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Now, on with the show. Hola. This is the Rich Eisen Show. Thank goodness I have this job. Because I sure can't play golf.
You hit that guy! Live from the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles. Earlier on the show. Apple TV lead MLS analyst Taylor Twellman. Coming up.
PSPN senior NFL writer Jeremy Fowler. 10-year NFL head coach Jason Garrett. And now, it's Rich Eisen. Show is on the air. We just chopped up youth sports and why the U.S.
men's national team didn't advance, which is the usual thing we do here in a World Cup when other countries get set to play in the semifinal, as they do today and tomorrow. France, Spain, later on today, that's in Dallas. Are they in the home of the Dallas Cowboys? Correct. Yes, sir.
Okay. Uh a uh three PM Eastern Too central, local? Tip, or if you will, kickoff, which would be marvelous. Which would make it nine o'clock at night in France and Spain? Huh?
Little bit of tight basket country conversation right now, huh? The locals might be a little confused for a you know, a playoff game this deep in a tournament being played in Dallas, but Wow, that just happened. That just happened.
Well, I mean, technically, NFC championship game is a semifinal game. Right. Right. Again, locals might be confused. As to what that is, any comment?
Let's go in. Any comment over there? Daggy gets lucky and gets Tom Brady and acts like a jerk.
Well, he's no. He's still just butthurt that he lost Jalen Brown to your 76ers. Oh, he should be. Oh no, we won that trade.
Okay. Sure, you're right. Let me tell you, you did not. You I'll give you the floor. What do you mean you won the trade?
In no way do the Sixers have a better record than the Celtics this year. Oh, boy. And no world exists where that happens.
Now, are you aware of that? Is this a bit? No. There's a bit because when it happened he was crying. I was not crying.
We have documents that we can go back and show it. You didn't like the trade. You weren't happy with it. Why should he be? He was confused.
Why should he be? Let me tell you. He's like a lot of fans were confused. Then you really look at the data and the data.
Okay. And you're like, okay. Suddenly, Kenya's over there. Explain this one to me, Rich. If they're going to have a better record, okay, we played them in the playoffs.
We were down. 3-1, came back and won, and we snatched their best player. In what way would that make you think Jason Datum's on the Sixers? Yeah, well, he wasn't your best player. He is our best player.
Well, he was. And he has been the best player for a decade. Except for when you won the championship and the other guy got MVP. He wasn't the best player in the series. Let me ask you.
That's technically what an MVP of a champion is. Really, Andre Eguadagua is better than Steph Curry? Apparently, he had a better series. He definitely did not.
So let's just brass tax it, though. Do you really, in all honesty? Yes. Because I've read, hold on a second. I've read all the same articles you have.
About, you know, when Jalen Brown's on the court and this, that, the other thing, analytics. That what that he's like the 60th best player. Or 68th, or he ranked 70th. That's why he ranks stupid. That sort of thing.
Like, you don't think this is the, you know. Hedge fund coming in and saying we're not double aproning. We're not going to that second apron. We're just not going to do it. We're not going to spend the amount of money that's required to do it.
Not saying that's not a factor. But then when all the data backs it up, in the same way that Mookie bets get sent elsewhere, All our business. You don't think this is the second comer to this, right? No. Okay.
I don't know. That's fine that he thinks that. What else is he supposed to tell you?
So the Sixers are now going to win three titles? Because that's what happened when Mookie left town. No, I understand that. That would be a bad analogy. The only analogy is that Mookie.
Mookie was somebody that you adored and you won a championship with. And you didn't understand why the money couldn't be spent on it. Same thing about Jalen Brown here. That's not exactly the same. That's my only analogy.
That's not what happened.
So, so let me.
Sorry, did Mookie Betts switch screen? I still can't.
So, you brought people wrong behind the scenes? How Paul George and draft choices that don't even begin to hit until. two years from now. Make you a better team. I just don't see it.
And then just speaking. It's now the young guys now get more of an opportunity. No, I get it. We could see, like, Peyton Pritchard, you're going to have to really hope he is, in fact, the. Hugo Gonzalez is dominating Summer League right now.
No, no, we'll see that. Right. Tom. Dominating Summer League. No, no, I understand what you're saying, what you're pinning your hopes on.
But just speaking from the position of Having the world championship. What concerns me as a Nick fan more, because everyone's coming, I get to say this, this is so great. Everyone's coming. For what we have. And everybody's trying to shape their teams based on what They think We have.
To be. I can't, I'm so, like, this feels so good. This, I can't believe I'm saying this about the New York Knicks. I'm way more concerned about his Sixers team. Why?
Okay. Now, this is the biggest if of all time about Embiid, okay? That's the biggest if. Right now, Rich, we only need Joe LMB to be the fourth best player on the squad.
So imagine that. Imagine you go to a team where he's your fourth best player. Brown plus Maxi plus Edgecombe. And a healthy like MB'd Like that he doesn't. have his knees wrapped or whatever.
And they also do not adopt FIFA's VAR strategy about flopping. I'm okay. This guy's honestly, this guy's waving around more than that balloon in front of a car dealership. Yeah, I mean, we've said that for years.
So, listen, I'm way more concerned about that.
Now, obviously. In Brad Stevens, you trust? I'm looking at the front page of the oddsboard. I can't find the Sixers anywhere. That's wild.
Where are they? Where's LeBron? I don't care about what's going on with LeBron. I know what I see. All right.
Jalen Brown's going to make this team. LeBron could put his thumb on the scale here. Yeah, but he's not. I mean, look, I'm still thinking. I mean ideally you would love I I don't really care, but I'd love to see them maybe ended in Cleveland just to full circle.
I think Miami's going to be the spot. I think it's either Miami or Golden State. I have a feeling it's Miami. Although Golden State is a. Didn't Draymond basically do a direct-to-camera pitch?
I mean, look, if he wants to stay on the West Coast. And that's the end of that. I mean, if he goes to Miami, enjoy the play-in tournament.
Okay. Dill, you don't believe they're going to be in the play-in tournament if LeBron James is on the agenda. With Giannis. LeBron is going to be a non-factor this season. I think everyone needs to ready themselves.
How is 21 points a game a non-factor? Dude, you've been on fire since we came on the air. We were getting married, I thought, would soften you a little, but no, it hasn't. Take that for data. You don't like LeBron, so you don't want to believe it.
Has LeBron been a factor in the playoffs in the last few seasons? Dude, he just got the Lakers to a second round. I understand that. I get it. Is that going up to the Tyler Swift band?
I get it. For sold-out concerts? No, but I mean, to say he's a non-factor is, I think, a. is over the top. But I think will he be will be the guy that you have to hang your hat on in order to win a championship anymore?
Probably not. But is he somebody who can play like LeBron James and bring Yannis and Bam, right? To the next level? I think that's entirely possible. You don't?
I do too. No. Again, looking for Miami on the oddsboard.
Okay, well, he's not there yet.
Well, if they thought he was going there, they'd be higher. Who is they? I never know who these odd sports people are. Who are these people? Or is it the Thunder?
Again, it's the Thunder. The Spurs have the best odds right now. Spurs, Thundernicks, Celtics, Raptors. Nuggets, Pistons, Wolves, Calves. Then we get to the Sixers in Heat.
Pacers, Rockets, Lakers.
Okay. Warriors are fifty to one.
Well, 'cause LeBron hasn't been there yet.
Well, they don't think it's going there. Steph looked great when I saw him. Two days ago when I invaded his fairway. Yeah. With my errant T shot.
Did you do that on purpose just to go say hi to Steph? Oh, and by the way, that would be hilarious. Oh, actually, by the way, by the way, by the way. Uh for real. Yaxel, do not overlook his addition.
to the Golden State Warriors. Do not. Overlook that. And if LeBron goes there, then he could basically I mean, Yaxel is a physical specimen that is. uh a height, almost weight.
Comparison. Through LeBron. Outside of that, we'll see what happens. Just talking heightweight. This guy was ready to give up on the Sixers, and now he thinks they're going to win the title.
I didn't say we're going to win the title. I'm saying we're going to be significantly. You know how you can argue that? By the way, the goal poster has got lifted and moved across the street. That's what we do talking about sports.
You still have a better record than the Sixers. And the Sixers. Without question. I would take your.
Well, time will tell, Rich. I'm not going to sit here and waste time arguing about it. All I know is I got Jalen Brown and Caleb Downs. Let me ask you this question, Chris. At the end of the day, do the Celtics need to change their way of.
The three live or die. Yes or no? Yes or no? They can shoot a few less. Yeah.
Okay. So that's basically what it will come down to. And they've got now a guy who slashes and who's on the Sixers. You know what I mean? A guy who could actually drive to the hoop is now just left your team, and you've got Paul George instead.
Older. And 1000% less reliable in terms of health. It's addition by subtraction. It's so the other guys can get lifted up who are ready to shine and ready to blossom. Like Vijay H.
Comb and Tyrese Max. They're ready to shine. There's only one basketball. You have four guys who play the same position. That's fine.
That's fine. All right, I got a four downs, guys. Mm-hmm. We're doing this every single day. up until the season.
And again, this used to be a segment we did all the time where I would give four opinions varying in the National Football League week to week.
Now I'm just going to do it for each team, all thirty two teams, and we're going in draft order.
so he did the Las Vegas Raiders yesterday.
Now it's time to go. For the New York Jets. Four downs on the Jets season 2026 style. Presented by SoFi. Four downs with Rich.
Here we go. Why did he suck?
Okay. The New York Jets four downs. With me. And the New York Jets. Can I get a little bit of music accompaniment, please?
This was 1,000% the number one question. When I was at the American Century Championship, the old ACC, just this weekend, the number of. Of cards that I was asked to sign. It's the Fans of the game, it's me standing there from like nine years ago, and then the Jets logo is right there. Trust me.
Jet fans, I hear you. The number one question I was asked is, is Geno gonna be the guy?
Okay. And you know famously when Gina was the guy for the Seahawks a couple years ago and He said everyone wrote me off, but I never wrote back.
Well, guess what? Number one, first down is. Can Gino write back? Because it's time for him to write back, because he's been written off again. And um was it a Raider thing?
Was it a Geno thing? And that is the question. Was it a Raiders thing? Because in Seattle He was a comeback player.
Now it's time for him to do it again. And um I don't know. That's the number one question about the Jets coming into the season. Watch first down right here. Can Geno.
Right back. And that leads to second down here on the program for the New York City.
Okay. Offensive coordinators, man. Do you remember way back in the day? When they got a hacket for their Rogers. Mmm, I do.
And then they told Rogers midstream, it's not it. Yep. not going to happen. They add a LaFleur too. He's now the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals.
He's going to be on four downs on Wednesday's show. And then they had another offensive. Honestly, the number of offensive coordinates the Chips have, the Eagles are like, oh God, you got some turnover at that position. Is Frank Reich the answer for real? Like we're gonna go and take Frank in here Now he's the original, if you will.
Syriani Eagles offensive coordinator. Right. And he parlayed that into a head coaching gig in Indianapolis. Two head coaching gigs, really. Correct, right?
And he parlayed that into at least the head coaching gig. And by the way, just like Shane Steichen did. Who, if I'm not mistaken, took over for Frank Bright. I don't know, man. He's been there and he's done that.
He's an OG. All right, Frank. It's your offense. Let's go. And that's the second down.
Is Frank Wright the answer for that offense? As they're trying to put more young kids in there, and Garrett Wilson, hopefully, he's healthy, and Brees Hall they resigned. You know? You take a look at some of the offensive weapons that they have there. There's some there there.
Okay, including, you know, Adonai Mitchell, who they got for Sauce Gardner from. Wait for it. The Colts keep coming up here. He was balling.
Okay. Uh third down. Third down. Listen. Yeah.
Last year. The Jets didn't have a a single takeaway. Until I called a game in London against the Denver Broncos. And they got a takeaway. Like on the first.
Uh first series of the game. They settled for field goal, and the rest of the game went so poorly offensively for both teams. I literally wanted to take. uh my my my pen that I was using. and stab myself with it.
Not gonna lie. Um The Broncos, yada, yada, yada, went on to the AFC Championship game. And the New York Jets went the entire season without. An interception. It was a fumble that they got, that they recovered.
So third down for the New York Jets. Is will we at the Rich Eisen show collectively tie the entire Jets defense and interceptions? How many interceptions did you have last year? Zero. Jay, you want to think about it?
Zero. Okay, catch my point. Honestly, you look at what the Jets have done in terms of building this roster up. And the options that they would have, and who wants to come and join. you know, this Jets team.
And you see what they built, um, you know, they... And who they gave away, right? We all understand that. But David Bailey's coming in. That's who they drafted first overall for them, obviously.
They add Devondre Sweat. Harrison Phillips is there, and Will McDonald is actually stuck around, right? They get DiMario Davis back. Jamie and Sherwood. Um, they they don't forget they added Minka Fitzpatrick as well.
D'Angelo Pons, who they drafted, that kid from Indiana is really friggin' good. And then on the offensive side of things, again, Indiana keeps coming up again. You know, This team Uh drafted Omar Cooper. Who had that incredible catch against Penn State? They have added a bunch of young kids.
If they can somehow get Geno Smith to perform like Geno, who used to not write back, and Frank Reich can coordinate the offense. And the defense can step it up and get some turnovers and picks. You never know. And then It brings up fourth down. Because the defense is now in the hands of Aaron Glenn, because Woody Johnson basically said, hey, You're taking it over.
We're paying you. What am I paying you for? You are taking over the defense. which leads to fourth down. Fourth down.
How patient will Woody be? That's the big question. Because Aaron Glenn If this defense does not do well, It's not like, well, the defensive coordinate, blah, blah, blah, no, no. It's now his. Team, his defense, he's going to be calling plays and being a head coach.
Okay. And Mooji has made some nice moves, and he's got three firsts next year. And if Woody's getting squirrely, like I don't like the moves he made last year in the draft, and I don't like the moves that he made in the. Off season. Does he say, I've got a new coach and I got a new GM with three first-round picks and all these quarterbacks coming out of college?
Or does he say, Mooji, you're the guy to choose this, but Aaron, we need an offensive-minded head coach here, or he's just patient. Knowing Aaron Glenn? Is a jet From the beginning of his career, And he is a guy that is trying to put a culture in that locker room. And we're going to let him do it. And all these losses that we're racking up.
are not on his plate. And not on Mooji's plate, it is just the way we have been conducting our business over and over and over again and let it build. Or will the Jets win enough games? And what he's going to just be kicking back with his white hat in his ownership suite and going.
Okay, we're building. It really all depends on all the other downs that I've mentioned. That's my four downs. With Rich. Brought to you by SoFi.
Get your money. Right. I don't know what I've there's not many scraps that I left on the table there. That covers it. Your schedule ain't easy either.
You still in? What do you mean? What do you mean am I still in? Are you still in? Jets fan.
Are you still in? I'm not trying to be funny. No, I know you're not. I mean, obviously, growing up as a Jet fan, but There's only so much nard kicking you can take, man.
So you're telling me. You know? And I'm a passionate Rams fan, as I've been told.
Well, I mean, if you're not. I'm allowed. I'm allowed. By the way, I'm allowed. This guy's got fifteen banners behind his head.
Which is what I'm saying. You take offense, and I'm getting crapped on all the time about the banners. I'm just asking you a question. You can have some banners. I haven't signed any papers.
If that's what you're asking, well, that's kind of where I was leading. I haven't signed him. Nope. Jets win total five and a half. It's fun.
I I do like what the general manager's done. I like the way that they drafted. They had a good time. And they are set up. If there are quarterbacks galore next year, they have, boy, have they set themselves up.
Well, they're going to have to tank for my nephew. They have set themselves up. But how many times are you going to draft all these kids and go, no, no, no, we're going to trade them away for more draft picks? No, this is the reset. That's gonna make it finally stick.
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Jeremy Fowler got a lot of people talking with his. Lists that he's putting out there about top quarterbacks in all the positions. Coming up next, we'll talk with you. Rich Eisen here. Running a small business means every hire matters.
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So grab a bag of Lays and jump on the bandwagon. We're undefeated. Lays, the official sponsor of the FIFA World Cup 2026. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast. Fowler here on the Rich Eisen Show.
Let's get to your. Your lists that you have been conducting since the beginning of this month for every position up until the quarterback spot that you released. on Monday that's got everyone really talking about your lists. Just before we jump into it, what's the pool of people, the number of people that you spoke to? and uh the general sense of their ability to share.
Jeremy. Yeah, Rich, so I end up talking to, in total, about 80 people in the league about this. At least 70 people submit ballots, which is, you know, I send them. A pool of players at a position. I get back a top 10 and then I ask them about it.
So I compile the results, I create a composite ranking for each position. The process really starts at the combine when you see people in hallways and hotel lobbies. And I at least start to pick brains of opinions on players at that point. And then after the draft, I get to work on the results, the voting, all that. And I go by position.
I always start with quarterback because it gets the most results. Because everybody's eager to kind of vote on that position because it's easy and it's fun to talk about.
So, yeah, it's an exhaustive process, but it's a fun way to get us through July, for sure.
Well, and it's also, you know, it mirrors the MVP conversation, not just because, you know. We all say in the NFL, the MVP is the best quarterback award, right? And then the offensive player of the year is the best non-quarterback award. And I know that's one way to. to sort of parse it.
But it mirrors the MVP conversation as to what merits best. And whether it's physical ability, mental ability, or results, you know, it is a result-oriented business.
So why do you think Josh Allen wound up being one on your list? Germany.
Well, Rich, the criteria I try to keep pretty simple is who's the best right now? This is not a career achievement award. If you were picking players almost as if you were on a playground, who would be the top guy? And then I narrowed the focus from there. Josh Allen is the top guy because I would say the fear factor is really thick.
Like, if you're a defensive coordinator, he's the guy you don't want to play and game plan against more than really anybody else right now. And I would probably put Matthew Stafford and Joe Burrow. Right there as well. I mean, of course, Mahomes, but you know, for his standards. He's kind of had subpar production for the last few years, which opened the door for Josh Allen to step through.
The bugaboo on Allen was the turnovers. That's what held him back before. He has curbed that for the most part the last two years. Of course, he didn't in that Denver playoff game. He kind of resorted back to his old ways, but.
You live and die with his style of play for the most part because. You're going to be living off it most games because he's going to be winning. And, you know, he didn't have the greatest supporting cast. You know, I had multiple coaches point out: like, hey, when you game plan for the Bills, you're not really game plan for the wide receivers all that much. James Cook's really good, but.
Josh Allen is one, two, three, four, five on the scouting report, and he still beats you.
So it's a It's a situation where, like, fear is currency in the NFL. Who do you fear most? And he's the most feared right now. And then Mahomes is too. I know you say this is a right now thing, right?
Right now, he's rehabbing off of a knee injury coming off of an off-year otherwise. Um, so do people just say he's Mahomes and we're just We can't get shaken off of that as to why you think he's two? Because obviously, I understand why he's two. But I'm just giving you the the leeway here. Yeah, the game can't quit Patrick Mahomes.
He got the most first-place votes, 41% of the first-place votes in this, but he had more than usual voters who were taking him outside of the top three to five, more votes that were like seven out of the top 10 or nine. Which was unusual for him. And he still gets the benefit of the doubt. He still is incredible. He still makes plays that only a few in the world can make.
And people getting the benefit of the doubt in cases because of the supporting cast, they feel like he just didn't have a running game the last two years. That receiving trio of Xavier Worthy and Rashid Rice and Hollywood Brown didn't quite work out as consistently as they would have liked. Travis Kelsey's getting older, so he kind of had to make it work all on his own at times. And still showed flashes of greatness. But if you look at how hot he was in the regular seasons in the past, plus the playoff and Super Bowl wins.
And you compare it to the last three years, it just hasn't been as consistent. And some coaches feel like You know, he still would try to take unnecessary chances, we don't need interceptions that are unnecessary.
So it's really a combination of factors, and now we sit here. Not truly knowing whether he's going to play week one, although the Chiefs are leaning into it. He's made rapid progress on his rehab from the ACL and the PCL.
So He's going to try to put himself in a position to play preseason games, get cleared for contact, and get on the field as soon as possible. The Chiefs feel like he can do it. And with Kenneth Walker in the running game, they should be more balanced this year, which could actually accentuate his skill set a little bit more than the previous years. Yeah, Kenneth Walker, who cracked the top 10 on the running backs list that you put out on ESPN.com, Jeremy Fowler here. On the show, a quote from an AFC offensive coach, and this is fascinating as well.
when you're including Mahomes and Andy Reid in the mix here. Uh and others, obviously, but Quote: Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay is now the best quarterback coach duo in the league. Was that a general consensus that you also found? Jeremy, do you think? I'm not sure if that exactly was a consensus, but it was mentioned multiple times.
And it was mentioned to highlight how good Stafford's been, but also to kind of knock him a little bit. Like, if there's one knock on Stafford, it's that he's got really clean conditions right now. He's got this elite play caller in Sean McVay. He's got two number one receivers.
So they're hard to double team. Devontae Adams was terrific last year. You know, they make the offensive line and everything else work. You have weapons. Like, the Rams are never worried about moving the ball for the most part.
And Sean McVay, to his credit, went to that under-center, more so work, three tight end sets. In part to protect Stafford, who had that back issue and has had some injuries. And then Stafford did the rest. But actually, I taught several coaches that were like, it wasn't even close. It was the best quarterback last year, not only just winning the MVP, but just playing the position, the mastery of it, the anticipation on the throws, just making these ridiculous throws all the time.
That was all Stafford, and nobody else was a close second. In that regard.
So if he's 32 years old right now. He might be our number one quarterback. It's really an age thing. 38, but I don't At one point, I thought he was going to retire, maybe even over his contract.
Now he's got all the guaranteed money, he's all set up, he's got the NDP, he's probably going to play. Another two to three years, at least, it feels like right now.
Well, why wouldn't you, right? If McVeigh is your play caller and Puka Nakua and Devontae Adams are your Main receiving targets, and Kyron Williams and Blake Coram are your main running backs, and the offensive line is handled. Miles Garrett shows up, and that might smoke Aaron Donald out of retirement, right? Right. I mean, the Rams are leaning into that one, too.
You know, as last I've gathered, he has not made a firm decision yet. The working out of the facility was interesting, but I'm told he's done that off and on for the last few years. That's not necessarily a new thing. He's kept a really tight relationship with the Rams organization since he retired.
So it kind of feels like the door has always been open. Mm-hmm. So we'll see. He is not dispelling the rumors whatsoever. You know, I've talked to some teams who wonder: is he going to be a mid-season sniper?
and come in week 10 or week 12. And I'm not so sure. I mean, Les Sneed told me recently, the GM there, that Aaron Donald's a principled individual. If he's going to do it, he's got to be all the way in. He's got to know he's going to be his dominant self.
So, if he gets to that point, then I could see the trigger pulled and he's out there at some point, which would be ridiculous. I mean, When I was talking to people in the league for this top, very top 10 series, I mean, I had multiple people bring up, like, hey, is this Aaron Donald thing really real? Like, is this going to be a thing where he's on the field with Miles Garrett?
So we talk about the fear factor being thick. It would definitely be so in LA with that equation. No doubt about it. I mean, and. What would be ridiculous again is somebody who's been retired for as long as he is, and he doesn't really have to change his workout or eating habits to get ready for the NFL.
Right. You know, like he's just been doing. He's microwaved, ready to go. Yeah, no doubt. No doubt.
Joe Burrow was fourth on the list here. And. His comments from just a few weeks ago during OTAs, talking about how he feels about this team. Offensively, similar to the way he felt going into his last year at LSU, and we all know. He did have Jamar Chase on that team.
Also had Justin Jefferson to his name too. Um and how he feels the same way right now. What do you make of Burroughs' comments back in. June and the Bengals reality. For this upcoming season.
Jeremy. He's an honest guy. I think he's really just being honest. He likes the talent. You know, the offensive line, I think, is big.
That's stabilized. It's not a star-studded offensive line, but they have been better.
So, you put that with the weapons that they have, and the two number one receivers on the outside. Tight ends they like.
Now they gotta run the ball better. They didn't run the ball well last year, but Even on offense, he can see that there's a comfort level. Like he can roll out the ball, get in the huddle, and he likes what he sees and who he's playing with. And then defensively, they still got to prove it. I think he's probably partly speaking it into existence: hey, we're going to be better, right?
We're going to be better. But they were so bad that I think, even if they're average, middle of the road defensively, they're going to be a playoff team. And then Burrow on the offense can really do the rest in a lot of ways.
So, you know, he's a quarterback that's got to do his part. He's got to be on the field. The availability has been the issue. That's really the reason he's number four. He would be higher if it wasn't.
For the injuries. And we were doing shows yesterday, and I was with Tim Hasselback, and he was adamant that Burrow did not belong at number four. He should be further down the list because of the availability. You just at the quarterback position, especially, you can't be out that much. And be taken seriously in some regards.
So he needs to put together a 17-game season. It's really. A time that he's primed to do that.
Well, I mean, he's been. Unavailable, and obviously, availability is your best ability. We've heard that phrase so many times, Jeremy Fowler. But if we're. If we're talking about, well, injury prone, he shouldn't be that high.
Chris, I'll give you the floor on Justin Herbert because I can't give the pushback with it similarly as you. No doubt, always like to do or can on Justin Herbert. I'll just give you the floor on that. I mean, I've said so much. No, no, but Jeremy might not have heard it, but go for it.
I would like to know what he does better than Drake May to deserve to be higher. Let's just start at winning a playoff game, Jeremy. That's all I'm saying. Yeah, no, that's. That is fair.
He's at an inflection point in his career, there's no doubt. Like, he's got a lot of goodwill in the league. I think, in part, because of what he did those first couple years was just on fire. And the skill set's enormous. I think that's part of it.
It's sort of intoxicating. You know, when you talk to these people and they're ranking these quarterbacks, like, man, if I would still take him if I'm picking a team, Mike McDaniel picked the Chargers in part because. He was the best quarterback of all the OC jobs available. And the Chargers are banking on him, giving him.
Some more layups, some easy plays to get easy first downs where he doesn't have to do everything. And look, the line was bad last year. It was really bad.
Now that's. It's not all on him that they fell apart last year. It is somewhat on him. But I think if he doesn't get it done this year, show some sort of progress or maybe win a playoff game, that goodwill will start to fade. I do believe that.
It's year seven. Feels like it's time.
Now, some quarterbacks mature at different times. Matthew Stafford, we're looking at as a Super Bowl winner. He didn't win a lot in Detroit those early years either.
Sometimes. It takes time, but I'm still bullish on Justin Herbert, but he does have to show it. Drake May was better last year. There's no question. He was better in.
Pretty much every metric. You know, he led the league in QBR, led the league in yards per attempt, led the league in completion percentage. Second MVP. I was surprised that Drake May was number eight in this exercise. I thought he would be more like.
Five to seven. Because he's such a hot name, too, and he's got the demeanor, and everybody likes him. And they loved him pre-draft, and everybody tried to trade for him, couldn't get him. New England's got their guy for the next 15 years, all that. You know, that wasn't great in the playoffs, though.
They won, but he wasn't great.
So, I guess that's one bugable you could find, and people just want to see him do it again. I think it's an experience thing, two years in. They want to see a little more consistency. But you know, Herbert, a lot of voters, a lot of coaches, especially knocked them for football maturity. They feel like mastering the position.
All the nuances that go with playing quarterback well, they feel like he's got a ways to go still, even six years in the league.
So then. What's the knock on Jalen Hurts, the only MVP, Super Bowl MVP that didn't crack your top ten? Jeremy. Yeah, that's a complicated one, Rich. I will say, you know, and he probably deserves to be higher.
The league has a great deal of respect for Jalen Hurts and what he's done. He throws a beautiful deep ball. He is obviously well accomplished. He's obviously good in big games, and that's a big metric, right? Like, what is your quarterback going to do in the moments where you need to win?
in January, right? Uh, he's proven that on a Super Bowl stage, um, intangibles, toughness, all those things. You know, it's And people point that out, but they also point out that Look, when you're playing the quarterback position, you're dropping back. You gotta be able to throw efficiently over the middle of the field, and you gotta be able to make decisions quickly as a passer as to when to get rid of the ball. He has struggled with that.
And it's a passing offense that. has ranked in the bottom third of the league the last two years. The only other team with a top-type quarterback, a top-tier quarterback that's in that range is Baltimore. This year they were in the twenties, I believe. But the caveat there is you watch Lamar Jackson with two eyes and you know the otherworldly things he can do.
Well, Jalen's not that kind of athlete. And people question if his running ability has diminished a little bit. You know, if he's not going to be the, maybe he wasn't as explosive as a runner last year, or didn't, wasn't as willing of a runner, or wasn't called. Form enough, whatever it is, but. He needs to be more of a dual thread, and that wasn't shown as much last year.
So they're just. They're just some questions. 17 is too high. I think he should be somewhere more in that. 10 to 15 range, but that's kind of the way it shook out.
He was not a factor at all in the voting of this exercise. He got. I think he was on 15% of the ballots. No vote higher than nine or 10.
So it's just one of those things where there's not a ton of buzz. around Jalen Hurts league wide right now. Wow. That's disrespectful. I'll just be straight up.
Or, Jeremy, I'm going to be straight up. The stuff that we don't know about in that locker room that the rest of the league might know about that nobody reports on because everything's kept in-house, or we don't know. That's it right there. I mean, that's all of it right there. Last one for you.
I kept Lamar for the end here. Uh he's fifth. Um that The relationship with him and what Declan Doyle, the new offensive coordinator there, is going to bring. Can you give a uh a general sense of what you think that's going to be this year? Jeremy?
So Declan Doyle is You know, from all that I've heard, really bright offensive mind, has good ideas, good communicator, all those things. You know, I think it's a really cerebral smart coaching staff between him and Jesse Minter. You know, I do believe they'll get the very best out of Lamar that they can. They have questions on the offense, though. Gee, just even aside from Lamar.
You know, center. They don't really have an established replacement for Tyler Linderbaum right now. They signed Danny Pinter in free agency, who's Not a huge name. I think he can fill in, but I don't know if he's a long-term starter. Receiver, still questions.
Do they go the retread route for like a Stefan Diggs? They've done that before. DeAndre Hopkins, Antwan Bolden, they've leaned into that before. Did they get some help there? But that's sort of a band-aid.
So, you know, the offense has questions: how long can Derrick Henry do it? You know, so it's gonna be a good question. Right, the whole idea, though, has been the coordinator. Over the last few years with John Harbaugh, right? Even Todd Monken, who did get a job somewhere else.
And despite the MVP seasons for Lamar, there just always seems to be, I guess, in some ways. for Ravens fans something missing or it's not nearly as Exotic as it should be. This this this new the new OC comes from the Ben Johnson world. Is this what we should expect, like a Ben Johnson way of doing things married to Lamar Jackson? Jeremy?
I could see it. I could see a little more undercenter. You know, Todd Muncin came from. The college background, some spread offense air raid principles that you mix in. With some under-center work, you know, I could see Declan Doyle leaning more into that Ben Johnson tree where you need to be under-center some.
with some play action to keep the defense honest, a steady running game. I could certainly see that. I'm going to be at their training camp in August, and I'm eager to see it in person. Kind of influence, see how it develops, but they were pretty prolific. I mean, 2024, that offense was humming.
Last year was a weird year. Lamar was in and out of the lineup with that hamstring. He's just, he's had some weird injuries over the year where it's like, will he, won't he, week to week? And the offense just didn't take off last year. And it was, you had several options that weren't getting the ball a whole lot.
So I think there was strain in the building. Uh, and as we saw with at the end with John Harbaugh moving on, you know, I just There was something off last year.
So I think new ideas, new head coaching influence. I think it will be good for Lamar Jackson. And look, he might have a new contract by the time they start, which would be a nice win in his sales, too. A lot of factors for two time MVP, nearly three time MBP. Who should be kind of back to his form this year, I would say.
Fifth on the list that Jeremy Fowler compiled, talking to league executive coaches and scouts. Thanks for the time, Jeremy. Appreciate it. We'll chat during training camp, brother. Thanks again.
Anytime, Rich. Thanks, man. Right back at you. That's Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. We got to beat it because we spoke.
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What were you guys talking about? We were just discussing. Yeah, we got to just talk about how to interrupt myself, talking to Jeremy Fowler, getting in both your ears, saying what's going on. Hey, I thought you thought we were arguing about this. I don't know what you're talking about.
No, no, no, we definitely. We're not. We're just talking about Joe Burrow. Talking about Joe Burrow. Really?
Yeah, we're just talking about Joe Burrow. Can I guess what the conversation is? Sure. I would love to see it. You have a problem with his ranking because he's injured too much, and you're like, he's Joe Burrow.
It's not that nuanced. It's not that simple. It's not that simple. It's more nuanced. We have time.
Okay. Well, I'll just, I guess I'll just say it. I think, and I'm guilty of this too. I don't put Joe on any of the pressure lists or things like that. How the fuck would you?
Well, I was thinking about it. You know when a player wins a major? In golf, right? They get a five-year exemption for all the other majors. And I think this is the last year of Joe Burrow's exemption for taking the Bengals to the Super Bowl.
Interesting. And I'm like, we. The goalpost we give quarterbacks is making it to the super, obviously, winning it, but getting there. This guy got there. Defense has traditionally been bad, offensive line not great.
Yeah, he does get injured every now and then, but is it his fault or because the line isn't good? I just feel like he passes the eye test. And if you had one game to win, And Joe Burrow was your quarterback, would you feel confident about winning that game? Bingo, sir. Bingo.
You just hit the hold on a second. It's not a one-game season. You just hit the target. You just hit the target. First of all, why would you put him on any list about under pressure?
The guy doesn't. exude it at all. It weighs on him if he feels it. I'm sure he's human. He will feel it.
I get it. But he doesn't.
So I'm saying I don't have money.
Okay, that's literally. Great. All right. But I'm saying, like, all right, Joe. It's been a while.
I understand, and it's a full season slog, and et cetera, and so on and so forth. And he hasn't been able to answer the bell. Your best availability. Your best ability is availability. I totally understand.
He's been dining out on that one Super Bowl for a few months. About dining out. The guy is outstanding. And if you want to win a football game and you have to choose somebody, and I know it's just not a one-game season, but sometimes it comes down to that. Who do you want?
I would absolutely put him on a list of if I wind up with him or if I choose him, I'm very happy. I'm not saying I wouldn't.
Okay. That's why he's fourth on the list, because he is that friggin' good. And when he came into the league, it's just like, can you? I just remember when he comes in the league, it's like, we're going to draft him over to. Oh, yeah, you are.
And then, oh gosh, everybody's comparing it to Tom Brady. Oh, yeah, you could see it, but the results. Have yet to mirror that? The Rich Eisen Show Podcast. Mm-hmm.
