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If you're one of those. College football nuts, and we are as well. Football is on the brain for good reason. Rich Eisen and Chris Brockman over Reaction Monday. Good to see you, sir.
See you. All right. Breaking news, lots of action over the weekend. Yes, yes. Preseason week number two is virtually.
Right there in the books. It's time to hit it. Overreaction Monday. Go. That was terrible.
That was crap. That was garbage. This place sucks. Overreaction. Mondays.
Monday. All right, Christopher, what do you have over there? I figured what we're going to start with. And you're right. We've got to start with the breaking news out of Cleveland.
Head coach Todd Monkin has announced it's going to be Deshaun Watson starting week one for the Browns.
Now, I had one all teed up and ready to go. I know you did. You want me to tell you what I would have said? Um, let's f. Let's button it a bit.
Yeah. Here's what we're going with. Shador Sanders will ultimately start more games in 2026 in Deshaun Watson. Oh, man. Man.
Good one. Um Good one. I'll say that's not an overreaction.
Okay. because Watson's availability has been Well, yeah, 19 games in the last five years. It's been questionable.
So odds are That's what's up. That could put Jador Sanders in the mix at the end of the day. You're also intimating there could be an issue. With um Uh Watson's viability. as a quarterback in Cleveland in particular.
So, those are basically my bullet points to agree that this is not an overreaction, that you're on to something here. Would I love for Browns fans to have Watson show up and show that I still have the 2019 version of me in me? you know, like the guy that you spent all that money on and all that Draft capital on. That guy is still me. I'm still him.
That's a large question. Yeah, yeah. 2019 is getting longer in the rear view. The only thing that is not in question about Deshaun Watsons' 2026 season. is one, he's going to start week one.
Two He is going to start at least the first two games for Cleveland because they're both on the road. Yeah. That's kind of helpful that both games are on the road and the path to him being a successful Cleveland Browns quarterback in 2026 is that the Browns come home to and O, Or they come home one-on-one, and he has shown that he's got that Deshaun Watson. Specialness To him still. And then he's got a game against Carolina at home week three that Man.
Does he really have to perform well in? Because the booze will reign. from the fans, and that's the last thing that is of certainty. about Deshaun Watson's twenty twenty six season. is that he is still not over Hearing booze.
when he blew out his Achilles and was prone on the ground in Cleveland. A couple years ago. I don't blame him. No, I understand that you don't blame him for that. But you cannot be a tenable quarterback in a city where you have So overwhelmingly underperformed.
and think that Any booze that come your way. are because they're against you. Yeah. Whatever he said, he's turned pages. This is one page he hasn't turned.
and unfortunately for him, It also comes. with the undercurrent of he still doesn't get Accountability. Yeah, I bet that. And so that's another sort of flashing red light. that could ignite or trigger somebody that is hoping The Browns turn it around in 2026.
All that said, is I said it Virtually every single news information man and woman that came on the Rich Eisen show. between the Super Bowl and now have said it. The Browns simply want to see What Deshaun Watson has left in the tank because they have put so much fuel in that tank. In terms of money, draft capital, blood, sweat, tears, whatever you want to put it.
However, you want to say it. They are hell-bent. in seeing what he's got in him. And I think we know. I don't know.
I don't know. I really don't. We don't know. What we don't know. And the last thing they were going to do was cut him because he said what he said at the podium.
and let him walk to another team. And suddenly show up and show out like the Watson in 2019. They're going to try and see it. I don't know if the environment is conducive to seeing it in Cleveland anymore. Todd Munkin is new there.
God bless him. Hopefully, he does have like a full. true vote of confidence from management. They are lockstep. And one way to do it is also say if he doesn't work out weeks one through four, then Shador comes in and he can be the savior.
And and and that's one way to do it as opposed to we went with the kid over you because you complained about the fan base and now you've got to go in there and we didn't believe in you to begin with, but let's see what you got now, Deshaun, weeks five through ten. Like this is a more viable way in that respect of doing it. That said, I don't believe what you've put out there is an overreaction. What was going to be your I was going to say if he's not QB one, they got to cut him. Who, Deshaun?
Yeah. Well, and that may be another reason why They have named him Because they're not cutting him. They're not just going to because they will not. cut him When Shador can get dinged up and Dylan Gabriel's not the answer. And they're also not going to cut him and let him wind up On somebody else's team.
And then all of a sudden, he looks like the Deshaun Watson of old. Nobody believes that that would ever happen.
Okay. Do you think this was ownership or Todd McClintock? I think it's all of them together. I think it's all of them together. What else you got?
All right, let's move on. Another quarterback battle that's going on. I want to go to Atlanta. Michael Pennix is now cleared for 11-on-11. We did not see Tua in week two, much to the chagrin of your two first-down take from last week.
I think, look, this is Michael Pennix's gig. If he shows anything in the final preseason game, the Falcons should start him week one. I don't know about that either. Um What's anything? Anything you can take a snap and move the ball down the field forward.
I don't think this is an overreaction either. I don't think so. Um You know, we brought you in to compete to uh we we We like you. We think you could still be a guy. You can be our guy here.
At some point, you're going to get in. We'll figure out a way to get you your reps. I don't know. I'm trying to come up with a way that could be sold here. But You know, you drafted the kid for a reason.
You know, spend draft capital. I know, but the team president. The team's general manager and the team's coach that was there for it are all gone. True. And you have now started from scratch.
And it truly now is apples to apples. I mean, Arthur Blank could say, hey, your predecessors were telling me he's the guy, and I love him. Kid's great. Love everything that he stands for. Um You know, I I would want to see what I have in Penix now.
Because again, if it's The same thing with Cleveland. Everyone's in the trade everyone's in the market of a quarterback in next year's draft if they don't have the one currently on their roster. And you could make the case that Browns don't have their one currently on the roster right now. For 2027. I would agree.
Atlanta, you couldn't state that.
So.
So um authoritatively. I don't think.
So if you could see what you have in Penix. And you're Stefanski, and it's your first year there. Or it's just like you've been cleared to to wing it around, but You still don't have, you know, your conditioning, this, that, the other thing. Starting Tua to start the year and see how it goes, and then bring Pennix in that's a more tenable scenario, I think, than starting Shador over Deshaun Watson in Cleveland. But this is a winnable division, so to just start Tua and maybe give away three or four games in the beginning of the year, that's such a giveaway, man.
That's going to cost you down the line, especially when 8-9 wins wins this thing. But I mean, are you really going to just clear him for 11 out of 11 on August 24th? And then by September Whatever the heck the date is for week one of the NFL season. It's nearly three weeks. You're going to throw them out against TJ Watt?
Really?
So what you can do. You throw him against TJ Watt and Cameron Hayward. Is that what you're going to do? Got to play at some point. I understand.
But I don't think this is an overreaction to begin with either. You're two for two to start the to start this edition of overreaction months. That's an upset. All right, let's go here. I'm thinking about teams that really need to have good, maybe great 2026s for maybe how we feel about the quarterback situation, head coaches, front office hot seat.
And I'm looking at these teams. Commanders and Colts are the teams in each conference that need to have good, if not great, seasons. Because. Dan Quinn could get bounced, or Sean Shane Steichen could get bounced. Yeah, we've been talking about Chris Ballard forever.
And I'm wondering, and this is hot, Rich Eisen, so just be ready. I'm wondering if Jaden Daniels doesn't have a good year this year. We're wondering, man, his rookie season, kind of fluky. Yeah. Yeah.
No, his skill set is still off the charts.
So I won't go there. I don't know the appetite of ownership to run it back with coaches that they feel like they don't have confidence in. Um I I I don't know what You know, Miss Ursa Gordon's going to do up there in Indianapolis. I don't know, but I think that this is. Certainly in the realm, I don't think you're you're I'm trying to think which other ones in the conferences could could suffice.
Um You know, for that category. It certainly isn't anybody in the AFC East. You know, unless you think Aaron Glenn needs to have a good year to keep his job. Also relative to expectations. I don't see that.
I don't see anybody I mean, I don't see any fact now where it's not going to get balanced. No, because the Bengals don't fire anybody with money left on their contract. I don't see anybody and I don't see Houston. I don't see Tennessee. And I don't see.
Obviously, Jacksonville. I don't see anybody in the AFC West. I don't see anybody in the NFC. East. Other than the commanders.
I don't see anybody in the NFC North. At all. I don't see anybody in the NFC South. Lions maybe need to have a group. I mean, Todd Bowles maybe.
I don't see Campbell or Brad Holmes in danger. You know, I don't think their wheels are going to fall off and go like four winds. They're very talented. And I don't see anybody in the NSC way. All right, I'll bottle.
Okay. I mean, I just walked through it, talked it out. Talk to now. What else, Chris?
Okay, Rich Eisen. Oh, baby. This is giving the red meat lovers what they want. We should be more talking about the Cowboys as legit favorites to win the NFC. Who are you talking to?
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Consult a healthcare professional if symptoms persist. I put them in my top five of my way, way, weight, and power rankings. You have been kind of the only one. You've been kind of the only one. I called that in the spring.
I called that the minute we were done talking to Brian Schottenheimer at the Combine. I feel like I'm like, wait a minute, this guy knows what the hell he's doing. He's not like some sort of Jerry Jones toady that he put in there. You know, that he didn't have to pay top of the coaching money market to like this guy's got a voice, he's got a style. You know, you saw what they played like over the weekend.
Yeah, that kind of spawned that. I'm like, man, they are. Did you see their post-game locker room camaraderie? Yeah. I mean, and.
And um Schottenheimer talked about how he liked their play style. He's like their play style. Again, the starters aren't in there, but the second and third stringers are playing like they want. And they're talking about a star on their chest and a star on the side of their helmet. This kid, Jay Sean Barham, Baldi threw him in an XO over the weekend based on how fast off the ball he was and in the backfield of Arizona.
And TJ sent that one to me on a text. And I'm like, yeah, I told you when they drafted him in the third round. Yeah, man. They are a favorite to win. They're legit favorites to win the NFC.
If They stay healthy. They have a terrific roster that does appear to be deep. We don't know how good the kids they've just drafted are, and they could be really special with Caleb Downs leading the way. Absolutely. But I'm proud to like, this is a curve in the zone.
I know, but I feel like you were first on this block, but no one nationally has really been talking about, yeah, you know, this team can compete with the Seahawks, Rams of the NFC world. They can. I feel like the roster is deep. Like it is said. They have playmakers everywhere.
How many Cowboys are going to go in your fantasy league? A lot. And this is a team that you're going to have to put up a lot of points to beat them. And I think the defense is going to be middle of the pack. I think it's such a great improvement.
We need to be talking about them more. I know we don't need to talk about the Cowboys more, but like legit Super Bowl. Talked about it on our show last week. Jerry Jones' comments from Oxnard from training camp. Have usually been him either at best trying to speak it into existence or at worst.
trying to tell you it's raining when it's a different liquid coming down from the sky. Um this year though? I th he is legit in ta uh signing Von Miller. Hell yeah. And let's see what happens at the trade deadline.
Yeah, because he has said and intimated that he says he's ready to put out futures. I mean, the man's eating three. He wants one more for the case, man. He does.
So.
I haven't disagreed with you yet. I know, it's crazy. No, I think that's a you, that's a YP, not an MP. Oh, man, we're halfway home. Let's do this.
Did you see that Christian McCaffrey was back at practice on Sunday? I did. Did you see the reason why he had been mysteriously out for nine, ten days? Tell the people. Rich.
My man was load managing. And That's dangerous. That is a slippery slope.
Okay. If the NFL allows load management. They run the risk of the regular season becoming a sham like the NBA's.
So load management in in August It's not like load manager. That's the first step. That's the first step. You know what you do? You know when you're a big company and you want to see if the people are into something, you kind of leak it really super slow and you see if they're understanding, they're accepting, and they buy it.
We just all bought this. Ah, Titanus. Oh, man, the guy's got a history of, you know, bilateral Achilles, whatever.
So what? And other stuff.
So we're going to load manage him.
Okay, but what if suddenly now? You're load managing in weeks five through eight because doing that care more about the playoff route. The NFL and the NBA's regular seasons are completely different animals. There's 17 games in the NFL season. You miss four of them.
That's a quarter of the season. Load management in the NBA isn't. you know, a quarter of the season. You didn't raise your eyebrows when you heard the term load management? No, I think it's great.
The guys north of 30. I think it is smart. What are we doing? It's not like the guy doesn't know the playbook. It's not like the guy isn't plug and play.
It's not like the guy isn't on a hall of fame path. I think he's kind of already in right now. You know, maybe not a first ballot, but I think he gets in with all the numbers that he is amassing and putting up. what he means to the team, the MVP finishes that he's been having, offensive player of the year finishes that he's been having. You know?
Come on now. I don't have a problem with it at all. You know, at all. Oh, I think this is the first step of like, we're on a dangerous path. If someone else starts doing this next year, we see the Niners are going to be like, you know what?
He's healthy enough to play, but we're not playing Christian McCaffrey at Seattle week five. We got to load manage him. And then guess what? You know what we're going to do? We're going to give him the week off at Atlanta in week seven because he's also got to buy the next week.
And then suddenly. That will definitely happen.
Okay. And then you look Raheem Morris in the face and you're like, you know what, man? You've been so great and inspiring to the defense. We're going to put a lesser team out there because we can't afford a guy who's healthy to get hurt. No chance.
Like, that doesn't happen. And it's not like some analytics expert's going to come in and say, you need to give this guy this much time off because it's going to pay off in the playoffs. You may not make the playoffs if you load manage somebody in the NFL. There's a different animal. In the 18th game, you are going to start seeing this.
Never. I don't think so. Hopefully we don't see those many games either. Wow, man. You had a chance to go five for five with me right off the bat.
I did. And you cut I mean I was hoping to get through this clean sheet, but what else you got over there? Clean sheet. All right, three more, Rich Jison. Sure.
Thinking about this, right down the street, Justin Herbert. Once again, we're seeing all the nerds love Justin Herbert, and it's this could finally be the year for MVP. Sure. Here's the deal. Yeah.
I'm going to humor them. If Justin Herbert does win MVP this year, He bumps Burrow to join the big four quarterbacks. with Bahomar and he bumps him. Burrow out, Herbert in if he wins MVP. Joe Burrow hasn't come close to MVP, hasn't even sniffed an all-pro team.
Like I said before, previous times on the flagship, he's still dining out on the Super Bowl appearance five years ago. And I think this is a huge year. And if Herbert does this, he's now a top four player. All right, so let me flip the script on you a little bit here.
Okay. 'Cause I know you. I know you. 'Kay. Justin Herbert, let's say Justin Herbert wins MVP of the regular season.
What a season.
Okay, Los Angeles quarterbacks go back to back. Unbelievable. Rams last year, Chargers this year. What a story. Yeah, man.
And suddenly they're like, look, I'll give you the whole shebang here. Oh.
Okay. Herbert plays so well. That you know Somebody who's in the neck and neck race of the MVP.
Okay. And the guy who votes for Herbert then throws away his vote again, and Herbert still wins.
Okay. Oh, interesting. All right. The guy, the one guy who's like, I saw it last year. I forget who that was.
Sam Monson.
Okay. So Sam Monson now throws his vote away again and Herbert wins MVP. All right, great.
Okay. So of all people, he wins MVP and he's also the one seed. I'll give you the shebang. One seed. Yes, he makes the 13th.
Why not? Yeah, let's go. Why not? Yeah. Okay.
They're playing the divisional round.
Okay. Texans come in and won and done him. Herbert throws three interceptions. He still hasn't won a playoff game. In his career, you're going to throw him on that.
You're kicking Burrow off. No, you're coming on Overreaction Monday and saying, it will never matter what this guy does. It doesn't matter that he would ever be the MVP. He's already done that. Regular season for this guy.
He just is the king of that now. He will never win a playoff game. He doesn't have it in him. And you're not kicking anybody off of the current top four of the AFC. If he does that, he's just as good as Lamar and Josh Allen.
Look at you. Look at you. Lamar and Josh Allen have won playoff games. Come on now. Burrow's made a Super Bowl.
What does Burrow do this year in your dream scenario? I think Burrow is the other guy in the mix. Yeah. Sam Monson.
And Sam Monson will tell you it's Baker. Because Baker had a great year behind a terrible offensive line. I love it. Call him my shot. I love it.
Call him my shot. Overreaction. It's too funny. All right, let's finish up strong here, Rich Eisen. Yes.
You know, I love using you against me to make my point on this show. It really is one of my favorite pastimes. Here's the deal, people. Don't throw away your MVP votes. Correct.
I agree. That if it's one V1, if it's one V1 in the MVP race and everybody knows it, don't vote for somebody else. I really like Sam, but don't throw away your MVP votes. What else? Low energy, unfocused, foggy, you might be dehydrated.
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Rich, Geno Smith is going to be the best New Jersey quarterback this season. Oh, baby. Oh, he did look good in his one. He sure looked good. Yeah, Gino was right and back and here's the deal: I was thinking about this.
That was funny. Is this the most talent on offense the Jets have ever had in their history? Oh, stop it. In their history. Dude.
What do you mean? They had Curtis Martin on a team that also had some other wideouts. Oh, that you can't name. Oh, Keyshawn was there, right? Maybe the most disappointing number one overall pick who actually Listen, Garrett Wilson's really talented.
A.D. Mitchell when we saw A.D. Mitchell. They said Taylor. Right.
And Omar Cooper. Omar Cooper. They got some cakes. Let's protect. They're actually going to be, speaking of fantasy again, a lot of Jets drafted, which normally say.
You know, Sadiq is still, you know, coming back from an injury. Let's pump the brakes a little bit here.
So, Gino being better than Jackson Dart is basically what you're saying. That is what I'm saying. Because there's only other one other New Jersey quarterback. I noticed I didn't say New York. I know that because that brings Josh Allen in the equation.
I appreciate it. I know why you're GPSing the way that you're GPSing.
Okay. All right. Um. I liked what I saw. When I register, I believe it's possible.
'Kay. That would be bad for the Giants. Would be bad for the jets are just still not going to be as much of a factor. It would be great if they're a surprise, if they are a sleeper team. I just...
It would be. I don't know. That's just maybe the PTSD that you've got as a Jets observer. I get it. Observer.
Uh-huh. Notice where I'm going on that. Interesting. Jet observer. I've observed.
On time. I'm still observing. I have my eyes on him.
Okay. I'm looking at you. That's funny. Yeah. I don't think this is out of the realm.
I'm eager to see what they're doing with the. I mean, they're running back room now. They had Najee Harris to Cam Scataboo and Tyrone Tracy and Devin Singletary. I mean, that's four, like. That's four to eight, bro.
And let's get Malik neighbors back. I'd love watching Odell cook people in practice. I hope that does actually get out on the field. I don't know if he's going to make the team. You know, Isaiah likely and then Theo Johnson at tight end.
Can we protect also? You know? I mean, John Harbaugh is going to plus him up because that's what Harbaugh's do professionally. Do you think this is a Geno thing? All right, I'll call it an overreaction.
Okay. I've talked it out. The Giants are still better, I believe, top to bottom. You think the Giants win more games than the Jets are still doing? Yeah, I do.
John Harbaugh is their coach. And, you know, as Aaron Glenn's calling plays, we'll see how that one works on the defensive side. Um, and then at the end of the day, this is we're just going off of one preseason uh possession. Yeah, we are. It looked good, though.
He broke, he broke more than a sweat, yeah, broke the damn end zone, man.
So, okay, pretty wild to see him back again in the uniform. I know, back to the future, like we're in the friggin' football DeLorean.
Well, this is all, this is what could have been. By the way, that's not a bad fantasy team name. Football DeLorean, not bad. How many teams have you got? How many fantasy teams are you doing this year?
Too many. I'm already in way too many. What else you got? Last one. Last one.
The best team with the chance for a Patriots-like jump this year. The Tennessee Titans. No, I think the Giants are the ones. Actually. Those are the ones.
Time's playing a harder division. No, I got it. Year two of a starting quarterback.
Okay, Ward. I know. I'm I'm I I hear you. Um Like the Titans make the Super Bowl. That's what you're talking about.
Like the Titans win 12 plus nine. Like 12 games. And we're just like, where did that come from? Got the Giants, you got who else? I mean Yeah, I I I don't know.
You're talking about somebody from the five-win category to pop up there, huh? Yeah, someone picking at the top of the draft last year. And now, suddenly, what about Vegas? Who, I their wide receiver room, I don't think I'm with you too. I'm just throwing things up against the wall here.
It's definitely not going to be Cleveland, I don't think. I don't think so either. Man, I cannot believe. I'm pretty sure. Just to wrap this thing up.
I'm pretty sure. What a wild final. you know Game. From which to base your decision, you start the kid because basically you're at home. You know, they're going to boo him.
Then you bring in Deshaun at the second half. Like, I'll give him, like, I know he's going to get booed, so I'm going to give him the best chance possible because he's going to be against the threes. He's going to torch him. They're going to cheer him. He'll feel good.
We're all going to feel good. He's going to go into the season as my number one guy. And that's, I mean, great plan, Todd Monken, but he looked like crap. Yeah, exactly. And they started booing him, and it got in his head.
And he steps to the podium and he speaks. from his gut, from his id, man. Saying this is not performance-based, like, yeah, it is. They also have something against you. Sure, it's personal and professional.
It's professional and personal. But if you put professional and take it personally, I know that's the that, and so that's why they're going to put him in on the road and hope that he comes back 2-0. Hope is not a strategy. I understand. Well, it's better than.
I know hope's not a strategy, but it's a good heck. Hedging of your bat. Wild, and they still name him the starter. Do you think the decision was made obviously before the game? I think so.
I thought everyone was saying it was made the minute that Deshaun's like, I'm clear. That's it for Overreaction Monday, baby. Got one more of these, and then it's the season. We'll have our season preview on Labor Day, as always. Let's go.
And every single week in the National Football League season, that's it for Overreaction Monday, the Rich Eisen Show, 12 to 3 Eastern every single day. You've got the podcast version where you potentially are listening to this, or you've got our YouTube page, which is potentially where you're watching this. There's richeisonshop.com for all your gear. And we're ready to roll. Oh, dude, we're so back.
For Chris, I'm Rich. That's over Action Monday. Peace out, everybody. Daydreaming about Fiore's soft dreamnet fabric? Meet the Halo Essential wide-leg pant designed with Fiore's softest premium stretch dreamknit fabric.
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Yeah.
