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 on ESPN continues Labor Day weekend. Witness the wild on ABC ESPN and the ESPN app. It is time for another edition of Ovary Action Monday. The preseason is in the books. The rosters are set.
And Rich Eisen, along with Chris Brockman, on the RRM set here in the Rich Eisen Show Studios in Los Angeles, California. Home. Of the new millennium fearsome foresome. The Los Angeles Rams. Did something happen yesterday?
I have a feeling that's going to be part of your rundown here today. Oh, interesting. Yeah. All right.
So, fantasy football drafts are underway. You just had your big one over the weekend in Seattle, home of the defending Super Bowl champs. Hit it. Go for it. Yeah.
That was terrible. That was crap. That was garbage. This place sucks. Overreaction.
Mondays. Mondays. Monday. What do you have over there, Chris Richard? Rich did mention I was in Seattle over the weekend.
I love the Pacific Northwest, and I gotta say, talking to the locals. They're talking repeat. They should. Why wouldn't They're basically running it back with the exception of Kenneth Walker III, a handful of defenders who are part of a terrific defense that. One would think John Schneider has got next man up ready to roll for a lot of these guys.
And then, you know, the offensive coordinator and the ownership is switched. Other than that, You could run it back. Yeah, they're talking repeat, and they want everyone to stop talking about them.
Okay. They like flying under the radar. It's kind of like the way they feel about the city. Yeah, that's right. Don't talk about how talkable our city is.
It's crowded enough. That's right. I mean, that's their mentality. It was a great time.
However, the biggest news in the NFL took place here in Los Angeles on Sunday. And let's get right to it. Rich, with 99 back. The Rams are going to be undefeated for the Christmas showdown against said Seahawks. I think that's.
Possible, but Not likely. Yeah. I get it that these guys are remarkable and they are loaded They're loaded. Uh but you look at their schedule and it's gonna be a really tough go of it. I mean they could Lose the first one in Australia.
Against the Niners. That's entirely possible. You got to go to Denver and Philadelphia in back-to-back weeks, and then Buffalo strolls in on a Monday night. I mean, that alone is a rough stretch. You've got um the Chargers at home.
The Chargers could, you know, show up and Knock them off in one week. There's always that early window game on the East Coast that could get you. Let's see if Washington is any better. Um Green Bay the night before Thanksgiving. Um that's uh Uh one that leads into uh Kansas City.
Visit At San Francisco home for Dallas, then you think that that's going to be a 14-0 record going into the. Week 16 at the game at Seattle. I'll just call this an overreaction and say they're going to be great. It's going to be fun. It's going to be must-see television.
It's going to be potentially. You know. Uh historic. I see where you're going with this. I mean, that's the expectations.
That's the conversation. That's all anyone thought when the Miles Garrett trade went down. And I mean, I believe we were one of the first people to throw out: hey, what if Aaron Donald comes back? And now here we are, A-Ron has returned. Is he back yet?
Yes. And my God, look at that dude. Yeah, I know. And and I'm I'm fully with you on just how exciting it is and how good they can be. But I'll just go with an any given Sunday mentality.
All it takes is an ill-timed turnover. All it takes is one of those days where it's just not one of our days in some very difficult spots to win. And um I I'll I'll I'll just Err on the side of it's so tough to happen no matter how terrific the Rams are. I'll just call this another reaction at this point in time. Out of respect to some other teams that could end any given Sunday if the Rams make it to the Super Bowl.
Um You know, beat them on that super summary. You mentioned, you know, great schedule, some tough road games, and you know, they could lose to the 49ers, but you know, they don't have the best vibes going right now, so I'd be surprised. Got it. All right, number two, let's stick with it, Rich. Here's the deal: I watched all the interviews and the press conferences on Sunday, the practice footage that's been coming out with Aaron Donald.
And you know what? Not going to be his only comeback season with the Rams. Everyone thinks it's just for this year. Uh-uh. He's going to play at least.
Two years in Los Angeles.
Well, we're going to have Les Sneeda on the program on Monday. And I'll ask him. What do you think? You know, what do you think? Do you get a sense that this is just a A one-off?
I know that the deal is just a one-year deal. One-year deal is one of two-year deals. What do you think? Yeah. I will say this, however, is just an overreaction.
I'll say that too.
Okay. I'll say if the Rams go ahead and do what you are thinking. or at least your first question. And um And topic matter for the money. Yeah, what if they're 15 and 2 and win the Super Bowl?
Then he's like, mission accomplished, I'm going home. I did that. That's I I I wanted to play with Miles Garrett check. One or one more one more, Jack. I wanted one more check.
Check. You know? I mean, like, so What else would there be? Other than just go home and go back. I don't know.
I got it. I hear you. Seems like his wife is fully on board. What's better than, I know, her. Her post was just like, I let him out of the house.
That was fantastic. You know, then his letter to Roger Goodell, Dear Commissioner Goodell, I'm back. Signed, Aaron Donald. I love all of it. It's so great.
It's great for the lead. And I know a lot of people have been taking in this show over the last couple of weeks and months, and they're like, You know, I've turned into a Rams hom. Yeah, maybe we're Ramsed out. Yeah. But it's the story of the National Football League season.
It is great for the league that somebody as great as Aaron Donald is saying, you know what? I love the sport. I love the game. I love the idea of playing with somebody who is generationally brilliant. I love all of it.
And the fact that it's out here on the West Coast. in an East Coast dominated media. It's great for everybody and everything. Certainly, with the Super Bowl here in Los Angeles, it throws a spotlight on all of that. It's.
It's great. Um but I'll just say for the moment that's an overreaction that hasn't even played a snap yet. I got it. Do you expect him to know? I expect him to do well, but I expect it to go if it goes as well as the ultimate is.
You know, he'll have checked every box.
Okay. What else? Rich Sunday, we had a 99 come out of retirement. to play with a generational Defense and a generational future Hall of Fame defender.
Okay, I'm wondering what the setup is here. Rich, seeing Aaron Donald's comeback is giving J.J. Watt ideas about coming back to Houston. Where where what are you where are you getting and number 99?
Okay. Coming back to play with a generational defense and a generational defender, and Will Anderson Jr. with a shot to win the Super Bowl. You know, J.J. Watt only retired one year before Aaron Donald, 2022.
All right.
Okay. He had 12 and a half sacks that year for Arizona. JJ Watt is still a player. I've seen him in the booth. He looks in shape.
I know. Why aren't they calling J.J. Watt to say, yo, JJ, you got anything left? Aaron was sitting at home. JJ Watt is in the booth with one of the A broadcasters in the history of the game.
Getting to call these games on CBS Sports. I don't know, man. You see him strolling on the field with his. His wife and his kid. I get it.
You know, you see. Family together. The one itch J.J. Watt never scratched. Making it to a Super Bowl.
No, I get it. Houston has a chance to make the Super Bowl.
Okay. I'll just call this an overreaction. I'm disturbing something. You clearly are. I mean, it was.
When 99 comes back to a great defense that gave me thoughts of J.J. Watt, and you know he's thinking about it. I don't think he's thinking about it at all. I think he's like, this is wildly amazing that I'm a broadcaster. He already checked a box of studio, then he goes in a booth, and now he's with Nance.
I know, he's doing great. He's going to be calling all the 50 million households. He's going to be in the middle of all of this. You know? You don't think he wants to play one more?
Um, I Kind of don't. Interesting. Yeah. What else, Chris? He's buying beers for people.
All right.
I was just kind of half kidding at that, but I wanted to gauge your reaction. That's my reaction. I think, look, last year ended, you know, the Iceman. This is all about this season is all about Caleb Williams, Rich. Caleb Williams is not going to just have the greatest Bears quarterback season we've ever seen.
Caleb Williams is going to have 5,000 total yards, 40 combined touchdowns, and the Bears will be in the NFC. One seed hunt. Um, they might be in the NFC one-seed hunt, but I don't think with 5,000 yards and 40 combined touchdowns like Amahomes here. That's rushing yards, too. That's going to be a 44-6 feet.
Eight rushing touchdowns. I got you. Yeah I don't know, man. I don't know. Year two, baby.
Brome juniors, blowouts, shutouts. Rome hasn't been healthy, right? Fully. Right. Lucia Burden entering the season, potentially banged up.
Manangai with the same. Back. I'm trying to get away from the same thing. And John C. Burden's 100%.
Who are the weapons that he's going to be. lighting it up with I don't know. And I'm not sitting here saying the Bears are a lead candidate for regression, which is what. You know, Ben Johnson said. I just need to see it again for me to believe it.
It was amazing, it was incredible. Is incredible. Loveland, I think, is going to have a terrific season. That I'm with you. But DeAndre Swift?
I think the Bears will be in the NFC one-seed hunt. You do? Yeah. Yeah. But do you think Caleb has an MVP type year?
I'm just going to say they might, heaven forbid, be a little bit more balanced. I know that not a lot of people are saying that. I like that Dylan Feeneman. Draft choice that they made.
Well, they've always needed, you know, and I think that their defense is going to be a little bit better than what people think. Despite Despite um a lot of thoughts. contrary. I just don't see 5,000 total yards in 40 combined touchdowns. That is just an explosion of offense.
And again, he was great in the fourth quarter and all these comebacks where he would just come alive, you know. That you know, put Teebo time to shame. Um So one would think if he does the same thing, but just spread it out over four quarters, he can get these numbers. Right. Um I'll just Let's put a pin in this and revisit this.
at the end of September. Do me a favor. Bears start the season. Yeah, let's take a look at this. All right.
They start the season at Carolina, home for Minnesota, then a Monday nighter home for Philadelphia, and then home for the Jets.
Okay. Okay. So, no reason they can't be three and one. I got you, but those defenses are no joke. Carolina has stepped up.
Don't forget, Jalen Phillips and Devin Lloyd now are in their front seven. True. Right? The Minnesota Vikings top five defense with Brian Flores still coordinating it, right? Philadelphia is no joke as well.
And, you know, we'll just throw the Jets in there because that's their first three home games. All right.
In a row, they've got a so man, that's this is a favorable start. In terms of geography It is, however, in terms of defense. Not easy. Let's see what happens in the first month. We'll revisit this.
Okay. On October 5th, Monday, October 5th will be the post. First month of season. Edition of Overreaction Monday. Put a pin in it.
Let's revisit it and see how that one stands. All right.
But for the moment, I'll call it an Overreaction. I'm all in on Caleb, but not just because I took him in my draft this weekend. Very good. As you know, managing maintenance, repair, and operations is never easy. But for the ones who always rise to the challenge, Granger has your back.
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Okay. He's number one on all the hot seat lists. Rightfully so. Zach Taylor? Yeah.
And the more I think about it, I'm going to zag. Yes, he is on the hot seat, but. I think he will perform. The Bengals will perform for him. Zach Taylor will be a coach of the year finalist.
Wow. If the Bengals do what we think they can and are capable of, it's got to be a 12-win season. Revamping the defense. Last year, Burrow healthy. They went from.
So you're saying they're going to go from 10th overall. to a coach of the year finalist. Tenth overall in the draft. They traded that pick away so the Giants could could grab Francis Mawinoa. Absolutely.
Okay. And Dexter Lawrence being acquired with that is going to be a large key in tightening up that defense to allow the borough renaissance in terms of his health. Right. to be more than enough to win Enough games where this guy's a coach of the year finalist last year. the coach of the year winner Won 13 games after being 14, 14 and 14 games.
14 and 3 after four wins. After four wins.
Okay. So we've seen it.
So A 14-win season? I'm not saying the Bangladesh are going to win 14, but if they go to 12, but if they go 12 and 5 and they win the division. Right. That suddenly we're always talking about him hot seat. And for them to come out, perform Joe Burrow, back to the burrow we know and love.
I'm going to call this an overreaction, but also say. He's, we say he's on the hot seat. There's one person who decides whether he's on the hot seat. I know. And his name is Mike Brown, and he does not pay coaches.
to not work for him.
Okay. Marvin Lewis was the Bengals coach For sixteen years. That's crazy. Sixteen years. Who coaches 16 years in places anymore?
I mean, Tomlin were just letting go after 16 years, and it was one of those stunners. Yeah. The fact that Marvin Lewis did not get anything similar to what Tomlin and Harbaugh did in their tenure and still was there sixteen years shows you Zach Taylor's maybe not even on the hot seat. Yeah. But I do believe the Bengals have a chance to win the division.
And for Zach Taylor to be a coach of the year finalist, they're going to have to win 13 football games. And that's a tough, tough call. They got the offense. What else, Chris? Uh we love this guy.
And I think We love talking about this team. We love talking about Raider Nation, Rich.
Okay. And we've been talking a lot about Cousins and Mendoza, but I want to talk about their best player. And that's Brock Bowers. Yes. And the tight end reception record is 126 by Trey McBride a few years ago.
Okay. He came close in his rookies. He did. But that's going to get blown out. I'm talking about Brock Bowers is going to challenge the all-time single season's catch record of 149 by.
Michael Thomas. Man. Who else is going to catch the ball? It's not just that. It's not just that.
It's. I do believe the offense will be better. Clint Kubiak is. Really a sharp-minded guy from everybody. Who is played for him and And everyone knows his pedigree.
Ah, that is just such a tall order. I mean, that is, you really went up the float. We got the extra game, obviously. Can't you know, can't guard Mike was only 16 games. 49 catches.
And you're like, dude, you're you're right. Like, who else is gonna who else is gonna really why wouldn't you why wouldn't you take him off the chessboard if you're the you know You're Jeff Hafley. Do you want to team him every single time? Or you're at least making sure he's got a second guy, Mark. I don't think it's going to matter.
This guy's going to get his, and we're going to see it early. I'll call this an overreaction. I like where you're going, though.
Okay. Right church, wrong pew.
Okay. Look, running backs banged up. That's now a punch. But he also can't stay. Healthy.
It's been a while, right? You know, just a one-year last year. It was a little banged up, but his rookie year was phenomenal. It was. It was just like Jaden Daniels.
This is year three. Second year was just a total disaster. More likely, Jaden Daniels is back to the rookie year for him, or Bowers comes close to this record? I'll go Jaden Daniels. You saw the report that they can't block anybody?
I saw that too. I did but Jaden Daniels is can single-handedly do something. Brock's got to get somebody else to get him the football. Again.
Okay. What else? Three more. Uh-huh. Three more as we head into First week of September, Rich.
Here we go. One of our favorite guys is Batten. I mean, I saw the post. It's like, you know, your childhood is not gone forever. Uh-huh.
Odell Beckham, Rich Eisen is on the Giants, made the team. I'm so excited. And he's going to be their second-best pass catcher this year. I don't think that's an overreaction at all. You saw my top five, my my top five list last week.
Of most surprising seasons coming, the one more was Odell Beckham Jr. Odell made it. He made the 53 man. And that's what you're seeing in that. That's not because they're trying to sell jerseys.
John Harbaugh's not trying to sell jerseys. No. John Harbaugh's trying to win football games, and he's trying to do it with somebody who is really talented. And I just love how it's, you know. The OG.
Who handed out all that money on the field at LSU to $100 handshakes? And then the guy who succeeded that. Error. Malik Neighbors is on the other side. Pretty cool.
It's pretty cool. And I think um He's one of the reasons you should feel optimistic about the Giants' offense. sit here and go, Oh, okay, what's gonna happen when he starts playing football? I'm with you.
Well, certainly Calvin Austin's gone down. We'll see who else. on that Yeah. But I'm with you. He's got a chip on his shoulder.
Yeah. And he made it with the Giants. I know. It's awesome. It's good to have you.
2026, man. Yeah. I am psyched to see it. And it's not going to take long. What if against Dallas?
Okay. Can I? No, seriously, let's go here.
Okay. Let's go here. I mean, look, we've been talking to Dallas for months about how we love what they did this offseason when he made offense. When he made that one-handed grab, who did he do it against? I was against Dan.
Them. Yeah, in the middle of the middle. Where did this catch take place? In the Minnesota. And then what on what platform?
On what platform? And what platform? That's Sunday Night Football.
Okay. So who is the first Sunday Night Football game of the season? It's Dallas. Where are they playing? In Metwythe.
What if it's the same damn spot? Oh, come on. I'm John Harbaugh. If I'm John Harbaugh, I run the plane. Just to go route, I run the plane.
Throw it up. Give it a chance. Hey, Jackson. Jackson. Jackson.
Let it fly, man. Just like and talk. Eli beforehand. Let's have Eli out on the field beforehand. Talking to Jackson.
Eli coin toss. Eli coin toss. O'Dell is there as one of the captains next to Eli. Giants are there Sunday night football. Let's go.
Yeah, buddy. You know, you know the NBC people have that have that tape the minute O'Dell made the squad. They're like, let's get that tape ready. You know Tarika's ready. Collinsworth to do it.
The thing is, as the TJ will point out, they won the Giants lost. I understand that. I'm not saying the Giants win it.
Okay, okay. This is about Odell Beckham Jr. will be the Giants' second best pass catcher this season. Yes. Yeah.
So let's just Say yes. I'm with you.
And now let me potentially overreact and say Sunday night football, same spot. Same team. I love it. Same time. Same battle channel.
Come on. Same, let's go. I mean, let's go. And if I'm John Harbaugh, I am like, we're running this play the minute we get to midfield. First thing.
First thing. I don't want to put my business out there, but I will be betting Odell anytime touchdown in that game. Same corner. Come on. Let's do it.
Same corner, same spot, same end zone. Let's do it. That's so fun. Does that answer your question? It does.
All right.
What else? One of our favorites. Obviously. That was a spinning curve in the zone for me, man. Love Odell.
Okay. Quarterback, always top of mind. All these battles going on. Last year, we had three teams start at least three quarterbacks the entire season. Going one more.
We're going to have four teams do it this year. Yeah, sadly, I think you're correct. And I think it might be the same ones. I mean, last year it was with Minnesota, the Jets, and Cleveland.
Well, as of this recording. And now Atlanta, I think, is a prime. There's only 31 teams that could do it. 'Cause Miami has only one quarterback as of last recorder.
Well, they did trade for Kyle Accord. Oh, they did. They did. Yeah, they did trade for Kyle Accord.
So they do have a backup. I thought they still only have one. They do have a backup. You know? They could like one-handed McCaffrey in the NFC Championship.
In the NFC Championship game.
Well they started the Wildcat back in the day. They could have went that route, but I'm with you. It's unfortunate, and it'll be another conversation that we'll have either on the main show, the flagship, or here. It's just how do you get quarterbacks ready? And again, the number of teams that.
are going to be down the depth chart. is going to be significant. And, um And that's just because it always goes that way. I hope I'm wrong. Because it's just never any good football watching a third-string quarterback go against a defense that is.
Tin and ears back. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And just like chiseled through 12 weeks of fire and brimstone activity. You know, here comes somebody who hasn't played. you know, since the UFL or whatever and they're they're like, you know, Um thrown into the deep end of the pool.
But I don't think this is an overreaction. Let's finish up strong. Do you got a positive one to finish up?
Well, I guess not.
Well, I take that as a bad thing. This is also just kind of me airing some out, some personal stuff. The Patriots are playing a dangerous gay man with Christian Gonzalez's contract. I saw some stuff over the weekend that he's on the block. I saw that too.
I was like, possible, I forget who it was. It might have been CBS's Instagram account. And it was like, possible trade. I'm like, we're talking trade. I saw that.
I don't know. He's our best player other than the quarterback. I don't know why I don't I don't know. I don't know why you don't pay 'em. He's not only, you know, great at his gig, he's...
not going to be the guy that you get a phone call. About the middle of the night. I mean, look, the Super Bowl was what it was, and great timing on the photo, but that game could have been a 40-point game if it wasn't for number zero. I don't know what the dangerous game is that it's not going to hold out. Maybe.
I know he returned to practice, but unfortunately, you make him think like it's that it's personal. I know business is business. I don't know. I'm just doing business. It's only business.
And then the personal. How else can he sit there and think anything other than the fact of why aren't they taking care of me? I'm seeing other teams take care of their guys. Are you telling me he's not as good as Devin Witherspoon? I'm I'm I'm saying nothing to you.
I I'm I I'm shrug emojiing it.
So it's very odd and it's very funny. I think this is an overreaction, other than the fact that. I can't imagine they don't figure something. And the thing is, the reason why you draft rookie quarterbacks and you play them right away because if you hit on them, you have them under control for a while so you can pay your other top stars. Drake May on the rookie deal right now is something you take advantage of.
So you pay your top guys and you take advantage of that window for team building and roster building and success in the playoffs, which the Patriots obviously had last year. I have no retort. I'm retortless. I'm retortless, other than to say it's just it'll It'll get done. I just don't know why it's taking that long.
At this point, what we're like, 12 days? It doesn't matter. I mean, 10 days from week one. Dak signed his contract years ago, but the night before he flew to clean up the night of the game. You know what I mean?
And then everything's hunky-dory. When you pay somebody, it's like, Okay, thank you. It just sucks for the kid. Yeah. Him going through it.
It's not fun. It's not fun. It's not fun. And then you get, you know, fan and aggregate, you know. Speculation running wild.
I don't need in my Instagram feed fake Christian Gonzales being traded. That is not good for my mental health. I saw that. I saw that too. Just breathe.
Good to see you, bud. Good to see you, man. All right, that wraps up this edition of Overreaction Monday, a full week of The Rich Eisen Show coming up. Um 12 to 3 Eastern every single day, right here on our YouTube channel. It's good.
YouTube.com/slash Rich Eisen Show is how you can follow along the Rich Eisen Show every day on Disney Plus and the ESPN app and ESPN Radio 12 to 3 Eastern. RichEisonshop.com is there for you to get all sorts of baubles, including things like this tumbler, mugs, hats. I was rocking the hoodie all the hoodies. It's all there, richeisandshop.com. For Chris, I'm Rich.
Peace out. Over Reaction Monday in the books.
Next one, Labor Day Season Preview Edition. We're right around the corner.
