You know when you're locked in, focused and fearless. Your vision narrows, you can't look away. Every assist, every stop, every logo three. From beyond! And the logo.
Every did you see? See that moment? You can! What records are going to be broken this season? All of it.
Right here. Lock in. It's the WNBA on ESPN, all season long. This is The Rich Eisen Show. Hey, everybody.
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Now, on with the show. If you've waited this long, this is the Rich Eisen Show. To take care of your franchise quarterback? That's too bad. Live from the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles.
Today's guests. Senior writer for the MMQB, Albert Breer, ESPN NFL Analyst, Jason McCordy. WWE superstar Seth Rollins. And now, it's Rich I said. It's the Rich Isaac show on a football Friday because it is a football Friday.
The Big Ten media days are going on right now. Training camps are open all over the place. One week from today, this show will be emanating from the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. I will be hosting the jacket dinner that night. I will be in Canton, Ohio.
I'm here, you're there. There'll be gold jackets all over the place. No, no, no, no, because we do give you know what. It doesn't matter if it's gold or green. It does matter if it's gold next week.
All right. You're right. One of the few days where the happy Gilmore's phrase does not apply.
Okay. And we'll actually have a preseason game in the books. Yeah, buddy. You know, and I understand preseason game kind of in quotes because who knows who's playing it. It doesn't matter.
It's coaches, it's players, it's pads, it's helmets, it's. professional football. I mean, we're here. We've arrived. And it's awesome.
It's great. Albert Breer is in our green room. He's going to come out here shortly to talk about what he's already gleaned from his training camp tours. He was at the Cowboys yesterday. He's at the Rams today.
He's at the Chargers tomorrow. And he's already got midsummer. George Hamilton tan going. It's really incredible. Honestly.
Wow. Really? He's got it going, and I'm very excited to have him here. Jason McCordy is going to join us in hour number two to talk some ball. Seth Rollins is back on the program.
It was one week ago today. He was guest hosting the show. SummerSlam this weekend. He's joining in support of what he's. uh normally doing if you will 844-204-Rich number to double.
We've got a What's More Likely Friday. We have my top five list, my top five sleeper teams of this season. Got that going. Um, we've got contracts awarded, like Chris Olave getting a big fat contract from the Saints after he went off the air. And then there's contracts that were not awarded, like the one that Baker Mayfield wanted and didn't get.
So, Albert's going to hit on all of that stuff. There's you at 844-204-Rich Disney Plus, the ESPN app. We say hello to the whole watching live. We say hello to those who are listening live on the ESPN Radio Network and Sirius Channel, XM Channel 80. We say hello to those who are listening to us whenever you want on our podcast.
We say hello to anybody who's watching us whenever they want on our Disney Plus page after the show is over or youtube.com slash Rich Eisen show to take part and get caught in the algorithm. Chris Brockman, good to see you, sir. Rich, great to see you. TJ Mikey, D is in D's nuts. Good to see you, Rich.
Good to see you. TJ Jefferson Candles Lit. It's great to be seeing that. Awesome. And we're starting with your team.
Imagine that. The Dallas Cowboys. We're starting with them because not only did Albert Breer just. Hang out with them yesterday, and he's about to join us here.
So, we'll get some fresh material on the Dallas Cowboys. Um, but uh, Dak Prescott, as we mentioned, I believe yesterday, and was mentioned when he wore it last week, he showed up to training camp in Oxnard, California, wearing a Dallas Cowboys champions t-shirt. From A gajillion years ago, Super Bowl 30.
So you could do the math. Last year was Super Bowl 60. It's very simple. You cut the number of Super Bowls in half, and that's the last time the Dallas Cowboys won one. And they've been playing it for 60 years.
So, not great, but we all know that you're sick and tired of it hearing it, TJ, because there are many other franchises that have gone even longer without winning them, including ones that we constantly talk about, like the San Francisco 49ers. That's the one you like to bring up, okay? Like Chris Brockman says, people hate facts.
Okay, so you like to bring all of that up. But Dak is like kind of wearing it as a rallying cry in a way, and he had this to say about it yesterday. We want stuff in life a lot of times, but then you know, when people start talking about it, you know, you kind of hesitate. Like, should I say that? You know, if they're going to hold me to it.
Well, absolutely. Planning this organization, being in it 10 years, right, going into the. Going into year 11, I'm not going to shy away from it. When you don't have it, it sucks. When you don't get to play for it, when you're watching other teams play in the playoff, there's nothing worse than that.
Um yeah, you know, I I said I'd be the I'd say I'd be the quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys when I was six years old, you know, and said I'd be in the NFL. I got here. A lot of things in my life, you know, I said I'd do and I did it. And so, like, why shy away from that now? Why shy away from.
Asking people to hold me to the same standard that I believe I can accomplish and this team can accomplish. I don't know if the t-shirt was, yeah, this is, you know, this is it, as much as hell. I've said it in the offseason, I've said it before. I know Shodi spoken about it. We've got certain teammates and leaders that'll do the same.
So, yeah, it was an energy thing. Can the Dallas Cowboys make the Super Bowl? Can they at least make the NFC championship game to get that off of the conversation list, off of the news stack? Can they do all of that? That.
is the ultimate Question. And that is how I lead into Four downs on the Dallas Cowboys. That's kind of also why we're leading with it because today actually was the day. That we had scheduled for me to preview the Dallas Cowboys season. And every single one of the questions, all four of them, could be: can they make the Super Bowl?
Will they make the Super Bowl? Will they make at least the NFC Championship game? That's funny.
So I'm not going to do that. Obviously, I get a little bit more granular. Hit it. Please go for it. Four downs with Rich.
Here we go. One and he's up for me. Dallas Cowboys, four downs. Here we go, everybody. Again, every single one of these downs could be, will they make the Super Bowl?
Can they win the Super Bowl? What about the Super Bowl? What about actually even winning the conference? Because they haven't done that in 30 plus years. Like, what's going on?
Little bit more granular. First down. Can George and Javante do it again? That is a massive question because they sure did it last year when nobody was expecting it, nobody saw it coming. George Pickens, did you know?
George Pickens broke the record. He smashed it. He obliterated the record for most receiving yards. By a Dallas Cowboy in his first season with the team. The rookie record was Bullet Bob Hayes Hall of Famer from years ago.
He obliterated that one. Do you know who's had the record as a veteran in his first season with the team? In receiving yards. Won't take a guess. Here's a hint.
He once stood on the star. Yeah, I was about to say T.O. Terrell Owens did it in his first season with the Dallas Cowboys. With 1,180 yards. That's it.
Pickens had 1429. That's why he got franchise tagged. The fact that he got franchise tagged, well... That's why he's making a lot of money. The reason why he got franchise tagged is because whatever was going on in Pittsburgh that caused him to be in Dallas, the Cowboys want to see it again before they get to him long-term, fully guaranteed type stuff.
Long term.
So, can he do it again? And then the same thing with Javante Williams, who was a. Let's be honest, sore disappointment for Denver Bronco fans. You know, they saw flashes, but they certainly didn't see what the Dallas Cowboys saw in his first season with the team. 1,201 rushing yards.
That's the most by a Dallas Cowboy in a single season since. since Zeke in 2019.
So, Zeke had 1,300 plus yards in that season. Can they do it again? Can. Pickens be the one A, sometimes the one if CD doesn't answer the bell, heaven forbid. And can Javante Williams put the team on his back and his legs again?
Running game, complimenting the passing game, that is. Awesome. And you could make the case. That Pickens, if he does it again, and CeeDee Lamb, best receiver tandem in the National Football League. And I know you're talking about the Bengals, you're talking about other teams.
AJ Brown's gone from Philadelphia, so you kind of have to take them with all due respect to whoever's filling in for him or taking his spot. in Philadelphia. Can George and Devontae do it again? That's first down. Second down.
Second down. How much better is the defense? How much better Is the Dallas Cowboys defense. Because, TJ, if you're thinking Super Bowl, and you're thinking winning it all No team in the history of the National Football League. has ever gone from DFL Dead last in points allowed one season.
And winning the Super Bowl the next. It's never. Happened. Guess what Dallas was last year on defense? Second to last?
No, DFL. Shoot.
Now, now.
Okay, so they have to go on a historic turnaround for this year. Eight of the last 10 Super Bowl champs finished in the top 10, a fewest points allowed.
So let's just shoot for that. and then worry about the, oh, that's a historic run.
So the last time the Dallas Cowboys had a top. Five defense wasn't too long ago. It was when Dan Quinn was their DC in 2023. Micah had 14 sacks. Deron Bland had nine picks.
Bland is still there. And in terms of sacking the quarterback, Dallas had 35 sacks last season. Not great, Bob. But. They now have Quinnen Williams for the full season.
They now have Rashawn Gary. They now have DeMarvian Overshone fully healthy. They've got Ezaraku, they drafted both Malachi Lawrence. him in the first round. And I'm telling you that kid Jay Sean Barnum, they got from Michigan in the third round.
Let's go. They picked up Kobe Durant at corner as well. And then Their guy, Caleb Downs, their first first-round draft choice. Yes, he is so good. When we saw him at the Combine, it felt like he was a 10-year pro, right?
So It's a new defensive coordinator. His name is Christian Parker, for those who may not know. And you may not know because he's never been a DC. Anywhere at any level. It's a first-time crack for him.
He was last year the defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator. for the Philadelphia Eagles. Let's just focus on the defensive backs coach part of it, shall we? And so, because he's the DC, and he was the passing game coordinator two years ago when it was much better in Philly. Listen.
Everybody's excited about a new voice, Young is 34 again. How much better is the defense? Third down. Third down. What does Schottenheimer 2.0 look like?
Don't know. Cause first year, man. It was really good. Because he's he dealt with a lot. He dealt with um Having CD Lamb, he had a sit CD in Pickens.
Remember that first quarter and that Monday nighter in Vegas? Everyone's like, why are they standing around there?
Well, we found out that they needed a. Listen, you could sit here and say it was just one quarter. He's still got to win football games. I get it. but he still made up points.
You know, we also last year, Marshawn Neeland, what horrible. Horrible. Circumstances that was for the team, but obviously for Marshawn Nealon. To um Have such troubles. That He Um We all know what happened to him.
What Schottenheimer was able to do as a coach to try and bring people together. and grieve at the same time. was emotionally brilliant, And I just want to see what 2.0 looks like. Will it require a little bit more? Um discipline?
Or is it just all set up and you just... Is the guy from last year with a lot more experience fully growing into the role? That's third down. Fourth down. Fourth down.
Is this finally? Dax MVP moment. You want to know the list of Dallas Cowboys MVP quarterbacks. You know what the list is? There isn't one.
Zero. The Dallas Cowboys have one. Regular season MVP. Ever. And his name is Emmett Smith.
Should have had two. Dak would be the first quarterback to win the award. As a Dallas Cowboy. Year 11. Is this it for Dak?
Wow, people. And I will just point this out.
Okay? Because I pulled Be Stats From Matthew Stafford's 2025 season, because I don't know if you know, he was the MVP of last season. And um I have his stats. A goal you helped him achieve, right? I didn't help, he helped himself achieve it.
I just voted. with my conscience and my eyes and my heart and was correct about it. Matthew Stafford had 4,707 yards last season. That was number one in the National Football League. Dak had 4,902 yards.
Back in year four, 2019. That deck was awesome that year. Stafford threw 46 touchdowns last year that led the league. Dak's never had that many. The most he's ever had is 37 in 2021, year six.
Stafford had just eight interceptions last year. Only one time has Dak. Ever bettered that with a full season where he was healthy, he played a full season. Four interceptions in his rookie season. How great was he in his rookie season, by the way?
Amazing. 13-3. Of 2016. Stafford threw, had a. uh completion percentage last year of 65%.
65% percent flat. Dak has bettered that Mark. in six of his seven full seasons of his career. He's an accurate quarterback. Even potentially, as you point out right here, more accurate than Matthew Stafford six times in his career playing a full season than last year's MVP quarterback.
Stafford had a Passer rating, a sick passer rating of 109.2. You can't even say that's an FM light rock station. I think that's off the dial, right, Mike? 109.2? The best that Dax ever had, 105.9 in year eight, 2023.
And last year, Stafford had 12 wins because, you know, either that's fair or not. Dax bettered that once, 13 wins, by the way, in his rookie season.
So all he's got to do. is have the interceptions. total uh and win total of his rookie season. Um, have his passing yards of his fourth season, um, just up his touchdown passes from his sixth season and. Go ahead and keep throwing completed passes.
Uh and the passer rating will come. And he can be the MVP if the Dallas Cowboys win 12, 13 games. That's it? That's all. I gave you the roadmap.
That's the season preview for downstyle of the Dallas Cowboys. Right here on the Rich Eisen Show. Everybody. And our friend in the green room, Tom, to bring him out. Albert Breer was just in Oxnard, California, and he told us before the show, he had a 10-minute conversation with Dak yesterday.
Mm-hmm. Who knew that? He's about to come out and tell us what he heard and gleaned and everything else going on in the National Football League. For the moment, though, make sure to get into the Hyundai Getaway sales event and get away with a deal so right, it almost feels wrong. The adventure-ready SUVs like the Hyundai Santa Fe or the Santa Fe Hybrid or the Tucson or the Tucson Hybrids ready for you.
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Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated is here on the Rich Eisen Show. Our radio audience has just rejoined our Disney Plus and ESPN app audience. We are live here in Los Angeles. It is great to see you here on the program. You just came from the Dallas Cowboys training camp.
You said you had a 10-minute conversation with Dad. Yeah, so I'm great to be here. Yeah, he, it was interesting because, you know, you're moving things around and these things are sometimes happening on the fly.
So he says he could give me 10 minutes. It was maybe the most efficient 10-minute conversation I've ever had.
Well, he's efficiency, is he not? Yeah, well, he was, like, I'm telling you, like. It's just like you sense with him just a belief And a security in where he is, and a security in what's around him, and his place in the league, and the Cowboys' place now, which. I You know, he wore a. I don't know if you saw a picture, but he wore a Super Bowl shirt.
I think we talked about it at length leading up to your Yeah, so the Super Bowl 30 shirt, which is hard to believe.
Now you think about that, that's. Half the Super Bowl era ago, because we're at 60 now, you know, and it's the last one they won.
So I asked him about that and You know, he basically said it's obvious that that's our goal.
So why shouldn't we just say it? And he's like Like everybody's going to be talking about us and our expectations and that's part of playing in Dallas and in September and October and November, whether we're winning or losing, that's all anybody is going to be talking about.
So why don't we just start the conversation now? And he feels confident about the team around him. You know, Brian Schottenheimer said last year: I want to build the best culture. In sports, which seems like a little bit of a hokey line, but they're serious about it. And, you know, I think a lot of their acquisitions over the last 12 months, and you can go down the list.
Kenny Clark, Quinn Williams, trading for Rashawn Gary, bringing in Caleb Downs. Yeah, we were just talking about it. I mean, and I told you this at the Combine, too. I felt like I was talking to a 10-year veteran. Yeah.
Yeah. They're all, they, they all. All high character guys. And that's the one thing I got from being around because that organization's obviously rolled the dice plenty in that department over the years. And that was the one thing that really stuck out.
Like every conversation I had with any of the people. Working there was like just how good a place the locker room seems to be right now, and um, you know, it's going to be interesting because I think a lot of it for them is going to be based on health because I don't know. I don't know that they've got the depth across the board that, say, a Seattle does, but if they can stay healthy, I think they have a chance. When you were in Seattle, what'd you glean there? It's obvious why they won the Super Bowl.
Why? It's just the depth, and you can see the size. You ever been to a training camp where you can kind of feel them? You know what I mean? Like, you can kind of feel the size and the physicality and the violence of the team.
And I. Um You know, it really... It's a very good idea. It feels like the best teams that John Harbaugh had in Baltimore: big, tough, physical, rugged, smart, all of it, you know. And, you know, you just kind of like look at the depth.
And what stuck out to me was I was standing next to. You know, one of their warm-ups and their defensive ends, right? Their edge players. And they just lost Boy Amafe, who got $20 million a year in Cincinnati. And even though they lost a really good player at that position, they still have Derek Hall, they still have Ncheno Oosu, they still have Demarcus Lawrence, they have Dante Fowler, and it's sort of indicative of the entire roster: there's just.
Talent on talent on talent. And, you know, like being able to keep Rashid Shaheed, and you still have Jackson Smith and Jigba and Cooper Cup. Um, there just aren't a ton of questions. They're going to have to figure out corner a little bit. They lose Kobe Bryant at safety.
They drafted a couple of guys and Bud Clark out of TCU and Julian Neal out of Arkansas to deal with those problems. But It just looks like a really well-conceived team. And John Schneider and Mike McDonald have done a heck of a job putting that group together. I don't think last year was any fluke. Any change in ownership be an issue at any point?
So I think we always have to keep our radar up in this day and age for ownership changes. The reason why. Is because I think these teams have become such great investments that it's attracted a different element. Like, I think. 25 years ago, most of the guys who bought teams were fans and wanted to get in it for the sport, whether it's football, baseball, whatever, right?
I think now teams have become such great investments that you always have to have your radar up if you're a fan. Why are they buying my team, right? And how much are they going to invest in the product in the field? And what's their priority? And so, like, I think it's fair in any one of these sales to.
Judge that. I will say the one thing about the Coast Laws. is It does feel like they're in on football. I believe Neil is going to be the day-to-day guy. He's Vinod's son.
And I know the wife has been kind of positioned as the controlling owner, but I think Neil is going to be the day-to-day guy. He actually interned in football operations with the Niners years ago. And then, over the last year, since they bought 3% of the Niners, was the day-to-day contact. And The fact that like A billionaire's kid was interested enough in football to intern in the football operations department with a team and had that kind of. I don't know, curiosity about the sport, I think, is a good sign.
Now, again, they. They're an interesting one because most often when teams get sold, you see them go from one rich guy to an even richer guy. You know what I mean? And this is that's not really the case.
Well, I mean, the Allen family is going to be a step down for most from anybody else. You know what I mean? For sure. Unless you're Bezos or Musk. But, you know, there is that element of.
Seattle sort of had A blank check. I mean, you know, if you're a football opposite, you had a blank check before, so obviously that's something too. Robert Breer here on the Rich Eisen Show. Listen, I'm wondering. How much in your travels Have Has the question been put out there about the Rams?
and what they've done. You know, and with all due respect to Seattle. And I know that Seattle fans feel it as disrespectful. And we had Cooper Cup on the show the day after Miles Garrett. showed up for the Rams and he's just like, yeah, we heard about it.
But you could see that there's a lot of chips on shoulders that everybody thinks, well, this is a wrap. Yeah. You know, especially if Aaron Donald comes back, which is the perfect time, you being here for us to unveil our newest segment. Usually we come up with ideas live on the show, just spitballing. This happened yesterday.
It's a new segment. Albert Breer is the first to be part of it called Is He Back Yet? Is he back yet? Where is AAR right now?
Okay, so there you go. Sam Darnold looks kind of scared there. Yeah, that's the idea.
Well, that was Smitch. Or concerned? John Mitchell Rams fan is the one who created this graphic. Christian McCaffrey looks a little indifferent, but Sam looks scared. I don't know why I'm there.
I'm just looking happy. I'm happy because it's just a great story. It's just hanging out. Is he back yet? Well, you're fired up because you've got something to talk about.
I got something to talk about. All right. So, is he back yet? No, my understanding of the situation, it's actually pretty interesting. I think he does want to come back.
And we've seen the video of him in pads. I think TMZ got some of it from some sort of eye on this guy or whatever. Right across the street. Right.
So look what he's doing and what he's been doing Is trying to figure out: can I be myself? Can I go out? Because I don't think he wants to do it if he can't feel like himself. The trouble with that. is the bar for that is higher.
Than it is for just about any other player at his position in NFL history. And so, like, I think that's like it becomes like a little bit of a complicated thing. And so, you're going through that, you're trying to figure that out. And then the next piece of it is, what's the best plan? And, you know, I had an interesting conversation with Eric Weddell about this because it was like the closest thing I could come up with.
Um, and Eric was like, a little, it was, there was a lot less runway, it was a lot shorter time that he was preparing for. He wasn't preparing to play a full season, he was can I get through a month? Um, he barely was able to, yeah. And Eric could tell you now, like, he, the torn pack, he still feels that there was a hamstring issue, he still has that. Like, there was a he.
He said he 100%, it was 100% worth it, but there's a price he paid, you know, that he's still feeling now five years later. And so that's part of it, too, for Aaron. You know, like this isn't. Aaron's not a guy who, from what I understand, isn't a guy who was like lamenting over. being retired.
Like he's enjoying his retirement. And so this isn't like I need one last bite of the apple. I think this is more, if you want to get into the psychology of it. It's a little bit more. Wow, this is an unbelievable opportunity.
Like unbelievable opportunity. And like, wouldn't this be a great cherry on top? But I don't think he's going to be devastated. I don't think he'd be devastated if he couldn't do it, if that makes sense.
So I think this really kind of boils down to can I feel like myself and is it the right thing for me to do? And you know, we'll see what he decides. And the plan's going to be interesting too, because I I've always thought like maybe the best idea would be put them on ice for a while, maybe bring him back to practice in October. You know, and then ramp them up in November and December, and then you get Aaron Donald in the playoffs. You know, talking to some people there, they're not so sure that.
He wouldn't want to just play the whole season. Yeah, so just do it now, right? And then so the process is what? Um just keep showing up. He's at training camp, right?
Is he there or he's not out there on the practice field, obviously, because he's not an active player.
So then at some point, they'd have to, like, what's the mechanism here to sign him? Yeah. Well, I mean, I can't.
Somebody last night at my weekly poker game asked, you know, like, can they afford him? Yeah. And I'm like. That you know, less needle figure out a way, right? Like, there's no cap.
Question, or would he have to be like LeBron? He'd have to sign for some sort of sub-Aron salary. There's always like cap machinations. But that's not a consideration. You can make that work.
I don't know what he would be asking for money-wise. I mean, that's another question altogether. Uh I've I've talked to players over the years where they were considering a comeback, or even like, do I play one more year? And for a lot of those guys, it'll be like, well, it would be worth it for me at this number, but maybe not so much at that number. But he's made so much money.
I don't know where that would play into his decision-making process.
Okay, so then at some point, we just have to look at the transaction wire. Or your social account. Yeah. And it's just like, so they'd have to sign him, they'd have to, you'd have to, or does he come off a list first? You have to come off the reserve.
There's like the reserve retired list.
So then, you know. It's not that complicated. Like, he would be, it would, it would be a matter of working out how much he's going to get paid and, you know, how you're going to dress that up, you know, just for cap purposes. Like, do you. Sign him to a one-year deal that looks like a five-year deal, but has four phony years on it to spread out the cap damage.
Like, you can make that work anyway. All right. So, last question for you on this, and this is completely selfish. How long do you think our new segment of Is He Back Yet going to last? That's a roundabout way of asking the real question.
Yes, but incorporating me in this show. If I had to guess, I mean, when do they break camp and go back to their facility? Probably in like three weeks. Yeah, I mean, I like it sort of makes sense to me. That, like, why push him through training camp?
Right.
Like, I don't know. Like, I think he needs to get in football shape like any guy would. And he needs to get used to hitting and that sort of stuff. I don't know that you necessarily need to callus him the way you need to callus a 25 or a 26-year-old guy, you know? And so, and that's part of what they do now, you know?
So, You know, if they are going to bring him back and he does decide he wants to come back. Yeah. I think generally When these teams go back to their facilities, and there aren't very many of them that go away anyway anymore, and you start to go from like this is a training camp schedule.
Now we're going to get to kind of what looks like the shell of our regular season schedule. If he is going to try to play week one, it would make sense to me if he were to. Jump in right around that.
Okay, so is he back yet? Has maybe a two to three week shelf life at least. Yeah. Okay, fantastic.
So we got the drop. We got the drop. I'm sure Sam Donnell will be happy about it. He's great. Look at that.
Yeah. That's again, Rich Eisen Show, resident Los Angeles sports fan. Um, Sean Mitchell made just everybody making just making sure that Sam Horace did that. I'm happy because we talk about it, and then the two, you know. you know, competitors in his division.
Look at frightened. Um, all right, let's take a break here and come back to talk contracts and things like that about what to expect over the next few weeks here, uh, and quarterback competitions and the like. Albert Breer here is on the Rich Eyes and Show, everybody. 844-204-Rich is also a number to down for the rest of our show that's just begun. Rich Eisen here with some advice.
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Terms and Conditions Apply, NMLS 696891. Fast Funds Terms Apply at SoFi.com/slash DebtPlay. Rich Eisen here for Gusto. On my shows, we talk a lot about what happens in the spotlight, the games, the highlights, and the moments that get replayed and debated. But in any successful operation, what happens behind the scenes matters just as much.
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By the way, our radio audience just returned. Albert Breer talking about seeing Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco and the stop by there. I've always felt this way about Kyle Shanahan. Um He's a very good regular guy if you know him. He doesn't let everybody in.
You know what I mean? And, like, but, but if you get around him and you've been around him enough. He is a Um A regular 46-year-old guy, or as regular 46-year-old guy, is a as an NFL head coach can be. And a lot of people don't see that because he doesn't care to show everybody that. And I think if there's one upshot here, maybe more people are getting to see that now and how well-liked he is in that building with the reaction that he's gotten since the accident.
Well, Debo's back in the building now, huh? Like, so and that just shows you Ricky Pearsall is in serious. Bad shape. Yeah, receiver is going to be interesting for them because they have Mike Evans, who isn't what he was, but can maybe be a steady presence for him. Christian Kirk has already banged up.
Another older receiver they bring in. Um Ricky's. Like, so he had the PCL issue he was managing last year. And that's an injury that's slow to heal. And so as it was described to me, You know, he has the, you know, whatever, seven, eight months to heal it after the season.
And the fact that it's swelling up.
So quickly after getting back out there. Is not a great sign.
So I think it's totally fair to tie the signing of Debo. To their concerns on Ricky Pearson. And quite honestly, I think so much of where they go at that position is actually going to depend on the development of the young guys. DeSan Strabling has looked really good, 33rd pick in the draft. You remember, they got killed a little bit for that one.
He sure did. Yeah, but he's looked like a strong, sure-handed guy. And then a couple of the other young guys, Jacob Cowing and Jordan Watkins, they're going to be relying on. When it comes to you and your home, Pella Windows and Doors are the experts at taking care of you and your home. At Pella, they find the products that meet your needs and their experts install them, which means you're working with a company that builds and installs a quality product with real pricing, real simple, really beautiful.
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A few minutes left with him to the end of the hour right here. Why did Baker Mayfield Yeah. not come. to a long-term resolution. Um I would say there were conflicting timelines to some degree.
I think Baker wanted this done earlier rather than later. I My feeling on it is that he knew that the Bucks over the last couple of years had sort of habitually done these deals in training camp or right before the season. And you can look at the examples. Tristan Wurfs is the biggest one. Luke Gedecki was another, their right tackle.
Their number one corner, Zion McCollum, was the same. And I think his decision to come out and say something like in June was designed to accelerate talks. Look, I don't want to do this after the start of training camp. He sets that artificial deadline. I don't know that the talks moved as fast as he had hoped they would.
Well, then why not? Why not? What's the because I think that there is a Yeah. I wonder if the Bucs have come to the full recognition that This is just the price of doing business. It's like 55 is not what it used to be, you know?
And so, you know, and I don't know that they wouldn't have eventually gotten there, and I don't know that they won't get there over the course of the next few weeks. As in million, yeah, 55 million per. Is that what Baker was at? And Like, I don't know specifically what he was asking for, but it was in that range. And look, like, you can say what you want.
I believe the number is, I think there are 14 quarterbacks this year making over $50 million per year. It's not a huge ask to go to 55. And if you look at it, the franchise tag. After this year, it'll be 50 million. And then, if you put two franchise tags together, if he was tagged the next two years, it's 110.
110 divided by two. Of course, even an Ohio State guy could do the more. Thank you. 55 per. I appreciate the cell phone, ladies and gentlemen.
Thank you. It makes sense. You know what I mean? Like, so I. I I think this one is.
I still wouldn't completely close the book on them trying to revisit it with Baker because I don't think. I don't think that the bucks have closed the book on it. I think Baker is I'm done. But if the Bucs haven't closed the door on it, why not just Make sure that it's done before Baker closes. Because sometimes these things take time.
Was it owners that they got to twist an arm and just say this is how much it is? No, I mean, I don't think it's that. I think it's more, I think it's more just how do you value a quarterback like this? And that becomes hard. I mean, like, I think golf is a A good comp, don't you?
I mean, the Lions got him at a cut rate. He had to play on that cut rate for a few years and then they gave him 55, right? Like, I I think Baker's well within his rights to ask for what something like what Goff got. You also have to wonder if the Bucs might just maybe want to just leave it alone and tag them. And well, not just tag them, but just like let.
You know, let his being pissed off actually help the column because he had this to say: go for it, roll it. Like I told you guys, it's all ball and that's I don't want to talk about it. And if you've waited this long to take care of your franchise quarterback, That's too bad because it's only going to get worse from here. I'm going to have a really good year. I love that guy, man.
He needs side planting like that before. You know what I mean? Yeah, I have. He needs an adversary, doesn't he? But this is not the adversary he's looking for.
I don't think he's looking for the Bucs to be the adversary. But. I will cape for him anytime. We have just only a few minutes left here. Contracts that need to get done.
Bijan and Jameer Gibbs, two of them.
So I think there's an interesting couple of. Situations where the positions are two. You have two guys playing off each other. One is the one you mentioned. Yes.
B. John Robinson and Jameer Gibbs at running back. The other one is a corner, and that's Christian Gonzalez and Devin Witherspoon, who actually have the same agent.
Okay. So I think in both those cases, there's a little bit of a game of contractual chicken, who's going to go first. Those two positions are also positions that are due for. A reset and that running back has sort of been stuck in this. I mean, Barkley's contract is hard to value.
The other contracts, I mean, they haven't gotten much above 16 and it's been stuck there for a long time. And so, how do you value a Robinson or a Gibbs who are so important to their teams? And they're so young, and they're so important to their teams. Again, all due respect, this is not in any way, shape, or form an Ohio State thing. Chris Olave's been great.
Okay. But in terms of, you know, value, right? Like, because also wide receivers depend on the quarterback to get them the ball. And obviously, you need somebody like Olave in New Orleans in order to win. But the same thing with Beach Don and Jameer Gibbs in Atlanta and in Detroit.
And you saw what James Cook was able to do for Buffalo. I could go on and on and on and on. Why are wide receivers valued at double the rate of a running back? I don't get it. It's fascinating that you say that because two years ago.
In 2024, you remember there were three big-time veteran running backs that hit the market: Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs. I remember thinking when those three guys signed, those three guys signed with the Eagles, the Ravens, the Packers. My first thought, I may have even said it to you at the time. Those are not dumb teams. Right.
So those teams saw something. Which is, I think, basically, the running back position has been devalued to the point where running back contracts. Are now a value, right? Like now, I think a running back contract is a great asset. And you look at it, it's, I mean Saquon when he signed with the Eagles He got essentially the same deal that Darnell Mooney.
God in Atlanta. Isn't that insane? It's nuts, man. That's why I don't understand it. I don't understand it.
That you do need, like, again, I am not. Saying that Chris Olave is not highly valuable to his offense and his team. I'm saying that the running backs are equally as valuable to Dev franchises. More so, because they're standing right next to the quarterback. They protect the quarterback, they touch the ball more.
They could take time off the clock. They can end a football game at any point in time. I just never. And those guys are queens on the chessboard, too. Both those guys, Gibbs and Robinson, because you can line them up as receivers.
When they break the huddle, you don't know where they're going. Damn straight.
So I don't understand it. Quarterbacks that are going to get contracts. Is Stroud one of them? What do we got here?
So. Stroud. I think is tricky, and we'll see. Um I I'd be a little surprised if They completely broke the bank for him based on how last season ended. And I don't know that Stroud is going to take something less than the top of the market.
I think one thing that insulates him a little bit is that he was the second pick in the draft, and so he's on a relatively big contract. The other one that I think is out there, other than Baker, of course, that is fascinating is Lamar Jackson. And I think the Ravens are totally willing. to do a deal. Does Lamar want to do a deal?
And What I don't think enough people are talking about is the fact that he's got a no-tag provision. in 2028. And so If he wants to take it. He's got an open freeway. To free agency.
And this is a guy who's thought differently over the course of his career. To be clear, I think Jesse Minter is in on Lamar Jackson. I think Declan Doyle is in on Lamar Jackson. I think Eric DaCosta is in on Lamar Jackson. They love him.
You know, Lamar Jackson. They love him. They want to build around him. Um But what if Lamar had in the back of his head, I want to go home? Miami.
And Malik Willis just signed a two-year deal. And, like, you just start to think about those things. I again, I don't know, and it's possible the Ravens put something in front of Lamar by the end of August that he cannot refuse. And I. I would not be surprised if the Ravens really try and they should.
But. like having that no tag clause at the end of his contract. And now we're only two years away from getting there. And he'll only be 31 when you get to March of 2028. I think is at least interesting.
Not bad for a guy at the Combine if some people wanted to see workout at receiver. Two. Yeah. You know what I mean? So dumb.
Sure. Hey. He's not a receiver. I think we've established that. Good to see you, sir.
Where are you going? Rams today. Rams, Chargers, Raiders, Broncos, Chiefs, and then into the Midwest. Albert Breer, everybody. If you're anywhere nearby, invite him to your house.
He needs to do laundry. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast. Mm-hmm.
