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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 here. Earlier on the show, Fox Sports Rules Analyst Dean Blandino. Coming up. ESPN senior NFL writer Jeremy Fowler.
Author Ken Davidoff. And now, it's Rich Eisen. No AA ron, huh? Hour number two, the Rich Eisen Show is on the air. 844-204 Rich is the number to dial here on the program.
We got baseball on the brain, as we all know, and hour number three: 101 lessons from the dugout. Um brought to you by our uh the writer Ken Davidoff. He's going to join us in studio in hour number three. We're going to talk some baseball. I haven't well that I haven't seen Ken in a very long time, back when I was covering the World Series for ESPN and ESPN Radio.
Um, that was uh, so it's been a while. Um, we'll we'll chat some baseball with him. Uh, I know you're up for talking about baseball. Yep, Jason Feller, always your Dodger hat. I'm not loving baseball.
I understand that. But we'll talk about that later on. As you know, I always talk here on this program about in the NFL. Certainly, more than most sports, but all sports, the NFL in particular, there's always an iceberg. for every team.
We only see the tip above water. Underneath the water is the full story. And Um the iceberg that we keep talking about here over and over again. involves the Philadelphia Eagles in the offense. And Why does it work when Shane Steichen's there and then Kellen Moore's there?
And then in the years after, speaking of baseball, like remember, Brett Sayerberg Hagen went once every other year winning Asa Young, and then in between, not so much, right? Yeah.
So that's it's like every other year. The offense hits, and then in between. When they have to hire somebody new, because Shane Steichen goes somewhere else to coach the Colts, and then Kellen Moore goes somewhere else to coach the Saints. There's a new offensive coordinator there that is the scourge of the city. Lights up phone lines there in Philadelphia.
And what is going on? Why is A.J. Brown constantly being talked about on the trading block? And we hear every now and then Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, and yesterday Mike Garifolo of formerly NFL Media, now of. NFL network 2.0.
Talking about that there's friction between the quarterback and the wide receiver. And sure enough. This very morning. The old deep dive on ESPN. The app in ESPN.com inside Eagles 2025 Friction as Jalen Hurts stands at Crossroads is the headline written by Tim McManus.
And our next guest joining us here now is Jeremy Fowler. How are you, Jeremy? Good to see you. I'm good, Rich. Thanks for having me.
You still there in Arizona? I am. I'm about to head to the airport.
Okay. We had a nice three days in Arizona.
Okay. Everybody was mingling and making rule changes. There wasn't a lot of buzz out of here. It was pretty quiet, to be honest. One of the more quiet meetings up there around.
Well, until your story comes out. Yeah.
I'll give you the floor here. What did you find about what we're not seeing? What is beneath the surface for this potential iceberg? At the crossroads involving their Super Bowl MVP and highly paid quarterback, Jeremy. Yeah.
Well, Rich, the impetus was what we were seeing on the field, which was a problematic passing offense. In Philadelphia, really for the last two years, they just happened to win big because they had a great running game in Saquon Barkley, and they just.
Sort of overwhelmed people on their way to the Super Bowl, but it's been two years of struggles in the passing game. A.J. Brown showed his frustration nearly every week.
So we just sought out to figure out what was ailing the Eagles' offense, what the true problems were.
So, you know, we talked to more than a dozen team sources, people in and around the team and the quarterback to try to figure it all out. And Jalen Hurts' name came up. A good amount of times as far as just some problems there where despite his immense success and his obvious strengths, His clutch. He's got a steely resolve to him. But we learned that coachability was an issue at times, that he's rigid in what he wants.
Even in 2024, when they were on the way to the Super Bowl, he and Kellen Moore had some tense moments because Kellen was trying to implement some motions and some shifts and some under-center work and some new things that Hertz either hadn't done or really didn't want to do. That played out a little bit this year too. And so it's a situation where You know, sources told us you never quite know what's coming out of the huddle when you call a play. Hurts might go with a play he wants, which to be sure some quarterbacks do. You know, they'll call Aldibas and all those things, but.
He'll even have some hand signals that maybe weren't in the playbook or weren't installed by the coaches.
So there was just a little bit of a discord there over the last year or so, and it showed up because they didn't have the running game this year. The offensive line was beat up. A.J. Brown was frustrated. They looked a step slower at really every position.
So it was all on Jalen Hurts, and the results weren't great.
So clearly, he's a well-established. Good quarterback in the NFL, but he's at a crossroad right now going on another coordinator, and it's a situation where the train is sort of moving, and he's got to jump on it.
Well, there was one moment in time that you um in your article bring up that I I want to bring up here because it's something that maybe a fan could hang their hat on. remembering from last season. to try and use that as the the portal into which your reporting is Placing this on Jalen Hurts's shoulders as well as his personality and his desire to do what he wants. And it was the the final throw against Green Bay where You know, Siriani elected to go for it on fourth down rather than kick a long field goal. And I'll give you the floor on that moment and how emblematic it may be of your reporting here.
Jeremy. Yeah, that was an example that certainly came to mind after. The fact, you know, should we look into what goes on with the Eagles' process, how they get from a play call to an actual play? There just seemed to be a discord there. And even in that game, in the locker room, Devontae Smith said, Yeah, number one and eleven.
just kind of worked out their own play on that, which is A.J. Brown and Jalen Hurts just decided to go deep. And let's go for it. And you can see Nick Siriana mouthing Y on the sideline. You can see it on the telecast.
And you know, of course, he covered for his players after the game, but. It to to me was emblematic of of maybe what what has has been going on. with how plays get to the field and who's calling them.
Now Great quarterbacks, and Aaron Rodgers is an example of. You kind of can run your own offense at times. You can change the play. You can have your own hand signals with receivers. Like, that does happen, but.
The fact that the Eagles' passing game has really struggled the last couple of years, combined with some of those tactics, it kind of comes to a head a little bit.
Okay, and then the final play of the year, where there was a huddle that played out on national television, a timeout called. You know, do or die moment for the Eagles, season on the line against the 49ers in a very disappointing game or big struggle offensively. And this is what led your article. Um, so did Jalen Hurts was the one who came up with the play call that ultimately did not work and then got lit up? By the blogosphere, by the social media sphere, by the Sunday morning.
Football show spheres saying that's the play you come up with. It was Jalen Hurts who came up with that one. Jeremy? Our sources said that Jalen Hurts recommended the play.
However, one of those sources said that he was asked, what do you want to run, Jay? or something to that effect. Like he was kind of queued up. And so he brought up the play at that point, suggested it once he was asked.
So I thought that whole situation was. Emblematic of the year. You just have. A lot of different Cooks in the kitchen. And you don't always have a clear direction, you know, at least with Kellen Moore in the offense last year, they knew what they were.
And Kellen Moore parlayed it and do a job with the New Orleans Saints, but she did a good job with Tyler Shuck.
So They've shown that when they have kind of a top-shelf play caller, that they can take the lead on this thing and drive the boat. Shane Steichen, same thing three or four years ago, and Kellen Moore. You know, but the problem is when they've gone. In-house, it's usually an extension of Nick Siraviani, whose offense. with Philadelphia originated from him that he got from past stops and brought it over.
And then you have Jalen Hurts, who Depending on who you ask around the league, it is somewhat limited to where he likes what he likes. He wants the ball from under shotgun in most cases. Likes to run really one-on-one patterns to try to get guys open versus man coverage.
Well, defenses adjusted. They tried to take away his running ability, dared him to throw against zone coverage. And that's where A.J. Brown disappears a little bit. And so, all those factors really come to a head at the end of the year on this one play.
Where The offense is kind of looked at as simplistic, it was in that moment. The 49ers knew exactly what was coming. They read it. They sniffed it out, but yet that was a situation where maybe it was hard to tell who was exactly in control in that moment. I still think there are some parts of that huddle I don't know, but from what I was told, Hurts was asked what he wanted to run.
He mentioned the four vertical play and then they got what they got. What's going on with him and A.J. Brown that you're able, willing. Yeah.
Here, Jeremy.
So I don't necessarily think they're in a terrible place at the moment. And Jalen Hurt said after the year that he and A.J. Brown spoke and that they are in a, quote, great place, I believe is what he said. That is a positive. I really think it's one of those situations, Rich, where There's no blowout fight.
You know, multiple sources told me they never saw AJ and Jalen. In some sort of huge scuffle or issue. Brown can kind of do that on his own as we saw week to week. You know, what happened at the end of the season was probably the eighth worst thing that happened, you know, when he's addressing his coach and getting mad on the sideline. It was kind of a weekly charade, and certainly AJ deserves his share of the blame in the struggles last year, too.
But I think it's a situation where you have two. Players who have slightly different personalities but also internalize a lot. Jalen Hurts, I think. Part of the struggle he has is he's very much an introvert. He's very much to himself.
Whether he wins a Super Bowl or throws a pick, he's kind of the same guy. Which can be hard to read inside a locker room, especially one with a lot of personalities and ego.
So, you know, he's not necessarily a galvanizer in that way, although he tried later in the year to change on that and did a pretty good job from what we were told. But you have a situation where AJ Brown and Jalen Hurts are probably not communicating all that much on a productive level. week to week, where the airing of grievances in a positive way is not happening.
So, really, you just have some festering of feelings, and you go out there every week and hope for the best. It seems pretty clear. Uh That Can they coexist maybe, but it's probably not best. I mean Most people I talk to around the league do expect A.J. Brown to still be traded.
It just really depends on when and can they get a decent offer for him? Because the Eagles wanted a lot. New England Patriots or whoever was involved couldn't match that. And then now you got the draft coming up, that could create some urgency. Yeah, and then there's the June 1st date that I keep hearing about that the trade needs to happen after that for cap purposes and and planning purposes if it happens at all.
And, you know. It's difficult to say that they are in a great place if the rest of the league is constantly knocking on Howie Roseman's door. Um, you know, and There's a reason for that. I mean, you're at the annual meeting where there's constant talk at places like this, the combine. And so the league kind of does know the stuff that we are hunting and pecking to see if someone would say on the record.
And that's why I think maybe everybody thinks a trade is coming. But then you do read a story like this, Jeremy, and you wonder, is there somebody in the building trying to do Jalen Hurts dirty? You know, I I I I'll I'll be honest. Here. Yeah, I can understand that question, but really all I can speak for is.
My reporting where We saw what was happening on the field.
So we tried to figure out what was the problem. And You know, so we asked a variety of people. From different areas of the building, outside of the building, the whole deal. And a lot of the answers were pretty consistent.
So that's what was surprising. Because you want to be fair to a player like Jalen Hurts, who has had immense success. And to be sure. You know, from what we're hearing. He seems pretty open to the changes that are coming with O C Sean Manion.
And so, yeah, he's going to bring in. We'll see what it looks like on the field, but a variation of what the Packers did. That's the school he came from. He was with the Minnesota Vikings once upon a time. You're going to see Jalen Hurts under Cent or more.
You're going to see motions and shifts. Modernized offense, you're going to see it a little differently in Philadelphia. And sources have told us that he's been open to that so far. And I know it's early in the process.
So, Maybe it's a situation where they get a total reset and a new mind in there. And new ideas, and that can sort of spark Hertz, who we've told really responds well to challenges like. any sort of challenge, whether it's being benched in college. Or challenges in the offense after the 2023 season when things went poorly, you know, he's ready to respond well and has that kind of resolve.
So I do expect that. But his name came up a lot when we started asking around. And I think there is some sympathy for A.J. Brown in circles of the building. Even though he comes across as a crybaby and probably is in a lot of cases, because the behavior you can see on the field, it's every week, that had to be exhausting and was for the team.
Sometimes when you ask like, What's the deal with AJ, they'll say pretty plainly, it's Trying to work around an offense with Jalen Hurts as the quarterback. And they feel like that just doesn't create layups in the offense, those easy yards that most star receivers can get elsewhere. And it's just a struggle. Mm. But Manion is gonna do what to fix it, right?
I mean that's a question here. and the coach and It's just so unlike what you look at it one way, and there's another way to potentially look at it. Like Jalen Hurts responds well to challenges, but. Previous administrations have been challenging to get under center. You know?
Let's do something this way. Let's do something that way. And his answer is: well, I'll just do it my own way. That's some of the reporting I'm reading in your article. But if he is open to open to changing and Manion could bring something.
then why would it be best for A.J. Brown to be gone? Is the last question I have here, Jeremy? You know what I mean? Like, because you can, well, so there are a couple layers there with AJ Brown.
If you can get a first-round pick still at this stage, although the Eagles wanted more than that. A couple weeks ago. Then It's a deep receiver class. You can get somebody new in there with some fresh legs. AJ Brown, still elite, yes.
Has he a half step? Depending on who you ask around the league, some executives I've talked to think that he doesn't look quite as explosive or fast.
Now, the context there could be he was frustrated all year, his mind and head wasn't in it. He's only 28 years old, so certainly he's still playing a high level, and the Rams. Who inquired about A.J. Brown ultimately backed out and kept Devontae Adams? They saw a guy who was fully capable to be in their offense, and they're one of the hottest ones in the league.
He's got value, but I think you can, if you're the Eagles. You can get some more draft capital. You need an edge rusher, and then you would need another receiver at that point. You can do that, get younger, and maybe. Get better by Cohesiveness, not necessarily just by replacing Brown, but you can get a more balanced attack and get somebody who exactly fits what Sean Mannion wants to do and start over.
And then, you know, with Jalen Hurts. And the offense improving, this is at least a clear change. Before it was kind of, I'll give you an example: 2025, it wasn't always clear exactly what. They want it from Jalen Hurts too, because to shoot Hurts some bail. And I talked to a source close to him about this.
He went all offseason thinking it was status quo. It was the Nick Siriani, Kevin Batullo, traditional offense that he started with. And then when they get to training camp, they started dabbling more in the undercenter stuff. And then like by week six or seven, they realized they couldn't run the ball. because they were beat up up front.
So they had to do some undercenter stuff to get to just help Saquon in the running game.
So Jalen Hurts, I do think at that point understood the why as to. That's why the change is happening. That doesn't mean that he liked it, but you know, to his credit, he's like, hey, I thought we were doing something all offseason, and then we're not.
So, what's the problem here?
So, I think at least this is now a clear change, they have a clear new identity. this is what we're doing and this is exactly what we need from you and it's up to him to adjust All right. Last one for you, Jeremy. I'm going to ask you the what's more likely question I've been asking everybody in the information business. Um involving Max Crosby.
What is more likely that he stays a Raider? That he's back. And that um that he the Um experience he had about being traded and then not. And the emotions coming from that and being back in Vegas supersedes whatever emotions caused him to be traded in the first place. Or this is all just a smokescreen to get his draft value, compensation value, back up to what the Ravens paid, and he will be somewhere else this season, Jeremy.
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It's buzzing, packed, electric.
Now take that energy. and multiply it by the entire world. That's what's coming this summer with the FIFA World Cup. Fans from every corner of the globe are going to be traveling to experience it live. And when that many people come to town, they're all looking for a place to stay.
And that got me thinking. If you live in or near a host city, this is one of those rare moments. You already have a space. This summer, you could list your space on Airbnb while fans are in town for the FIFA World Cup, not as a full-time thing. Not as some huge lifestyle change, just during an event when demand is naturally high.
When I travel for big games, I just want a comfortable place in a real neighborhood, and that's exactly what so many visiting fans will be looking 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. Rich Eisen here.
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I don't sense any major movement or any sort of plotting by the Raiders to move on here in the next few weeks.
Now we have windows of time. Where that could change, right? We have the draft. If that creates some sort of urgency, where teams start calling. maybe strengthening their offers.
They're not trying to buy as low anymore. Maybe that changes something, but I've talked to people from both sides of the situation, from Crosby's side. And from the Raiders it They seem comfortable, fully comfortable, moving on with each other right now.
Now, if they could get something similar in compensation to what they got from Baltimore, or at least in the ballpark, they're not going to get two ones anymore. But if they can get that at some point, either around the draft or maybe closer to the season. Or the third option, which I've talked to several teams about this, they could see this as he goes into the year. Shows he's healthy. Plays with the Raiders.
Get some sacks. He's moving well on that knee, and then the trade deadline comes, and you can make a major move at that point for a team that's close. And sitting at six and two. And needs a pass rusher to get over the hump. You know, that to me is a possibility.
So, but right now, I think they're comfortable with Max and have told me as such.
So, they're going to move forward. And I would lean toward him staying right now. Jeremy, thanks for the time. Appreciate it. Travel safe, and we'll chat with you closer to the draft.
Thanks again, man. Yes, sir, Rich. Thanks for having me. Appreciate it. Anytime.
That's ESPN senior NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler. Check out his work alongside Tim McMahon. Um Tim McManus, pardon me. Um Uh on ESPNs. digital and um And online channels.
Okay. There you go. He and Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown. Don't see eye to eye enough like they used to, and it shows up in games at the worst possible times with a situation where the coach is like, What do you think, Jalen?
I like this play. And the offensive coordinator is like, okay. You go for it. Four verts, niners sniff it out. It's on you, Jalen Hurts.
Right. Right. Or is it on the head coach for saying, What do you want to do, Jay? And he gives a play and it's just like, yeah, I... Yeah.
I kind of put this on the coach in the OC. Unless. You got I mean how but Can't let the crazies run the asylum. It's not just that though, Jay. It's it's it's It's if it works, it's like genius.
Right? Didn't remember, we were like, I even said here, and I think we all agree: John Harbaugh, once upon a time, goes to Lamar Jackson, what do you want to do? Go for it. All right, let's go for it. They go for it.
And it's just like, hey, man. Your guy, your coach, just asking your Your players, what do you want to do? And it works, and you're a player's coach, or it doesn't work. And at least you're a player's coach. But Siriani does it and they lose the season.
On that one play.
Now it's like what a mess. And tip an iceberg, though, you know, it's like right, but the Eagles love that iceberg, man, and they win Super Bowls with it, too. Yeah.
Well, it seems like they maybe won in spite of Jalen Hurts? How can you sit here and say, you know, I'm not saying you are, but how can anyone sit here and say you're winning in spite of Jalen Hurts? when he was the clear MVP of that Super Bowl. And 100% in this day and age. For any player on a losing team to be considered The MVP of the Super Bowl by a large group of people, meaning America, watching the game.
He's not going to happen. Without a doubt, the best players in both teams. He was that special in the Super Bowl twice. And then the regular season happens the next year. And then you look at all the different offensive coordinators this guy has had since college, and you're like, it's amazing that he can even tie his shoes.
Superior offensive line in those years. Right. And then when he doesn't, or have a superior play caller, it doesn't work. And you, as a Cowboy fan, you're like, stir it up, man. Keep stirring it up, unless they love stirring it up.
It doesn't matter. You know, I gotta be honest when you say that. Like, I am so happy this offseason that. Takeaway yesterday's uh press conference. Cowboys have pretty much stayed out of the headlines this whole offseason, and I love it.
Right. And then you read in this article, like Big Dom and Brandon Graham went to Hurt saying you gotta be more accessible to your teammates. You gotta have get more in Have more personality. You know, get get to be one one of the guys more. Yeah, yeah.
And then it's just like, what's up with that? I'm wondering if Hertz Plays anywhere else? Is he. Consider, well, I guess the debate of where he ranks TJ top five, top ten. Is he a top half of the league quarterback on any other team?
Or is it just Philadelphia with this line, Saquon, tush-push, weapons around him, and then it works? He is so good when he's. healthy enough to run. And that's part of his game. He is so good sometimes throwing on the run.
Some of his deep passes, they're so good. Yeah.
And also he was he was just to finish my thought. He was impossible to stop in Super Bowls, guys. But yeah. Against the Chiefs. I get it, but at the top of their games.
Clearly, some of the best players on his team that won a Super Bowl have issues with the guy. You were saying? I was saying, like you said, would he be as good as any other team? Yet all we talk about is how many offensive coordinators he's run through. Not he's run through, but the teams have run through.
So it's not like he's benefiting. From this, right? This is hurting him more than anything. And you can't also sit here and say, that he's Being degraded by the constant drama and drumbeat. of Philadelphia.
As a sports town. Because I think he's perfect for them, because he never says anything to make it even worse. Ever And he seems to be able to. operate in a manner that doesn't fluctuate based on All of the hot Takes and hot talk and burning phone lines and long time listeners and first time callers doesn't seem to affect him or bother him, and he doesn't add any more fuel to that fire. Yeah.
Show more personality. Show that you got a pulse. I think the pushback maybe fans feel about Hertz is like: does this guy care? That's what I was literally about to say. Oh, he cares.
I think the family may have to be afraid. He's not showing. He's not showing that he cares. All you see is him sitting on the bench, and it looks like he's sulking the whole time. Do you remember Kevin McReynolds, remember him as your Met?
Yeah, of course. He never showed a pulse. No. And it's just like Met fans just wanted him to take a bat to a Gatorade jug once in a while to show that you care. That's the Northeast thing.
That's the Northeast way of looking at things. Like, hey, man, show, I want to see you, you care. I want you to scream at somebody. I want you to throw a tantrum. I want you to throw your helmet.
That's just not him. But when they win, it's just like, oh, he's the same guy. Single. He's. He's got no pulse.
You know. Todd Bowles, he is a guy that can. Never show any emotion. And so there's no ups and downs. You can follow that guy in a battle until you start losing.
It's just like, show that you care, man.
Well, he 6F bombed up. He did.
Sounded like a truck backing up. Joe Tory. I mean,. All those years, just like, Joe, do you have a pulse there? And then he starts winning all those championships with the Yankees.
It's like, oh, he's a steady hand. 844-204 Rich, number to Dial, my power rankings, player, the best players, 10 best players. Of the NFL Network 1.0 era from the first day I came on the air all the way to yesterday. That's next. This is the Rich Eisen Show.
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Call 1-800-GRANGER, clickgranger.com, or just stop by. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast. Back here on the Rich Eisen Show. All right. Um, As I mentioned at the top of the program, NFL Networks ownership has changed hands.
Disney's now in charge, and ESPN is there, and it's. It's a brave new world for us. And I decided to mark this moment in Time, I guess, for me professionally, and for also, I guess, the network as a whole after 23 years changing hands. Um I've decided to come up with a power ranking. Last week, I came up with my 10 best Super Bowls that I've covered to date for NFL Network.
Here now are my PAL rankings. Players of the NFL Network Era 1.0 fittingly presented Buy SoFi, since, as you know, NFL Network Studios are right across the street from SoFi Stadium. Hit it. Are you? This is my PAL rankings.
Here are my power rankings of the best players of the NFL network era since we came on in week 10 of the 2003 NFL season to date. All right, Rich, so before you start, yesterday brought on. We came up with our list to see if we could jotted some names down.
Okay. This will be a good exercise. I appreciate that.
So I looked at the list. I came up with a whole bunch of players, and I ended up. paring it down and I only had room for one running back. And it was between Adrian Peterson, the fifth all-time leading rusher, Or LaDanian Tomlinson, the seventh all-time leading rusher. Adrian Peterson, an MVP of the league in 2012, the last non-quarterback to win the MVP.
Or LeDanian Tomlinson, the winner of the 2006. League MVP. Could it also be Peterson the three-time Leading Russia. Of the NFL of a single season, or LaDanian Tomlinson, who did that twice. Better pass catcher.
Could it be. Um LaDanian Tomlinson. who uh has a Was the leading rushing who had a leader in rushing touchdowns three times? Or is it Adrian Peterson who did that four times? And I came down to it.
At the end of the day, Um Choosing Ladanian Tomlinson. Because he's not only all of what I just mentioned. Buddies Third on the all-time touchdowns list. 162. Only Jerry Rice and Emmett Smith have more.
A couple goats. And then he's also that 2006 season. Because in the 2012 season where Peterson was the MVP. He was also the offensive player of the year. LaDanian was that too.
He was also the Walter Payton Man of the Year winner that year. And you tell me the last.
Next time we'll ever see that again. That triple play. Oh, never. And, you know, his records as well from that season, I don't think will ever be broken in terms of 28 rushing touchdowns, 31 from scrimmage, 186 points.
So I chose Ladanian. Over Adrian Peterson. 10th on the list. Got no problem with that. Number nine on my power rankings.
a three-time defensive player of the year, and he did it in his first five seasons. Five-time Pro Bowler, five-time first-team all-pro, a Walter Payton Man of the Year of 2000. And 17. Great choice. I'm going J.J.
Watt here. Have to. Ninth on this Power Rankings list. He's got two records as well that stand to this day. Tackles for loss of the season, 39.
So stupid. And not one, but two seasons with 20 or more sacks. Two.
So, number 99 in your program, number one in your Houston Texans' heart, J.J. Watts 9. Number eight, I've got a Super Bowl MVP who's not only a two-time offensive player of the year, but also a comeback player of the year, although he won it in the second year of NFL Network's existence. Four-time passing touchdowns leader, seven-time passing yards leader, six-time completion percentage leader, two-time passer ratings leader, and a Walter Payton man of the year in his own right in 2006 when he led the New Orleans Saints back from Katrina. I've got Drew Brees here, eighth.
Interesting. In his 2018 season, 2018 season. He had a a completion percentage of 74.4%. You can make the case he's the most accurate passer ever. ever of anybody who's ever laced him up.
And 54 straight games with a touchdown pass, I think, will stand the test of time as well. Yeah, that's insane. And five times he had 5,000-yard seasons. Five. 124-5.
Seven touchdowns in a game also is tied for the record in that regard. He's eighth there. Seventh is my wide receiver. I had two choices. I had Calvin or this guy, and I chose Randy Moss.
Yeah.
Interesting. I chose Randy Moss. You know, Calvin played his entire career in the NFL network era, and Randy did not. Yeah.
Um but what Randy did with the Patriots You know, played in the Super Bowl too. Obviously, it helps to have that quarterback. Four-time first-team all-pro, six-time Pro Bowler. And he's fourth on the all-time touchdowns list, 157. One of the best players I've ever seen.
Lace him up. And certainly at that position. Comeback player of the year, 23 touchdowns in 2007. That's a record. Five times he led the league in touchdowns.
Five. Three of them during the NFL network era as well.
So He's five. Seven. Number six on my list. is Aaron Donald. Aaron Donald is here.
I remember when he got drafted, Mayoc was raving about him. He could be one of the all-time greats. And he turned out to be. Three-time defensive player of the year, eight-time first-team all-pro, ten-time Pro Bowler. Made the Pro Poll 10 times.
Every year, right? 10 times. Times. And then won a ring. And I understand Cooper Cup was making all those plays offensively, and he was dynamic offensively.
You could make the case Aaron Donald was the MVP of that Super Bowl, too. You could make a great case. He came up with that game-ending sack of Joe Burrow was playing out of his skull, pointed to his ring. One of the best moments that I can recall. covering the uh Super Bowl.
He's six. Let's get to my top five. If you think there's too many quarterbacks, too bad. I've got Aaron Rodgers here. Super Bowl MVP, four-time MVP, 10-time Pro Bowler, four-time first-team OPRO, two times he led the league in passing, four times passer rating.
Um his career records uh He's got the best passer rating of all time, 102.2. Touchdown to interception ratio for every interception he's thrown, he's thrown 4.3 touchdowns for every interception thrown. and its passer rating in 2011 was 122.5. And he had 402 straight passes without an interception. That's also a record.
I don't think they'd be broken. But I also remember the time for because this is an NFL network conversation here on the Thursday night football game in the old Texas Stadium. It was Favre versus Romo. Romo was 10-1. Favre was 10-1 for the Cowboys and Packers, respectively.
Romo, we were talking about pregame at a Favre poster on his wall. And far Mr. Iron Man. Got hurt throwing an interception to Terrence Newman in the second quarter of that game. And we were standing in the end zone saying, well, this game is over until the backup that we were waiting to see why.
Why is Aaron Rodgers is as good as everybody said he was.
Well, he went 18 for 26 for 201 yards. and a touchdown and 30 yards rushing and damn near won that game. And we were watching that from the end zone going, oh. This kid's really good. I remember that.
And he's a first ballot Hall of Famer. He's one of the greats of all time. Number four on the list, he did not get drafted during the era of NFL Network. But when we came on the air, he was clearly the best defensive player in the league. And then when he retired, he was clearly the best defensive player in the league.
Ray Lewis is four. I've never seen anybody like him. And when we came on the air, him versus Eddie George was something we were talking about every single time they played each other. Ray Lewis. Two-time defensive player of the year, 13-time Pro Bowler, seven-time first-team L Pro, three tackles, three times he led the league in tackles, three times he led the league in solo tackles.
Unbelievable. My final three. Number three on the list is a two-time Super Bowl winner and Super Bowl MVP. And a five-time MVP, you know who it is, it's Peyton Manning. The sheriff.
And he's in two rings of honor, too. including the one in Denver where he set the record for most passing touchdowns in a season, 55, most passing yards in a season, 5,000. 477. He also threw for seven touchdowns in a game that's tied for a record. Most MVPs won five.
Five of them. He's number three. Number two on the list is a guy who's won three Super Bowls. Two MVPs, two-time first-team all-pro, six-time Pro Bowler, two passing touchdowns. Two times he led the league in passing touchdowns.
One time he led the league in passing yards. And you're like, how can this guy be one of your best players? Because he did it all before he was 30. Three Super Bowl wins for Patrick Mahomes is. absurd before the age of 30.
He, before he turned 30, 17 postseason victories, 17 of them. That's more than any other quarterback that's ever played except. The name that I have yet to mention.
Well, that's a great list, right? Most total yards by a quarterback in a season. 5,614 and 2,022. Mahomes is two, and we all know who number one is. And, you know, I could go on and on and on about Tom Brady, but we all know about.
how great he is. This is the one thing because again, this is an NFL network related Um stat. When we covered our sixth Super Bowl, on NFL network. Six. He had already played in half of them.
When we covered our 18th Super Bowl at NFL Network, He is playing in half of We were 18 years old, and Tom Brady. had played in nine of the eighteen Super Bowls that we've covered. I mean, that just sums it all up. For why Tom's leading the list, we all know that. But those are my POW rankings of the best players of the NFL network era presented by SoFi.
Get your Money. Right. Okay. So that's my power rankings list. We'll take a break and we'll.
Compare notes, shall we? And then we're also with you at 844-204-RICH, being the number to dial right here on the Rich Eisen Show. Everybody. The Rich Eisen Show, the podcast. 1000% smart.
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Okay, I just delivered my power rankings of the top 10 players of the NFL network era to date. Ladanian Tomlinson, J.J. Watt, Drew Brees, Randy Moss, Aaron Donald, Aaron Rodgers, Ray Lewis, Peyton Manning, Patrick Mahomes, 2, Tom Brady, 1. All right, we got um Send the floor to you guys. You did your own list, or you thought well, we were just kind of naming names.
We were trying to figure out who well, you were giving me grief prior to hearing it saying that you know only a third needed to be quarterbacks. Half of my list are quarterbacks. I have Breeze, Rogers, Manning, Mahomes, and Brady on. How can there be an argument? Too many.
Too many. He'll tell you. There could be pushback in the sense that, like. There are some great offensive linemen and stuff. No, I know that.
I looked at Joe Thomas, one of you, you know, Joe Thomas, Walter Jones, Jonathan Ogden.
So, but I understand that. I didn't think that they would make your list for you. Trust me, I've struggled with how in the hell do I not have Ed Reed on my list?
Well, that's a name. Yeah, Ed or Troy, obviously. Philly Tension, Zach Martin, Joe Thomas. Uh, we had we had Ray down, but didn't think he'd make it because he was drafted in 1996. I know that, but Randy Moss.
No no gronk? Larry Fitzgerald. I mean, full era, you could have had Calvin Johnson over. Sure. I mean, like, if I had said you had to have been drafted, if you had to have come into the league after we came on the air, It's different, but he didn't.
You know, then it's different. Then obviously, then Randy and Ray are out. Yeah, well, Tom Brady, too. And Brady would be out, too. And Peyton.
Are you kidding me? No, I get it. How could I leave Tom Brady off of any list of any all-time great when again? We covered first 18 Super Bowls. He was in nine of them.
I get it. No, I'm just saying. Yeah, I mean, nine of them. That's no argument. He didn't need Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers.
Why?
Well, there's other players who are kind of better. These guys aren't because they won the Super Bowl. No, these guys aren't number one at their position. Like, to not have the greatest safety of all time on this list is kind of a disservice to the list. Ten.
Not the greatest tight end on the list is not on the list. I'm just saying, that's all. I got seven out of your ten. The only three I didn't get were Breeze, Moss, and Rogers.
Okay, so who made your list instead of the instead of Breeze, Moss, Moss, and Rogers? I picked Vaughn Miller just because I mean, a linebacker went in Super Bowl MVP. I had uh Charles Woodson. I was really shocked that listen, you know how I feel about Charles Woods. Yeah, yeah.
And the other one I had was. Drew Brees is one of the greatest ever. Period. I don't know about that. You don't know about that.
I think you could have had Adrian Peterson also on the list as well. Like Tomlinson at 10 seems kind of low. Oh, and I thought Fitzgerald, but you put Moss. That was. Yeah, I put Randy Moss in, you know.
I've never seen anyone like him, man. It's your list. It's no wrong answers. I just asked. Drew B's never won MVP.
No, I see Super Bowl MVP. Completion percentage kind of enhanced by eight-yard slants. Um Yeah. He's still out of complete them. They were still first downs, and they were still touchdowns.
I know you guys had eight-yard slants. That's a lot of eight-yard slants to have five 5,000-yard seasons. Five. Well, he also. Those eight-yard slants added up.
He also was under 500 more than any supposed great quarterback. Dude. Why do you always say we hate? I cannot eight and eight seasons for Drew Brees for how great he was.
Okay. I hear you. No, I saw, you know, Gronk was on my, you know, I had 20, and then I had to wiggle it. Ed Reed, and everyone you mentioned. And Calvin Johnson as well.
I'm saying you could have taken Brees and Rogers off and had Ed Reid and Gronk in the list. But I take Aaron Rodgers off this list. What do you mean? He's going to tell you facts because he only speaks facts, and he'll tell you why he should be.
Well, you can talk baseball the next hour. Ken Davidoff with his new book, 101 Lessons from the Dugout. He's here in the studio. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast. Mm-hmm.
