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Now, on with the show. LeBron is wearing down. This is the Rich Eisen Show. 16 seconds, James Hadith 3, short. From the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles.
LeBron's wearing down. Earlier on the show. 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan. Coming up. Colts general manager Chris Ballard.
Commander's head coach Dan Quinn. Basketball Hall of Famer Chris Weber. And now, it's Rich Eisen. All right, hour number two of the Rich Eisen Show is on the air. We just had a very nice chat with Kyle Shanahan, taking us inside the 49ers draft room.
And joining us now is one of our favorites from the general manager's position. And by the way, Dan Quinn, the Head coach of the Washington Commanders is going to be joining us in short order. But the general manager of the Indianapolis Colts, Chris Ballard, is back on the program. How are you doing, Chris? Good to see you, man.
I'm good. Good to see you. Good to see you. What's going on in your neighborhood? What do you got?
After about It takes me about four days after the draft. My body shuts down. Oh. Rich, my body just shuts down.
So I feel better. I'm whole again. I feel better. Got some more juice in my body and good to go. I mean, my gosh, I'm the same way, but I'm sitting there and, you know, just like you, I'm doing 257 picks, but I have to stay stationary.
Do you move around? Are you a pacer? Do you pace? Oh, you absolutely. I'm a pacer.
Oh, you're Indianapolis. You're Indiana. Hey, now, see what I did? You are, you pace. That's what you do.
Okay, I played that up too. I pace all the time. I like it. Yeah.
Okay. Uh do you like the eight minutes? I know you r didn't have really uh a first round Selection not not really, you didn't have one, but do you like the eight minutes? Yes, um, it was great because we're not there till midnight. I mean, we can get it done, we know what we're going to do, teams know what they're going to do.
Um, and if we're going to make a trade. There's been enough talk beforehand, and when we get on the clock, we can get it done. I'm off for cutting it to five if we could do it. Really? I'm all right with it.
For five minutes for a first-round pick, Chris? I loved it. I mean, look, Rich, if we've not got in our minds what we're doing, like if we're on the clock. And And we're still debating who we're taking, it's a little late. Like and and even with trade talks, I still think Teams are good at it.
You know who you're dealing with. You can get all that done. I mean, it's so much easier than it was back in the day that. You know, you had to call in, write the paper, you know, you had to go up to the runner. Um But I thought it was great.
Like the eight minutes was great. I think under three hours, right? It was close. Yeah, it was just right at three hours. That's right.
Just right at three hours. Oh, good. Look, it's just like a game then. I mean, they're trying to get them under three hours, and now we got the draft in under three hours.
So we're doing good. I would be up for day three being like three minutes a pick. Right? Tomorrow. Absolutely.
So you don't need more time to grind when you're down towards the end of your board. Right? No. No. The discussions are happening before, and then if somebody takes a guy.
That's you I mean you usually gotta A few players there that you're choosing from, but you've got it worked out most of the time of what you want to do. All right.
Well, I'm all for that. I'm all for day three being a little shorter. Night one, though. I mean, I like talking, Chris. You took two minutes away from me.
I mean, straight up. You know, I mean, there's an eye in rich anizen, Chris. Oh, yeah, you'll be back in 15 minutes. No, I think Roger wants to move it along. He wants to move it along.
You know, and when I drafted my fantasy draft, I start barking at guys who take longer than a minute. You know what I mean? Like, I want to move this thing along, but you're okay.
So, you'd be down fine for five minutes of first-round pick. Interesting. Let's talk about your draft. Smoked him if you got him on Monday on Thursday night. And then CJ Allen is your first pick.
Walk me through what you liked about this Georgia Bulldog. Chris?
Well, I mean, look, he's anytime a young player goes in and plays right away at Georgia on defense. You know, they got something to him when what she did. Um But he fits And I'm Not only athletically and speed-wise, what we wanted, but his mentality. I mean, he's been one of the. Face of the program guys there for a while now, stands for all the right stuff, adds an element of.
Of toughness and consistency out of a player that you want. And we were really excited that he was there for us and able to take him.
So you feel like he could be a day one starter? I mean, you got to go. I mean, risk-like with anything, they got to prove it. Right. I mean, that's the thing about the draft.
Like you all, I mean, look, we all have enough ego and arrogance to think that we're right. 100% of the time. But they got to prove it, which we think he will. But we feel good about who he is and his talent level.
So I think he will ascend pretty quickly when he gets in here.
Now, looking at the rest of your draft, you hit the defense in a significant way, adding to your offensive line and running back room. on offense and then I want to Hit Deion Burks, who was the fourth to last pick in the draft. And Daniel Jeremiah had him in his I think he had him in his top seventy. Like what what happened there? Do you think?
I don't know. And if I had a definite answer for you, I just know I looked up in the seventh. And there was two players we really. You know, Seth and Dion. And Does it?
So we take both of them, and you know, we'd studied them hard. But then I went back in, and I remember DM, remember, he was at Purdue. And so I started pulling out Tape from Purdue the other day, and this is after we took him. And I called Shane and I said, Holy cow, what luck! Like, sometimes, like, let's don't.
Like you gotta get a little luck in this now. Rich. I said, how this kid was here this late? I don't know. I'm just glad he was, and I'm glad he's a cold.
Well, in terms of luck, it seems like he got unlucky last year. Chris, to be honest with you. The injury bug hits you at the worst possible time. I mean, you flip two ones for sauce just at the time that. And Achilles pops in your quarterback and the fortunes kind of change right there.
Um, I see you kind of gave me a look when I said about being unlucky last year. Would you not agree with that or what? Nobody cares about your problems, they're just glad you got them. At the end of the day, nobody cares. I mean, and this, they just don't.
And it's our job to figure it out no matter the circumstances.
So, you know, at the end of the day, we didn't get it done. And we're not going to, I'm not going to sit there and use the injuries as an excuse. We just, we didn't get it done. And how is Daniel? Looking.
He's good. He was out there doing backflips a minute ago. If you'd have been here quick enough, I would have got it on tape for you. I'd have pointed this toward the screen. Send us a video.
I'm sure the social media team got that if you're really being serious, Chris. No, he's doing well, though. He is throwing, he's dropping, and he's right on schedule and doing really well. Couldn't be more pleased with Daniel. What surprised you about him, if anything?
Getting to know him. Seeing what he did. Just like his can Like we had Alex Smith in Kansas City. They're a lot alike. How they prepare for the game.
How steady. they are day to day. Just there was a lot of similarities. And then I probably underestimated his accuracy. Coming in the door.
I mean, this dude is accurate now. And when he's in rhythm and really in a groove, he is excellent. Those were the things that. I just, I mean, we had scouted Daniel. But until you live with somebody, you don't know them.
And so, you know, living with him every day, seeing his consistency, seeing him not get too high or too low, all those things bode well for his, you know, for the Colts and for his future. He's really, he's really good, Rich. He's really down. This guy's talented and good. Yeah, I mean, and you know, the Super Bowl was just won by a first-round drafted quarterback in New York who had to go elsewhere after a lot of folks there thought he was drafted too high.
Um and disappointing.
So why not you, obviously, with yours in Daniel Jones? And you got them on the dotted line, two years, eighty eight million. What insights can you give me, the audience here, about Negotiating with a quarterback and the market value of quarterbacks and how you pay, and how, if it's not as. high as others, what that indicates. Uh what what what's your two Sense on this issue.
It's a progress. It's, I mean, look, it was a. It wasn't an easiest one to get done because You know, he didn't finish the season out. Um and then having the Achilles so We needed to find a common and I give Athletes First and Brian Murphy and Andrew Kessler, a lot of credit. You know, they worked hard.
on this as we did to find common ground. And It's usually When you get one done. that at any like any big contract you get done both sides are going to sting a little bit You're not going to get everything you want. And you're probably going to go a little higher than you wanted. They probably went a lower than they wanted, but that's.
That's part of the negotiation. And look, the last thing I want for a player, Rich. Like, I think sometimes it's what the world. Forget these are human beings. And like, you don't, you don't ever want a guy to sign with you and then be looking around going, man, these guys just screwed me.
Like, you don't want that's that's not good for your team. It's not good for the player. It's not good for morale. Um but he played well enough to where we were willing to bet And say, okay, we think he's got a really bright future here, and the money we're going to pay him is going to be worth it. And I'm and I truly believe that and I think ownership does and Shane and the rest of the group.
Well, one of my favorite things to do is ask you your opinion of what the media says.
So here we go. Or it just just the general sense of what's being said. How do you respond to you pa overpaid for Alec Pierce? Chris Well I think a lot of people would have overpaid if we overpaid.
So I think others would have overpaid also. No, Alex is excellent. He is excellent, man. You never overpay a good player, Rich. You can't overpay a good player.
And what do you like about him that you're like, I am going to make a long-term commitment knowing that he hits the open market? um people may match what I'm doing, if not Exceed what I'm doing for him? What do you like about him where you're like, this is worth it? Chris. We saw the early moments, his first two years, okay, where vertically he could do some.
Really special things. But going into year three, remember, we had drafted A.D. Mitchell, and who's very talented. He's now in New York, and I think he's going to do very well. And Alec, right after we drafted it, Alec came into my office and said, Chris, what does this mean for me?
And I said, nothing. means nothing. Go to work. And I said, things work out for guys that work and produce. And that's exactly what he did.
He's unselfish, he never complained. He's done him and Reggie. I give Reggie a lot of credit, Wayne a lot of credit too. They worked on his whole game.
So he. Like he can beat you vertically, but really what's made him more dangerous now is he can do it all. Um he can birth he can beat you on every level. And that's what's made him a lot more consistent as a player. And much harder to defend.
And, like, every time we needed a big play or an explosive play. Um He comes up big in those moments. Like, it is hard to average over 20 yards a catch in this league, and he's done it a couple years in a row. And what before I let you go, Chris? Backup quarterback, for the lack of better phrase, what's the scoop with Anthony Richardson?
Right now?
Well, nothing yet. You know, he's still a cult as of right now. We'll continue to work through that, but he's still an Indianapolis Colt. We've also got Riley Leonard on the roster, who did well last year.
So we'll work through that as we go along.
Okay. Um, say hi to Jonathan Taylor for me. I love that guy. I will. I know.
He just had his he just had a child. Nope. Him and his wife. Proud, happy for him. I'm happy for him, too.
What was I just asked Shanahan what it was like telling Kittle, welcome to the team. What was it like saying that to Taylor? What was that call like when you called him up? Jonathan Taylor. Oh, God.
Well, it was a pet. Look, because I'm. We're both Wisconsin. Alumni. And so I'd been like I've been I followed I'm close with the program.
I mean, Paul Chris was the head coach, who I'm very close with. And, you know, I'd been watching Jonathan since his freshman year. And then if you remember during that draft, we had taken Pittman. And then That was the COVID draft. Right.
So I just remember, and Jim knew how much we loved him. And all of a sudden, you know, everybody's on the Zoom, and all of a sudden, in the background, He just unmutes and he goes, hey, Chris. Taylor's up there. You love him. Go get him.
So that's all I needed to hear.
So we traded up and got him. And no, that was a cool moment. That's one that'll last for a lifetime. That just how it went down, the circumstances of COVID. The connection to Wisconsin.
That was a pretty special moment. Hey, Chris, thanks for the time, man. Always love chopping it up with you. Same here. Seeing you.
Thank you.
So, what's next? Vacation time coming up at any point for you? No?
Well, I have no, I have um I would like to go on vacation, but no, not yet. We got all, we have a son graduating here in. Two weeks from high school. He's going to Stanford with Andrew. Whoa.
I've got, oh, yeah. I've got another daughter that's at Baylor. I've got another son that plays at Kansas. I've got a daughter that's at Indiana.
So we're going to have one left in the house. Our youngest, and she's going to be a junior. Um, so dealing with all of them, and they're all over the country right now.
So, very proud of my kids. Very, look, my wife deserves all like Rich, like most of us, our my wife did all the work. I just show up. Congrats. I'm the sixth child, I'm the sixth child.
I was about to say, I was doing the math. Um, yeah, no wonder you hired Philip Rivers. Listen, um, well, we have a lot in common. Here's a good start. I know my time's up, but no, no, no, no, go ahead, like, please, please.
During, and they can't find me now because it's too retroactive. But, like, Durin, we're both Catholic, so remember, we couldn't even go to mass, like they said, we couldn't go to mass.
So, I remember Philip and I talked, I said, Look. If you like, I'm going, and if you go, and all of a sudden, like I'd have my family, and then here'd come Philip in his van, and all of them filtering off. off going going into Mass on Sundays. It was great. Yeah.
I love that. All right.
And one last one, if you don't mind. Since you mentioned Indiana. Do you have any connection with Signetti? Talk with him. I'm so fascinated by him, man.
He is, I can't get enough. Of watching him work and listening to him talk, and what he is building in Indiana, what he has done. Um I I I Anything just because you're in the same state? No, we're not. No, look, we're not.
I don't have a, I'm not real close with him at all, but there's guys on his staff I am.
Okay, but I will tell you this. I study and watch them. And is there I mean, in the history of college football. Is there a better turnaround? I mean, I used to think it was, you know, Kansas State back in the day, but.
What him and his coaching staff have done and those players. Just tremendous. And it gets, to me, it gives hope. to air you know to teams out there that you know what you can You can still find players at others. Like, that's the thing I loved about what he did, is he just went and got players that he knew fit what he wanted, that he believed in them.
And then they all, and a lot of them weren't big recruits. I mean, that's. Like, I think what gets swept under the rug is how good an evaluator. he is and his staff of what fits for them. Just a Tremendous job.
And look, it's look, I'm a Wisconsin grad, but I'm also rooting for the Big Ten.
So once I figured we were not in the mix, I was all about Indiana. You and me both, you know, being a Michigan guy for sure. Oh, that's really a tough spill for the Michigan arrogance now. That's okay. I mean, hey, let me tell you something.
Y'all, it's hard for a Michigan man to admit when they're not quite at the top of the heap. You know, that's okay, Chris. Because who won in your building? Who cut down a net in your house? You know what I mean?
You walked me right into that. I couldn't have set you up better. I was actually, I mean, I couldn't have set that one up any better. Yeah.
Like an alley oop. I just. Jammed it through that. Net like Michigan did in your house. Good to see you, Chris.
You be well. You too. Thank you.
That's Chris Bell. Bye-bye. Love chat. That was great. Chris Stockton?
That was easy. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. I was Carl Malone. Um Speaking of Fernando Mendoza.
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Connect with us at Thriveent.com. Back here on the Rich Isand Show, one big happy Samo cast family. All right, man, look at us. We must be butter. On a roll.
We are from Kyle Shanahan to Chris Ballard.
Now, the head coach of the Washington Commanders, Dan Quinn, is back on the Rich Eisen Show. How are you doing, coach? Good to see you. Man, I am doing good, Rich. It's good to see you as well.
And yeah, pumped to be on with you as always, man. Pumped to be on with you too.
So let's walk everybody through Thursday night a week ago from right now. You were on the clock. Seventh overall.
Sonny Styles is there. Was that just to rip the knob off? That was it? Don't have to wait any time? It was cool, like just the way it felt, like, man, there's going to be an excellent player.
And I'm sure you guys kind of felt the same thing into that space. When Kansas City traded above, I didn't know. Honestly, it said, oh, man, here we go. And so when that took place and knowing that we were going to add him to the group, man, that was awesome. He had such an impact at Ohio State.
And even on his visit here, it was so strong, Rich, how much he loves it. The traits, what he looks. You know, like playing the game and where we think he can go to, man, we're really pumped about it.
Well, I mean, he is a mixture of a monster and humility. Yes, excellent combination for a linebacker. Right. And um so Let's just take it one step at a time. The combine.
Um I've done the combine now for 20 plus years on NFL network. You can count on the number of times on one hand. That I was blown away by a combined performance saying it's one of the best I've ever seen and. His was that. What about for you?
Yeah, I think it's rare. You know, you've covered it enough, and certainly been in the league long enough. This type of linebacker, the athletic traits, the speeds, the size, the length, it's not an every-year player. And I'm a developmental coach, man. I can't wait to coach him.
And he's hungry for it. He wants to improve. Seeing his first couple of years at DB and then shifting down to linebacker at the start of the 24 season, I just feel like Rich, this guy's going to take off reps at the position and like just seeing it more and more. Man, I can't wait to get rolling with him. Yeah, I know.
When you say I'm a developmental coach, I can't wait to get. Started on coaching him. Can you? Pull back some of the layers for the fans here. Like, what do you mean by that?
What will you do? Like, what. When you see this kid, you will do what? He has such unique traits to him. And so we'll play a lot of zone where we'll have vision to the QB.
And you can imagine this type of speed, this type of length to be able to close to the ball. Although he hasn't blitzed a ton at Ohio State, you know, Rhys was there as well. And so the fact that we're going to also send this guy as a blitzer.
So I think it's that kind of versatility, where we'll align him, how we can do that. He's got the football acumen because of his time at safety that. the coverage part of his game is intact. And so to see him unleashed in some new ways, that's going to be something that like, man, I very much look forward to being a part of. Do you possibly green dot him?
Do you green dot him? In practice, we'll certainly consider that. And a number of guys will have it during their practice times, but he is definitely capable of that. And it's one of the nice things now with the guys already doing that in college, Rich, that in the old days, we'd wait, does he have the leadership? Does he have that space?
And so for him, he's the type of player that can certainly handle that. Have you ever crossed paths with his dad? Ever. What was kind of the fun part of him and his family coming here? He was actually teammates with London Fletcher.
And so he was here working the draft on the media side with the team. And so to see these two guys as teammates years ago went to the Super Bowl together, I believe in St. Louis, and then having the chance to come and spend time together here, that was a pretty cool moment. And it kind of speaks to teammates and friendships and walking right back into a conversation that you might have had, you know, 20 years ago. Yeah, when you mentioned London Fletcher and obviously the position and the defensive side of the ball, that's some significant.
Franchise connective tissue, to say the least, here. Yeah, I would definitely say London was good with it. Yes, you see, he certainly was. And then, you know, You know, tell me more about the visit where you're like, okay, this is it. Yeah, so on our 30th visit, not every team does it quite the same, but we do it where a number of guys are here.
Oh, I remember that. That was supposedly where you were disrespected, where Jaden Daniels was being disrespected. I remember that from a couple of years ago.
Okay. I remember that. All right.
Jay would be the first one to tell you that is absolutely not the case. Right. No, I know that. But I'm sorry. I say things in terms of media narratives.
You talk about reality. I talk about media narratives, which Mike, now, some of them are the same, but that one is not. But I remember it.
So you're still doing that where you get a whole bunch of guys together, right? And leaving here, he said, man, I'm coming back. And I said, man, let's put it out there right now in the atmosphere.
So that night when we selected him, I said, how about it, man? Just two weeks ago or whatever it was, we talked about coming back, being in this building. He had such a connection. You could feel it with Ken Norton during their time together. And Ken's been just tremendous at developing linebackers through the years.
Every once in a while, all the The stars aligned to make it happen. And this was one of those cases. Yeah.
And just a couple more minutes on sunny here. I don't know if you're aware of this, I told the story here. Not that you're aware of everything that I say in front of this microphone, but Um after Sonny was done with his combine workout. He wound up with some of his teammates and some of his Friends in the same hotel restaurant that all of us, a bunch of us at NFL Network, were in.
Okay, no, I haven't heard this.
Okay, and he he was again. Fresh off that workout. Said to, you know, one of our producers went up to him and said, Hey, great workout. And he looked the producer in the eye and said, Do you really think so? Is what he said.
Yeah, no, he meant like he wasn't that wasn't sarcastic, which is what it might sound like. It was genuine. Like, do you think so? And our producer goes, yeah, I think so. And so does the rest of the world.
But it goes, it's kind of a window, you know what I mean? To the humility of this guy, like the hard work, the humility, the awareness that he wants to go and improve and get better. He's got really high standards.
So, um, I couldn't have been more impressed meeting him and his family when they came after we selected him here, and uh, so it's not. Not surprising to see after meeting mom and dad, man, he and his brother are two squared away guys. And I've got Dan Quinn here on the Rich Eisen Show. If we take a look at the rest of your draft, if you wouldn't mind doing us a favor and walking us through these picks, what you think, why you liked, starting with your third round selection out of Clemson, the wide receiver Antonio Williams. Yeah, so there's another guy that we had here up to Virginia and D.C.
to visit with and a wide receiver with elite quickness inside and out of break. He was an excellent route runner. And we thought he could play both outside and inside in the slot.
So, man, we're pumped to add him to the crew. Joss Josephs, an edge rusher. Man, does he have width, get off? I think he's got real pass rush to him.
So Adam and I, we felt, man, this guy in the fifth round, what a cool guy to try to develop and see where he can take it. Katron Allen in the Penn State. Record books as the all-time leading rusher at Penn State. I think that speaks to a lot. But when you watch the tape, we're going to run a lot of his own.
Man, he can put his foot in the ground. He's physical, he's got good size. We're excited at Katron being a part of it. An interior player, Matt Goldman, we're going to put him at center. Uh played at Wake and both at Michigan State with always tough and could sc like, you know, play these interior guys with good strength, get moving off the line of scrimmage.
We're excited about him. And then from a quarterback spot, adding Ethan to this group into the four with Sam and battling up for the third spot, another good competitive guy, man.
So we're excited about the class. And then, as you know, Rich also like some guys that get signed after the draft. And so that whole crew, which we would consider the, you know, the rookie class of 26, they'll report a week from tomorrow. And we'll get started with the whole crew. But I'm rock solid about these guys, man.
I can't wait to get rolling with them.
So did you like the eight minutes? Again, I understand you'll, you. You didn't need to wait long to turn in Sonny Styles' card, and you didn't have a first-round selection in addition. But did you like the eight minutes? I did.
I thought maybe as. As it went down into the middle rounds, would there be more difficulty?
Somebody trying to get to 15 or to 20 who was. you know, further away when there'd be more calls in the early ones, it's You know, not as many on those calls when you're up in the top 10.
So I thought, what would that look like between 15 and 25? But I'm a fan of it. What about your perspective? Oh, God.
I felt like I was doing cardio, Dan, to be very honest with you. We lost two minutes, but I didn't lose a number of voices as a host to get in. Um you know, and I I I thought it was too quick. Because from the broadcast, listen, but I know we're just talking about what you're doing. But you know when you've got Jeremiah loved drafted, and then the big shocker, honestly, as great as Sonny Styles is, and Caleb Downs is in your division in your old spot.
And you know, R. Vell Reese is in your division in your home state. You know, like it was a stunner that Carnell Tate was the first buck I mentioned. Yeah, so that's why from the power to go through all the guys. Oh, gosh, yeah.
Now, here's Carnell Tate. Oh, well, here's R. Vel Reese and the Giants.
Well, hold on a second.
Now there's a trade with the Chiefs. Wait a minute. Oh, here's Sonny Styles. I honestly felt like I got my steps in. Yeah, you're doing a play-by-play.
You aren't calling the draft. You're play-by-play. You know, but that's listen, those are what we call television first-class problems. You know, I'm honored to be sitting there at the desk, but you asked, that's my answer. I thought it was quick.
Yeah, I'm interested. But I would take four minutes or three minutes in rounds five through seven. I would take that. You know, let's, let's, let's, let's go home. You know what I mean?
Like, that's the way I kind of felt. Would you, would you be up for something like that? Cutting, cutting minutes off the back end? Because maybe in the last couple, you have a good sense. And as the draft board's going, you're trusting those grades where you're at.
And so there's not a lot of deliberation when your guy's there and you're pumped about it, man. you turn it in and get rolling.
So I think your next visit with Roger, you can certainly RG1, I'll speak to him. Sure. And I'll turn you again one more time into a pundit in a way. This draft with a running back taking three, hybrid guy taking five, receiver taking four. You took a guy that's supposedly an off-the-ball linebacker, right?
At seven, you know, Yoane, I thought, you know, is one of the best offensive linemen in this draft, but he's an interior guy, can't go middle of the first round. I mean, do you think any sense of? Of the conventional way to draft players positionally might change from this, or that's just the way it is in the NFL? Yeah, I think there's some chances for things to change and adapt. And what you may think one year could be different based on the talent at the position, how deep it would go.
But yes, I do think where things we wouldn't have thought of doing before years ago, now we would consider and oftentimes are doing.
So I like that honestly, our game changes and evolves and what we did, you know. 20 years ago, on offense and defense has evolved. And so I think. The fact that we're seeing that now in scouting and draft, I think that's pretty cool. All right.
So, um, The superpower, I think, one of the many for your quarterback in Jaden Daniels, is he's the same guy. Right, same guy, doesn't change, demeanor doesn't change, his sensibility doesn't change, his fire doesn't change. That said, last year. It had to be so frustrating for him. Is he coming back differently?
Do you think year three? Different sense? At all.
Well, definitely his most frustrating year in his young career of ever playing football, like just injuries and missing time and having to go through that. Anybody who goes through those significant ones, man, there is a little extra hunger that comes back. That's human nature. It's whether a guy's coming back from an injury or a performance. There's usually an edge.
That's all competitors, Rich. And so I definitely feel that with him. He's already an elite competitor, but to add on a little fuel to the fire, man, nothing wrong with that. And I can definitely relate.
So I think. For a guy who's already at an elite level as a competitor, nothing wrong with turning up the heat a little bit. Do you stoke it? Do you stoke it? Yeah.
In a good way. Like, I know what he can be and what his goals are and where he would like to go.
So that's our job, right, as coaches to push it and see if we can bring out the very best. In the players, that's one of the most Satisfying feelings as a coach, knowing you can take a player from point A to point B and help them reach where they want to get to, those are significant moments. And Jaden is exactly the right type of player to do that with. How do you stoke it, if you don't mind me asking? Do you literally sape what people are saying?
That sort of card. Do you play that?
Okay, what do you say? No, I don't play that card.
So I would, it's more the. You know, at practice, the location of the ball, the accuracy, those are the things when you're really going to be excellent. Can you push? The standards that you're wanting to go compete with.
So, yeah, it's definitely an internal one, not a narrative from outside, but knowing what he's capable of, I'm qualified to do that push. You had some leadership goats and some Hall of Fame goats on that defense. I know we spoke to Von Miller recently. He wants to be a general manager. He was talking about hanging with Adam Peters a little bit, but I think he also still wants to play.
And then you got Bobby Wagner, your reigning. Walter Payton Man of the Year award winner. Any chance we still see them in burgundy and gold or what? For players like that, you never close the door. And they are remarkable, Rich, not just as ball players, but as teammates and the level of detail those two go to to play.
And different positions, but if you wanted to go find out about Pastor Us, just spend an afternoon with Vaughn Miller. Hand placement technique. What are you looking for? He could literally coach a number of the interior players. And even when we were watching some pass rush in a meeting room together, you'd see him share insight or share a comment.
So he's got remarkable ability. Not only to know what it is, but articulate how to apply a skill or a technique. And with Wags, he's one of the very best leaders I've ever been a part of. The standards that he sets as a ball player, as a teammate, the traits, preparation. Mentally, physically, the practice habits.
And I think of him and I think of tackling. I just do, man. Like, I've. Used his example all the time. And man, am I like honored to have coached him at two different spots?
And yeah, still both these guys can still play. And I'm sure they would be able to download Sonny Styles with some crucial information. You know what I mean? There's no question about that. And that's one of the fun parts, man, of the NFL when players give back to one another.
I have learned quite a bit from players myself, a different perspective from the lens of the helmet. And so guys like Wags and guys like Von Miller, they provide insights that others don't. Zach Erchz is another one in that space that has a unique perspective. because of the matchups they've been in, the games, the situations, and so. When you're adding a player like that, you're not just adding just the player.
It's a lot of times the wisdom that comes with that. And I enjoy those moments of digging deeper with guys like that. How's Zach doing? He's doing excellent and working hard from a rehab standpoint. Knee injury towards the end of last season, but he's absolutely putting it in.
And just like Vaughn and Wags, you know, has a lot to prove. Yep. Dan, thanks for the time, man. Always love our chats. Always love chopping it up with you.
Do you get down time? You get downtime anytime soon? What do you got? Yeah, we've got the rooks coming in soon, but the summer break, it'll be here before we know it. That's the time to charge back up before we get rolling.
So before we get there. Always enjoy being out with you too, bud. Thanks. That's Dan Quinn, Washington Commander's head coach, right here on The Rich Eisen Show. The Rich Eisen Show, the podcast.
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So it seems like a couple of very well to do individuals are trying to save live golf right now. Um Investment bankers Gene Davis and John Zinman.
Okay. One of em sounds like a guy I went to camp with. It wasn't Gene Davis. Um have established a new independent board. As it attempts to survive a quote-unquote diversified multi-partner investing model.
Trying to survive is that. Because let me tell you something. When the Saudis say, we don't have any more money for you.
Something's not working. Yeah.
They're out. Saudis have put their money on the table and Slap, we're out Sooner than you thought. That understands. What reference I'm making right there. Um It was Here's the one thing I I'm I'm pouring one out for.
Are, you know, and you could say whether they should do it or not, but you know, there's a lot of people in our industry who hook themselves up to live. You know, behind the scenes, behind cameras, in the trucks. You know, and hopefully for them, there's a paycheck coming. The players? Not really pointing one out for him.
Not pouring out much for the players. And nor will the PGA Tour. If this is it, the 2026 season apparently is. going to be it. Although, um The uh governor of Louisiana, Jeff Landry, announced Tuesday that a scheduled tournament in New Orleans had been postponed.
With a p potential date later on being considered. He's canceled two things over redrawn maps.
Okay. Leave you to Google the other thing I'm referring to? Um And so It looks like. The Live Tour has got not much left to it. They are playing at Trump's golf course next week.
That one's not getting canceled. Yeah, probably not. And so I don't have much sympathy for the players who left the PGA Tour. They thought they were trying to make a point. And the interesting thing is, the PGA Tour did change some.
ways of doing business based on the live tour Uh creation. Right? Yeah, suddenly there was more money for turnips. There were some changes. There were some no-cutting.
There were some changes. I'm seeing people say the LiveTour: thanks for nothing. You didn't do anything. But I'll be honest with you. I never got into it.
I never watched it. For more than just, oh, is it on? Let me see what it is. I couldn't care less about one team, the fireballs versus the whoever, the what's, and it's 54 holes, and I didn't care. No, not once.
I didn't miss the players. I was watching the PGA Tour. Events I was still Locked in. And Now, those who left and took the big-ass paychecks are going to have to reap what they sow, unless the Live Tour somehow. Moves on.
But It did make some changes, hopefully, for the better for the players who stuck on the PGA tour. And Hopefully those um you know, if the live tour continues, those who took jobs. Um Can Still put food on the table. But the players There's a very tiny violin over here. Yeah, they made their bed.
And the thing is, it'd take more than a year to get back, don't you think? Right. And, you know, they opened that little window that Brooks Kepka took advantage of. You know, he paid his fine and donated to charity, and he's out there grinding on the so-called mule events to, you know, to play in these big money events and the qualify. You know, he's major exempt, but.
It's just, it's Bryson, it's John Rahm, and maybe one or two other guys. And that's it when you're talking about who is going to be back on the tour. And, you know, the rules for Kepka and Patrick Reid are not going to be the same for these other guys.
So is the fine going to double, triple? The qualifications are going to get back on the PGA tour. Are they going to change? Don't know a giant big TBD. You know, Bryson could just be a YouTube golfer for all we know.
Right. But. Yeah, man. Good riddance. To the live tour.
I never really paid attention to that. Me neither. Ever. It it didn't break through at all. And in terms of everyone wondering, you know, will the PGA tour potentially cave for some of these people?
Um Hmm. The man in charge now is named Brian Rolap, comes from the National Football League. I know him very well. Mm-hmm. And I can say the PJ Tour has the right man in the right spot for this moment.
'Cause he's not playing. I've been in negotiations with him. I can personally attest. We're out of time. That's our two.
Chris Weber's coming up on this program, Don't You Dare Move, on the radio. Yeah.
The Rich Eisen Show Podcast. Mm-hmm.
