For some of us, personal finances aren't just personal. They include a lot more people than ourselves. Loved ones, neighbors, the communities we call home, and the causes we hold in our hearts. At SpryEvent, we help plan your financial picture with the bigger picture in mind. Because even though our business is helping guide your finances, our ambition is to make it mean so much more.
Thrive and where money means more. Connect with us at ThriveInt.com. This is The Rich Eisen Show. Hey, everybody! Can't get enough of The Rich Eisen Show?
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Now, on with the show. Oh my god, you guys are my favorites. This is The Rich Eisen Show. The one and only. Rich Eisen.
I know what I'm talking about. That's the headline. The Rich Eisen Show. With guest host, Brian Weber. I mean, honestly, he's brilliant.
Brian Weber. I've got a long resume. Google me. It saves time. From the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles.
And now, sitting in for Rich. It's Brian Weber. Welcome to the program. Always an honor to sit in for Rich and the guys. A travel day for the team.
They'll be back with you tomorrow live from Pittsburgh to get you ready for the NFL draft, which gets underway, of course, on Thursday. Wall-to-wall coverage across the ESPN family of networks and here on ESPN Radio. We move quickly whenever I'm lucky enough to be in the chair, but I'll always carve out time for your interaction. Phone calls taken selectively, 844204, Rich. That's 844204-7424.
To be totally upfront with you, your best way to express an opinion is to hit me up on the X platform. That is BW Weber. Weber with two B's. In 20 minutes, we'll get to the football. How many game changers are actually in this draft?
We're going to jump right in with the fallout from. A wild night in the NBA after a chalky weekend. Things are heating up wide open here in the first hour. In fact, because I am delusional enough to think I am just that fascinating to keep you company as a solo host for three hours. No guests in the first hour, just two along the way.
Hour two, we talk NFL draft with Nick Baumgartner of the Athletic. Final hour, NBA analysis provided by Mike Vorkhanoff, also of the Athletic, will react to today's not too surprising development in Chicago. Billy Donovan has stepped down as the Bulls head coach. Clearly does not want to be a part of that dumpster fire anymore. And remember, could have had that North Carolina job if he wanted to.
We'll get there coming up. If you have been kind enough to deal with my approach for the half decade now, I have been so lucky to fill in for Rich. You may have heard me say I should probably whisper this with the NFL draft coming up, full coverage here, on ESPN radio. I think basketball is a better sport than football. Shh.
Not talking about its popularity. I'm just talking about content. I'm looking for a good watch. Plus, I like the accessibility that we have in terms of seeing behind the curtain in the NBA because all these dudes have podcasts.
So, Maybe that's why Rich Eisen remains the face that runs the place at NFL Network, and I lasted. Let's say less than his long, glorious tenure.
So, as I was getting ready for the show last night. I try my best to be consistent, say what you mean, mean what you say, and you don't have to worry about your track record, especially as a fill-in host. And I was going to say, I'm wrong. The NBA has been fraudulent this year. Think about tank you very much a disaster with so many teams trying to lose.
And the weekend, as mentioned, was less than scintillating unless you enjoyed the action in Motown. And where was that version of the Orlando Magic that we saw to wrap up the play-in? And again, in game one, stealing home court from the Pistons all season long. And then what do you know? Last night, the NBA came alive.
I'm based in Southern California. I'll be transparent again. I'm probably too honest. And I'm Brian Weber, InfraRich. Great to have you with us on this Tuesday edition of the program.
In less than 15 minutes, we'll get to the NFL draft. I went to bed roughly midway through the second quarter when I figured I'd be talking about the greatness of the Joker and the Nuggets grabbing a commanding two O Series lead Over the Timberwolves, they would validate my perspective. The Joker is the best player in the world and deserves to be the MVP, and then everything changed. We're going to save that for our number two. But if you did not, especially on the East Coast, decide to burn the midnight oil.
Shades of what we saw in game seven a couple of years ago between these teams when Denver gagged away a 19-point lead at home. That was last night. Go back to game seven, a couple years ago, when they were the reigning champs. It was a 20-point deficit race.
So, this series to me feels like it's got another seven-game drama-filled Runway in front of us. That's all coming up. But let's start with the Knicks. And if you're a Knicks fan, you have to be thinking: what is it about a 14-point lead? And when you're a Philly host, things resonate more because you're not on the air every day as I used to be.
And maybe just because I'm an egomaniac. I was on the air for Rich. The day after It happened a year ago in Madison Square Garden. The game that will live in infamy for Knick fans, the Tyrese Halliburton game, in which the Knicks. Finally, breakthrough, get to the Eastern Conference finals, in part because, as you know, Jason Tatum went down.
14-point lead, and then everything changed. You know the rest of the story. Last night, I'm watching that game. And I'm preparing a Nick perspective that here are the reasons to believe that should the seedings hold, This Knicks team. Could at least extend the Celtics to six or seven games in the second round and then.
the entire outlook of the game changed.
So Two things can be equally true. Let's give the Hawks some credit. And I realize a lot of you pay very little attention to regular season NBA action, especially this year. It was challenging to watch with all the tanking. But if you are beyond the casual, as the kids say, The Hawks have been one of the best teams in Hoop since February.
They blew it up. They decided the Trey Young. Focused offense was not going to work. They bet on their future and they got hot down the stretch. And remember, While no one in the Hawkes locker room will admit it, They toyed with The approach to the schedule down the stretch because they wanted to have things slotted to face the Knicks in the first round.
This was the matchup they wanted. Didn't look like it was going to be the right maneuver. Deep into the third quarter.
So I'm getting ready to have a Knicks victory lap this morning. And then Atlanta came alive.
So Kudos to Atlanta. And before we bury the Knicks, I want to give props to a veteran. The pride of Lehi. He's so old they were still the engineers when he was bowing on the college level. Where in the world did CJ McCollum, of all people, come from last night?
I know he missed the late free throws that gave Bridges a chance to win it, but in the end, his 32 points, all part of a signature performance. And after the game, the veteran weighed in on if he was fueled by the crowd at MSG reacting to his explosion. I love it. I love it. It's why we play the game.
It's fun being in opposing arenas and when the buzzer sounds and it's quiet and you walk off to court. Um I think there's a level of mutual respect. Like it was a it was a you know a tough game against a good team on their home floor and they're supposed to be passionate and I think they do a great job of showing up consistently throughout the year and I've been to Games in the Garden as a fan and watched. I've seen playoff games here and it's a pleasure to be able to play here and it's a pleasure to be able to walk off the court with a win. We're always looking for storylines.
I don't love that word, but it's a way to illustrate how things work. In the modern media, quote unquote take economy, have we want villains and heroes? Baby faces and heels, to use the pro wrestling vernacular. There's no way even the New York tabloid media can spin C.J. McCollum into being any kind of villain.
He's a good dude. He's committed to the community. He's somebody who's earned everything he's achieved in the NBA. And you notice he wasn't pulling a Halliburton or Reggie Miller with any histrionics with a choke sign. He expressed that respect for the level of competition they expect from the Knicks along the way.
But that humility may not be accurate because if you're a Knicks fan, you should be gripping right now beyond the fact That 14 points seems to be. Lucifer's number, if you support this team, back-to-back years, a 14-point lead in the playoffs at home goes away. And since we're talking about oops, they did it again. Once more, Carl Anthony Towns was virtually invisible. I'd say quite literally in the fourth quarter, but he did take the two shots.
Of course, he didn't make them.
Now, overall, He wasn't terrible, finished with 18 points and was aggressive on the offensive glass. And I have to do my best to try to be fair in the analysis. And I'm Brian Weber in for Rich. It is a Tuesday installment of the Rich Eyes and Show. Your voice can be heard at 844-204, Rich 844-204-7424.
Or hit me up on the X platform, BW Weber Weber with two B's. In 10 minutes, we make the move to the upcoming NFL draft kicking off on Thursday with full coverage here. on ESPN radio. It would be more tedious than I normally am just to tear down. Cat.
We know who Carl Anthony Towns is at this stage of his career. There's a reason Minnesota was willing to unload him. There's a reason the Knicks did not give him the extension last year when they could have. Because Like Houdini or David Copperfield as magicians. Still relevant to the social currency, I think, with the internet.
All the secrets are gone. Whatever your favorite mentalist might be, he flat out disappears. He goes away. You are what you consistently do, and this is Carl Anthony Towns. But I'm not going to put it all on him because it's also a reflection of the simple fact that the Knicks are a good team.
I think they've gotten the most out of this roster, but they're not a transcendent team. If you care about my analysis as the filling hack, Four teams and four teams only can win it this year, and three of them reside in the West. Thunderspurs, and how about Wemby's sensational playoff debut the other night? I have the nuggets on that list. I think they're going to have to survive in advance to get past the Timberwolves, so we don't talk nearly enough about, but it'll be Denver and Senver.
Games. Remember, Minnesota has won four playoff series the last two years, back-to-back trips. To the Western Conference finals, still. They are largely overlooked. And in the East, I hate to be this reductionist, I think it's just the Celtics.
And I'm not Kicking Detroit window down, but we saw again, and I expect a much better performance in game two, the value of playoff experience. You need to develop scar tissue in the NBA. There's never a bolt from the blue for a young team to make it all the way to the finals, and that's who the Pistons are. And remember, Beyond the brilliance of Cade Cunningham. And how impressive is it that this guy came back from a collapsed lung to be superhuman in game one, but had no help?
The Pistons won 14 games two years ago.
So let's not crown anybody from Motown just yet. But in terms of the Knicks. I can't just point the finger metaphorically at Carl Anthony Towns. I gotta talk about Jalen Brunson's lack of defense, and we gotta talk about Mike Brown. Because the whole reason he got that job came down to Tom Thibodeau, and this is not perception, it's reality, running his starters into the ground as he's done throughout his career.
And the perception at MSG, he had done all he could with this team with a monumental accomplishment of getting them to the conference finals for the first time in a quarter century. Enter Mike Brown, who made some baffling decisions in terms of player personnel last night. And after the game, he was asked if his substitution pattern impacted the outcome with Atlanta flipping the script when Brunson and Towns were off the floor. No, I don't think so. We've played that lineup quite a bit since the end of the season, and that lineup's been pretty good.
We weren't good tonight, you know, and we turned the ball over a few too many times during that period. But we had opportunities where our starters were in and we were up eight to ten, and Atlanta closed it.
So I wouldn't just say that specific lineup caused it. And what's he supposed to say? Yeah, guys, especially in New York, and you might detect. From the scintilla on a big word Tuesday of my. Recovering East Coast accent, the roots are still there.
Yeah, I know that's going to play well on ESB and Radio in New York City and the back pages of the Daily News and the Post. Mike got outcoached, and nobody thinks that Quinn Snyder is the modern-day version of Red Hourback. Mike just made the wrong choices, and a lot of this is on Brunson. But, and again, I'd be a fool to come after him because we know he carried the team again offensively.
So I can't be over the top. A crushing Jalen Brunson. But just like Cat, who has this penchant for going away in high-lever situations, we know that the liability for jail and throughout his career has been defense. And it was clear down the stretch. That the Hawks were targeting him.
They were going after him. Why do you think CJ McCollum turned into a 2026 version of MJ at the Garden?
So suddenly, this series got a lot more interesting as it heads back to the ATL. I'm Brian Weber, Infor Rich. Hop aboard at 844-204-7424. I keep playing the New York card because it is a coast-to-coast experience, and Rich is from New York City originally coming up. In 30 minutes, I have to address Another dumpster fire in the Big Apple.
The Mets are a mess, mess, mess. That's coming up. But our immediate future, let's get to the NFL. What does the Bengals' willingness to give up the tenth pick in that trade for Dexter Lawrence tell us about the quality of this draft and how many franchise changing players will be available on Thursday? Just getting warmed up on a busy Tuesday.
Appreciate the company. I'm Brian Weber in for Rich here on The Rich Eisen Show. For some of us, personal finances aren't just personal. They include a lot more people than ourselves. Loved ones, neighbors, the communities we call home, and the causes we hold in our hearts.
At Thrive Ent, we help plan your financial picture with the bigger picture in mind. Because even though our business is helping guide your finances, our ambition is to make it mean so much more. ThriveEnt, where money means more. Connect with us at ThriveEnt.com.
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Alrighty. Auto parts. 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. The Rich Isis Show podcast. And Weber, back with you, always a blast.
Whenever I'm in the chair for Rich and the guys, think about the onus, the pressure, the adversity I'm dealing with. It's like I'm working in a coal mine by myself because I have to be. and the proximity. Of being as compelling as the best in the business and rich and the team. It takes a village, Chris, TJ, Mike.
They're all back with you tomorrow. Travel day and then. The countdown to the NFL draft continues. Full coverage. E S P N A B C Pat McAfee's got his extravaganza.
And here on ESPN Radio, Chris Carlin, Max Starks, who also doubles as the Steelers game analyst, and will talk about Aaron Rodgers pulling his Willie or Willie Not Act once more later in the program. Those guys, along with the former GM Mike Tunenbaum. Jordan Reed, Ian Fitzpatrick. It's a cast of thousands. It all gets underway Thursday at 8 p.m.
Eastern. We're going to talk draft here coming up. And just over 20 minutes. A little bit of baseball. If you have endured my approach in the past, I am older than my enthusiastic, over-enunciating delivery would suggest.
I grew up in an era when baseball was king, so. I try to make sure were comprehensive. When Rich is not here, but I realize that baseball in April is not exactly on the front burner. Still, speaking of things on fire and the roof, the roof, the roof ain't on fire in Queens. The Mets.
Are being the Mets again? 11-game losing streak. We'll talk about the sources of their latest. Dysfunction and I was told, as I come to you from our Regal Studios here in Los Angeles, by all the Dodger bashers, and I'm not a Dodger fan, just to be upfront with you. I was told that if you just threw hundreds of millions of dollars at a problem in baseball, that guaranteed you a World Series win.
We'll tackle that coming up. More NBA to tip off hour number two. And we'll get you set for Lakers and Rockets tonight, just across the way here in downtown LA and LA Live. Can LeBron and company maintain their momentum? Most of that hinging on the availability of Kevin Durant.
Remember, he played 78 games in the regular season. One last footnote after KD missed game one with a knee confusion to the Knick conversation. When you're a guest host, there's no upside to be hot take Johnny. I'm here to keep the train on the tracks. I once had a boss tell me when I was kind enough to fill in on Christmas Eve, just keep the needles moving.
Now I aspire to more than that as a guest host, but I don't come in with a flamethrower to try to damage Rich's pristine brand. I'm not taking shots at Jalen Brunson. I realize he's the heartbeat of this team. 29 points. But I do watch a ton of NBA, the 29 points, the positive side of Ledger last night.
He has never been a strong defender. And look, I know this team wouldn't be anywhere close to where they are without him. I don't do Mount Rushmores because it's terrible content. But in my lifetime, going back to watching lousy nick teams in the mid to late seventies with Truck Robinson and Ray Williams, You got what? You want to go back to the championship teams?
You got Willis limping out on the floor. You got Clyde Frazier. I'm going to throw Bernard King in there because, in my mind, he's still going to get you 50 points in back-to-back games. Obviously, Ewing. Not a huge Carmelo fan, but I can't discount all the points he scored.
And then it's Jalen Brunson. But He's not a transcendent talent. He's not your quintessential complete player. And that's why this team can only go so far. And coming up when we talk with Mike Vorkhanoff of the Athletic in the final hour of the program, who formerly was a beat writer for the Knicks.
We'll talk about the offseason. If it comes as soon as As the end of the series with Atlanta and all the speculation about Yannis, watch, watch, watch, watch. taking the Greek freak to New York City. I'm Brian Infor Rich. You can pick up the phone, 844-204-7424, or the conversation never stops on the X platform.
B.W. Weber. Weber with two B's. Let's talk NFL draft. It is always a spectacle.
I've been fortunate to cover two. On the radio in person in Chicago and Philadelphia. And if you're anywhere near Pittsburgh, And you're thinking about it, you're on the fence.
Well, do I want to deal with the crowds? How about the logistics? My recommendation is hop in the car and figure it out because it truly is a massive event, especially night one, and just sensational to be there.
Now, this year lacks drama and also a lot of depth. There is a widespread consensus that once We get past, say, pick 15, 16, maybe even higher. Let's say pick 13, as now I'm getting very granular. Midway through the first and up. Those are The players that, and I think there's only three of them, but those are the marquee names.
And then there's a massive drop-off this year to the business end of the. First round. But we know who's going number one, and we know that he's not going to be in attendance, in part because Fernando Mendoza's mother is dealing with serious health issues. The number one overall pick. And Heisman Trophy winner was on this show yesterday.
Here is Fernando with Rich explaining his mindset if the Raiders ask him to back up Kirk Cousins in the upcoming season. I'll sit down. The coaching staff is the reason they're the coaching staff, because they make the best decisions. And whatever they'll help the team, I'll do. Just 'cause I'm sitting down doesn't mean I'm not going to compete my butt off.
I'm going to compete my butt off every single day I believe everything should be earned, not given. And so I think that'd be a great opportunity to walk into trying to earn something. But I think it'd be awesome to be able to learn from someone like that. And Although sitting down can be seen as a negative, whatever the coaching staff thinks is best for the organization, I will do with a smile on my face. and try to help the team and my teammates as pos as much as possible.
And even though no simul cast to day, Because I'm part of the Not Ready for Disney Plus players, you can sense that smile coming through your audio device. On the face of Fernando Mendoza. I don't root for anyone or anything beyond family members. I'm just looking for good things to talk about. You know his story.
Here's a guy who was. You talk about a guy. Here's a guy. Who was recruited by Yale? That's how bright he was.
Went to Cal Berkeley. Graduated before he went to Indiana, got a master's as well. It's not the academic decathlon after all, but I do think it helps to have bandwidth because playing quarterback is more than just the measurables, and his are impressive. It's about processing.
Now Is he going to be a perennial Pro Bowler, as much as we don't care about that? Is he going to be a A franchise quarterback for Twelve years for the Raiders. I'm not convinced. I do buy, and everybody now has their own mock draft, and everybody's got the comps out there, and it is interesting. Just as tax day has come and gone.
If you are a draft guru, do you put that on your tax return? I've always wondered that. Joe Lenardi, does he put bracketologists Right at the top there. How about fancy football analysts? These are wonderful jobs to have.
Just reflects how much we love sports. My opinion, having watched a ton of college football and seeing him at Cal, because I used to work for the Pac 12 network. Remember when that conference existed? I know it never went away, but I can't acknowledge Texas State. Being part of that great conference of champions, but you Either you adapt or you perish.
Fernando Mendoza is going to be, in my opinion, a very suitable functioning frontline starter. I keep going back to the word transcendent because I'm looking for adjectives to move away from great. We just toss it around too easily. If everything's great, Where do you go from there, right? It's spinal tap.
Well, this one goes to 11. If you max out with all of the superlatives, they become meaningless. I do think the comps I've heard for Matt Ryan, because I do remember him coming out of Boston College, and Goff, and that seems a little bit intellectually lazy because they both went to Cal. But if we're talking about. Pro comparisons, Mendoza to Jared Goff makes sense to me.
And I think the fascinating part of his transition is going to be. Water players who are grown adults Grizzle veterans in a locker room. that has been battered by losing What are they going to do? How are they going to interpret? His personality.
Because the man is relentlessly upbeat. I think it's going to work because it's sincere. It's genuine. And in a former life, I covered the Raiders on a daily basis when they were at Oakland. Another contemporary reference.
I'm Brian Weber, stuck in 1998. Rich was working for ESPN there on this Tuesday edition of the Rich Eisen Show will address the continued coffin on roller skates. That is the New York Mets coming up in less than twenty minutes. You can be a part of the show, eight four four, two oh four, seven four four four four four four four four four four four two four or You can X me, BW Weber, Weber with two B's. My long-winded point here was: if you've been in an NFL locker room, It's a caste system.
Almost based on proximity. All the offensive linemen dress together and hang out together and rarely talk to the media, at least back in the day, because they don't want to be part of the story. And there's a vibe, there's an ecosystem. A lot of big words today. I got a lot of sleep last night because I presumed.
That Denver was going to bury Minnesota. There's, for lack of a better term, a culture to a football team. How are people going to react to Mendoza who comes in? Who feels like he's trying to get you to sign up for the Boy Scouts? I think it's going to be very interesting, but in this league.
Of course. In all of sports, it's about the bottom line, but every game counts, as we know in the NFL. There's only 17 of them for now, 18 coming as soon as 2027. If he can create a spark on offense when he takes the field. I do think he has a keen understanding that Cousins will be the bridge quarterback, another person filled with positivity.
You think about all of the enthusiasm that's going to be flowing out of that QB room in Vegas. But you put him with Ashton Genti, who had a fine year. I know he didn't get to 1,000 yards, but. Tony Dorset couldn't have gotten to 1,000 yards. You think Bo Jackson back in the day at the LA Coliseum could have gotten to 1,000 yards with that.
Hideous. Raiders offensive line. He's got Brock Bowers and I believe that Mendoza will grow into the role And be a serviceable frontline starter, if not a superstar. But In the post-Derek Carr era, when's the last time the Raiders had anything approximating? A functioning quarterback.
But Mendoza, in terms of ceiling, reflects where we are in this draft. I'm going to talk about the quarterbacks in much more detail. And the last two hours of the show, but It tells you all you need to know about the outlook Heading into Pittsburgh on Thursday, that the Ty Simpson debate, will he or will he not land in the first round?
Somehow has become a hot topic of conversation. Because he is limited by the lack of experience. Mitchell Trubisky thinks he didn't start enough at Alabama with the 15 starts. And if you paid attention, after. He was Very dialed in on offense.
Obviously, he's a quarterback, but. Not only as A game manager. Showed more of Athleticism than I thought he had after that ridiculous start for the tide when they lost on the road to Florida State. He held the team together, they bounced back, but his individual play faded in a major way in the second half of the year.
So go back to last year in the draft. There are some parallels. We knew who the number one overall pick was going to be was a quarterback. Then the question was: will a second QB? Be taken in round one.
Can it be a full year since it was all Shadora Sanders all the time? We presumed at some point he would hear his name called. Instead, it was Jackson Dart, and that proved to be an excellent pick for the Giants. And now, what are they going to do with all their draft capital after the Lawrence trade? They got picks five and 10.
We'll discuss that coming up in the next hour of the show when we check in with our first guest at 120 Eastern, Nick Baumgartner. NFL draft analyst of the Athletic. I think on Thursday, it's one and done. Mendoza will be the only quarterback taken. Simpson slides to the second round and will be.
A project who's going to have to learn on the NFL level. After that, I think the most intriguing question will be: who's the third quarterback taken, and when does it come? I think it's probably. I'm going to go Garrett Nussmeier. I know Carson Beck is getting a lot of buzz now, but remember, anything you hear this week, Is spinning It's rumor, it's innuendo.
Speaking of which, What do you think about all the momentum? And Adam Schefter has been all over this surrounding Jeremiah Love, who I think is the best player in this draft. But in 2026, Can you justify using the third overall pick on a running back? If we're talking about raw talent in this draft. I think there's only three game changers, as I dust off another cliche.
You got love wherever he goes, certainly in the top 10. The Jets Need about 400 different things, but I think they go defensive number two, and then it becomes whatever pecking order you have. In terms of edge rushers. I went to college in Palo Alto a billion years ago. I saw a lot of David Bailey before.
He transferred to Texas Tech. had a huge jump last year in the Big Twelve. The question is, was that a one off? Or did he come into his own physically? Because that guy is a stud coming off the edge.
If I had a pick between Bailey Reuben Bain, and because it's draft season, now we get to critique large dudes who have dinosaur arms. The knock on Bain, who obviously was a force on Miami's run to the national championship game, Had much more of an impact on the Kanes' return to glory than I think Carson Beck did, who didn't make huge errors, but didn't really impact the flow of those games that much. It was running and defense, which got Miami into the playoff. But Bain has those short arms, so Is he destined now to move inside? And we don't care about folks who line up.
I'm not going to say a gap because we're getting way too technical here, but it's all about edge rushers in the NFL. And to me, that's Arbel Reese.
So you got love. He got Reese. And who's the third dude? Much like the NWO back in the day, who's the third man that's going to be a franchise-altering player in this draft? I don't see it.
And that tells you why. The Bengals did the unthinkable. For the first time since 1989, they're not going to have a first-round pick. They never did. What they did in the Lawrence Steel.
Now, they had to, because, in addition to bolstering what has been a wretched defense in recent years, that's all about signaling to Joe Burrow: we're committed to getting it done now.
Now, Burrow's got to stay healthy. I'm not blaming you for that, but you are what you consistently do. And another year he goes down, meaning Cincinnati misses the playoffs for the third straight year, meaning they squander another year of his prime. He's 29. But I don't think the Lawrence deal was solely motivated by bolstering the defense.
It was a reflection that since he doesn't believe there's that much talent, even at the 10th overall, pick still. We love the draft because it is true reality TV. Not Lala Kent showing up on the valley. Yes, I'm still. Watching Bravo.
I'm boycotting the new cast of Vanderpump Rules. When Stasi left, I left town with her, but it's all about the unpredictability. Will we see more trades, especially with the perception? You got to get up into the top 12 and then avoid that massive drop-off towards the end of the first round. We will get back to the NFL draft if you hang with me coming up in the next hour of the program, 1.20 Eastern Time, and we'll go through the pecking order of quarterbacks in addition to my sense.
It'll be Nussmeyer, the LSU quarterback coach's son, father, offensive coordinator for the Saints. Remember, if you go back to a year ago around this time, he was projected to be the co-favorite, to be the number one overall pick in this draft, but got battered in LSU's lost season as a part of Brian Kelly saying goodbye to his new family. as Nussmeier dealt with that lingering ab injury. I'm Brian Weber, Infor Rich. I'd love some interaction.
So, you got that phone in front of you? Thumb me out something on the X platform, BW Weber. Weber with two B's back to the NBA in less than 20 minutes to tip off hour number two. Can the Lakers keep it going, even if KD plays tonight? We'll get there.
That's on the agenda. But straight ahead, just a smidge of baseball. For all the people who claim the Dodgers have somehow bought their World Series wins. As the Mets now are riding an 11-game losing streak, can you tell me? How you truly get banged for your buck on the diamond.
That's coming up. I'm Brian Weber, Infor Rich. We continue on The Rich Eisen Show. I like things my way. My coffee, my schedule, and my treatment.
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Find Kodiak Frozen Waffles and Flapjacks in the frozen aisle at your local grocery store. They're the ones with the bear on the box. The Rich Eisen Show, the podcast. It's not exactly 1962 bad for the Mets, but it's getting there. I'm Brian Weber, always a blast.
Whenever I'm lucky enough to sit in for Rich and the guys, Tuesday installment of The Rich Eisen Show. Rich back with you tomorrow, live from Pittsburgh. Think about his schedule. Pamari gets your fully signed. Up for all that you need to know in terms of how to watch the draft, where to go, and a reminder.
It's ESPN, it's ABC, it's the ESPN Unlimited app, it's NFL Network, which rich once more front the coverage.
So if you're trying to figure out what device How do you get the draft? You got a myriad of options. And as always, keep it where it is. No need to sign on to anything. Free SBM Radio.
Chris Carlin, Max Starks, Mike Tannebaum. Ian Fitzpatrick, Jordan Reed, bringing you all of the coverage pick by pick, round one on Thursday. It is, of course, the highlight of the NFL offseason. Coming up in less than 12 minutes. We will ease into our number two of the program, getting back to the NBA.
I come to you from our luxurious studios here at LA Live. Special thanks as always to my old and dear friends, Greg Bergman, Chris Morales, and the team here at 710 ESPN LA.
SoCal, the epicenter of the sports universe on the diamond. We'll talk LeBron and KD to start. hour number two coming up. But if we are going to venture into baseball. And if I'm doing it, it's going to be concise.
You might notice that we're doing it at the end of the first hour. And the goal, as always, because it's sports entertainment, is to try to be. Entertaining, but at some point, and I don't ever want to lecture the audience because I'm not that smart. I know that's my gimmick. Bobby the Brain Heat has got nothing on me.
Remember, he lived in Beverly Hills. Nobody wants to be talked down to. But when I hear something that's a tire trope, I have to address it. The notion that you can buy anything in baseball. is complete nonsense.
I keep talking about my New York roots. How many titles have the Yankees purchased recently? And I understand. The perception the Dodgers have the unfair advantage because of the deferred money that Choe Otani and others have gotten. We'll talk about that momentarily.
But As somebody who's become more of a casual baseball fan, Even I cannot avert my gaze from the car wreck. that the Mets have become. I know it's only April. In fact, it wouldn't shock me if they bounce back because the season's so damn long. But when you're mired in an 11-game losing streak, in.
That span being outscored 62-19, longest kid for the Metropolitans since 2004, hosting the Twins tonight to try to get off the Schneide.
Something is more than a little bit wrong understanding. If they had one Soto healthy, they'd have a much better shot at finally maybe getting a couple of hits. But for expert analysis, let's bring in ESPN's MLB Insider Buster only addressing why the Mets have imploded. They're not hitting. Like a lot of the stars on this team are just not getting it done.
And of course, the absence of Juan Soto has hurt. But you know and I know that when teams get into these situations, it really just comes down to what the owner wants to do. They have an upcoming series against the Minnesota Twins at the start of a nine-game home stand. They're going to get Juan Soto back soon. I mean, obviously, if they don't turn it around pretty soon.
Something is going to change, and Carlos Mendoza doesn't make a lot of money. He's in the last year of his contract. That's an easy one for an owner to change if he wants to go there. And that change obviously could be coming. and the not-too-distant future and the dugout.
If we're just talking Dollars and cents. And The perception that money guarantees anything in Major League Baseball. The Mets keep doing this. I looked this up this morning just to make sure I wasn't hallucinating because, again, in my pre-1986 Mets Fandom. They were god-awful, but they also were cheap.
Now they're spending a ton of money and getting no return on that investment three years ago. Highest payroll in baseball history didn't make the playoffs. Last year, Soto gets, what do you know, the biggest contract the sport has ever seen, didn't make the playoffs. And if the Dodgers somehow are this invincible juggernaut, How did Game Seven of the World Series last year even come into play? How did Toronto have A 3-2 series lead.
Going back to Canada.
So It's not just the resources, it's knowing what to do with it. And of course, Now, the Dodgers have to deal with Edwin Diaz going on the shelf with the elbow surgery. You know what's coming. They'll load up prior to the trade deadline, throw more money at the problem. I am not.
Overlooking What that unlimited cash can bring you. It is depth and roster flexibility, but you have to have the right people making those personnel decisions. I mentioned Toronto. I got a massive payroll. They're scuffling.
The Mets in the offseason. Throwing money at Beaubachette and trading for Freddy Perolta. And what's it gotten them? Absolutely nothing.
So there's a fallacy looking for cause and effect. Just because you have unlimited piles of cash It does not lock anything up in this sport.
Now, We can have a salary cap conversation because the lockout is coming. And I should talk more baseball if I'm lucky enough to come back this summer because we ain't going to have any MLB to talk about. In the offseason, because the owners are going to shut it down, shut it down. And we'll find out. How resolute.
This union is, which has been the most powerful union in American commerce. Again, I keep reminding myself how old I am, probably not good for the young demographic. My career almost ended in 1994 with that strike that spilled over all the way into 1995, and Michael Jordan and replacement players.
So If you believe the sport is fundamentally broken, I can't argue with that. But perception isn't necessarily reality in terms of just having a mountain of cash translating into results. If we get to the era of the salary cap. Going to be fascinating to see how that plays out. Get a salary floor in there, and I'm on board.
Because if the Marlins have to spend something and the Dodgers have their willingness to spend limited, at least I think we have a shot at a more level playing field, understanding all the uncertainty surrounding a diet. Coming up. Can LeBron keep it going tonight? Gets the Houston Rockets, hour number two of the Rich Eisen Show, straight ahead. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast.
Mm-hmm.
