REShow: CJ Okoye - Hour 3

This is the Rich Eisen Show.

Drop a beat. Rodgers, he's not there anymore. The Packers will miss him significantly. What do you say to that, Aaron Jones? Live from the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles. People were sleeping in on us, not giving us a chance. Kind of like being in that place, you know, where nobody gives you a chance.

You just go out there and fight and you'll shock a lot of people. Earlier on the show, NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero. Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson. Still to come, Chargers defensive lineman C.J.

Okoye. And now, it's Rich Eisen. Alright, our number three of the Rich Eisen Show is on the air. C.J. Okoye of the Los Angeles Chargers. Courtesy of the NFL international program that finds prospects that want to play football in these United States of America.

Will be joining us on this show. What a story this weekend. His first preseason game wound up being his first organized football game of his life. And he sacked Stetson Bennett. And the team went nuts. And he got a game ball. And apparently he was told by his teammates the night before, I was told, that he needed a sack dance. And the team was apparently, Brandon Stanley said the team was prepared to take a 15 yard penalty for that sack dance? I don't know.

I mean it's just crazy man. It's wonderful. I love stories like this. He's on a practice field right now. And he's going to join us in the middle of this third and final hour of the show.

If you missed hours one and two, we had Tom Pelissero on an hour number one. Walked us through everything about the running back market. How Dalvin Cook signed with the Jets. How Zeke signed with the Patriots. Where does that leave the running back market and the teams that missed out on Dalvin and Zeke? What is going on with Jonathan Taylor and Nick Bosa and Chris Jones' holdout? What happened with Zach Martin's holdout that finally ended in Dallas?

I asked him about when Burrow might be coming back. All of that along with Justin Jefferson in hour number two. First Zoom interview in the history of this program with me sitting here in this studio. How about them apples? We're getting better. We're just improving every day. Just trying to get better show by show. That's all we're trying to do. One show at a time. Hope for the best. I don't have a crystal ball. We do.

It's very heavy though. If you missed all of that, we re-air right here on the Roku channel, channel 210. 12 to 3 every day. And we say hello to everybody listening on the radio. Terrestrial, Sirius, XM, Odyssey, and more. Our podcast, by the way, is available all three hours through the Cumulus Podcast Network. We'll appreciate anybody who hits a subscribe or follow button on that.

Or our social media feeds on YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, and more. Three minute intro. No it's not. I'm catching everybody up. I'm not changing. Just because the comedians make it fun of me. Well you keep talking about it though.

Well I'm just talking about the show. We keep talking about how you're not going to change. I'm not going to change. I'm helping you out. Thank you. It does appear, Chris, you keep asking, we keep showing this wonderful image of Bryce Young having a very long day Saturday. If you don't mind having a photograph.

The size of this dude's arm. I have spent my time in commercial break. This is what I do. Chris, I'm not just a host of this program.

Do you sing around on the phone? Or, you know, the executive producer of this show. Or, wait a minute, the president and CEO of Rich Eisen Productions. Or the host of NFL Network.

You forget any of that? I'm a lead pipe wielding professional. It's 1104. You want to know who's tree trunks are these eyes. Look at the size of this guy. That's what I said yesterday. That guy's massive. He is perfectly form tackling Bryce Young. Right.

And so Bryce Young is, it's like his mini me shadow. He's just, look at the size of that dude. Now, here's the deal.

Here's the deal. This is not a sack because there's no photograph. I mean, there's no football, right? This is what's called a quarterback hit. Yeah, because I tried to look up to see who had the sack. There were eight of those.

There were eight of those in the box score. Now, one by one, you can go. Okay, Jermaine Johnson, last year's third first round draft choice. He's good. Okay. Jermaine Johnson wears 11. Okay. So I do believe we have found who it is.

Will McDonald, this year's first round draft choice. He, his number starts with not a nine, not a nine. It starts. Oh, wait a minute.

It does. That could be him. He's got 99 and another. Oh. The guy with a quarterback hit whose name number starts with nine is Solomon Thomas.

Oh, oh, you know what, man? So there are multiple jets with arms like that. I didn't know this in hard knocks. I was like, Solomon Thomas looks jacked, so that might be him. By the way, a first round pick of the 49ers. The Jets have first round picks everywhere.

Hard knocks tonight, 10 Eastern time. There is no doubt. Quite a bit of a fire drill going on inside an edit bay in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. There's already a clip going around of like a mentalist or a magician visiting the team. Is that the same one that visited the Seahawks a couple of years ago?

It's possible. That guy's amazing. Aaron Rodgers is playing with a deck of cards.

That's amazing. Look forward to that tonight. That'll be fun.

Okay. If you remembered on Hard Knocks last week, we did not see Dalvin Cook at all. And if you remember, I asked Ken Rogers, who is the executive producer of Hard Knocks, are we going to see Dalvin Cook? And he kind of said, we'll see.

We didn't. I think the Jets wanted no part of Dalvin Cook being seen in episode one until he signed. I bet you we're going to see Dalvin Cook tonight. And not him arriving, because I mean, I don't know, he's probably in the building today, one would think. Fresh.

Hard Knocks, baby. Tonight at 10 Eastern Time. Can't wait. I'm a man of my word. I have a new top five list. Top five players with the biggest chip on their shoulder in 2023.

Let's go. Everybody's got a chip on their shoulder. Like, for instance, we have one here on the show.

We're very proud of what we do here. Obviously. And so let's just say somebody who's been with the show since day one.

After the commercial break, after we say goodbye to Justin Jefferson in our first Zoom said, he felt like he was actually working the faders on a real show. I said back. Way to out yourself, Mike. I got a chip on my shoulder. I like the remote.

So I understand about shoulder chips and the sizes of said chips on shoulders. Barbecue or sour cream and onion? Number five on this list. Everybody saw what he did last year. And for that, what does he get? Everybody wondered if the team should hold on to him and trade him instead for the first overall pick. Some kid out of Alabama. Justin Fields is a huge ass chip on his shoulder.

Nice. Everybody saw what he did last year. With hardly anybody he's playing with getting his ass beat behind that line.

The reason why he's out there right is because he could run away from the defenders as opposed to another sitting duck back there. And after all of that, everyone's wondering, maybe the Bears should just get rid of him and start fresh with Bryce Young or C.J. Stroud, who he actually showed the ropes to in Columbus. I think Justin Fields has got one of the biggest chips on his shoulder during the season. He's number five on this list.

Number four on this list. You know, a lot of folks were questioning why he went where he went. Because aren't you supposed to ring chase when you are a free agent? Aren't you supposed to do that when you're towards the end of your career? But everybody thinks he's at the end of his career right now.

Shot! How much did you hear about this guy maybe not being as good anymore? While he was on his free agency tour because the team just said, you're out. I think DeAndre Hopkins is a pretty huge chip on his shoulder this year. Interesting. To show, you know what, I am one of the best receivers in this game. I'm no longer on that top 10 list. I'm seeing Tyreek Hill there, seeing Justin Jefferson, everybody talking about Davante Adams. Who's talking about DeAndre Hopkins as one of the best receivers in the league anymore?

Nobody's talking about the Titans at all about anything. Bingo. So the team has got a bunch of chips on their shoulder and nobody bigger than this guy's.

Number three. He's a flag planter. He's a guy who's out of options. You can't quit this game.

Oh, I can't. Baker Mayfield wakes up dangerous with a huge ass chip on his shoulder. And nobody thinks he can do it anymore. And he's going to Tampa, Florida, with one of the best wide receiver tandems in the NFL. This just in. Mike Evans is walking through that door. Chris Godwin is walking through that door. If the Baker Mayfield that plants flags in the middle of Columbus, Ohio, and refuses to shake hands in the middle of Cleveland, Ohio, with a coach that he thought didn't believe in him. I need that Baker Mayfield to show up in Tampa, Florida, every single day.

And I think it will. Baker Mayfield's number three on this list. Number two on this list. You want to talk about quarterback sent packing? This team made his wife cry on Christmas.

The Raiders made Derek Carr's wife cry on Christmas. And then gave away his number. And gave his number to Aidan O'Connell of Purdue. A walk on at Purdue. Derek Carr's number four is being worn by somebody else right away in Vegas. He was the one who was showing up to the Pro Bowl skills challenge in Vegas with a chip on his shoulder.

How's it going to be in New Orleans this fall? Derek Carr's number two on this list. So who could possibly be number one on this list? The number one players, plural, with the biggest chips, plural, on their shoulders in 2023, is every running back in the National Football League. Name one. They've got the biggest chip on their shoulder.

They are zooming, they're texting, and they are pissed. All of them. You won't pay me? You think I'm undervalued now?

Wait till you see what I'm going to show you how you value us. Every single one of them. Eckler, Saquon, Dalvin, Zeke.

Name it. McCaffrey is pissed. Eric Henry is pissed. Josh Jacobs, you've got to sign your tender, brother.

Come on now. Or hold out, what, one more week because now you know that Dalvin is signed and Zeke is signed and the Raiders aren't going to pull the tender on you to start Kareem Hunt or Leonard Fournette with all due respect to those guys. These guys, when they get on the field this year, are going to run with light pockets. Miles Sanders, keep naming it.

Every running back in the NFL is out to show everybody in a front office what they're worth and how valuable they are. That's my top five. All right, we'll get one more.

All right. I'm naming him because he always has a chip on his shoulder. And you know he is going to supersize it just because that's his way of going about his business. I'm putting Jalen Hurts on this list.

This guy. He played in the Super Bowl last year. I know what you're saying, but that's him. And that's what makes him great.

That's what got him to the Super Bowl last year. You know he is sitting there every day steaming about something. I'm sure he's happy.

Looks at his bank account, make you happy. I'm sure he looks out at his team and they look back at him, happy. We just hung up in hour number two with the player that's just one spot above him on the top players in the NFL list. Justin Jefferson too. Jalen Hurts was three. Jalen Hurts was above Burrow and Allen on this list. He's got the respect of his peers as well. But that is not good enough for Jalen Hurts. And he is going to show everybody last year was not the exception.

It is the rule. That's why he's on my list as a little extra. Well, something on top. Top five players with the biggest chip on their shoulder in 2023. Did I miss anybody? What did I miss?

I thought you'd have like Rogers on there or something. No, I don't think he's got a chip on his shoulder. What's the chip on his shoulder?

What's the chip on his shoulder? He stunk last year. He didn't stink last year. He's supposed to be this great quarterback and he's only made one Super Bowl like 12 years ago. So that's just because you like mentioning that and trolling him. Pointing out facts.

I understand that's a fact. But do you look at him and say that's a guy with a chip on his shoulder? I would think they would. I don't think he cares about what you say or what I say. I think he would have one. Anymore.

I mean, you know, he does hear the criticism and I know he does, you know, have a certain sensitivity to it. But I don't think he's got a chip on his shoulder. I don't, again, that's the difference between him and Favre.

Favre was livid with the Packers and was going to show them and live his entire life to get back at Green Bay and wound up using the Jets as a transfer portal to Minnesota. Rogers is not. Rogers would like to win. I think he does have the legacy in mind. I think he would love to finish up like Brady, you know, by winning a Super Bowl in his first year with his new team and that will show Green Bay. I think he's got that, but I don't think he's got more of a chip. I mean, Justin Fields, he heard what he heard.

January and February. It's not like the Bears did anything. What about Geno Smith? Prove it's not a fluke? That could be a good one. Mac Jones. You got one over there, TJ? Dak? Does Dak have a chip? You know, the thing is, I didn't even want to say it because then it's just like he's always talking about the Cowboys. But yeah, I think he probably does. He wants to show that that 15 interceptions last year was the exception and not the rule and I feel like he's probably ready to, you know, change the narrative.

At least I hope so. Daniel Jones. Prove he's a 40 million dollar guy. Ooh, that's a good one. Does that guy... I don't even think he would care though. Yeah, does that guy have a pulse?

Great. That's a really fun face of your franchise. No, Eli didn't have a pulse either. A guy with no pulse.

Eli didn't have a pulse either. This is a net personality. I mean, I don't think Daniel Jones is like going to show up to work and I'll prove everybody.

I think he just has got this will to win. I got it. I got it. I got it.

You got it. Everyone in the NFL has a chip on their shoulder. Every single one. Everybody does. The question is, who's got the biggest ones?

And these are the ones I came up with. Darren Waller. And I'll tell you what, folks. I thought of him, but when it comes down to pressure quarterbacks... Now you're speaking my language. I'll come up with one and you know who I'm going to put at the top. Aaron Rodgers. Nope.

That guy's the most pressure of anyone in the league this year. Maybe I'll do that one tomorrow. You want me to do that one tomorrow? I'll do my list and you do your list and we'll see how they're different. Okay.

I'm sure. Tooling lists. Okay.

List plus. Better or different? I said different. I'll say better. Mine's better? Mine will be better.

Oh. Yours will be... I've got a chip on my shoulder about top five lists. If you're going to come at me competitively... Yours will be nice.

Mine will be real. I'll judge it. You just made the list. Let's take a break. CJ Okoye is... Let's just be positive.

This guy is his first experience in the NFL and you just want to be all negative. Wow. Nice. Hey everybody, with the busy fall season just around the corner, you might be just like me. Looking for wholesome, convenient meals for jam-packed days. Factor, America's number one ready-to-eat meal kit can help you fuel up fast with chef-prepared, dietician-approved, ready-to-eat meals delivered straight to your door. You'll save time, eat well, and stay on track with your lifestyle. Refresh your healthy habits right now without missing a beat. Choose from 34 or more weekly flavored, packed, dietician-approved meals ready to eat in two minutes.

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Our terrestrial radio audience as well as Sirius and XM and Odyssey will rejoin us shortly. I just did a top five list on the biggest chips on the shoulders of players in the NFL this year and yesterday I did my top five standout performances of preseason week one and my good measure entry was CJ Okoye who's about to join us on our radio side of things in a second and what a story and the fact is I believe did is this Brandon Staley saying they would have accepted a 15 yard penalty if his sack dance was deemed inappropriate for his first sack in his first ever game of his life. Here's the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers. Our guys said that if he was going to get a sack they were going to get a 15 yarder so we were prepared to take one there but I think you just saw that sideline and that's what the NFL is about. There's great stories like that and game ball for CJ and you know it's going to be a memorable moment for our whole team. I think what he's referring to wasn't a sack dance it was the players went nuts on the sideline. A celebration, yeah.

And of course a coach wants to see that it's about team, it's about teammates, it's about camaraderie, it's about rooting for your teammate and wanting the best for your teammate. You guys hadn't even heard of that story right? I did not.

I wasn't watching that game or anything. Mitchell, our digital coordinating producer alerted me to it because I was running around doing a bunch of stuff on Saturday night and I heard about this and I read about it and I'm like oh my goodness. So, let's get to it right here on the Rich Eisen Show 12 to 3 every single day live on this channel and we'll re-air as soon as it's over if you miss the first couple hours of our daily show. 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 has the right product for you.

Call clickgrainger.com or just stop by. I could not get enough of hearing about CJ Okoye and his story and I can't wait to bring it to you right here on the Rich Eisen Show from the Los Angeles Chargers. CJ Okoye, how are you sir? I'm good, how are you doing? I'm great.

I can't wait to hear your story straight from your mouth. Let's get started. You are from Nigeria, correct? Where in Nigeria are you from? Yes, where? Where are you from? So, I'm from Macaulay.

Macaulay Bay State. Okay. Yeah.

Okay. And how did you first come across national football, American football, CJ? I would say O.C. Burley to us, O.C. Menorah.

He played for the, he played for New York. Oh yes. So, you heard about it through O.C.? Is that what you're saying?

Not really. He did camp, but I heard it from A.G. Burley, he's a Nigerian, ex NBA player, so he told me about the game and yeah, I've been watching some movies on YouTube about football, you know, just some, some. Okay, so you were, how old were you when you first came across football and saw it and became interested by it then? So, so this, this is like, when I was young, like when I was like 15, 16, we watch movies, we see like football players in movies, you know, like, but when I started becoming interested in football was when I was like 20. Okay, so what movies did you see? What movies interested you? What football movies?

Like, like what? Um, because I was like, I was, I was just, I was a bully, you know, I play basketball, so I was a bully in the paint. Okay. Someone told me about football and I didn't know, I didn't know that we have that in Nigeria, you know? Sure.

I just thought like, it's only in America, so I didn't know about football, like I wasn't aware, but when he told me, he was like, yeah, you should come try out. Because you were a bully in the paint? Yeah.

For basketball? Yeah. What do you mean? What do you mean you were a bully? CJ?

What do you mean? So, so I, I am, I'm aggressive when it comes to rebounding, you know? I use my size to like, like do, do something in the paint. Okay. So it was like, yeah, you can use your size to make money and you can use your size to like feed your family, not just play basketball, you can come play football. I was interested, I didn't know we have football because it's called American football, you know? Yes.

So yeah, I thought you only do it when you're an American. How tall, what's your, what's your, what's your height and weight again, CJ? What is it? Um, some three, some 340. Okay. Yeah.

That's a bully in the paint. Okay. Wow. So that's a football pass rusher size, I should say, for sure. So then you tried out, you started, when was this, what was your first tryout for football like?

Um, it wasn't that good because I didn't even know what I was doing. I just know that I'm, I'm an athlete, you know? Yes.

I would do whatever they say I should do, like I would try to do it with the best of my abilities, you know? So I made, I made a cut. Then we went to like NFA, Africa. Right. And yeah, I made a cut again. Okay. And so this was three years ago? Is that how long ago was when you first started? No, this was last year.

Last year. Okay. So you, you were doing your first workouts last year, CJ? Yes.

Yes. I did my, everything. I did my football last year, last yesterday playing football.

Last year is when you started playing football. Yeah. And how did you get to the United States to start doing it?

Walk me through that. The NFL international program. Is that how you worked it? Yeah. So we did, so we did, um, so we did the first program we did was NFA Africa. By this time last year I was, I was just coming back from NFA Africa.

Yeah. Where I barely made, where I made the cut, then I was preparing for the international combine in London, which was in October, like next month, like next two months, I guess. So, um, after the international combine, I made the cut, then I came to the state for the international partner program, January. So I started training as a football player in January.

Of this year, January of this year, 2023. Yes. Yes. What? Wow.

Oh my God. And so how'd you wind up on the chargers CJ? So the international partner program, like they'll get some guys from international, like all over the world and they'll come bring them, you know, I had my first party practice this year, um, January this year I had my first party practice, like put on helmet and we got, you know, all the jersey and stuff. Yeah.

I first got in my stance this year. So after everything, after the training, you guys do like a combine, then there'll be teams like select people from jail, you know? Yeah. Yeah. So I just guess I caught the eyes of the charges. So they selected me, you know, and you signed a contract to come to training camp. And so again, cause I heard about this story, I read about it and obviously CJ Okoye of the Los Angeles chargers here on the Rich Eisen show that, so if, if you started just getting on a practice field in Nigeria and NFL Africa through the NFL international program last year, and then put on pads and practice and pads for the first time this year in January, and then this is your first training camp, obviously this summer.

So it truly was on Saturday night and SoFi stadium, your first organized football game where you padded up and helmeted up and played a actual organized game of your life. Yep. Yes, sir.

That's right. You can't see me, my jaw's on the table here, CJ. Okay. So, so it, and so walk me through how, what it'd feel like for you to get on a field and, and, and put your hand in the SoFi stadium turf, CJ.

For me, it's like a dream come true. You know, I was like, for me, I've walked up woman through my head, like a thousand times, you know, like, don't get me wrong. I've been in crowds, you know, I've been in crowds, I've been in small crowds, but I haven't been that much crowd. I started back then, you know, so I don't, I didn't even know most of the calls. I didn't even know, like, I didn't even know that we switched after every quarter, you know, like we switched, we switched feet, like place of attack and defense, you know what I mean? Sure.

Yeah. I didn't even know that. I didn't even know, like, I didn't know most of the calls, you know, so, but I just knew one thing, not just when it's like play football, you know, so, and I went, I did my, I did my part and let God do his part. I can't believe this.

This is one of the most amazing stories I've ever heard. Okay. So walk me through, just if you don't mind, explain to me, from your, from your point of view, when you came up with the sack of Stetson Bennett on Saturday night, CJ. So, so for me, I just want, I just wanted to do something, you know?

Sure. I didn't know, believe me when I tell you, I didn't even know that was a sack. I didn't know, like, I thought he was out of the pocket, so I thought that was a tackle or something.

Right. But when I did it, I was like, yeah, I already, I already got him down. I was like, okay, it's a tackle for loss or something. Then a teammate of mine just walked up to me and said, yo, you just got a sack. I was like, what? He said it again. You just got a sack.

Then, you know, I just went crazy. I did my dance. Your dance? Okay. So now I heard that your teammates told you the night before that you need a dance if you get a sack.

Is that true? Not a night before we started speaking this about OTA. Okay. You know?

Sure. The OTA was like, look, look, you need to give us a sack dance. What's a sack dance? Then I came up and I did that dance. And the night before the game, they were like, yo, you remember your sack dance? If you get a sack, you better do the dance. So I just immediately, he told me, my teammate told me like, yo, you just got a sack. I just looked straight to the sideline and I saw, like, I saw my defensive room, like everybody in my defensive room going crazy. And I just remember, like, I need to do my dance right now.

I was like, look, that was like a dream come true. You know? Yeah. Like, it's important. Like, I thought it was impossible, you know, like, God, I've never played football.

Yeah. So, what's your dance? Walk me through your process. Well, how'd you come up? What's the dance called? How'd you come up with it?

What is it? So that was, so when I was little, when I was little, I have this dance, you know, so she used to dance. She used to dance. I just pick up that dance from her, you know? Like, I don't know how to do it, but she always make my family laugh whenever I do the dance, you know? So, I just, you know, and I see everybody in my high team as family. So, I just thought, okay, if my family love this, yeah, you're my family too.

You might love this too, you know? Uh-huh. Sure.

Okay. So, she, my aunt would be like, yo, you need to dance. Like, come up and dance. And she would sing, and I would do the same dance since I was a kid.

And they used to laugh at you today. So, I just feel like, yeah, I should do the same dance whenever I do the dance or something. So, now you did it. Does it have a name? Does the dance have a name? Yeah.

What is it? No, it doesn't. You probably name me, yeah.

That's what I would do. I find a name for it. Yeah.

We're good at this. Let's go. R.E.S. Consulting.

Rich Eisen Show Consulting. What do we got here? What, the Okoye?

I mean, I don't know what it is. Do the CJ? Is it the CJ? Do I call it the CJ Special or the Okoye Special? I don't know.

Yes, the CJ Special. We should call it Okoye. That's it. That's it. That's it. That's it, yeah. The Okoye. There it is. Oh, no, the Okoye. The Okoye. That's what it is.

I think I like that. Ok. CJ, had you never heard of Christian Okoye before? Yeah, I did, The Nigerian Nightmare. Yes. I did when I got into the sport fully. But not before you started the play. No, I didn't know him before I started playing.

Oh, wow. He was a big deal. He was The Nigerian Nightmare. That was his name. He still is a big deal.

I mean, you just walk around Kansas City with him. I saw him at the draft. So, ok, so, and I saw the moment in the locker room too when you got the game ball.

What was that like for you, CJ? You know, I have never thought I would lie. I've gotten like so many things in my life.

I've never thought I would ever get a game ball. I didn't even know, like most people know my name, you know. I was like. So, I didn't want to cry.

I won't lie. I didn't want to cry. Because crying, I don't know, makes you look weird.

No, I'm with you. Because I really wanted to cry because that moment was like a dream come true. Like everything you ever hoped for in this life puts one, you know.

Like getting a sack and getting a game ball. Look, you didn't know how happy this made me feel. It even made people that brought me here feel very happy. You know, the IPP was going crazy, you know. And what was it like calling your family? When did you call them and tell them? I called them the next morning, you know, because, you know.

The two of us. It was like eight hours. So, they didn't see the game. They didn't see the game. So, I kind of called them and told them, look, look at what happened. I got a shot and we laughed. I explained to them how amazing it was.

I showed them a video of me and they laughed too, you know. It was a moment. I love it. So, last couple things for you, CJ Okoye of the L.A. Chargers. The team has a spot on the practice squad for any player they pick up internationally. Is that your goal?

Or do you have a 53-man roster? What do you have in mind here? What is your goal, CJ, from here? So, my goal this year is to learn as much as I can, you know. Just getting a sack is one of them, you know. Like, I didn't even know I would ever have a sack.

But, for me, I've come a long way to, like, quit right now. So, for me, I just want to learn as much football as I can. If I use this year to learn, if the team is ready to, like, play in the 53, that would be an honor, you know. But, I just want to learn because they have the best to learn from. Like, Bernal Stanley is, like, one of the best coaches in the league, you know. EA, Jay Rogers, like, my D-line group is, like, one of the best right now.

So, I just want to learn anything that can, like, teach me and stuff. I just want to be the best football player I can ever be, you know. Well, I mean, Bosa, right? There's Joey. I mean, Khalil Mack, you've got some real, you know, major pro bowlers that are right there in your room to learn from.

That is amazing. And, last one for you is, what do you think the future CJ Accoy is when they see this on YouTube, where you're from? What do you think they might think based on what you're doing right now, CJ? Can you say that again, please?

What do you think, kids, the next CJ Accoy is maybe back in Nigeria who will see your sack on Saturday night on YouTube in the same way that you started watching American football potentially? For me, I just hope when they see it, they know that, like, anything is possible, you know. The only one limiting ourselves is, like, ourselves.

We don't know what we're comfortable with, you know. So I just hope and I think and I pray that anybody that sees whatever I did, to know that they got more in them, never limit themselves, you know. CJ Accoy, you've got new fans here on the Rich Eisen Show. Honestly, I'm so happy that I got a chance to speak with you and hear from you what's gone on in your life, and I'm so happy for you.

And everybody at the NFL International Program, they must be thrilled to see what you're doing and how you're going about it. So thanks for the time. Thank you very much. Oh, thank you.

Thank you. That's CJ Accoy of the Los Angeles Chargers. And it's okay to cry. It is okay to cry. There is crying in football.

I mean, Dick Vermeil has a bust in the Hall of Fame and a box of Kleenex, crying out loud. Wow, that was cool. That's incredible. But the question you asked them was really on the head there, Rich, because there is a kid who's 12 or 13 who's going to see that video, and that's going to change the trajectory of their life because they're going to be like, oh, I can do that. And now you're going to hopefully see more kids who follow suit. Hopefully. That's the idea. Somebody goes to a tryout in Nigeria and then a couple of years later, months later, they're in SoFi Stadium. By the way, how about a nice how about that is a spot to play your first organized football game.

SoFi Stadium. The nicest with the oculus above you. I mean, it was latest, you know, it's out of body for me to walk in there.

It's like walking in a VR goggles when you walk in there. Could you imagine you're playing your first game and he's saying, you know, the uprights were like new for him. He didn't know they changed sides.

Didn't know I thought it was a tackle for loss, not a sack. Oh, wait a minute. I got to do my dance.

Think about it. He said that was a dance he used to do as a kid for his family. So imagine that they're laughing at this kid his whole life, like he's making them laugh and then he gets to do that.

No, no, no. By the way, Stetson Bennett. Somebody had to explain to him what Stetson had done in that building back in January when he first put on pads. You know what Stetson did in this building back in the middle of January when you're first going putting pads on? That's wild. Come on. Love stories like that.

That's why we watch sports. Thanks to the Chargers for making that happen. 844-204-rich number to dial. We will set up the rest of the week right here on our program. Don't go anywhere. That was awesome.

There was a lot of great players on those teams that I was fortunate to be part of. Search BLEAV podcasts wherever you listen. Anthony Anderson, he's over there with TJ right now. He told a story. We're back live on the air, by the way. Put the photograph up. Yeah, we're back. Put the photograph up.

Anthony, is he still wearing his mic? Okay, just real quick. Tell the story.

Can you tell the story real fast? Yeah, we're in Monaco at the International Television Festival. And Prince Albert is, I'm friendly with Prince Albert. So when you're at the castle, when you're at the palace, you're not allowed to take pictures. And so we're taking pictures and they're like, they come stop me.

And I was like, no, Prince Albert said we can take, I can take pictures and they shrink away. And so I go to every black person there. And you saw the group.

I was 50 Cent, myself, TJ. So I was like, hey, guys, we're going to take a black picture at the palace. And they were like, what?

I said, we're going to take a black picture at the palace. And they're like, OK. And they're like, when? I was like, you'll know when. So ten, five or ten minutes later, people in various conversations. I was like, OK, it's time to take the picture. So I just give the call.

And people are mid-conversations in it. Oh, I'll be right back. I got to go take a picture. We all gather around the steps in the back.

I think I was in the middle of getting someone's phone number, too. Yeah, so we're in the middle and we just we go in the back and, you know, we take a picture. Jesse Smollett, 50 Cent, myself, my wife, TJ. TJ Jefferson. Now the Rich Eyes and show.

From Monaco to El Segundo. Happy 53rd birthday to Anthony Anderson. And it was on that day when I first realized TJ Jefferson knows everybody and has been everywhere.

It's on that day, November 15th, 2018. And now I stay ATC at the crib. That's why you should get out more. So I'm saying. You're pretty special. You know, back here on our radio show.

So do me a favor. Can you just scour the Internet, Tubes or social media to see if James Harden is going around the entire continent of Asia, calling down Maury a liar, or is it just China? I saw him dancing today in China.

What's going on? He's dancing to prove that Darryl Maury is a liar for saying he can't dance. You think he's doing the Okoye?

I don't know. He's going he's going on. He's going on a tour.

I'm saying is he doing the Okoye dance? Doc Rivers is joining the booth, I think, with Breen and Doris Burke. I'm very excited about that. They'll do respect to Van Gundy and Mark Jackson.

I love Doris Burke. And I think Doc is a great announcer. But what happens to the other guys? Isn't Van Gundy going back to coaching or no? I don't know. What happens when they're coaching a series, they're broadcasting a series that's three to one?

How is Doc going to blow it then? What is the matter with you? Do you enjoy playing this role? Is that what it is?

What's the matter with you? I'm just saying what I was thinking. He does. No, you're thinking it. I was not thinking that at all.

You're the one thinking it. Meanwhile, when was the last time the Celtics won a championship? You should show that man more respect than you just did.

Exactly. He gave you one. When was the last time the Knicks won a championship? Well, it's been forever. I don't know what's going on with you.

What do you mean? And then if we get him in here in studio, you'll be like, oh, great, great year, Doc. That was awesome what you did for me in the Celtics.

That was awesome 15 years ago. Ok, great. Alright, I'll stop talking.

You don't have to stop talking. Well, I mean, you're making it awkward. OK, you're the one who brought up that he's like, if he's going to be, maybe, maybe he will say, you know, I had a lot of problems doing this. It's not easy. I've been through this before. Many guys make fun of themselves all the time. He strikes me as one of those guys who will do it. By the way, if anyone should be angry about that, it shouldn't be him to be you.

I had to live through it twice. So it should be me if anyone was going to be angry. You're just making the joke. Maybe we'll just give him a hug because that's what happens in Philadelphia these days. I can feel it. I can feel it.

And then later they break up. I'm a Spurs fan now anyway, so what do you like? So you're officially on the Spurs now? Nah, I'm joking. I'm joking. What does that mean? What?

Why are you joking? Just do it. Do it, TJ. Because, man, I'm just too loyal. That's the problem.

My loyalty would be my downfall. More likely, Damian Lillard off the Blazers. Damian Lillard's a Heat. Heat. Hardens his... Clippers. To start the season. TJ to Spurs. TJ to Spurs.

You shouldn't even put it up as a question because it's not going to happen. What's more likely? Oh boy, here we go.

There it is. By the way, you're already on the Spurs because we put the banner on you. Well, like I said, my godbrother wants to play for the Spurs, so there's a family connection there.

What's more likely? The season starts. Damian Lillard on the Heat. Harden on the Clippers. TJ rooting for the Spurs.

I already hear these mouse breathers on YouTube talking trash. You've got 13 teams. Shut up.

You do. What is the poll question results that we currently have right now? Shut up, Mike. Shut up, Mike.

What was the poll question again? My receiver most likely to get 2,000 yards this season. I'm going to go with... Justin Jefferson. Or Tyreke Hill.

Or the Cheetah. I'm going to go with Justin Jefferson. You want to put a margin on that? What does that mean? I'm just saying, he's winning. I didn't know if you wanted to guess the percentage.

Oh. 60-40? Pretty high, actually.

71-29. Wow. Justin Jefferson. And that's not because I think Tyreke Hill can't do it.

He's the one who's talking the most about it. There's two factors that Tyreke Hill has to deal with that Jefferson doesn't have. We'll see if Jordan Addison can provide... I think he will, Rich.

What... I think he will. That's about to say, a percentage of what Jalen Waddle... It's not like Tyreke's alone here.

Han Solo here. He's got a significant... I mean, they both could get... 1,500 apiece. Yeah. He's got to stay healthy, though, man. If... Bingo.

Yeah, to a man. Oh, wait a minute. Hold on a minute. Maybe I need to rethink this, because the back... You know the backup in Miami's? Who is their backup? It's Mike White. Oh, that's right.

We just said that earlier. The no drop-off. No drop... There might be even...

It's Chris. It might even be that much better. Drop-off. You know what I mean?

It might actually be a little bit better. Come on. Mike White, man.

I mean, I'm hot today. Mike White could have led you to the Super Bowl had you just left him in... Who's the Vikings' backup? Because Kellen Mond is... Um, I just saw it the other day.

He started the preseason game, obviously. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I should know this off the top of my head. I mean, should you?

I should, yes, of course. In preseason, yeah. No, it's Nick Mullins. Oh, yeah.

Oh, that's right. It's Big Nick Mullins. That Big Nick energy. Big Nick Mullins. Big Nick energy. Big Nick energy.

Who I'm friends with on LinkedIn for some reason. What? What? Yes.

Oh, my God. You didn't get banned from... I've learned three things about TJ. One, unbanned from Twitter. Two, he's on LinkedIn and somehow friends... But Nick Mullins is on LinkedIn?

What the hell is he on LinkedIn for? Remember a few years ago, Nick Mullins... Backup quarterback. He called it the show, right? Remember when he called...

He's LinkedIn with Mike White. The running backs, Zoom. And the backup quarterbacks... Going back to Lincoln? Lincoln.

Lincoln. So he called it a show where he won a game as a backup. A years ago. And then later that week, I got that...

I don't know. I don't even know how LinkedIn works. But it was just like, there's Nick Mullins and we're now LinkedIn again. And the third thing I didn't know, just to bring it all full circle, you started the show and we mentioned how CJ Okoye is on it and he came up with a sack in his first organized football game of his life. You tripled three times in your first little league game?

My first little league game in Altoona, yeah. Tripled? You know what happened in the fourth at-bat? No. Got plunked. Oh.

Were they real triples or little league triples? Yeah. Well, what is... Oh, you mean were they a couple of errors? Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, I put the ball in play, dog.

Yeah, I know. But did it go through someone's legs? Did they overthrow? Two of them went down the third baseline, I can vividly recall. I don't remember the third one. I don't think it was like a comedy of errors to get me on third. I think I...

So by the way... I got a triple. You were the Elie de la Cruz of Altoona?

Todos? We had wheels? You're tripling in the gap? I was a lot lighter.

Wheels Jefferson? I was lighter back... Remember, I was small. I was like 5'7 in 10th grade. You were wiling? We didn't know you were... Well, we knew you were small. By the way, we are...

I was 5'7 in 10th grade, bro, so I was a little smaller. This is a window. Yeah. And that should be a new drop, by the way.

I put the ball in play, dog. Oh. Okay.

That's a new drop. Okay. I am requesting that. I don't know when we're gonna use it. We might have to put it on a t-shirt. At home they call me Big Al, and I hit dangers. You weren't Big Al? You were a wiry? No, he was Wiry T.J. And he hits triples. And he hits triples. I hit three baggers.

Warning track power. And then I got hit. No, no, no, no. You put the ball in play, dog.

Yeah. Come on, son. Oh, God.

What is happening? Power at your boy. Oh, my God. Fantastic.

That's a new drop. That'll be on tomorrow's program with Kurt Warner. Power at your boy.

Kurt Warner and Quincy Isaiah in studio. Oh, no. Wow.

Thank you for joining us. For over three decades, nobody has had a wrestling career like Arn Anderson. Conrad Thompson gets all the stories with Arn. After watching AEW's Double or Nothing, Amy wants to know, what does dinosaur taste like? It ain't chicken. It's like biting into a scented charcoal briquette. Ah. But chewy. Oh, wow. That's disgusting. It sure is. Check out Arn every week, wherever you listen.