Hey, I've got some game time tips to share with Frigidaire. When you're hosting during football season, you've got to be ready for every kind of craving.
Somebody wants fresh pizza.
Somebody wants crispy wings.
Somebody's asking if there's sliders. That's when you need more than one call in the playbook. Frigidaire offers ranges and wall ovens with over 15 cooking modes so you can tackle hosting with confidence. There's stone baked pizza for restaurant quality pizza in as little as two minutes. Air fry mode for crispy favorites and air sous vide for juicy tender sliders.
Plus there's slow cook, no preheat, and more. Stone baked pizza and air fry both built right in your oven. That's the game time MVP combo.
So when you're hosting before kickoff, Frigidaire helps you cover every craving available at the Home Depot, how doers get more done. Only when using stone-baked pizza mode, cooktime requires preheat and reheat and may vary based on ingredients. This message is brought to you by Apple Card. Shave ice by the beach. A trip to the state fair.
and a throwback flick at the local drive-in. They're more than just items to check off the summer bucket list. They're also opportunities to earn 2% daily cash back when you use your Apple Card with Apple Pay. Apply for Apple Card now and use InMinutes with Apple Pay. Subject to credit approval, Apple Card is issued by Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Salt Lake City Branch, Terms and More at AppleCard.com.
This is the Rich Eisen Show. Hey, everybody! Can't get enough of the Rich Eisen Show? You're in luck. You can find us everywhere.
Watch us weekdays on Disney Plus from noon to 3 Eastern. Miss the show? We've got a podcast, so you can listen anytime. But here's the best part. Our YouTube channel.
Subscribe at youtube.com slash rich eisen show and you'll never miss a moment.
Now, on with the show. Let's do this! This is The Rich Eisen Show. Cleveland Browns can't do anything just straight up and normal. Live from the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles.
I like Todd Munkin. This is not a week-to-week decision. The Rich Eisen Show. But he's got a quarterback that's got a problem with the fan base. Today's guests.
ESPN NFL analyst Chase Daniel. Pro Football Hall of Famer Joe Thomas. Actor Will Forte. And now, it's Rich Eisen. Welcome to this edition of the Rich Eisen Show.
We are live in Los Angeles, California, Disney plus the ESPNF, ESPN Radio Series XM Channel 80. Basically, there's no excuse to miss what we're saying. It's so important what we say every day. At least we like to think so. Hopefully you agree.
Chase Daniels on the program. We're going to break down some tape and hit the Browns quarterback decision that came out of the Todd Bunkin machine yesterday. Joe Thomas, Browns Hall of Famer, will join us in the middle of this show to talk about that as well. And then hour number three, some laughs. Coyote versus Acme is a red-hot movie that is going to be seen in theaters near you nationwide this Friday.
It's off the Rotten Tomatoes machine as well. And Will Forte is in it. Coyote versus Acme is the name of the film. He's going to be here in studio in hour number three. It's been a while since he's been here.
It's true. You've got a celebrity, true or false, in the machine as well. Lots of machines. Good to see you over there. Welcome to the machine, Chris.
I am the machine. What's going on over there, Mike Del Tufo? How are you? I'm doing well, Chris. TJ Jefferson, candle is being lit as we speak.
How are you? Good to see you. I'm fantastic. How are you doing? I'm doing fine.
I'm checking on my eligibility, quite frankly. You're a coach. Yeah, for sure. No doubt about it. We haven't talked about this story yet, and it's now reached the point where we have to.
Um and the story involves Uh two players Named Daquan Wright and Xavian Harris.
Now, the last time you saw Daquan Wright. On a football field, you may remember it.
Now when I mention it to you. Because it was with three minutes and change left in the Verbo Fiestapo semifinal contest. Between Miami and Olmes, and there is mister Wright, In the end zone. Catching one from Trinidad Chambliss, who knows all about. going into a courtroom to seek eligibility, which is the topic du jour.
And uh Daquan put the uh ro Rebs up with three minutes to go, only to have. Miami stroll down the field and have Carson back. Who knows all about 19 years of eligibility in college football himself? Wow. Popped it in the end zone, and Miami won that game, advanced to the national championship game.
In that game, Xavian Harris had a couple tackles for. Oh, Miss in the loss.
Now then. I bring all of this up because both of those guys, it appears, is playing college football for LSU this year. And you might be sitting there going, Rich.
Okay. Yeah.
Somebody that was at Ole Miss is now at LSU. That's a story as old as time. And in terms of time, 2026. Get out of here. Yeah, now you're going to tell me that.
Dogs and cats kind of fight with each other. Careful. No. Oh. Dear dog.
I mean, so The interesting thing, though, is, for those who may not know, Daquan Wright and Xavian Harris put themselves up for the National Football League draft, and neither of them got drafted. And they wound up on NFL rosters this spring and summer. And There used to be a time where that would remove you from eligibility. to return to college. Not anymore.
Let me just try and explain why, because you're looking at the screen. There is Daquan Wright in a Browns uniform. As a matter of fact, he was suited up. Lost amongst all the Deshaun Watson getting booed in the second half and Shador Sanders bawling out for as best he can in the first half and all the post-game hoo-ha from that and the conversation about who's starting for the Browns that we finally got an answer to. Lost amongst all of that is Daquan Wright suited up.
Yeah.
He was in a Browns uniform this weekend. Wow. Okay. And So the NCAA adopted a new aged-based model in June that grants athletes up to five years of eligibility within five years. The new rules did not cover players who began their careers in 2022.
through 2023.
So 16 football players. who are in that sort of loophole. Went ahead. And Got a judge in Louisiana. To give them a temporary restraining order that permitted them to return to school for a fifth year of eligibility and enter the NCAA transfer portal to explore their options.
And lo and behold, who's waiting in the portal? But Lane Kiffin. With open arms. And so that's what's going down. Lane spoke about it.
for uh uh at the podium Uh at LSU. And he stepped to the podium and he basically said, I'm going to beat y'all to the punch. before a question was asked of him. And this is in part of what he said. You know, made a decision to recruit.
some kids around the country. And through these multiple injunctions around the country, which this is not a first time, they've been in. college sports for a while. A group of players were granted a fifth year of eligibility around the country. Multiple sports.
And through them winning their injunction. and entry into the portal. they're available to recruit. And so ourselves, like Many places around the country are recruiting them. And At the end of the day, You know.
Because of these rulings, they're either going to play for you or they're going to play somewhere else around the country.
So, um we've made decision to recruit them, like Probably most people are. In my opinion, knowing the information, I think it's really wrong to be critical of these kids. You know, they were granted. They were granted a fifth year by a judge. saying that they were wronged by the NCAA.
And that they should have had the fifth year all along, like all the kids moving forward will have a fifth year.
So I think there's a lot of misinformation that people don't understand why these are getting them. It's not. Because of some other reasons that people may think, it's simply that a judge decided that they should have had the fifth year, like everyone moving forward will have. I mean, this is not a surprise, I guess, because we got a heads up after the Browns. Bill's game Over the weekend from Todd Funk.
Now, this kind of rings true about him saying, oh, all of this kind of rings a bell. I mean, it's crazy. I mean, I don't even know what to say. I mean,. As far as I know, he's had a medical issue.
that wasn't allowing him to to practice. Um that's a medical You know? Uh issue, it's nothing to do with me. You know, and then uh But And then he was cleared, so we dressed him just in case we had to have him. I mean, I don't know what to say.
I mean, you know. I wondered why Lane Kippen reached out a week ago.
Now I know. I mean, I didn't know.
Now I know. I didn't call him back now. I guess I should have. Wow. Hmm.
This is off the charts. It's nuts. By the way, Lane. in his press conference said he did not call. Monkin.
Quote, I found that interesting because there's some inaccuracies in that story, but I don't know. Maybe somebody else called them that said they were me.
Okay. Yada, yada, yada. Look who's back. playing for Lane Kiffen. I can't blame a guy.
If there's a loophole and you've got two kids. Who can Play for you. And one of them Just scored in the Fiesta Bowl in a high-leverage situation. By the way, probably Macon Lane that helped him make it seem close to making him another half-mil, right? If they needed the national championship game, right?
Yeah, he would have got more catch there.
So. He's very familiar with these Players. And he's saying it's a one-off. Because there's this loophole, and these kids were told you don't have any eligibility left. Oh, and the NCAA has now created a rule after they've left in June that.
These kids probably would have liked to have known. before they decided to make the draft choice that they made. Part of me is like, damns the brakes though. That's it. It's too bad.
They created a rule. That Gives other people eligibility that you just didn't know about. They just created after you're gone. They see conjunctive relief in somebody Yeah. Shock the world in the state of Louisiana.
Where Baton Rouge resides. Says, okay, now I know there are just two that wound up at LSU, and there's more to come. I mean, cutdown day in the National Football League is right around the corner. And you know who I feel for the most? Are the players who are currently in their regular years of eligibility.
Who might lose again? Because of this. And potentially somebody shows up. And you're like, I've got my whole season set up. I've worked my ass off to get into the starting role or getting every snap.
or my NIL is tied to some of this stuff. I've been told this, that, the other thing. I've come to this school. Oh, wait a minute, somebody just got cut. In the NFL And they're now going to be competing for your role.
Too bad. 18-year-old who made decisions based on their promises. I'm not saying Kiffin's backing out on a promise, but. Don't you think a kid that scored with three minutes to go and the. Fiesta ball's gonna get some snaps.
You would imagine. Certainly since he's been ready to roll, although The Browns didn't dress him free because of a medical reason. Nuts So the Big Ten stepping in apparently. According to Pete Thammel, our friends at ESPN. Famil says the Big Ten is going to pass a rule this day.
That will not allow players to return from the NFL and play for one of its schools. Period. End O story So now what?
Someone's gonna sue the Big Ten. Yeah.
This was all born out of that day in July, what, three, four years ago? We were on the air. Remember? We were on the air. And all of a sudden, boom.
NIL now exists. And everybody in the NCAA was like caught flat-footed. Right. No Rules seem to apply. And then new rules come in that can be litigated.
And all of us fans, you know, we look at it, we shake our heads. We're like, this is nuts. This is not fair. Kids who are hanging out with the grown-ass men professionals over the summer shouldn't be allowed to come back to college. Lane Kipney even admitted that.
He was asked point blank: do you think players that? That are in the NFL. who get cut Should go back to college. like they're Thornton friggin' melon. Yeah.
Oops. In general, should NFL players come back to college? Kiffin said, I believe it doesn't matter necessarily what I believe. That answer would be no. I think every circumstance should be looked at differently.
Well, these kids have the pathway to do it. I don't blame them for taking it. I don't blame Lane for doing it. Ryan Day said, you know, at Ohio State. You know, we got to start taking a look at these things.
This was before the Big Ten was announced that we were going to come in and just bring the curtain down on it. Quote, would have to at least consider the possibility of adding eligible players, said Ryan Day. Do I, quote, do I like anything about it? Absolutely not. But we've got to do what's right for Ohio State.
Don't blame him for saying that.
Sort of a day-to-day thing right now. And like anything, we're just going to try to adapt. But I think we would all agree, maybe not everybody, but there has to be a certain point where your roster gets locked in. That's right. You're telling all these kids that have.
sweated their rear ends off in Columbus. All spring and summer? Oh. Somebody just got cut. by the Broncos.
They got a year left. Guess who's going to be sharing the snaps with you now? Guess what?
Somebody that was next to Nick Benito three days ago. Let's That's nuts. And I could sit here and just howl at the moon because that's all we're doing. The feds aren't coming to the rescue. There was something that they were apparently supposed to vote on that would get past the House.
That is out to lunch. And they they they recessed. before voting on it. The number of people about it's bipartisan rich.
Okay. Uh They might be bipartisan, but are they more partisan to the schools and the coaches and the kids who need to get some sort of idea? Is it possible? That my job That I'm now getting paid to do, but not really an employee technically. But my job is on the line if the Seahawks cut the wrong guy.
Come on now. We all know that stinks. And we also know, quite frankly, I think it stinks to high heaven. I'm glad the Big Ten's at least going to do something about it. The SEC made a statement saying this stinks as well, but they're not telling Lane you can't do what you're doing.
There will be a lawsuit, I'm sure, on behalf of somebody that wants to play in the Big Ten. I have no idea if a member school would join that. I doubt it. But I'm straight up with you. I applaud Tony Petiti for stepping in and doing something like this.
And I think this is what is right to do. And You know, I mean, there's a big day in my house on Saturday. It's Taylor's bot mitzvah. That's not till the afternoon. And everything that I'm saying right now about it stinks to high heaven.
This thing sucks. Uh Noon Eastern, 9 o'clock right here, my ass will be planted rooting my head off of the Michigan Wolverines. Psyched about their new coach. What Bryce Underwood, who is making more money than Maybe anyone, right?
So I'll bury my head. I'm the first to admit it. But can somebody do something? I'm not going to vote with my remote or my feet. Just not going to do that.
Hmm. I'm not. I saw that news, Rich, and I said, Man, Big Ten doesn't care about winning.
Well, that response would come from me saying, Hey, we won the last three, blah, blah, blah. That's right. Yeah.
Mm-hmm. And if you don't want to win championships, go to Indiana. Right, right, that too. Where the Purdue Athletic Director got a lesson. It's all a mess.
He was like, I don't know what the answer is. I don't know. Here's the answer: the answer is the Big Tent and the SEC get together, make their own rules, create their own league, ask who else from other conferences want in. Go to ESPN, go to the Fox executives, and anybody else who's put money in the pot for the television rights and say, what do you do? What do you say?
Let's go. Create your own damn rules and tell everybody else with a lawyer, pound sand. And where do I watch? What channel is it on? Mm.
I will be wearing maize and blue on Saturday. And then a suit. And then lose my shirt. Because you're taking it off and like dancing like a helicopter teacher. No.
Oh, 'cause you have a a che uh a wardrobe change checks like it's out of style. That's me and his money. 844-204 riches. Yeah.
Happily, by the way. The reason why I work multiple jobs. When you run a small business, you don't just do the job, you're also the hiring manager, the payroll department, the benefits team. Usually, all before lunch, Gusto takes a few of those off your plate quickly and seamlessly. Gusto is online payroll and benefits software built for small businesses.
It's all-in-one, remote-friendly, and incredibly easy to use.
So, you can pay, hire, onboard, and support your team from anywhere. Unlimited payrolls. Right now, for one monthly price, no hidden fees, no surprises. Save time with built-in automated tools. You got offer letters, onboarding docs, and so much more.
Direct deposit. It's quick and simple to switch to Gusto. Just transfer your existing data to go ahead and get up and running fast. Plus, don't pay a cent until you run your first payroll. Try Gusto today at gusto.com/slash rich and get three months free when you run your first payroll.
That's three months of free payroll at gusto.com/slash rich. One more time, gusto.com/slash rich. When we come back, we ask Chase Daniel if he's got any more eligibility in Missouri next. Taking a quick break to tell you how Saturday's game time can get a little messy. Your crew just came over to watch.
Snacks on the table, drinks in hand, and somebody's celebrating like they just won the whole season and beyond. And when that energy gets going, your walls can end up taking the hit. Whether it's a big spill or a noticeable scuff, that's where Bear Ultra interior paint comes in. It adds an extra durable, stain-blocking finish that helps your walls hold up for the whole season. It also delivers outstanding coverage and hide in fewer coats, with easy application and a smooth, even finish that goes on clean from the first pass.
Plus, that easy clean finish helps walls stay looking new longer.
So before the next kickoff, give your space game-ready defense and coverage that goes the distance. Bear Ultra, only at the Home Depot. Get into the Hyundai Getaway Sales Event and get away with a deal so right it almost feels wrong. Right now, you can get great deals on our most popular models, including our adventure ready SUVs like the Hyundai Santa Fe or Santa Fe Hybrid and the Tucson or Tucson Hybrid. Plus, there's our bold and stylish Elantra loaded with the latest tech, or go all-electric with the IONIC 5 or IONIC 9.
So get down to your local Hyundai dealer and get away with a deal you'll love during the Hyundai Getaway Sales Event. Visit HyundaiUSA.com for details. Rich Eisen here for Gusto. On my shows, we talk a lot about what happens in the spotlight, the games, the highlights, and the moments that get replayed and debated. But in any successful operation, what happens behind the scenes matters just as much.
Small businesses are no different. Payroll, hiring, onboarding, benefits, and all the details that keep things moving may not be the most visible part of the job, but they still have to be handled right. That's where Gusto comes in. Gusto is online payroll and benefits software built for small businesses. It's all In one, remote friendly and incredibly easy to use.
So you can pay, hire, onboard, and support your team from anywhere. Automatic payroll tax filing, simple direct deposits, health benefits, commuter benefits, workers' comp, 401k, you name it. Gusto makes it simple and has options for nearly every budget. And it's all built to save you time with built-in automated tools for offer letters, onboarding docs, direct deposit, and more. Plus, you get unlimited payroll runs for one monthly price.
No hidden fees, no surprises. Try Gusto today at gusto.com/slash rich and get three months free when you run your first payroll. That's three months of free payroll at gusto.com/slash rich. One more time, gusto.com slash rich. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast.
Chase Daniel is here on the program. I'm just going to come out and ask you flat out: what are you seeing about Watson on? on tape on the all twenty two You're already shrugging your shoulders because it's not like he's lit it up, right?
So, what have you seen that Todd Monk can at least can hang his hat on here to announce him as the starter, Chase? Not a lot, not a lot, to be completely honest. Look, I haven't been around practice, right?
So, practice in general, like you got to play well in preseason, but that's only, I think Deshaun's had 27 reps or 32, something along those lines in actual preseason games. He's had way more in practice, so he could be lighting it up in practice. But just taking practice away, because I don't know, you watch the game and it's safe, it's underneath throws, it's missing easy ones, it's um, feels feels like he's comfortable within the offense, and then you turn on Shador, which automatically, like obviously, they were fighting back and forth, and Shador's taking shots down the field, he's taking more chances off obviously those two interceptions. But I just, look, I was really, really surprised that Deshaun was named the starter. And when he had that press conference, I had always thought that Shador was probably going to be the guy just because he gives him a little bit of a higher ceiling.
And then when that press conference happened, to me, I'm thinking, like, oh my gosh, like, what are his, forget about the fans. The fans are going to boo him regardless. They're going to have 17 away games. I think Daniel Jeremiah said that. I think it's fascinating.
I think it's so true. Like, he's going to get booed at home. Think about from a. From a teammate perspective, when you hear your guy not take accountability for actions and sort of shrug it off like it's nothing, like those back in 2023, that was real. That happened.
And there were a lot of people affected on that. And you had a chance to endear yourself to a fan base who already hates you, by the way, who already hates you. And now you're like, oh, it's personal. I just shut up and play at some point, right? Like that's sort of how I got from it.
I'm like, oh, there's no coming back. Like, I was like, oh, he shouldn't even be on the roster. And then they name the starter. And I've been going back and forth, Rich, a little bit, trying to think just outside the box because I spent 14 years in the league. I was around a lot of different players and coaches.
And what I had to land on was like, okay, the reason, first of all, I think it was above Todd Muncin. I think if Muncin had his choice, Shador fits his offense style better. Spread it out, 11 personnel, 12 personnel, let this thing rip. If you keep that on the side, But I came down to like, okay, you're going to start Deshaun, and Deshaun's probably going to falter because the team's just not great now. They have a better offensive core around them.
And by week three, week four, Shador has a chance to come in and step in and be the hero. It's much easier to go from Deshaun to Shador than Shador to Deshaun. And so that's what I probably think this is. Like, Shador's going to play way more games, in my opinion, than Deshaun will. But ultimately, like, coming full circle on this, I don't think the Cleveland Browns have their quarterback on the roster in 2027 today.
Like, they have two first-round picks: this next class, CJ Carr, Arch Manning, among other people, Trinidad Chainless. They're all coming out.
So it's just, it's really like a difficult puzzle to try to fill, but that's where I've sort of circled the last 24 hours and landed.
Well, the famed Rick Dalton Jeff from Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, you didn't have that moment pointing at the screen at any point saying, There's the 2019 Deshaun Watson, there it is, that's why they're doing this. You didn't have any of those, none of them.
So far gone, Rich, and what I've seen. And it's not even this year, it was last year, and the year. It's just. When you have stuff that happens to you, whether it be on the field or off the field as an NFL quarterback, you can lose confidence. Really quickly, and honestly, it's not talked about enough, but getting that confidence back is so difficult.
And when you're doing it on the Browns, who don't have a ton of success in this league as of late, you know, maybe if you're on the Rams, you're like, Yeah, I can play on Sean McVay's offense, you know, stuff like that. It's just really hard to get that confidence back, and that's overall. I think from a high level, really, what I'm seeing is just a lack of confidence.
Okay, Chase Daniel here, you can watch the breakdown on his YouTube channel and from ESPN as well, right here on the Rich Eisen show. I'm going to go macro on you next here, Chase, because there's new coordinators with teams, right, that are significant. Just off the top of your head, Sean Mannion, obviously, Philadelphia. Drew Petzing in Detroit. You can also have new coordinators with some in.
Based on the new changes, head coaches. Declan Doyle with Lamar. Joe Brady, obviously, is now the head coach in Buffalo. You've got Kyler with Kevin O'Connell.
So I'm giving you all sorts of choices. Which one do you think? is going to be the biggest difference maker. In the NFL, where we're going to see a change in an uptick. I'll also give you a new play caller in Denver.
You know, with a new set of eyes with Davis Webb calling plays with Sean Payton, I'm sure, uh, hovering in a way. Yeah, what do you got for me? What do you think at the end of the day is going to be like, okay, this was the move, this is really working. You missed two out there, and one of them is Brian Flurry from the Seahawks, never called plays before, and the other one's David Blau from the Commanders. That's right.
I'm going to go with David Blau, sort of an outside the box.
So, I was teammates with David Blau in 2020 for the Detroit Lions. And when you look at the 2024 season of Jaden Daniels, really, I'm picking this because I think Jaden Daniels is going to break out this year again. I say breakout. He had the best rookie year of all time. It's not even close in 2024.
I say breakout. He was hurt. But I do think that this David Blau scheme, sort of very similar to a Ben Johnson, a Daryl Bevel type scheme, if you remember back in Seattle with Russell Wilson, where they're throwing the football down the field, a lot of trick plays, a lot of personnel. They're going to get Jaden Daniels under center way more. They're going to put way more from a mental standpoint on Jaden Daniels at the line of scrimmage, being able to get in and out of.
The right play, they're going to protect him more, they're still going to run him more. You're going to see an offense that has truly opened up, um, and so to me. If you can get that guy on the screen right there back to form, like we saw what he could be, and that was his rookie year. Sure, he had a sophomore slump. I hate saying that, but he got hurt, right?
He didn't play well even when he was there and got hurt. But if he can get back to form, to me, that's going to be a big deal in that NFC East. Who are the playmakers he's going to throw to, Chase? I mean, Scary Terry and what Diggs, right?
So that's the one thing. That's the one thing that I think that this offense, and I've been around this style of offense, you could have a little bit less skill players or lack of skill players, and the offense is sort of the shining star, if that makes sense.
So, in an offense, like you remember, I'm sure you do, you've been in cover league forever, probably longer than I've been alive. Careful, come on now. Come on, I turned 40 this October. I still cut a youthful figure here.
Okay, close. Go for it. Yeah.
But you remember Sean Payton back in like the 09, 10, 11, like the days I was there, won a Super Bowl. You could name, I mean, other than Marcus Colston and Jimmy Graham later, but you couldn't name our skill players, Deborah Henderson, Robert. I can, Deborah Henderson, Robert Meacham. And so I think they're going to have to have those type of guys. Pierre Thomas, one of the best screenbacks of all time.
You're going to have to have those type of guys in Washington step up. Yeah.
Reggie Bush is called, though, Chase. Yeah.
That was a little later. I did sprolls too, but I'm saying mainly a receiver. Sure, no, a receiver. Got you.
So long story short, though, interesting. What about then Philadelphia? What do you expect out of that? I mean, look, Richard, trying to get me some hate on this show because I've been. I love that you asked about Philadelphia.
I've been in Philly in the media, like, oh, this guy hates Jalen Hurts. This guy's this and that. Look, it's going to be. It's gonna be the biggest litmus test of Jalen Hurts' career this year because for the first time, now he switched offensive coordinators, I feel like every year since college, it's been unbelievable. He's had a lot and he's played well.
And in the two Super Bowls he's been, he's probably been the best player. Um, but this is going to be a first-time offense for him, meaning the Sean Mannion, Mike LaFleur, Sean McVay scheme, where you're going to have to handle checking in and out of play. He's not saying he can't do it, you're going to have to handle motion and then a second motion, and then we're checking to a run to this. It's going to be an offense that he has to fit in for the first time in his career, not the offense fit him, because they're going to have to get him under center, which he doesn't like doing, but he's actually pretty good at. I think also losing AJ Brown, I don't think it's going to sting as much as some people think.
Sometimes, as a quarterback, when you have an outright number one, a stud player star player who can be a D-Bat sometimes and wants the ball, you can get so locked in on him that you don't run the offense. And so, I think that mindset needs to go away from Jalen. And I think Devontae Smith's going to have great. I think if Mikai Lemon can ever practice, like I loved him out of USC, he's a linebacker with the ball in. His hands.
He'll get down there and block. And you still look at the skill players that they have. I mean, still got Saquon.
So got that good offensive line.
So a lot is on the line, I think, this year for Jalen Hurts. Yeah, I mean, In terms of Continuity, too. Like Shane Steichen is the only guy he's had. As his coordinator in back-to-back years, that's wild. And I'm going back to college.
Jesus. And so it's yet another transition, and we're seeing that there.
So, which quarterback do you think is going to have a leap forward other than Jaden Daniels? You mentioned him. And a leap forward, you're saying a return to his that you're saying last year was we sacrifice it on the altar of injury, that he's still the same guy and you're going to see it. What do you have for me on any of those fronts? You could throw Kyler in that mix, obviously, but just you're the one who's watching all this film.
What do you think, Chase? I think that you could just go back to that 2024 class with May and McCarthy and Caleb. And I thought Caleb made that jump last year. I thought Drake May made that jump last year. I thought Bo Nix was right on the cusp of making that jump and was playing really well.
I just, I think for me, like Denver is the best team that no one's talking about. I think that this offense with Davis Webb. It's not just going to be the Sean Payton sell offense, they're changing some things up. There's going to be some stuff, and like you were saying, we both know Sean, he's going to have like what are we doing? How are we doing it?
But I think it'll be good because Sean can sort of zoom out and handle the macro of the team. But I like Bo Nicks a lot, and I think the thing that really stood out to me last year where he can really improve on this year is his footwork. And footwork for me is the one thing because everything starts from the ground up when you're a quarterback. And when you are in rhythm and on time in certain route concepts, that's a really good thing. That's how you want to live.
Certain times last year, and this is really a Sean Payton detailed offensive thing. Is that if you're in Sean Payton's offense, there's, you know, everyone thinks, hey, there's one type of three-step drop, there's one type of five-step drop, there's one type of seven-step drop. Uh-uh, it's not the case. Like, if you take a five-step drop, there could be three to four. Different kinds of five-step drops.
Say you're throwing a square out to the field. It's the quickest five you've ever done in your life. Say you're throwing a curl to the field. It's a slow five-quick hitch. Say you're throwing a deeper route that needs to, like a fluty route, which is a corner post.
It's big five, two hitches. And all of those things, I don't think Bo understood at that time.
So when you watched him, you would see him really sped up and him waiting on concepts. And his feet would just go pitter, pat, pitter, pit, and he'd get a little, I don't want to call it happy feet because I think he's got a really good pocket presence, but he would take off after first and second read. I think that's the big thing getting into this Davis Webb offense is he's going to really try to marry his feet with the concept. If he does that, I think they're going to be really successful. Excellent.
Chase Daniel here on the program. Last one for you: Sports Talk Radio question before I send you on the rest of your Tuesday, sir. Who starts more games in Las Vegas this year? Mendoza? Or cousins, Chase Daniels?
That is a great question. I only ask those, Chase. Those are the only ones I ask. Yeah, I mean, I would agree. I think the questions have been a one.
I would say, so when I did a bunch of research on some first-round quarterbacks a couple years ago when I was working for Fox, I had these researchers go back and back and back in the archives and figure out what is the average quarterback. Time that a rookie first-rounder, not even a first pick, a first-rounder, outside of like Mahomes, Jordan Love, and a couple people who just completely took a red shirt year. What was the average time that they sat on the bench and started? Do you know what week this is? Let's just go back to 2020.
Sure. Do you know what week any first-round quarterback, what would you say is the average time that they start? What would you think? That a first-round quarterback, the average time? Gets into the game?
Week one. Week one? Three. Three. Week three.
It's close. I mean, I was thinking, oh, it's week one. Like, you're if you're a first-round quarterback, you're going. On average, you would have to be lower than that, but I, I, yeah, I did the prices right thing. I went low trying not to go over Chase.
Yeah, that's that's good. That's good. And it's week three. And so, to me, watching Fernando and watching the Raiders, sure, like, do we think Kirk is going to get this team to the playoffs in the AFC West? Probably not.
Like, I wouldn't bet on it. Crazier things have happened. Right. Right. Who is he?
Once again, who's he throwing to? I get that.
So, the best way to learn as a quarterback, which is the hardest position in sports, is you have to play and you have to go through adversity when you play. If you go through adversity when you play, you can learn and you can teach and you can. And, you know, the only thing I would say, like, maybe don't play him early if he isn't mentally there, like in terms of like mentally strong. To me, it's this dude is. I mean, every time you put a mic in front of him, he's saying the right thing.
I think he's mentally strong.
So I would say that, you know, long-winded answer, but I would say that it would be Mendoza.
Okay. TJ, you want to ask him a question about your guy? Yeah, real quick, what up, Chase? What up, man? I've been watching your TikToks, Instagrams throughout this summer.
Love the breakdowns you've been doing for Dak. Appreciate you. You know, because, you know, the average football fan will always go, oh, well, Dak sucks. You know, and that's their answer to anything. But I started noticing, man, you over a period of time really going through different clips and just emphasizing how good Dak really is, man.
So as a cowboy fan, I appreciate that. And what do you expect out of him this season? Look, I was a huge Dak fan. Specifically last year, I think that he was a little bit underrated. I would say there was a stretch of 10 or 12 games where you could argue he was playing the position of quarterback better than anyone in terms of going to the right.
He's like one of the rare breeds that's like a pure pocket passer, and that doesn't happen very often, but he's so surgical in his footwork and his reads. And you can just tell he's really detailed. And then, you know, with Pickens and CeeDee Lamb and that offensive system, like they put up numbers. And I think they would have made a run at some stuff if they fixed their defense. And what did they go out and do?
The only thing I wanted them to do and everyone else was build up their defense. And what have they done? They've gone out and Alechai Laura and Scale Downs, among others, they fixed every level of their defense. And so I like Dak a lot. I know that, you know, the Cowboys are, oh, you know, USBN talks about the Cowboys all the time and stuff.
And I get it. I think this year is a little bit different in terms of, man, a lot of people didn't know what Shoddy would bring to the table. I thought he killed it and crushed it in every way, shape, imaginable, not only as an offensive play caller, but as a head coach handling that whole circus that is on there that Jerry has running. And so if their defense, and I've said this and I really believe this, if their defense can finish top 12 in the league, this is going to be a playoff team that can win playoff games. Case Daniel, you are the man.
Thank you for the time. Look for more of my calls and texts, and thanks again, bud. Thanks, Rich. That was awesome. Chase Daniel, everybody.
Great stuff right there here on the Rich Eisen Show. Yeah, ESPN and Disney Plus or whatever. We talk about the Cowboys too, but not just gratuitously. This is real. I told you.
Back When was my first way, way too soon power rankings? I put them in my top five. Yeah, I got it. Hold on, I got it somewhere around here. I put him in my top five for a reason.
Maybe it was May. May 13th. May. Fine. Maybe.
And we have something to unpack when we have a little bit more time. We're up against a commercial break about. what the Cowboys are doing internally and how they feel as a team. Yeah.
It's getting there, man. Hi Right, the first time with LinkedIn Hiring Pro. Get started by posting a free job at linkedin.com slash Eisen 844204 Rich. Take some phone calls, they're lighting up, which is awesome. Mm.
Rich Eisen here. Running a small business means every hire matters. A bad hire costs time and money, but the right one helps your business grow. The challenge? Finding that person without sorting through resumes.
That's where LinkedIn Hiring Pro comes in. It screens candidates so you can focus on conversations with qualified talent. With Hiring Pro, you can hire with confidence and build the team you need. Join the 2.7 million small businesses using LinkedIn to hire. Get started by posting your job for free at linkedin.com slash Eisen.
Terms and conditions apply. Rich Eisen here with some advice. If high interest credit card debt is grinding you down, it might be time to call an Audible with a SoFi personal loan. It consolidates your debt into one low monthly payment with no fees required. And with as soon as the same day funding, you can make the right play fast.
Call an Audible on your debt today at sofi.com slash debt play. Loans originated by SoFi Bank NA, member FDIC. Terms and Conditions Apply, NMLS 690. 6891 Fast Funds Terms Apply at SoFi.com slash debt play. The Rich Eisen Show, the podcast.
The SoFi personal loan is here to help you achieve something once thought impossible: overcoming high-interest credit card debt. Walk the tightrope of your finances with one low-fixed-rate monthly payment, no fees required, and as soon as the same-day funding. That's right, pull off your own debt-defined stunt with a SoFi personal loan. Visit sofi.com/slash trick to learn more. Loans originated by SoFi Bank NA member FDIC.
Terms and conditions apply. NMLS 6968-366666666666 91-844-204, which is the old number to dial right here on the program. Let's go to Ludwig in. Tijuana, Mexico. Is this correct?
We have an international caller. Yes, sir. How are you, Rich? Is it Ludwig or Ludwig? Ludwig, actually, wait, did you end up to get me into your program so I can explain to you how my family messed up my name twice?
But I want to say we only have time for the business rather than the personal. Yeah, the business. What do you got? What do you want to do? I want to do the win locket for the San Diego Chargers.
Well, I mean. For who? I mean, so we got to get to get what? Like their 2000s. Their 2005 schedule?
Yeah, last time. Walk-ops. All right, here we go. Give us again our neighbors across the street, the Los Angeles Chargers from Mexico. Everybody, the Los Angeles Chargers start at home against the Cardinals.
What happens, Ludwig? All right, one and oh, home for the raiders. The radius. Just win, baby. We win.
2-0 visiting Buffalo. Ah, we're gonna take, we're gonna go down in Buffalo. Two and one at the Seahawks. Yeah.
I'm gonna say We're gonna wait. Ah, three and one home for the Broncos. Ah, donkeys go down.
So four and one. Born one third. At the Chiefs. We're going to win that one. Five and one.
Home at the Rams. You're the visiting team. Oh where is Whose ramp? Whose house is it? Not the rampart.
Oh, boy. Six and one. Home for the Texans. We got to take revenge. We win that one.
That's a five-game win streak. You're 7-1 visiting Baltimore on a Monday night. Ah, we're gonna go down.
Okay. You're now seven and two, home for the Jets. Joe. Ah. Rich, I have a LaDani Thomas and Jets jersey, but we're going to win that one.
Eight and two. Sunday night, home for the Patriots. Yeah.
We're going to win that one. We've got to take revenge from 2006. 9-2 at the Bucs. We will go down to Mayfield. 9-3 at the 80s.
About the Raiders. The Raiders will take that one. I'm going to say that. Oh, wow. You're now on a Thursday night against the 49ers at home.
Ah Gang, gang, niner, gang going down. All right, 10 and 4 at the Dolphins. We're going to win that one. 11-4. 11-4 home for the Chiefs.
Home for the Chiefs. We're going to win that one, even though my wife defected to the Chiefs last year.
Okay, 12 and 4 at the Broncos. We're going to win that one, too. 13 and 4, Ludwig in Mexico. Um Rich, I want to tell you one thing real quick. I've hated the Cowboys most of my life.
And I've hated the Patriots, but Three of my best friends are Cowboys and Patriots fans. Listen. Like and respect guys. We are the world. We are the children.
Ludwig in Tijuana, Mexico. Mexico. All right, that's an interesting win-loss game right there. Fuck. I wonder if his wife defected 'cause she was a Swifty and then became a Chiefs fan.
I bet you that's what happened. Do you think that's what? Oh, interesting. Very sexist, actually. How so?
A lot of women love women love Taylor Swift, and so they love the team her husband plays on. I don't mean to put you in any hot soup. 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. In ESPN's wild world of college football, every Saturday begins with a ritual.
And then, the migration turns to mayhem. Predators hunt, territories are defended, rivals clash. In this wild world, legends are unleashed on Saturdays. No one brings you closer to the wild than ESPN. College football and ESPN kicks off August 28th.
Witness the Wild on ABC ESPN and the ESPN app. Hmm.
