RE Show: Tom Verducci - Hour 3

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Still to come. MLB insider, Tom Verducci. And now, it's Rich Eisen. Hour number three of the Rich Eisen Show is on the air. We already spoke to the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings and general manager of the Chicago Bears.

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844204rich is the number to dial. The baseball trade deadline beckons. And here to give us heads or tails about what is going on in that world is one of the best in the business from Fox Sports and Sports Illustrated. Tom Verducci back on the Rich Eisen Show. How are you, Tom? Great, Rich. How are you doing?

I am better for talking to you. Tell me what you think is going down with the biggest names available in baseball right now. Tom? It is an upside down world. I mean, you would have thought when this season started the Mets would be sellers, the Marlins would be buyers.

But that's the world we have now. And that includes Justin Verlander. I think he's the biggest name in play. You know, once Scherzer was out the door, actually back it up a couple days, once David Robertson was out the door and Scherzer didn't want to be part of a team that wasn't trying to win the World Series, he was out. And now really I believe it's up to Justin Verlander if he wants to pitch for the Dodgers or the Astros. And I think the Mets would accommodate him if he goes to Steve Collins and says, you know, I don't really like the writing on the wall here. You know, we're not close to being competitors with the Atlanta Braves right now and maybe not next year. So if that's the case, you know, these guys are pitching 40, 41. It's all about the postseason, right? He wants to win. And he's obviously been in Houston.

I think L.A. is attractive because they give you a shot to win every year. And we saw the Mets being able to throw so much money in these deals to buy down contracts that I originally thought the move of Verlander would be really risky for someone. I mean, he still has about $93 million left. That includes an option that can vest if he throws 140 innings next year, which I would expect Justin can do that. But yeah, with the money they threw in the Scherzer deal, think about this, Rich. The Mets paid a total of $107 million for Max Scherzer to win 20 games for them. I mean, it's unbelievable.

So, hey, credit. They're using part of their resources. Their advantage obviously is their money. And they got a good prospect in return in that deal. But that tells me they can buy down Verlander's contract enough that Justin says, you know, I'd rather go somewhere now and compete for a title this year. I think Steve Cohen would try to accommodate him. So that has to be done by tomorrow and these decisions have to be made right now. Those are the only two teams that Verlander would want to go to or the only two teams that would actually be interested in him?

Tom? Yeah, I think it's all about what team he wants to go to. I mean, listen, there's a ton of teams out there. It's interesting that the game is really devalued starting pitching.

We see that all the time, right? Pitchers don't pitch to the lineup a third time around. They don't win as many games. We get all that. But this time of year, if you want to get to the postseason and go through the postseason, everybody's looking for starting pitching.

And it's been driving the market here. And I still look at teams, especially with young pitching, like the Marlins, the Diamondbacks, the Reds, the Orioles. They all could use a starting pitcher right now just to get into the postseason, never mind get through a round or two. So yeah, best one on the market would be Justin Verlander because I think the Padres at this point are going to hold on to Blake Snell. But does Justin want to go to Baltimore, Cincinnati, Arizona?

I don't know. I just think it's an easier guess to say that, yeah, going back to Houston is easy, going to L.A. is easy. And Tom Verducci here on the Rich Isaac Show. Tom, I mean, you want to talk about who would have guessed it when Trout went out before the All-Star break and Rendon is still out. And the Angels on Sunday night baseball get beaten by an Astros team that, if I'm not mistaken, scored six or seven runs in the ninth inning and then the Yankees coming to town. And they put their foot down and not only start winning games, but the front office is making moves to support everything that's going there. And Otani is in a good spot right now, it seems like, a day before the trade deadline, right?

Yeah. Isn't it amazing how, like, one week can change everything? Because you're right, after that game against Houston, it looked like the Angels were going to be sellers. And they went off and won six for their next seven. And now you've got a team with a winning record, four games out of the wild card, Trout coming back in the middle of August. There was no way Artie Moreno was going to trade the biggest asset in baseball, which is Shohei Otani.

Because once you trade him, you lose the power of incumbency, the odds of trying to re-sign him, which are pretty low anyway, go to about zero if you move Otani. So it didn't make any sense to me that they would ever move him, but especially with a winning record, positive run differential, four games out of a wild card for a team that hasn't been in the postseason in eight years. Yeah, they did the right thing. And listen, we've seen them be all in. I mean, like, all in. Underscore it with the trades for Giolito, Lopez, and now Taylor Ward gets hurt, and they right away pick up Grichuk and Crone. You've got to love what the Angels are doing, man. We kill these teams a lot, Rich, for not trying too hard. You've got teams that go into these rebuilding cycles. You can question Artie's methods and how effective they are, but at least his heart is in the right place.

He's trying to win. And so the final few weeks of this season for the Angels, not only for them to try and make a playoff run, is it truly their best offer to Otani, right, is to show him that they can actually win with him? Or, if I'm not mistaken, did I just hear you say you thought the chances of them re-signing him were low to begin with, Tom? Yeah, I mean, this at least keeps them in play for Otani, because, listen, if this team does have some kind of magical run, you know, like the Rockies back in 07, you know, they get into the postseason riding a ton of momentum, you know, that's going to count a lot, I think, for Otani, who really does want to win. I think anybody who watched the WBC understood that. I mean, we saw Otani at his best when the games mattered the most, and don't get me wrong, those games mean a lot over in Japan, those WBC games. So, that's what he wants to do, and if they turn a corner here, get into the postseason, that will mean a lot.

I think, don't forget about this, I like a lot of great athletes. Joey Otani is an incredible creature of routine. He loves, you know, being on his own program. He's on his own program because nobody else in baseball has done what he's done. The way he keeps himself healthy is just amazing, doing both disciplines of pitching and hitting.

He's just fanatical about his nutrition, about his sleep, about his training. You saw the other day he pitched in humidity and heat in Detroit, and had to lead the game with cramps. I just think he loves Southern California.

It's a little bit closer to home. Just the weather, the environment, the ability to be a two-way player, I think there's less wear and tear for him than some other places where the weather's more of an issue. I think he's got everything he wants in Southern California, but I think the Dodgers have the most money to put on the table. They tried to sign him when he was in high school, Rich. I mean, that's their white whale they've wanted all these years, and even, you know, they've got the payroll flexibility now to go out and blow everybody else out of the water. Now, does it come down to the highest bid? If it does, it probably will be the Dodgers. If it's comfort level, maybe he is such a creature of routine that the Angels with, you know, now that, you know, the Angels have pushed their payroll above the luxury tax limit, maybe that's indication that things are going to turn a corner here, and he's all in.

I don't know. I don't think anybody really knows what Shohei wants, other than I do believe he's tired of losing and not being in the postseason. He does want that. Well, I think the biggest question involving him is, how does he feel about the East Coast? How does he feel about the Amtrak corridor? You know, how does he feel about the 24-7, 365, long-time listener, first-time caller fan base? You know, how comfortable could he be? Does he want that? That's the biggest question. That's a great, great, great question, because if you remember, when he was an international free agent, and the team lined up to get him, the first thing he did was pretty much rule out the Acela corridor, right? He didn't want to be part of that. And, you know, he, again, he creates his own schedule with the Angels.

They don't tell him what to do, media obligations, you know, off-the-field obligations. It's a little bit harder to do that, I think, in the East and Northeast, where they expect more of just availability, if you will. So, I don't know. And, again, the weather's a factor. Do you want to pitch and hit in cold weather in April or September? I don't know.

I mean, maybe things have changed with Shohei, but it's instructive to me that at least when he first came over, he said, no, I'd rather not be. And that's knowing, obviously, the kind of money it seems like the Red Sox, Mets, and Yankees can spend. Very few free agents rule out the Northeast corridor when they hit the market. He did that.

So, maybe that is an indication. A few more minutes left with Tom Verducci here from Sports Illustrated, Fox, and so much more right here on the Rich Eisen Show. I was saying earlier, Tom, you know, look, as a diehard Yankee fan from way back in the day, I understand that the Renaissance, the Joe Torrey Renaissance, Buck Showalter, then Joe Torrey, Renaissance, and all those players were born out of George Steinbrenner being banned from baseball. I understand that he couldn't medal the whole, you know, Ken Phelps, my baseball people, stuff from Seinfeld back in the day.

I get it. But I can't help but think a performance like last night, nationally televised, pitcher who starts doesn't get an out before giving up seven runs first. And then the lineup strikes out 18 times in being embarrassed by the Baltimore Orioles.

George M. Steinbrenner III would have had somebody's ass in his briefcase by the end of the night. What is Hal doing? Like, what is best on your reporting, his thinking about this season that has gone so dreadfully for the Yankees?

What can you tell me about this, Tom? Well, I think they've gotten caught here, you know, waiting for Aaron Judge and Carlos Verdun to get back. You know, they just knocked off too many days on the calendar. And, you know, they haven't stepped up for big time players. They've tried to fill some holes here by hitting on some off the radar guys.

You know, the Billy McKinney of the world, Jake Bowers of the world. I don't know how you win that division, that American League East, where the number's got to be upper 90s, you would think, to win that division. And they got caught with a roster that's not built for today's game. You look at today's game, Rich, without the shift and the pitch timer. It's the younger teams that are leveraging the new rules.

The athleticism plays, speed plays. The Yankees are an older team. They're actually, this is amazing, they're last in the major leagues in slugging against breaking pitches. There's more breaking pitches in the game now than ever before. So, they've just got a roster that doesn't fit today's game and they haven't been able to pivot in the course of this season. Yes, you were right about the game last night to watch Severino get hit again a second time by Baltimore. I mean, they took the swing like they knew exactly what was coming.

And there was hope there that he had turned a corner. Every time the Yankees take one small step forward, which was the case with Hamon's perfect game and look at the way he's pitched since then, he hasn't won a game since, they take two steps back. And, you know, this is hell week for them this week. They've got Tampa Bay and Houston seven straight. This will go a long way in determining what the rest of their season looks like.

But right now, they are not a good offensive team and I don't think that is going to change appreciably in the next two months. Well, I mean, you know, shift, shouldn't a shift help somebody like Rizzo who can't get on base all of a sudden? I mean, shouldn't...

It actually has helped. I was just looking at that. He has the third highest increase in batting average on balls and play. Just not the last two months? I mean, sir... You're talking about ground balls to the right side. Where are the home runs? He's got one home run in the last two months. And again, the Yankees, listen, Gene Michael, you know this, Rich, used to always say, you need left-handed power hitting to win at Yankee Stadium, right? They're 27th and 28th in the major leagues in left-handed home run hitting at OPS. It's not there and a big part of that is the way that Rizzo has fallen off the cliff. LeMahieu is hitting under 200 against basketball.

Stanton is hitting under 200 overall. These guys are all in their mid-30s now on the other side of their primes and it hit them all in a hurry. So what happens? Walk me through this week. Are they sellers or buyers in any way, shape or form over the next 24 hours? Because you can't just wait and see how this week goes, you know? Like it's time. Yeah, first of all, I think we're at the stage of the game now because this is a firewall to trade them on.

You can't sneak people through waivers the way you used to with the change in the rules a couple of years ago. So you look at every team, every team basically has a shot at the playoffs is doing something this time of year because you know this is your last shot to address any deficiencies you have. The Yankees, I think, by six o'clock tomorrow have to come out of this with a legit hitter. I thought Cody Bellinger was the perfect fit for them, but he's not getting moved now. The Cubs just played like the Angels played their way back into the race. He's not going to move anybody. So I don't know where that bat is, but they have to find something.

They have to shoot high. And as I said, I don't think their offense as constituted is going to turn things around, even with Judge Beck. And it's amazing how good he looks in the first couple of games here, but he needs help. And I think for the Yankees to sit idly by here and do nothing when their offense has been bad for the last couple of months, that would be a huge mistake. But in the meantime, we're all paying rent in the Braves' world right now. Tom, do you think? How would you like to be Alex Antopoulos?

I mean, you talk about very few problems. He goes out there and he needs a backup infielder. That's his wish list, Nicky Lopez. And he needs a right-handed curveball pitcher so he gets Pierce Jones.

That's how narrow his needs are. They throw the same lineup out there every day. They hit a gazillion home runs. They're leading every game after the first inning, 4-0 it seems like. Oh, by the way, they're getting Max Fried and Kyle Wright back. So yeah, right now it's the Braves and everybody else if you want to order up a World Series favor.

And in the American League, who's your World Series? I mean, can the Orioles do it? Because they're playing terrific baseball. They really are.

You know, so what do you think? They really are. And I've been so impressed with the job Brandon Hyde has done. They believe, not just think, but they believe that they can win a World Series. I question, though, I think they need another starting pitcher.

You know, Tyler Wells has hit a wall a little bit here. Grayson Rodriguez from more innings than he ever has. When you have a young staff, Rich, and a lot of these guys haven't pitched six months, and you're counting on that seventh month in October, high-stress innings to get you through three different rounds. I think they need another starting pitcher. And maybe it's not Verlander at the very top of the market, but even if it's a Michael Lorenzen, Eduardo Rodriguez, I do think for that team to win a World Series, they need another starting pitcher. I mean, can they basically get the right to call up Verlander and basically ask him?

You know, does Kate like crab cakes? Do you want Ravens tickets? Seriously, you could spend two months with us and then be mayor of this city the rest of your life. You know, like it's possible. You know? You're from Northern Virginia, so you can sell them on the coming-back-home angle there, right?

Old Dominion. So, I mean, it's not crazy, I don't know that the Orioles would do that, but I will tell you this, that they could satisfy the Mets easily. I mean, the Orioles, you see it right now, their Major League roster is just loaded with young talent that's not going anywhere. I'm telling you, Tom, Tom, that's why I'm driving nuts. It's crazy. They're so loaded. I know.

They have so many guys right now who are just, you know, the blocks from getting to the Major League that they can easily trade top prospect and not hurt their position the next couple years. All right, I know I've had you for a long time. I got one last one. Your favorite Elie De La Cruz story that you've heard is what? What do you got for me, Tom Verducci? Your favorite story about this kid in Cincinnati that is, I think he ran first, home to third in Dodger Stadium in less than 11 seconds, so I think that happened over the weekend.

What do you got for me? No, he throws the ball harder than anybody across the diamond. Think about this. He's a 6'5 switch hitter who can play shortstop. That literally has never happened in the history of the game. And you see this, you know, in the NBA with Wimby and his wingspan and what he is at, what, 18, 19 years old, you're seeing with some of the quarterbacks in the NFL, we're just seeing this age now where we're breaking the entire mold of what we think of as physically possible to play certain positions. And he's just a physical marvel, speed and power combination like we've never seen and switch hitting to be able to play shortstop.

So, yeah, I just look at him and I know we use the term unicorn for Shohei, but in his own way, he's a unicorn. I can't find a comp like him that I've seen. I know people mentioned Eric Davis was an incredible young player. Now it's feeling 50 bags a year for the Reds, but no, I haven't seen a kid like this and he is still a kid with this kind of skill set at his size and speed. But also the way he plays the game, when he stole home in Milwaukee after providing the team with the go ahead run just to get on base, and then he provided the insurance run by stealing three consecutive bases and two pitches, honestly, that's eye popping.

And it's interesting you mentioned Otani in the same sentence. I know it's just only a few weeks here, but he had me at hello, that kid in Cincinnati. Listen, Rick, that play you mentioned stealing home there, that's my favorite play of the year, because how many guys just put their head down to say I just sold third base, right? The fact that he had his head up looking for more, I saw years and years ago, I saw Paul Molitor score from third base when the pitcher dropped the return throw from the catcher.

And that still stands out in my mind when you don't accept routine and you're always looking for more. I mean, Paul Molitor was probably in his thirties. This is a kid's first year in the big leagues doing something like that. That's my favorite play of the year.

I'm glad you brought that up. Yeah, I mean, we had John Sadak who's been calling these great moments and meeting the moments for the Reds in the booth. We had him on. He said J.R. House, the third base coach, was going to dap up Ellie after he stole third and Ellie Dela Cruz paid him no mind and he's wondering what's wrong with the kid. And it's because he was thinking of stealing home right as soon as he got to third, is what he said from that play. Amazing.

That's a high baseball IQ right there. I love it. Thanks for the time, Tom. Let's do this more often. I love our chats. Hey, man, always a pleasure. Enjoy it.

Thanks. And you're at Ray's Yanks tonight? Is that where you're doing tonight? Yeah, I got Ray's Yankees tonight on MLB Network with Matt Vescurgeon, so be an interesting one.

Judge back in the Bronx. You might need some earmuffs. You might need some earmuffs by the end of the first. You never know, but thanks for the time. Appreciate it. We'll be there.

You got it, man. You got to check it out on MLB Network tonight. Tom Verducci with Matt Vescurgeon, the national broadcast of Ray's at Yanks. Boy, they're ready to just put the fork in the Yankees tonight.

Have you moved on? Are you full on jet season or are we still paying attention to the... No, the jet season is really just beginning. Okay. I don't know if you're done watching baseball. I'm not. I am.

I'm not. Coop's coming back from camp this weekend. We have not lost a fantasy week since he's been gone.

Does he know how... I have the assistant general manager is taking care of business as the GM returns from his summer camp experience, potentially after we've won a 13th consecutive week on a roll. We must be butter. All right. Speaking of jets, I'm going to hit it.

Let's hit it. By the way, I just I think I just saw the coach of the Colts talking about Jonathan Taylor because Zach Moss is out. Jonathan Taylor's like, OK, you know, I'm not on the bus literally and figuratively. Dion Jackson. Dion Jackson's currently the starting Colts running back.

He had a week last year, right? Wow. Got to figure that one out. Yeah. What's happening? Oh, yeah.

No. And and a nose surgery for the quarterback. Anthony, the Colts started their tweet with Anthony Richardson had a procedure. Whoa, whoa, what? On his nose. And then he got a deviated septum. Yes. Take care of that.

Exactly. You know who also had one of those? Felix Unger had one of those. Felix Unger?

Yes, he did. I did not know that. They're taking a break, taking a break with an odd couple oddities. Let's talk sleep number people. My sleep number setting is 60. My wife's is 70.

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Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen. Would you be able to give an NFL team a good 15 scripted to start a game? Larry, could you really do that? Really? You think so? Not now.

What do you mean? I would need I would need to I would need to study it. OK. I would need to, you know, go go down on the field. I would need to just talk to the offensive coordinator. I would need to take a little course on it. And then there's no doubt in my mind that I could do it. What would you be? Would you be a passing offense or running offense? What would you be?

What would you be? A lot of trickery. It would be a lot of trickery.

A lot of trickery. I would have I. Here's what I would be doing.

Yes. I would be setting up the defense. OK, I'm going like this and now I'm coming back for the pass. OK, so I would do that a couple of times and then the third time I would go like this. I think I'd come in and then zoom down. Zoom down. And so that plays called the zoom, the zoom down play?

That would be a zoom down. So like double, triple, quadruple moves? Yes. Setting setting them up, setting them up, setting up everybody. That's that's how I would that's how I would plan my offense. A lot of decoys, a lot of set ups, a lot of smoke and mirrors.

Yes. And then at some point there has to be a play that actually works. There'd be many plays to work. They're being set up all over the place. They're not even going to know what's going on.

They're going to be so confused. Come on. Sounds good. It sounds good.

You're hired. Sounds good. Larry David. By the way, I'm available. Larry David here on the Rich Eisen Show. I'm available. Robert Sala.

I'm available. Oh, as we know, there is an offensive coordinator there. And he's the best coach Aaron Rodgers has arguably ever had back here on the Rich Eisen Show radio network. 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 Glick Grainger dot com or just stop by. You've got a top five list ready to uncork before we leave today, right? I do. Right, Chris?

I do. OK, we'll get that out the door. OK, we'll do that out the door.

Yeah, sure. OK, let's do that out the door. Out the door. This happened while I was gone and I actually broke the seal of my vacation.

Vacation? I was very good, Chris. Right. I didn't tweet out.

I didn't IG out any food. The recents are at the top, you know, when you go and you see the circle like, oh, they got a new story. Didn't see Rich Eisen. I tweeted out a couple of vistas. Didn't see a lot. I Instagram down a picture of Susan. I appreciate you saying that.

Thank you. But I had to stop. I had to shoot a video sitting in the front seat of the car when I saw the news.

And I had to tweet it out as well. That there is a four time MVP of the National Football League, First Ballot Hall of Famer who decided to give up thirty four million bucks and change to become a New York Jet. I it just doesn't compute. I don't know how to I don't know how to handle success. That's one of the many things we're going to have to take as Jets fans. A cue from Aaron Rodgers. Don't know how to handle success.

This business. Of giving up money to play for the Jets. He didn't just do it now. Everyone's like, well, OK, he's just he's been he's been taken in by the trappings. Of being around the Jets and seeing the kids, and he's like, all right, I'll just give money back.

No, I believe that we're going to have Albert Breer on tomorrow. Remember, there was this whole hold up. It didn't want to give up any money.

Well, I don't know. That's the whole part of it had to do with he needed to restructure a contract that I believe he's just finally signed. This thing has been weeks and months in the making. I bet you that was part of the hold up. And again, Aaron Rodgers gave up money.

I had it explained to me in simple language today. He had 50 something million coming to him this year and 40 and change next year for a total of one hundred and eight million dollars that was coming to him. Fifty nine million in twenty, twenty three, forty nine million in twenty, twenty four. Only the fifty nine this year was guaranteed. The forty nine next year wasn't guaranteed. That's one hundred and eight million dollars. He signed a two year deal that's apparently got a whole bunch of phony baloney years on the back end.

Seventy five million guaranteed. So he went up and guaranteed dollars, but down in the amount of money if he played the next two years, he would have been out. And Packers fans are probably like, where was that hometown discount for goodie? And the whole business that Aaron Rodgers has given up money to play for the Jets. And he is showing the leadership with the young kids that a lot of Packers fans over the last two years were like, where was that for the young kids that they kept, that goodie kept drafting him? And he just seems really at ease with the youngins.

There was even a video that was just sent out today by the good folks at HBO and NFL Films for hard knocks of him breaking down. It looked like the quarterbacks group saying, hey, just, you know, I'm happy to be here. Just want to break down the group and just say, you know, when you're, you know, having lunch or at the dining hall or whatever, sit with some people you don't know.

Don't just sit with the same people. That's what leadership is. And Packers fans will be seeing that saying, well, OK. What? He was upset Christian Watson didn't know by osmosis the hand signals and he's now breaking bread with somebody he doesn't know? The answer is yes.

The answer is yes. That is what he is doing. And then when Sean Payton comes at Nathaniel Hackett. When Sean Payton talks about looking at last year's offense and how he doesn't know Hackett, a lot of people had dirt on their hands.

It wasn't just Russell. Twenty ninth in the league and pre snap penalties. Both sides of the ball called it one of the worst coaching jobs in the history of the NFL.

How bad it was. Now, in all fairness to Sean Payton. And I say this with all due respect to Nathaniel Hackett. I was pretty damn bad last year. And and and to give Russell Wilson a second floor office.

I mean, and just say, yeah, whatever you want, Russ, welcome in. And then it didn't go well. The whole business of letting Russ cook all the way up until the 58 yard field goal needed to be kicked. Remember that last year? I mean, there was some terrible. There are also some bad luck to fumbling inside the five yard line.

With all due respect, it didn't work out very well. And that's why Sean Payton is there. Puffing out his chest, even called it a mistake, him saying that at his Fox hat on. But Aaron Rodgers had his NFL Plus hat on yesterday. Hey, here's Aaron Rodgers sitting down on NFL Plus.

Get yours today. With Peter Schrager of Good Morning Football. He sat down with shrags and gave shrags the soundbite of the summer.

Those comments were very surprising to for a coach to do that to another coach. My love for that goes deep. You know, we had some great years together in Green Bay. Kept in touch. Love him and his family. He's an incredible family man, incredible dad. And on the field, you know, he's arguably my favorite coach I've ever had in the NFL.

Just his approach to it, how he makes it fun, how he cares about the guys, just how he goes about his business with respect, with leadership, with honesty, with integrity. And it made me feel bad that someone who's accomplished a lot in the league is that insecure, that they have to take another man down to set themselves up for some sort of easy fall if it doesn't go well for that team this year. I thought it was way out of line, inappropriate, and I think he needs to keep my coach's names out of his mouth. Soundbite of the summer. And somebody's going to have to say something similar to that over the next four years to not keep it soundbite of the year in the NFL.

No. The fact that he thinks Sean Payton's setting himself up for a soft cushion if things don't go well, even though the logic of that doesn't make much sense because Sean Payton has been brought in to fix all these things, and if it doesn't happen, then what? It wasn't Nathaniel Hackett, it's him too?

Look, I'm saying this. I was concerned Aaron Rodgers coming to New York might not be a good mix. That Rodgers might not take well to whatever spotlight there is in coming. And what Rodgers has done since coming to New York has dispelled every concern and notion that I have had.

And this is why. What he said there shows everyone in the locker room that if anybody comes at us, I got this. I got it. Anybody comes at us as a family, we're rallying around each other. Last year, the quarterback didn't take responsibility for pooping the bag in front of a whole jet nation.

He had to have his dad call him up and say, what the hell did you just say at the podium? We don't have a problem with that now. That kid can start the Hall of Fame game. We're good. Let's get him better. Let's get him seeing what Rodgers is teaching him.

Because again, Packers fans can't believe it. He's like Mr. Chips out there. He's teaching. He's got a curriculum.

And here's the other thing, too. We got to stop comparing this guy to Favre. It's doing he's doing it again with the Jets. Jets are taking the Packers guy. Favre used the Jets as a transfer portal. To get back at the Packers by going to Minnesota. Did he try his best in New York? He was injured. He was injured. I get it. He was also distracted. I'll leave it at that as as as just being gentlemanly. Thank you.

Yes. But clearly, as soon as it didn't work out with the man genius, he was out the gate. Out the gate and in Minnesota and playing like the Favre we all saw knew. So, yeah, that's what he was doing with the Jets. This guy, Rodgers, is using the Jets to get back at the Packers. He wants to win with the Jets to get back to the Packers. He's not thinking about other places because I got to play him twice a year. He's not sitting there doing that. What he's doing is giving money back to the Jets when he wouldn't do it for Green Bay. He's talking to the kids. Although Aaron Jones would say he was very available. He does. He's still texting Jordan Love.

But he's the guy in New York. And taking the heat. Now, what happens when they play games? I know what you're thinking, Chris.

We will see it because right now everything's great. And, you know, and then the Jets are sending folks like throwbacks. Don't worry, Greeny. I'm not putting it on. No, no.

Was that you get knees? Sure. It's sharp. I saw that. I saw that.

I'm like, he's saying don't come at anybody that's in my house and my family. I got it. I like that. It's great. It's great.

I love it. And again, he gave back money so they could potentially sign Dalvin Cook. That's what he told Peter King today is when it comes in October, I don't want the team hamstrung.

I want them to go get more people and they might get Dalvin Cook before the end of the week. And he's clearly using the Jets to get back at Green Bay if it is still something he wants to get back at. He seems at peace and coming at the only way that he's not at peace.

So if you're coming at his boy, hack it. I just love it. I love everything about it.

I'm loving all of it. Obviously, games have to be played. And of course, you know, all of a sudden low ankle sprains for Garrett Wilson happen. Let me just sit everyone out. No one should sit everyone out. Just play the games. Let's just sit everyone out.

Anybody that could be a pro and a bowler together. I don't want to play. Let's work out the kinks against the bills.

I don't care because they're going to be working their kinks out against us. Let's go. He's the face of your franchise. He's been there for a couple months. He is that. And comfortable being that. Comfortable being that. And the team is comfortable having him be that.

Do you understand a human being that could make thirty five million dollars decided, I'll make it something that is non guaranteed just to come play for the New York Jets? Because I feel happy to do that. It makes me happy.

And I feel as if it gives me the best chance to win a Super Bowl. Like I can't. That's just that's just you know, tell me where the aliens are. OK. Also, sure. And again, he's also made three hundred and five million.

I know in his career. But somebody in his position could sit there and go, I'll go to the Jets. You need me so bad, but you still have to pay me my fifty nine million. All of it guaranteed. Oh, OK. You'll give me now seventy five million guaranteed over the next two years. So I'll up my guarantee, but I'll also lower how much money I would make over those two years. And that actually that amount of money is a bonus in twenty twenty five that I may or may not get.

I'm willing to do that. But if I put the number two and a half, do you think he plays more or less seasons with the Jets than two? Right. So more than two.

I take more than one right now. But it seems like two is pretty much a lock. Do you think he plays a third?

I don't know. Let's see what happens in the two. How he feels. But he has thirty five million reasons to play a third dude for Brady. When again, he Brady's the Brady's the signpost. He's he he is the only guy you can compare anybody who plays into their 40s to. And he may be the outlier for the rest of the human race for football.

He may be. But when Brady turned 40, you're like, how many is he going to play? He said, I'll play till forty five. And I was like, yeah, right. And now he's forty five. We're like, why not one more?

So I don't know. The Bengals should call him to. Well, certainly if Burrow is the next Brady. Now you're on to something. Imagine Tom Brady on the Bengals.

Oh, until until Burrow comes back, then we'll go. Then I'll move to Vegas. You're ridiculous. This is about the Jets. Sir.

It's this guy. Hey, man, we don't have it. We're off the Trevor Simeon treadmill. We're off it. We're off it. What if Brady's like, yeah, I'll be the backup. Excuse me. Now, he won't do that. This is whose train we're on right now.

The eight the eight train trains. Oh, yeah. Throwback, baby.

That is, this is the one he's going to wear against the Bills. Who could immediately turn this into a, you know, something that I'm not feeling right now. That'll be fun. That'll be fun. Are you going to sleep in it?

No, thanks for asking. I mean, why would you? You're excited. You're team.

I'm glad I have it. I would, you know, again, you know, you know, my, you know, my, you know, my rule about where jerseys. You're almost the same age.

We're not almost the same. I cannot wear the jersey of somebody who's younger than me. That's it. I'll wear my Wesley Walker gamer.

There you go. I can wear my in the Super Bowl. You've got to rock that jersey.

You have to have a stop for your rule. Stop it. Come on. Instagram story, which is I don't wear jerseys of anybody younger than me. It's just that simple.

Even if they might be mentally wiser than me. What happens if you win the Super Bowl jersey on Rogers? Rogers is just like, OK, Schrage, you're here. You know, knowing. No, I know he's going to ask me about Sean Payton. I've got my answer locked and loaded. If the Jets win the Super Bowl.

Rich has to wear that. Are you going to be on a float with Greenie? We're taking or taking a break.

A root beer float. Canyon. Oh, Canyon. Here is what you love that you do. And you do it. You do it.

Oh, my God. You deserve to be a great start. A great start.

Great start. It's time for kickoff and the Believe podcast will get you ready for the new season. How do you live through this as a different sports fan?

Believe has podcast covering all 32 professional teams and many of your favorite college teams, too. He's lit it by your defense. You got better sideline to sideline. End zone to end zone. If you don't do those things, then you're not even trying your hardest to win at football. And I don't know what we're doing.

There was a lot of great players on those teams that I was fortunate to be part of. Search BLEAV podcast wherever you listen. I don't like what you said. Going to. What about you wearing the jersey? The parade. What do you mean? You know, like the C note for the parade. You, Greenie, Gary Vee.

Kind of on the valley jet celebs. I would not go on a parade. Why float? Why would they ask you? Because I'm not part of the team. You're one of the number one fans. I'm not part of the team. You got to go. You got to go.

I wouldn't do it. We were going to make you go. I'd be here.

No, we know you have to go. I'd be here. I'd be here.

First Super Bowl in your lifetime? Rich? So what?

Don't be so cavalier about it. Can you just imagine like Sunday night, the Super Bowl is in Vegas. Yes. Like the club scene after for the team that wins.

Yes. Oh, it's going to be. You'd go to that, right? What if Woody is just like, no, I'd have to be back here. I've got to be back here.

Rich, don't worry about it. I've got to be back here. You'll be fine.

OK, that's the point. You're a 54 year old man. I know because you told us we've never seen your team win the Super Bowl. You deserve to be there for that, man. You'd be up there.

Would you let you have to be there if the Jets win the Super Bowl? I know. Yes. By the way, you don't you don't need to divide to conquer. Don't divide. I'm not dividing. You are being divisive. What you're about to see is being divisive. But I'm not. No, he's about to take a swipe at Greaney.

Go ahead. I'm not. I'm not going. Would you let who's the guy who throws the cakes? Oh, Steve.

Would you let Steve Aoki throw a cake at you at XS if the Jets win the Super Bowl? Is this a real thing? Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.

It's this big thing. Like people literally go to watch him, DJ, just so he will throw a cake on. Yeah.

It's called being cake. Sure. I'll have Steve Aoki throw a cake at me.

Oh! Jets win. Sure.

Aoki cake at Ice. Sure. Absolutely.

It's going to be a Jets cake, though. Yeah. That's going to be sick. Yeah.

What content for us. Except Ray Romano will jump in and take it first. Back here on the show. So it's you, Greaney, Ray Romano and Gary Vee. Oh, there's a lot of Jets fans.

And Bobby all on the parade. Oh, Cannavale. Sure. Canyon Heroes.

Second week of March. I want to go to that party. I want you to go. So speaking of parties, we are expanding our party every day here on the Rich Eisen Show. We have two new radio affiliates today. We appreciate the Blitz 1170. KTSB in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

50,000 watt flamethrower sending us all across the beautiful heartland of this great country. We're also on talk radio 1360 WKMI Kalamazoo, Michigan. Now, I'm a Michigan guy, as you know. Kalamazoo is in the western part of the state. And nearby Kalamazoo, as I know being a kid, Battle Creek, Michigan. Home of Kellogg cereal.

Yes. Chris Brockman, when I told you today we're on in Kalamazoo, you said you wanted to do top five list, right? I was like, let's go. Top five.

What's your top five list? In honor and honor of being on in the great state of Michigan. And I know people in Battle Creek can hear us half an hour away.

They can hear us. Top five Battle Creek Kellogg cereal. Let's go music. Top five.

What cereal music do you have? You get this. Coming in at number five, Raisin Bran, because it's heart healthy. Sometimes you need that fiber in your diet, TJ.

So you got to have underrated. Don't over milk the Raisin Bran, if you get what I'm saying. Number four, Rice Krispies. The snap crackle does pop.

If you put your ear down, you can hear it. And obviously throw some marshmallow in there. You got Rice Krispie treats.

Second to none. Number three, Apple Jacks. Underrated. Underrated. The flavor of that. You can get Cinnamon Apple Jacks. I'm just saying they're underrated.

Give it a try. Number two, Frosted Mini Wheats. OK, you're not like the big, small works. I mean, number one, undisputed, the goat Frosted Flakes. OK, Frosted Flakes is number one is for us to bring out the tiger in you. All right.

Can you put that up one more time? I got some push back here. Push back. Raisin Bran out. Product 19 in. I know I'm the only product 19 guy. Product 19. Product 19 in. Product 19 in. Raisin Bran out. Although, you know, just to say, Frosted Mini Wheats out.

Product 19 in. Just again, you know, I need again, I don't want to kick out fiber. Raisins can help, you know, regularity. Where's Cap'n Crunch? And by the way, I said it appropriately. It's not Cap'n Crunch. Cap'n Crunch. Where's Cap'n Crunch?

I think not officially a Kellogg cereal. Is that right? Oh, did I just create a faux pas? Oh, rich.

Oh, my God. All right. My bad. Sorry.

Cap'n wrong. I'll know my market a little bit better. Hold on a minute.

What are some other options? You can Google this in front of you. Froot Loops? You're Loops. Corn Pops. Corn Pops. Corn Pops. I said Corn Pops now. I said Corn Pops.

Corn Pops. Cut this list up one more time. This is terrible. What an outrage.

This list is now becoming more outrageous. No, Froot Loops got to be sick. Here's the deal.

What is the deal? Froot Loops, they're not the flavor of the color of the loop. Cinnamon toasty, that's a fact. Kellogg's Apple Jacks. They actually have some flavor, more flavor than Froot Loops. Don't nobody like Apple Jacks or Froot Loops. You know what else I didn't like about the Mini Wheats?

Keep it up there on the screen. That they're smiling? With their eyes? The Mini Wheats, you know what the meaning is? I love those. And one of them, you got a tiger. Another one, you've got three elves. Are they elves? Snap, Crackle, and Pop?

What are they? You got a son, an actual son, putting the raisins into the brand. And the Mini Wheats is just like talking to you.

That's kind of creepy. Apple Jack, whereas the Rice Krispies should be. Froot Loops, two cans.

Sam, brother. Corn Pops. Corn Pops, big. Corn Pops, Crispies out, Corn Pops in. Mini Wheats out, Product 19 in. Product 19, no. Apple Jacks out, Froot Loops in. There you go. Look at that. Are you not regular?

Is that why you want Product 19? That's why I want the raisin bread. Tell me, how dare you? You know what? You just, what you just did is what he does with pickleball. Don't age.

Don't be ageist. I'm not. I'm asking the question.

I am the most regular man on television and radio. When you go play pickleball, do they give you a lot of surprise when you win? Is that the trophy? Oh, boy.

You know, like when you're in elementary and you get the orange slices? I'm gonna drop it in. You know what I played pickleball with this weekend? Chase Utley. So back off, pal. Isn't he in his 60s? He is not. As a matter of fact, he looks like he can rake today.

Did he quit you while you were playing? No. Hey, bottom line out of all this.

Welcome to Talk Radio 1360 WKMI Kalamazoo, Michigan and Battle Creek, Michigan. We'll take some cereal to the rich eyes and show flakes go. Oh, yeah. I don't like that.

Chase Utley. Look at this, dude. This doesn't help the case right there. This doesn't help the case at all.

It's not helpful. For over three decades, nobody has had a wrestling career like Arn Anderson. Conrad Thompson gets all the stories with our after watching AEW double or nothing. Amy wants to know, what does dinosaur taste like? It ain't chicken. It's like biting into a sinewy charcoal briquette. But chewy. That's disgusting. It sure is. Check out Arn every week, wherever you listen.