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The Cleveland Browns quarterback naming was as wild as. Yeah. as anything else that they've been doing in recent days. I mean, nothing's wilder than Shadour's draft story, obviously. That's that takes the cake.
But Shadour's first now year plus in Cleveland is quite the roller coaster and I always thought that Sean Watson would be the starter. But the final throes of it being him being put out in Cleveland in the easiest possible circumstances, second half, preseason game number two. He doesn't look well at all. He steps to the podium, calls out fans, still gets the starters' job. And in the first hour of the show, we're all talking about it.
Todd Munkin met with the media, said he. He said nothing different than what you heard about Stefansky every single year talking about Deshaun Watson, who then stepped up and apologized to the fans. saying he takes responsibility for being human in that moment.
Okay. Those sound bites still to come. Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated here now. Good to see you Albert. How are you, sir?
I'm good. I'm good. I mean, I guess these things can never happen clean in Cleveland, right?
Well, I mean, you came here the other day when you were here on your hardworking tour around the United States while working hard on your tan that I still see is still looking glorious. Um that That, hey, you heard all along it's going to be Watson. And the last events of the 48 hours. Proves it's kind of been Watson all along that there's really him not performing well in his last preseason appearance and then saying what he said at the podium and them giving him the job anyway and saying, let's try to put everything back together again in time for the season. And that's entirely possible.
But why did the Browns do this? in your estimation? Albert. I I think there are there are a couple of things to look at here. The first is just I you know, my understanding is he was more consistent and played better over the course of camp, the full body of work.
Now, I don't think anybody was expecting the wheels to come off the way that they did on Saturday, but I think anybody would agree that it'd be short-sighted to make a decision based on that one thing.
Now, like, is it a warning sign of what could be to come, you know, in week three if they don't play well the first two weeks and then they stick with Deshaun Watson against Carolina? I think that certainly becomes part of the picture now. But this decision was always going to be for Todd Munkin about. Like, how can we get the highest level of production out of that position for the other 10 guys in the huddle? I mean, Todd Munkin waited a long time to get this shot to be a head coach, and he's got it now.
And, you know, one thing that came up when I was there a couple of weeks ago was how, you know, Munkin does give his quarterback a fair amount of control and command at the line of scrimmage. And I think that was sort of one of the tells that they were always going to lean towards the veteran experience that Deshaun Watson brings to the table. And, you know, I even had people there say it like reminds Deshaun a little bit of what he had with Bill O'Brien in Houston and that, you know, the quarterback does have the ability to adjust things, to set protections, all that different stuff at the line of scrimmage.
So there was a comfort level there, I think, between Watson and Munkin. I think it would be foolish not to look at the investment the team made in him, right? And if you've gone this far and you've given up the three first-round picks and you've yielded $230 million. You want to get one more look at it and make 100% sure that there's nothing there that you haven't found already.
So there's that piece of it. And then I think that leads right into my next point here, which is something I felt like this. I felt this way all along. You know, the Browns have to assess their quarterback position for 2027. And I know we haven't even started 2026 yet, but they have two first-round picks next year.
And so, you know, getting a full vetting of what they've got at the position, I think, is part of the equation here. And look, if Watson plays great and all of a sudden he discovers what he had for those four years in Houston, then awesome. But if he doesn't, then it's really easy for them to pivot over to Shador Sanders. I think if you go with Shador Sanders, and I wrote this last night, you almost have to cut Watson. Like, I don't think that there's a path back to Deshaun Watson if you start Shadur Sanders.
So I think for now, it's Deshaun Watson as long as he plays well and plays well enough to justify keeping the job. And if it's not Deshaun, and they make that decision two games, four games, six games in, and they go to Shador, I think they'd probably give Shadur the rest of the season to show what he's got. Man. Dude, this is crazy. Like I said, Watson all along for so many different ways, right?
Yeah. It really We were talking right off the top that that There's a reason why Watson got the road start and Shador got the home start in the splits of the preseason, right? Like that. That was not just by happenstance, correct? Right.
Okay. Yeah, no, we saw it, right? Like, I think the issue. Would have been like where, okay, like if Shadura starts the first game against the Bears. on the road.
and plays really well. What's the reaction to Deshaun going to be in the second game at home? Like, I certainly think that's something you think about, right? Like, that it was going to be a lot of fun. Clearly, because Watson was thinking about it too, Albert.
You know, I mean, his post-game comments came from the gut, you know, and then we were talking also, as you pointed out, like, Jacksonville on the road is going to be such a tough week one game, obviously. And then, week two, if they all the people that could send the Browns back home at 0-2 and stir it up and make it just as uncomfortable and awkward and terrible as possible, it's Baker Mayfield, you know, of all the people. And you know, like he might. By the way, he's going to be a free agent after this. He might not get his rest that week.
He'll just be so hyped, right? But you're saying there was no other choice. You thought they would have had to cut Watson if they had. I really don't think. I mean, honestly, and I've heard people talk about the cap implications and everything else, but I just think.
I mean, then what do you do, right? Like, then, if it doesn't work out with Shadur, are you throwing Deshaun Watson back into that cauldron? You know, because, like, that. And I know people would say, like, you're an NFL quarterback, you should be able to handle it. Got it.
Like, I understand that. But how's that going to affect the other guys in the team? You know, like, they got to play those home games too. You know, so I think that piece of it, like. If you're looking at it, and I mean, like, that's the way I felt coming out of Saturday: if you don't start Deshaun Watson, like you have to seriously think about walking away from him.
And by the way, like, I would advocate anyway, if you want to get into the cap implications, it's like if you, if you're going to cut him now, it'd accelerate and it'd be $81 million next year if he's not on the team versus being able to split it up and push, I think it's like $51 million of it off onto 2028. I'd advocate if I were the Browns for taking the hit all at once, you know, next year, because the way I see it, Like they're going to have, they've got a really good group of second-year players. The rookies look good.
So you're going to have those two groups on rookie contracts. And then probably another big draft class next year with two first-rounders.
So you're going to have a lot of young players and rookie deals on the team.
So like I think either way, it would have made sense to take the larger cap hit all at once based on the makeup of your team or what it looks like that's going to be going into 2027. And I think that would have made it easy for the Browns here if they were going to go with Shadur Sanders. If they were convinced that Shadur Sanders was the best answer, like the cleanest thing to do might have been to go with Shadur and just cut Deshaun Watson and walk away now. Certainly would have been the most popular thing to do with their fans. But, you know, clearly Todd Muncin thought the best thing for his team was to play Deshaun now.
Albert Breer Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer here on the Rich Isen Show.
Okay, is there what's going on with Joey Porter in Pittsburgh? That Mike McCarthy called it an impasse, and we all know. Witherspoon signed for a poop ton in Seattle, and we're waiting on the Christian Gonzalez contract. You know, is Joey Porter Jr. potentially on the block?
Like, what is happening? With that one.
Well, they've got a veteran defense for sure. And I think in these scenarios, you do have to think about if you're Pittsburgh, if you're any team in one of these scenarios, there's a couple of things you have to look at. Like Based on how a negotiation has gone, What are the chances that you're going to sign them long term? What's your willingness to franchise tag him after the year? And if you add those two things together and say, well, maybe we're walking away after the year.
Then you have to consider: like, what sort of year are we going to get from the guy if he is. Playing in the final year of a contract? Will he nurse injuries? I mean, there's all those things. You know, it's complicated when a guy's going into a contract year.
You might get his best year. You might get a guy protecting himself all year.
So, I think those things all come into play. And certainly, I think we see the writing on the wall. If Christian Gonzalez was just going to take what Devin Witherspoon got in Seattle, My guess is that it would have been pretty easy to do that. And that's just a guess. My guess is it would have been relatively easy to work that out the same way the Bijan Robinson deal gets done, and within 48 hours, Jameer Gibbs is signed in Detroit, right?
So Like clearly Christian Gonzalez might have a shot. To change the market again? And then does it get even harder to sign Joey Porter Jr.? You know, so one thing always affects the next. And we've seen the way that contracts have escalated.
And, you know, I don't know, I think Joey Porter is a really good player. I don't know if he's like as clear a top player at the position as Witherspoon and Gonzalez are, which is where the disagreement might come from.
Okay. What else? What else are we looking forward to seeing between now and the season? Does other contracts need to get done or I mean, it's a little bit more. That's still outstanding.
I guess. Let's put it this way. How about this? This one's still Baker, right? The big one's still Baker.
I mean, I have to say that. You think he might cycle back here? I just think, like, here's the thing. That's a really well-run organization, and they've done a great job. I think you'd agree, right?
They've done a great job transitioning out of the Tom Brady era where they were all in and they had invested in older players, and they've done a good job turning things over, and now they're getting some of their younger players re-signed. And, like, I just. I just think Like that organization has a Like, I think somebody there is going to say, let's take another swing at this. And maybe it's right after you get done with the cutdown, right? And we've seen guys do deals on the very doorstep of the season.
I think TJ Watt did it twice. Is that right? Like, I think the day before the season, it happened twice with him that he signed big money extension.
So, look, I think you go back and you look at the previous history here, right, with Baker, and you know, it's.
Well, okay, like why did he why did he set that that that why did he draw that line in the sand in July and saying like like either this gets done before training camp starts or we're not doing a deal? Because he knew the franchise's history, recent history, was to get these contracts done in training camp, and he wanted it done before then.
So that's Tristan Wurfs, their left tackle, Luke Gadecki, their right tackle, Zion McCollum, their corner.
Now you see Vita V, he gets a deal done in the middle of training camp, right?
So they've shown a willingness to do this. I just I don't think That's I think the Buccaneers are smart enough to know that there's a deal to be done there. And Why not take one more swing at it before the start of the season? And if you put something Baker likes in front of him, maybe you spark something. And if not, you at least tried and you revisited after the year.
Albert Breer, okay. Do we have. Anything cooking in Atlanta now that Michael Penix has been cleared for 11-on-11. Kevin Stefansky was asked if there was a chance that Pennix could start week one. For the Falcons, and I believe that is against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh, correct?
Quote, he said, sure, I can't speculate on those types of things. End quote. Is something going on there? What do you think?
So the clock is ticking for sure because there's the whole process of you got to build an offense for a guy. It might look a little different for Pennix than it would for Tua.
So all of that, time is very much a factor now. We are less than three weeks out from the Falcons opening their season. Um I'll just put it bluntly to you. Please. I've talked to some people who have been in these joint practice settings against Atlanta.
And Things did not look great with Tua in there. And I think that was further reflected in the preseason action. And I've talked to some people that coached against them in the games, and it's the same sort of thing, and that it doesn't look right with Tua in there. And so I'm not telling you Cooper Rush has got a chance to start or anything like that, but I don't know that the play has matched the expectation they had for him when he was coming in. And so I think the door is open for that reason for Michael Panix to come in and take the job.
And by all accounts, Michael Panix has done everything he possibly can to put himself in position to compete for the job. It's just a medical thing, you know? Like it's just the doctor clears you when the doctor clears you.
So now he's cleared. And I don't think, Rich, that they would have left this thing open for as long as they did. Um, and, you know, like, and given Michael Panix this, the, the chance to win it this late in the game. Because, I mean, this is, I mean, you're at the point now. You're past the dress rehearsal week.
Now it's like you're really getting ready for the season. Um, if Tua had just taken the job and run away with it, you know. But they didn't play him at preseason week two. They didn't put him out there. Yeah.
And I, but I think part of that is, too, is like, who are you putting him out there with? You know what I mean? Like, so that's always a factor with the quarterback. Like, if you're not going to play the starters, then you don't, then if you're not going to play a starting line, a lot of times you don't play the starting quarterback.
So those things are all factors. I. I'm just I just say like I I do think the Falcons need to get a good look at Michael Penix. Ahead of the 2027 draft, if that draft class has as many quarterbacks in it as we think. They'll be coming out of year three on Pennex.
They'll have to make a decision on the fifth year option. They'll have to make a decision on whether they draft one. I think it's really important that they get a full look at Michael Pennex at some point this year. And I think that door is open for him to come in and compete for the job on the fly based on the way Camp's gone. All right, two more for you, Albert.
Let's talk Raiders. Mendoza got a ton of time in the preseason. Um, and Ash and Genty gave everyone a scare in practice on Sunday. Hit me with Genty status, best you have, and the decision that Clint Kubiak has, if there really is one.
Well, I actually heard he's felt great, he feels great today, which is good news. I don't know what that means timetable-wise. You know, I would say the important thing with Mendoza here is like, yes, part of it is his own preparation and his own readiness for the job. And one thing about that family of coaches, as you know, Rich, they are regimented and stringent when it comes to learning all the detail of the offense, the footwork, where your eyes are, all that different stuff, the minutia that none of your listeners are going to want to hear about. Like, all of those little things matter.
Of course. And so, like, being ready, I think, is a huge part of it for Mendoza. And I think he's made great progress in that area. Everything you hear about him is positive. I mean, I've heard unbelievable stories about him even before the draft of getting ready to play in the NFL, right?
Like, so I think he's. His progress has been good. The flip side of it is, and this was something that people there were adamant about with me: we have to be ready to support him too, right?
So, we have to be ready to, like, that when he gets out there, he's not going out there with a hole on the offensive line here, a receiver who can't play there, you know, whatever it is, like where we're going to get him out there. And now, all of a sudden, we can't run the offense the way we want to run it.
So, all these things that he's built towards come undone, and now his confidence is in jeopardy. They don't want to create that situation, which I think is smart. And Genti's a huge part of that puzzle, right?
So I think Genti's readiness to play. And Genti's readiness to make it through the year, and I think they're going to be careful with him, is a huge part of it. Like, I go back to what Todd Gurley was for Jared Goff's development in LA, what Zeke Elliott was for Dak Prescott's development in Dallas. That's how they view it, I think, with Genti is like Genti can be a huge part of Fernando Mendoza's development in Vegas and helping them manage down and distance because a good running back will keep you on schedule. You know, taking the pressure off of Mendoza, you know, with the running game in that way.
And then also like the outlet that he can be in the passing game and everything else. And so they've got a great young tight end, obviously, in Brock Bowers, a good second tight end next to him and Michael Mayer. They don't have a lot at receiver. The offensive line has questions. And, you know, Genti is going to be a big part of the equation going forward, too.
So I do think Genti's availability and his readiness to play at a top level is going to be a factor in when they decide to put Mendoza out there. That's why I ask you the question. That's a full-on answer right there. Last one for you, Albert. You were here on July 31st in studio.
I do not believe when you left, I did not think we'd still be playing this game on August 24th.
So go ahead and hit it, please. Is he back yet? Where is AAR right now? Is he back yet, Albert? Like, what's up?
No, like, right? Like, no, I, I, I. I, um, I would say So, I think the best way to put this is like that he's seeking clarity on it, and they're going to give him as much time as he needs to find it. Is that money? Is that money?
Is that what you're saying? I mean, look, like I, that's what clarity does he need. That's one thing that's come up, too. Like, honestly, that is one thing that has come up that I like that, like, and this isn't from Rams people or from Donald's people, but I mean, one thing that has kind of continually come up when I've talked to other people in the league about it is like, how do you work out the money part of it? Like, and how much are you paying him?
And how does that fit into their budget, both cash and cap? You know, like, so yeah, I mean, there's that piece of it, too. I don't think he's going to want to come out there and play for free, you know, like that's not what this is either.
So, look, like, I think. Again, like, I think the bigger piece, like, and this is just me talking, but I think the bigger piece is him feeling comfortable that he can go out there and be Aaron Donald. And that's what I said to you at the very start. And the trouble with that, again, is that it's not just his ability to go play football at a high level, it's to be Aaron Donald. And.
Like, I think it's just a process getting there. And I think that's what he's seeking clarity on: is like, can I go out there and be myself? They have a plan in place. He and Sean McVay are very close. I'd expect it's going to be 30 to 40 snaps a game.
They feel good about their depth at the position. The cupboard's not bare there. They've got Kobe Turner and Braden Fisk and Puna Ford and Tyler Davis. They've got numbers there, so they don't need to play him 50, 60 snaps a game.
So the plan's in place. Everybody's ready to hit go when Aaron Donald tells them to push that button. But obviously he's not there quite yet. And he has been working out, by the way, at that facility. I think we talked about this before, but that's where he's been kind of testing himself.
I know Giff Smith's been a big part of that process for him, one of Sean McVay's assistants. And really they had to report these things when he puts a helmet on. I guess that's the league rule, which. falls and uh for me falls into the category of you learn something new every day. I did not know that before all this.
Listen, the whole thing, and just to wrap it up, the reason why um it's difficult to understand why he's not back yet. When the answer is he's still trying to see if he could be Aaron Donald, it's tough for fans, or certainly me to grasp that because we just assume, wait a minute, he can't be Aaron Donald anymore. And I know he's human at the end of the day. He just looked like that to me. Oh, he's what, 35 now?
Well, no, I think he's younger than that. You want to look that up, Chris? But. He could be in that area. 35, you're right.
So Yeah, I it ain't easy. I understand to be Aaron Donald. It just strikes me, the question mark has always been: does he want to do it? Right.
Right.
Not that can he do it physically. And the other thing is the reason why I said money is because, you know, hey, he's trying to, you know, get clarity. That that does sound, you know, in a way, like, you know, a euphemism. Um, seeking clarity for money, but I can only imagine like that is the last thing. I like some clarity too, if that's what we're saying.
Exactly, you know what I mean? But less, like, come on, man. Like, there's money in the cronky banana stand. Like, they'll figure something out, you know what I mean? But.
So, wow, okay. I guess he's just got to figure out that he's human after all. Yeah, and I think it's like it's interesting too, because look, I've felt this way all along. I don't know, I was. You know, I had a great conversation with Eric Weddell about it.
And like, Eric is, I mean, I was the closest thing I could think of. Like, right when it, right when this first came up in June, like, he was the first person I called. Me too. We had him on. Yeah.
And he and he was great talking about it. And it's like, there's all other human parts of it, which I'm sure those two have talked through this. But like, Eric told me, like, he tore his pack, you know, like, he still feels that. He still feels the hamstring pull. Like, there's, you know, real life implications to all of this too.
And, you know, you wonder, is it like, I felt this way all along. And what people with the Rams have told me is, no, he wants to play the full year. But I mean, like, isn't there some logic to like... Not. Maybe it's better if he doesn't.
You know what I mean? Maybe it's better if you bring him back in November and you ramp him up slowly in like September, October. I don't know. I mean, like, I think there's a million different ways that you could approach this.
Well, it would be smart. But the bottom line, though, is if he can do the whole season, that way you don't have like we're working something in new. Like, everyone wants to recognize the National Football League when they run a National Football League team. There's so many damn variables, i.e., Cleveland Browns this past weekend just don't want to deal with any of that. You just figure it all out.
Albert, you're the man. Thanks for the time. All right, thanks, Rich. Everybody, follow Albert Breer online and all sorts of socials. And of course, these MMQB is must-read every single week.
Man is as plugged in as it possibly can get. LinkedIn, everybody, right here on The Rich Eisen Show. When you run a small business, every hire matters. A bad hire costs time and money. The right one helps your business grow.
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Get started by posting your job for free at linkedin.com/slash eyes, and terms and conditions apply. Todd Munkin and Deshaun Watson have spoken since we last spoke about it last hour, if that makes any sense. That's next. This is the Rich Eisen Show with Wyndham Clark on deck. Bum bum bum.
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Get started by posting your job for free at linkedin.com/slash Eisen. Terms and conditions apply. All right. Cleveland Browns can't do anything just straight up and normal, even though I think their head coach is pretty damn normal, by the way. I like Todd Muncin, and I cannot lie.
I literally said it. He sounds like Parcells. He sounds like he's like mid-season Doc Rivers. You know what I mean? Like his voice is already shot.
And he's out of Fs to give. I think he's 60, you know, getting his first head coaching job. And he's handling everything best he can. He knows he's got a quarterback that the management. Wants to see.
I know he's got a quarterback that may be the best practice quarterback he's got. He's got a quarterback that is more veteran than anybody else on his roster. But he's got a quarterback that's got a problem with the fan base. And the fan base with him. And it Best he tried to keep that.
Boxed up. In the preseason appearances. It came back to bite everybody this weekend. And despite all that, He named Deshaun Watson the starter. On this day and then stepped to the microphone and explained You know why he did it.
And how much he's going to stick with this decision on a week-to-week basis. Deshaun is going to start against Jacksonville. took in the full body of work. Over the course of off season to training camp. To the games, the joint practice, and ultimately felt like to start the season on the road, Deshaun gave us the best chance to move the ball and score points.
I mean, that's really what it's about. And felt that way going in the last game, but wasn't sure. And after we talked as a staff, And after we re-looked at everything. We're gonna go that direction. Is this a week by week thing or No, we're not anticipating this being a week-by-week thing.
Again, I'm. I think Shador has done a great job, come a long ways, and we're excited about his future. But this is not a week-to-week decision. And he doesn't anticipate that. You know, another way, again, he's leaving himself options for a guy that's not really stepped in front of a microphone as a head coach, certainly in the NFL ever.
I mean, he's handling everything great. Certainly when he said this weekend, hey, This is the way Deshaun should have handled the question about are you upset about being booed? Just say, you know, no one likes being booed, but this is a results-oriented business, and take responsibility for it. Which Deshaun did? Today, on Monday as well.
But before that, I want to get to this class sound quite a Because you know many Browns fans are not happy with this one. Even the ones that didn't cheer to Sean when he was down on the ground, because they're not nuts. But they have a set of eyes. And they want a team that's finally going to have a decent chance. And they've been drafting a bunch of lion-hearted, really talented kids.
That with a An above-average quarterback. That's why I put the Browns in my sleeper team top five during the summer. This is what he had to say about taking in the fans. consideration while making this decision. Absolutely not.
Zero. There was nothing to do with that. I mean, I mean ultimately The fans Want us to win. I mean, ultimately, and put a good product on the field. That's really what they want.
Okay? And so that's our job. As coaches, why we're hired to try and put the best product on the field. And when we don't, then I understand their frustration. But ultimately, they don't decide who plays.
Who would I be if I let someone outside of the building decide who plays? Yeah. I kind of dig this guy. He's winning me over. No, he's winning you over, huh?
I don't know if I need to be won over, but he's out of blanks to give.
Well, doesn't care. We'll see what happens when this potentially goes south and how he handles it. But for the moment, it's just like, no, the fans have no. What type of coach would I be if I considered the fans' point of view? But no offense to you, fans.
Right.
You know I get it. You want to see a good product on the field. We heard he says winning, they want to see a winner. And then he goes, actually, you know, he qualified it. Like, they want to see a good product on the field, which is true.
Do they? Yeah, they do.
Okay. I mean, I know that. You want to see a winner, but as long as you're like last year, they're like, okay, we can hang our hat on Fannin and Judkins and Swessinger. And we can hang our hat on Mason Graham. We can hang our hat on this kid and that kid.
I just named a few of them. You Bronx fans are hanging your head on people because you could see it. You could see they're good. I don't think there's any scenario in which it doesn't go south this year.
Well, Deshaun couldn't play well against the third string. They put Deshaun out later on after Monken. And he He gave the mayor culpa that You know, he didn't need to give if he basically said over the weekend. I wasn't happy about being cheered. when I got hurt.
It's a hurtful thing. But I think everyone understands right, but I've gotten over it. And I don't like being bowed either. In the same way, I didn't like being cheered while I was down on the ground. while I was hurt.
I also don't like getting booed. But I understand where they're coming from. If he had just said that, this wouldn't have been an issue that raised everything to a different crazy ass level.
So he had. I mean, he was like the fireman, right? Putting it out. You know, I I thought I was gonna get uh you know a little different uh response, but uh you know I think you know my emotions got the best of me and um you know I wasn't my comments wasn't intending to go at any of the fans around in the city. Um because there's been a lot of great fans that have been supporting me.
And I know the frustration. This organization have put a lot of investment in coming to get me back in 2022. And things haven't been going the right direction that we thought it was. A lot of injuries, a lot of time off, and not putting the best football and my foot forward.
So again, moving forward, I just want to make sure that I can give the city something to think about in the first two games. And when we come back home, that we have something to cheer about and we can celebrate and go do what we want to do. And that's achieved the ultimate goal and go win and be a champion. All right, so whether that's put in a box or he really feels that he's turned a page. It really now is about what Todd Monkin said over the weekend.
and on this Monday And what is the truth? Winning Is the ultimate deodorant. It cures. virtually everything. That's why this is a talent over everything league.
That's why they acquired Deshaun Watson. There was a Whole poop ton of everything. When they acquired him, but they thought he had the talent. To overcome it and talent over everything, league, and he it's time for him to show the talent. If it's in there.
Show it. Do it against Jacksonville, which is a stout. opponent. Swagu came on in hour number one. Marcus Spears said that is the team nobody is talking about and needs to be talking about more: Jacksonville.
Tough spot. Duval County. Liam Cohen, chest out. Trevor Lawrence. Hair flowing.
That's going to be a tough assignment. Go in there. And when? Oh, boy. Going there.
And look Good and potentially come close, near a miss. We'll see. Go in there and look like you did this past weekend against the Bills backups. Uh-oh, because next week is Baker Mayfield, who would love to just stick it in and twist the knife. He already told, was it the, I forget which pod he was on, basically, where he's just like, oh, the game I've circled is Cleveland.
Okay. Okay. 'Cause that is Tampa's home opener as well. Yeah. It's Tampa's home opener.
Whew. Oh boy.
Okay, so now we're done now, right? What a big, huge finish. What a... You know Just spasm of emotion. That spilled out over the weekend and made things more difficult and awkward.
And let's see if this boxes it up and puts it away. It may for the next two weeks. But the first two weeks of the season is everything. You really don't say that too often in a league where you see Owen two starts and the Bears last year, perfect example, right? They blew a Monday night home opener.
Shot themselves in the foot and then had a 50 burger thrown on them, and then had one of the great seasons that Bears fans are hanging their hats on.
So normally you could sit here and go, oh, and two start, no big deal. But For Watson, massive. For the Browns, writ large, I don't know. Maybe then Shador gets in at some point. If Watson doesn't take the opportunity, then it'll time to see this kid.
Again. Yeah, what percentage would you put that Shador starts week three at home? Zero. Really? Correct.
Unless there's a hurt. Watson. Oh, this is a week to week. You heard him say week to week. I get it, but you don't think they get worked the first two weeks and Deshaun looks like whatever.
They got to stick with it. Were they going to just like suddenly ping-pong like that? No, no way. No, he gets a two-week audition. That one's too bad, man.
Get out there and prove yourself. This is the National Football League. F your feelings, man. It's not called the National Feelings League. It's the National Football League.
I'm saying he stinks and they lose both games by score.
So then, guess what? In your helmet, put. Put, you know, a Q-tip in there. You know? Put some wax in there so you don't hear the crowd, if that's what it is.
Man, I really think cutting. Time for the feelings to be over. They should have cut him. I mean, Not with the nope. You know what I was saying that They kind of might want it to fail a little bit.
Because obviously, Deshaun has played not as well as Shador in the preseason, statistically. Put them in there because there's a lot of good quarterbacks to be had. I'm not saying that they're tanking. Yeah, I'm not saying they're tanking because, like you said, they don't tank. But are they putting themselves in the best position to win games?
There are some great PCPs. What you said. TJ, what you said, Chris, and what I've said. Can all be viewed by anybody taking in this show, listening, or watching right now as great points. Mine though are better.
But seriously. Wow. Everything is true. And you know what would also be true is Watson finds the 2019 Fountain of Youth and Lookout. Because crazier things have happened.
That's true. Yeah. 844-204-Rich, number to dial. Wyndham Clark. Sam Murill, power number three of this program.
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What's up, Howard? He's up. You there, Howard? There we go. Put them back on hold.
No, we got all of that. Power. Howard wanted to talk about Shadur. Thought it would set things up for us. Because I just want to hit Shador here.
I know we've been so all over this Browns quarterback. Story. Shadur had this to say. You know, it's kind of funny how Shadur, out of everybody, is supposed to be that kid. You know?
That's supposed to be a kid who only cares about his image and about, you know. His brand, the watch celebration, right? The watch, you know, all that stuff. Yeah. He's Dion's kid.
That's the only reason why we're paying attention to him. It's always interesting how he's the adult in the room in many different ways too. This is what he had to say when he was asked about Watson being booed and Watson's reaction to it. In general, I don't appreciate that. at all, just regardless competition, we are human beings.
I think we all need to understand that, you know, in this room too. We are humans.
So it's like Um I don't really do things to humans I want really want done to me, you know, and. I don't really like making people feel uncomfortable and in different spaces. And that's why, even sometimes, like daily things I do, I try to. Make sure everybody is comfortable, you know, because a lot of things, just even how I am as a person, sometimes can make people uncomfortable, you know.
So, I mean, I'm obviously aware of that and Just for all the fans and everything, like we appreciate y'all, man. showing up and everything and however y'all feel about the situation about the Sean and about everything, like Still, you know, I think it's more about a bigger purpose of just respect. you know, it's just a respect thing that I feel like, um, Should be there because we all out there trying to do our best and trying to. Uh Sir The franchise, the best way possible. We're going out there to win games, we're doing everything we can do.
So. You know, I don't really appreciate that. I thought he's supposed to be that person who's taking a selfie while uh while doing that, right? I will always cape for this kid. Everything about this kid.
Everything that he has done since he was born into this league has been exactly counter to what everybody thought he was. And you know who's exactly like that? His dad. His dad. Like him smiling at the media, going, you know, we're all for everyone in this room, too, we're all human.
That's his dead. Do unto others, that's his dead. Talking about respect, that's his dad. But that's also him. And the reason why we're talking about him, sure, is his last name, Sanders.
The fan base digs him more than the other guy. Yep. The fan base believes in him more than the other guy. And still. The other guy gets the job, and he.
Is not saying I deserve it. Exactly. He If he thought he was immature and he deserved it, he would have taken a shovel. and made the hole deeper. For Deshaun, instead He defended him.
Yep. If he was so immature that it was only about him and being famous and getting the starters gig, he would have made it. deeper for Deshaun to dig his way out and maybe taking the dirt. and buried him with it, and he did the exact opposite. And I think it deserves to be pointed out.
That he's handling every Turn to the best of his ability. in a way that I thought I think people thought were He he didn't have in him. I just wanted to say that to end hour two. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast. In ESPN's wild world of college football, every Saturday, begins with a ritual.
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