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Now, on with the show. This is the Rich Eisen Show.
So please welcome the greatest performer ever to have graced this earth. Rich Eisen. Is he back yet? Just Aaron Donald comes back. Live from the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles.
Earlier on the show. Senior writer for the MMQB, Albert Breer. Still to come. Rams cornerback, Trent McDuffie. Writer and actor, Brendan Hunt.
Your phone calls, latest news, and more. And now, it's Rich Eisen. Hour two of the Rich Island Show is on the air. Albert Breer in hour one joined us from Minnesota Vikings camp. Lots to talk about from there, as we will in just a split second.
It's overaction Monday on a Tuesday. We're about to play that before Trent McDuffie joins us. And for the first time, we have an actual Los Angeles Ram to play our other game that we've been playing. It's not really a game. It's not a game.
It's not a game. It's not a game. We're talking about practice when it comes to Aaron Donald. And he's been doing some of that, it seems, on his own and also with some couple of his teammates, Braden Fisk, and also. Josiah Stewart.
We've seen it. It's more of an inquiry. Is he back yet? It's been something that we've been talking about for some time, but we haven't done it with an actual Rams teammate of. Miles Garrett's or potentially soon-to-be Aaron Donald and Trent McDuffie.
Coming on. He's got some rings. You know what I mean? Imagine if he shows up during the interview. What if he does?
That'll be great. Oh, come on.
So Trent McDuffie in about 18 minutes' time. And then Brendan Hunt, who plays Coach Beard from Ted Lasso, he returns.
So I think he came in last time when it was season two. It's now season four right now. We'll get to overreaction Monday on a second. On a Tuesday. The story that Adam Schefter broke in hour number one of this.
Uh Tuesday Show. is that the Vikings have named Kyler Murray, their starting quarterback.
Now, there was no press conference, or there has yet to be one from as of this. moment, hour two of this Tuesday program. In the middle of August, before the Vikings play even a preseason game, Um And so I hit up Adam during the commercial break. I'm like, did they tell Kyler? Like, what are you.
What do you know and what do you um for um Uh reporting. And he texted me back. They told the team.
Okay. It's official. Quarterback competition is over.
So if you First blush thoughts now that I've had about 20 minutes to take it all in. Firstly, I'm surprised it's done before the preseason games. Yeah.
Now, I know the way this is going to go. It's going to be like J.J. McCarthy, so terrible that it's so obvious they're just going to go ahead and do it now. Based on how poorly J.J. McCarthy's handled everything.
'Cause everything seems to be thrown in this young man's lap. And I would push back on that again, even though I'm not there. And fully um As you know. accounting for my bias when it comes to him. Because of our alma mater, our mutual Institution of higher learning.
Um I think they did this because of two things. One, It helps the team to just get ready. We're not splitting reps anymore. It's go time, it's preseason football now. And it's as many reps as Kyler Murray can get.
Now It's to the benefit Mm-hmm. to this team. And The other thing is, well Is that I was saying this before. I said this when Murray signed.
Well Unfortunately for J.J. McCarthy, that's the end of that. Because Kyler Murray is a first overall. Selected player. Who is Insanely inexpensive.
Notice I didn't say cheap. I'm trying to be consistent around here. Yeah, I understand. $1.3 million. That's all it costs the Minnesota Vikings right now.
One-year deal. He's on a no-tag deal as well.
So he's got a free path to free agency through the 2026 season, and the Vikings are. Fully aware of that? They are fully aware of what happened the last time they let someone out of the building was a veteran? They are fully aware that guy went somewhere else to win the Super Bowl. And they are, I think, determined to not let that happen again.
And if this is the way they could get Kyler Murray to go to Minnesota, Then so be it. Then so be it. Yeah.
And They want to see what Kyler Murray 2.0 can look like. Whatever was going down in Arizona, who the heck knows? And there was a lot. There was a lot. There were coaching changes, front office change.
There was a contract that was really weird that they gave to him after he You know Scrubbed his Instagram feed at the outset of the last Super Bowl that was here in Los Angeles. Of all things, Arizona scrubbed it clean. You know? His agent put out a statement on Kyler's stationery. You still have that?
I do not anymore. I used to have it. I had it up all the time. And then the contract comes out with some weird iPad clause that sounds like Susie and I wrote it for our kids. We're playing too much Roblox instead of doing their homework.
Call of Duty, Rich. Yeah.
I mean, my kids were Roblox. They were saying for Kyler's coming. Oh, God, got it. Weird, but that's in the past. That's over.
It's over. It's over and done with. That's gone. And, you know, whatever happened last year for the foot injury that got caused on. On the snap that hit him in his face mask.
It was just weird the way it ended. It was weird all around. But that's over. And the Vikings are happy to bring him in. At this stage of his career, And say, here's the runway.
Make it a very difficult decision on us at the end of the year, please. Because boy, what an opportunity this is for Kyler Mari. What an opportunity. That's Justin friggin' Jefferson out there.
Okay. Now I know this guy's had DeAndre Hopkins. And Marvin Jr., who we're waiting to actually see. The Marvin Jr. out of him that we saw at The Ohio State.
Mm-hmm. But that's Justin freaking Jefferson out there. And Jordan Addison and Jawan Jennings and Jordan Mason and Aaron Jones and TJ Hawkinson. Josh Oliver, in an offensive line that went healthy, which was saying a lot about last year, it wasn't. And that's Kevin O'Connell in your helmet.
And that's Josh McCown on the sideline, and that's your coaching staff, and this is your defense that's going to put you out there. Top five last year, that was only. Minus nine in turnover differential, almost close to dead last last year, because the quarterbacks threw as many interceptions, twenty-one, as the team had to takeaways in its entirety.
So just cut down on that. And Kyler, why don't you run a few things in? Also. Because they can win the division and go deep, and this could be his. Moment.
to revitalize his career. Because Minnesota is not a bad place to revitalize your career with Kevin O'Connell, just ask Sam Darnold, which is how I now turn to J.J. McCarthy. This sucks. There's no way to put it.
This sucks. They trade up for you. You get hurt. Sam Donald's there. He goes somewhere else to win the Super Bowl.
Now It's your time. It's your time. while he's winning the Super Bowl. And you can't stay healthy, and you can't be consistent enough when you're healthy, and you show flashes when you're healthy, and then you make a mistake by referring to yourself as nine. There's memes about you everywhere.
And it's vicious. And you watch Kyler Murray come in. And whatever was going on in the classroom where they were on separate sides, right? That was weird, too.
Okay, all of that, whatever was going down. And they might have put the thumb on the scale because he's 1.3 million former first overall pick and has a massive upside still that they want to see. But the bottom line is this. JJ, you're 23. You're 23 years of age.
And you are in a spot where they are. Quarterback University. You are in a spot where so many other quarterbacks want to go. You've got a great coach. You might feel like you're getting a raw deal, but you got a great coach.
Soak it in, soak every piece of information in, because all you got to do is look at Baker Mayfield and Jared Goff and look at this. I mean, Geno Smith is in the midst of his 30s. He just threw three interceptions in practice today, and the Jets are ready to start him week one.
Okay. There are so like there's so much runway in front of this Kid.
So much. It happens. Drew Brees lost his gig in San Diego. Lost it. From the Big Ten.
Phillip Rivers, come on in here. Then he winds up going to New Orleans. Yada, yada, yada. He's the first Ballot Hall of Famer. It's.
Honestly, the number of times people are like, oh, Kevin O'Connell and Kyle Shanahan, that's where you want to be with Sean McVay. Yeah, you do. You do. You'd like to start for him. And it's entirely possible.
You know, you might, he might be the starter. In September, because Kyler gets Banged up. Oh, Kyle Murray has missed more than half the season, two of the last three years. Like, McCarthy is going to see action this season. One would think.
So It's just, it sucks. But again, I think this is coming for Penix too, because two is only $1.3 million, and it's coming for Shadur because $250 million has already been put into the guy. He's battling. For a starter's role in Cleveland. Yeah, this is just further motivation.
Learning tool. 23 years old, tons of runway. Tons of it. including in Minnesota. including potentially even this year.
But it's got to suck to sit in the locker room or in the meeting room and have it announced. I'm assuming. You know, KOC told these guys before the meeting as well. I don't know. But we'll find out too.
Kevin O'Connell, this is right before he's even said anything. If we're going to hear the for now or the he's the starter for the season. Yeah.
Because you take a look at Kyler Murray's first few games now as the starting quarterback of the Minnesota Vikings, and I'll tell you what, man. It's cool. Off we go. Two division games. Home for Green Bay at Chicago.
That temple? And Baker's waiting for you there. And Just like everybody's is. Yeah, you want to be three and two going into that bye week. Yeah, because you're home from Miami and at New Orleans.
I'm telling you, at New Orleans is not going to be as. Homecoming, like as everybody assumes it is. I agree. I agree. But there always is one of those teams every year.
So Kyler's going to get at least the five first five games, one would think. Or it's, hey, he's the guy for the season, and if he gets hurt, JJ's going to be ready. But we're not going to have Kyler look over his shoulder all the time. I'd imagine that's going to be the way it O'Connell plays it. All right, you ready for it?
Overreaction Monday on a Tuesday? Oh, go ahead and hit it. That was terrible. That was crap. That was garbage.
That's why it sucks. Overreaction Mondays. On a Tuesday. All right, Christopher, what do you got over there? We were talking about how this is the first real week of the preseason.
And, you know, we all feel like an 18th game is coming, and that will probably cut down on the number of preseason games. I don't like that. I think three preseason games is the perfect regular season appetizer. I agree. I think they might cut down on it and have joint practices.
I think coaches think that they get a lot more out of joint practices. Although today, the Tampa Jets joint practice featured. Two fights and three interceptions of Geno Smith, and an ambulance coming out for Quantez Stiggers. Apparently, let's hope everything's all right with him there. Um But I think coaches like A lot of the stars don't even play in the practices either.
No, I know that. A preseason is for the 50, you know, second, 51st man on a roster and figuring stuff out and how players can make teams and what have you. But I agree. Three is good. That fourth one.
Yeah, four or five, too many. I think two is too few. Three is the sweet spot. Let's not change that, even if we do add an 18th, 19th, 20th game, you know, 10 to 15 years down the line. I'm with you.
That's not an overreaction. It's the magic number, is De La Soul one. Yeah, a couple people said that. Oh, is that right? Yeah.
You picked that up at the after party. Listen. No tell option. What else? All right.
Here's the thing. New stadiums are usually awesome, right? We got a new stadium here in Los Angeles. Beautiful. It's one of the greatest things we've ever seen, right?
You see the renderings of what they want to do, what's happening in Nashville right now. Beautiful. Vegas is awesome. Beautiful. Kansas City, the renderings of what they might do there, incredible.
Yep. And I love Bill's mafia.
Okay, I love the fans. I love going to Buffalo. I don't believe people. I love the people there. I love everything about it.
People like me saying I love the Eagles. Wings. I don't believe you. Love Buffalo wings. Here's the deal, though.
This new stadium seems like a miss. Stadium snafu. We got the alt jerseys. They look like a Diet Pepsi can. This is a bad omen for the Bills in 2026.
That's not true. All this stuff happened. That's absurd. That's not true. We got Josh Allen distracted by fatherhood.
That's not going to be a good thing. Come on. What do you mean, distracted by fatherhood? Babies keep you up at night. Remember how you were the first couple, the first year of your time?
I'm a better human for being that. Not saying you're not a better human. Yeah, but I think I'm a better professional because I'm a better human. Performance usually lacks in other areas when you're taking care of someone in the first year of their life. Tell us about it.
It kind of goes. Yeah, I don't think bad juju for I don't think Josh has the resources to maybe take some of that off his plate a little bit. Like a night nurse? I'm just saying. Di Pepsi jerseys and the steam.
No, listen, the uh the obstructed seats photographs are lack of options. This would infuriate me. You know what would infuriate? Obviously, the the obstructed view by walls are like on its like. I don't know if the architect, was the architect a Patriot fan?
I don't know. I don't know. The one that would infuriate me the most is the middle one. I agree. Where somebody decided to say, let's have people walk.
Up a staircase in front of you. And you know how many people are just going to stop and look for their seats and look for their friends and stand right in front of you? That's oh my God. And then you have to see some of the field through a glass. Glass, that's rough.
Or through plexiglass or. You know, a ball could be spotted and you have to move your head because the railing's in the way. Like, how is that happening? 20 degrees and that's iced over or something? Say it's a bad omen for the team.
Bad omen is absurd. I don't know. It may be wishful thinking from a Patriot fan over there. Same. Get out of here.
It doesn't matter how many obstructions. It would make me pause. You know what's not obstructed? Is Josh Allen heading to the end zone? He's futurally.
Well, hold on a minute. He's futurally obstructed and goes through the obstruction. He's the obstruction. Oh, yeah, that's not going to stop him from getting in the postseason. That's crazy.
The Pats fan loves Bill's mafia. Did you hear this? I ain't buying it.
Well, he said that too. Man, I want to do a game. He said that so it's like, don't hurt me in the comments. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But they see through you.
With all due respect so you can say something disrespectful. They see through you in the same way some people need to see through something to get to the field. Oh, Rich. I love Josh Allen. What if those seats are hopefully they can fit?
What if they like block those seats off? Like, we see a picture, right? Take them out. Get rid of them. That's what I'm saying.
Maybe they will block those off so people won't sit there doing it. I don't think that's. That's just my hope. I don't know. I don't know what the answer is, but.
Hopefully, some smart people can figure it out. What else, Chris? What do you got over there? Here's the thing: we're looking at who's going to be contenders, pretenders. I know this, though.
One team is the Champs, and we still don't talk about them. Once again, the Seahawks are flying under the radar as NFC contenders. That's true.
Well, then we talked about them at all in the last two weeks. And we are NFC contenders. They are. But they're flying under the radar. Which I'm sure they're very happy about.
Why? Why don't we talk about Seattle? Can I ask you a question? Yes. I mean, we got microphones.
Why don't we talk about it? We could.
Solve this situation about the scene on we had Cooper Cup on a month ago. They're welcome anytime. I love having them on. You love the 12 seconds. You love the GM.
You love the coach. You know I love the GM, and you know I love the coach. And they're on hard knocks, so how are they flying under the radar? They were a quiet-winning Super Bowl team. I'm with Brown.
The reason why they're flying under the radar is we're like, again, we don't have a segment of is he back yet for any for just cuz. Right. We don't, I mean, come on. We don't have sound bites from their GM. I mean, who joined their team?
Is anybody of Miles Garrett's status joined their team? But the bottom line is, they still have a team that beat the crap out of everybody in front of them. Everyone. They were really good. You know?
And they were so. Yeah.
I don't even know what you're saying.
So they are on the radar, but not as NFC contenders, as the possibility to repeat. It's tough to do. But they've got the team to do it. And they're going to be 1-0 after the first Wednesday of the season, which is again why he's so upset about it. I'm okay.
Okay, what else? Rich, I'm not sure you noticed what went on at Dodger Stadium last night. Tarek Skoble got beat up. Tarek Skubel's a liability in this Dodgers' rotation. This guy over there.
Oh, my goodness. No, what it proves is it's still baseball, and everybody thought this was the canary in the coal mine of what's wrong with baseball. And all the Dodgers had to do was give up three prospects and pay for the rest of his year's contract. And so did the rest of Major League Baseball if they wanted Tarek Schooble to try and one-up the Dodgers, and nobody did. But it just shows you that one move.
I mean, he lost his first start as a Dodger, and now he's lost his first home start as a Dodger. And the Dodgers have now lost, what, eight of nine, something like that? Like that? Just saying. Just saying.
Same. But October's a different, a different month. We'll see. Is it not? Yeah, the Red Sox lost again.
Three in a row. That's right. Cooper's home from camp, baby. Can we send him back to camp? No, we cannot.
Jesus. Coop's staying at home. And the Red Sox have lost three in a row. The Yankees are two up on them now in the lost con. Outstanding.
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Back here on the Rich Eisen Show.
Okay, let's get right to him. And very excited. Like I said, this is a first for our new segment. Hit it. Why?
Is he back yet? Where is AA round right now?
Okay, this man has got his. His own Pro Bowl resume and first team all-pro resume of his own right. But let's ask Trent McDuffie back here on the Rich Isaac show. First time as a rem. Good to see you, Trent.
How are you? Doing well, doing well, can't complain. Um, okay, you want to answer the question: Is he back yet? No, not that I know of, okay, but. No, that we are waiting if he is.
We are waiting. You know what? That's basically the only answer I expected, but I asked it anyway because. It's just crazy. The idea, just from a fan's point of view, is just nuts.
that Donald and Miles Garrett could be in front of you together, Trent, right? Correct. I even try to think of it asking Sean McVay and like the offensive perspective and talking to Stafford. I'm like, how are you guys even going to like? Through your blocking schemes, like who are you going to slide to?
Who are you going to try to double-team? Like, what problems does Aaron Donald and Miles Garrett have on the offense? And they're both just like, we don't even know. Like, it's going to be a problem regardless. I mean, there's a problem with Miles, obviously, but you had just another player like Aaron Donald.
Yeah, like for me sitting on the back end, I mean, I'm cheesing just thinking about it.
Well, because it's your job to give them even one extra beat, right? That's basically it. I mean, that's kind of what I always say is a DB. Like, one, whenever we go on the field, I always tell the D-line, like, hey, I'm going to give you that extra half a second to go make a play, or I'm going to give you that two seconds so you can go beat your man and go get a sack. But it's also like, for me, Let's just get the ball back to Stafford.
Like, we've seen what he did last year. We see what this offense is like this year. Like, as many times as we can just three and out or turn over and get the ball back to our offense, the better we are at going out there and succeeding.
So, adding anybody to this team right now is going to be just raising our standards.
So, it's exciting right now. And you are well versed in what it's like to give the ball back to an MVP quarterback, are you not, Trent? Right? 100%. I mean, as you know, Kansas City with Pat Mahomes, I mean, he was great, and we know what he could do.
So being able to come over here on a team that also has the. Same kind of just strategy at going out there and putting points on the board like I'm excited. What does Miles Garrett look like? To you. Like the defensive player of the year.
I mean, he's an animal. He's a freak. Just his get off alone. He's like three yards in the backfield off of one step. Like everything he's shown so far in camp is everything you expect him to do.
And I mean, he's just such a cool dude, getting to know him, getting to know his work ethic, and how he's just been able to come into this D-line room and just add to it. You know, like, there's really no ego on this team. There's nobody here that's playing this game for themselves. It's all about team first. And he's one of those guys that goes out there and does his job at a high level, but does it in a sense that he wants to make everybody else better?
He's not just out there chasing sacks, which is great. What have you learned about his work ethic, Trent? I mean, just his details, you know, when he comes in the building, how he prepares his body to go out on the field. And also, just once he does get on the field, once that chin strap is buckled and he's ready to go with his hand in the ground, I mean, he's ready to shoot out of the cannon.
So I've just loved to see his attention to detail and just going out there each and every day whenever he gets to blow on that grass and just how much he just attacks the football and it's just relentless every single play. And he's really never played many games of his career, which is amazing to say, with a fourth quarter lead. Um you have. You have.
So what does that Do. What can we sense about what Garrett could potentially do differently with you on the back end? And forget if Aaron's coming back, although let me know if he's back yet during this interview. Just let me know. But what does it do to play with a lead that we might be able to glean from you that we could potentially see something different for the lack of a better phrase from Garrett.
Trying to do that. Yeah, I mean, you talk about playing with the lead. I mean, when you're playing from behind, um, It's not in the sense that you're having to do more, but Every little thing matters a little bit more, like every little technique you got to tighten down, you got to do a little things a little bit more. They're running the ball a little more. You know, when you're playing from down, the offensive mindset is let's just run the ball, let's kill the clock.
So, um, you have less opportunities to kind of go out there, especially from a DN's perspective, and make sacks or make a game-changing play.
So, um, I know coming in here, especially for him, knowing that we have a great offense, we have a great team that can be in the fourth quarter with the lead, and it's on the defense to go out there and pretty much win the game. I mean, I love being in that position, especially as a defensive player and knowing that the game's kind of in our hands, like we get to go throw all our best plays at them. We got to go stop the pass on the back end, and knowing that we could just tell Miles Garrett, like, just go rush, you know what I mean? Just go do what you got to do, go get in the backfield, and really, let's just end this game. Um, I'm excited to see that come to fruition.
And, um, it's something that we talk about here and there, but I know once he gets the game time and just knowing the type of player he is, he's so smart and he's so analytical about everything that. I think it's really going to show up big time. Trent McDuffie here on The Rich Eisen Show. Let's talk about you a little bit. Listen, it's so rare to have a Pro Bow, first team All Pro guy also with a second team All Pro on his resume at age 25, four years in the league available.
Um why were you available? Trent Yeah, um I mean really I think it's On just with the Chiefs and how they had to kind of situate their team. Obviously, money and all those stuff kind of come into play, but I know going into last offseason. Um, thought I was gonna go back and my agent kind of had a few talks with them, got to the combine, and it kind of just sounded like the Chiefs were looking somewhere else, you know, to give me a trade. And um, the biggest blessing I can have is that they were able to trade me to the LA Rams, which I'm happy about.
I know I was a little frustrated when I did get traded, just not knowing what's happening, not any contract details or anything, just kind of being left in the dark on that. But once I heard I was here and talking to Sean McVay and just talking to the guys around the locker room, like, It's been phenomenal. They welcome me in with open arms, and I just truly feel like I'm back at home. You know, like I know I grew up here, but the community, the people, like just how much they've embraced me coming into this. team and community has been special.
So I know I feel good about being here. And yes, I guess it's just kind of how the NFL rolls.
So did you you had no inkling the Rams were on the radar screen for you? At all. I mean, honestly, I was full bore. I thought I was going to be a chief at the end of last year. And.
Yeah, right around that comeback time, kind of heard that that wasn't going to be a thing.
So it was like two or three days later. It kind of worked out and got out online. And even by then, like, it wasn't anything set in stone.
So I had a lot of conversations with my agent. He was really good throughout the whole thing at just walking me through the steps and the process. But yeah, it was kind of like went to bed one day not knowing, then woke up the next day as a Ram.
So it really was a 360 turnaround in like four days. And From your perspective. You know, you just mentioned how you've been welcomed. Great red carpet rolled out for you here in Southern California. But nationally, nationally, it's almost as if Few are talking about what your impact to this team will be because we're all focused on Miles Garrett coming over.
And then Aaron Donnell might be coming back. And then even before all that, How did you take the conversation that Ty Simpson being drafted left? Matthew Stafford high and dry by the front office that didn't add anything to help him out. in the offseason. Trend.
How did you handle that narrative when you were hearing that? I mean Really? Kind of how I've always been, especially getting drafted first round to the Chiefs and. People always this year when talking about the expectation and what is this team going to do, and how good is this team going to be? And you got all these guys, this, and the third.
And since I've been here, even since I got traded, the conversation has always been. How do we just get this team to get better a day at a time? Because it's not like we're talking about a team that didn't make the playoffs last year. It's not like we're talking about a team that hasn't been in these high-situation games. Like last year, they were in the championship.
They're a few plays away from being in that Super Bowl last year. And knowing the guys that they already have here and knowing the guys that we're adding. This team really has all the intangibles to go being great.
So, really, it's about the mindset and how do we make sure that we're not looking ahead? How do we not make sure that this pressure kind of gets into the locker room and all these guys kind of start playing outside their comfort zone? Like, how do we tighten the screws? How do we come together? And really, it's.
Honestly, what Sean McVay does that is so good is just the relationships, you know, like getting to know everybody on the team, me coming in here, getting another O-line, the receiving room, the running back room, and then coming over, I'm saying all the defenders. But it's really just a place where you feel that you can grow, not only as a player, but as a person. And I think with that kind of atmosphere, it allows guys to play a little faster, gives them a little more confidence. And hopefully when the time does come where it gets to the playoffs and it comes to those games that really matter, the guys at the confidence go out there and just do it. Yeah, and I love, again, McVay's, you know, one of the best, you know, and has a massive, massive head start on so many other coaches who want to get to Canton, Ohio one day, to be honest.
Really sad. And I understand what he preaches and what you're picking up and what you're putting down right here. But there is an I in McDuffie. There wasn't a part at all. In April, where everyone's like, oh, yeah, they just left Stafford not getting anything.
And There you are. I mean, they used a first-round pick on you. And you're not I mean, your resume speaks for itself. In just four years. There wasn't any part of you sitting here saying, I'm going to show everybody?
At all? I mean, as a competitor, you always think that, you know, especially getting traded from the Chiefs feels like, whoa, like. I thought I was one of these cornerstone pieces. Like, obviously, I'm gonna feel some type of way, but I'm also a guy that. isn't really driven by my own stats like how good I'm gonna do me as a person like What enables me to get up in the morning, what allows me to go out there and be at my best, is knowing that.
I have to show up each and every play for not only the 10 other people on my team, but. Also, I gotta show up for the offense. When I wake up and I see Devontae Adams in here, who's on 10, 12 years. I see Stafford in here. He's played for a long time.
Miles Garrett, year 10, like these guys who are getting older, but still show up day in and day out and are doing the little things the correct way. Me sitting here on my fifth year at 25, still young, still getting into my prime. I'm not going to sit here and try to say, oh, I have to go do this. Oh, I got to do this. Oh, I'm bringing this to this team.
I'm bringing Trent McDuffie, but Trent McDuffie also comes with buying into the team and buying the program and making sure that I can get my collective better because I can't be great unless my safeties are doing good, unless Jay Watts on the other side handling his business. Because at the end of the day, this is probably the greatest team sport. You can be an individual all you want, but You're going to need everybody to win that game. And at the end of the day, for me, what is going to be the determining factor if I'm successful or not is how many wins are in that win column. How good is Stafford?
I'll close it. He's the best. I mean, you talk about technique. You talk about. Eye progression, you talk about somebody who can no look you, who knows every defense.
I mean, every coverage you play, he's seen, he's gone against it, he's attacked it, he's broken it down. And you can just tell that he's somebody who Knows what he's doing. You know, it's one, two, three, ball out, one, two, three, ball out. Like, he's looking you off to throw the other way. He's just one of those quarterbacks that you know.
Why he's successful, and he does it each and every day, which for me is a blessing because I get to go against obviously one of the best quarterbacks in the league. I did it last year against Pat Mahomes, who's making all the great throws. But yeah, there's just that veteran. I'd say just swag. Like, he's confident, he knows what to do, and he's going to go out there and show you.
Okay. So you got you're going to be. Um Taking on a whole bunch of terrific teams this year, including your former team. What's that going to be like on that Thursday night? First Thursday in December.
What's that going to be like for you, do you think? I think it's going to be definitely a lot of emotions. You know, one, I think it'll be kind of cool just to go against the guys I've gone against all four years. You know, there'll probably be a little friendly bickering in there, but just knowing the team that we're playing, you know, no matter who's. Going to be out there.
They're going to be ready. They're going to be ready to rock. They're going to be ready to roll. And I know we will be too.
So I know it's going to be a Definitely a great show for those out there watching, but Um more specifically for me and a guy like Jaywa, like We're going to be ready to roll. Yeah, that's right. It's an interesting point right there. You're not the only one sitting right there from the cornerback position that's. Out here now for the Rams.
Would you potentially? talk smack to Patrick? Because you know he's a red ass. You know you don't want to do that. You don't want to poke him, right?
But would you dare do something like that? on that night. Only 'cause it's path I'm gonna have to poke a little bit. What does that look like? What does that sound like?
What does that sound like? It depends on what it's at, you know. Like, I feel like the closest thing I could do is on a blitz, just to be like, hey, Pat, like, You know I'm here. But I also noticed like He's one of those guys that also buys into it, that loves doing it. And he's a competitor, which I love playing against him in practice when you could talk a little bit because it fires him up.
But just everybody, you know, like Killer Trav, talking a little smack to Trav, and Rashi Rice and Xavier, just seeing all the boys out there is going to be fun. But also, at the end of the day, it's a game.
So for them four little hours, like, we're not going to be friends. I'll talk to y'all after the game.
Well, I mean, plus, with Killer Trap, I mean, you already got the invite to the wedding, so you know what I mean? Like, you already got that, right? Not putting anything else in jeopardy.
Now, right? I I'll be honest again, I know that that's like Fight Club. But I will say this. The number of chiefs there, past and present, that were at this wedding was really impressive. It really coaches, too.
Honestly, it It's like obviously you guys won together. It doesn't matter where you are now. It was special. I mean, that was one of my favorite things. Was also, like, I haven't seen them in a while, you know, the A's, like, it's been the longest I haven't seen them.
So, um, knowing how many guys did show up. That did care, that wanted to just be there not only just to see other people, but like to go and celebrate Travis and Taylor. Like, that was special. And all the coaches that showed up, I mean. It was a really fun night for me, obviously, just being at the wedding, but also just talking to them and just.
Saying what's up to them again, you know. I mean, I've been there for four years, so it was like I've been there again, just seeing and talking to them. But I think it was a really cool night. All right, Trent, I appreciate the time. This has been a great chat.
We're just down the road from you, you know. And uh would love to have you in studio any time you want. And last question for you, uh just one last time. Is he back yet? Is he back yet?
Did it happen during this conversation that you know of? No, no, I mean, nobody walked in and told me anything yet.
So, you know, I'll keep you folks. That's the latest. Hey, that's the latest. Trent McDuffie, thanks for the time, sir. Yeah, thank you so much.
Good to have you on the program. Trent McDuffie, the Los Angeles Rams, here on the Rich Island Show. Top to the second. Up to the second. Funny.
Well done. Very good. And by the way, your wedding was outstanding as well. Thank you, Rich. Trent McDuffie was also invited.
Oh, is that interesting? Yeah.
Yeah, he was. Unavailable. Yeah.
844-204-RICH. Number to DAO. Your phone calls when we come back. Brendan Hunt, Coach Beards, in our green room. Yeah.
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What's up, Michelle? Hey, Rich, how are you today, babe? I'm well. What's on your mind? I feel really bad for JJ McCarthy.
And The the discourse is constantly around his ability. when no one ever wants to seemingly take into account Dead. The Vikings put a twenty one year old like he was going to be the second coming of Fran Tarkinton with all the responsibility and weight of the franchise on his shoulders. And in real life, We don't do that to twenty one year olds because they're not ready for it. And I just feel like a lot is getting lost.
in this rush. both in college within Ielna, And in the draft, to get your player of the future Before you even know, if that kid really has the mental fortitude that it takes to be an NFL quarterback Or, frankly, a quarterback in a top-tier college program. And I just think that no one talks enough. About What the system does to these young men when we bring them in. And then you look at somebody like Bo Nix, frankly, who was 24 when he got drafted and probably took his first down around his 25th birthday.
And yeah, he had a whole three plus years of maturity available to him. In the decision-making process when he was under center, that McCarthy didn't have. And I think that's a valid point that doesn't get discussed enough. And I just thought I'd bring it up. Right, Brock Purdy also had that much at Iowa State, too, and he wound up being the last pick in the draft.
And that's also part and parcel, Michelle, of the way things work. It helped out. uh that purdy wound up In San Francisco, and Kyle Shanahan was there, and then circumstances broke where they had to use him in a way that they never would have. And the same thing with Nix, that he winds up in a spot where after McCarthy gets picked and after Pennix gets picked, and everybody thinks it was just Sean Payton taking a stab on the last remaining first round graded quarterback in that six first round Quarterback draft, and instead it was somebody that saw something in Knicks, and it worked out for him right there as well. There's a lot that needs to work out for a lot of people.
And in terms of the system, Michelle, you pointed out that normally we don't treat twenty one year olds that way in any other endeavor. And it used to be a system where they would pay that 21-year-old the most money they've ever paid anybody in the history of their franchise. And that got changed in the collective bargaining agreement and sort of removed that pressure from the situation. The next thing they have to do, and I appreciate the call, it's a great food for thought. Michelle and Winston Salem, we're up against the end of the hour here.
Is the other thing they need to switch and figure something out is developing quarterbacks. I don't know how you got to figure it out. They used to have NFL Europe. That's how folks like Kurt Warner and Jake Delome got developed in a way.
So when it got time for them to get out there, they weren't completely fish out of water. Bottom line, though, is J.J. McCarthy had a shot to start right out of the gate, fresh out of Michigan, going against Sam Darnold, and then his. His knee injury just took that flat out of the mix. Sam Darnold made the most of that opportunity and then saw that McCarthy sitting right there saying, I'll go to Seattle.
Then he wins the Super Bowl there, which just only places the lid on the Minnesota boiling pot even more for him. Thanks for listening to the Rich Eisen Show Podcast. You can watch and listen to The Rich Eisen Show live weekdays from noon to 3 Eastern on ESPN Radio, Disney Plus, and on the ESPN app, The Rich Eisen Show, the podcast.
