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Hour 1: Rams-Broncos, Cowboys-Ravens, JJ McCarthy to Giants, plus ESPN’s Nick Saban

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September 28, 2026 2:06 pm

Hour 1: Rams-Broncos, Cowboys-Ravens, JJ McCarthy to Giants, plus ESPN’s Nick Saban

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September 28, 2026 2:06 pm

Rich and the guys react to the thrilling Sunday Night Football game between the Rams and Broncos that was marred by some questionable officiating in the game's final minute. (2:53)  Michigan alum Rich reacts to the breaking news of the Minnesota Vikings trading former 1st-round pick JJ McCarthy to the New York Giants. (17:37) Seven-time national championship-winning coach/‘College GameDay’ Analyst Nick Saban and Rich discuss his upcoming ESPN docuseries feature never before seen behind-the-scenes footage during his reign at Alabama, reveals why he retired from coaching when still at the height of his powers, and weighs in on the College Football Playoff and Heisman Trophy landscape.  (19:18)  Rich and the guys break down the Cowboys’ late-game strategy that came under fire after Dallas’ last-second loss to the Ravens in Rio. (38:33) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Now, on with the show. I'm Gary Keith, the cowboy with we at Seth Key Street Game. This is the Rich Eisen Show. One second left on the clock. Tyler Luke.

Good. The Ravens winning it wins. from the Rich Eisen Show Studio in Los Angeles. Today's guests, seven-time national championship head coach Nick Sabin, ESPN NFL analyst Marcus Spears, and now Rich Eisen. Uh Well, hey, everybody, welcome to this edition of the Rich Eisen Show live on Disney Plus ESPN app.

ESPN Radio Serious XM Channel 80, one of the greats of all time, Nick Sabins, 20 minutes away from chatting with us. Our usual Monday chat with Marcus Spears, top of hour number two. He's in Chicago for the week three finale between the Eagles and the Chicago Bears on ESPN tonight. Big game for both, obviously. The Eagles trying to join a host of teams at 3-0.

That includes. The Las Vegas Raiders. That's right. Lots going on in our world. 844204-H is the number to dial to chat with us on Wait For It, the WeatherTech fan line.

Oh, yeah. It took almost 12 years for this show to get a concert fan line. All right. 844-204-Rich is the number to dial and all that. Good to see you over there, Chris Brockman.

How are you? I mean, I got it. I guess I know. Listen, Overreaction Monday, the podcast should be in RSS feeds all over the place shortly. You and I just recorded that.

Listen, your Patriots took it on the chin. I am going to have to apparently put a chin strap on this program. At some point, George Kittle said he would send me his Iowa helmet for me to wear to pay off a bet should Iowa beat Michigan, which it did in the final second, which was much to the delight of everybody that thought Michigan got too many seconds earlier on this year. But Yes, there's all of us to sort of huddle together and hug it out. Good to see you, Mike Delta.

Good morning, Rich. TJ Jefferson, hug it out with you for a final second loss as well in Rio de Janeiro. Yeah, I got, I don't know what to say. Aren't you glad you didn't go? I mean, no.

My all the way down in the second. Wow, you're here to watch that? Oh, no, I still would have preferred to watch.

Okay, so we'll talk about that in short order. But we have to start this program with the Sunday night football game in what prior to the season would be billed as a Super Bowl 61 potential preview. And coming out of it, I would say we'd sign for that. Uh game. To happen where it would come down to the final second, filled with some controversial calls.

By the officiating in the final throws of that game. And the Denver Broncos. Once again. Getting it done. In the second half, I don't know how often they're going to be able to win these types of games, but guess what?

They're used to it. They did it all last year, and a lot of folks would think: well, they're going to be able to do it again this year, and the answer is yes.

Okay. First time the Denver Broncos have ever won back to back games when trailing by ten or more points in the second half. They trailed by ten against the Jaguars in week two and trailed sixteen to nothing In this one. They overcame a halftime deficit of 16 or more points for the first time since week six of 2012. And they won it.

Because they dominated the third quarter in a way that they were just like they were dominated in the first two quarters of this game by the Rams. Who made it look easy early on in this game? They were getting their yards whenever they wanted it, on the ground, in the air. Stafford wanted to find Devontae Adams, check that box. You wanted to find one of his 19 tight ends?

Check that box. You want to run it with Kyron or Balaki Karoum? Check that box. Balaki. You want to put the pressure on Bo Nicks?

Check that box. You want to take their running game and Jalen Waddell out? Check that box too. They were checking boxes everywhere. Then they came out in the second half and got the Broncos three and out in their first possession.

Just when you thought this thing was over. The Rams started making mistakes. The Broncos started making their Offense hum. They got him out of that too-deep shell that Chris Collinsworth was. Talking about non-stop.

And suddenly This two point conversion to Jalen Waddell over Josh Wallace You're like, okay. Nix is on point. Waddle's making his plays. They're scoring touchdowns and the two-point conversions to tie it. Here we go.

And that's when Josh Wallace picks off Bo Nix and Steve begins to flip the script. But the Rams had to settle for another Meevis. Field goal. And if you get too much Movis, you might wind up being the butthead. That's all your doctor.

Oh, you went that way. I mean, Moevis. No, but listen, in all. Honesty. The Rams kept on Settling for field goals.

Yeah. And you could feel like this was now the Rams game after they took that three-point lead. And you got the ball back. And not only get the ball back. Devontae Adams goes and scampers for half the field.

And it looks like just put Yet more Yards together, more first downs together, and even settle for another Mivis field goal, and you're up by six. Instead of pick six happens. Let me tell you something about this hofunga guy. This is crazy. Talanoa hoofunga.

Man, when the Niners lost him, I'm wondering why are they not killing him? Yeah, I think it's a very good idea. Again, it's all about the caps, right? But a funga, man. He had a sack and two interceptions in the fourth quarter, including the game sealer.

Only two players have done that. In a single quarter, not just the fourth. Since 1982, Carlos Dansby did it against the Giants in the opener of 2005. I didn't think I'd be mentioning his name today. Dansby also had a pick six.

And Hofanga had the game ceiling interception as well. But in between those In between those moments After throwing the pick six, Stafford leads the team right down the field. Like it didn't happen. That's what happens when you got yourself a Hall of Fame quarterback fresh off of an MVP season. Who's used to throwing pick sixes?

It was his 33rd of his career. I didn't know that he had the most in the history of the NFL. Also, on the night where he became the first player in the history of the NFL to throw for 20,000 yards for two separate franchises, unbelievable. He's got over 20,000 yards as a Ram now. That's wild.

But that's what happens when you throw pick sixes and you've been at it long enough, you could just.

Well, you're like a closer who blows a save one game and comes back the next day and it's baseball. Like, you know, then you pitch an immaculate inning, and that's the way it goes. And it was almost an immaculate drive for Stafford, just drove them right down the field, touchdown. They take the lead again. And now Bo Nix has got to score a touchdown to win this thing.

Or settle for a field goal to force overtime. And all they have to do is make sure a staffer doesn't get enough time. And that's what Davis Webb was doing, drawling up the plays in the second half. To uh the Broncos and no doubt we would assume Sean Payton's liking. And the time was ticking down.

And Nick's on third down. He's throwing it what I thought away. towards Pat Bryant. and Josh Wallace, who had already picked him off, seemingly picked him off again in an incredible Battle for the football with Bryant. And he got the ball in his hands.

and a knee down. Except for the fact that the official behind the play saw what you're seeing on the screen. Disney Plus ESPN app, you can see what you're seeing on the screen for the radio audience. It's from behind. And what it looks like is Bryant is being shoved in his side by the left hand and forearm of Wallace as Bryant is flailing For a football That bounces off him.

Out comes the flag for defensive pass interference. Off go is the interception. Possibility. which would have sealed the game for the Rams. Most likely.

And back come the Broncos with a fresh set of downs. And they got another fresh set of downs on an illegal hands in the face on Quentin Lake that was just a seemingly like a brush, but he did get him in the head. And Sean McVay and the Rams are left wondering what the hell just happened. Because The front end of that play between Bryan and Wallace. That another official had a clear view of and didn't throw the flag after staring right at it showed that Bryant had Wallace.

by his right shoulder. and was dragging Wallace with him. And it was, if anything, in my mind, offensive passing appearance and a remarkable. Interception. It's the way I saw it.

It's the way Terry McCauley saw it. It's the way Chris Collinsworth saw it. That's the way most people watching that game saw it. I know you feel differently, Chris. that you saw the hands on Brian?

But At the end of the day, the official who threw the flag saw what is on the screen right here. which is a guy who is flailing and has a defenders Hand on his side. You can't see the fact that Bryant has a fist full of Wallace. dragging him along. And that is a bitter pill to swallow.

Although I'm sure Sean Payton. Would sit here and say a pass interference call going our way against the Rams in the final seconds of a game?

Well, The football gods have owed me that. Four years. We're showing the moment on the screen radio audience from the NFC Championship game a few years ago.

Now, of course, Rams fans would point out this game did go to overtime and the Rams had to win it in overtime. Last night's game did not. But I'm sure part of Sean Payton as he's looking at the ceiling You know?

So Unbelievable. Moment right there. Sean McVeigh had this to say about the non-pass interference call, or that one went against him last night. Yeah, you know what? I'll look at it.

It looked like it was a good competitive play from my vantage point, but we'll go back and look at it and we'll see what they say. That's it. McVay's not going to get fined. He's not here, so he doesn't get fined. He was locked in on that.

So, listen. Uh at the end of the day The Broncos. Get the win. They're two and one now. They're two in one, and basically, they should have alumni weekend every single weekend.

Because you know it was Alumni Weekend where they had the alumni back last night. You know the last time they had Alumni Weekend? It's against the Giants last year. Remember that one? That was the last time they scored 30 or more points in the second half after being shut out through halftime.

All right. That's not happened twice. Happened last year, happened this year. When Alumni Weekend's back, so come on, let's go, let's get them all.

Now we got the muscle. Let's get Elway back. Let's get uh Shannon back in there. Let's just run it back, man. Uh And the Broncos are now 2-1 after that brutal season opening performance in Kansas City that did not go their way.

They're at San Francisco next in a must-have week four game. For both, one would think. I mean, it's not muh it's must-seat, let's put it that way. And then you got the chargers. Here in Los Angeles, and the Chargers have their backs against the wall.

My goodness gracious, because they're now 0-3 after a game in Buffalo that they almost had but then didn't. And then next up for the Chargers is at Seattle. They could be 0-4 backs totally against the wall with the Broncos strolling in. And as for the Rams. That's a bitter pill.

It's stunk. to lose that way. But at the end of the day At the end of the day, Donald is still only playing half the snaps. Miles Garrett hasn't played since. That week one.

And nor has Puka. And they're both going to come back, and they almost pulled this thing off in Denver. At the end of the day, in Denver without those folks. And their next games are at Philadelphia and then home for Buffalo on a Monday night, or back on the Disney family of networks at home on a Monday night against Buffalo. Before their schedule, if you will, softens.

And the amazing thing is that the soft part of the schedule might be the Chargers, not the Raiders. Who are three in all? Nor Washington. Who they might get Jaden Daniels back. And see their offense run less efficiently than what we saw on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks higher edge.

Mariota was pretty good. My concern about the Rams in the long run. And Denver is coming up with these winds, pulling it out of their orifice. Which totally makes sense because that's the way that they win with Bo Nicks and this team. It would be great if they get a lead early and then just play defense.

Because they got the defense for it. But Stafford did almost throw for 400 yards against this defense with Devontae Adams as his main receiver. Mumfield is a guy who you could target every now and then. His bunch of his tight ends, no puka. You imagine Puka's out there running around?

And then Miles Garrett with Donald, once he gets all his full seat legs under him, that's what the Rams are just going to be banking on after all that. Lots to talk about just in this first hour of the program because there's breaking news. that I'll react to. The Giants have traded for a quarterback. And you kind of got the sense this could be possible.

Because it's Kyler Murray's show to run now in Minnesota with Carson Wentz behind him. And for that game in Tampa on Sunday, they did not dress J.J. McCarthy. Because he's now a New York giant. Wow.

After all. Wow. If you recall, I brought that up. If you recall, just as a first blush and we'll hit it again shortly. If you recall, there was a question: would the Giants take J.J.

McCarthy or not? They went Malik neighbors instead. And then went Jackson Dart the next year. And now they've got Jackson Dart and JJ McCarthy on the same roster. And McCarthy's got a hell of an opportunity, does he not?

We'll talk about that in short order. But we'll take a break to make sure we're on time for Nick Sabin because I don't want him to be angry. Isn't that the way most people probably operate around him? Yes. Very much so.

Nick Sabin is going to join us in support of the new documentary on his career, a six-part ESP and original docuseries called Sabin. How'd they come up with that name? That's next. But when you run a small business, you don't just do the job. We've been talking about gusto for a while.

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Oh, all right, Lee. Auto parts. Rich Eisen here for Gusto. After all these years talking to athletes, coaches, entertainers, and people at the top of what they do, one thing is pretty clear. Success usually depends on getting the details right.

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Join our fight at HyundaiWarriors.com. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast. Talking about J.J. McCarthy being acquired by the Giants, who apparently have lost Brian Burns for the year now with an ACL.

So their quarterback and then arguably their best defensive player has been removed. We've Knee surgery. Which is just brutal. But Jameis Again, didn't look good in the loss to the Rams, and you could potentially chalk it up. to the fact that The team was shocked.

And he wasn't the answer against a defense that's pretty damn good. And then against a Titans defense. That is definitely the team's strength right now. and a brutal weather day. Jameis is the starting quarterback And the Giants don't put a lot of points on the board and damn near almost lost it at the end.

Titans almost pulled that one out of the fire. But they are two and one. The Giants are 2-1, and their next games are home for Arizona, at Washington, home for New Orleans, at Houston, which doesn't appear to be as. crazy an assignment as before. And the question is: how quickly can they coach up J.J.

McCarthy and when are you going to throw him in? And you can't make it up. Anybody who thinks that just being benched Or being shut down on the depth chart is the end of your career in the NFL. I don't know how many times we can keep proving that's not the case over and over and over again.

So J.J. McCarthy is now a giant. Go figure that. 844-204-Rich is the number to dial right here on the Rich Eisen Show. Pleased and honored to have this man on the program, best of the best.

And he's life and times and Coaching Career is now part of a six part ESPN original docuseries from ESPN in Words and Pictures that premieres Thursday, October eighth at six Eastern on ESPN. All six episodes will be bingeable on the spot. On the ESPN app, ladies and gentlemen. Nick Saban here on the program. How are you, coach?

Good to see you, man. I'm great. I just had a question for you before we get started. Sure. Having seen you run the forty at the Combine, I was just wondering if we could have implemented that speed into the Michigan Iowa game this week and maybe Impacted a little different in some kind of way.

Yeah, you know what? I was looking for that extra second on the clock this time around, didn't get it. Didn't get it. But yes, you can't teach what beats inside. I don't know if you're aware of that.

You know what I mean? Like, that's the way I roll. And plus, you know, it's now the logo of the program. But it's good to see you. It's good to see you.

Why did you? You know, I guess assent to having a six-part documentary series on your life and career. Nick?

Well, a lot of people wanted me to write a book, which I wrote a book back in 2003 after winning a national championship at LSU, and I said never again. But I did think that Maybe Having something that was a navigation of developing a program. Uh and To be able to see all the people who had some impact on that, whether it was when you're growing up as a kid, friends, family, coaches, players, all those things that help you sort of develop that would actually be fun for fans to be able to get sort of an inside-out look at. you know, competition in college athletics. And you know, there were a lot of things that contributed to that.

You know, there were like 70 people that got interviewed for this. And so it gives a lot of personal perspective from a lot of different angles. Um and one thing that Alabama never told me that I never knew was happening because I would never let the media in the locker room after the game. I thought there was a time when the coach-team relationship was really, really important. What you said to the team was not for public information.

Well, Alabama was doing an archive on all those things. and team meetings and all this stuff. I never even knew that stuff existed. I didn't know there was something when I told Tua that he was going in at half time for Jalen, I didn't know any of that existed.

So to see all that sort of inside out Sort of stuff that happens behind the scenes, I thought would be very, very interesting for fans in terms of the competitive nature of sports, which you see and make an external sort of opinion about how things might be happening. But this is a real live look at it from inside out, and it goes all the way back to when I was a kid, growing up. You know, how I never really ever wanted to be a coach, and because I was going to Stay and go to graduate school because Miss Terry had another year of school. That's how Don James got me to get into coaching.

So, a lot of crazy stuff that people probably don't know that may be interesting. I think if you can see it, it's better than reading it.

Well, I mean, in terms of doing my job, Nick, I like to ask questions I only already know the answer to. You know, it's kind of like scripting, you know, first 15 in a way. And you kind of just took one of my questions. and also my breath away at the same time here about Did you learn anything that you didn't already know by having seen all this? And Did you also did you just say that there's video of you telling Tua he's going in the national championship game at halftime and that's part of saving the stock you serve?

Is that what you said? That's in there? It's in there. I didn't even know it existed.

So wow.

So is there video that you have? I don't think they got video. Uh of Me talking to Tua in a locker room after the game.

Well, Tua told me that's the angriest he's ever made you. He told me that. I mean, I was like. broke the headset when he took a sack because it was the last thing I told him. You can't take a sack in this situation.

We held them to three points. We can extend the game with a field goal. Don't take a sack. First thing, not just a sack, a sixteen yard sack going backwards.

So I tell them after the game, I'm trying to have a teaching moment with them. And I say, Two of them. Can't take a sack in that situation. You know, we could have, it could have cost us the game because it knocked us out of field goal range. And he looks at me, serious as a judge, and says, Coach, we just needed more room to throw the ball.

I'm like, you got to be kidding me. I couldn't do anything but laugh. Right. I mean, you did win the game, I guess, thanks to that throw to Devontae Smith. And so what did you tell Jalen Hurts, though?

Coach. at that time.

Well, I think there's some historical data that goes with all this, which I think the documentary, this is the kind of stuff that you go behind the scenes and gets to see. Is, you know, people don't understand we had three or four first-round draft pick receivers on this team at this point. You know, even though Jaden was 26-2, He was a great athlete, and he ran, and he made yards, and he made plays. But he wasn't. Like As developed as a passer as he became later in his career.

And Tuva, even though he was a freshman, was sort of a natural. You know, when he came in.

So we played to as much as we could, knowing that we were going to have to play somebody at some point in time. We're going to have to get all these great receivers and more involved in the game. And obviously, the Georgia game, you know, half their front seven played for the Philadelphia Eagles.

So we couldn't run the ball in the first half of the game. And I just, I always had it in my mind that there's going to come a time when we're going to have to get these other guys involved in the game. And Tour would be maybe a better option at that point in time to be able to do that. And 13-0 at halftime, we couldn't run the ball. We weren't very effective throwing it.

The receivers weren't having any impact on the game.

So, um You know, these kind of decisions are only good ones when they work out. This one worked out, so it turned out okay.

So, again, it's just the reason why I also bring it up, not just because of the docuseries, but. The moment where Hertz is taken out to his end, I think Hertz is still dealing with that moment in terms of perception of him, which is patently unfair. Totally unfair. Especially, Richie, in light of the fact That There is no human being that ever handled it better. He supported Tua, he stayed there the whole next year as a backup, developed much Of his ability to be a good passer in that year because I told him, I said, look.

You can't run. You gotta practice every day. You gotta drop back. You gotta process the information. You gotta get your ball out of your hand.

You gotta get it to be more accurate. This is the time for you to do that. Graduate, you're going to have a fifth year, and we'll figure out where you go from there. And he did that, and he handled it so well in terms of his support of Tua in that game. He supported Tua and did it the whole next year.

And actually, Tua gets hurt and he goes in and wins the SEC championship game for us.

So I think it is totally unfair. That. Um Everybody should be looking at Hey, this is the way you handle adversity, the way Jalen Hurts did it, and how he got better because of it. Yeah, I think it's a strength. I think it built the guy who is a Super Bowl champion today.

But it's just, you know, in all honesty, just since we're pouring it all out here, it's like if he wasn't good enough for you in the big moment, how is he good enough for the Philadelphia Eagles, even when he's played his two best games of his career? In the Super Bowl, he could have been the MVP of this the one that he lost. Coach. You know what I mean? I know what you mean.

And he doesn't have any. Greater fan than who you're talking to today. I love it. Because I love the guy.

So, who's a player that you recruited anywhere? anywhere. Who wound up in your program made it to the NFL that you're most proud of because of the way they developed? Under your system. Coach.

Is there one of them? Nick?

Well, um You know Yeah, he's one of them. And I think the quarterback position probably gets. you know a lot more Credit when things go well, and they get a lot more blame when things don't go well.

So that's probably one of them. It could be a defender, too. You can have someone on defense if you should choose. Yeah, but you know, the two guys that were probably. Not very heralded at a high school.

Mm-hmm. Josh Jacobs. and Quentin Williams. were not heavily recruited at all out of high school. But they were guys that We we saw They had the right stuff.

We thought they had the right kind of ability. They could develop into something special. And both of those guys. Going about it the hard way, developing in a program over time, became first-round draft picks. When you entered your final college football playoff, did you know you were going to retire at the end of it?

No, not really. Um You know, it's in the documentary that At 3:50. I have a four o'clock. We have a four o'clock team meeting. And at 3:50, I'm sitting in the staff room all by myself, staring at the clock with two.

Two pieces of paper. You know, one's a speech that I'm going to retire, one's a speech that I'm going to stay, and this is what we've got to do to get better. We had a young team. And that team developed nicely to get in the playoffs and win the SEC. Had a lot of guys coming back, could have had a really good team the next year.

Um But I I I just um You know, 2017, when we won the national championship, was the first time my family actually came to me and said, When is enough enough? Hmm. And I wasn't ready then. But I'm talking about my kids and grandkids and all that. You know, like we've all made tremendous amounts of sacrifices, you know, because being a coach is a way of life.

It's not a job, it's a way of life. The relationships that you have, the leadership you got to provide for a lot of young men to try to help them develop personally, academically, and athletically. Very time-consuming.

So, But each year after 2020 You know, I said When is the right time to do this? Um I want her to keep going. Um But It was getting so hard on me, and I didn't want to ride the program down. And people were using my age against us in recruiting. He's not going to be there the whole time, that you're a player there.

You know, all these factors started to build. You know, eventually I wanted some time to spend with Miss Terry and do some things that we'd never had time to do before. And, you know, we've been able to do that, and it's been very rewarding. You don't miss coaching at all? I d I miss the relationship to the players and I miss the competition.

But I don't miss the 70-hour week work week and um you know sort of Some of the stress that goes with it all. Um Got to be a little more difficult to handle as you get older. Sure. And how many times have you been tire kicked by an NFL Or College program to say, Are you sure you're done?

Well, I don't really have any say in it. You know, Ms. Terry said, if you take a job, you're going to commute.

So she's not moving. Yeah, I know. Shut it down.

So I got it. And it looks like you're having a blast on College Game Day. Looks like you're enjoying that. I imagine being back on campuses also keeps you kind of fresh in that regard, too. Correct?

Yeah, it keeps me involved in the game, which I love. And I watch a lot of film getting ready for it. It's a great team of guys that we have. One of the biggest fears that I had getting out of coaching was: I've been a part of a team since I was nine years old.

So, what's it going to be like if you're not a part of a team? I'm still a part of the team because of such a great group of people at ESPN and getting to work with those guys. And we have a lot of fun, something I look forward to, and it keeps me involved in the game. And I actually really enjoy it. All right.

So, last one for you: if I gave you a mulligan on Miami over Texas, which was your preseason selection for the national championship game, would you take it or you stay and put? On that.

Well, I think we know a little bit more now than what we did then about these teams. And if I was going to say.

Okay, who are the teams that have been most uh impressive? Complete teams. You know, I would say Georgia. Miami And even though Ohio State lost at Texas, I still think they're one of the most complete teams in the country. I think the heat got him a little bit in the fourth quarter.

That's to take nothing away from Texas, because I would put them in that category as well. And then there's a lot of other teams that have the potential to you know, move up into that category. But just after these first three or four games of the year, Those teams have shown a lot of promise. Listen, we have to stop looking at college football like we used to, where one loss is the end of the year, right? I mean, this is a college football playoff world now, and how many NFL teams make the playoffs undefeated?

Ohio State just lost to Texas for crying out loud. That's not that big of a deal. And would you, last one for you, Jeremiah Smith, would you name him the Heisman because of how he looks, or he's just not a quarterback? Good. What do you got?

I the Heisman is a tough one. But I will say this, he's one of the most dominant players in college football. I mean, he really is. That guy is big and strong. You know, I thought Julio Jones was kind of one of a kind back in the day when we had him, but This guy reminds me of him in a lot of ways.

And he's going to have a fantastic career. And he's had a fantastic career as a college player. And You know, it's hard to say who has the biggest impact on their team. Is that. the player who has the best stats or the player who has the biggest impact on the game.

And I don't know exactly what's more important in terms of Heisman Trophy, but He's got to be one of the players that is. Very much considered for it, that's for sure. Nick Sabin, I appreciate the time on behalf of, I'm sure, your family. Thank you for saying yes to doing this documentary. This is something you should be a part of, and I can't wait to watch it.

I've heard nothing but great things about it. And Sabin, six-part docuseries on ESPN, debuts Thursday, October 8th on the app and on Linear. Thanks for the time. I hope we get to do this more often. All right, Rich.

I hope it's the whole documentary is sort of an appreciation for all the people who, whether they're friends, family, relationships, coaches, players that all contributed to the success we had. I hope this is certainly a show of appreciation that we have for them.

Well I look forward to it. And like I said, I do Cherish the moment you come on here.

So I hope we get to do it again real soon. Thanks again, Cody. You got to work on my speed for the next time. That's Nick Saban, everybody, right here on the Rich Eisen Show. Got to check out this docuseries.

I've heard it's the best thing since the last dance. Wow. It's that good. I mean, Belichick, Jalen Hurts, and Tua did sit down. Sark, Kiffin.

Kirby Smart, Tebow, just to name a few. Let's take a break. Yeah, right. By the way, Tua said he's never made Nick Saban angrier than him taking that sack and that he did tell him, oh, you know, I did make the throw. I didn't know it wasn't.

I needed more space. You needed more room. You needed more room. Wow. I love that we now have both ends of that conversation.

All right, we'll take a break and talk about something you don't want to talk about. Rio de Janeiro. How about that? 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 pass keys, you're protected at every step. Download the new PayPal app to get started. See PayPal.com/slash protection terms. 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. The Rich Eisen Show, the podcast. 844-204-Rich, number to dial here on the program. Running a small business means every hire matters, people.

A bad hire costs time and money, but the right one helps your business grow. The challenge is finding that person without sorting through resumes. This is 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 eyes and terms and conditions apply. On Overreaction Monday, the podcast that's out there for everybody to take in, Chris Brockman and I recorded it. Chris, you said Ravens Cowboys' best. International series game ever.

Yes. And I said that is not an overreaction. TJ Jefferson, would you care to guess how many games in the history of the Super Bowl era have we have seen where both teams score in the final 10 seconds of regulation? Uh zero? That's correct.

This game was the first ever such game. And the question is. Is why do the Cowboys settle for three when they had an easy shot at six? Because the Ravens got their three to counter the Cowboys three. With no time left on the clock, or one second left, because they gave up a massive chunk play over the middle to Zay Flowers that they were able to do because the Cowboys kicked it deep instead of squibbing it, or what have you, to take more time left on the clock.

And we're all wondering why the Cowboys didn't go for a touchdown. Why did Dak just throw a ball away?

Well Let's just get to that second sound bite, if you don't mind, Mike Hoskins, since we're up against the end of the hour here. And this week three Show? Dak Prescott was asked about his thought process on George Pickens. Being in a one-on-one situation with ticks to go, Right there on the doorstep, and Dak airmailed it all the way to Argentina. And he was asked about his thought process.

I was throwing it away. I I don't I I don't want to get into all that, definitely not right now. Um Maybe in the week. Still fresh. Yeah, just upset.

I don't want to get into it. Have you seen the replay of that? It looked like Pinky was over. Yeah, yeah, he probably was. I probably should have just sat on it a little bit longer, sat on my, you know, sank on my back foot and just put it on that front pyline.

Yeah, definitely probably, yeah, should have.

Well, we found out afterwards if he did that, he would have been going rogue because his coach told him in this situation. To throw the ball away. Again, we called a quick out. I probably overcoached Dak on that one, you know, because we had the points and I probably overcoached him on that because it had to go to with the time, no timeouts, it had to go to GP or throw it away. I will just say this.

Because I really do like Brian Schottenheimer. Caping for him, I think his emotional intelligence is great, but that's not twice. That this coach has made a decision. That wasn't aggressive enough. That one, where he's telling Dak, hey, if he's not open to me, I'm assuming this is the process, because why would he be teaching?

the quarterback to throw the ball away in that situation. Don't lose it. And Dak is too good a soldier to go rogue and also call his coach out. He's like, we'll talk about my thought process later on. He didn't want to say that.

Correct. 'Cause he's put in a position and so he'll just eat it and say, I threw the ball away. And everyone would just be wondering, also, lit up. Because obviously the keyboard Warriors were out in full force afterwards. It was insanely lit up that a $60 million a year quarterback can't give his.

You know, $30 million wide receiver, a shot at it, and he's terrible to airmail it. He was told to airmail it. And he's too good a soldier to not go rogue and say, screw it. That's George Pickens. I'm going to give him a shot to win.

I'm not going to get picked six. I'm not going to get picked off here. The other instance, if you recall, the first drive of the year. Fourth an inch is in Met life deep in your own end and you're punting it. You're coming out gaudy.

Greatest offense there is. Can't run the risk of. turning the ball over on downs. on our first drive of the season. It's similar to going all in on your first hand of a poker night.

Don't want to do that. But You could also double up. That's twice now. Just one and two. Season's not over.

The offense is pretty damn good. Boy, does the defense need to tighten the bolts a bit? But But one can say the defense did what they had to do. They did what they had to do, but they also gave it up a big-ass chunk play at the end when everybody knew what they were going to try to attempt. Crazy.

Finish. Crazy talk, but Brian Schottenheimer man. Pedal to the metal from here on out. The torpedoes need to be damned, otherwise, the cowboys will wind up being. 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.

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