Ian Rapoport: Dak Prescott Would Be The Biggest Free Agent We've Seen

The Rich Eisen Show. I'm here.

I'm here. This is The Rich Eisen Show. The Muppets are live. Live from The Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles. Somebody brought a Kermit the Frog to Raiders training camp, put a Mahomes jersey on Kermit. Earlier on the show, three-time Super Bowl champion Mark Schlereth. Coming up, NFL Network insider Ian Rappaport.

Plus, your phone calls, latest news and more. And now, it's Rich Eisen. Hour number two of The Rich Eisen Show is on the air. Ian Rappaport will be zooming in in about 20 minutes time from Seattle Seahawks camp. Mark Schlereth zoomed in from Broncos camp. And hour number one, always a lively chat with Mark Schlereth.

Phone calls, 844-204-rich being the number to dial. Ian's our final guest, so the third hour is wide open. Get in while the getting's good and we'll have the conversations galore with you. Some folks want to play the win-loss game that's currently on hold. Only a few more weeks left of that.

Then the NFL plays the win-loss game. You know what I'm saying? Picking up what I'm putting down.

See what you did there. So if you're on hold, stay on hold. Trust me, we're going to have a ton of time to get to you on this program. We greatly appreciate you always wanting to be part of our world.

Chris Brockman and Del Tufo in their spots. Good to see you. Happy Paul Skeens Day.

Happy Paul Skeens Day. That's right. Who's he taking on today? Astros.

Astros in Houston. All right. Bang the drums slowly. Good to see you over there, TJ. Jefferson, how are you? What's up, Rich?

I'm great. Do you like Paul Skeens? Like, start, bench, cut. Okay, you ready for this? Here's a start, bench, cut for you, Chris. The three reasons why you love Paul Skeens the most.

You have to start one, you have to bench one, you have to cut one. I already know which one. Hold on a second. Okay.

I literally just came up with this one. I think I can guess all three. I can guess all three also. Here's all three. Can we give it a drop? Chris, I'm going to write it down real quick.

I think I got him too, actually, but I'm curious where you're going, Rich. No, I think you know. All right, this is good music. All right, here we go.

Start, bench, cut. The three reasons why you like Paul Skeens the most. He throws smoke.

Absolute gas. Okay. His girlfriend is a smoke show.

Correct. He's on your fantasy team. Oh, I thought you were going to go mustache. Start, bench, cut. The reasons why you love Paul Skeens as much as you do. We're going to bench that he, sorry, we're going to cut throwing smoke. So his game.

What? His game. We're going to cut his game.

Okay. We're going to cut his game. His baseball game. Sorry, his baseball game. His baseball game, you're cutting. We're going to bench Livy Dunn. Okay. Wow. And the fact that I stashed him a month before he got called up and he's on my fantasy team.

That's it. And will be my keeper next year is the number one reason why I like Paul Skeens. But the reason why you are going to keep him. Is because he's awesome. Is because of why you cut him. Right, exactly. You just cut his game.

Yeah, I can't explain life here. Without his game, you have no interest in having him on your fantasy team. Wait, which game are we talking about? His ability to throw smoke. Oh, got it.

Okay. Because he's a Cy Young Award candidate just two months into his arrival on the scene. Prior to which, we were talking about what he was doing down in the mine. Yeah, when is he getting called up? I think Pat had him on when he was in the Minneapolis. In the Minneapolis. Right?

So he was on it. Hey, Pittsburgh, can you score more than a run today? Okay.

See, there we go. Also, Rich, I wrote down before you said, just thinking what you might say, I have Livvy, Stash, and Heat. Yeah, I thought you were going Stash instead of my fantasy team. No, you are Stash. You stashed him.

I did. Literally stashed him. You stashed him. And his stash. The double entendres in all of these.

That's all of us. He's spitting game. He has good game. You stashed him. He's got his power stashed. Very good.

102 on the black. We just knew Livvy was going to be a part of this is all I'm saying. Very good. God, I love Livvy. Glad we got that out of the way. He's so amazing. Happy Skeens Day to you.

Happy Skeens Day to all those who celebrate. Very good. Now then, let's get to the, again, what we started the show with, the two guys who got massive contracts over the weekend, as soon as we went off the air. We got love and we got to him. If only Love's name was Hawk, it would have really just gone really viral. But those two guys, those two guys are connected.

What's wrong with you? Those two guys are, well, I mean. Yep. You're right. You're right. Just trying to stay current. Is she on minute 14 now or what?

And I think if you asked anybody out there, it gets kind of wild. If you asked most NFL fans which guy deserved it more, they'd name the kid who started one year in the NFL. Because he won a playoff game. You know? In Dallas. Come on.

I am here to cape for Tua. Well, that's no surprise. I don't know why. You got a soft spot for the kid. I do. I know.

I do. But he's also really good. And everybody assumed when Mike McDaniel took the gig in Miami, bringing his brilliant X and O schemes from his time in San Francisco and his time before that in Cleveland and whatever, that he would be right at the forefront of what was going on in Miami prior to his arrival, which was the head coach didn't believe in the kid. Don't forget. Remember Ryan Fitzpatrick was playing a ton?

Remember that? Brian Flores seemingly didn't like Tua. Well, and again, to bring up Shlerith's point, you got to, if you're a quarterback in this league with a ton of talent and you're young and your career's starting, boy, would it be great if you're hooked up with a head coach who's an offensive head coach.

Yeah. Because the defensive head coach is like, don't make the mistakes. Let my side of the football rule the day, which we'll see how that axiom stands up in Chicago and Washington. I don't know if that's going to hold water with Iberflus and Quinn, but long story short, this is about Tua and McDaniel and what McDaniel hopping on air Ross and FaceTiming with Tua saying, you're my guy. And then the front office and the drafting is just, let's get one track meet guy after another. So when Tua hits the back foot and is an accurate quick trigger, ball out, scheme has him open, touchdown, big play game. And when Tua is at the controls, because we all know two years ago, the concussion problems scared the hell out of us when he had that moment in Cincinnati and then really concerned us when he couldn't finish the season.

And Skylar Thompson got the start in the playoffs that the Miami Dolphins made in part because of how well Tua played when he was healthy. Look at the numbers. They don't lie.

They don't lie. When Tua is at the controls since 2022, the points per game is 11.3 points per game better. The total yards per game is up third down. I mean, that's the difference between being good or bad, 10% better, 40% third down percentage. And then the passing touchdowns and interceptions.

He's got 56 touchdowns and 25 interceptions. You could sit there and go, hey, you just said, Rich, all he's going to do is just get it out of his hands and let everyone else do the rest. That's the way it works.

Which is why I keep saying to you, boy, if there's any team in the NFL that needs that home field advantage when it's in January, it's the Miami Dolphins. They got to have it. Now, would it help that if they don't have it, that the place they go to isn't like Fortress of Solitude freezing? Yeah. That would help? Yeah.

That would help a little bit. But I went Superman instead of Star Wars. I forget the name of the, oh, is it the Ice Moon of Hoth? Is that what that was? Whoa, did you really pull that out? Oh, yeah. I think I might've.

That was a good one. But the Fortress of Solitude, you hit it, right? I got it. Yeah. So, I don't know, man.

The people who think it's not Tua's world. You did. Well done, Rich. Thank you. I just offer the pushback.

He's really good and he's accurate and they have built the team around him, which is exactly why you're going to be paying Tyreek Hill more, which you're going to, and you just hit it with Jalen Waddle and you keep drafting these kids like A-Chan and you keep on getting faster and you got the guy who can dial it up, yeah, you pay Tua. That's what you do. Still in the playoffs, man. I know. You weren't even active for the one and then you just stunk in the other one.

I don't care how cold it was. And then you lost the week before. You're the only player to lose two playoff games in one year. So he even said that Heavy wears the crown and he knows it. He gets it.

Okay, good. So let's see what you got. I think what he's got is... Go win the division this year. I think he will.

Ooh. Calling a shot already. I kind of think he will. But that is, I'm keeping my finger on that chess piece right now, because obviously, you know, the bills are going to be good again and the question is, how long will it take for the new parts in this offense to all fit together?

Does it even matter? Could Josh Allen just say, screw it, I'm just going to take it over anyway? And we'll see what the Jets look like. It's a total mystery to me.

Totally, yeah. Because I've got to see what they look like and see how frisky the football gods are with that Nard kick that they have always at the ready. I don't know.

Your Wilson and Rodgers are yelling at each other on the sideline the other day. That one I'm not... It's just trading camp stuff. I don't know.

I don't... Whatever. I like the fact that Wilson feels like, he feels comfortable that he can do that. And they ended it with a handshake. But again, you've got it set up, the eggs are in the Tua basket, you've already got the roster in the Tua basket, and you've got the coach in the Tua basket, you might as well fill the basket up with 200 million bucks and give it to Tua. Josh, I mean, Mike McDaniel had this to say, because again, when I saw their relationship first hand and heard about it from both guys in Munich last year, prior to that game against the Chiefs that the Dolphins lost, and McDaniel said before that game, the narrative is, who have we really beaten? And we'll see what happens. Well, we saw what happened, and we wound up wondering, who have they really beaten?

And the answer was nobody, with the exception of a couple late season contests. But McDaniel laid it all out there again when he was asked over the weekend about the contract and their relationship and what this contract being awarded to Tua means to him and that. It's one of the absolute main reasons you get into coaching. You hope that you can help people realize their best selves. So for him to be at this part of his journey with the growth, that's why you do what you do. I think you're also in the process really making sure that whatever player is getting compensated in whatever way, you are trying to get their game to a point where they can be in that market to do that. And the second you're in that market to do anything, what comes from that so you don't get surprised by it? So it is really, really cool for the organization, it's really cool for Tua, something that has been a lot of man hours, a lot of investment, and what's cooler than that? I think a lot of people can get on board with that story.

But it's hard for me to talk about it without the caveat that from the beginning, our objective was to continue growth and work together and in that process, you get compensated and then you get compensated and what do you do with the organization for yourself and for your family with that, with this tremendous opportunity. So it's a cool moment that we have a couple of high fives and we're moving on today's practice to really get after that and that's one of the reasons why he has the contract he has is because that's the type of person he is. Love it.

Love him. Let's not forget this Dolphins franchise has been waiting to find an identity and a coach that they can believe in and a quarterback who's the next Marino and win a division and go to the Super Bowl and whether it happens or not, they have a plan, right? Like this is the plan. Bring in this guy who's a wizard and is offbeat, outside the box, let's hook him up with Tua, bring in Tyreek Hill and get really fast and see who's going to stop it. Can that get past the Chiefs? We shall see.

Can he even get to the Chiefs? We shall see, but it's a plan and I think folks in South Florida should be psyched about it. One last thing that I noticed. Did you see it?

For the radio audience, you obviously didn't see it. Did you see what I saw with McDaniel? I think Iberfluis isn't the only coach switching up the look. Oh yeah.

What do you think? McDaniel was like kind of straight ahead with a part. We changed glasses too, huh? Yeah. Like 2023, there was a part, straight hair.

Beardless prominent. I mean, is this a pomade situation? This is a decision. That's what I'm saying. It's a choice.

From Mike McDaniel. This is a decision. It's a choice. I don't see a part anymore. I want to see a different hairstyle. I see different... Yeah. I got to see if this is consistent.

Is he carrying this all week to week? Great question. You know, this is kind of new.

It just kind of popped up. Yeah, and you know, Miami's first game, home against Jacksonville should be hot, Capri pants, the whole thing. I mean, will the hair stand up? Right. And the heat and humidity. You guys ain't taking into consideration, and I guess maybe it's me that has to bring this up. You see, Mike McDaniel has half brother in him, so you know, I think that's the hair coming off. Oh, that's true. You know, the brother side is coming out a little bit.

Listen, that's the perspective you bring here to the equation. Only when it's on the hair front, clearly Chris and I are... We're out of the mix. We're out of the mix. We're done here. I mean, don't... He'll be rocking do-rag soon enough, I'm telling you.

Look at that. I mean, the Dolphins have three of their first four at home, so the hair will get tested right away with the heat and humidity, the cool zone. By week 80, Mike... By the way, that week two game, by the way, what a way to kick things off on Amazon Prime right here, Prime Video right here on the Roku platform.

Dolphins hosting the Bills. I mean, the Bills, can they get it done this year? How are they gonna look early on? Will they be able to pull it together fast enough to look like previous years?

Do they need to pull it together fast enough to even look like previous years? Can Josh Allen take care of business? Is this their division for the taking? Because if it still is, winning a game on the road in division, week two, right away, potentially starting off 2-0, because the Bills start off, with all due respect, I know Cardinals fans will be like, what gives? You think we're a sleeper team. Cardinals at Bills to start, and the Bills turn around. If they're 2-0 five days into the season and winning already in Miami, they could turn around and go, how do you like me now?

And then the Dolphins, everything I just said about their plan, if they start with wins in five days at home against Jacksonville and Buffalo, man, NFL life comes at you fast. 844-204 Rich, number to dial, Ian Rappaport's gonna zoom in from Seahawks camp shortly, my colleague from the NFL media group and NFL network, and so much more in the insiders when we come back. Rich Eisen here for sleep number. They say opposites attract, and that's why the sleep number smart bed is the best bed for couples.

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It's that time of year people, spring has sprung and that means spring cleaning or at least the partner in your life is demanding that you do it. Whether that means stocking up on cleaning supplies or swapping out your winter clothes for new spring clothes, make sure you're using Ibotta and get real cash back with every purchase. Ibotta is a free app that gives you the most cash back every time you shop on hundreds of items from groceries to beauty supplies to toys. The average Ibotta user earns $256 per year. That could cover the cost of an entire shopping trip, that flight you've been eyeing or the fancy dinner you've been craving. Join the over 50 million users and earn cash back every time you shop from over 2,700 brands and retailers and right now Ibotta is offering our listeners $5 for just trying Ibotta by using the code eizen when you register.

Just go to the App Store or Google Play Store and download the free Ibotta app to start earning cash back and use my code E-I-S-E-N. That's I-B-O-T-T-A in the Google Play or App Store and use my code eizen. Because we can't get enough of Mike McDaniel, here's a sound bite that caught my ear as well over the weekend when it was brought up to him that Tua thanked him and name checked him when Tua met with the media after signing his big contract. So you're telling me he thanked me by name?

I've never heard of this. For the record, positive stuff I would love to hear about. Yeah, it's humbling. It's humbling.

I, you know, for me, it's really cool to be a part of somebody's journey and for them to see that you're a positive impact on that. He's funny. Guy is funny. Only funny if you keep winning. No, I know that.

I know that. It's gonna come fast. Miami again.

Belichick could be a dick in the media because he won a lot. Like, let's go. At Seattle, home for the Titans on a Monday night. By the way, that is a revenge game for Miami. Yeah, the craziest game of last year.

Well, I mean, that kind of, that started the end for them because that was one of the games that if they just put that in the win column, they're up two touchdowns with two minutes, right? You put that in the win column and maybe you're not going to Kansas City in that last game against the Buffalo you didn't have to have. And also Tyreek Hill suffered a hip drop tackle.

He wasn't the same rest of the year. Rest of the year. So that was a crushing loss on Monday night. Then they're at the Patriots with an early bye. The Patriots is the bye week or? Nice. Oh. Two byes in a row. As you know, Tua is the king of New England. He owns us.

Exactly. Back on the Rich Eisen Show radio network, 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 clickrainger.com or just stop by. And our friend is back here on the Rich Eisen Show, fresh off of, he's in the middle of his training camp tour for NFL media group and one of the stars, yes, I said stars, of the insider. The insiders program, Ian Rappaport back on the Rich Eisen Show. How are you and what's going on, brother?

So Rich, I'm in Seattle and I wanted to show you something. I have a special message from Dave Pearson. Wait a minute. I know it's coming. I know it's coming. So hold on. Hold on. There used to be murals of Pete Carroll.

It was like a big rap. There would be like murals of the great moments in the Pete Carroll era and then it would be like, you know, always compete and all that. That is now empty. We're going to put other pictures there, but that is now empty. So I want to show you what the Seahawks have done.

This is awesome. So here are TVs, right? And what they are doing is they're showing highlights of great moments in the Pete Carroll era.

There are other eras too, like going back to the 70s and 80s, but some great highlights, right? So I think that was Shawn Alexander. And so anyway, this is what's going on in Seattle and I just wanted to make sure that you saw this. No.

So Ian. Yes. So, you know, listen, there's two things in our business. Certainly when I'm hosting a show like this one, there's being right, okay? There's being right and being heard. Those are two things of very important.

Okay. Being right and accurate and being heard. There are many people in this end of the business who only care about being heard. I know some of those people.

I'm not one of them. I like being right, okay? And so when I say what I feel from this chair, it's because I feel I'm in the right or I am accurate or I am voicing something that could be right, may not be right, but could be right.

And I'm not saying about being heard. So I think what my inference skills are, my spidey sense is tingling right now, that when I said I was wondering why Mike McDonald would come in and remove from what I heard all the photographs of the Pete Carroll era, that why couldn't he just still install his way of doing things while not erasing other aspects of the building? And you're showing me there that there are still many references to pre-Mike McDonald years in Seattle. But the fact that you mentioned Dave Pearson, who's a fantastic man at his job in our world.

Very good. I was heard is what you're telling me right now, Ian. Yeah.

I mean, I think at least you were heard and I guess it's possible you were also right, but at least we have confirmed that you were heard. And I do understand though, because when you have a new coach who come in and I just spent a while with Mike McDonald just a couple of minutes ago, it is young, it is fresh, it feels different. Now there's some familiar things like practice is still very intense. Players still do like to compete. Now always compete is not going to be his thing cause that was Pete's thing, but the general principle of making sure that every job is thoroughly earned, I think is going to be something that's going to be a tenant of this program. But I don't, to me, like I would say similar to going to the chargers, was that yesterday?

No, two days ago. And seeing the Jim Harbaugh era and a brand new building and a new fit and everything being new, like new coaches get the chance to be like, you know what? I'm going to, I'm going to start over. And so I think that's what Mike McDonald is doing. And obviously I think that's what Jim Harbaugh is doing in Los Angeles too. So how is it different? I mean, you mentioned how there's a certain difference in Seattle, cause that to me is, that's the question, right? That one way of doing things, we've seen that obviously there was 20 plus years of the way doing things in New England is one thing. The fact that, that Pete's way of doing things is now out of the building literally and sometimes off a wall, not off the wall, but off a wall. Like you pointed out, how, how will it manifest? Do you think? Well, I think that first of all, it skews way younger. I mean, just, you know, and not that that's good or bad, that's just kind of what it is.

Right. Um, you have two coordinators, um, who are, um, add in dirty, uh, from, from the Cowboys who I actually, we spent some time with them yesterday. They could not say enough good things about the Seahawks, new defensive coordinator who's with them for awhile. Also one of the very cool international stories that we had, um, you know, grub the offensive coordinator also a little bit younger and McDonald is, you know, basically the Sean McVeigh, but defense and not as blonde. Um, that's just, you know, and, and I think the thing with Pete, you know, he was always so energetic and up and he never felt old, but he was the oldest coach in the NFL.

And like that comes with a certain, you know, way of doing things. Um, and so I would expect things to be a little fresher here. Also the defense is going to change. You're going to see a little more of the kind of like wink Martindale pressure based, um, you know, defense here. Um, and I think Mike McDonald showed very well last year, but the Baltimore Ravens and he can take this to absolutely the next level. I mean, one of the really, really bright, young defensive minds in the NFL. Um, I mean, I think everyone, look, you don't know until you play, but everyone I've talked to knew that Mike McDonald was going to get a job. Um, the fact that Seattle got him, I think it was a big deal for them. Uh, and I'm looking forward to seeing kind of what's in store for us. Yeah.

No doubt about that, man. Uh, home for the Broncos to start at the Patriots home for the dolphins at Detroit on a Monday night. That's how things are going to start for the Seattle Seahawks. You mentioned you were just across the street from the studio in El Segundo, California, new home of the Los Angeles charges facility. What'd you pick up being around Harbaugh, man? Let me ask you a question. Yes, sir. And I know you asked me a question, but let me ask you a question. So you've spent a lot of time with Harbaugh. Yes. Yeah, sure.

Okay. So the biggest takeaway for me, just Harbaugh centric from the chargers was he's obviously an intense football coach. I think everyone knows that he's a hard driving, intense football coach, but people couldn't believe how good of a guy he is.

Like even like surprised like players, people like just surprised. And then he seems to be pretty mellow considering what I thought he was supposed to be when he was with the 49ers. Did that change at some point or did we all mistake who he was when he was with the nine? I think he's just a different cat right now, Ian.

And I know that obviously, you know, Jim is as consistent as they come in terms of, you know, his style of play and his style of coaching in, but I just think going back to Michigan and turning things around and winning the national championship and getting an opportunity to get back in the NFL and be as handsomely paid as he is and to be set up in Southern California with a franchise that he played for and to coach Justin Herbert. And he just loves ball. I just think the photograph we're seeing on the screen, I think he's, dare I say, happy. I think he's just a happier, he's a happier warrior right now.

Now we'll see what happens when games start to get played. I just think he's kind of giddy for the lack of a better phrase. Yeah. I mean, that's what it feels like, like spent a while talking to Justin Herbert after practice, like he seems to like him a lot. And I know like football wise, he's learning a lot. And I think Greg Roman is really, really, really good hire, but Herbert seems to really like him and relish him and like just gets a big kick out of him. And that sort of sentiment is pretty universal there, which, you know, you never quite can tell what you're going to get when you have a new coach, but I certainly was not expecting to get that feel from the Chargers.

Yeah. And I think at some point during his Michigan tenure, if you want to get a little deeper here, I'm sure he wondered, like if he still had that yearn to go back in the NFL, and I don't think that ever went away. I think there had to be some times where he doubted he would ever get the chance, you know, and let alone the fact that he would get the chance.

I doubted it too, by the way. And obviously you would know better than I would the number of times or how close he got the chance again, and number of times that his phone did ring. And so for him to get this opportunity after hanging the banner in Michigan and getting to coach Justin Herbert in SoFi Stadium, I mean, and you know, he, not to tell all his personal deal, but I mean, he doesn't, he doesn't live too far from the Chargers facility, which isn't far at all from the stadium. I mean, the furthest and LAX where he's probably flying out of is right across the street from the Chargers facility. I mean, he doesn't have to go anywhere more than in like an eight mile radius, you know, for his entire life. So what, like 35 minutes? Yeah.

I mean, that's actually, that saves literally 20 years in your life. I think that's been a scientific study, but in all seriousness, I just think he's happy. You know, I think he's happy.

So you might've seen that Ian Rappaport here on The Rich Isaac Show, you were in Cowboys camp. Why are, are, are, are some of these contracts going to go down? Well, Ian or, or not, are we going to be in a month from now wondering why the status quo is still status quo?

What what's happening? You know, I think with CD lamb, I would not say that it's close because there's a lot of work to be done, but it feels like that's closer than that. Just my general feel. And I think mostly because the market is pretty well defined, like we saw where Justin Jefferson is and got four year deal, $35 million per year, 140 total. You know, I wouldn't be surprised if scene comes in around there, maybe not above, but around there as he should. And he was a great, great player. If the Cowboys are sort of on the same page with that, and again, like there's a lot that has to go into these things, but it's not like that, that hard of a deal to do.

The deck one is harder. Not being able to franchise and not being able to trade him. I mean, not that they would, but I'm saying like, that's basically just gives that all the leverage. It's honestly just a matter of like, how much does he want and does he, you know, like are the Cowboys going to do what's necessary to keep them there, to keep them away from free agency? Because you know, if he's a free agent next year, he'll be the biggest free agent we've ever seen. Biggest free agent in our history. And like, is, you know, it's like people ask me how much money would that make in for agency? How high can you count 60 million per in free agency next year, higher, more.

Cowboys over, over, over. So then why won't the Cowboys pay him? Like what? I mean, I think they they've made some offers, they're just not there yet. And you know, it's these, these deals are hard because I think if you're a team and you have a quarterback that's highly priced with a ton of leverage, you'd like to pay not as much. And I think if you're Dak Prescott, you'd like to get a lot.

So figuring out the combination between not as much and a lot has been hard. I think a deal is there to be done. I just don't know if it's actually going to be done before they start the season. Then, you know, once he starts the season and then it's sort of like, well, that probably, if he doesn't have a deal by the season, I think it's probably a free agent.

So you think CD's done before the season? Your best guess? I think there's, there's a path to the deal that, you know, if everyone is pretty reasonable, I think could get done. Yeah. Okay. Micah is a, is in anybody's guess and Micah, Micah's a 2025 situation.

Yeah, probably. Okay. And you know that then you'll look at like highest paid non quarterback with Micah's going to, you know, another, another one who's going to get just all the money.

Right. So we know it, you know it, the American people know it. Everyone around the league knows it. Anybody who has anything to do with the league knows it.

So why can you explain, cause you've been around the Jones family for, for, you know, quite a bit. What, what, what, why do they wait longer than most teams? Why do they let other franchises set their market for them?

Ian? Yeah. I mean, I think, you know, what Steven Jones has said on the record was that like, he didn't really feel like these guys wanted deals. I don't think that that's true, but I do know that like going through the process of negotiating from like March to late July can be pretty brutal. I mean, I think the main thing is they know they have top of the market players, you know, whether CD lamb is one or two, he's going to be number one or two highest paid receiver. That's going to be the highest paid quarterback. I mean, it's like, so either you could do them or, and I'm not excusing what the Jones's have done, but like they are not dumb. They have the way they built their football team is very savvy and very smart.

They have really good players. I mean, that is a really, really, really good roster and everybody lost their minds cause they didn't sign these free agents and I'm looking at the roster, I'm like, which free agents would they have signed to would have like started and had an impact. Derek Henry could have had some Derek Henry, I mean, who's running it from, you know, like they need Zeke, Zeke, they need Zeke to pop out of the kettle from 2019. You know what I mean?

Like that would be helpful. You know, I get it, but like, yes, Derek Henry would have been one, but I just think philosophically paying for running back is probably not so that's like a different story. That's a different question, but that would have been one where I think would have made sense, but you know, they got four running backs and I have no earthly idea who's going to compete besides Zeke, but my guess is one of them. All right. Before I let you go, Ian, the, the, the situation in Cincinnati, both Jamar chase and Trey Hendrickson are what they're doing, the hold in situation there too. There's been a lot of holding in a couple of holdouts, a lot of holdings. Okay. So what's the, what's the pathway out there? Do you think, I mean, Hendrickson should be a little more, a little easier because theoretically you could do another bandaid deal.

The edge market has jumped. So I get it. Um, Jamar chase is harder because that's another one where you know, he's going to want to be paid. He will be Justin Jefferson, wherever CD comes in. I'm sure he's going to want to be paid more than that. It's early to do a deal. You can do it, but it's early to do a deal. And if you do a deal that early teams want kind of like a little bit of, Hey, like we're giving you this money earlier than expected, like we need a little bit back and I don't know where that's going to come and still properly compensate him.

The fact that Mike Brown came out and basically said like, it's a long shot to do a deal really, really complicates things. So I'm honestly not sure where that one ends. All right, Ian, thanks for the time. Greatly appreciate you stopping by with the information and the, the, the tour of the facility.

Most, most guests do not do that, Rich, but I try to bring a little more and tell them I really enjoyed the paint job. I don't know what color, what color shade that is. You know, it just, I'm going to ask my wife knows all of these, but yeah, I don't know that either. I don't know that either.

It's a, but it's a, it's the color of McDonald clearly. And I appreciate that. There you go. Thanks again, brother.

Send my best. Wait a minute. That's Ian Rappaport, everybody.

There he goes out the door. I guess they heard me, I mean, well, you do have a voice, I guess some bigger TVs in there. Amen. McAfee was on that too packed to remember when we were talking about it, Pat was talking about it too. Pat was talking about how, um, how I guess, uh, you didn't like it, you, you, you didn't like it. I was saying like it, it, it, it just smacked of, um, it, it felt sensitive to, you know, like the past is the past, man.

You're the future and you can still honor the past by setting the table for the future and the Seahawks. What do you need the old guy's slogan in there for? No, no. I'm not saying use his slogan. No, no, but the way it sounded is that they just were erasing.

All the pictures of their past times. And that is not the case. I have stood corrected.

Okay. Like it's not as if you walk in there and the Pete Carroll era never happened. That's what we thought when it first happened though. I know you were not released. That's the way it sounded.

And I guess I should have personally taken a trip around their centered before I've spoken to this microphone, but I didn't have the luxury of such things. How could you? But Pat told the story when they switched up, I guess, Grigson and, why am I blanking on his name? Chris Ballard.

No, no, no, no. The coach at the time. He's on Pat's show all the time now too. Oh, yep.

Now I'm blanking. You know, Bruce Arians took over for him and won coach of the year as the interim, right? Chuck Pagano. Chuck Pagano. And I tell the story that Pagano and Grigson painted over the mural of Manning and all those guys.

And he was just sitting there wondering, what are we doing? But none of the players have complained and whatever, but clearly what I had to say, which is half the battle or what for me, it's 20% of the battle being heard. I like being right.

I don't know. I don't like it. I don't like being wrong.

Well, the Seahawks win the Super Bowl this year. Then it was the right move. You know what I mean? Like, who cares? No, listen, it's the right move for their coach and whatever. It's their house.

They can do whatever they want with it. Everyone's too sensitive about everything. Just calm down. It doesn't affect you. Who cares?

Well, apparently what affect me? Yeah. Well, not you personally. I'm just saying in general. Well, this show is about hearing stories and opinionating. That's what this is about.

I've learned that over the 10 years. I'm just saying like, who wants to paint over something? Big deal. Let's take a break.

I mean, to the people who did the stuff that led to the mural and those who were still there who were teammates with those guys, it'll be like, what are you doing? That's what Pat said. He was first thought was, but then him and Pagano were all tight, like Chuck's on his show all the time. Even though I guess he wasn't either one whose staff left him out to dry on that wild punt formation that one year. Left Pat out to dry? Yeah.

And Griff Whalen. I remember that one. Right. Is that against New England? Yeah.

No, I see you with that. He pulled that name out. All right. We'll take a break. Well, he won't forget that moment. Griff Whalen. He won't forget that moment.

Burn it again. But that moment that Belichick went forward on fourth down in overtime deep in his own end. Smart play. It's fuzzy.

That moment's fuzzy. You gave the ball back to Peyton Manning? Yeah.

You're trying to win the game. Oh, I don't remember though. Willie McGinnis suddenly got healthy in that moment too. Ran to midfield. Indianapolis. Remember that. It's kickoff time, and Believe podcasts are here to get you ready for the season.

He wanted to change the culture, and he wanted me to be a part of that. With Believe, you get immediate reactions, game previews, and expert analysis from all 32 teams, plus all of your favorite college teams. He's just rare in just about everything he does.

Side line to sideline, end zone to end zone. This was good for everybody. Just search Believe. It's B-L-E-A-V podcast, wherever you listen. Good to see you, Shaquille O'Neal.

How are you, sir? Before we get started. Yes. If I take this home, will I get arrested? The Vince Lombardi trophy? Is this the real one?

That's the real one. That's a real Vince Lombardi trophy. I don't know if that's the one that's going to be given to the Rams or the Patriots this weekend, but that is a real... Do you want to lift it? Well, if I lift it, I want to take it home. Well, then I think we're at a crossroads here.

Actually, we're not at a crossroads. Let me tell you why. Okay, sure. I'm not a lawyer, but I watch a lot of law shows. I got about 50 witnesses that say me hit my head on your set. Oh. So if you just give me this, I'll let bygone be bygone. So it's a liability issue for me that turns into an even worse liability issue.

I don't want to have to call it the Shaq Eisen show. I know that. I know that. All you got to do is just give me this, and I'll put it next to mine, and this is beautiful. I'm doing the math in my head as to how much you'd be suing me for personal liability as to how much this trophy costs, which I've been told is around $22,000. Well, I'll be suing you for $23,000. You want to lift it? No. I don't want to touch it.

Okay. You sure you don't want to touch that? Bad luck. Bad luck for you?

I don't want to touch it for you when you don't earn it. I like that. Yeah. My father used to always... Are you serious? Yeah. He always used to... Because you know when you're a kid, you get the trophy from the local trophy shop? Sure.

You'd be like, if you listen to me, guys, you get this, you want to touch it, don't touch it. It's bad luck. You got to earn it. Right.

So you... That's why I like... You know how in the NBA when you win the Eastern Conference or the Western Conference, they give you those little trophies? I never touched it. Never? I never touched it, and I never celebrated it. I remember Phil did that too, right? Yeah.

Phil has won the Western Conference finals of one of the many times you did. Yeah, I never touched it. I never looked at it. I never celebrated it. This is beautiful, though.

It's a beautiful trophy. Yeah. Hi.

Yeah. Speaking of hoops, back on the Rich Eisen Show Radio Network. So the men's basketball team, that scare against South Sudan in the showcase, tight game against Germany in the showcase. Sounded great.

A lot of tight games. Sounded great. It didn't look so great. Maybe it sounded great with your fountains.

No, it sounded good. They did not. They did not look good.

The Rich were correct. They were not playing well. Then the Olympics hit. No big whoop. Yeah, yeah. Come on.

Guys, what did I tell you? Kevin Durant, greatest Olympic player in the history of our time in the Olympics, basketball. Eight for eight off the bench. By the way, how about him coming off the bench? Good luck.

Good luck. Eight for eight. At least he got off the bench.

Celtic fan, Celtic fan, Celtic fan, and upset. Hey, look, anytime you can have- DNPCD for Jason. When was the last time Jason Tatum had a DNPCD? When he was- Eighth grade.

Three years old. Coach's decision. Smart coach, I guess.

Against Serbia. Smart coach who knows everything. Do we have Steve Kerr's response to this?

We'll see. Okay, this was Steve Kerr had to say about why Jason Tatum didn't get off, didn't play a single. He was the only guy, right? Halliburton didn't play a single.

Halliburton didn't? Come on. Yeah. I mean, FIBA's got, it's 10 minute quarters, it's 10 minute quarters. It's FIBA.

I don't know what that means. It's the rules. It's not an NBA game. At any rate, here's Steve Kerr afterwards. Yeah, it's tough, but Jason handled it really well. I talked to him today before the game that it may play out this way, just with Kevin coming back and the lineups that I wanted to get to, but that'll change. Jason's going to play.

Every game's going to be different based on match ups. He's a total pro. He's first team all NBA three years in a row. I felt like an idiot not playing him, but in a 40 minute game, you can't play more than 10.

You really can't. So I think he's an amazing guy, great player, and handled it beautifully, and he'll be back out there next game. He's going to have to tighten the rotation. You know the one guy that shouldn't play? Very stupid. Derek White should bench him the next game.

No, you know who shouldn't? Just go back and forth between the Celtics and then Jeru Holly in the third game. Play arguably the best player on your team. Don't play that guy.

That's real smart. Who is? Jason Tatum is not the best player. Oh, he's the only player on that team who's been first team all NBA three years in a row. So I would argue that he is probably the best player. LeBron James is still alive, and I know what you're going to say.

He was so good, but LeBron James is still alive in the first place. And maybe instead of, oh, it's oh, it's a 10 bit, then maybe just have 10 guys on the team. What do we have 12 for?

No, I mean, you got to have 12 guys. Why? It could be.

It could be an injury. What are you going to do? Just fly somebody out there that hasn't that hasn't had skin in the early what just happened. So yeah. So whatever. This is the stupidest thing ever.

Rich. You know, it's crazy. It's so dumb. So upset about stuff like this. It doesn't matter. It doesn't bother anyone.

So what's the big deal? No, it should be literally, it should be, which, which NBA franchise has sent the most players to the Olympics on this team, the Celtics, right? So it should be a Celtic, a game sitting out. What do you think you're rewarding them and you're going to give them a rest because they had to play so much longer than everybody else. So next time, next time it should be, by the way, the whole reason why Jalen Brown didn't make it is because they're playing the match. They're playing the match-ups. What match-up?

I don't know. Literally not a person on the court. Derek, Jason Tatum can't guard or dominate when he's on offense.

This is the dumbest thing ever. I guess we'll find out in the next game. Cause he's playing. Steve Kerr is proving how great Steph Curry makes him look.

You see, you say that, right? But then you're not taking the, you're not taking the Draymond Green factor into consideration. Steve Kerr let Draymond Green take their whole season. Here's what should happen again. It's like draw straws, which Celtic isn't playing next game, Derek White or Jeru Holiday.

And it won't be Jeru Holiday cause it's his, it's his, the reason why he's on the team over Jalen Brown is because, or Derek White is because they play defense better than Jalen Brown apparently. Which I don't even, that argument is the dumbest thing I've ever heard either. What if we just win gold and it's no big deal, right? Now I'm rooting for us to not win gold. Oh, come on.

You are so un-American. That's just not right. The guy sits out one game, Rich. It wasn't a sit-out.

Oh, you mean like the spot of Patriots draft picks were forfeited? By the way, I believe Coach K is on tomorrow's program. We'll ask him, did he ever not DNP CD somebody in these games?

I'm sure, absolutely. Because he didn't have to play against them. What does that mean? Oh, I see. Oh, so this is a Celtic thing. So the last time they played a meaningful game, Steve Kerr beat the Celtics and yet now he's, him and his eight rings are now holding some type of, guys climbing the overrated coach list. Maybe Jason Tatum, maybe Jason Tatum just didn't match up well with the Serbians.

That's understandable. They got some really good players over there. Yeah.

You're right. The guy who played point guard in the NBA finals and led his team in point free bounded assists is not a good matchup for the Serbians. For the Serbians. Get out of here, Steve Kerr.

Serbians good, Rich. Yeah. They played a three time MVP on that team. They're so good though.

I was like 26. They all should be playing. By the way. What are we doing? That was fun watch. That was a fun watch.

And then right around the third quarter, when people start tweeting, Tatum hasn't played. I'm like, this is going to be good for Monday show. Yeah.

It's going to be good. And B got into it with somebody too on Serbia. I miss that.

Yeah. And he did because he got called for a flagrant foul. LeBron got hooked up. It was one of those guys who was like grabbing LeBron by the neck. LeBron shoved him down to the ground as one of the Serbians was driving the basket.

Play was over. So Embiid grabbed the Serb to keep him from going to the net and creating massive contact. And that process of taking him down to the ground looked...

I miss that. The guy who he took down on the ground, he kind of just hit him in the face a little bit and he acted like he was looking for a yellow card. You know what I mean? And Embiid did not like that and he wound up getting the flagrant. And so he wound up getting an and one on that guy later on and kind of like...

I can't even believe they called the flagrant because they let a lot of stuff go in international play. It's Phoeba. It's Phoeba. It's Phoeba. You know he doesn't understand Phoeba. He just said he didn't.

By the way, you can go tend as well by swiping it off the rim out of the cylinder. Jason Tatum wouldn't know that. Welcome to Talkville, the Ultimate Smallville Rewatch Podcast. Season four, I'm glad that it's over. I'm glad that it's over. As we know now that season five is supposed to be one of our better seasons. Obviously the tattoo storyline, you know how I feel about that. You hating that storyline brought me a lot of joy because I kept waiting to see how it was going to keep going and then how they would somehow settle it. Change seasons one through four of Talkville before season five begins, wherever you listen.