REShow: Adam Thielen - Hour 3

Welcome back. We're kicking off The Rich Eisen Show. Now. Now. Now. Now.

They are back. Live from The Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles. I have to be the first on a plane. I've got to be first. I've got to be the first on a plane.

Cause you know the overhead bin, that is, that's a premium real estate. That is exactly right. Earlier on the show, Senior Columnist for the Athletic, David Aldridge. Still to come, Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen.

Plus your phone calls, latest news and more. And now, it's Rich Eisen. Hour number three of The Rich Eisen Show is on the air. 844-204-RICH is the number to dial.

If you want to have a chat with us, a couple of phone lines are lit. We've got overreaction Tuesday coming up cause I was out of the chair yesterday. Chris Brockman's got a whole bunch of fun items for me to either overreact to or not. Great conversation last hour with Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated talking about the latest on Dalvin Cooks front as well as DeAndre Hopkins front. What happened in Buffalo last week with Staphon Diggs if you missed that. And also hour number one in our great conversation with David Aldridge about the intrigue going around in the NBA. We re-air at the end of this hour on the Roku channel, channel 210 every single day from 12 to 3 Eastern.

And then we keep running until we're back on the air the next day. We also have our podcast for all those who want to listen on demand. The Cumulus Podcast Network puts our show out there for you to take in where all podcasts can be acquired. Our YouTube page is also out there for you to catch up on this show. The Rich Eisen Show collection page, part of our relationship with the Roku channel.

It's a fancy way to say it's a video on demand page. Check us out whenever you want to do that. Joining us here on the Rich Eisen Show for the first time is a Carolina Panther. Long time Minnesota Viking getting set to fire at the pins at the terrific Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course in South Lake Tahoe for the American Century Championship at Edgewood.

Coming up in a couple of weeks from now in July on NBC and Golf Channel is none other than Adam Thelen. How are you Adam? I'm great.

How are you doing? I'm hanging in there. Did you come in fourth in this tournament recently? I did last year.

I was in the final group and kind of had a rough back nine to finish. But I had a chance so it was a lot of fun. Dude, so you've got some game. You've got a stick is what you're saying, Adam.

Yeah, I mean I've been playing a long time so I should be good. I love the sport. It's kind of my opportunity in the off season to kind of get away from kind of football and the stress of life and just go out there and hit a little white golf ball and try to make it a hole. So I love the game. It's such a challenge and I love to compete. That's my favorite part.

So this week in Tahoe, my wife and I's favorite week of the year, we just get to go unwind and relax before the craziness of the season. Yeah, but you've got to focus on the golf course if you're this good. You can win this thing.

So this is serious when it comes to that. So when I get out there, my wife says that I'm a little crazy because I'm up at like 5 a.m. ready to get out of the rage and dial in my game and get going. I'm making sure every day I at least get some swings in, whether it be downstairs or at the golf course.

But it's tough with three young kids, so I don't get to play as much, but at least I get out there and hit a little bit with them and try to get dialed in for Tahoe. You know, it was years and years and years ago, Adam, that I read an article about Dan Marino trying to qualify for the U.S. Open and he missed it. And a quote that he basically said about it was the concentration level that it was required from him was just something that was off the charts.

And I'm like, this is one of the quickest triggers in the history of the NFL. And that doesn't, as you know, mean that he's gifted by God with that talent, which he is and was. But it also requires a certain pre-snap concentration level that has to be next to otherworldly as well. And golf was something that was a challenge for him on that front. Is that the same thing for you too, the concentration level is even greater in golf than football, Adam? That's probably what I love most about the game and really why I try to challenge myself by playing competitive golf in the off-season is because it's really the only way that I can prepare myself mentally for a game.

You know, like it's really difficult to really challenge yourself mentally. You know, physically you can go and you can train and you can go run routes and you can get in better shape and things like that. But to really challenge your brain mentally in a competitive atmosphere, I just believe that golf is the greatest way to do that. And like you said, it takes such a mental focus and preparation and kind of like that ability to forget about the last swing that might have cost you a shot or might have been a beautiful golf swing that put it right down the middle of the fairway. But that ability to kind of lock into that next shot because every shot is so important. And I think that's just something that I really love about the game and again, it really helps me when I get on the field because I have that same mentality of focus and then kind of if I run a bad route, I slip, I fall, I get back in the huddle and let's go make the next one great. Adam Thielen of the Carolina Panthers here on the Rich Eisen Show in advance of the American Century Championship at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course.

Finished fourth in the tournament last year. Let's just start dishing though. Let's go right forward here. Are you the best stick in the NFL, Adam? Yes or no? I think so. Yeah, I think so.

Okay. Who would be in the final group with you currently out of the current NFL players? Well, that's a good, current NFL players. Well, I think there is a few guys that have some serious game. I think if you get us all in a competition, I think you got Case Keenum, you got Rogers who is the best putter I've ever seen, whether that's a pro golfer or not. Really?

Okay, so he kind of keeps himself in that conversation because of that. You got some of those kickers. I'm trying to think. I know there's more guys out there. A lot of kickers, some quarterbacks.

I'm trying to think, but I know there's some good sticks out there that I'm missing. But I'd love to get a little, I mean that's why Tahoe is so great, right? You kind of get to compete against the best, really, golfers in the sports world, entertainment world. And there's a lot of guys that are addicted to the game and especially when they get retired, especially those baseball guys, when they're retired, they've already played a bunch of golf, they retire and that's all they can focus on.

And that's really their only outlet to go compete. They get pretty dang good and tough to beat. Well, you won a championship in high school, Adam, right? And so you're a professional football player, which means you've played some great golf courses as well. And you've been around some terrific players, I'm sure. You're saying Aaron Rogers is the best putter, the best roller of the golf ball you've ever seen, is what you're saying. For real. It's unbelievable.

It's unbelievable. The first time I saw it, I was like, alright, he made some crazy putts and then literally, I mean I've played with him a bunch of times, love playing with him. We try to get out in Tahoe every year and every single time I play with him, you're in awe of how many putts he makes and how confident he is. I mean, it's not just like 10-footers, it's like 20, 30-footers he's making. And he's got a lot of confidence when he gets on the green. And he knows that, so he doesn't stress when he's not hitting it great because he knows as long as he gets it on the green, he'll find a way to make it. Didn't he bail out DeChambeau in the match, right? Or against Phil and Brady, kind of?

Well, that's what I'm saying. I mean, even in the match, he was lights out on the green. With Mickelson in his grill, too. I remember that one. I remember that one a couple of years ago.

That was something else. Adam Phelan here on the Rich Eisen Show. Let's talk about your current team. So much raving out of your camp about Bryce Young, how he carries himself and how he looks.

Give me your first blush, ground floor opinion here on that. Yeah, just excited to get back around him. I think you just never know what's going to happen. Obviously, you know, first overall pick with all the hype and all that, you know that there's going to be a lot of potential and there's going to have a lot of talent. But I think he just kind of surprised a lot of guys of how prepared he was for the NFL game. And, you know, I think sometimes it's hard in those moments because you're in shorts and a t-shirt, right? So you don't want to get too excited about whether that's your team or individually.

You don't want to get too excited, you know, in the summer because it's a different game when you put pads on. But at the same time, the way that he moves in the pocket, the way that he adjusts and can get the ball out on time and accurate and he can make adjustments and things like that. It's impressive. And again, it gets you excited to get back working together and to really try to start gaining ground. And you just need those reps. You know, I don't care who you are, how talented you are. You just got to have those reps and those, you know, more reps you get, the more confidence you get. And he's a confident guy, which is exciting to be around. Do you got a moment where you sat there, whether it was in the huddle or you're out there running around or even in the locker room or whatever, where you thought to yourself, OK, this guy gets it.

You got a good one for me on that, Adam? I mean, I think I think the first moment that sticks out to me is I'm you know, you're watching the film. After practice and you see obviously in practice as a receiver, you're running your route, you're trying to get open, you're focused on that. And all you really see is the last, you know, very little bit of the ball, you know, maybe halfway there or or, you know, a quarter of the way on the way to you. So you don't really see what he what a quarterback is doing, which is something I love.

On the day after a game in the NFL season, as you get to go and you actually get to see what these quarterbacks go through to try to find a way to get you the football. Well, I say that to say we're looking at we're watching film and, you know, in practice, I knew he made a good throw and we completed it. And it was a big play, all that. But then you look at the way that he moves in the pocket in the way that he just very comfortably and confidently. And how easy it was for him to just, you know, basically, you know, manipulate the defensive players and the D lineman to make it a little easier on the old lineman and then kind of move.

And at the same time, not taking too much time that in the real game is a sack or a fumble, things like that, to be able to get it out on time and accurate. That's the stuff that it's like, wow, OK, this guy's got a chance. And it gets you, again, excited to get back to work with him. And, you know, the coaching staff there, too, Adam, I mean, it's it's kind of a who's who in many different ways from obviously your head coach, Frank Reich, Jim Caldwell on the defensive side. Dom Capers was the first coach in history of Carolina.

Dew Staley, who I love. Then you got Josh McCown, who a lot of people rave about. I mean, it just goes on and on and on. How good can this team be coaching staff? You've been around the block. You've got this. You've seen your teammates up close and personal now for a couple of months.

What do you got for me there, Adam? Yeah, I've been very blessed to be a part of this. It's a very special group. I had the honor to talk to the team in a group setting. And Frank, Coach Wright, gave me the opportunity to do that. And I kind of just I kind of just went down the line of of how excited I am and why I'm excited. And the talent and the people are not that not only do we have as players, but as coaches and within the organization. You know, I've been around a lot of great coaches, a lot of great players in my 10 years going on 11. And I kind of just just reiterated to these guys of of this is a special group and I've been a part of special groups.

But this is this is a special group that has an opportunity. Now, at the same time, you can do all the talking you want. Everybody's feeling great in July, June.

It's it's a great feeling in June and July because you have zero losses and you have zero wins. And you've got a lot of potential. But but I just wanted them to know that how excited I am to come to work every day to be a part of that group. And then and then challenge them. You know, what kind of sacrifices are you willing to make now that you know how good we could be? What kind of sacrifices are you willing to make? And depending on those sacrifices and the work you put in is what's going to really help us get to those outcomes that we all want to get to. Right. Everybody that walks into that building and every single NFL locker room, whether it be a coach, player, staff member, has one goal in mind. So it makes it very difficult to win games in this league and and to ultimately win championships. So, you know, you've got to have that in the back of your mind. So with all that being said, lots of potential, lots of excitement within the building, outside of the building.

But now we've got to go out there and prove it every single day. Last two for you here. Adam Phelan here on the Rich Eisen Show. Dalvin Cook released by Minnesota. How'd that news hit you? Well, I kind of figured it was coming.

So it wasn't too surprising. But with that being said, one of my one of the best teammates I've ever had. You know, some people asked about him, you know, that maybe haven't been around him, but I know what type of player he is on the field.

And, you know, I, I have I have nothing but good things to say about the worker that he is every single day of practice. There's nobody that's going to outwork Dalvin Cook, whether it's catching a football or somebody else catching football, you know, there's times in practice or in games where I'm catching a football and and the first person to be right next to me is Dalvin finishing downfield, trying to get a block or excited about a play you made and congratulating yourself. You know, he's a special person, a special player. And and, you know, I would love to compete again with him on my team. But I'm excited to see where he lands and he's going to he's going to make a big impact. I saw there was an interview maybe yesterday with Dalvin and saying that that he's he's excited just to be able to go out there and not have to worry about his shoulder. You know, he's he's back fully healthy, not having to worry about that. And that's a scary thing for defenses because he was he was pretty tough to stop, you know, with a bad shoulder. So I can't even imagine being healthy again and just feeling confident, not having to worry about, you know, if he gets hit, if it's going to pop out, if he's going to if he's going to have to miss some games.

So he's going to be scary as as playing against him. All right. Last one for you. We have a segment here on the show called What's More Likely?

And I'm going to give you three choices here. OK, what's more likely? I'm feeling you beat Harrison Smith on the golf course coming up next month. Week four, you're one on one with him some way, shape or form on the field. You make him miss or both.

What do you got for me? I think I'm more likely to beat him on the golf course. He's a pretty sure tackler. I don't know how many how many times in my career I've seen him miss a tackle. You know, I've been able to get him a few times, you know, route running, things like that and beat them.

But but there's not there's not anyone better as far as making plays, making it tough, tough on offenses, disguising. But but I think I can get him on the golf course. So he's getting there because he's he's super into it and he's been playing a lot of golf. And I think there's times where where he'll beat me on the course, but I think I can still get him in a competitive route. So he's more stable in one on one. You're more stable third on the golf course coming up.

See what I did? I think so. OK. OK. What's that going to be like for you? Last one week for Minnesota's coming to Carolina. What do you think that's going to be like for you on that day?

Adam. It's going to be it's going to be emotional. That's for sure. You know, that's that's an organization, a team that man, I couldn't have any more love, respect, gratitude. I mean, there's just so many emotions, right? Maybe a little bit, a little bit of anger mixed in there. So there's just going to be a lot of emotions that day. You know, a lot of people within the organization, players that are still there, that man, I love I love to death and have so much respect for. So it's going to be a little bit of mixed mixed feelings. And then on top of that, I mean, literally everybody I talk to, everybody I run into in the state of Minnesota says they're coming to that game and and they're excited.

So there's going to be a lot of people there, a lot of family there and a lot of people repping Vikings, probably, but 19 jerseys. So it's going to be an emotional day for sure. Adam, hit him straight. Clearly, you don't need me to say it to you, but hit him straight next month. I appreciate the call here. Let's do this a little bit more often. I appreciate it. Thank you, sir.

Yes, sir, would love to appreciate you and we'll talk soon. You got it. That's Adam Phelan right here. Carolina Panthers wide receiver getting set to go hit it. And the American Century Championship at Edgewitch Tahoe Golf Course, South Lake Tahoe, the thirty fourth renewal of Celebrity Golf's most prominent tournament.

Six million dollars had been raised for charities over the life of the tournament right there. Adam Phelan here in the Rich Eisen Show. Yeah, I did that once. You did? I did. I was paired with Jason Taylor, Derek Brooks. Wow, that's fun.

Two Hall of Famers. Great day. None of us did well at all. Maybe that's why I didn't get an invitation.

I was not getting an invitation back since. It was like I was taking a shovel to the course. Rich, look at some of the names on here. Like, we can get you into this. I don't know, man. I mean, it's one of those things like, you know, either you're invited or you're not. What I'm going to call up and say, please, please have me back.

Well, clearly you're not Chris Brockman. He gets invited to Celebrity Golf. Twice an actor. A thespian. Maybe I should go as an actor.

Robert Griffin the third came in last last year. So I guess it's fun. It was fun.

And, you know, you could bring a friend to be a caddy. He lost to Peter. All right.

He lost to Peter, man. Like we can get you in this. So Brockman, next time you get invited, take Rich as your caddy.

That's a good point to say. No, I'm not on his back. Would you say no to that? I would say I'm not care. I'm not schlepping around sticks. Somehow I got invited to this.

I was like, Rich, come caddy for me. And I would say you would say no. I would absolutely say no. Oh, this much. I'm not walking around schlepping, schlepping. Mike, the disrespect is real. Would you carry his bag?

If he asked me, you would. I don't know. You're going to carry. The altitude is real, TJ. How do they carry his bag? I mean, I'm not in the golf that much.

So if Chris was like, hey, TJ, man, I'd really like to come. I was really low maintenance. I was low maintenance. I would have that.

I don't know. I was low maintenance. I didn't bring a friend.

So it was I didn't need an extra room. Solo. I went. I went on.

Wow. I went solo. I hired I had one of the caddies from the club, carried my bag. Did you tip him well? Of course I did. He told me. Actually, he told me the guy the year before was the worst tipper. And all he did was just bitch and moan about the the the course and and and and his and his clubbing of of of him. Oh, goodness.

Rich, I got to admit, kudos in Israel. You posted a picture of you with the driver complimenting him. Oh, you get the start. You're learning how I was learning. Oh, come on. Come on. Don't you learn the people? I'm not the people.

I think I go, which is true. He was amazing. He was amazing. That guy was amazing. Yeah.

He's like the guy for with that rig. It's amazing. Susie's chimed in. What? Telling me to keep pushing, getting us invited because she wants to go back. She wants to go back to which town? Well, she wants to go back to Tahoe, right? Yeah, she wants. I don't know if she. OK, Susie, this is great.

I will push to go. If I get invited, I'll invite Susie to be my caddy. She will definitely not carry your bag at all.

She will not carry your bag. Coupe will be your caddy, Chris. No way. It's it is fun. You mix it up with people. It's great to watch on TV. It's a total blast. It's really fun.

It's a total blast. Tony Romo won last year in a playoff over Mark Mulder and Joe Paweski. I know. And trust me, I was fourth.

I will definitely tip much better than Lou Holtz. Wait a minute. Did I say that?

Oh, you know, that's my favorite thing to do. I can't be. You said nine nine. I can't do it.

That thing came about 50 yards short. You said nine nine. OK, let's take a break.

Cinderella. Oh, I did. I went there. Wow. I'm in a mood.

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Call clickgrainger.com or just stop by. Tim McMahon of ESPN.com is quoting somebody in the John Marant camp saying that the media and the league has it out for him. And, you know, again, when you hear that, you're thinking, who's saying that? Is it one person who is truly in the know or whatever? And I would think somebody of Tim McMahon who covers the league very well is is only giving voice to a true belief in his camp. And I think it's coming out of a twenty five game suspension. And a lot of people are like saying, for what? Because he was seen on an Instagram live video, on an account run by a friend of his in the driveway.

Right. A driveway. And he's not driving around. He's sitting in a driveway and he's got a handgun in his hand. And it turned out, apparently, according to Marant's own social media sites, a lighter in the form of a gun. He pointed the gun on a candle and lit a candle with it.

It's a lighter. And all I'm going to say is this is he is so incredibly talented and I am so rooting for him to come back into the league and just put this all behind him. And this will just be a footnote into a Hall of Fame career for him. And he winds up in Springfield, Massachusetts one day and the Memphis Grizzlies are champions of the world. And he brings a championship to that wonderful city where, you know, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is located. And and he lights it up and he comes back and he's incredibly successful.

That is my my front load to say this sounds like yet another instance of not understanding the responsibility. And not understanding the consequences, which I believe twenty five games when I heard that, I thought that was. Good for him. I thought that was he's lucky.

I thought it was going to come back half the season. I thought it might be full because for him to be seen on this video after the previous instance of what happened in the nightclub in Colorado and everything that came out of that and his statements on, you know, the camera to Jalen Rose on ESPN and apparently what he said to the commissioner behind the scenes for for him then to be seen on the video, on on the Instagram site of his friend who is. According to all reports, the individual who was involved in an incident involving the Indiana Pacers that caused this guy to be banned from Memphis Grizzlies home games, that he was seen on this gentleman's Instagram live feed with a handgun. And all I would say is to Marant like, hey, if you're going to light something up, why don't you get one of those normal, you know, Bic gliders?

Don't choose a handgun as your choice of a lighter and have it in your hand and be out there on Instagram live. Because the reason why the NBA is taking this stance and also waited until after the NBA finals to make this decision. Is because they don't want people talking about the association. In the manner of a famous player, an incredibly talented player being involved with firearms in a nightclub and anything to do with anything like that.

They don't want their spots, the sponsors don't want it, the league doesn't want it. This is dollars and cents. This is a business. And he is fortunate to play a game that every kid would want to play. And he plays it incredibly well and he's incredibly enriched for it. And with that, as Barkley pointed out, comes a responsibility and an understanding. I remember, again, when the Commissioner, current Commissioner of the NFL came in, Roger Goodell, when he was the COO, he wasn't at all about law and order and anything like that. And he was known as the law and order commissioner when he came in because there were two stars of the game in Pac-Man Jones.

And also Chris Henry at the time that were involved in headlines that the league didn't want. And they didn't want sponsors to think that this is what the players in the league wants. They want the league wants to talk about the players as leaders in the community and in family.

That's why the Walter Payton Man of the Year award is the last one given out at the NFL Honors every year. The NBA would rather have you talk about Bradley Beal, not just a guy who gets traded to the Phoenix Suns to help them make them a championship contender. But because of the fact that he was the NBA's Community Cares Assist Award winner in 2019 for his work in sponsoring classes at Ron Brown College Prep. That's what the league wants you to talk about their players, because that is who most, if not the lion's share, if not the large percentage of players in the NBA are all about. They don't want this to be associated with their league.

And the sooner Morant understands that, the better it will be for him. And to me, what's 25 games? When did the Memphis Grizzlies play the 25th game last year? Yeah, we looked this up, TJ, right? It's kind of the end of the first week of December.

I mean, please. He's lucky. He'll be back there on Christmas Day like he's fortunate. And instead, there's somebody in his camp saying that this is.

This is some the league has it out for him, and so does the media. That's an alarm bell. Yeah. The way I'm looking at it.

So that's my two cents on that subject matter. Eight four four two or four rich number to dial here on the Rich Eisen Show. If you're on hold, stay on hold.

We'll take your phone calls before the end of the show. But it's it's my first day back in the chair here. It's not a Monday, it's a Tuesday. So it's time for overreaction Tuesday here on the Rich Eisen Show. That was terrible. That was crap. That was garbage.

Just like overreaction Tuesday. Mike, you OK over there? It's all right.

It may be the dive working its way down the esophagus. You got a really situation to the skull. I don't know. All right.

It's four seasons over there. Mike, we're here for you. OK. Hey, Rich, what's up, man? I understand that starting. I'm well, you know, good.

I'm great. You know, it's not great. No, the Buffalo Bills, the Diggs drama plus loaded AFC equals Bill's Super Bowl window. Almost close. That's ridiculous. Josh Allen there.

They're they're open for business. Von Miller's coming back. Hopefully there's like the Von that we know the problem with the Diggs. The issue is we don't know it, obviously. So we fill in blanks.

But the ultimate issue that I have with it is that if it's something that's philosophical, how are you going to how are you going to change that? The only way you're going to change that is with wins and keep on winning and win it all, because this is a team that went all the way to the second round, you know, to the second round of the playoffs last year. Right. Cincinnati, the Bills. No, they played in the first round and that was it. Second round. They were sitting around the playoffs.

Yeah. And and still it ended with, you know, Diggs seemingly having a set to with with Allen who and they love each other. So how is this going to how is this how how is a philosophical discussion in June required to be had in June because it still hadn't been settled since last January?

How is that now put to bed when when, you know, football gets to be played for real in September and October, November? I don't think it's going to cost them their championship. I think what can cost them their championship window is the fact that Burrow and Mahomes are also in this tournament. So I felt like their best chance was that 13 second year.

Well, I think the best chance for the Bills opportunity to to win this thing, I guess, is when Aaron Rodgers refused his trade to the New England Patriots. As I said on Twitter, I turned down Leo's role. Did you?

Wall Street? Did you really? You guys didn't know that.

But you're also not leaving, though, so you're good at it. Yeah. What else?

Chris, what else? Speaking of the AFC East rich, I think D Hop and Dalvin both end up in the AFC East. Wouldn't that be great?

So D Hop goes to New England and Dalvin Cook goes to Miami. I think so. It seems most likely.

That seems that makes sense. Yeah. Although I will be interesting if D Hop is Bill O'Brien again. Bill's the one who said, all right, we'll take a two for him.

Get him out of here. D Hop had his best years with Bill O'Brien and, you know, Diana Rossini said no beef, no long standing coaches there. I think he had his best years with Deshaun Watson.

Right? Not with Bill O'Brien, with Deshaun Watson. Not really. There are some other less talented quarterbacks there in Texas. Well, I know it will help the quick game.

Anything can help. We need all the quick games. That's not an overreaction is the headline for our purposes here. I think it'll be fun. That make the AFC East the best division? Is it the best division this year? I think it's already the best division.

That's where I'll go. I think it is the best division. You ready for a hot take what the second best division is? AFC North. AFC North. More than the West right now because I am not going there ever again.

I understand. We're going to go to the West right now, but I'm not going to talk about that specific team. Let's go to the AFC West because I think it's a fun division. Who's next up for the big quarterback contract? Well, Burrow and then Herbert. I think the Chargers should make Herbert prove it this year before giving him a huge deal. Make him prove it this year.

One of the things that I noticed while I was gone because the NFL Network assignment desk and the news desk, they're outstanding. I saw the quotes from Justin Herbert not saying outright that he would be there at training camp at the outset of training camp. Not saying he won't hold in either. Right, right. Holding in.

That's what it was. That is a hold in. He's getting paid, pal. He and Burrow are getting their new contracts before the season. Why wouldn't they make him prove it? What has he done? Chris, Chris, Chris, Chris, Chris, what did I tell you about how much money Daniel Jones is going to make? What did I tell you? I told you. I told you. You want to listen to this already?

I'm going to blow your mind. OK. Daniel Jones worth more money than Justin Herbert. Daniel Jones won a playoff game. He has shown me that he can do it. Shouldn't get 40 million, but he should get more than Justin Herbert.

TJ, come get your guy. Justin Herbert, career record, bitch. Do you know what it is? I'll tell you.

25 and 24. OK. Justin Herbert, did he? Hold on a sec. How big is it? What did Justin Herbert, did he do something in your corn flakes up there in Encino?

What are you doing? No, but you want me to come on with hot takes. No, I got it. You're overreacting. That's my two cents on it.

You're overreacting. Shouldn't make him earn it? Should not make him earn it. He's already earned it. That's the way it goes in the NFL. What has he done to earn it?

By being Justin Herbert. That's the way it works in the NFL now, pal. Kyler Murray.

I hate it. Kyler Murray made the playoffs just like him, and he got blown out. He at least had a 27-0 lead in the playoffs, and then the rest of the team collectively blew it. Murray got paid. But I don't think Murray earns it either.

And he's going to get paid, and he won't have an iPad clause in his contract. Either. Great hair.

Gosh, wish I had Herbert's hair. What else? AFC West. Broncos? That's right. Second in the division.

Make the playoffs. I think that is not an overreaction right now. See the workout video? I've seen it. I see it. He looks good, man.

He looks good. I know. They're serving better food on the first floor. They got a better meal plan on the first floor. He's on the first floor now.

Not on the second floor anymore. I think they're going to be awesome. Everyone's sleeping on them. Why don't they go get de-hop?

I said, why can't they get both Cook and de-hop? Go get them both. You're George Payton. Get Sean Payton. Those two guys and blow the roof off that sucker. Is he taking the Walmart money?

Let's go. I don't have my list here in front of me. Didn't I say one of the biggest questions going into the offseason? What are the Payton Broncos going to look like?

No clue. Everybody thinks that Russ is shot and Sean Payton took the deal for the money. Let's see how it goes.

I don't think that's an overreaction at all. Can't wait. Who's Denver play week one? Oh, baby. There it is. Home for Vegas. Let's go. Wow.

Oh, yeah. That's going to be great. Home for Vegas. Home for Washington at Miami.

How's Denver at Miami going to be? At Chicago. Home for the Jets at Kansas City.

That is a Thursday night football game. Albino. Albino will be there. Albino will be there. Oh, he's going to have a great stake before that game.

Oh, yeah. And Kansas City. And then, by the way, they play Kansas City two weeks later after a home game against Green Bay before a bye week. That's going to be a fun first two months of the season.

They open 4-0 and then they play the Jets. Oh, that's going to be tasty. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.

A little revenge game for Nathaniel Hackett. Hey. All right, Mike.

Music change. A little NBA for you, Rich, here with the addition of Bradley Beal. Suns. Now your favorite in the West.

Let's hold off on that. There's a defending champ in Denver because, let's not forget, the reason why, in many ways, Denver boat raced the Suns, they didn't have what Beal's going to be an answer for Jokic. DeAndre Ayton.

Let me just tell you something. It's funny that people are saying that they're going to keep Ayton there because Vogel's going to turn it around with Ayton, whatever. Ayton was the hole in the donut there. OK, so how are we already discounting the Nuggets for next year?

Is that what's happening? I mean, look, the West has a joker problem. The association is a joker problem. I mean, until you've got someone who could somewhat match up with this guy, which Phoenix clearly showed that they did not, I don't know who anyone could say. Do you like Durant, Booker and Beal or do you like Jokic, Murray and Aaron Gordon?

How about this? I like Jokic, Murray and the team. The team is the third man. That's a team, bro. They just proved it. They just proved it.

People like annoying the Suns, the champions. OK. I know what I just got done watching. Yeah, that was complete team basketball. Damn straight. Damn straight. So what else you got over there? All right.

How about this one? The Spurs are going to be a playoff team with WEMBE before the Angels make it with Otani and Trout. No way. No, the Angels, the Angels are the Angels are going to finally shove it in everybody's face, I think, unless this season is just one big, huge old Angels game where Shohei and Trout perform very well and then they lose. They're a game up.

I know that it's because the Yankees can't hit anymore. So I know. No, no, no. I'm going to go. That's an overreaction. The Angels are the Angels are showing it this year, pal.

We need Phil Nevin on this show. Oh, all right. What is that? That was loud. What else? Rich, I know you're out of the country.

I'm not sure if you saw the scores, but the Red Sox have won five and six against the Yankees, including a sweep over the weekend. So there's nothing. He's overreacting. What's the reaction?

He's overreacting. Five out of six. That's five and one. I'm aware of that. Oh, OK. I know.

Our best players hurt. So we have that. What? Excuses? No, it's not an excuse. It's a fact. It's called facts. It's called a fact. Excuses or facts? We'll see how it goes.

It goes in the long run. But congratulations on winning June. Let's take a break right here on the Rich Eisen Show.

844-204-rich, number $2. Speaking of Victor Wenbanyama, some news about Big Vic before we beat it on down the line on Wednesday. Fun show. Let's go. John in Virginia has been hanging on for a while. What's up, John? How are you? Good, Rich. How are you today? I'm great, thank you. What's on your mind? Just wanted to ask you, as a Michigan football fan, are you more nervous about playing USC in LA or opening your season against a smaller school from North Carolina?

Ah, very good. I like it, John. No, obviously playing against USC in the Coliseum is never an easy run of it. But the good news is Caleb Williams will be in the NFL getting ready for his first NFL season in 2024.

We'll see as they break in a new quarterback then at that point in time. But again, I just found it interesting that USC and UCLA, the first year that they're in the Big Ten, they both play Michigan and Ohio State doesn't have the same opportunity, which is the way I'll call it. Thanks for the call, John. Same opportunity. But I will just say this, I will just say this to Trojan fans, you best show up. Use your tickets. Oh, because it's going to be... Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Oh, no, USC fans go. You're not going to... No, I know that. No, no, no. By the way, I watched you... No, no, that's...

He is right. The first year Susie was covering USC, the first year we were here, 20 years ago. Yeah, because they were a pro team.

USC versus Notre Dame. And it was raining, and it was pouring rain, and the place was packed. Yeah, it was packed.

And as you know, rain here in LA equals like three feet of snow. Alan Dallas, you're here on The Rich Guys Show. What's up, Al? Richard, fantastic pictures on Instagram. Thank you. I felt like I was watching a man who parted more red liquid in the Middle East than Moses. By the way, I floated in the Dead Sea too, pal.

I did that, but I didn't put that on Instagram. I saved that one. Oh. It was fantastic. The food and beverage were fantastic. Thanks, Al.

The pictures were great. I feel that's genuine. Thank you.

Yeah, and it is. And I'm going to say this too. I would caddy to the both of you guys if you... Thank you, Al. Thank you.

Thank you. Even Brockman, and I would love just breaking his stones all round long, but it'd be good. It'd be good stuff. It'd be good stuff. That was great.

So, I call up, I want to talk about something, but then you guys bring something up. Jay Moran should feel blessed that he got suspended for 25 games. I mean, Stephen A. Smith was called for him to get suspended for a year.

And I think that he shoots it right down the middle. He should feel lucky. So for anybody to be bitching, pardon my French, they should have their headache down. Al, I appreciate you saying to call in and call back tomorrow. Let's chop it up a little bit more. I'm sorry to take your call so close to the end of the program. And you'll have to apologize for cursing now, because Rich... No, no. I didn't curse. Stop. So, did you see who was throwing out the first pitch in Yankee Stadium tonight? I heard. Victor Wembunyama.

Oh, yeah. Seven foot five of him. I bet he throws 108.

Like, nothing's going to surprise me with this kid anymore. And then you should immediately sign him. Like, don't let him leave the stadium to go to the Spurs. Can he hit? Can he hit right now? I'll take him. I'll take him in center field. He'll never hit a home run to center field. Did the Yankees make a jersey that big?

Did they give him Randy Johnson's old one? I don't know. Even that wouldn't fit. Well, it's got to be long. It's long and narrow.

It's a slim fit. So, does he throw a strike, yes or no? Well, yeah, because the ball's only going to travel like five feet from his hands to the, you know? What does he got? I'm worried about him holding the ball as, like, us holding, like, a Superball. I got to say, he dirts it.

He dirts it, because that's the problem. When you're on the top of the mound. If you're on the mound and you're not used to pitching. Right.

You got to throw it up, because that's the way you spike it. Right. Does he have a better first pitch than the first first pitch that Travis Kelce threw? Oh, yes. Yes. Now there's very few worse pitches than that.

Kelce was really bad. Did you see his makeup? Yeah. Great job. It was nice.

It was good. He was practicing. He went back. No, he went to Kansas City. I think the first one was in Cleveland, in his home state of Ohio. Right.

Right. He was playing a game. Victor Wembonyama, does he throw a strike?

Or does he shoot it like a three-pointer? That would be funny. That's what he should do. That would be really funny. I think that's what he's going to do.

I'm going to go with that one. He'll shoot it like a three-pointer. How many French people play baseball? Like Jeff Francore? But you can't go to Yankee Stadium.

I think he's from Staten Island. You can't go to Yankee Stadium and not throw a strike. There's a lot of pressure. And you got to throw from the mound. Got to do it.

Got to do it. There's a guy named Pete Luck. I can't say that. What is going on with him working that way going out the door? Conspiracy theories. Paranormal. UFOs. Science teacher Andrew Greenwood stated that a child ran into his classroom and was hysterically screaming and talking about the flying saucer outside. Hundreds of children ran out of their classrooms to go outside and see this unidentified flying object that was just above the school. Just imagine a bunch of kids running out of school. Most of them probably just ran home.