagles. It just didn't get to the finish line because Well, for a variety of reasons, but in Roseman's mind, Doing a trade before June 1st was going to be such a massive cap hit this season. that if I'm going to take that on, I better get the compensation that I want to get. and not come in below that. And it didn't get there, it didn't get to that point.
But now, post-June 1st, when a lot of that Cap Hit gets pushed into the future, into 2027. Um, that allows them to go about their business a lot better this year, and then maybe it's like, well, I'll take a little bit less. I do know. That when it comes to Rosen, he's doing Deals and having conversations. He wants to make sure that if this is my asking price.
I'm not coming off of it because now in the future, when I have conversations about other trades, They'll say, well, he came down eventually on the other one. He'll come down on this one.
So I know that that was a big part of it for him as well. And again, it just didn't get consummated, whether it was the Rams or the Patriots or any other teams. They talked. Too, but I I don't believe that it's the end, and I think you can see that clearly from their answers. Yeah, I mean, June 1st being an important date, after which we'll be keenly attuned to this.
So I'll ask you the same question I've asked You know, Tommy P and everybody else that come on the show. Why, why? Why would A.J. Brown get traded, right? Like, why does it.
have to happen it doesn't have to happen yeah why would it come about As opposed to, well, we got A.J. Brown, we got Devontae Smith, we got Jalen Hurts, we got Saquon. We won a Super Bowl with these guys two years ago. Um why why would he have to go at the end of the day? Mike?
It's the relationship between him and the quarterback. And I've covered it at the Eagles, and we've talked about it. And It's not a situation where He is bitter toward the team. There's good feelings in that regard. Um There's good feeling both ways on that one.
Um, you know, big Dom DeSandro is a huge AJ Brown guy. And I think people have come to understand what Big Dom means to the organization? Previously, if I had said a A head of security for a team is a big proponent of a player. You'd think, okay, it's the head of security, but you know. What Big Dom means to that team, and those feelings are shared by the head coach, by ownership.
And and by the head by the general manager as well. Which is why I do think it's going to be interesting to see how the spring plays out because. It's not like Brown is saying I Hate that team. They've done something to me. I want out of here.
I don't want any parts of it. And I'm not showing up. for the entire spring. It's a different type of situation.
So is he there for workouts? Is he there for OTAs? If it lasts through minicamp, is he potentially there for that? And I don't have the answers to that and people I have asked have said, well, we'll get there when we get there.
Sort of things. And I don't know that he's even made a decision for how he wants to handle it.
So that's why, Rich. And I've heard. I've heard both sides of it. I've heard from people around both of these guys. And say how the like.
Jalen is AJ's kid's godfather. How did it get to this point? And I've heard. You know, not enough to say I've got a full grasp of everything, but I've heard enough to go, okay, well. I'm not going to sit here and say it's Jalen's fault or it's AJ's fault.
It's just two guys that seem to have grown apart for whatever reason. Then last one for you on this is why would the Rams have been interested? Mike because they're going for it And they've got a lot of young guys to pay moving forward here. Just on the defensive front. I mean, look at all the guys they've drafted, and they're not going to be able to pay all those guys.
I mean, I think you're going to see at some point the Rams either have to let them walk or find a way to make a trade because you've got too many guys. It's a great problem to have, but you've got too many guys up front there. In addition to Puka, Nakua, and What they're going to do with Stafford and that, the quarterback position over the next couple of years, they've sort of pushed that business off into the future a little bit. A lot of times, teams, and you're seeing the Seahawks with it. Jackson Smith and Jigbuzz will do Devin Witherspoon pretty soon.
Trying to get that business done as quick as possible. The Rams are like, well, we can still get these guys in their rookie contracts and go for it as well. And I know Sean McVay thinks extremely highly of A.J. Brown, so the chance to potentially acquire him was a reason for those conversations.
So. That's why the Rams understand where they are right now. They've got a ton of talent, they've got the last act of Matthew Stafford here. Which is not to say that This, I'm just saying, the last act of his career, and they're going for it.
So, but Adams would have had to have been offloaded for that to happen, or could they? I think so.
Okay. That's why McVay said they had a conversation with him. I believe that that would have been the case. Yeah. And I give him all the credit in the world for being open and honest with him and being open and honest with us in that regard.
Now, if it circles back and the Rams are revisiting this, let's say after June 1st, I don't know how that plays out. I think in the meantime, since then, he's gotten a payment.
So I don't know going forward, but I would say going back from what I understood that, yes, he probably would have had to be offloaded. All right, Mike. Appreciate the time. Enjoy our last night as NFL employees, sir. We told Tom last week that, you know, You know, obviously the credit card's down for incidentals.
I understand that. Uh but um Tomorrow, it's all on the Disney tab, man.
So treat the NFL like the Underhills tonight. You know what I mean? Go for a red eye. I have a red eye back to Jersey tonight.
So I will be in the air, almost like in the air at New Year's Eve, right?
So I think I'll pop something expensive. What do you think? You should just put it all on Pelicero's room and get the hell out of Don.
Now we're doing it. They did that to me the other day at the pool. What? Ian, I imagine, is part of the day? Who's part of the day?
Yeah. Yeah. I don't know that the entire tab went on there, but I think there were a couple of rounds where they were like. That guy over there has got it. Yeah, because the number came back, and I was like, that's not it.
That's not it. Careful, man. That's some of the inside stuff from the insiders. Good to see you, Mike. We'll chat soon.
Thank you. Great turn. Appreciate you guys. You'll be right back. Mike G, Mike Garfoll.
That's not it. Mike G on the Rich Eisen Show. There we go. I remember that. Those days at the first Pro Bowl I went to with NFL Network, 2004 Pro Bowl.
Rod Woodson told me, under no circumstances are you to give out your room number, and you best be careful because all the players. Will look at you as the new NFL network guy as the mark. I'm like, what are you talking about? He goes, if your room number gets out, everybody puts their stuff on your room number. You be careful.
Keep your head on a swivel. Did it and did he uh f follow it up with like so what is your number? No, the guy who did who did it who did get my room number was Marshall Falk. And did he use it? And he made it seem like he read my room number 'cause he watched my pen move when I signed for lunch.
And he said my room number out loud to me. And I'm like, you saw that from just my pen stroke? And he goes, uh-huh. And I'm like, too bad that's not my room number. And he goes, nice try.
Three days later, on NFL total access at the Pro Bowl. For our four-down segment to wrap up the show, he said my room number on TV. And I shined it off again, saying, not my room number. He goes, nice try. Yeah.
Making it seem like he could read how my pen moved on signing for the tab. We're going to the airport together to fly back to the mainland. I go back to my room To go check out and grab my bags, and I see Marshall Falk's bags on a Okay. Cart. Right next to the My room, because it's being removed from the room next door to me.
Marshall was next to me the entire time. I forgot about that. Great story. That's how he knew my room number.
So it was the right room number. But was in my head the entire time, making it seem like he saw the way my pen moved.
So it wasn't the right room number that he gave out. He gave out the right room number every time. Evil genius. Evil. Marshall freaking falk.
It wasn't his first Pro Bo Rodeo. It was mine. The Rich Eisen Show, the podcast. Refreshing wild cherry cola, meets smooth cream. The treat you deserve.
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Okay. Mike Garfolo alluded to it, and as we were having a conversation, the league voted on it. And yes, those two new officiating proposals have passed. The Competition Committee has now gotten these rules changed. In addition to what we talked about with Mike Galafolo, the kicking team can now declare an onside kick at any time during the game.
Fantastic. The whole business of kicking the ball from the 50-yard line, you can't just kick the ball intentionally out of bounds. That 50-yard line stuff happens when there's a personal foul penalty on an extra point. We're at point after, something like that. And like, we'll just take the ball from the 50, kick it out of bounds, and Okay.
That would put the ball, I believe, at the 25 or something like that. Um there's a whole bunch of kickoff alignment stuff. But the thing that You know, I don't want there to be an NFL referee labor problem. I don't think anybody does. But if there is, the league will basically handle overturning any damn call they please from the league.
Office in New York City, because again, that fail Mary moment where, oh, it's a touchdown. No, it's incomplete. No, it's an interception, all that sort of, whatever. We can't have that. Certainly, if we're shipping the game out to Australia for the Aussies to see for the first time, oh, yeah.
Those refs don't know what the hell they're doing. But the one thing is Finally. Done. Is the business of one guy shoves one guy and the other guy just gives a love tap back 15-yard penalty on the love tap guy, and the guy who shoves first. Um Goes scot-free, and the announcer shows the replay, and the analyst shows the replay, and it's like, oh, they got the second guy, not the first.
Always gets caught in over. Those days are over. Thankfully. Over. But there'll be a moment where Ref Smiths something, and then all of a sudden, CBS shows it.
NBC shows it. Fox shows it. You know, like snitching out, but that's just the way it goes. That's the way it goes. That's what the cameras are there for.
Don't forget the DK Metcalf suspension. CBS caught him. doing that thing with the fan in the stands. Otherwise no one no one else saw it. Mm.
So It's just an eye in the sky, not lying. And I think it's great. And I think there should now be, this is going to open things up. Do you put a flag on the field for other things that are clear and obvious? Like a face mask penalty that's missed, I say you bet.
I would take that in a heartbeat. Face match penalties, you missed it. You say no? It's too much at that point. It's like the ABS system.
If you missed the ball, it's now a strike. Yeah, but that's different. No, because the saying is, you can literally call holding or something on the strike. No, no, no, no. You don't do that.
No, no, no, that's something that's subjective. Holding pass interference, that's subjective. Illegal contact. A lot of that's objective. But if it's clear and obvious, like you're yanked somebody's face mask that's halfway off your head now, I don't know, the helmet.
I take that. I take that. So We'll see how that all works out. We're going to talk about the Niners specifically with Matt Mayoko when we come back on our three. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast.
From 30 for 30 Podcasts. Brian Padda, senior defensive lineman from Miami. Gun down. The key to this case, it's Brian. An hour before he died, he was on the phone arguing with Tabat.
This might be a hit. You want the truth. They just want a conviction. Being placed under arrest. We had a killer amongst us.
Murderer after you. Listen now.
