From Thirty for Thirty Podcasts. Brian Patter, 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 Tabaki.
This might be a hit. You want the truth. They just want a conviction. Being placed under arrest. We had to kill our monsters.
Murderer. This is the Rich Eisen Show. Hey, everybody! Can't get enough of The Rich Eisen Show? You're in luck!
You can find us everywhere. Watch us weekdays on Disney Plus from noon to 3 Eastern. Miss the show? We've got a podcast, so you can listen anytime. But here's the best part: our YouTube channel.
Subscribe at youtube.com slash rich eisen show and you'll never miss a moment.
Now, on with the show. AARON, where are you? This is the Rich Eisen Show. Where is AA Ron right now? McCarthy has said go, Rich.
We're wondering who the quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers is going to be. I don't, just because Aaron doesn't want to let you know about it yet. Today's guest, Fox Sports Rules Analyst Dean Blandino, ESPN senior NFL writer Jeremy Fowler, author Ken Davidoff. And now, it's Rich Eisen. No AA ron, huh?
Welcome to this edition of the Rich Isaac Show live in Los Angeles, California, here on April 1st. Yes, indeed, it is April Fool's Day, but this is no joke. We're right here for the next three hours on Disney Plus, the ESPN app, ESPN Radio Series XM Channel 80. 844-204 Rich is the number to dial on the program.
So much to discuss here with the NFL owners meeting all finished. The final four in the men's and women's side is all set. There's a lot of same as it ever was going on in the NFL. We'll discuss it all with you at 844-204-H being the number to dial. Good to see you, Chris Brockman.
What's going on? Hey, Rich. Good morning, my friend. Jason Feller in that spot. Good to see you, Felly.
Good to see you. TJ Jefferson. Candles already lit. I see. Kills it.
I have not pranked anyone yet, but the day is still. You are the king of punked over there loves his April Fool's jokes. Just can't get enough of it.
So it hasn't happened yet, but I was waiting for you. I'll always shoot you straight here on the program. Uh Yeah. The NFL network changed ownership officially. Overnight from the National Football League to ESPN.
And I woke up today. Oh, with an email? From My old employers from 1996 to 2003. who uh I parted ways with to launch NFL Network. And it said at the top, Welcome to ESPN.
And the date? was April 1st. And if you had sent me that email Between 2003 and 2025, I'd think it was from you, Mr. April Fool's Joker. How do you know people at ESPN to punk me like that?
Would have been a good chance. But no, it's real. And spectacular. Congrats. That I am.
As I sit here, For the first time since the last day I was in Bristol, Connecticut, Being handed a cardboard box, an ESPN employee through and through. As well as a licensee and a contracted employee through this show. It's It's kind of crazy. It really is. I'm saying it's a big.
Back in the day, it would have been an April Fool's joke that, yeah, you're. You're a business partner of ESPN's while also being an employee of ESPN and Disney. It's crazy. And again, the reason why I do bring it up here is. You know, it's also Groundhog's Day.
Because We're talking about A former Green Bay Packer quarterback and whether he's going to keep playing. Because when NFL Network first came on the air. The one individual that caused me to Remake plans. with Susie, or with friends, or whatever who it was, Uh was Brett Favre? Is he going to keep playing or is he not?
I mean, I remember there was one New Year's Eve. Finale against the Bears. I forget which year it was, but. You know, it was um Is Favre going to keep playing? And is he going to say if he's keep playing?
Are we gonna have to sit here? Uh on this finale. It was on NBC. Are we going to have to sit here and wait for Favre's press conference? Because we would do that.
all the time. One year Favre, at the end of a year, after the season was over for the Packers. And again, they all meld one and the other. I forget if it was regular season, probably was postseason. Favre had like an hour-long chat with Mike Sherman, his head coach at the time.
And We were waiting. Like, are they really talking right now for an hour after a game about whether he's going to keep playing next year or not? Like, what was that about? Over and over again. And then that New Year's Eve, we're like, uh, We're going to have to sit here all night waiting for Favre to say to the media, I'm coming back or I'm not, and that'll be the story that we're talking about.
And thankfully, I think he told Andrea Kramer in the post-game chat after the Packers. won the game I'm playing.
Next year.
Okay, great. Happy New Year to all of us. Thank you. Appreciate you. I can watch the ball drop.
That's right. And then, you know. Aaron Rodgers gets drafted. And when's he going to start? When's he going to play?
When's he going to do anything? What's going on with Favre? What's happening? Farm. Loses to the New York Giants In the playoffs.
Tom Confluent's face is freezing off and Favre is gonna go. Until he's not. And Mike McCarthy's like, we're moving on anyway. And Favre's like, no, you're not. I'm coming back.
And we heard You know, years later, that Ted Thompson, remember, he flew down to Mississippi to have a chat with Favre? We were told. Barv thought he was coming to say um You're welcomed back. And instead, they said, Do you want us to send your locker to like we could remove it? From The locker room, and you can have it as a keepsake.
And as far as like, what? I'm going to the Jets. And then Rogers becomes an all-time great. And then He winds up having a kid drafted. In Green Bay?
And we're wondering when Jordan Love is going to play, when's Rogers going to hand the reins over? And all he does is keep winning MVP awards. Until it was finally time. And he's like, All right, I'm going to the Jets. And then Favre, as we all know, had one year with the Jets.
Before he goes to Minnesota. and almost takes them to the Super Bowl. Of course.
So close. And Rogers, as we all know, had two years with the Jets, but only one full year with the Jets. And he's like I'm going to Pittsburgh. And here we are on this day, this April Fool's Day in 2026, with me now going back to ESPN, but still staying put at NFL Network. I don't know how I pulled that.
Kaiser Sozet like trick off, but Yeah. It's happening. While sitting here on Disney Plus and ESPN Radio, crazy, And an app with the SPN's letters on it. waiting to see if Aaron Rodgers is going to still play football. And that is a big story because He's Aaron Rodgers.
And This is the Pittsburgh Steelers. Apparently, keeping the seat warm for him. Just like they did last year. All the way until June. And then he performs I think very well, certainly compared to what happened in New York.
Certainly, what happened in the final year in Green Bay. It was his best year in. in almost half a decade, to be honest with you. Almost. Because he won MVP awards in the years before leaving Green Bay.
Unceremoniously. Yeah, he had 3,300 yards, 24 touchdowns, only seven picks. And the arm strength, they were old school Rodgers throws. Certainly, since the preseason, we were seeing him move around laterally in training camp, and everyone's like, uh-oh, he's going to be that old iron deer on the. Heinz Field, or pardon me, Akrashire front lawn.
He was not good in the playoffs. Should point out. No were the Steelers. And when it all came down to it, though, the offense wasn't good enough and it just wasn't gelling. Things were beginning to degrade.
Towards the end of the year. But. Do you want to go with Drafting a rookie? Do you want to go with the rookie you drafted last year who hardly did anything and Will Howard? Or do you want to keep the seat warm for Rogers again?
For your new head coach, Mike McCarthy, talk about, again, can't make it up. It's the guy who once upon a time was waiting for what was going on with Favre so he could go to Rogers.
Now he's asking Rogers, do you want to play at age forty nine? I'm Obviously. Exaggerating. But age 42, do you want to do this or not? And here we are waiting.
And we're coming off of an owner's meeting where Art Rooney. Rooney? is asked About Rogers, and this is what he had to say on Tuesday. Aaron Rodgers, have you talked with him recently or have any kind of anticipated timeline on when you might get a decision from him? I have not talked to him.
Coach has been in contact with him pretty regularly, and I think the decision is probably coming soon. Do you anticipate hearing one way or the other by the NFL draft? I would say be by the draft I expect an answer. Yep. I expect an answer by the draft.
So it's not going to June this time. Until Rogers doesn't give you an answer before the draft, and guess what? You cut him.
Well, first of all. I mean, you don't cut him. What do you mean? What do you mean? Hey, bro, we would like this by contract.
I don't even think so. I think he's a free agent. Oh, yeah. You don't cut him. Oh, wait, then you just.
You wait for him. They're going to wait for him again. Then what? What are you going to do? Oh, if you don't give us an answer, we're going to go ahead and draft Ty Simpson 21st overall.
I understand why Steelers fans have been so frustrated in the last few years. At first, it was with Tomlin, and now they have no plan at quarterback. Absolutely 0.0 plan. If they bring Rodgers back, you're exactly what you were doing last year. You go 9-8, you go 10-7, you lose in the first round of the playoffs.
Whoop-de-doo. What does that get you? You're not building to the future. What is the plan? Especially since you hired somebody in Mike McCarthy by saying he is a A an all-time developer of the quarterback.
with the guy they're waiting for Exhibit A. Bright. And I'm looking at what other options are. It's really about next year's draft. It just really is.
Then start Will Howard. Go 3 and 14 and get the first pick. If it's really about next year. Mm-hmm. That is the way to ensure that you get one of these.
Potentially generational 2024-type draft type of guys. Or you start Will Howard and you like what you see. And you build from there. Best case scenario. That is the best case scenario because you saying, let's go 3 and 14, have the best case scenario for a new quarterback.
Um Are you the one? To tell that to TJ Watt and Cameron Hayward and the rest of the J Watt two years ago, but they didn't. Are you the one to deliver that information to the vets? Yeah, you say, this is our plan. If you don't like it, there's the door.
You, Lieutenant Weinberg, you're going to do that? Me personally, no, I'm not saying that. That's what I'm saying. That's where the Steelers are.
Now, you could lament that. Scenario or Rogers is still Um one of the all-time greats with an arm and a neck up ability. to actually deliver and you get them more weapons. That's what you do? Maybe you do that.
Deliver what? You could deliver the football. He delivered a champion. He delivered a ball over four. Mm-hmm.
So, you think they should go Will Howard or draft a quarterback? I've been saying this for years about the Steelers. Yes, Rogers, thank you. Last year was cool. It was fun.
Clearly, that's not what they're doing. Clearly, they're waiting for him. And if he doesn't give them an answer, then they go about their business in the draft and see who they come up with. And if it's going to be some young guy who they like, then maybe they will change their tune with Aaron. It's the definition of insanity.
And Pittsburgh has been doing the same thing, expecting different results for nearly a decade now, since Big Ben, the last couple of years of him when he was pretty washed. Right. It's very difficult to push back on that, Chris. Other than to say Your Mike McCarthy coming back in, you could run it back one more time with a guy that knows everything about your offense. that you need to figure out if Will Howard is the guy or not.
He hopefully stays healthy. Everybody stays healthy. You do bring Will Howard along. You see if he's the guy or not in some way, shape, or form. While you win as many games with Rodgers, you're competitive.
You're better than competitive. You could win the division, get him another home playoff game, and hopefully things don't fall apart because you do have better weapons around Aaron Rodgers. Yeah, hope is. More than DK Metcalf. I'm not saying hope.
That's still a strategy. That's still one. Rather than the 3-14, or let's see who we got, and Will Howard, who, you know, McCarthy was saying, if I was. You know, in charge of the draft, he wouldn't have lasted as long as he did. I would have taken him, which sounds like a coach talking somebody up.
That's also the same guy who said he watched every Dallas Cowboys. That's right. And then he's kind of like, nah, I didn't. Actually, I didn't watch any. That is one of my favorite moments.
If Rodgers comes back and they win 12 or 13 games and make it to the AFC Championship game. That will be shocking. Shocking to the to the almost to the tune of Sam Darnold wins 28 games in two years and wins a Super Bowl. Which happened. I would be stunned, and so would you.
I would be pleasantly surprised for all my Steeler fan friends. I would be. Or you could just you could do this. You could wait for Rogers. You go into the draft, then you tell Rogers, no thanks, and you s you go get Kirk Cousins.
That's a different story. Jimmy G is still out there as well. But it just They're not waiting till June, until they have to. And I can't believe we're still talking about it. And I can't believe I'm with Disney.
any SPN full-time.
So this is nuts, man. It is not April Fools. Thank you very much. I did think I was out in 2003 and then this whole thing happened over the last year. But enough about me.
It's the Rich Eisen show, everybody.
Well, that is what I'm saying. But those are uh Same thing. Yeah. 844-204-Rich, number to Donald. Dean Blandino, former NFL ref.
Chief.
now with Fox Sports and with various other Entities Actually, still Being in charge of officiating and giving a couple of cents here and there. He's going to join us next about some of the changes that were instituted by the NFL, some of which, based on the fact that they might have replacement refs if things go a little bit further south in conversations between the referees association. He's going to join us. Jeremy Fowler's back on this program an hour, too. He did a deep dive on what's wrong with the Eagles and the relationship between Jalen Hurts and A.J.
Brown and the rest of the team. But Dean Blandino is coming up next, right here on the Rich Eisen Show, or here on this flashback Wednesday. Uh Rich Eisen here. Every time I travel for a major sports moment, whether it's a playoff run or a huge prime-time matchup, I see firsthand what happens to a city. Hotels fill up fast, energy builds, everyone wants to be part of it.
Now imagine that. On a global scale, the FIFA World Cup is coming this summer, people, and with it, thousands of fans traveling to host cities across the country. If you happen to live in one of those cities and you're planning to be away, maybe you've got your own summer trip lined up. This could be a practical opportunity. While you're gone, you could list your space on Airbnb and welcome traveling fans who want to experience the FIFA World Cup in person.
You're not changing your routine. You're not committing to anything year-round. You're simply making the most of a moment when your city is in the global spotlight. I know when I'm on the road for a huge event, having a comfortable home base makes all the difference. And that's what fans will be searching for.
If you've ever thought about listing your space, this summer is a great time as we welcome FIFA World Cup fans. Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at airbnb.com slash host. Oh, oh, oh.
Alright. Check engine, ABS, or maintenance light on? Take the guesswork out of your warning lights with O'Reilly Veriscan. The service is free and provides a report with solutions verified by ASE-certified master technicians. And if you need help, we could recommend a shop for you.
Ask for O'Reilly Veriscan today. Oh, oh, oh! Oh, alrighty. Auto parts. Rich Eisen here.
The April 15th tax deadline is coming fast, but don't worry. Hand off your taxes to a turbo tax expert today. You know how April feels. Everything speeds up. Games matter more.
Hoops and hockey schedules tighten. Your phone won't stop buzzing. And somewhere in the middle of it all, there's that quiet little reminder. Taxes. You'll get to it tonight or tomorrow or after the weekend.
And if you handle it the old way, you're refreshing your inbox like it's breaking news, waiting, wondering, hoping everything's squared away. That's a lot of mental bandwidth. With Intuit TurboTax Expert Full Service, you can match with a dedicated expert who understands your specific tax situation and handles your taxes for you, start to finish. You can do it all online or meet in person at one of their new tech-enabled store locations. Have your tax forms imported directly into the app and hand everything off to your TurboTax expert.
While they work to get you every dollar you deserve, you can go about your normal routine, giving you time back to focus on what actually deserves your attention, like rooting for your team to make the playoffs. April 15th is not waiting, people. Visit turbo tax.com and hand off your taxes to a turbo tax expert today. The Rich Heisen Show Podcast. I believe, and so I was on the East Coast living in New York.
It was late. And yeah, I knew as soon as that happened, I think a lot of people felt, okay, the regular officials will be back. And Miraculously, I mean, they thought it was going to take over a week. I mean, Thursday night, you had our dear friend Gene Sterator walking out of the tunnel in Baltimore like a conquering hero. Dean, I remember that.
Dean Blandino, by the way, here on the Rich Eisen Show, our radio audience just returned. NFL college football rules analyst for Fox Sports, head of officiating at the UFL, former head of officials at the NFL. What do you make of all this conversation going on right now between the Again, labor disputes suck. No one really wants to talk about it. And it's still just now the top of April, but I'd love to pick your brain on it.
What do you think? Sure. No, it sucks. And look, I lived through two of them. I was at the league office in 2001, I was at the league office in 2012.
I think I hope that we can get to a point where a deal can get done. It doesn't sound like they're close. I think the union is looking at this as an opportunity to kind of reset the table on how NFL officials are paid, their stances. The NFL is the most popular, it's the most valuable sports organization in North America, maybe even the world, and our officials aren't paid at a level compared to baseball and hockey and And basketball in the league is saying, well, those officials are working more games. They are full-time, where NFL officials are not.
So I think that's the core of it. You know, I am. I don't like the idea of going with replacement officials. I do feel like the union right now. Before 2012, before that lockout, the narrative was.
NFL game officials suck. You could throw anybody else out there and it'll be fine. And that didn't happen, right?
So now we have this specter of the Fail Mary. And I think the union is looking at that going, well, do you want another Fail Mary?
So, and I don't know if that's necessarily, that might be short-sighted because the league will move forward. The league will hire replacement officials. They will play games. And right now we're playing this game of chicken. And I hope it ends soon.
No, listen, it's always about money. We understand that. Money is what talks, and we also know what walks. Um as well, but uh the league is talking about um holding officials more accountable for potential uh mistakes and things of that nature. And I think we can all agree that That is a goal for sure.
No question. What are you hearing about that? That portion of it? Yeah, I think the league has the current CBA has a. A three-year probationary period.
So you get hired into the NFL, and in your first three years, the league can let you go. Without cause. I mean, and I live this as the head of officiating when you. Without that, and you try to fire a game official, the league will grieve it because they grieve it just on practice alone. And regardless of how the performance was, and you have to go through this whole exercise of making sure you have the paper trail, making sure you've put in the work to get this official up to speed.
And ultimately, there were officials that weren't going to get up to speed, and we wanted to let them go. And it was usually a fight with the union.
So I think that three-year probationary period is really, really important because there are some officials that go from college to the NFL that can't make that jump. And the games are too important to have sub-par game officials out there. And I think that's really important. The accountability is important. And I think that's something the league should honestly, in my opinion, really needs to make sure that they stand firm on that.
And I think game officials understand that. They're not out there going, well, we don't want to be held accountable. They are. They're graded. Their postseason assignments rely on those grades.
And ultimately, whether they stay in the league. rely on how they perform. I just think right now there's a lot of posturing, there's a lot of stuff out in the public, and hopefully they can get to the negotiating table and get a deal done before we have to go into games with replacements. What did you make of the two officiating related proposals that passed? Obviously, one.
Does involve Potentially getting the fail Mary out if there is a dispute that the League Central Office, the Art McNally Center, will handle significant calls and things of that nature. Do you think that would also be a test case to see if that is something the league would be the n NFL would do? From here, no question. No question. That proposal.
So, from what I understand, is yesterday the votes occurred. And when that proposal came up, and as written, it was only in the case of replacement officials. And the way that happens is the competition committee will basically articulate the rule change and open it up to the floor for any of the membership to comment. And several owners got up and said, Why are we only doing this for the replacements? Let's make this a rule change, regardless of replacements.
And it actually got 14 votes. It didn't pass. You need 24 of 32, but it got 14 votes.
So I think this certainly will be a test case. And I think that those things that they'll be able to do if we do have replacements will ultimately. Go into effect at some point with the regular officials.
So, what do you think would, because again, the way that this. Is written, as you pointed out, it would correct clear and obvious misses made by on-field officials that impact the game. You know how this works. These things need to be codified down to the nth degree, like it's a long sheet. Contract, you know, so what would what would fit into that bucket, D?
And that's the great question. And it's not everything, and that's what we have to understand. There isn't a someone in the, in the, in the AMGC, Art McNally Game Day Central, with a magic wand that can correct every single thing. Even think about the Fail Mary. The fail mary was reviewable.
Replay looked at that. Replay could have made it an incomplete pass. Replay could have made it an interception.
So there were controls in place.
So you still have people involved that have to make decisions.
So this would be areas where fouls that aren't called would be limited to roughing the pass or intentional grounding or anything that would result in a disqualification if they are called. Like a face mask or horse collar illegal contact, and there's video to show that it's not a foul, they can pick that up. And then in the last two minutes, it expands to all unnecessary roughness, anything on sportsmanlike conduct, and anything that would certainly result in a disqualification.
So it's not everything and anything, right? There will be holding calls missed. There will be pass interference calls missed that they won't be able to correct from the command center.
So that'll be interesting if we end up going down this road. And then the other rule proposal that passed. Uh, was to allow league personnel to consult with on-field officials when considering disqualifications for both flagrant football acts and non-football acts without being called on, the field meaning. the first guy to shove that always escaped scrutiny and a flag Those days are over, and somebody might actually get ejected, even if a flag hasn't been thrown on that individual.
Somebody could call and say, Hey, we see you, first person who started it. Do you think that is now potentially going to open a portal of putting flags on the field? From league officials, not in the stadium. Do you think that's a test case too? No question.
No question. And that I think that a lot of that came from the Super Bowl with Josh Job and Stephon Diggs, where Job threw a punch. It wasn't penalized on the field. The rule last year, the command center couldn't get involved.
Now you have an opportunity to eject the player.
So, yeah, we're going to see situations like that. Not a lot, but we're going to see situations where they do inject themselves into the game. And again, we hope that the standard is, we don't want to disqualify. One of the things that about on-field officiating and being in the moment and understanding the temperature and understanding what's happening, what's being said, versus just watching something on video and going, oh, well, he hit him in the head. Right, you certainly don't want to object for just pushing and shoving or chicken fighting, whatever it may be, but when somebody throws a punch, And it's not penalized on the field.
Now they have the opportunity to get that right.
So, what do you think would be, in terms of testing it out, would be the next step of putting a flag on the field? That hasn't been called. If somebody from the Art McNally Center calls in and goes, wait a minute, let's throw a flag on that. What do you think would be? the next step if they kind of Have a comfort level based on the market.
Yeah, I think it's going to be that list of fouls that right now, if we do have replacements where if there is a flag. Replay can come in and correct it. And I think that list will, whether it's face masks or horse collars, those types of things, player safety related, where you're going to be able to put a flag down from the command center. And I think there's a balance in anything. Absolutely, I want to get these calls right.
They're 15-yard penalties. They affect games significantly, but you do have to have that balance of you certainly don't want the game to be reofficiated from a replay booth every other play. And I think the league understands that. And hopefully, we can find the kind of the right place. What are you doing in the UFL that you think the NFL would dig?
What do you think? I just think what we do in the UFL with, look, we've got a four-point field goal for a 60-yard or further back. I don't know if the league will go that far, but hey, look at the kickoff, right? We started that kickoff alignment back in 2020 with the XFL. It looked crazy.
It looked different. If you would have told me four years later the NFL was going to do it, I would have said you were crazy, but they're doing it. I think with the UFL, I think it's the transparency. You're going to see myself, Mike Pereira, in the command center. You're going to be able to hear what we're saying.
You're going to be able to hear what the officials are saying. You might not always agree with the decision, but you're going to understand why. And I think that kind of eliminates some of the angst and some of maybe the conspiracy theories and all that other stuff where it's just people. Going through a process, trying to make a decision, and you're going to hear all of it and see everything. And I think that helps.
And I think the NFL could do more of that. Do you think the NFL would really mic up? You know, Walt Anderson or somebody, you know what I mean? Sure. Do you really think so?
Because. you know like That would be wild, man. That would get the tinfoil hat off people's heads, though. It would. You've got to be careful, though.
And I think it's harder when you have multiple games. The NFL could have eight or nine games in that early window on Sunday.
So, you gotta have the right people. You know, because listen, there are some conversations. That happens on the field or in replay where you don't want that going out over the air. And the other thing is, when you know your people are listening, you may be more guarded in your communication and you may not be as open. And that can have a negative impact.
So I think the league needs to look at it. Maybe you start with primetime games, with the one-off games, and kind of crawl before you're able to run. But I do think, again, there's so much writing on these games. And you think about just the livelihoods of the players and the coaches. And then you think about the sports betting element and everything else.
Transparency is good. And I think more the league could do, I think it's better for everyone. Yeah, I agree with you on that. Then a moment like, say, I would love to have had transparency or listen in on how like that two-point conversion. between the Rams and the Seahawks went down where it's like, wait a minute, you know, d was that actually instituted by Terry McCauley opining on the air for for Prime Video and the league then back in New York picked it up.
You know, that would be. That would be that's always the downside, without question. And I think, though, if you are transparent, then I think it behooves everybody involved to kind of lock it in and get better and get better at the communication that play. There's no reason that play should have taken however long it took for replay to get involved.
However, it happened. Right. 90 seconds, two minutes later, that's unacceptable. That's, hey, forward, backward pass, it's reviewable. This is a big play.
Who recovered it? The Seahawks recovered it in the end zone.
Okay, by rule, they get the ball there. You go through that process, and I think that's where you have to kind of tighten that up, especially if you're going to let people listen in. You have to have a good process and good communication. A couple more for you, Dean. Why is the league sticking with the onside kick and not replacing it with an offensive play?
What do you think those conversations are? Are about i think there are i think look the kickoff i think it's really important the kickoff is a integral part of the just the fabric of the game right and i'm i'm so happy that we've at least got a kickoff whether you like it or not that keeps the return in the game now you think about that on-site kick it has gotten significantly harder to execute that play right it was six percent last year whatever it may be and you need that viable option in multiple you know when you're down multiple scores the on-site kick again they added now that you could do it anytime during the game even when you're ahead i don't that's a to me that's a a solution looking for a problem teams don't aren't gonna on-site kick when they're ahead unless they're gonna trust but then there's no surprise there's no surprise element anymore there's no surprise element if you're not if you're not getting ready for the normal kickoff Exactly. There's no surprise element.
So to me, it's like now some of these coaches who are too smart for their own good are now going to say, well, now I'm going to, we're up.
Now we're going to kick off. We don't want to kick off.
So we're going to onside and we're going to try to run time off the clock or we're going to, and it's going to backfire. And they're going to give their opponent really good field position.
So I don't know about that. The on-site kick is on, I think it's on life support right now. You know, we UFL, we use a fourth and 12 option. I don't think you can go fourth and 12. I think it has to be fourth and 15 or longer.
But that's a drastic change. And I don't think the league is ready to make that change yet. What do you do if there's a defensive penalty on that fourth and 12 attempt? What do you do there? It's officiated as normal.
So if there's an illegal contact that results in an automatic first down, it's a first down. And I think that's one of the issues with the pushback to it. That's a big, big penalty. Yeah, because those illegal contact penalties are usually away from the ball and sometimes foolishly, foolishly, not called, but foolishly. Um I guess can it's a foolish play by a defender.
You know, where just a quick Motion of the hand away from the ball. Could you imagine? Yeah, and that has impacted. Yeah, no question. I think that's part of the pushback against it.
I don't know. Like I said, I like the on-site kick if you can figure out a way to make sure that it's safe and you have an opportunity to execute it. I don't love being able to do it now when you're up. I just think that opens up a door to some other stuff. But you do need an option to come back when you're down multiple scores.
Yeah, gotcha. Last one for you. You're wearing a Dodger hat. What do you think of the ABS first week of the ABS system, man? There's some umpires that are getting overturned.
Over and over again, right now, Dean. Yeah, look, I think it's good anytime you can use technology to get these calls right. But I think what we're seeing a little bit of. If these, you're talking about millimeters, right? You're talking in the strike zone, right?
You think about in reality, it's a three-dimensional strike zone, and now we're looking at it in two dimensions. All of these things certainly don't want to, I don't want to watch an at-bat where the batter or the catcher, and now we've got five challenges during an at-bat. I think, look, it's good ultimately when you can get these calls right, but balls and strikes, when the ball is that far outside the strike zone, and now we're kind of not and believe me, I'm not defend overly defending the umpires, but now we're kind of shaming these umpires. That's a hard thing to do, to call balls and strikes for 300 times a game.
So look, it's good overall. But I think, again, you got to keep it limited, and hopefully they can do that. I noticed you used the word shaming. Do you think umpires feel that way? That they're being shamed publicly?
I don't know. Look, you read the articles, and I don't know. The one on pirate, he got overturned five times. Yeah, Stevie Buckner, man. Yep.
Yeah, that's tough. That's tough. You know, I've made decisions in replay where, you know, we kicked it, and you, you, nobody feels worse than you. Right. So, look, but they're professionals.
That's what they have to do. They got to get it right. And if it, and if it makes them better. That's ultimately a good thing. Dean, you're the man.
Thanks for taking the time. We'll get you in here in studio next time. Always appreciate when you're on. You know that. Absolutely.
Thanks, Richard. Dean Blandino, everybody. You ever already check out the UFL and his officiating and his officials on the field. You know? I just had to I just was curious what he thought of the ABS system there.
And, you know, he mentions about how C.B. Buckner got overturned over and over and over again. Horrible call he's in a rut right now. And I'm wondering if, in the same way, if there's a shortstop who has the ips throwing or fielding, oh, here comes another ground ball. Or the shank.
I'm wondering if that's happened. Because if he took it to first base last night, it was Brewers, the Brewers were playing. I don't know who they played. But Ground ball to second or a shot to second. Ball goes off of the glove of the second baseman.
Tampa, Milwaukee and Tampa. Right. And then the throw goes to first hurriedly, and it's wide. Like it's a wild throw. Yeah, terrible.
Not even close. Buckner was following the throw. As the Brewer's runner. Hits first base with his foot right in the middle of the square of the base. Did you see this, TJ?
I did not. Oh, my God. And Buckner calls him out because the ball eventually gets to first, and they tag him because he's not on the base. He ran through it. Right.
And And Buckner ruled he never hit the base. It was a quick replay. It was obvious, but on the replay that you saw, the announcers called it out. Buckner wasn't watching the bass as the man. hit the base squarely with his foot.
Now you're wondering, like, has he got the because he's going behind home plate tonight, I believe, again. Really? Yes.
So But the ABS is there, and I understand it's millimeters here, millimeters there. And it's an interesting point. I haven't heard that made: that the strike zone is three-dimensional in real life, but for ABS, it's two dimensions. Is it in the square or is it not in the square? It's also where it crosses the plate.
And I think a lot of people see where they catch it, and it's like, oh, we caught it low. Yeah, but the catcher is also several feet behind home plate. Damn. Mm. I still like it.
Yeah. It's holding people accountable. That part. I know. Yeah, C.B.
Buckner is behind the plate tonight in Milwaukee. Keeping an eye on that. I mean in a way that again that we haven't really kept an eye on umpires in the in major league baseball. And then by the end of... you know, this coming month.
As you know, tomorrow or today. It's one week into the baseball season, but there's only one game a week ago. You know, the Giants. and the Yankees. We're going to soon get like a month's worth, and it'll be out there which umpires have been overturned the most, which umpires have been overturned the least, which teams are the most successful, which position players are the most successful.
Batter hitter Um catchers, yeah. Pitcher, you know, the battery or the hitter? Who's more successful? I think we're going to find out. Hitters are going to be more successful, catchers, second most successful, and pitchers are just going to be the worst at it.
Well, yeah, they're the furthest away and they always think they throw straight.
Well, the thing is they're the ones with the the least straight on angle of it because they're not stationary. Yeah, they're left they're moving, they're falling off a mound. Elevated. You remember, Fernando wasn't even looking as he threw. Right.
That's made even more amazing. 844-204-Rich. Number to dial right here on the Rich Eisen Show. The uh Eagles. Inside their locker room.
That's coming up next hour. No one likes having to choose. That's why, with America's best lineup of hybrids from Hyundai, you get the best of both worlds. Like the reliable and efficient Tucson hybrid with America's best warranty, or the stylish yet capable Santa Fe hybrid with the power to navigate the toughest terrain. It's like having your cake and eating it too, but, you know, better.
Hybrids from Hyundai. It's the best of both worlds. Visit HyundaiUSA.com or call 562-314-4603 for more details. As you know, managing maintenance, repair, and operations is never easy. But for the ones who always rise to the challenge, Granger has your back.
From professional grade products you can count on to fast, dependable delivery. They're there to help you keep things running smoothly. Plus, their technical product specialists are here to help answer your toughest questions. And because Granger knows safety is always a priority, they're committed to being your partner in protecting both your people and your facilities. Call 1-800-GRANGER, clickgranger.com, or just stop by.
The Rich Heisen Show, the podcast. Here on the Rich Eisen Show, 844-204, Rich is the number to dial. Right here on the program, no one likes having to choose. That's why, with America's best lineup of hybrids from Hyundai, you get the best of both worlds: like the reliable and efficient Tucson hybrid with America's best warranty, or the stylish yet capable Santa Fe hybrid with the power to navigate the toughest terrain. It's like having your cake and eating it too, but you know.
Better. Hybrids from Hyundai. It's the best of both worlds. Visit HyundaiUSA.com or take down this number: 562-314-4603. For more details.
Let's go to Steve in the Heartland, Columbia, Missouri. What's up, Steve? Veterich. I'm fine. You sound down, Steve.
Yes, T. No, I'm good.
Okay. Here's the deal. I've been wondering about this for a long time.
Okay. when when Rogers came out and he had his death spiral where he wasn't the number one pick. It really pissed him off. And he's been holding the league hostage ever since.
So he gets all these guys that have all this money and he comes out and he goes, I might play for you.
Now. You could spend $50 million on Trent Bilfer. and you'd win the same number of Super Bowls. He he throws for a lot of yards. He is undoubtedly a great quarterback.
Yes.
But Jim Kelly was a great quarterback. He got there four times And didn't win. But why are Why are we all so Crazy. About this idea that this guy who's forty Wants to come back and win eight games or nine games for you and not take you to the Super Bowl. And everybody sits here with on, you know, just with bated breath, waiting to see, geez, what's Aaron going to say?
I don't know. Ask his invisible wife. Wow, Steve. Listen, and I appreciate your call, Steve. Hold on, rock.
No, no, guys. He just, it just drives me crazy. No, no, I mean, because Steve, Steve. Steve, he is an all-time great quarterback. He's not just a great quarterback.
He is an all-time quarterback. He's an all-time great quarterback. This is the Pittsburgh Steelers. No, I know that. Nobody ever held the league hostage.
No, but Favre did the same thing back in the day, which is what my point was at the beginning. I can't believe. That we're still talking about a similar storyline and a same Mad Lib, different proper nouns of the former Green Bay quarterbacks with the Jets being included as a through line as well, 20 years later, Steve. But this is the Pittsburgh Steelers. This is the Pittsburgh Steelers we're talking about here, who made a move, who hired a coach for the first time in two decades.
and and hired the same guy that was Back in Green Bay in the day, waiting for Favre to transition to Rodgers, now apparently waiting for Rogers again.
So that's why we're paying attention. That's why I'm paying attention. You're talking about the Pittsburgh Steelers. I don't know what he's going to do. I don't suddenly see him coming back to the Steelers and taking them to the Super Bowl because he's not that guy.
He won one Super Bowl. There's a lot of guys that have won one Super Bowl. It's not like he's Brady. It's not like he's. Montana or even Young.
He's not that guy. That would be like hiring me to do your show because I've been on the radio one time today. Thank you, Steve, from Columbia, Missouri. Everybody. I have a new favorite caller.
I like the way Steve's brain works. Yeah. Uh I would Again. push back on the analogy that The Steve from Columbia show is. the analogy of Aaron Rodgers quarterbacking the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Okay. after they won the division with him as their quarterback last year. You don't really know Steve that well. I don't know Steve that well. But, like, uh,.
You know Is he going to be able to? Like another show based in Missouri. He was. DTF with Rogers right there. He is not a fan.
Powerhouse Rocky. He was definitely. I'm not a fan of Aaron Rodgers right there. We could say that. Which is why you liked his moxie.
I enjoyed the immensely, yeah. I listen. The idea that you are going to wait for Aaron Rodgers hoping for a different result, I totally understand why that would be massive pushback. This is a league that you can't make it up. You can.
In the fact that, again, Aaron Rodgers won his one Super Bowl. Against Mike Tomlin and the Steelers for Mike McCarthy, who's now succeeding Mike Tomlin, waiting for Aaron Rodgers to make a decision like he was once waiting for Favre to make a decision so he could start Rodgers. Make that up. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast. Mm-hmm.
