We all know 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. This episode is brought to you by PayPal. You know how a mom's bag has everything? Sunscreen.
Snacks? A stapler? The new PayPal app is like that, but for your money. Shop, pay, manage your account, and earn rewards all in one place. And with purchase protection on eligible items, biometric security, and passkeys, you're protected at every step.
Download the new PayPal app to get started. See PayPal.com/slash protection terms. 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. This is the Rich Eisen Show. The Jackson Dark took a shot. Live from the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles.
Devontae Bridge. Earlier on the show, Bengals head coach Zach Taylor. ESPN college football analyst Josh Pate. Coming up. Steelers defensive tackle Kim Hayward.
49ers tight end George Kittle. And now, it's Rich Eisen. Hour number three of this Tuesday show with week two of the NFL season in the books. This show is on the air here on Disney Plus, the ESPN app, ESPN Radio, SiriusXM Channel 80. Already the first two hours, a lot of fun overreaction Monday on a Tuesday.
Also, having a bunch of fans calling in to see who think that their teams are in trouble or their season is over. And. And RES Consulting, we're here for you, and we'll take some more of those calls. And I'm wondering if I should do this. David in Ohio is a Diehard Steeler fan.
Cameron Hayward is just joining us here right now on the program. I'm going to do this. First of all, how are you, Cameron? Good to see you. Hey, Cam.
How are you? I'm good. How are you? I'm doing fine. Would you mind taking a phone call from a Steeler fan right now?
Of course. Of course. David, Ohio. This is what RES consulting can do when you're concerned about a team. You there, David?
Hey, hey, how's it going, Stan Favre? I'm a huge Steelers fan, by the way. I love watching you play every Sunday and It's great to talk to you actually. Pleasure to talk to you too.
So, David, I know you're concerned. Go for it. You have an actual Pittsburgh Steeler or a future Hall of Famer sitting right here. What do you got? Yes.
Yes. Yeah, so I Go ahead. First, I wanted to tell Brockman, I am 1-0 in higher register standings when I told him that. My Pittsburgh Steelers would uh beat the Patriots. Uh, last week, so one and L there, appreciate that.
Yep.
So yeah, I just. I'm just uh, you know, looking for some some uh Good vibes. I really think we can beat the Bengals. On Sunday, I know it's going to be at home. David, say what you were going to say if it wasn't Cam Hayward listening.
David. Say it, David. Let it happen, David. It's okay. I'm a big boy.
Okay, all right, all right. I I really I I really like That Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy, they've reunited. I just uh I just want to see some some winning football. I know. We got a Super Bowl a while back and I do appreciate all the work you do, Cam Hayward, every week in the field.
David in Ohio. David in Ohio told our call screener, Cam, quote, needs reassurance season is not over. That's what he said to our call screener. After week two, David, I know it wasn't pretty, but you got to believe in us. Give us a chance, baby.
Let me earn it back for you. I will. I will, I will, and I will be cheering for you. I will be cheering for you against the Bengals. Please sack Joe Burrow for me, please.
I need to, brother. I got to get them on the ground. Their office is on fire right now.
So we got to be some firemen to put this thing out. All right, David. There you go. See, I try to get. It's always fun.
It's so funny. He's like call screener. I think the season's over. I need Rich's reassurance. And then here comes Cam Haber.
He's like, Cam, I think you are great in the community. I'm so excited for Rogers and McCarthy together. I mean,. Thank you for the call, David. Thanks, David.
Appreciate you, brother. Is that fandom right there, or what, huh? I just put a smile on my face. It was a pretty somber day, but hearing David just say he felt good about me, but didn't really know what the team was doing, I feel a little bit better now. There you go.
But I think David might be giving voice to concern throughout Western PA, Cam. What do you say to that? I say, you know, we got to go through some growing pains. You know, we got a new offense, and on defense, we have a lot of the same pieces, but the offense is growing. And I'd rather have this problem now than, you know, late in December.
So hopefully we can learn from our mistakes. Hopefully, we can get everybody on the same page. And the offense is on the field a lot more and scores a lot of points. And, you know, I think. This is part of the conversation we're having league-wide right now: is like the role of preseason football, and what do you get out of that?
With practices against teams, and the first two weeks are still sort of a feeling out process. What is it like to actually do this for a living after as long as you have, where you are in a week two environment like New England's against A team like theirs trying to Find your way through. Do you think you need to play more in the preseason? Professional now, Cam? I don't know, play more in the preseason.
I just think you've got to build up some continuity. You know, I don't think every team's going through this. And so our problems are not their problems. And when we're trying to apply, you have to look at where your offense is and say, hey, look where we were. Look where we can be.
We have a lot of moving parts, a lot of young guys in new positions. You just got to feel more comfortable. Coach McCarthy's trying to implement a system that everybody's got to thrive in. But it's not, you know, Rome wasn't built in the day.
So don't expect it to just be perfect on day one, but we got to get back on the horse and get back on our business.
So what is the challenge that the defense has gone through for the first eight quarters that you feel needs to be fixed, if you will, prior to this game against Cincinnati, which is pretty damn big for both? I think stopping the run. You know, you look at our first two opponents, they've had some success running the ball, and I know we've mitigated that with turnovers. But if we want to be a really good defense and have a lot of success going forward, and it's sneaky in Cincinnati, you hear so much about what those wide receivers can do, what Joe Burrow can do. Not everybody talks about what Chase Brown can do.
And I remember just last year, we went up there. It was a Thursday night game. Everybody made a big deal about Joe Flacco and Aaron Rodgers, the icy hot bull of the century. But when you talk about that game, Chase Brown went off on us. And he had success getting downhill and had a lot of big runs.
And it just opened up everything for their offense.
So you can't lose sight of that. And I think that's something we got to improve on in the future. Cam Hayward here on the Rich Eisen Show. And what is the challenge going against somebody like Joe Burrow? From your experience, he makes every throw.
He's a competitor. You know Not many teams have T. Higgins and Jamar Chase. And so throwing it up to those two dudes, you know, you can't just double them. You got to make some plays.
You got to get sacks. You got to get turnovers. But Joe doesn't make it easy. He's light on his feet, can move, and he provides everything for their offense. And I'm sorry to put you in this position, but you knew where you know these things are happen and you've been through it.
It sure would be a game to get Joey Porter Jr. back in the mix, Cam. I know that you're talking about Sit again. The more the merrier. And I know.
This is not your lane, I guess. But I mean, what do you. What do you sit there in your locker room thinking about? going into this game like that. Man, I want everybody to be out there with us to give us the best chance to win.
You know, I know there's been a contract dispute and we've been dealing some injuries on that side, but You know, hopefully, we can get them back sooner or later because we know we're a better team with them. Mark, Cam Hayward, here on the Rich Eisen Show. Did you see the Monday Nighter? Did you spend any time watching that or no? Not really.
I spent a lot of time watching it. I was too much in my feelings to watch. Is that right? Seriously. Is that right?
Is it tough for you after a loss to watch other people play football? Yes. Yes,'cause they got a chance to win and I don't. Yeah. I love that.
After all this time, you still you still feel that way, huh? I am a. I'm not a sore loser, but I take losses pretty hard. And, you know, I think part of my decompressing is not watching everything that's going on around the league when we do lose.
Okay.
So then, if you don't mind helping interpret these. Stats and numbers from your position, according to next-gen stat Aaron Donald. 32 snaps, and of them, the 18 pass rush snaps had a getoff time of 0.75 seconds. That's the third fastest by a defensive tackle this season. What do these numbers?
tell you without even seeing him. play.
Well, well, Aaron Rodgers I mean, Aaron Donald was ready to play. 32 snaps off of having haven't played anything in two years is crazy. You know, getting any tackles, you know, or even A tackle for loss is just icing on the cake. You know, I saw a couple highlights. It just looked like he was active, you know, getting off the ball.
I want to know how he feels today, though. That's the real question because two years off of playing, that's probably going to make the knees and back a little bit shaky this morning. You think so? For sure. Of course.
Course. But Aar Aaron's prepared for it. Aaron takes really good care of his body, runs a lot. And I I remember you know during COVID, me and him, we'd be on the same field doing our own workouts, but he'd do some pretty impressive stuff with his guys. Yeah, I mean and again um But that's why I would obviously want to pick your brain here, since this is an area of your expertise, to say the least.
This is your lane, is playing this position and playing. You know, right there, I mean, right in the middle, right in the crash zone for so many different ways. And you said it's insane that he played 32 snaps? I think it's very tough to do that with not as much of a callus on your body in the last two years. I think the thing that helps, you got Brayden Fist, you got a lot of good D-linemen that you can create a rotation and have that flood of just, you know, it's not all Aaron Doddle in every single play, but he can be a major factor to this defense.
And, you know, if you're not sliding to him, that guard is going to be in a world of hurt because he's going to be asked for some type of help. Yeah. And so, from what you have been able to see, Outside of your own film and your own world, do you have? a through the first two weeks best team in football that you've seen. Cam?
Ooh, best team in football. Um I would say Seattle is probably the best team right now. You know, there's just, there's a lot they got going on on defense. There's just. Pretty special.
How so? I just love the cohesiveness from the back end to the front end. And they deliver pressure on all fronts. Leonard Williams leads that group. And I just like the way they play.
They play with a lot of energy. Julian Love makes critical plays when you need him, too. And so those are two guys that really stick out to me. I also think Cincinnati's defense has been balling as of late. A lot of respect for what Dexter Lawrence is doing over there.
And, you know, he knows how to plug up the middle. If you're not double-teaming that guy, that is crazy because. He's already a behemoth of a man, so it's putting a lot on the center of our guard to just block them one-on-one. Yeah, we had Zach Taylor on earlier in Hour One Cam, and he talked about how he's done more than just show up in the huddle. since he's been there and how You know, it's remarkable.
Again, obviously your position that you play sometimes gets overlooked because there's the sat guys on the outside, but you get somebody that can. Anchor that middle. How does one build around that, right? How can you explain that, how how somebody like you in a position like that can change things?
Well, I think it gets overlooked, but I think you go into your team and say, you know, that's the type of guy who is the straw that stirs the drink. It's the guy who sets the tempo, the guy who everybody feeds off of. You know, he's very fortunate, and I think both guys play off of each other very well, but it's him in. It's him and Jonathan Allen that do a great job of just they're veterans, they know how to get the job done, they play with great energy, great pad level, and they have violent hands. And when you do that up front, guys are going to be talking about you and You're gonna make a whole lot of automess for a lot of people.
So um I don't envy our offense because we got to get it right, but that's the target we got to go after because that dude is a bull in a china shop.
Well, I wish you the best of luck on this week three game against Cincinnati. It's pretty damn big, and then right behind it is at Cleveland on a Thursday night.
So you got your college state beckoning for you. They love me there, don't they? You know, for sure, man. It's just you and Hayden on not just football with Cam Hayward this week? Yeah.
Yeah, we'll figure we'd switch it up. You know, we got some things to address. We got to address our loss and move forward.
Okay, so that's coming up on not just football. Again, if you need a guest, I'll always play the home and home for you. You know that, Cam. And I appreciate that. I will be getting at you.
You know, that certain week. Which certain week might that be? Is that in November?
So you're saying are you saving me up for November? Certain week. Yes. Because it just, it's great banter. Last year we had you and Jack Sawyer on the bank.
That was awesome. Maybe we get Will Howard in there a little bit more and have some more fun with him. Boop. You're just talking about double-teaming sexy Dexi. You're going to double-team me, triple-team members.
I'm just going to find as many bucca as I can. Clearly.
Well, I think you can. You can get Marcus Freeman on, James Laurenitis. Just go in the back. As long as you bring Roman Wilson for me, let's do that. Roman's not available at that time.
That's the veterans preemptory right there. Not just football podcasts with Cam Hayward every single Tuesday, and of course, right here on the Rich Eisen Show every single Tuesday. Great to see you, Cam, as always. Great to see you as well, bro. Thanks for the time.
Appreciate it. There you go. It's Cam Hayward right here on the Rich Eisen Show. How about Dave in Ohio? Like, I don't know what's going on here with my team.
I need some help. Tell me the season's not. It's not over. Again, Adam. When he takes your call, you tell him what you want to talk about.
He doesn't make it up. He writes down what you say you want to talk about. He's back. And it says, and he's like, he wrote down needs. Yeah.
needs con uh help in uh how the season's not over. And And now it's time for Cam Hayward. He could say this to Cam, like, Cam, tell me, tell me everything's going to be all right. Instead, he's just like, I think you're great in the community. Hey, Mr.
Donnie Baseball, give that guy a break. That's true. Come on, you know, Donnie Baseball. Wow. That's the truth.
I mean, I'm scared. Like, I know. I feel like that all the time. It's also like when you go in the comment section and someone says something bad about you, and then you go, well, hey, man, thanks for watching. You're like, oh, I know you read this.
Just joking, big man. Like, that's kind of what JK. Just joking. I know you'd read this. Yeah.
And how about that? Cam's waiting to help him. And he's just like, hey, Brockman, I got higher register, right? Come on now. I mean.
I threw David in Ohio. Lord Charles Dwight Good in 85-86 met 12-6 curve. And just like everyone else, he buckled and missed. He buckled stared at it like Rob Deere. Oh, Rob Deere.
Oh, yeah. Took a stray. Oh, by the way, Daniel Jeremiah mentioned him by name on Game Day Morning. You made a Rob Deere reference. Oh, amazing.
Rob Bombadier. Let's take a break before Mike Del Tufo starts talking about being the founder of the K Corner. I was. You were not. Yes, I was.
You took credit. You were took credit for someone who did credit. A SoFi personal loan is here to help you achieve something once thought impossible. That's 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. Go ahead and pull off your own debt-defying stunt right now with a SoFi personal loan by visiting sofi.com/slash trick to learn more. Loans originated by SoFi Bank and a member FDIC. Terms and conditions apply. NMLS 696891.
I just realized George Kittle is joining the week I was playing Michigan. Oh my gosh. Oh wow. Uh Uh Check engine, ABS, or maintenance light on? Take the guesswork out of your warning lights with O'Reilly Veriscan.
The service is free and provides a report with solutions verified by ASE certified master technicians. And if you need help, we could recommend a shop for you. Ask for O'Reilly Veriscan today. Oh, oh, oh. Oh Riley.
Auto parts. 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. 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 celebrating like they've 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. Bare Ultra, only at the Home Depot. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast. George, what's up, George? It's good to see you, man.
It's a Tuesday in September. The Niners are playing well. Feeling good about ourselves right now.
So. Football's fun, isn't it? Dude, how about Australia? How about that one for you? Because you went, everyone's, it's finally now put to bed.
With the Rams having finally played a game about how you went to Australia and how they went to Australia. Is that something you guys in your locker room were using? To your effect, that everybody thought the Rams didn't really get beaten by you. They just got beaten by Jet Lag. Georgia.
Well, come on now. What do we have? I think we're a pretty good team, so I think straight up we beat the Rams. But they're also an incredible team with an incredible talent. And Aaron Donald looked pretty good last night.
Darn it, Aaron. But I mean, that whole thing, I mean, when. They told us we're going out a week early, and then the Rams announced they're going out two days. I was like, Yeah, well, let's see who has the, you know, the best plan. And then I just say, after being there for two days, I was totally in a brain fog and sleepy and tired.
So. I think that would have been tough to play a football game on. But, you know, the Rams went out and did it. They did it their way. And I just saw a Sean McVay quote from yesterday, I think it was.
You know, sometimes you just make a bad decision. He used other words, but. I laughed pretty hard at that and I appreciate the accountability. Uh From Sean McVeigh. Yeah, I mean, it was a funny sound.
It was a walk-off sound, but that definitely happened. But I guess let's talk about your team. The first, I mean. I know a lot about the Niners. I can't believe that.
Yes, you're an expert.
So, why have you been able to come out of the gate as well as you have, then? Let's put it that way. I think the biggest thing is that this is essentially like the same offense we've had for quite a while now. You know, it's the same starting O line as last year, the same quarterback, the same fullback, the same running back, the same tight ends. I mean, wide receiver room has changed a little bit, but Debo's been a part of it before.
I think Mike Evans would work in any offense because of how good he is. And it's pretty incredible to just, you know, I got really lucky. I got to play with Trent Williams, right? We got him Hall of Famer plays like a Hall of Famer still. Mike Evans, Hall of Famer, plays like a Hall of Famer still.
And so just when you add guys like that, it's just so much fun. Because, I mean, every time we call a play, and I know Mike has a chance of getting the ball, I'm like, this is so sick! Brock Purdy's throwing the ball to Mike Evans and I'm blocking for him. What a dream come true. Yeah, and then, you know, and then he has to show up in Iowa gear.
I saw that, George. I saw that because you took care of business, your team against Iowa State. That we did. It was a little stressful for me. We were 20-point favorites, and we won by three points, but.
Is it a good rivalry game if it's a blowout?
So it was for the fans, it was for the people. Um, yeah, Brock said I took it too easy on him. Honestly, we kind of forgot about the bet until. Saturday morning. Where I like I called him I was like hey, what do you want to do?
And he was like uh T-shirts and hats? I was like, great idea. Let's just do that. T-shirts and hats. I think I was going to have to wear his helmet again, is what he had for me, but.
You know, I'm thinking this is my goal for next year. I'm going to have a prepared script on a note card for him. You've got copyright. He's going to get there up. He's going to get up there.
He's going to be like. Hi, I'm Brock Purdy. Huge fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes. And the team that Kirk Ference has built over the last 27 years. I wish I could have gone there.
That's what he's going to say. I love it. By the way, we had Ferenc on last week. I love talking to him. He's what a great accent.
Right? Oh, oh, how we doing there, fellas? Hey, bounce up all right. Hey, George. Run the ball.
He's pretty good at it. Yeah. Did he ever get angry at you? BAAP Yeah. Rich.
Yes. Come on. That's a yes. Come on. Obviously.
Yeah. Yeah. No, he roasted me multiple times. It was always good, though. You know what, Kirk always, I'm a big believer of like hard coaching, right?
And you see those old videos like Nick Saban yelling at players. Like, Kirk wasn't a big yeller-screamer like that, but he would when he felt the need to. Um, but like you need that in football because football is hard, and people, a lot of people are counting on you on every single play and every single day. And if you don't understand that, You let a lot of people down.
So, that type of coaching is very healthy for the youth in America. What's Kyle like as a professional football coach? Um He is brutally honest with you every single day. Every single day, just brutally honest. Like, if he doesn't like a route, He'll just tell you, like, hey, you need to do this better, you need to do this better.
But he's also really good at highlighting what you're doing well. And, like, he doesn't, he doesn't just harp on the things that you need to get better at. He does, but he also hype you up, like, hey, dude, like, this block, your footwork was incredible. Juice, the way that you sold this motion with your eyes, you confused the whole defense. Like, he does a really good job about he'll build you up and he doesn't ever like take you out at the knees, but he holds you accountable every single day, which is what you want.
And you need honesty in a building because the second that you feel like your head coach is a bull. I think you lose leverage with the team pretty quick. No kidding, huh? And he definitely, you know, and then. Again, I know this is not your lane, but you can choose to drive in it if you want.
Um You know, this week when asked if IUK is an option. He's just like No. You know, and he said it in a way where We kind of laughed at it, even though it's not a funny thing. He he just um He clearly has a way of doing things, man. that you respond to.
Uh it it feels like George, you know? Yeah. Yeah. I've been with Kyle for 10 years now. He's the only head coach that's coached me in the NFL.
And I've loved playing with him every step of the way. I mean, like, I've grown as a player, he's grown as a coach. You can just tell he's just so obsessed with football and wanting to be successful at it, and how much he loves the game. It just kind of, you can just feel it off of him every single day. And that's inspiring and it makes you want to play football for him.
Well, and again, you mentioned, you know, 10 years now. That's pretty cool. Brother, here's the coolest thing: is that going into the game against the Miami Dolphins, the San Francisco 49ers had only four players in the history of the franchise. to catch a touchdown pass in 10 straight years for the Niners. And coming out of that game, there were six.
Because you and Yuschek did it in the same game, man. And I know you're tight with him. Did you guys know about this or talk about it? I did not. I do know that me and Juice have a really good record when we both score in the same game.
I thought we were undefeated. Turns out my rookie year. We did lose when we both scored in a game, but that was my rookie year.
So, does it really even count? We started the season off 0-9. But besides that, we're undefeated since my rookie season when we both score.
So, I think we should do that more. You know, it was really fun. You know, Juice got a couple targets, he had his touchdown, but he actually had a really cool sale route. Like, you go in through the middle and you bend back out to the outside. You see McBride and Kelsey and me.
We run a bunch of those. Bowers runs a bunch of those. Really, every tight end runs them. But Juice got his. Purdy placed it right in the middle.
He got him perfectly, and then he scored on the next place.
So, Juice is riding high right now. I'll say that. He's riding high for all the fullbacks out there. And McCaffrey, he got his 100th career scrimmage touchdown in game 114, which is one game faster. Than Jerry friggin' rice.
You know, and he was good, right? Jerry Rice? Yeah, he was.
Well, I mean, for the for the um, for the what's the name of it? 49ers, oh, um, for sure. Oh, yeah. Oh, that Jerry Rice. That's the Jerry Rice, man.
So I'll ask you again because I just love hearing stories. You give me a great McCaffrey story. Where he did something on the field and was either. You know, chill about it, or you couldn't believe he did it. What do you got for me?
On McCaffrey.
Well, the first thing I want to say about this 100-touchdown thing, yes. Did you see?
So it's 50 for the Carolina Panthers. He scored fifty and then we traded for him. We got him. He did his uh hundred his fifty touchdowns for us. And do you know he had the exact same amount of rushing touchdowns for Carolina as he does for the Niners and the receiving touchdowns?
What are the odds of that? Zero? Point zero, like full blue Tarski, maybe. And by the way, the only other two people who have done 50 and 50 like that are Marshall Falk and Randy Moss.
So We're talking Hall of Fame stuff. Brother. How cool is Randy Moss? What a good guy that guy is. I'm with you.
Oh my gosh. Okay, good McCaffrey story. Yes, please. Let's see. Training, whatever you got, anything.
So, this past year for his birthday, he took, it was right after OTA's. He tells me in juice, he goes, Hey, I'm taking some of my high school buddies down to Cabo. Would love for you guys to come down for a couple of days. We're just going to golf and hang out.
So, hey. Give me the excuse to go to Cabo. That's easy for me. We go down there. You know, his wife and daughter come down with us.
It's lovely. And the whole point is: hey, we're just going to golf and drink beers for a couple of days. And So the first day, me, Juice, and two of the other guys, we got out for like a super early tea time. 7 a.m. We're out there.
We play nine holes because we're playing another 18 at like noon or something like that, or 11 o'clock with everybody. And we're sitting there, we're all ready to go. Everyone's excited. And Christian is on a massage table getting work done by one of his rehab guys who he flew down to Cabo to get treatment. And we're all just sitting there like, hmm.
Christian.
Okay.
It's it's June 2nd. You're going to be okay. Get off the table. Let's go drink some beers. Let's go golf.
And then, guess what he did? He got off the table. And he had an excellent round of golf with the boys. I think that was one of the rounds we did too, where every beer you drink is a free mulligan.
So that was a good round of golf. I like that rule. No, see, you like the rule. Yes. And then when you get to like holes 14 through 18.
Like something happened to juice. Juice on whole 18 took four mulligans. That was tough for juice. It's tough. That was tough.
Now, that's an off-season workout program I could buy into right there. Hey, work hard, play hard, man. I love it. I mean, I'm sure they're not 8%, though. You know what I mean?
Probably a little 4% or something. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. We're not up there. I mean, technically, tequila also counts as a mulligan, too. To their guts.
There you go. Oh, and by the way, so so that was a cracker of a round? By the way, how good? How's that? Dude, you sitting next to him when he's delivering that soundbite made me laugh even harder.
When he said that I hear that every Sunday. That was such a good story. I was so happy to hear that. That made me so happy. I was like, you know what, Christian?
You just made like every person who's a fan of you, everyone just loved that story. That was excellent. And I was just wondering if his, you know. Edition of Cracker went over the heads of the Aussies. I have no idea, but your reaction, I caught that.
That is for sure. All right.
So, one more serious question, then potentially. One more?
Well, then, and then one really serious question.
So, what do you tell Niners fans right now, 2-0, they're out of their skulls thinking that this is it? George, what do you tell everybody? Right now. Buckle down the hatches, lock in to long season, one week at a time. The only thing on our minds right now are the Arizona Cardinals.
Went into LA, upset the Chargers. You know, had a tough one against Seattle, but Hey, Seattle's a pretty good team. Mm-hmm. This is going to be a hell of a game.
So lock in, focus week to week. No big picture here. No big picture.
Well, the big picture is big picture is you could do to the Rams what the Seahawks kind of did to you, which is go into their building and win it all. Like you could do that, George. You're not talking about that? That'd be cool. But see, look, that's you paying the big picture.
I'm focusing the Cardinals, Rich. Don't be a siren to me, man. I watched Odyssey. You got wax in your ears? Is that what you're saying?
Yeah, I'm about to... About to. I don't know. I've never heard. Do you like the Odyssey?
I had a great time. This is actually my best experience with the Odyssey was I like I had to see it in whatever the millimeter film that you're supposed to.
So the theater that I had to go to was up in Oakland, and it was like. three days for a training camp and I just went up there with my brother-in-law. Claire, my wife's brother, and we sat in the second row of an IMAX elevator. This was me, brothers listening on the road. Just staring straight up, leaning as far back in my chair as I could.
Had a great experience, though. What a fun movie. You should watch it again, though, not looking up Matt Damon's nostrils like that, brother. He is a big nose. I didn't know that.
Yeah, well, I mean, certainly from because I was literally about to say to you, how did you get tickets? You know, it was just three days before training camp. And now I found out you had to sit in the second row. That's how you got the tickets. Dude, how about the sound quality in that film, too?
It was shaking good. I know. Vibrating. I know. Okay.
It's like you ever play in Subway football and you have the crowd noise. Yeah. Like you pull the RT, it was RT and you get to see the routes. Yeah. And it's just everything's doing this.
That was my brain watching The Odyssey. Second row. It was so far from that movie. All right.
Now, here's the real serious question: George. Are we going to do some business for this Saturday or what? Are we going to do some business? Oh, it's Iowa, Michigan. Yeah, dude.
Are we going to do some business? Yeah, what do you want to do? Hmm. What do you want to do? We could do the hat t-shirt thing.
Where You know You have to show up there. Rich, how good is that hat, though? By the way, where'd you find that? What is that hat? How funny is this?
Buddy of mine from high school, his name's Max. I haven't talked to Max in like 10 years, besides he'll send me an occasional message of like, hey, good luck this week or great game. Yes. And um He just, he sent me a message. He goes, hey, I found this at a.
local thrift shop. Do you want it? And I was like, absolutely. I got in the mail like two weeks ago. Just in time for this game and Brock to wear it.
Timing.
So, do you want to do it?
So, when do you do your press availability? I'm on Thursdays. On Thursdays.
Okay, perfect. Perfect next Thursday. Right.
So I'm going to do it. Do you want to do it all week? No, not all week. I will do on. On Thursday's show.
An entire segment. Wearing a t-shirt and a hat of Iowa that you would provide me, obviously. Um, and then I would return the favor. You'd have to do your press conference, which is probably the length of a segment here on the show. Like, I do like a 15-20 minute.
How long is your media session? Like 15, 20 minutes or so? Eight to twelve.
Okay, eight to twelve. Perfect.
So I'll do the same thing. Thursday show, enough leeway time for us to make sure we can overnight the proper gear. I'm sending you my old college helmet. I will take it. Holy smoke.
It'll fit your head. That wasn't the thing. I just. I don't think I'm gonna wear it. You're gonna wear a helmet.
Do you think so? Yeah, you'll look good in it. All right.
Well, I'll get the Michigan hat and Michigan gear for you for your Thursday press availability. How does that sound? That sounds great. I can't wait. Virtual shake on it?
There it is. We have done so. Deal is done. Witness. Deal is done.
We've got witnesses, everybody watching on Disney Plus. Do you want me to? I'll give a speech about, I'll talk about how awesome Michigan is for you.
Okay.
And then I've got to talk about my love for the University of Iowa. I think you should just do a quick spiel on why Iowa has the best tight ends of all time.
Okay.
Well, I mean, you could make that case regardless of Michigan. I know, but it helps when one of the goats of all time, Rich Eisen, also is chiming in. It just helps cement that legacy. I appreciate that, George. Right back at you.
It's always a pleasure. Best to your lovely wife. Last thing, Rich. Are we going to golf together next year? I would love that.
I would love that. Let's do this. Let's make the request right now to the American Century Championship. Are you guys allowed to do that? Request your playing partners?
Well, I mean, me and Rich are both bottom quarter of the field.
So, okay. I appreciate you including the rest of the bottom quarter with me. You could say, you know, somebody who's, I could, you could make a t-shirt that's T88 and I'd be wearing it, you know. But I would love to do that. That would be violently average at golf, but I love it.
We got to get you back out there. That is for sure. I'll be there next year. Excellent. We got to introduce the American Century Championship to this whole mulligan idea that you have given birth to.
I don't know if they're going to really go for that. I think Travis might win that one. The man, by the way, I'll give you the floor before I let you go. How good does he look the first two weeks, man? Right?
It looks like Travis Kelsey, crazy, right? In a way, but not really, though, right? Like, not really.
Well, everybody thought, everybody thought, you know, he's getting married, he's going to go soft, he's going to go this, he's going to go that. No.
Well, this this is my thing. Yes. You know, I've I've watched Travis play for a long time. And he's does all the right things. He's an incredible Hall of Fame football player.
I still get so confused about how little teams cover him sometimes. He's just wide open. Like, he's just wide open. Like, teams are dropping these deep zones, and he's just running like these little five-yard hook routes. He turns.
Pat hits him. He drops steps, gets 10 yards downfield. I'm just like. Are you just gonna let him do that to you all day? Like I'm pretty sure the only person who's ever really covered him is the Patriots and Bill Belichick.
You know? That might be one of them, but maybe it's the round. He is open. But there's so many plays where he just kind of oozes off the line. Yes.
And there's no one within 15 yards of Mike. You know he's going to get the ball. It's Travis Kelsey. Yeah, I mean, maybe you should get that sort of coverage. That's what you're looking for.
Is that what you're lobbying for right here? As a fellow dean of tight end university? I think on National Tight Ends Day, all defenses should not cover tight ends. That's from that one up the flag. We got a lot to run up flagpoles here.
Boom. George, thanks for coming on, brother. Always love all of you. You guys are awesome as always. Right back out.
George Kittle, everybody. One of us is sending the other something to wear on next Thursday. Keep balling for sure. Stay healthy. Stay healthy.
All right.
There is an update on Jackson Dart when we come back right here on the Rich Eisen Show. Don't go anywhere. Big news on the other side regarding Jackson Dart and the Giants season moving forward. Yeah. 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. 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. Did you know every 36 minutes a child in the U.S.
is diagnosed with cancer? Which means some of the bravest warriors you'll ever meet aren't professional athletes or superheroes. They're the kids in this fight. That's why I'm proud to support Hyundai Hope on Wheels. For the past 28 years, with support from Hyundai, their dealers, and every new Hyundai sold, Hope on Wheels has contributed over $300 million to childhood cancer research, helping save more than 40,000 kids.
Join our fight at HyundaiWarriors.com. The Rich Heisen Show, the podcast. When it comes to your home, Pella Windows Indoors 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, which means working with a company that builds and installs a quality product with real pricing, real simple, really beautiful. And when a trusted name like Pella chooses to partner with the Rich Eisen show, that sure says a lot.
Zero percent of financing options are available. Certain restrictions apply. Find your local Pella Windows indoors showroom today at pella.com/slash Eisen for details. Make life brighter, everybody, with Pella Windows and Doors. All right.
When you, Chris, and Mike Hoskins get in my ear and, like, say there's an update on an injury for a player and And I can tell him You guys were talking in the voice of the slow fox music going to break. Which means what we're about to hear about Jackson Dart is not good, if I had to guess. I have not seen anything. I've stayed off of the screens during the commercial break. Go ahead and hit the drop, Mike Del Tufo.
Right here on the program, everybody. Here it comes. Maria is seized. Breaking news. What do you got, Chris?
Yeah, according to Ian Rap Report, Adam Schefter, and Mike Garifolo, the knee injury Jackson Dart suffered last night worse than anticipated according to the MRI scans. He is at an extended period of time and possibly a season. Oh, my gosh.
So as John Harbaugh was saying last night, it's in the neighborhood of an MCL, but we don't know until we don't know. I can't react. And somebody's like, well, at least he's out there standing around. I mean, that's got to be good news and feel good. Yeah, like, you know, that's good, but he reserved judgment.
'Cause it's not like the worst and It seems like it could be the worst. Which is the worst. Yeah, this stinks. I I If this is for the season, you know, we were trying to be positive early on. If this is for the season, I cannot.
Be more gutted for everybody in that organization, and obviously the kid and the family, and I mean, that's that's nuts, man. That is absolutely nuts. And just reinforces the Sensitivities and the feelings in the New York metropolitan area, certainly for football fans of both teams, that neither team can have nice things. Nice just football gods, you know. Jets and Giants were 1-0 for the first time in forever.
And both of them lose, and now the Giants have lost Jackson Dart for the foreseeable future. I was even saying if it's four to six weeks, maybe week nine, if he's out for the season, I don't even know what the Giants do here. Just wait for Dart to come back next year and what? Spend the rest of the year trying to get John Harbaugh's program up and running and Jameis you trust? They didn't even have a third emergency quarterback.
I don't even know who that is. Tommy Cutlitz is up by you in New England now, right, Chris? Yes. Yeah. What do you call Jimmy G?
So you hit the bat phone for Jimmy G? You got to make some phone calls. I mean, look, like I said, seeing Jameis in person last night, it did not look great. You don't want that going forward. Maybe with a full week of practice and the reps, it'll look different, but I don't know, man.
They got to do something. I don't even know who's around. Who would you acquire? Brian Tannehill's out there, but he didn't post. I mean, a number of times his name's come up over the years, and he didn't.
Come out of retirement to take. I mean, I was kind of half joking and overreaction, but I think they need to call Russell Wilson. And see what the deal is. See if he's actually truly, fully on retired. But that wasn't the answer either last year, Chris.
They can get you through the year.
So can Jameis. Ugh. I know it didn't look good last last night, but I can't believe we're having this conversation about Jackson Dart and the Giants. After week one, and everybody feeling like, okay, this could be the sleeper team, a surprise wildcard team, which would now be a significant surprise if they do make the playoffs. And you know, come up with nine more wins over the next 15 With Jameis Winston.
They don't even have a third quarterback on the roster. The emergency was Braxton Berrios. I mean, I don't even know. Would they reach out for Carson once? But there's no reason why the Vikings would ever cough him up.
There's no reason why any team would cough up a quarterback right now, because there, but for the grace of the football gods. Go You. And in that regard, Tyson Bagent is reported to be in concussion protocol for Chicago.
So if this is a two-week injury, at least for Caleb Williams, it could be Case Keenum against the Eagles like it's the NFC Championship game of the underdog. Man. Philadelphia championship season all over again. I guess Nick Fole's going to walk through the door for the Giants. J.J.
McCarthy's available, apparently. He's definitely not available. No way. Then what's he doing? Sitting and waiting his turn.
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. This episode is brought to you by State Farm. No two football players are exactly alike, and the same is true off the field. That's why State Farm gets to know you so they can help personalize coverage for your life and budget.
Like a good neighbor, Stay Farm is there.
