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Now, on with the show. I gotta start to bring it up. This is the Rich Eisen Show. It's a separate Indian zone. Holy catch it!
The third pick of the month. Live from the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles. Try to stop being patient. Earlier on the show. Senior writer for the MMQB, Albert Breer.
ESPN NFL analyst, Alex Smith. Coming up. Iowa head coach Kirk Ference. And now, it's Rich Eisen. Welcome to this edition of the Rich Eisen Show hour three.
The first two hours, Alex Smith and hour two, hour one, Albert Breer, talking about last night's season opener, the National Football League season. We are getting ready for game two in Melbourne, Australia, between the Niners and the Rams as well. 844-204-Rich is the number to dial on the program. As you know, I'm an old school guy. I'm an old school guy.
When I was at the University of Michigan, I saw some old school coaches, my own being Beau, right. If basically I had told, say, Hayden Fry of Iowa, would you like to zoom into a streaming show? He'd be like, thinking I was asking him to break the speed limit to go fishing. but it's a different day and age. It's a different day and age, even though this man is now in year 28.
After the Hayden-Fry administration in Iowa, streaming into this streaming show on Disney Plus and the SPN app once again, Kirk Ference of Iowa football. Good to see you, coach. How are you?
Alright. Doing well, thank you. Good to see you, Rich. Do you think Hayden would have thought that? Hey, coach, you want to zoom into my streaming show?
He'd be like, what are you talking about? Coach Tryan never met a camera he didn't like. Oh, is that right? Yeah, I didn't, no kidding. Oh, no, he loved it.
He loved the media and loved any. Anything that gave him some exposure. I love it.
Well, while we're kind of in the wayback machine here, because you know, I come prepared when I speak with you, sir. Um that So y is it true you were on Belichick's staff in Cleveland as they moved to Baltimore? Correct? Yeah. I went there in 1993.
I'm still not sure how it all happened, quite frankly. I I do know. seven, if not eight, people turned the job down before they got to me, I do know that.
So I was the first guy that put my hand up and said, I'll take it. It was just a it was really unusual. I'd wanted to left the staff here Had been here during uh the eighties, eighty one through eighty nine. Mm-hmm. Took the uh head coaching job at the University of Maine, seemed like a good idea.
And uh you know a couple of years later I got the phone call from Cleveland and Had an opportunity to interview with Coach Belichick, and then they sent me home with my tail between my legs. Remember Scott Piole driving me back to the airport. And his pep talk was, well, you know, it wasn't that bad, he said to me about my interview.
So anyway I got the plane, went back to Maine and a couple of days later I got called back down and uh Got beat up for about five more hours and then was offered the job. What was it like? What's a job interview with Bill Belichick like? Taxing. The contrast, the only other time I'd interviewed was with Coach Fry.
And when you sit down with Hayden Fry, it was like you knew him for 20 years after sitting there for five. It just made you feel really comfortable at ease. You know, he had his Texas sayings, all those kinds of things that you had to try to decode. Coach Belichick just the opposite. It was all business and it was pretty intense.
Um and and a lot of awkward pauses, awkward silence. It was it was tough. I died a million deaths uh during that that whole thing, but How fortunate I was to work with him and be on his staff for three years. It was a great experience. Was Sabin there too at the time?
Sure was, yeah. We were together for two years. What was that like? Oh, great. I mean, you know, we had a bunch of tremendous people in the room, just outstanding coaches and Of young personnel guys, I mentioned Scott Peoley, Phil Savage, guys that were really just outstanding young people and.
Um, you know, so it's been fun to keep keep in touch with a lot of the guys over the years.
So when the team moves, you went the Marcha Broda gave you a gig in in Baltimore. Is that what happened as well? Yeah, yes and no. I'd put a thing in my contract. We went to the playoffs in 94.
Yeah. And I really had two fears, quite frankly. I enjoyed my time in the NFL, but I had two fears. One was If a coaching change took place internally, I wouldn't have an option. The NFL, you really don't have options if you're under contract.
So I was worried about maybe getting stuck with somebody I didn't really respect or appreciate working for. And then the other, ironically, the other concern I had was the summer before 94. There were some some whisperings that the Browns might move to Los Angeles. And with all due respect to California, I just didn't have an interest, a young family. The last place I'd want to do is, you know, the last thing I'd want to do is move out to the West Coast with young kids and away from our extended family.
So I didn't have the guts to ask for both, but I did ask for a provision in my contract to. Make it permissible for me to break my contract if something would happen to that head coach. Never dreaming what would happen would happen a year later. They announced the move. The team basically just quit plan.
And um, you know, and the the whole thing fell fell apart. But uh, so I became a free agent at the end of the whole thing, long story short. Yeah. The only thing I was sure of, I wasn't gonna go to Baltimore. But that's where I ended up going.
Yeah, and obviously you are where you are now, 28th season in Iowa. How does that hit you? Just hearing that out loud. Yeah, it still kind of blows your mind. You know, just you take it one year at a time, you really do.
And It's, yeah, I'm not sure how it all happened, and a lot more good days than bad, but I've thoroughly enjoyed it a lot more than I haven't enjoyed it. And I've been with great people and had. Kind of was one of the things that attracted me. I really wasn't. necessarily looking to go back into college football at any time.
Uh, but the one place I felt like would be a good fit for me as a coach and also for our family was Iowa. You know, the quality of life here is really good, education. All the things for young kids that you'd hope for. Uh I was wild enough to think, you know, maybe there'd be a chance for stability. Coach Friday has been here twenty years, Bill Snyder.
Barry Alvarez were on our staff in the eighties. Both those guys went off and had lives that had some coaching stability, if it will so. Thought, you know, hey, maybe we'd have a chance to do that. And it seemed like a good idea to wear about, you know, we were two and 18 our first 20 games.
So had a house that we were building and, you know, bad, bad records. I'm not sure how good things were looking at that point. Yeah, one in 10 is a long way away in your rearview mirror from your first season.
Now you're 21st ranked getting ready for Iowa State this weekend. Pretty big game, obviously. in terms of your development as a program in twenty twenty six and your team against an in state rival that is looking to put your pelt on the wall for a third straight year. What's going through your mind as you get ready for this weekend's game on Saturday night. Under the line.
Yeah, I didn't know much about the Big Ten when I got here in 1981, growing up in Pittsburgh. And for me, everything was east of that.
So, didn't know much about that. Certainly, didn't know much about Iowa State in my first year here. I learned real quickly about the series. We upset Nebraska in our opener in 81, then went up to Ames and just got beaten in every category, thoroughly beaten. And the crowd was really hostile.
I was very intense. And uh says my introduction to the series and My point there is, I think, you know, I still think people outside of our state probably don't appreciate the intensity of the rivalry. And it's really unusual you think about a state or of Iowa of three and a half million people. You've got two Power Four schools that have done very, very well. The programs have been good.
So, you know, it's always a tough game, tough contest, and the situation, the circumstances are always a little bit different. I expect more of the same here. I think in the last six games it's but four and a half points difference between the two teams. And I would expect kind of the same type of game on Saturday night. Kirk Ference here, four-time Big Ten coach of the year and coach again of the 21st-ranked Hawkeyes at present, right here on the Rich Eisen Show.
Um This is a new world in which we live, and I want to kind of unpack it a little bit here. First things first, have you and your staff gotten a full accounting from the Big Ten about how game clock operations happen in the final tenths of seconds of regulation based on what happened on Saturday night. in the big house. Coach. Yeah, got it.
It's kind of specific, but the system that we are on or are on. It's different than the other other, as I understand it, other conferences in the country. And it's the same system that the NFL uses. Um, sounds like there's a little bit of a discrepancy between what was on the board and then also the official time. And I really haven't dug into the details of that, really not interested in it other than what came out yesterday about the system that everybody's going to adapt here.
And You know, so we'll abide by that. I'm sure there was no malintent the other night, and you know. what happened happened. It uh Yeah, I'm sure it's a hard circumstance for all those that were involved in it. Yeah, that's why, again, I know that's not your, you know, you know, your pew, but it is kind of the same church here, right?
And the fact that. You got a big ten. scenario that played out on Saturday night. And I'm wa that's why I was wondering if you reached out they reached out to you just to walk you through absolutely everything that I thought was kind of settled until that moment on Saturday night. Yeah, my understanding is as we move forward, whatever's on the scoreboard in the stadium.
will be uh what they go by. That'll be the judgment.
So which which makes perfect sense. You would like to thank the people on the field watching, fans, but more importantly, probably the teams and coaches. uh whatever they're seeing is is live time, you know, and uh gonna go from there.
So I'm not sure, again, all the details and minutiae, the whole thing, but you know, again, it's just a tough circumstance, certainly, for everybody involved. And prior to the season, prior to your 40 to nothing season opening victory leading into this week against Iowa State, you at the Big Ten media days warned about a growing imbalance, you pointed out. In the college game, I'd love for you to kind of unpack that for me here about what your thoughts are on the. current situation and the imbalance that you're seeing. I guess you know when NAL kind of kicked in a couple years ago.
My first takeaway was that it's going to open the door for You know what we experienced in my mind in the 60s and 70s. I can't go back much further than that, but I'm old enough to remember. I think it was in high school, senior, junior year. When Nebraska beat Army 77-0, I think it was 77-0. To me, my first takeaway was that's a game that's really not good for anybody.
First of all, it's unpatriotic, and then secondly, Uh neither neither team really benefits in a game like that, but Back in those days you had games like that more frequently, I think.
So, in the simplest terms, when NIL began, it looked like it opened the door. for more of those types of circumstances. And I think now as we've moved forward and We've changed our model with revenue share, which I'm all for. And first of all, I'm all for the players being rewarded. College football has changed so much, and the benefits and financial rewards are so different than they were.
10 years ago, 20 years ago.
So, you know, that needs to be redistributed to the people that are uh generating uh the revenue So I'm all for that. But spending six years in the NFL There are things I don't miss about that, but the things I do miss are the fact that You know, everything was regulated. You know, you had a salary cap, everybody had the same same contractual opportunities, obligations. And contracts meant something, and player contracts meant something, and deals were done, but there was a framework to do it. And we clearly don't have that right now.
There's a real imbalance.
So, I'm not suggesting I know what the number is, what the cap number is, but there needs to be one in my opinion. And it's kind of twofold. If you have a bigger war chest than the next guy, it gives you a better opportunity to be successful, certainly. And then I would also suggest I think there's probably less responsibility. You know, if you got money to waste or burn.
You can be a little bit more reckless or haphazard with your decision making. And if hell, you can't do that. You lose your job if you're too reckless too often. And, you know, so you just can't do that.
So it's a little. Just not sure it's a healthy framework and the Lastly, I'll just interject. I'll go back to my first year here. We were, you know, I ended up being co-champs in the Big Ten, went to the Rose Bowl. It was the first time in 13 years that somebody other than two schools had been there.
And I guess I would suggest I think the conference has been healthier since other people have gone besides two schools. you know, all all due respect to those schools, but um you know, I just think it's better The NFL, there is true parity. Everybody's got an equal opportunity. It really gets down to The guy's playing and the guy's coaching. Certainly having good ownership and management helps, but It really gets down to the guys on the field, you know, what they do.
You know, I just, I'm careful, I'm a little concerned that we may drift away from that. To me, the last twenty plus years have been great to compete in college football, but Now you worry about the uh you know the field slanting a little bit too far.
Well the two Ways to go off of that, if you don't mind. I've got two sort of follow-ups here. First one is The NFL way of doing things, as you point out, uniform, commissioner. Schedule is uniform. Everything you we all know what it is, right?
Everyone knows when a new league year begins, and everyone knows that a contract is a contract. And also, coaches can't just skip. you know, for another spot because they've been bought out by somebody who's got the money to pay for it.
So, the question is, why not go the full way, right? Why not just go the full way? Because it feels like it's professionalized already. Coach, and so how do we do that? Unless you think that that is a problem, Ellen, um, you know, we don't want to say that, but that is the reality.
Players are getting paid. And I think what you bring up, you know, it'd be very different, but I think in a lot of ways it would be healthy. College football is very different. It's very different than my first year in major college coaching. It was 1980 as a grad assistant at Pitt, and then obviously 1981 when I came here.
it's a totally different world, yet it's amazingly similar too in that The quality of the athletes we get to work with and the kind of people they are and the things they're dealing with in real life are very similar to them. You know, these guys are still going to school. Uh all the things you hear about in the media, it's a really small percentage and The majority of our guys are going to school, getting their degrees, and have girlfriends and all that kind of stuff. And most of them aren't playing in the NFL when they get done. Or if they are, they're not going to be there long term.
It's just not the nature of the game.
So You know, that's all the good stuff about it. It makes it enjoyable. But I think to your point, The way we look at it now has to change a little bit because it has changed. It's just the reality. And if we're not careful, I'll go back to that imbalance thing.
I think the door is wide open for that right now. And I'm not sure that's good for anybody. I'm not sure it's what everybody wants. Yeah. And the imbalance thing, that was my other follow-up question.
Because when I heard you say that, I also was wondering, are you potentially concerned about an imbalance between your program and others in the Big Ten that might be? getting ready to start spending fifty million dollars a year on rosters, which might not be something in your Avenue in Iowa. Are you concerned about that? Oh, absolutely. You know, and um I tease Dallas Clark.
What a loser he was. He was a great football player at Boltz. You know, world champion, all pro, all that stuff. You know, you're not a billionaire.
So, like, you know, I'd rather have you be a billionaire than a great NFL player or a great college player for us. And I say that jokingly, but that is the reality. Like, you just You know, if you have one or two people that can help fund your program, that's a great thing. Um but you know the bottom line is it just it just I think parody Within reason is a good thing. I just think having competitive balance is healthy for competition.
Uh yeah and You know, it's just I don't know how many players there are, really. I think when it all gets uh Comes to fruition, there's probably whatever 10, 12, 15 player schools that have a major decided advantage over everybody else. It just makes the challenge a little bit tougher. It's always been that way in college football, anyway, and that's fine. That's the nature of it.
If you're not in a population or near population. a disadvantage recruiting wise, all those kinds of challenges and things, but This is just one more thing that makes a degree of difficulty potentially a little bit. Oh no, I don't know, Coach. I think Kittle's your best bet at the Billionaire Club, right? Like if we had to pick somebody right now, Kittle might be that guy.
Explain. 1981, I'm dating myself, captain on that first team. Wow. What a great player he was. But yeah, if George is not a billionaire money-wise, he is personality-wise.
I love it.
That's my last one for you. Give me your favorite Kittle story, if you don't mind, before I send you back into your game prep. Dad or son?
Son. I need a son.
Well, I got to tell you, I got enlightened. You know, he was a really good player for us. I don't know if you knew this, but he was. as I recall, at least his scholarship choices were us in Weber State. And we offered them very, very late.
And it really wasn't because of his dad. It was more so his mom. She was a great player and Drake basketball player. I loved it.
So we were banking on that athletic gene. You know, dad had the competitive gene. Not that Jan doesn't, but. We were banking on that com um apiletic gene that Jan had.
So But I would say it's turned out pretty well for him. Hey, listen, I got to tell you, you know, everything's coming up Iowa. Ben McCollum had a heck of a season on the hoop side of things, and you got your team 21st overall. I always love watching what you're up to, and I truly appreciate you taking the time just to come on and hang out for a bit. Good to be with you.
I appreciate that, and I appreciate your thoughtful questions. I appreciate you giving me the answers as well. Coach, have a great Saturday, and we'll chat again shortly. Hopefully. Thanks, Rick.
That's Rick Ference, everybody, right here. You're 28. Here on The Rich Eisen Show as he gets set to take on Iowa State. and potentially teach the new coach there what the rivalry is all about, as you know. Matt Campbell is in a spot you used to root for, TJ.
He used to root for. You want to ask him for a pair of shoes, and he might send you a pair of shoes like Dan Lanning, and now you'll suddenly root for Iowa, and that's Ditch Penn State. Yeah, but then I'd have to give those to my friend who's from Iowa. I didn't want to do that to you, a legendary coach like that. Uh Oh, I got a pair right here.
I mean, what if he did though? That was great. No, and by the way, Susie loves Kirk Ferrins 'cause when Susie would be doing sideline reporting for ABC and she would be working the sidelines in in Iowa, he was great to her. He's as professional as they come and she's like, oh, to say hi to Coach for me and Buy five quarts of Mobile One full synthetic motor oil and receive two times O rewards points. Plus, get a $10 gift card and receive a 2311 die cast after rebate.
Terms and conditions apply. Get details at O'Reilly Auto Parks. 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.
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I know. I was asking, you know, football questions. He's still listening, so I think you kind of just did it. Yeah, yeah, of course. Is he still there?
Is he still there? Is he still there? Okay. Oh, he's still there. Fantastic.
Susie says hello, coach. My wife says hello, coach. All righty. Thank you. There we go.
Sita. He did it.
Now he can say goodbye.
Now he can go home tonight, coach. Kocher. See? But don't ask him for shoes, man. I'll take a pair.
Okay, stop it. I was great with Kirk Ferris. If I did that, I'd have to give him the Kutcher. That's the way it goes. Yeah.
Now I can go home. We can go home. We can go home now. We can go home now. The couch was colouring.
Did you hear Sean McVay? Told a story about Jokic at his press conference this week. That um that he was in a I guess Because as you know, the Cronkies own the Nuggets.
So I imagine that's how he got to be in the Nuggets locker room. I'd imagine. And Jokic saw him and asked him about the get-back coach. Oh, yeah, I did see that. No, he didn't see that.
I did see that. Yeah. That was one of the things that I was doing. Remember how McVay, there was a famous NFL Films moment where they had his camera on the big burly-looking dude who would have to pull him back from being kept pulling him by the waist to keep pulling him back from stepping on the field and getting a 15-yard penalty. And that's what Joker asked about.
Yeah. What happened to that guy? It's crazy. Do you think he was like going, hey, if you need a new one? No, and McVay was like, this is what the MVP is at knows about me?
And they're like, I am a failure. That's right. He took, he was self-scouting over Jokic saying that's how he recognized him. I'm saying, do you think Joker was kind of like asking, kind of? Maybe he might want the job or one of his brothers?
McVay referred to him as a dip-ass. He's like, I'm not that dip-ass anymore. That's funny. When it comes to you and your home, Pella Windows and Doors are the experts at taking care of you and your home. At Pella, they find the products that meet your needs and their experts install them.
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Make life brighter with Pella Windows. Indoors. Back with more on the Rich Eisen Show, the latest from Josh Jacobs' World and what's going on in the Vikings front as well. Oh. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast.
You're on the Rich Horizon show.
So the Pittsburgh Steelers are hosting the Atlanta Falcons. Michael Pennock's not physically ready to get there under center, so it's going to be Tua unless. His back just gave way in practice. Mark Ramondi, who covers the Falcons for ESPN. During the open media portion of practice, Tua touched his back and sat down on the grass briefly during individual drills Thursday.
It was unclear exactly what had happened. What happened?
Sorry, that's the steward that came out of there. He got me. What? He didn't seem to, I don't think it's funny. I'm sorry.
He didn't seem to throw again after, but media only gets to watch a small portion of practice, and others who were watching practice took note of that as well. We were talking about Cooper Rush. Yeah. Earlier about backup quarterbacks. Wow.
Yeah, Daniel Flick covers the team for the AGC down there. Said Cooper Rush took the bulk of the throws, the remaining portion of the media section. Damn. Extent to be determined until the injury report. Wow.
And two had missed some time earlier in this camp. With back spasms. Back spasps. And if he just got it again, last time you won't next.
Next time you get back spasms, I'll tell anybody this. You get back spasms, it's real. I once worked on you, Mike. Yeah, Rich. I told you about the somber cream.
I started feeling better for six months. There you go. But the reason why I bring it up is I will say this. Whenever I get back spasms, I think to myself, I'm glad I'm not doing this 48 hours before I have to see TJ Watt. Yes, exactly.
Exactly. Cam Hayward. Cam Horn Hayward, our Tuesday guest. I'm with you on that one. Get out of here.
Alex High Smith. Oh, wait a minute. Not great. I don't think Sombra is going to work on that. You can't get Duran to walk on his back down there in Atlanta.
No, rats like this. I love Duran and I've never met him. Oh, you would love this guy. You have to. You have met Duran.
I've seen him. Oh, I've seen him. Oh, yeah. At any rate. I almost went to see Duron.
The whole idea, again, this kind of dovetails into everything. Yeah. getting a shot in Atlanta. Take the shot. With Drake London and Kyle Pitts and our Tuesday guest, Bijan Robinson, just to name three, and Kevin Stefansky dialing it up.
And what a great spot for him to land on his feet And get an opportunity to take the job from Michael Penix, who. Is from that draft famously a few years ago. with Caleb and Jaden and Drake. And bow. And who's there?
Now it's two. And Tua may not, who gets the shot? Because Penix isn't ready. Tua may not be ready, and Cooper Rush may get the answer. Yeah.
of the bell Opportunity for Atlanta. Cooper Rush going in and beating the Steelers would be peak NFL. How about this? I can go here. Unsurprising.
And that's not any knock against the Steelers. No, we've seen him do it before. My goodness, we've seen him do it before.
Okay, so Likely, probably not. Surprising? At the end of the day, you'd be like, okay, he's a professional quarterback who, with these weapons and some protection and the proper scheme. Stranger things have happened. Nine and seven career's a starter.
Okay. So you've got that in Atlanta. Where Penix is not physically ready to play. With an opportunity when he is clearly standing right there. And I think the minute that he's physically able to play, he's going to be placed in there by Kevin Stefansky.
Meanwhile there's another Kevin. Who's got a quarterback from that draft class? In the first round, named J.J. McCarthy. And Kevin O'Connell Like Stefansky, the Kevin in Atlanta.
Taking advantage of a highly drafted quarterback. no longer welcome in his Previous spot where he was drafted in Kyler Murray. And the guy In Minnesota for that, Kevin is 1,000%. The starting quarterback, and thankfully for Minnesota, Not grabbing at his back. Ready to roll.
to start the season for the Vikings at home against the Green Bay Packers. And this Kevin in Minnesota has JJ McCarthy who like panics Got A knee injury that wiped out his entire rookie season. The knee injury for Pennix. wiped out the end of year two for him. and is now bleeding into year three for him.
JJ McCarthy. Year one, wiped out. Year two, he gets the start. He goes in and out of the lineup due to injuries himself. The offensive line is hurt.
So you really can't fully evaluate him, one would think. Carson Wentz plays in the kids' place and shows some real veteran savvy before. He gets hurt for the rest of the season. You got to go with J.J. McCarthy.
And when he goes in and out of the lineup, it's Max Brosmertime. While Sam Darnold, who they let walk, wins the Super Bowl somewhere else. And now here we are starting year One in Minnesota for Kyler Murray. Who's healthier than Tua? And it's now Murray getting the opportunity that Tua also had in Atlanta, and he is about to take full advantage of it, or best he can.
While J.J. McCarthy is demoted to three on the depth chart. Third. It's going to be Carson Wentz, who backs up Kyler Murray on Sunday. Against Green Bay and Kevin O'Connell gave his reasoning.
Parson will be the backup. On Sunday, and JJ will obviously be the third guy. And really, I'm looking at that right now, Kevin, as a week-to-week thing. And I think Carson, he's got almost 100 career starts. What he was able to do last year from a standpoint of very limited repetition, but being able to apply a career's worth of experience, that's kind of what you need to do as a backup quarterback, especially early on when so much of the emphasis is going to be on getting Kyler as comfortable as we can possibly get him.
But JJ is, you know, he's still going to get a bunch of great work, you know, as Carson will, you know, giving our defense a look. And then there's time before, there's time after the development of a player that we're really, you know, I'm just really excited to continue to get a chance to work with him and then want to make it week to week.
So, you know, when we feel like We need to declare something different. We can and we will, but this is, you know, this gives us the best chance to win. Um this Sunday r you know Based upon how the game goes. Wow. Damn.
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Yeah. Listen, I understand. that Carson Wentz throwing him in if need be. against Green Bay. We just saw last night.
What happens? If your starting quarterback suddenly goes down out of the blue five snaps, then you want a steady hand out there. You don't want to throw Jalen Millerau in the game. Interestingly enough, the quarterback that J.J. McCarthy beat in the Rose Bowl a couple of years ago to go to the national championship game to beat Penix and win it all.
In the you can't make this up category. Right?
So I understand if he feels Wentz is better than McCarthy right now, Best chance for this team to win because last year they're not going to go through that again. They're going to go through a veteran team on the defensive side of the football. That's the reason why they've re-signed Harrison Smith. They think they can win it right here, right now. Let's go.
And so I get it. But what about McCarthy's career now? You got to start thinking about that. And O'Connell was asked about this issue. Be cautious about the depth chart and what that means, and what does this mean?
It's good to hear you talk about the big picture because I think with a young quarterback, there's always a big picture that's probably a larger scale. and a larger mentality than than the the week one depth chart. Um but at the same time, like I thought he's been incredibly professional. How he, like the conversations that him and I have had both pre, during, and post that. He's excited to continue to grow and get better.
He's still a young quarterback in the NFL with 10 starts and a bunch of talent and a bunch of things that make him a guy that we want to pour into every single day. And the best part is, he's going to work as hard as anybody. And that's where it's at. But I do appreciate you asking about the big picture. Wow.
All right, I'll big picture it for you. Unless he gets in and plays some meaningful snaps this season and wins some games and shows what he can do as a quarterback, there's no chance that fifth-year option gets picked up by the Minnesota Vikings. Not a chance. Yeah, you're by May next year. Shot on.
Okay, so he's basically halfway through his tenure in Minnesota. Yep. That's a fact. I don't think I'm telling any tales out of school there. And then again, he can just show.
use this as a chip on his shoulder and show what he can do in his next spot. Unless he gets a chance here. And by the way, Yeah. Everybody's trying to get into Kevin O'Connell's system. Everybody's trying to get in his building and learn from him, whatever.
I I'm sure it just kills him. He he doesn't want to the way that he wants to um mimic Jordan Love is not for the defense in practice as the third string quarterback, but pay basically right now wait and then go kill it somewhere else. Where Jordan Love waited and had got to kill it in the spot where he was drafted. in the first round. It's got to be tough for him.
Mm. It's got to be tough for him. But Baker Mayfield knocked around, just signed $55 million a year. Yeah. Sam Darnold waited five, six, seven years.
Right. This happens. Yeah, it happens. I get it. It's not the way I envisioned it.
At all? And I'll just say this one more time. He's used as an avatar of all the Michigan players and the national championship team stinking on ice in the NFL.
So the reason why they got to the NFL is because they had the plays and the Connor Stallions and all that sort of stuff. The time J.J. McCarthy beat Ohio State, in the horseshoe. He was down at halftime. Worst Way to cheat ever.
Fact. Worst way to cheat ever is to still be down at halftime. And then he started killing it. and so did the run game. Obviously, it sticks in my craw, but I got to deal with it in the same way you deal with all the asterisk and all the, you know.
You know, draft choice that you forfeited and all that sort of thing. I get it. So, listen, long story short, is he's got an opportunity. At some point. And if it comes this year.
It would be I think um Troublesome and a disaster. From Minnesota to get to the third string quarterback. If McCarthy's playing this year, it's all gone wrong. Don't you think? Yeah.
Well, you're talking about injuries to Kyler and injury again to Carson Wentz. Yeah, I mean, it's worst case. What are they going to do? McCarthy's going to show something as a third stringer in practice to beat out Wentz to be the backup? It's possible, I guess.
I don't know. But again, like you say time and time again when talking to Rabel about Will Levis, the backups don't get practice time. They're not the head coach isn't really seeing them in action to make that evaluation. But isn't it amazing? Tua and Kyler get their chance to go somewhere else in a spot.
Tua might not be able to answer the bell. Mari is ready.
Okay. And the backup. For week one, might get in there in Atlanta, and it's Cooper Rush. And the backup for week one in Minnesota leapfrogged a guy whose knee injury kept him from. developing as a Year One starter.
And as a year three starter, The knee injury that affected the guy he beat in the national championship game who was drafted before him. Ruined the end of his second season, bleeding into the third season, but I think he's still going to get the chance, and McCarthy won't.
So interwoven. And the coaches are both named Kevin.
Okay. Yeah. I think we've connected dodges here enough. Take a break. 844-204-Rich.
We'll sneak in a call. Maybe a win-loss game before we get out of Dodge. Oh, yes. And the Packers update. It's important, obviously, with the Vikings.
Welcome them into town. Coming up. Mm. The Rich Eisen Show, the podcast.
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Terms and Conditions Apply, NMLS 696891. GNT and Lois points out, right? Yeah. You do realize the radio audience just rejoined and have no idea why you're blurting that out right now. I'm sorry, Rich.
Yeah, I'm just, you guys are talking about your guillotine movie. Thank you, sir. This is his first state here, Rich. Leave him alone. He has a no radio.
It's not like the lowest. That's what we're zombie. The lowest about Mike. Yes. That's great.
Hoskins is crying. Oh, my God.
Okay. You guys can't hear. Yes. And me and TJ are on the block. That's what we were talking about.
Thank you. TV Brads.
Okay. So Josh Jacobs had his court date set for November, moved up to September. And I think the impetus for that was when the commissioner put him on the commissioner's exemplist, which means he's sitting there until his. um legal situation as we refer to it. Uh he had a domestic Violence incident that he was accused of.
uh with his girlfriend and um You could sit there until you're you're You are legal problems are resolved, so they moved it up to today. And today, according to his lawyers. Um Agreed to enter a plea of guilty or no contest to one count of misdemeanor criminal damage to property in one count of misdemeanor battery in Brown County Circuit Court.
So Um With this agreement, Josh has accepted responsibility for his conduct and resolved this matter. Today's resolution is set against a career long history of Josh's community work while in the NFL, which is centered on the circumstances of his early life. And there's a whole paragraph here about How he was an Ed Block Courage Award nominee in 2022, voted by his Raiders teammates. He's had a partnership with Kia Belta round his own experience of homelessness, etc. Bottom line, though, there is video out there, and there is still the fact that he pled guilty to this.
and uh domestic violence Um Leads to six game suspension on average. The NFL says he's still on the Commissioner's exempt list. They're closely monitoring all developments in the matter, which remains under review of the personal conduct policy. Just because he pled to this and the matter is deemed closed. and the court system doesn't mean that it's closed for him.
And, you know, obviously, in terms of Uh it's important that he cleans that up. Certainly since the video that everyone says that anybody who's seen it says it's pretty ugly. as domestic violence, uh, tends to be.
So I know everyone looks at this in football terms. And in terms of that. Um Josh Jacobs will not play this week, it appears. For a few. maybe the first month and a half of the season, at least.
We shall see. Lex in New York. Let's close this out with something I don't think we've done yet. What's up, Lex? He's up.
Uh oh, Lexi there.
Okay. Hold on, bud. Yeah, bud, you've been hanging on for almost three hours. You're there, Lex. We're almost out of time.
I sure have. There you go. What's going on? What's going on? Yo, man, I'm with the Jets, baby.
Come on, give me that wind loss.
Okay. All right. Lex in New York wants to play win-loss for the New York Jets, which I don't believe we have done yet. First up for the Jets is a visit to see Robert Sala in Tennessee. What happens, sir?
First of all, no, you did do a win-loss three weeks ago.
Okay. Right before I was about to go into therapy.
Okay. You know, for this. And you know how like older Jets fans.
Okay. or always like mad. I want to speak positive. You die. You know what I'm saying?
Yeah, I've got two minutes left, so let's go before we get cut off. That's a win. All right, home for the Packers. That's a win, too.
Now at the Lions. Loss, loss. Two and one and at the Bears, too. Loss? Yes, sir.
Two and two, home for the Browns. That's a win at the Patriots. That's a loss. Three and three, home for the Dolphins. Got the win.
Home for the Raiders. That's a win. That's five and three at the Chiefs. That's a loss. Five and four home for the Bills.
Not the wind, we're taking it. Six and four at the Chargers. That's a loss. Six and five at the Dolphins. That's a win.
Seven and five.
Now they're now in the sniffing it category, officially entering the middle. I need that in the hunt picture. Seven and five.
It's sniffing it here, sir. Home for the Broncos. Seven and six at the Cardinals. Got the win. Eight and six home for the Patriots.
That's the win. There you go. Do it. Nine and six, home for the Vikings and Kyler Murray. That's our last win of the season.
Take that. Let's go. And then in losing it, the Bills, 10 and 7 for the Jets would maybe put them in the playoffs and be a massive W for Aaron Glenn. You were correct, Lex. You're being positive.
Power of the song, baby. Let's go. You're being very positive. Thanks, Lex, for hanging on and for being there. Lex diamonds.
10 and 7. How about that? You would love would you be back on the on the horse after this? I would be surprised if the Jets are tennis. Yeah, I would too.
That would save Aaron Glenn's bacon and then get them set for what? Archibald. No, he can't get bro. You're out of Archibald. Exactly why the Jets are going tenants.
Yeah, exactly. You're out of Archibald. You're not getting Archibald. Sure. It was a game right over there.
Cost you Trevor Lawrence. I think the only archer ball they can get with a 10-7 record is tiny. Wrong sports and century. 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.
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