REShow: Louis Riddick - Hour 3

It's Zach Wilson's time again, isn't it? This is The Rich Eisen Show.

It's a red alert. Live from The Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles. Zach Wilson looking lost like my 10 year old trying to solve a problem put forth by Professor Oppenheimer.

That's the way it looks sometimes for him operating this offense. The Rich Eisen Show. Earlier on the show, NBC Sports Boston Patriots insider Tom Curran, pro football Hall of Famer, Warren Sapp coming up, ESPN NFL analyst Lewis Riddick. And now it's Rich Eisen. Our number three of The Rich Eisen Show is on the air. Good times already here on this program. In hour number one, we had a great chat with Tom Curran about the state of the 0 and 2 Patriots taking on the Jets this week in a huge AFC East tilt.

We also had a great chat with Warren Sapp about what's going on in the NFL and his time hanging out with the Colorado Buffaloes. If you missed any of that, and all of the conversations that we've had about Nick Chubb and what the Browns might be able to do or should do, we re-air right here on the Roku Channel, Channel 210. There's our YouTube feed as well, youtube.com slash Rich Eisen Show, The Rich Eisen Show collection page, which is part of our relationship with the Roku channel, which is free on all Roku devices.

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The Roku channel.com free as well. Susie Schuster and Amy Trask are hanging out in our green room right now, getting ready to tape the latest episode of the What the Football podcast. Ian Rappaport is their guest. As soon as that is done recording, it'll go up on your, where you get all podcasts to be acquired. Also on our YouTube page, youtube.com slash Rich Eisen Show, and they will ask Ian about what happened to Nick Chubb and what the Browns might do and what the Colts might do with Jonathan Taylor two weeks from now with the Browns. Be interested, Joe Burrows readiness. There is so much going on now that week two is in the books. That's What the Football with Susie and Amy later on today. Our overreaction Monday podcast, Chris Brockman and I did yesterday.

Please check that out as well, where all podcasts can be acquired. Joining us right now, fresh back from the booth in Carolina, Monday Night Football, great listen and watch with him and, and Orlovsky and our friend Chris Fowler and then fresh back with Mark Jones from the booth in Boulder to highly watched games over the weekend is our friend from the worldwide leader in sports Lewis Riddick back here on the program. Good to see you, Lewis. What's up, man?

How are you? Look, Lewis, you have been to many of football stadium in your life and your career and your many jobs. First time Lil Wayne's come out with a team, Lewis, first time. I haven't seen that before. Okay, that's new. It's new for me, new for me as well, you know, new for me as well.

What was it? What's what's it like to be in a production conversation meeting with Deion Sanders Lewis? It's actually it's very informative. It's Deion's I'm very comfortable talking to him, obviously, Rich, because I've been around him before as a teammate and someone who I've stayed in contact with and you know how he is. I mean, he was out there at NFL Network for all those years. He's he very much so wants to be taken very serious about what he's trying to get done out there, Colorado.

It's not there's there's no showmanship. There's no primetime Deion when he's in a production meeting. He's all about business. He's all about trying to inform you about why he's involved in coaching, how he's trying to positively impact kids, how he's trying to affect change in Colorado and Boulder, what he's done to build up what really is a darn good staff that has a lot of football intelligence, football experience, football intellect on it. What he has envisioned for the future as far as how he thinks he needs to improve this football team.

And he was very open and honest about all that. And he also wanted to talk about, you know, how he's trying to affect the future of prospective black head coaches in college football and how that's that's something that really means a lot to him. And he's hoping that the way in which he is now going about his business and how and the results that he's getting opens people's eyes up to maybe different ways of of perceiving people who don't necessarily fit into a certain box. Like in that everyone should not be, you know, forced to kind of conform to certain ideals in terms of how you express yourself and have that be something that really works against you as far as your overall competency and your ability to get the job done. Because Deion style, as we all know, is something we never seen before. And people are uncomfortable with that. A lot of people are uncomfortable with that. And he's hoping that people do get comfortable with it because in the end, there's two there's kind of like two there's two sides to him.

There's the showman side, the marketing side, the guy who is just as charismatic and whose star burns is as hot as the sun. And then there's the old school guy who holds these kids accountable in a very, very old school way that all of us are very accustomed to who grew up in our era and who played football at any level in our era. And I'm telling you, that is something that if you went and watched him conduct a meeting, watch them conduct practice and how he walks around that facility, you would see he is does not play any B.S.

around there and kids toe the line. And he is trying to coach them in that way and coach them that way, both on and off the field. And that's very, very important for him to make sure that that message gets out there and that it is crystal clear, because I think some people kind of look at him and look at how brash and how confident he is. And they get put off by that and they automatically go to the conclusion, well, he couldn't be a coach. He could never hold anybody accountable.

He could never run a tight ship and keep people wrong, wrong, wrong. He can and he is, you know, and and and I told him this when he was on the show Friday, Lewis. And again, because I know him, it is mystifying to me. He's in his fourth decade or fortieth year of being viewed as flashy and all about himself when that's a persona to basically market and how. And so the fact that people are still misconstruing him or looking at him as if he's unserious, I can't.

It just mystifies me. And you said that it makes people uncomfortable because aren't we looking for coaches in this day and age? When I say ask Andy Reid when he came on the program just before the beginning of the season, like how are you relating to this generation of player? You know, why?

Why? Why is that a legitimate question, which I think it is for Andy Reid and and some people who might agree with that ascribe Dion a sense of unseriousness when he's clearly completely in tune with this generation. Well, as you point out, as old school is ever. Why do you think and I'll ask you this, even though I kind of know the answer, why do you think it makes people uncomfortable, Lewis? Because because it does. And because people that's not the way.

They expect or want it to, quote unquote, look like because that's not what they're used to, because quite honestly, rich. Long after we're gone and my kids are in my position and their kids, kids are in their position. There will be these biases that exist towards certain people who do things a certain way that will be passed down, meaning these biases from generation to generation. And I don't think it'll ever go away in its total in totality. Now, will it lessen maybe as the generations continue to advance and kids become much more open minded to a way of doing things that maybe the people of our generation are not?

And I see that in the generation after us. I mean, I have kids who are who are, you know, past college age, who are about to be college age, who are about to be high school age, who look at things much differently, much differently, who are much more open minded to like they look at Dionne and they go, yeah, I like that. I would love to play for someone like that. I'd love to be around something like that. And while at the same time, as I say to them, too, and I say to anybody else who would be considering whether or not to send their send their kid to be coached by him.

But don't get it twisted now. It is not all fun and games and flash and dashing and jewelry and glasses and hoodies now. He will get in your rear end in a in a serious way in terms of holding you accountable, which is I think it's it's exactly what you're looking for. Rich, right?

You're looking for someone who understands, hey, be yourself, have fun, express yourself, market yourself. We're all in this world, whether it be when you get to college and beyond, we're all in this world to try and make a life for ourself and make a life for ourself as grandiose as possible, depending upon what your individual goals are. And Dionne has talked about that extensively going all the way back to his days in college, why he even came up, came up with the whole moniker of primetime. And it was for a purpose. And he does not try to keep anyone from doing that. As a matter of fact, he encourages people to do that. But he also understands the value of doing it the right way, treating people the right way, towing the line the right way, understanding what hard work means and how it will keep you on the straight and narrow and keep you continually reaching for higher and higher goals. And that's one of the reasons why, like when we asked him and he said this before, why he said he doesn't want to coach in the pros. People go, well, you seem like a natural fit to want to coach in the NFL, the biggest thing. He's like, no, no, no, not at all. Because you think I really want to be bothered with someone who's making all this money, but don't want to put in the work you think I'm going to put up with that?

Me? And he said, no, I can affect these kids in a positive way because they actually want to listen. So it's his way of going about it. It's not like everything else that you typically see amongst the most successful college coaches, both now and in the past. And they're just our old traditionalists for whatever.

Well, we know what some of the reasons are that we'll never accept his way of going about it and some that will. And there are some eyes that are being opened and people are going to be forced to reconsider, man. They just are.

I agree. And last one for you on this, and then we'll turn to the actual X's and O's in football on this subject. And then what you saw last night on Monday Night Football, Lewis Riddick here on The Rich Eisen Show. You were so eloquent on this subject matter, which is a testament to your ability as a broadcaster, Lewis, that you could do this in between snaps, for crying out loud, of a game. But were you surprised Jay Norvell went there with Dion knowing what we've just discussed? He has to know what we've just discussed or is he just winding his players up for a rivalry game, Lewis? You know, whether or not he was winding his players up or not, I said this, I believe during the broadcast and I've said it in private, too. You have to be aware of the impact of your words and how they may or may not be perceived if you do not provide the proper context. And that's kind of what it seems like he is insinuating that, hey, look, I was not in any way, you know, attacking Dion or his upbringing or his or, you know, his mother or anything about him from a character standpoint.

I was more or less just talking to my guys about how I like to do things and what I expect them to do when they're kind of conduct. And but you know what? That may be true. But the fact of the matter is. Dion is the biggest story in sports right now.

This was a rivalry game. Dion wears glasses. He wears a hat. You're conducting and he does his press conferences in that. And you're coming on and you're saying, I don't care how they perceive me in Boulder. They're going to be mad at me anyway. But I tell my kids, it's an easy, easy, easy connection to make the same. Well, what you're saying is he is whatever, whatever, whatever, in terms of how he was brought up. You have to be more aware than that. And you have to be aware of the fact that when African-Americans talk that way and insinuate those kind of things and kind of advance those kinds of stereotypical thoughts about people and you're doing it. About your someone, one of your own, so to speak.

What do you think that that's going to add fuel in a way that is of an infinite magnitude to the people who are already predisposed to having those kind of stereotypical thoughts about you and people like me in the first place. And then when you do that, like I said, that really disappointed me because you have to have more awareness than that, man. You have to be careful until you choose your words carefully.

And in this case, choose how you're going to motivate your team more intelligently. Don't don't go there with that and not provide context because you just open the door for a whole bunch of B.S. And you saw how it escalated. I mean, his team, Colorado, was hot right from the get go. And nationally, there were people who were pissed off about that. And rightfully so. And I was one of them. And then we saw the game as well. Louis Riddick here on the Rich Eisen Show.

X's and O's it for me then. You know, obviously, Travis Hunter out Oregon this week. USC after that. I mean, how far do you think Dion's team is going to go here? Obviously, they're going to be bowl eligible. I think we can already assume that right now, barring anything unforeseen, certainly with the way that Chador is playing. And all due respect to Shiloh, where he apparently isn't his father's children's ranking. You know, you know, like they they got some they have some players here. Louis, what are you seeing?

X's and O's here. Yeah, they are. I think they're built in a way that over the long haul, it's going to get them maybe exposed against better competition, meaning this they're kind of built outside in instead of inside out. The best players are on the perimeter, on the periphery and down the middle is where he'll honestly tell you is where they need more help. They need more fortification, meaning the offensive line, defensive line pass rushers.

And I think once you get to the heavyweights in terms of the competition, that's where he could run into some trouble. His team could run into some trouble where guys are built stronger, bigger, stronger, faster up front on both lines in particular, both lines of scrimmage. So I think that's where we'll see a test this week, obviously with Oregon. When you when you get to USC, it's going to be about which defense really is going to be about maybe which offense has the ball last.

Because they can both go up and down field, although missing Travis is going to be a big time thing. But I think he understands that, as he told us, quote unquote, he said, I'm about six or seven dogs away from actually really doing this thing the way I want to do it. And he said, look, I need about two or three more of its alignment.

I need a couple more pass rushers and they need me another corner. Heck, he may need another quarterback of his if his son leaves this year. So he understands where they're at. His expectation is always to be in it to compete to the very end. And his team is going to play that way. And he showed that. But I think he also knows we ain't quite there yet. And so, of course, they're going to be people who are sitting on the outside, rich, just waiting to tear them down when they lose. But I don't think he expects to win realistically every game, but he expects to compete every game.

Sure. And I think, you know, as long as Chidor is healthy and enough of the wide receiver core is healthy. And they have some good players in the secondary who, as you can see, can make plays on the ball. They'll be in it. Their competitive character on that football team is just too good for them not to be. I'm sure there are many people who thought, you know, halfway, three quarters of the way through that football game the other night, they were sitting there were people who had a story already written and were ready to push send about the death of Colorado football losing the Colorado State. And they came back and bam.

So there's going to still be people waiting. But I don't think he has any unrealistic expectations relative to where he thinks they still need to make this team stronger. But them, is it fun to watch them play? It's because of the speed they have, the style in which they do it, and the style that their coach brings to the table, man. It's unlike anything we've ever seen. The Rock said it's disruptive, that Dion is a disruptor.

And there's every person. How many people are watching college football now who had no interest in watching college football before at all? Louis, Louis, Louis, you were in the booth of a Monday Night Football game last night, week two.

Carolina putting their first overall pick and Heisman Trophy winner and Bryce Young out there against the Saints who improved to 2-0. And we're talking about Colorado versus Colorado State and not a single person will bat their eye at us spending 15 minutes chopping up that game first the way that we have. And that is the prime effect.

Also, I loved Mark Jones pointing out that the ultimate prime effect is offset being interviewed while offsetting penalties are happening. You know, like that happened in your broadcast. You know what I mean? Like, I'm loving this. I am here for it.

I'm here for all of it. You and me both. When we were down on the field, Rich, free game, Mark and I were standing there and Quentin Kesnick was there and there were some other people from ESPN around. And I was like, there is a football game going on, right?

We are going to play a game, right? Because there was like this electricity in the air. Like it was like, I can't quite understand it. Like you were like hanging out at a red carpet slash big time award show where you're going, Oh yeah, there's the rock.

Oh yeah, there's Master P. Oh, Lil Wayne's coming up. And everybody's just kind of looking around and there's phones and it's real crowded. And there's just like this, and the music, the music, they have the best sound system. I don't know if he asked them to improve the sound system. I'm sure he did. You naturally standing out there had to go like this. We're like, okay, okay. I'm sure he did.

I'm sure he did. He comes out. Yeah.

Right. So some of his players are out warming up and the team's starting to trickle out. And you just hear this groundswell of this. Oh, like this. And you know, somebody's coming. So people are looking around like, and then you just hear people going.

Rhymes coming, rhymes coming. And he comes out of the tunnel and he's just taking a lap around the field just to walk. But he's got five security guards.

There's cameras, there's this megaphone. And then all of a sudden he walks down. You know, when I talked to him for a quick second and then he kept moving and the student section is already jam packed. And he walks over there and these kids are like, it's like it's third and six with the game on the line.

That's how loud these kids were. And then you hear him just break out into this chant. Deion Sanders.

Deion Sanders. And it's just, it's nuts. I love it. And I had goosebumps. I have goosebumps telling you this story.

I love it. And imagine what it would be if 4-0 going in against USC. I've got Louis Riddick here. Before I let you go, obviously, let's let's talk about that Monday night game that you called. What did you learn eyeballing Saints Panthers in that booth on Monday night? Well, starting with the Panthers, everyone wants to know what the story is with Bryce. Bryce Young just needs help. They don't have wide receivers that can separate the offensive lines of work in progress. They're just not explosive enough on offense. And he's not ready to be the guy who can make up for what they don't have.

He's not ready for that yet because he's still trying to find his way. And Frank Reich and that tremendous coaching staff down there, they're trying to guide him through that. They played real good defense last night.

I can tell you this. Jiro Evaro, their defensive coordinator, who was with Denver last year. He's a rock star future head coach in the making. He can scheme it up and teach it against anybody.

And he kept them in the game as long as he could from a defensive standpoint. But the Saints, the Saints have what could potentially be a, when I say historic, that sounds a little hyperbolic. But look, DeMario Davis thinks that they could be a historic quality defense.

And I can see why. They have pass rushers. They have guys who can stop the run. He's a perennial All-Pro. Pete Warner is a burgeoning All-Pro. Marshawn Lattimore is already an All-Pro. Tyrone Matthews is like, you know, the brains behind the whole operation back there. They have ballers everywhere. And Derek Carr right now, as soon as he gets on the same page on a consistent basis with this wide receiver court.

Alvin Kamara comes back. They'll be able to hang points on anybody because they're explosive as hell. So that's a team that right now is finding its way and still racking up wins. They're going to be there in the end. They should win their division. First time in the playoffs.

Yeah, that's what I'm saying. So first time since the South has been established in the NFC that there's three 2-0 teams. If I'm not mistaken, are you are you calling Eagles and Bucks next week too, Lewis? Are you on that one? No, we have next week, we have the Rams at the Bengals. OK, so you're doing that one. Gotcha.

So, OK, so who do you who do you have? Do you think the Saints can win that division? Absolutely.

OK, I don't see why they shouldn't. Look, I mean, I love the Bucks. I love Todd Bowles. I mean, everyone knows that. But the Saints are the Saints are loaded, man.

They really are. Like I said, when Kamara gets back, you know, he is going to him along with Tony Jones, who wound up running the football last night. Pretty darn well late in the game. And Taysom Hill, who's who's a heck of a Swiss Army Knight. They've got pretty much everything you need to contend at the very highest level at the very highest level. So I'm really high on New Orleans for sure.

OK, well, I appreciate the time, man. What a life you're leading right now, Lewis. Just honestly, one one week, one week, he got Dion and Lil Wayne.

Next week, he got Pukin to Kua. You know, I mean, I mean, let's go to bed. Let's go. It's great. It's it's live events. You know how they are.

The live events. It doesn't get any better than that. Well, you're awesome, man. And I appreciate you coming on at short notice after a very busy weekend. Great stuff. Great job. Let's do this again more often, Lewis.

All right. You got it. That's Lewis Riddick of the worldwide leader in sports. What a great story about being on the field before Colorado, Colorado State.

You just feel the energy. How many schools do you think are kicking themselves that they didn't hire Dion? Oh, multiple, right? I also loved, loved, loved the way the Riddick broke down the reasons without saying the reasons why some people don't like Dion Sanders. Like he just became Dion Sanders two weeks ago. The dude created a character, I'm sure, in his bedroom as a teenager in the mid 80s that has playing itself out right now. And I know I'm being naive, TJ, but maybe the naivete is from. You know, hoping out of the best of others, number one, but number two, just knowing Dion myself and knowing him, it's just like how many people are just going to think he's all about himself because of the way he comes across, because of the flash, as you put it, and the sunglasses and the hats. It's just like, have we not learned yet?

Did you not learn? Did you think he did both baseball and football because it made him famous? Or did he do it because it was hard work that challenged him and he wanted to prove to people that he could do it? Do you think he did must be the money because he wanted to be famous or he knew that that would actually cash in on the hard work? And he knew that the hard work was necessary so he could do Saturday Night Live and Must Be the Money and all the commercials, honestly. So to me, it's just the oldest story in the book that keeps being repeated for Dion and on Dion.

And it mystifies me, but he just keeps on keeping on. Let's take a break because we're late to break. Great chat with Lewis Riddick. When we come back, my top five performers of week two presented by our special guest. You'll see you'll see our sponsor in a minute.

Top five performers of week two and your phone calls. Eight four four two oh four rich. Wait, are you gaming on a Chromebook? Yeah, it's got a high res one hundred twenty hertz display, plus this killer RGB keyboard. And I can access thousands of games anytime, anywhere. Stop playing. What? Get out of here. Huh? Yeah, I want you to stop playing and get out of here so I can game on that Chromebook. Got it.

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Marvel Studios Loki season two new episode streaming October 5th only on Disney Plus. Your dad, Steve Jordan, played 13 years for the Minnesota Vikings. What's your first football memory? It's not a good memory. I mean, it was like being it had been like an away game because we were out in the cold. It was a lot of whining going on, probably from our way to our to our godfather about getting hot dogs or something silly. And then, of course, after the game, we had gone to the car and the car like locks had frozen. So we were sort of stuck outside of what would be like Green Bay. Could it have been? That's what I'm saying. It had been it had been somewhere else.

So you probably call it, you know, it had been a frozen tundra. OK, so when did you see when you were growing up, like I want to I want to play football like my dad. Did you see that? No, no. I grew up trying to play basketball like Allen Iverson.

Like everybody else growing up. Right. And then there's something about these these wide shoulders. And there's nothing Iverson about it at all.

There was nothing Plinkgardish about this. And, you know, my dad, my dad jokes about it now, but he was that he was that dad. He's like, I hate to be that that father just to make you play football.

And then as he dropped me off and, you know, in my mind, he drove off and never looked back. As I sat there with these shoulder pads, you know, he was clearly right. Right. And so did you try to be a tight end like your dad? Of course not. Of course not.

I try to fight him on every level. You know, I was like, I don't want to play offense at all. I tried, you know, probably playing linebacker.

That was not my wave. I ended up being off as a tackle. And then I made myself a defensive end once I got to like my junior year in high school.

OK, because the story that I heard is that your dad asked you if you wanted to play tight end. And your response as a child was one was was no, thank you, sir. Yeah, something like, Father, I love you. I love you dearly. I have to decline this notion. No.

You said, why would I want to have people to hit me when I can be the one delivering the head? That would make perfect sense. That would make perfect sense. YouTube dot com slash Rich Eisen Show for all of our interviews back here on our show on the Roku channel. I'm on the Rich Eisen Show radio network, don't you know, sitting at the Rich Eisen Show desk furnished by Grange with supplies and solutions for every industry. Granger has the right product for you.

Call click Granger dot com or just stop by. I need to see. Hold on. Let me pop this one out, because it's a very different name. Who's on line one right now?

I've got my blade. OK, blazing Caucasian in Baltimore. Is that for real? Adam told me about that.

Is that for real? You're a big fan here. OK, what's going on? I just want to touch on my Ravens for a minute. We have a depleted offensive line. And and this past week, Lamar.

Well, I call him Mr. Jackson because he nasty. He saw the least pressure since he's since he's been a pro. Nobody really talks about the lineman a whole lot. We had a whole bunch of guys out. The last few years, I feel like I've been in the bizarro world with the Bengals being great.

You know, Burroughs, a good guy, people monster. But I remember us having the real Joe Cool that's got the ring in the MVP. Flacco. OK, OK, you're feeling it. You're feeling it.

I think this week we ought to call them pickles because we left homeboy jarred. Well, OK, look at that. That's certainly blazing. A blazing take right there.

Thank you for the call, sir. The Ravens, you know, in the same way that I keep saying that the Saints are a team that's consistently good, that we're we don't talk about their defense. The Ravens might be the team. Outside of the Titans that are consistently good, that just don't get discussed very much.

The one year that they really did is because Lamar was the MVP. And the question is, is how is this offense going to grow? Odell got banged up.

J.K. Dobbins already out. The offensive line is already banged up. What's going on?

It doesn't matter. They keep winning. Secondary banged up.

They keep winning. And let's just. I know we came into the season thinking. Who's going to be the team that goes undefeated the longest, right? Didn't we have that conversation? You did.

We were wondering that conversation. And you take a look at the teams in the NFC that are 2-0. And we could take a look at the will, with all due respect to everyone, the top tier, the ones that came in with Super Bowl aspirations and a lot of Super Bowl buzz, right? You look at the Niners, take a look at their schedule. They've got their first. They're already 2-0. And they're they've got a short week home game against the Giants without Saquon, we think. Then they're home against Arizona. Then you take a look at their Sunday night game against Dallas. And the two of them together. Somebody's losing that one.

Right. Unless they tie. And if they get through it at Cleveland, laugh all you want. I mean, Cleveland. I mean, if they had Chubb, I'd feel a little bit better, but you never know what they're going to do.

Tough place to play. I mean, at Jacksonville, we saw that the Chiefs escaped, if you will. We got two games against Seattle at Philadelphia, but that's late in the season.

They're a candidate. Whoever wins week five, I think is maybe one of the best candidates to move forward as the longest undefeated team. Because Dallas has got a visit to Arizona this weekend, home for New England. Then that game at San Francisco, they're here against the Chargers on a Monday night that T.J. is going to love watching at home.

I'm going to have to go to that one. They're home against the Rams and at Philadelphia, week nine. So if they get past week five.

Right. They might have a shot at going undefeated longer. You never know what happens here with the Chargers.

I do. Who, by the way, put up a gajillion points with no turnovers and they're still 0-2. There are some crazy Chargers. Take a look at Philadelphia. Philadelphia's got a visit to Tampa coming up on Monday night.

They're surprisingly 2-0. And then you got the commanders, man, at home in week four. And I'll tell you what, the commanders are professional hangers of the first loss of your season on teams. If I'm not mistaken, they were the ones who handed Philadelphia its first loss. Correct. Last year. Correct. They're the ones who handed the Steelers their first loss when Alex Smith was the commander's quarterback.

Right? Philadelphia's got Washington. Then they're out here against the Rams at the Jets.

It just depresses me to think of what it could have been. The sneakiest. Home from Miami. The New Orleans Saints could be 7-0 going to Minnesota. They're just, I don't know, man. They could ease, or they could lose at Green Bay this coming weekend. They could.

They could. They've given up one touchdown in the first two games. Let me give you a sneaky one. Defense is playing well.

May I give you a sneaky one? The way we started this conversation. The Baltimore Ravens. Let's give you that. Because in terms of, let's just say longest in the AFC. Because you got the Ravens at 2-0.

Right? And you got the Dolphins at 2-0. But just look at the Ravens. They're home for Indianapolis this week. They're at Cleveland. By the way, if they could emerge 4-0 with two wins in division on the road already in the books before they visit Pittsburgh. They could go, what if they go 5-0? They're 3-0 in division with all the games on the road in division. Lock it up. Lock up the AFC.

Now those are some very difficult games for them to win. I'm calling that week six game in Tottenham in London against Tennessee. Home for Detroit at Arizona. Home for Seattle. Home for Cleveland.

Home for Cincinnati. I mean, these are all 100% for the Baltimore Ravens if Lamar is healthy. And the rest of the defense and the rest of the team can't take too many more injuries.

Unfortunately for them, that buy that could get them healthier faster is not the weak Baker's dozen, man. But why not the Ravens just going undefeated the longest this year? We've had crazier things happen.

Crazier things have happened. It was in Arizona two years ago the last time they defeated a team. Right, until Rogers went in without any of his receivers, right? Wasn't that the night?

Who the hell knows? Yeah, where he didn't have anybody. And they went in and he beat him on a... Where there was some weird play where Kyler didn't hook up with AJ Green in the corner, right? Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Remember that one? Where they had miscommunication. Yeah.

Yeah. And the Cardinals have not been the same since. They were 7-0 and Green Bay came in. Week 8. I don't know why I remember these things.

2021, well done. Right? Rogers didn't have... Adams was out. Everyone was out. He had nobody. He didn't have a left tackle, right? And they're going to come and destroy the Packers and then Rogers is like, Oh, yeah, by the way, I'm Aaron Rodgers.

Randall Cobb had two touchdowns. Yeah, man. Yeah. Stranger things have happened. Why not the Ravens?

I don't know. They're 2-0. And against Houston and at Cincinnati, that's a great win. That is a great win. I don't care that the Bengals are 0-2. They still have a ton of talented players, a ton of them. Odell goes out and they still won that game. That is a stones win that nobody's talking about because everybody's talking about Burrow's calf.

And that game was not really as close as the three-point score. I don't think so either, but... All right, let's take a break. Dion has had a press conference and it does appear that he is doing once again the right thing and pushing the right buttons. That's coming up. 844-204-rich number to dial your phone calls as well to wrap up this Tuesday show. We'll be right back. Chris Brockman, yay or nay?

Yes, Rich. No holding back, buddy. I'm coming for you.

Absolutely what you need to hear. Overreaction Monday, every single Wait For It Monday, wherever you listen. All right, settings. Phone. Phone. Phone. Yes. The respond to text.

Respond to text. Yeah. Oh. You can custom. They're there already. Oh, I can do that.

Yeah, you can custom. I'm on my way to give me one sec. Right? Give me one sec. Sure.

Well, one second. You need to say, give me a couple minutes. Give me a minute. No, no, not give me. Give me one sec.

No, because that means you call me right back. Done. Okay, I've done that.

So by the way, just a note to our friends at Roku and the Roku channel. We do not have plans to make a new segment Rich Changes Settings on his phone. Why not? Exactly. It's relatable. That might be relatable, but I don't think this is content.

I don't think it's content. How can you say that? I just wanted to talk about my first class problem of like, you know, Susie calls and I'm on the phone and she knows I can't answer because it's a business call or something. I can't just say, can I call you later to my wife, you know, or I'm on the phone with Susie and my agent calls. I can't be like, you know, sorry, I can't talk right now because clearly, you know, but I don't I want to clearly I want to talk to my agent. You should say, hello, agent team.

I will get right back to you. Yes, you can put that as your third wife. See, that's what I'm saying. I'm building my empire. These don't suit me is what I'm saying.

Can I call you later? I can't say that to Susie. Have one of them just be like, sorry, I'm building an empire. Yeah, exactly. I changed mine.

I sent them in the back. Sorry, I'm building an empire. These are things people can relate to, right? You can't relate to being a six, five, three hundred dollar football player. I understand that. I understand that. But having it like we don't need a whole segment. Rich messes with his phone settings.

This is the second of the day, though, on this phone settings. Plus, by the way, you're not wrong. So we're piloting a new segment. I've now done it.

This is great. I'll tell you how it works. I'm going to call you. Don't call me. I don't want to talk to you. I don't want to talk to you back here on our show. I don't need to talk to you.

I don't need to talk to you. I think you should screen grab them and just tweet it out and see what people think. That's what I'm going to put in. I screen grab mine and I send it to Hoskins.

We should all change them and pop them up. Gentlemen, I need silence, please. I have a list.

What? It's a top five list. Top five performers of week two presented by T-Mobile. High five. One, two, three, four, five. Rich's top five.

Thank you. Top five performers of week number two. And let's start with energy.

Let's start with a burst of energy and life. Let's start with Pooka Nakua for a second straight week. Pooka Bratsy? Pooka Donchick. Pooka Donchick?

I like that. Nakua Matata? Again, it looks like you spelled out Cooper Cup on a Scrabble board and a 10-year-old came in and just flipped the board in the air and it landed Pooka Nakua. You mean that system wide receiver? Triple word score.

Cooper who? Well, it's a double word score for the Rams. This guy followed up his 10 catches for 119 yards and 15 target performance in Seattle with an NFL rookie single game record 15 receptions on 147 yards and 20 targets against the 49ers. The 49ers? One of the arguably best defenses in the National Football League, Pooka Nakua. Pooka Donchick has 25 catches in his first two career games in the National Football League. You know who's done that before? Nobody.

A big old full blue tarski. Pooka Nakua is number five on my list. Number four on the list. Everybody's focused on Tyreek Hill. Everybody's talking about Tua. Everybody's looking at Jalen Waddle. Everybody's talking about the Miami Dolphins passing game. And here comes Raheem Mostert downhill to beat the New England Patriots. Raheem. An 18-rush, 121-yard, two touchdown performance, including a 43-yard run that sent Chris Brockman to bed.

Sure did. Brocked the Patriots to sleep. Put the Dolphins up for good. Raheem Mostert is number four on my list. Number three on my list. This kid, boy, did he go to Denver and have himself a day for your 2-0 Washington commanders. Number three on my top five performers of week two list is Brian Robinson Jr. Big Hat himself had a day. 18 rushes, 87 yards, his first multiple touchdown game of his young career. He threw in a couple of catches for 42 yards, two boot. And he, at the end of this game, when they had to get out of dodge, he helped take just enough time off for Russell Wilson to put one last scare in him with a Hail Mary. But Brian Robinson Jr. is a large reason why the Washington commanders are 2-0 for the first time since 2012.

Number two on my list. This guy started the game off for his team in a way that they desperately needed it. No better way to turn the page on a 30-7 home week one loss that you've been sitting on for eight days. Quite like a pick six on the first snap of the game as Alex Highsmith provided his Pittsburgh Steelers team that looked like they were in trouble, staring and owing to start directly in the face when he comes around the edge and sees Deshaun Watson and knocks the ball loose for T.J. Watt to pick up and take to the house. Alex Highsmith, what a night for him in Western PA when his team needed it the most. That is the second best, in my mind, performance of the week of week two.

Number one on this list. Boy, when you need a comeback after you absolutely spit the bit in game one at home in a shocking loss. Absolutely, I would think, one of the most shocking week one home losses we've seen this year. You turn to your comeback player of the year and you say, Gino Smith, you go get the Detroit Lions. And he did it again for Seattle.

When Seattle is going to Detroit and everybody thinks this is Detroit's year, including yours truly, and the Lions did what they did to the Chiefs and they come home. Gino Smith started that game with a 12-play, 75-yard opening touchdown drive. He had nine different receivers, including Tyler Lockett, who he hit for the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter and the walk-off game-winning touchdown in overtime. Thirty-two of forty-one, 328 yards, two touchdowns, no picks, exactly what the Seahawks needed. Just when you thought it would be an outlier last year, Gino Smith showed up in Detroit and did what he did.

He is my top performer of week two here on this Rich Eisen Show edition. Okay, I'll give you one more. All right, we'll get one more. Thanks for getting that, Mike. I thought you were focused on something else.

You weren't going to hit that drop. Come on. Okay. Come on.

All right. With all due respect to DeAndre Swift, right? Big running day. Big running day. Last Thursday.

I'm going to go with the most recent one that we saw. And I'm going to go with Jerome Ford of the Browns. What this kid did on Monday night when the team watched Nick Chubb go down, and he comes off the bench. He's got pop.

He's got burst. He had a 69-yard run. This looked like it was going Pittsburgh's way, that the Browns would not be able to come out of the depths of watching Nick Chubb have his knee blown up on national television and carted off. He came up with a huge run, and he had a 100-yard game, 16 carries, 106 yards.

He also had a touchdown receiving on a 25-yard night off of three catches. And this is the kid that they're going to rely on, I would imagine, for this week, because whoever they might sign off the street at the crib right now is not going to be the main rock toter. And he looked the part.

He looked ready. And you can't expect that of a young kid like Jerome Ford, despite his pedigree of Alabama by way of Cincinnati. I thought he was terrific, and I think the Browns are going to put their eggs in his basket and see how it works.

And if it doesn't work, then maybe they'll go down the road with Jonathan Taylor. Who knows? I don't know. All I know is he is my one more, and that was my top five standout performances of week two presented by T-Mobile.

Take charge of your phone upgrades now with T-Mobile. Jimmy in San Antonio, let's take his phone call to wrap things. What's up, Jimmy? Jimmy. What's up, Jimmy? What up?

Hey, with that brand-new coach Tomlin drop, maybe you can use it after you win an Emmy. Uh-huh. Oh.

You're not going to apologize for winning. Correct. Thank you, Jimmy. Appreciate that. Yes, Del Tufo, you nailed it. Awesome.

Good going, man. Jimmy, what did you expect? I didn't expect you to do it. Well, that's for sure.

Don't ask questions you don't want to know the answer to. I'm with Emmy, so. You're not going to apologize for winning. Okay. Oh, Mr. Boat owner and Mr. Emmy owner. Wow. What do you got? Wow. What do you got, Jimmy?

Okay. So Amy Trask, my crush, is in the building. They're doing the podcast today. Is that true?

That is correct. She is currently in the green room with Susie and coordinating the producer Don Bowie, What the Football with Ian Rappaport coming your way later on Tuesday, and rap sheets got all the info, as you know, so it's coming. I have an RAS Consulting idea. It's another podcast to add to the empire. Thank you. It would be me, Terzo, and Kathy, and it's called Who the Phone Are You, and we'll have a segment with Jeff and Alan Dallas called for clicks and giggles. Okay. I like it. I mean, Jimmy. Jimmy.

I love that. We're just missing Jeff and Detroit. And that's it.

Yeah. Jeff and Al. Jeff and Al. Jeff and Al. Jeff and Al called for clicks and giggles. Yeah, clicks and giggles.

I heard Terzo and Kathy and him. Very good, Jimmy. Very well done. Attaboy. I like that, Jimmy.

Coach. Well done. Okay. Very good.

Thank you, Jimmy and San Antonio. Very good. I appreciate all that. Excellent.

I love how we've been burying the lead with the empire story. It's all right. Thank you.

Thank you. Dion pressing all the right buttons. This kid who knocked Travis Hunter out of the game with a very dirty hit.

There's no other way to describe it. Henry Blackburn. Terrible hit. Thought he should have been ejected. Thought there should be some sort of repercussion off the field in terms of his suspension.

Not death threats. That is absurd. That is stupid. That is insane.

He shouldn't be threatened, nor should his family. And Dion turned the temperature down on this as he should, and I knew he would. It's what Dion said today.

Henry Blackburn is a good player who played a phenomenal game. He made a tremendous hit on Travis on the sideline. You could call it dirty. You could call it he was just playing the game of football. But whatever it was, it does not constitute that he should be receiving death threats.

This is still a young man trying to make it in life, a guy that's trying to live his dream and hopefully graduate with honors or degree, committed to excellence and go to the NFL. He does not deserve a death threat over a game. At the end of the day, this is a game. Someone must win. Someone must lose.

Everybody continues their life the next day. Very unfortunate. I'm saddened if there's any of our fans that's on the other side of those threats.

I would hope and pray not. But that kid was just playing the best of his ability, and he made a mistake. So I forgive him.

See you. My team forgive him. Travis is, he's forgiven him. Let's move on. But that kid does not deserve that. Love you, Dion Sanders. Unbelievable.

That's his group. That's exactly what he should have done. That's exactly what I knew he would do. And that's the respectful thing to do. The only thing that's confusing me is how is he respectful while wearing sunglasses and a hat.

That's really weird to me. Which started much of this insanity. Started all of it. At any rate, well done. Let's all move on, go to our separate corners and see you duke it out next year between those two teams. And obviously next Saturday against Oregon and you on our Wednesday show will be back to wrap this Tuesday show the show.