REShow: Andrew Brandt - Hour 2

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Doug Peterson and Matt Nagy didn't call plays in Kansas City or under Reid and they got gigs. Today's guest, Apple TV lead MLS analyst, Taylor Twellman, host of the Business of Sports Podcast, Andrew Brandt, NFL writer for The Athletic, Mike Sando, actor Brandon Sclenar. And now, it's Rich Eisen. Our number two of the Rich Eisen Show is on the air. We're live on the Roku channel, which by the way is free on all Roku devices.

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Is that what it is? Postponed? I don't think that's out anywhere. We might be breaking news there, but Taylor got a call on the way out that it was postponed. Okay, so this just in, news that I shouldn't have said into a microphone. Don't tell me things in the break if I'm not supposed to say it. You got to lead with that, Chris. I think it's quite all right.

People are going to find out eventually. Because it's raining here in Los Angeles. Yeah, it's pouring down rain here. Good to see you, Jason Feller, sitting in for DJ Mikey Dees and Deez Nuts. Good to see you, TJ Jefferson.

How are you, sir? Hour number two. You know what I found out last night, Rich? That Kevin Harlan pronounces Roku as roo-koo, and I just found that. I will have to talk to him about that. Good thing I have his number.

You're right, Kevin. And good thing this man has my number and kind enough to let me know, hey, I'm in town. So joining us right here on the Rich Eisen Show in person once again is the man who is the host of the best of the Business of Sports podcast, writes a column for Sports Illustrated. He is a longtime front office executive for the Green Bay Packers. His newsletter, Sunday Seven, can be acquired at andrew-brant.com.

It is sponsored by the Oregon Yurt Company that housed Aaron Rodgers recently. Andrew Brandt, good to see you over there, Andrew. Good to see you. Always good to be out here and see you. All right. I just made that up about who sponsors your newsletter.

That's just my way to get into this conversation. It's a nice sponsor to have, especially what they just went through. They went through.

I like it. I imagine Aaron Rodgers was a good guest at their facility, I imagine, right? Yeah, it sounded like it's an experience that many have had, not just famous quarterbacks that go in making life decisions, going through some changes in their life, maybe thinking about things in the future. And I know the media was kind of a catnip thing for the media that Aaron's doing this for Ways in Darkness. Not surprising to me knowing Aaron. He's a chill guy. He's a California cool.

He's always been a guy that's been introspective, that's not taken things too seriously, that's always had self-reflection. He gets probably a lot of grief for it. But now he's out, and we wait to see.

So let me ask you this question. He's not keeping them hanging at this point in time, right? I mean, there's still time in which to make decisions and take out of drawer A, drawer B, drawer C, whatever plan of action the Packers need to take based on what decision he makes, right? I mean, for people that don't know, the new league year where you're allowed to trade, sign free agents, all the business of the NFL actually starts technically on March 15th. But what's upcoming is the combine, which is kind of a football convention for everyone. GMs and business people getting together, doing deals.

And by the way, there's workouts going on for college players too. But really, it's a business. Everyone's talking trades, free agency, what's it going to be like, team setting up shop. I think we'll know soon enough. And the three decisions, of course, whether Aaron will stay with the Packers, decide to move on, or request moving somewhere else to trade, a separation. Listen, you and I have been through this before. I think no one's fault. I just think it's time.

I think it's time for separation. I think they've had Jordan Love in the bullpen for three years. They draft him in the first round.

It's ironically deja vu from 15 years ago. We had Aaron in the bullpen three years. We were ready to move to Aaron, turn the keys over to him. Brett retired, but of course he came back and it got messy. And we had to tell Brett we've moved on. We've moved to Aaron Rodgers. I think, I don't know this, I don't have inside knowledge, I think the Packers are ready to move to Jordan Love. So the complicated answer for Aaron coming out of the hut is that, hey, I want to stay with you.

That's complicated because I think, I sense, from my experience, that they want to move on. Why? You know Bob McGinn, you know him for a long time. Yeah, he used to cover us a long time. Exactly. He's been around. He said on a podcast that the Packers are, quote unquote, disgusted with Aaron Rodgers and they're done with him.

That's what he said. Well, I always look to the contract too. Now, they made a big commitment last year, obviously, and he's got 60 million waiting for him this year, whether from them or someone else. But the contract's funky rich.

There's an option that doesn't pick up until the start of the season. And then it goes into another level next year. In other words, dead money of 40 million this year, that's bad. But dead money of 60 million next year, that's really bad. If he's traded? If he's on the roster this year and is separated next year, 2024. 2023, 40 million, that's not easy to take too. But, of course, they lose his salary.

The why is a great question. I don't think the Packers, I think that's a little hyperbole from Bob. I don't think they're disgusted with Aaron. I just think, I mean, who cares about Jordan Love? But I don't think they can go to Jordan Love and say, hey, by the way, we're going to play your fifth year, maybe. Or your sixth year.

And you're going to sit another year, number four. I don't think they want to trade Jordan Love. But didn't they essentially tell Jordan that by giving Rogers the contract that they gave him last year? Because nobody saw when they handed Rogers that contract after two straight MVP seasons, or as he referred to it on the McAfee show as two COVID MVP seasons.

And so he does that. I don't think anybody saw the struggles of this season coming. Well, I shouldn't say nobody saw it. A lot of people were wondering, who's he going to throw to the minute Devonta Adams left for Las Vegas? So people were, you know, we were wondering how they were going to still pull it off. But I think everybody believed that Rogers would play to a certain level that could cover that stuff up. And then the season, as you know, the first half, total disaster.

Second half, almost made it until they struggled in the final game at home against the Lions. So didn't they already tell Jordan Love that already? You know, again, I see the contract, I saw the contract as a one-year deal and they decide now. I think it's much more subtle than, you know, that sort of disgusted with Aaron, fed up with him. This is what we went through, again, 15 years ago. It just felt like it's time to move on.

And it's nothing that he's doing wrong, but you can sense it. No, past years it's like, we really want Aaron. We really want Aaron. We really want Aaron. And now this year is kind of, we're going to wait and see what Aaron wants.

It's just that subtle difference. That was the way we were with Brett. Years with Brett, we'd send Mike McCarthy down to Mississippi.

We'd send 10 tops and down to Mississippi. That last year was like, we'll see what he wants to do. You know, and that subtlety, I think Aaron probably feels that. I think he feels that. And Aaron, as you know, has been very nostalgic and walking off the field with Randall. And I'd be surprised if he comes out of the hut, which he's out, and says, I want to be back. Hmm. And before we move on to other subject matters here, Andrew Brand on The Rich Eisen Show, I have said over and over again that anybody who thinks that Rodgers is being overly dramatic and the Packers are sitting there chafing about the drama, anybody who's been around a long time, this is nothing compared to what you guys went through with Favre.

Nothing is what I said. Because Rodgers, the only way that this would actually play out like Favre is if he says, I'm out, and then a week later says, I'm back. And so, right?

I mean, wouldn't you agree? Because that was nuts with you guys and Favre. And when we moved to Aaron, the hate we got, oh my God.

What do you mean? They wanted Favre. When he came back. The fans you're talking about? Yeah.

And media. You know, like, you got to let Favre come back. He's Favre. You know, he's Brett Favre.

And we had gotten to the championship game that previous year. So, like, the hate we got. Now, you know, sense around. People are like, yeah, we can move to Jordan Love. Think about that. Now, I don't know if it's universal. I'm just a sampling.

I see people coming back to me on social media where we're ready to move to Jordan Love, but we'll see. But listen, it was 95% Brett when he came back from retirement. And Aaron was great through that. He was?

Great. He's like, I'm just going to keep my head down, keep my mouth shut. And could have been really bad for him. I heard this story.

I'm sorry to put you on the spot, by the way. What a great way to set this up. But I heard Thompson went down to Mississippi after Favre said, I want to come back. And Brett thought, this means that Ted is going to let me back. And he went down to offer him his locker, his actual physical locker from Green Bay. And that's what really broke it for Favre, that he knew he wasn't going back. Did that happen to your recollection?

Not to my recollection. What I do know is that Brett and Buss, June 20th, I believe, 2008, they're like, what's going to happen? And I think Mike McCarthy was the one that said those three words. We've moved on. Say that date again so people can understand just how nuts this was. Say that date again.

I believe it was June 20th, 2008. Think about it. We're talking. People are like, when's he going to tell the Packers an answer? And it's February 24th, June.

Well, he retired March 3rd. I mean, think about it. And then people think that what Aaron's doing right now is nuts. And it was crazy. It was way crazy. Think about it if we're talking about Rodgers and the Packers on June 20th of this year.

People would go crazy if that happened. Oh my god. Right?

The hate I had on my voicemail those days. Because, you know, Brett Favre, you're going at who? Aaron Rodgers? Who? What? Why?

Over Brett Favre? And I don't sense the same. Do you?

No. I don't sense it. But I think Packers fans would be pleased to have him back. But if it is Jordan Love, I think they'd be like, OK, let's see where we go here. So then, just to put a button on, where do you think would be the spot Rodgers would say, OK, if this is the time to separate? You know, Devante Adams wants him, but McDaniels might not. Right? The Jets are apparently holding off Derek Carr right now to find out what Rodgers' decision is.

What do you think? I'm going to disappoint a lot of, I know you've got some New York friends here. I'm a New Yorker. I don't see the Jets. I don't see Aaron Rodgers, California Cool, settling in New Jersey.

I just don't see it. But he settled in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Yeah, I know.

But he had no choice. Right. I mean, I would guess if it had gone to my head, Vegas or Tennessee. Tennessee?

Yeah, building a house there. That seems to be out there that he is doing that. Andrew Brant here on The Rich Eisen Show. So the quarterback carousel and what happens is really, I guess, Rodgers is the first domino to tumble there. What do you think is going on in Baltimore with Lamar Jackson? It's been the most curious negotiation the past three years because without an agent, he's more than the agent, agented players like Wilson, Murray, Carr, has really pushed for this Deshaun Watson deal to be a precedent. Fully secured, like an NBA Major League Baseball deal, five years, fully secured money. And the Ravens have resisted, of course. Did you hear the deep dive story from ESPN where, according to their reporting, last year's negotiation, every single time Lamar was looking for more than what Watson was guaranteed.

That's what he's looking. Each one of his offers on the table. I think, Rich, I'm asked all the time, maybe you are too, why don't NFL players have guaranteed contracts? Why did baseball and basketball, the most injury-prone sport, why don't they have it? And there's nothing in the CBA that says you have to have guaranteed or not guaranteed. It's all individual negotiations.

Now we have something that could push the envelope. We have Deshaun Watson. Say what you will about his situation, good or bad, but it's there. It's precedent.

I'm a lawyer. Precedent. And Russell Wilson did a deal.

It's kind of back to the old format. One or two years guarantee, the rest on the come. Same with Kyler Murray. So Lamar says, I'm going to push it. And if Lamar doesn't get a fully guaranteed deal, and maybe Hertz doesn't and Burrow doesn't, the Watson deal is kind of an aberration. Well, Herbert as well is on the clock for his new deal. All those guys.

All those guys from that draft class. But those guys aren't going to be making a deal before the Ravens have to make their decision on their franchise tag for Lamar, which is coming up right around the corner. Which is what they'll do.

Which format would you counsel them to do it? If it's the exclusive or the non-exclusive. If it's the exclusive, they can set their trade value at least two first rounders, but the non-exclusive guarantees them at least two first rounders and also limits the people who Lamar can negotiate with. If they don't have two consecutive first rounders, which would you counsel? Well, it's 13 more on the cap. 45 million versus 32 million.

I have the sneaking feeling they're going to do the non-exclusive at 32 million and sort of say to Lamar, hey, you think you can get a fully guaranteed deal out there? Go find it. Yeah. And we get two number ones or whatever we work out back because, I mean, collusion's a strong word. What a way to start your sentence.

There's a lot out there like, hey, frickin' Haslam. We're not doing that. We're not doing what they did in Cleveland. And it would set our sport back, give players leverage they've never had. I just sense no one's doing that. Well, I mean, the owners may not have gotten in a room and said, we are not doing this. But individually.

But I think collectively all of them are like that, they might have just all had the same thought. I know that sounds naive and I'm sure players or players associations and agents would push back at that notion, but what else do you want? I mean, that was an insane deal compared to what the precedence was, compared to what his circumstances were or maybe still are. Well, I've talked to league executives and they basically try to say because of his situation, almost because of his bad behavior, he was in this unique situation where the Texans didn't want him and they had a sell off, an auction with the Panthers and the Saints and the Falcons and the Browns. And the Browns were out.

He's a southern kid, wanted to go to Atlanta, New Orleans, Carolina. Then the Browns were in. And then the Browns signed him and they were signed him because of that deal.

Because they just gave the agent the piece of paper and said, you do it. Andrew Brant here on the Rich Eisen Show. Before I do let you go into this rainy Los Angeles day, we've had a conversation on this show over and over and over again. And I say the words over and over and over again, and it sets off my friend Chris Brockman across the aisle. And it is the time of year when players at the quarterback position hit the open market and get the market value just because it's their turn, even though their resume does not scream $40 million a year, does not say they could get paid better than Patrick Mahomes just because it's their time. Drives Chris nuts, right?

Drives you crazy. Daniel Jones appears to be that individual right now, that his contract's going to start with a four, which drives you nuts. You have a former National Football League executive who knows the way it works right here.

Ask him the question. Do teams know that they don't have to pay these guys that much? If he is not franchise tagged, he'll get it.

He'll get it. Why? Because you can't get these guys.

I can get a guy that is as good as Daniel Jones. There's like 15 of them out there. Chris, now be nice to the man. You're right. I understand the argument. The usual suspects. He's from the Northeast.

I don't mean to yell. The usual suspects for quarterback free agency are nothing against these guys. Josh McCown, Tyrod Taylor, Ryan Fitzpatrick back in the day. You know who these guys are.

Yeah, of course. Right? If you get someone like Daniel Jones on the market, look at Kirk Cousins years ago. They're going to get because the bidding, because there's nothing out there. You can't get these players. Look at Deshaun Watson was basically a free agent. Now, I agree with you. There's no middle ground. There's the rookie level. And then there's these $40 million quarterbacks.

Why isn't there a middle ground? Someone's got to do a deal with someone who's not going to be a free agent because they have leverage and say, let's do a 20, $25 million deal. And before this season, I'd be like, yeah, Daniel Jones will sign for 20 to 25 over five years. Now he won't. Now he won't.

Because he won one playoff game. And his answer is the Giants should say there's the door. Well, they have the tag at 32 or they do a deal. But if you're doing a deal, they're going to offer less than 32 a year.

How is he going to do that? You know, Geno Smith. Can you imagine Geno Smith might not be happy with a $32 million franchise? I'd rather have Geno Smith than Daniel Jones. These guys, would it be for the year?

I think you could have gotten them for 15 a year, 20 a year max. The other aspect of this conversation that Chris is asking about, I'll ask it for you, is will we ever see a team, let's say the Giants, or it could be that team right now. Screw it. We are not going to pay that much money on our quarterback. We love him. We love Daniel. You know they love Daniel Jones.

No, of course. And there's many reasons to love him. But they're not going to pay him that much money just because the market says that's the cost. And they say we're just going to go back and start again and draft somebody. Will we ever see a team run their franchise like that, Andrew Brent?

I think people are afraid to do that because the quarterback's so important and trusting it to a young guy. Yes, you've got the examples of Burrow, Hertz, and Herbert. They don't come along much.

They don't come along much. I wrote in Sports Illustrated this week, there is a myth that if you pay a top quarterback, you can't build a Super Bowl team around him. I think that's BS.

I don't subscribe to that. I think well-managed teams can pay a quarterback 40 million and have a Super Bowl contending team every year. But listen, these guys are overvalued. Look at the draft. They're all put up on the draft when they shouldn't be drafted. They're drafted early. They're pushed up in free agency.

This is where we are. They are everything in sports, in this sport. And yes, Deano Jones is either going to be franchised or going to get more than 32 a year. Same with Geno Smith. We would have never said that six months ago. Why can't we see more teams operate the way San Francisco did this year? Now it was because of necessity, because of injuries, but they took the last pick in the draft and were a play away, an injury away from being a Super Bowl team. And if you look at what they did, they surrounded him with great talent on both sides of the ball. But you can operate that way if you know the last pick in the draft is going to play like Brock Purdy. They didn't know he was going to play like Brock. They didn't know he was going to play like that. That's what I'm saying. They kind of.

They got lucky. But he was the last pick in the draft. But you're not going to operate your franchise out of.

He wasn't a first round. Why not? Because you could get lucky?

You're going to really operate your franchise like that. The interesting thing, Chris, is they did get lucky with Brock. But they spent three number one picks for the guy who's going to start above Brock next year. And imagine how good they'd be if they had those picks. They mortgaged the future for Trey Lance. Absolutely. But they hit on all the talent around them. And we're going to see how that works out.

Like if you have a good front office and you hit on your draft picks, obviously easier said than done, why can't you just roll the dice every four to five years with a first round quarterback? I love it. What do you think? Go ahead. I'm here. I understand it.

I've heard it before. I don't think a team's ever going to do that. Why? Because it's too risky? Damn straight.

Because you are building your team around this player and you're going to pay what it needs to. And again, this is my feeling. Jobs are on the line too, right? Your job's on the line.

Jobs are on the line. Russell Wilson won a Super Bowl. He's a third rounder. And they paid him. Now two teams have paid him. Now it's also, by the way, this is spoken like a guy who's got six rings from a pick 199 in the draft. So this guy's used to striking gold. Those are rare.

Those are rare. I'm honestly not thinking with that money. I'm just saying.

The most spoiled fan base in America because they've had 30 years of franchise quarterback. No doubt. Jordan Love's, well dude, another 15 when Jordan Love finally gets in there because that's what happens in Green Bay, right? We'll see in 45 years when they're moving to the next game. All right, I got one last one for you. I lied.

I got one last one for you. What do you think the Bears are thinking right now? What's Ryan Paul's thinking? I don't see them trading Justin Field. But they got to make it look like they did, right? I don't see them getting a haul for that asset. Wow. The first overall pick. Yeah.

Because they got to make it. They're going to have to bring in Bryce Young, right? They're going to have to bring in C.J.

Stroup. They're not going to say. They're not going to trade. What would you counsel Ryan Paul's to say when he steps to the podium next week? We haven't made any decisions.

We got a long time before the draft. But we feel very good about Justin. You got to say that. Right. You got to say that.

But you got to lean into the first part to make it seem like. Yeah, but GMs are smart. Most GMs wouldn't trade a number one pick quarterback two years ago for a number one quarterback this year. I mean, I think GMs know they're not going to trade them.

But they have the asset. And the asset is getting whoever it is, Bryce Young. And can they get three number ones for Bryce Young? Can they get a good player plus two picks for Bryce Young?

That's how you got to do it. By the way, they have $100 million of cap room. They have no one on that roster. You talk about money, Chris? No one on that team makes money.

No one. They traded Robert Quinn to the Eagles, paid him the $12 million because they need to pay someone. They traded Roquan Smith to the Ravens. They paid his salary last year. They need to pay someone. This is the Philadelphia Sixers from five years ago in the NFL. They are the trust the process team.

They brought it down to the studs and they're building it back up. I hope Fields is the guy because they got a ton of cap room to build around them. Chris, I guess we should full circle ask Aaron Rodgers, because he owns the Bears. Last I checked. Yeah, maybe he wants to trade. He's a Bear owner.

Justin. As always, great conversation with you. Andrew-Brant.com is how you can get your Sunday Seven newsletter. Get the newsletter, yeah. The Business of Sports podcast, Sports Illustrated column. And what are you doing at Villanova again? You're teaching classes? Yeah, I run a whole sports business law program there in the grad schools for law and business.

It's a great program run by the donors, Jeff Morad, who's from out here in the baseball world. Of course. You know all about him. Thanks for coming in here, man. Always enjoy it. Always enjoy chopping it up with you. Andrew-Brant right here on the Rich Eyes and Show. Don't go anywhere.

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Grainger is the right product for you. Call clickgrainger.com or just stop by. Yeah, we just showed a video of Carla Murray's appearance at our Super Bowl in Atlanta. I haven't spoken to Carla Murray since. When was the last time you've had Carla Murray on?

Look it up. Hoskins says we've spoken to him since. We have not spoken to him since. Have we?

I don't think so. He was on our Super Bowl when the Rams played the Patriots in that Super Bowl in Atlanta when he came on and he was part of the AT&T world, Turner world. We did our show from the Turner studios in Atlanta down the corner from Dan Patrick's studio. He pre-taped that segment with us and went on Dan's show live.

We all remember what he did on Dan's show where Dan was trying to pin him down on are you playing football or baseball just as I was and he tried to not answer the question and Dan and him had an interesting chat that went viral and then ours aired a few hours later and I don't think we've chatted since. Apparently he called in during Super Bowl week two years ago. Is that right?

February the second or February the first. Then my badge. Look at you Hoskins. Well, you know our library more than most. It's not a lie. Thank you.

If you believe. Great job, fellas. And by the way, kudos to our coordinating producer Mike Hoskins who is not only remarkable at his job live on the program but remarkable at his job when not live on this program. So much of this program that you see on the screen on Roku channel he and Sean Mitchell and Jordan Sherrow at home they're terrific but the most impressive thing Hoskins may have ever done Oh boy.

is avoid jury duty this week. Oh. And he's made it here to this Friday program. Well done Mike Hoskins. I mean We all thought you were going somewhere else with that. like the Matrix you know like the he was just moving all around and just avoiding every night calling in and you know It'll get you. Didn't know at night and by the way he's also closing in on me in fantasy That's where I thought you were going.

No, no, no, no. He is. He's got a shot here. 7-4 and he can get me this weekend. He's got a really good team.

Get him Hoskins. He's got a really good team. You're beating him by five blocks. It's entirely possible it's entirely possible that I do not enter March still not having lost a week since Christmas. It's possible.

It's possible. robertdowneyjr.jiff eye roll That's where you thought I was going? No, he dodged jury duty this week.

I thought I mean we all thought that. Now I don't know Hoskins if you'd have been a foreman for this gig. You might have just been one of the jurors. I was thinking to myself this week he could have been a foreman.

You never know. What do you do if you're in jury duty with Mike Del Tufo? You just make him the foreman because he's never going to shut up anyway. But do you make him a foreman? Yeah.

I think so. But he's the king. I have everything ready. You can't have that guy as your foreman. You can't have a guy when the chips are down and you say what's going on. You win all these Emmys and then he's like I can't have everything ready. Here's the thing though about Mike though. As we've seen when he's out in public doing the Mike thing. That's his moment. He lives for that. He actually wants to be on jury duty where everyone else is just thinking about how to get out of it.

He wants to be there. But you can't tell the judge I can't be in jury duty tomorrow because I've got to do a Seton Hall Boston College game. You know what I mean? You can't say that.

That's true. FaceTime works right now. What is he doing? I have no idea.

Actually, you know what? Don't want to know. He'd probably have a story with the defendant.

Don't want to know. By the way, he could easily disqualify himself. Very fast.

Without trying to disqualify himself. Oh yeah, we're buddies. We go way back.

We go way back. When I was a cop. What? Could you imagine being stuck in a jury room with that guy? Juror 15 is dismissed. Could a juror personally declare a mistrial?

Because you want to get out of the jury room with the other guy? It's too bad he's not here. He would definitely have a jury duty story. He has a story. I was the foreman. Does he have a story?

I won't be in the foreman. Does he have a story? Or are you just saying that up? No. Does he have one?

Does he surprise me? Remember we talked earlier about spatial placement on our show? Brockman, he is in the line of fire. In the spit zone. I mean, you're in there. You must hear all of the conversations. And then he ropes you in when you don't want to be roped in.

Like yesterday. I'm opining on something, no doubt, expertly. And I'm talking about it, but you're involved, TJ. And Brockman, you were involved in the conversation. And all of a sudden, Del Tufo gestures to the side door. He looks at me and then goes. And he points to the side door. And then of course, I'm just like, well, what's going on outside? And the reason why he points to the side door is because the sun was out after a rainfall that he saw earlier in the day.

On the radar. And then went to the radar and saw on the radar that he called up on his computer that the sun would be out at a certain time. And it did come out at that certain time. So he's pointing out that the sun was out, but also pointing out that he was right because he pulled up like he's in charge of the radar?

Or you just saw it, see? I told you. I told you the sun was going to be out. In his defense, he did say, though. It was going to stop raining by 1120. So what?

But dude, it's not like he's some shaman that had a vision and predicted it. He is our weather guy. I'm just, because he called up. I could call up radar too and tell you about it.

I really appreciate that, Mikey. He takes all ownership of things that he has no rights to take ownership to. How can he be a jury foreman? I mean, the worst was when he would tell you guys stories and I'd be sitting behind him.

He'd be like, right, tell them, Jay. And I'm like, I know you're lying. What do you want me to do? I don't want to get fired. That's your peer. You're going to be judged by it. You just might have gotten yourself fired.

I know, right? This is what happens when he takes off. We talk about him. And when you're not here, you can't defend yourself. But anyway, congratulations, Hoskins, on not getting called in to jury duty. Although you were, I'm sure, would have been pleased to have done your civic duty. There you go.

He's a fine, outstanding citizen who loves his Buffalo Sabres, who had a terrific week here in Southern California recently. All right. Let's take some phone calls.

844-204-rich number to dial. Chris in Redding, California, where I got my television start. What's up, Christopher? What up, Rich? How are you, man? What's going on?

Hey. So the fun thing that we in the newsroom have been wanting to ask you. What do you mean newsroom?

Was there ever a fun? Hold on, hold on, hold on. What do you mean newsroom? What are you talking about, Chris?

Newsroom, KQMS and KRCR. Are you? Hold on a minute.

So you're calling in from my former station, is what you're saying. News Channel 7, Mike Mangus, man. Hey, this is fantastic. That man, as we know, is a legend. Is a saint. A saint.

A saint. Absolutely. So you work with Mike?

Is what you're saying. I work with Mike. So just before we continue on with our conversation, Mike Mangus was the senior main sports anchor at Channel 7, 7R, Spirit of the North State. You still refer to yourself as the Spirit of the North State or that phrase is long gone, Chris? Did Chris come? Oh, no, he cut off. Oh, no. I didn't do that. I didn't pay the phone bill at that.

Well, anyway. KRCR. Call back, Chris. He might have been calling in from the same phone where I got a call from ESPN.

They found me in the newsroom at KRCR. I hope he calls back. Chris might have got some breaking news. Oh, my gosh.

What's going on? Anyway, Mike was the main sports anchor. He did the 5.30 and 6.30 shows.

I did the 5 o'clock and the 11 o'clock shows. And he's still there? Yeah.

Wow. I believe he still is. I think he came back.

I think he's the main news anchor now. One of the sweetest people on planet Earth, and I was going to tell Chris, I would love for him to ask Mike in a private moment how many times Mike saved my job because of the goofy, crazy stuff I was doing on the air. Well, I think they're watching, so you may have just asked me. I mean, I bet you. And Mike would never tell me. I bet you he saved my job a couple of times. At least two. Over, under is two and a half I'd take the over. How so?

By going to the over, the people in charge, or by like pulling you to the side? When I first started, you'll love this. Oh, gosh, you would particularly love this. Is that there was a, there's a high school in town known as the Anderson Cubs, Anderson High School Cubs. Okay.

And it was a big wrestling match between Anderson and I forget the rival school, big wrestling match. So I had Mike be sort of the mean gene. Okay. And I did a promo. You knew me well. Dude, I did a promo where I was the junkyard cub.

Shut up. Yes. This happened. I was the junkyard cub and I'm like, we're going to take him out, you know? And I did a whole macho man.

Okay. Wearing the Anderson cub sort of jacket. And people called in saying I was disrespecting the sport, disrespecting the school, disrespecting the whole process. What?

Who is this new guy, Mike Mangus, who's doing this crazy stuff? Total, like complaints that they called into the night service and they would type it out like junkyard cub, no good. That was no question one of the times he saved my job.

No doubt in my mind. Those people didn't have a sense of humor. I'm already into the junkyard cub. You're sitting there watching the local sports and you're trying to find out legitimately what's going on with this big wrestling match everyone's talking about. And my coverage was to turn the sweet Mike Mangus into mean gene. And I'm like, we're going to take him out.

And people didn't like that. I was the junkyard cub. Brilliant. Thank you. But my career was almost, instead, hit it. Kaput.

That's correct. There's got to be footage of this somewhere. Oh, it exists. Oh, man. As I was going to say, I think I have your tape.

You were dealt two from those, right? I know I definitely have it because we did a segment on it on the old podcast specials at NFL Network. I think it exists. Like 10 years ago. So I have it.

We'll scrub it. The JYC, the junkyard cub. We also interviewed a cow wearing a weather jacket, which was a little weird. A bull. I interviewed a bull. I covered the rodeo by interviewing a bull and I had the bull handler stand aside me. And he assured me the bull will not charge you when you turn your back on the bull. That's probably number two.

That was probably number two where my job is. Did the bull charge? I'm here, all right. El Satador? El Satador.

I have that somewhere. Take a break. We'll do what's more likely. Mike Sandow of The Athletic. He did the deep dive on Russell Wilson and what's going on, what happened with the Broncos. He'll join us. And then Brandon Sclenar, who plays Spencer Dutton in 1923. A brilliant show.

He is brilliant in it. I can't wait to go down a Yellowstone 1923 wormhole with him. That's still to come here on this show. Junkyard Cub.

Let's go. Back here on the Rich Eisen Show radio network along with our live Roku channel stream. I'm sitting at the Rich Eisen Show desk furnished by Grainger with supplies and solutions for every industry. Grainger is the right product for you. Call clickgrainger.com or just stop by. And the break, I just went in the back.

A nice chit chat with our next guest coming out in the middle of the next hour. Brandon Sclenar of 1923. And in this program, he plays Spencer Dutton, a wild game, big game hunter. I know you wore cowboy boots, TJ thinking he was a cowboy in the show. Well, it wasn't the reason.

It was just the coincidence. No, I assume that'll be season two of this fantastic program. Season two's been picked up. But in the show, there's all sorts of danger that he has overcome. And I can't wait to, you know, in the bush, in the wild, and what have you, at open sea.

I can't wait to ask him where driving all the way down here in a driving rain ranks. It's got to be high on the list. And Chris, I know, again, you're almost through 1883. Almost done 1883.

And when you watch 1923, you will realize that despite Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren being in the show, the most interesting character expertly played is the guy who's going to be sitting in this chair. All right. Can't wait. And on top of it, I'll say it, it's going to be a tough two-shot for the kid over here. He is man pretty. Whoa.

You are up to speed on 1923. I am. Good looking guy. In terms of two shots, Chris, you've seen them. You've seen them. You've been around with me.

Seen all of them. The Rich Eisen Show podcast that this show has been born out of, like, what, 15 years ago. Me and Tom Brady, that's still number one? Yeah, I think that's number one.

You were at the Pats luncheon, I think, before the 2011 season. Henry Cavill's been in here multiple times. Yes. This is going to threaten.

It's going to take those down from the rafters. Not to be weird about it. Well, I think it got weird. Too late? Too late. We passed that threshold. Let's talk What's More Likely. It's a Friday staple. Chris is going to give me either oars or whatever's on your mind for the upcoming weekend in sports, if not beyond. Hit it.

We've got great production value. What? What's more likely? Never say never, but never. All right, Christopher, go for it.

What do you got over there? What's more likely, the rain stops or we're in this hell for another 40 days? Let's collect animals by twos. All right, guys, we were talking about this yesterday. Derek Kerr is going to be a Hall of Famer, apparently, because he's going to win a bunch of Super Bowls.

So who's more likely to win the big one in the next six years, Cowboys or Jets? Get out of here, man. What? Oh, my gosh. All right.

I'll go Jets. Sorry, TJ. As you should. Why wouldn't I? Why wouldn't you?

Why wouldn't I speak it into existence? I'm not going to sit here and say it's your team. No, you shouldn't. With your Dallas star behind you and everything.

You know what I was going to say, so. I'll go Jets. I'll go Jets. I think Derek Carr is going to do it. This is this guy.

Derek Carr wants $35 million a year. Sold. That's it? That's all he wants? That's it?

That's the report that's out there. Sold. Run, Jets, run, run. Don't worry about nobody else. Sign this cat. Do not walk. Run. Don't walk. He'll take mid-30s.

He'll want 45 like some other people in sharing his stadium with. Run, don't walk. Come on. Oh my God. Woody Johnson should blow out a hamstring trying to run a sign in.

Maybe start stitching up the jerseys right now. That's according to Diana Rossini. Well, she would know. She's been putting a lot out there about this situation.

Rossini's been getting busy. What else? Yeah.

All right. Well, since Derek Carr is going to go to the Jets. Oh my God. And be a future Hall of Famer. Who's more likely to be a Hall of Famer? Oh my gosh. Derek Carr or Russell Wilson? Russell Wilson. Get out of here with this noise. Really?

Yeah. Because he's been playing himself out of it the last couple of years. Let's just say, let's not go recency biased. Let's see who's got a proper base from which to make the Hall of Fame.

Russ has got stats for days and he's got the, the, um, resume. Stop. What else, Chris? Really? You're just going to just blow right past that?

Well, Derek's got to do, all Russ has got to do is win one more in Denver. Yeah. Come on, man.

Tall task. What else? All right. All right. Some actual real ones.

I love his attempts at pushback. Okay. You got something that, that we don't need like an hourglass to try and, you know, time our way to see if I'm accurate or not. Which new head coach more likely to make the playoffs? Next year? Yeah.

Coming up in 2023. At least we're recent. Justin Ganon. Oh, Steichen. Or my man Steichen. I'll say Steichen. In the Colts.

Ganon's not going to, come on, man. Next year? Who's playing quarterback? In Indianapolis? Yeah. It's going to be a rookie. It's going to be a rookie. I'll, I'll, I'll take Shane. Steichen.

Steichen. Those two look exactly alike in that picture. Put that up one more time. Am I wrong about this or am I off? I thought it was. They do look like the same guy.

One guy looks like he hasn't shaved in five days. Excuse me. Hold on.

Keep this up on the screen here. The fact that Dax Shepard trended on Twitter for a full day because the guy on the right got hired by the Colts. He looks nothing like Dax Shepard. There was a picture.

There was a picture that they were attaching that like, yeah, he did. But those two twin sons of different mothers right there. What else? Quarterback to make the playoffs for the first time next year. Justin Fields or Kenny Pickett?

Ooh. I'll go pick it. I think the Bears have a long, a long way to go and I got to see more building. I'll take Kenny Pickett.

They damn near made the playoffs this year. That's my guy, KP. Who you thought wasn't going to be drafted as high as he was drafted.

I just knew where he was going. Yeah. What else Chris?

Let's see if we could shoehorn one more. To win one more championship before they retire, LeBron or Aaron Rodgers. Ooh. LeBron. Yeah. I'll take LeBron.

I'll take LeBron. Good one, Chris. That's a good one.

That's a real good one. You disagree? You disagree?

I do disagree. Wouldn't you take LeBron? Yeah. At 1000%. Okay. Is LeBron going to do it for the Lakers? That wasn't part of the equation. I know it wasn't.

I just made it part of it. Who's Rodgers going to be with right now? So if you're just saying, what's more likely, I choose LeBron.

Look, when LeBron goes to Dallas to link up with Luca and Kyrie and then brings Brian in. By the way, he's going to be MVP this year, Joker or anybody else. I'll take anybody else. I'll take the field, even though Joker, again, he's 22nd triple-double of the season last night giving him 25 straight games in which he triple-doubles that the team wins. That's the longest winning streak of anybody who's triple-doubled in the history of the NBA. Broke Magic Jenkins' record last night.

I still think the fact that he's won the last two, that somebody's not going to give him three in a row. I'll take the field. Especially after what Embiid did last night.

I'll take the field. Incredible. You keep capin' for it, and Embiid beat the Joker earlier this year. Like I said, Embiid did it.

Great job, what's more likely? It was good stuff. All right, Mike Sandow for a hardcore football talk on what's going on with Russell Wilson and one of the stars of 1923, Brandon Sclinar is here in studio.

He plays Spencer Dutton. It's going to be a great chat that's coming up. Still here on the Roku channel on our burgeoning audience. I'll call it a monster audience.

I mean, we're everywhere. Just stop us. Like, I dare you. Is that too braggadocious? No. Thank you.

How do I look? Great. I caught you on that one. I love catching T.J. off guard.

What was that? You went back to the quarter-zip today. I did go back to the quarter-zip today. I went full zip yesterday.

Thanks for noticing. You still got the fresh cut going. I got the fresh cut going. The fade's still in effect.

What do you think? What do you have for shoes today? Just the boat shoes, because it's raining. We ain't got cowboy boots on. It's raining. This guy's wearing cowboy boots. It's at this moment that the Roku channel executives are all looking at each other and saying, what are they talking about?

This is called content. It's raining. I mean, what do you want us to do?

It's raining sideways. It's never going to be funny. I'm sorry. I love that. What is that from again? The family guy?

Family guy. Oh, it's raining sideways? Yeah. Ollie, the news reporter.

Oh, yeah. It was hailing in Encino yesterday. Did you get hail? I didn't get hail at my house, but some of my friends who live in other parts of Los Angeles definitely got hail at their house. I saw it hail in like Laurel Canyon area, in Sherman Oaks area, down in Hermosa. The hail going on. The hail going on. Shout out to my pool guy who showed up for work this morning. The hail going on. This morning he did?

Yeah. This morning? He had an umbrella and everything. He's out there.

Why are you pouring the pool in a rain? Did you stop him? That's like you're going to tell me about the guy who's coming to wash your car later today too?

Still got to pay him. You love Lala Kent on Vanderpump Rules. Now get to know her on Give Them Lala.

With her assistant Jess. LA, it can become suffocating. Did something happen where you felt like I have to get out of here or do you just think it just happens sometimes? I think it just happens, but also just everything going on in my personal life. I want to get on this mic and be like, this is what I've been dealing with for 14 months. Give Them Lala wherever you listen.