Damien Woody: Aaron Rodgers Looks Old and Compromised

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Shop now at Dell.com slash deals. Headman swings. It's a high fly ball from the rich eyes and show studio in Los Angeles. Paul comes out riding in pain as well. This is the rich eyes and show hurts. Gives us the Barkley touchdown Jefferson Pittsburgh Steelers fires over the middle today's gasps ESPN NFL analyst, Damian Woody, commander's wide receiver, Terry McLaurin plus latest news and more.

And now it's rich eyes. All right, everybody, welcome to our number two of the rich eyes and show Damian Woody of ESPN going to join us. We also have a visit from Terry McLaurin of the five and two Washington commanders, eight four four two oh four rich number to dial. We'll take your calls in a moment. We've got overreaction Monday on your podcast listen list for later on. As soon as Chris Brockman and I are done here with TJ and MDT, we will be recording the latest edition of ORM and I'll stop using initials.

Except for you, TJ. I'll always do that. Yeah, you should.

Eight four four two oh four rich is the number to dial. I'm going to say something that sounds like an overreaction Monday subject matter, but I don't think I'm overstepping. Hold on, I'm going to write this down. I tweeted this out yesterday and got the scorn of Tampa Bay Buccaneer fans, but that's nothing new for us, even though I think we're one of the most Baker friendly shows that that's been around since he's come off the campus at Oklahoma. I would say without question. That said, I tell no tales when I say through seven weeks the class of the National Football Conference of the Detroit Lions. That I am feeling very secure in saying and let me go further if you think that's a hot take because I did get pushback from well who beat the Lions, who is the only team to have beaten the Lions, who beat them in Detroit in week two. It is Tampa understood. Week two.

I understand. I'm talking about now the here and now and seeing how we're growing and we're advancing and we're getting better, right? And they hung the first loss on the Vikings yesterday and the Vikings entering this game had five offensive snaps in 2024 in which the team was trailing. That's it.

They had 32 such snaps on Sunday and damn near pulled it off with a big defensive play towards the end of the game, but here's the extra add-on top of maybe this being a hot overreaction Monday take, but they have I'm just I'm gonna say it right now guys. I'm gonna say it. Say it with your chest. Out loud.

With your chest. Right now, Dan Campbell and the Detroit Lions are fielding the most valuable player in the National Football League. How does that sound? Jameer Gibbs is really good. I love Jameer Gibbs and you know I tagged him for an offensive player of the year, but you know he does have a stout running back mate that deserves the rock as well.

I tried to tell you I'll summon him. Okay, but Jared Goff's the MVP through seven weeks of this season and I know some it's difficult for people to grasp it because they still think he's Bambi coming out of Cow who the Rams cast off. I understand what he's been. He's the number one pick in the draft. I'm talking about what he is.

I don't think I'm telling any tales out of school. He's the MVP of the league right now. Now, there's a long way to go, but this guy is deadly accurate and it's not just these dink passes. They're not bubble screens.

They're not dump offs. He is taking chunks out of people and this offense that Ben Johnson is coordinating is coordinating people open and he's hitting them in a way that they can take it to the house. Kalief Raymond can take it to the house and Jamison Williams can take it to the house and Jameer Gibbs can take it to the house and there was a house call from Ahmaan Raah St. Brown on a beautifully thrown football from Jared Goff.

Who just you can't get him off his game too. They start fast thanks to him. 15 of 15 he started in Minnesota.

How does that sound? He was 15 of 15 before Jonathan Bullard deflected in his pass at the at the line for his first incompletion of the game. It's his third game of the season starting 14 for 14 or better. Only guy in the league with one such game this year and he's the only player at least since 1991 with even two such games in a single season. The Lions tweeted out the only players in history to have a completion percentage of 72 percent or better and throw for two or more touchdowns and post a passer rating of 110 or better in four straight games in a single season. Goff's done it this year. You know who did it last? Tom Brady in the undefeated regular season of 2007.

Let me keep going. Only three other quarterbacks since 1950 have had 140 or better passer rating in three straight games as Goff is now done. Their names are Roger Staubach, Kurt Warner and Aaron Rodgers.

Rodgers and Warner won the most valuable player of the season in the year they did it and Staubach finished second in the voting bud was the MVP of the Super Bowl that they won. That's what Goff's doing guys. Got to give it up.

Got to give it up. Head coach is terrific. He's terrific. He's got coaches that are written all over him. Certainly now that Aiden Hutchinson's missing. I know everybody wants the kid who played for Eastern Michigan to walk through that door from Vegas. I don't know how they're going to get Max Crosby but maybe you just knock on the door knock on the door of the Raiders and say pretty please. I don't know but right now they are winning games. They're making the plays at the end of games and they've got the MVP of the league.

That's what Jared Goff is right now. I now open the floor to somebody else who who's the MVP of the league right now. Lamar Jackson could be mentioned and Derrick Henry can be mentioned right.

I mean Mahomes will always be the most valuable player on planet earth but his numbers do not support it right now. Baker could be thrown in this mix certainly if he beats the Ravens tonight. Who else? Who are we missing? Just looking at the odds Rich, it's Mahomes, it's Lamar, it's Josh Allen.

They're all kind of the same. Josh Allen sure. Jared Goff is fourth. You know Stroud and Jordan Love.

I have a wild card. Joe Burrow. Do you know Smith? Yeah I mean you know he's four and three now and he had a terrific game in Atlanta and that was a big game for Seattle. He's throwing for a lot of yards. He has.

Jared Goff guys. He's it. Rich I'm with you.

I vote for him right now. I don't want to give away any overreaction Monday topics but this is on it. So I'm happy to hear your take here. I'm with you. Yeah. Come on.

They're five and one. He's playing great. They just hung the first loss of the season on the Vikings coming off a bye and Kevin O'Connell knows what he's doing man.

He's playing great. He gave him an extra week to prepare. Damn they pulled it off though. I know that's what Vikings fans will say we almost won we were up you know but you gave the Lions an opening and that's what you do if you're a championship team with an MVP quarterback.

You get the opening and you bust it through. They gave the ball back to the Lions. That's it. That's all she wrote. I mean there's more Goff numbers too man.

Um I could I could go on but I think I made my point here. And next up for Detroit. Let's see who they have next. Oh they're home for Tennessee at Green Bay.

Let's go. At Houston on a Sunday night. Boy NBC's licking their chops there. Home for Jacksonville at Indianapolis. Then they get Chicago a couple times with Green Bay and Buffalo mixed in in San Francisco and Minnesota after that last six will be fun. It'll be fun.

It'll be fun. And it's all in perfect conditions. I mean the only game that could might be weather is out Chicago. That's it. Literally that's it. Dude. So everything is set up perfectly for him to keep playing at a high efficiency, really high completion percentage.

All the great weapons around him and and if they're the one seed it's basically a lock. Don't you think? Yeah. Right?

I do think. You know I'm gonna come in and give you week seven and call my shot. Yeah I was hoping I was gonna be alone on that island later today. Look at us. I know. Look at us.

Normally I look at you and say what's your problem? Right. But now you're looking at me saying I love you. I know I'm one for eight. I don't feel the same way. I know. I don't mean to put it all out there like that. I know. Okay. Got a good present.

The best thing about us though is it's about us. Thank you. Thank you. Over Reaction Monday.

Check it out later on. Let's go to Kevin in North Carolina. You're here on the Rich Eisen Show. What's up, Kevin?

Hey Rich. Thanks for taking my call. What up?

Brockman Notorious MDT and the host of the No Contest for Wrestling podcast. How's the triple play? I like it.

Right around the horn. I liked it. The Notorious MDT. The number which will never know his though will never forget the number sent him Jefferson. Okay there we go.

What is that? It's all right. Just somebody's call waiting Kevin right now and this is an outrage. Everybody leave Kevin alone. He's talking well about us.

What do you got on your mind, Kevin? So after a rough start, Russ shook off the Russ and he cooked. Still one of the best deep ball throwers I've ever seen. This may be Victory Monday in Pittsburgh but it's Vindication Monday for Mike Tomlin. Masterful performance by Wilson in the offensive line.

This is probably the best Steelers offense I've seen since Roethlisberger retired and I hope it's reflected in your power rankings because this is a top six or seven team. I'm not sure if you've seen the meme with Devante Adams reaction after the wild Pickens juggling catch yesterday saying the more things change the more they stay the same and the last seven days loss to the Steelers traded to a new team and lost to and lost to the Steelers again and before I go let me say Danny Smith is my hero. NFL officiating as a zero. Horrible call on the leverage penalty. Another rough night for G-Rex Aurelian.

I would run through a wall for Danny Smith. He's just as important to the Steelers as Mike Tomlin. Kevin, thank you for the call. Nice, Kevin.

Boy, still fans are feeling it right now. I will just counsel this. Great start.

Great start. Let's just see how it goes but that's Tomlin did it, man. Again, he's looking down the road because he's got an ownership structure that allows him to do it. Looking down the road and he sees starting in week 11 their entire division schedule is set up.

He wanted to know what Russ could do before he makes a decision who's going to be the guy and you rip the knob off and say it's your gig the rest of the way. Let's go hunt. Let's go be great.

We're done with this nonsense of just making it. We're gonna go and we're gonna win and we're gonna be dominant and we're gonna we're gonna do it and the best part about it too for the Steelers. I mean T.J. Watt didn't show up significantly on the stat sheet. I mean the Jets kind of they didn't let them wreck the game that's for sure. Right. You know a lot of batting balls though at the line. That's what I mean. Yeah. I don't know was that a Rogers thing? Is that an offensive line thing? I don't know, man. That's not my bailiwick here. All I know is that the Steelers have every reason to feel the way that they're feeling right now.

I can't give you all the ingredients to the hot dog you might not like. I didn't hear you. Alex in Indianapolis. Let's take his phone call. What's up, Alex?

Oh, hi there Rich. Thanks for taking the call. I uh wanted to talk a little bit about the Indiana Hoosiers. That's all right.

Why not? Let's go. Indeed. They're gonna make the playoff. So the last time IU was relevant they had Kalen Dabor on the staff and they had Michael Pennix under center. They were so good the victim had to change the rules so Ohio State would make the playoffs. Now Coach Ignati comes in, stands on business and goes 7-0. Now you need to start selling things that is not tied to the ground so they can pay this man so an SEC school doesn't roll in and take them.

I don't know. Listen, I don't know the you know structure of Indiana Hoosiers you know football behind the scenes. I can just see what's going on right now though. That's for damn sure and what's going on?

You know I want some of that. I kind of let me just ask this question here. We're talking college football, right? Because I stopped following that sport like a couple days ago. Oh interesting. Thank you.

Thanks for the call Alex. We did invite Coach Ignati on and he agreed he was going to be on tomorrow but he had to postpone. Oh. Because college game day chose Bloomington, Indiana which totally apparently changed their schedule as you might imagine.

Yeah. So like let's do it in a week that they're not having college game day on their set. By the way, Pat's got to love that. That's a home game for him practically there in Indiana. So college game day is going there.

That's what. Yeah, they're ranked 13 now. They jumped up three spots in the rankings and they are a fun. I mean that was a seven point spread game against Nebraska. Their quarterback got hurt though. And they put up what 56?

56. I can't wait to see it. Didn't even have to google it. Didn't have to google it. I love that guy.

Can't wait to have him on to talk about it. I mean they look like a playoff team right now. Well I mean you think about it. Best Big Ten teams, Oregon, Ohio State, Penn State's up there. Yep. Got to put Indiana in the same breath, right?

Got to. They eviscerated Nebraska. If they played Notre Dame right now, who do you think? Oh please, I don't think it's a contest. Notre Dame's ranked one spot ahead of them right now.

Listen, I'll put it this way. I am currently. Clemson? I'm currently not looking forward to watching Indiana take on Michigan. Right now I'm hoping that that's the day before the Bears, I mean the Giants Panthers game. I don't know if the schedule is off the top of my head because I'll be in Munich. We'll all be in Munich and I'll sleep through it. Right. I don't want to see it right now.

Be very honest, which I am. All right, Terry McLaurin speaking of being fair and balanced because I always am. One of the Ohio State's finest and now from the Washington commanders five and two team. He'll be joining us in hour number three.

Damian Woody will join us to chop up many of the subject matters that we saw coming out of week number seven from the worldwide leader in sports, Damian Woody, when we come back. When you get a Dell PC with AI, it gives back. Shop now at Dell.com slash deals. Let's talk O'Reilly Auto Parts people. You love their jingle. You're going to love their friendly, helpful service even better because they're in the business of keeping your car on the road and the parts knowledge they have. It's all you need for your maintenance and repairs. They've got thousands of parts and accessories in stock, either in store or online.

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That's OReillyAuto.com E-I-S-E-N O-O-O-Reilly Auto Parts. For business owners like you, the American Express Business Platinum Card works just as hard as you do to help you pursue your passions. With its world-class business and travel benefits, you can get more for your business wherever it takes you. The Amex Business Platinum Card offers a flexible spending limit that adapts with your business, enabling you to flex and adapt as your business evolves. And you'll earn five times membership rewards points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com so that going that extra mile for your business is even more rewarding. See how the Amex Business Platinum Card gives business owners like you the tools and rewards to do more of what you love. Not all purchases will be approved. Terms apply.

Learn more at AmericanExpress.com slash Amex Business. Back here on the Rich Eisen Show, 844-204-RICH being the number to dial. We'll take your phone calls. Damian Woody about to join us as soon as we return from our radio break here on the show.

And then Terry McClure in hour number three. You still believe in the commanders, right? More than ever now. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I'd like it if the QB wasn't hurt, but.

TJ, you still believe in the commanders? As what? To win the division. The NFC East? That's the division they play in.

And football. Okay. Yeah.

Really? I can't, I can't say that just now. They're a better team than the Cowboys. As of maybe today, had the season ended today, then yes. Well, I mean, they would be in first place. They would go.

Yeah. So I'm asking you to have a take here. Oh, my take is no. I don't think they're going to win the division.

Who is? You think the Cowboys? I think it'll probably, in all honesty, my biasness aside, it'll probably be the Eagles. I think they both make it. I think Eagles and Eagles and commanders make it.

I love the fact that honestly, I don't like the commanders obviously. And the first time I think I've ever actually said their name, but I love it that the NFC East is doing well. I love that they're doing well because that team's been down for so long.

So it's good to see them. Here's what we need to do. We need to find an NBA All-Star who likes the commanders and see if they give them the name of Karl-Anthony Towns' florist. Should I text Karl and ask him who is a commanders fan in the NBA?

He'd know. Yeah. Durant is a Washington fan.

Oh, yeah, that's right. Can we get Durant involved? What do you think? Can we rope Durant in somehow? Sure, why not? I'll text his agent.

Okay, great. I know him. Dak Prescott is 11. Yeah, we know Rich. Dak is 11 and 2 against Washington, just for the record. 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 clickgrainger.com or or just stop by a long time veteran in the National Football League whose work on ESPN is highly enjoyable and wanted to get his take on week seven, knowing in advance there'd be something to talk about, about one of his former teams and the Jets coming into Monday. Damian Woody, back here in the Rich Eisen Show. How are you doing, Damian? I'm well, Rich. How you doing?

I'm doing fine. Is this your man cave we're seeing behind you there? What do we got right here? Yeah, it's my library. Got a lot of stuff, you know, thrown in here. You know, wife, kids.

They love to stockpile stuff in my library. But yeah, it's my it's my space. OK, this is this is my space here. Like this is where, you know, I get like, hey, put your stuff here.

This is where this is this. This is what I get. You know what I mean? I'm with you.

Oh, I know exactly what you mean. Is that a Pro Bowl jersey over your right shoulder that I see? It is. It is. It is a pro. I got a got a few jurors around my rookie jersey from New England, my Boston College jersey, my high school jersey.

So I got a few a few things laying around here. Was that a Hawaii based Pro Bowl back in the day, Damian? Yeah, back. Yeah. Back when it was when it was a real Pro Bowl.

Not this not this Orlando, you know, manufactured stuff they got now. The real Pro Bowl when when nobody would touch anybody for three quarters and then the fourth quarter, everybody started doing the math in their head about how much it costs. And you wanted to win. You wanted the winner, you wanted the winner's check to break even. That's pretty much. Yeah. So, yeah.

Had to pay for that Hawaii trip somehow, you know, with the with the family there. So, yeah. I remember those days, man.

I used to cover it back in those days. All right. So let's let's jump into it. What ails the Jets right now, Damian? You know, Rich, early this morning, man, I said that the the Jets, they're a roster, they're not a team.

And what I mean by that is they have a bunch of guys with with brand names on the back of their jersey, but they're not a team. And that's clearly on display on display as you watch the Jets. Obviously, Aaron Rodgers not, you know, it's not playing well. There's a lot of guys on this roster that's just not playing well right now. You know, this is Aaron Rodgers, the Aaron Rodgers, the version of Aaron Rodgers we're seeing right now is not the version that just traded for. Clearly, if the Jets want to go anywhere, the quarterback has to play much better than what he's playing. He looks old and compromised right now.

He looks like a guy that doesn't want to get hit. He doesn't move in the pocket, nowhere near what we've been accustomed to seeing. Obviously, he's 40 years old coming off the Achilles. So, you know, I wouldn't expect Aaron Rodgers like Aaron Rodgers from 10 years ago. But, you know, some of these, some of the the one thing about Aaron Rodgers that we've seen throughout his career, he's obviously one of the best talents that we've ever seen throwing a football. But the one thing he's done throughout his career so well is taking care of the football. And that's one thing he has not done this season is taking care of the football and the defense is not living up to its billing. I know, you know, stats, you know, there'll be stats that all the Jets are top five.

That's baloney. Anyone who watching the Jets can see like this team is not playing particularly on that side of the ball up to their billing. And so you got a bunch of mercenaries on its roster. That's what I call it.

They got a bunch of mercenaries on his roster, but they don't have a team. Well, I mean, you know, Bishop made that incredible interception right before half that I mean, I can't really pin on Rodgers and certainly the second one that was almost a pick six. You could pin that right on the number five that Garrett Wilson had the ball bounce off of. So where do you see Rodgers's play actually affecting the win and wins and losses right now, Damian? Yeah, I mean, listen, yeah, that first interception actually Devontae Adams was wide open. I mean, you know, Rich Aaron Rodgers tried to thread a needle. The DB didn't make a good play on it, but I just go not just this first game, but you know, if you look at Aaron Rodgers, you know, this year, it's the turnovers.

He has a bunch of turnovers. We've seen Aaron Rodgers in years past where he's had three, four interceptions throughout the whole season. Aaron Rodgers has like six in like two games. That's not Aaron Rodgers. That's not the Aaron Rodgers that we've been accustomed to seeing play football. They can't run the ball. They can't stop the run on defense. And your quarterback is not playing nowhere near the level that we've been accustomed to see him playing throughout his career.

So when you have all those things going on, you find yourself at two and five. Well, my issue by looking at it is that so, so who is going to be able to, I mean, it's crazy to say these words, but hold Rodgers to account. It certainly can't be the interim coach who wasn't even in charge of his own challenge flag last night. Damian, you know, like that, that's the question here. And it's basically Rodgers have to hold himself to account. And, and I, I, I understand what you're saying. Cause I, I, I said it after the bills beat the jets on that Monday night on, on your networks, that, that the bills are a sum of their parts and the jets are a part, a bunch of parts looking for a sum.

And that's what it looks like again. Right. And, and with the, so the only way that I could kind of look at it is is the jets don't have an ownership front office structure about the way things are done. And the Steelers do, and they stuck Russell Wilson into that on Sunday night, came out with the win. And maybe, is that what it is?

I know it might be a larger picture question here, and we need to get this thing for the jets to be a playoff team up and running. But I'm wondering if that has something to do with it, Damian. Well, well, last night, rich, you clearly saw a clear contrast between the two organizations. You saw one organization that's had three, three head coaches since 1968.

And then you saw an organization that that's been, you know, mired in, in media mediocrity since about 1968. And so when you have all that stuff going on, with the jets right now, and, you know, you talk about who's going to hold air rides to account. Part of the problem is the players aren't holding themselves to account.

There's no more excuses. You can't talk about the coach. Can't talk about the offensive coordinator. You fired the coach, you fired the offensive coordinator.

So who else is there, rich? It's the players. Ultimately, at the end of the day, I don't play, I don't, I don't place any blame on Jeff Albrecht. I mean, hell he's, you know, he's never been a head coach. He's trying to coordinate a defense now taking on the interim, you know, responsibilities of the head coach. At some point, the players got to go out there and take account for their play on the field and make things happen. I've always said, you know, who are the real, who are the real leaders in that locker room? And why aren't they stepping up to the plate right now?

I think that's the biggest thing that I can say. And I wouldn't normally ask, do you think they can? I think they can, because they, they are very talented. There's a bunch of talented people. And as Rogers said, two big names coming, one's already here in Adams and one's coming in Hassan Redick. I think they can. So I'll ask it. Do you think they will, Damian?

I would say no right now. What, what, what, what, what evidence do you have right now that leads you to believe that the Jets can go on to, you know, win, you know, how, what, eight or nine games this year remaining schedule, there's no evidence to say that that could happen. And I think part of you, part of the reason you're, you're saying that is because you're basing it on the names, the names on the back of their Jersey.

That's part of why you're saying that. But again, I go back to, this is, you know, what I see from the Jets right now is a roster. It's not a team. There's a big difference. Guys, not, you know, not doing their jobs individually and collectively. If they, if guys do that, then the outcomes will be different, but we're seeing breakdowns everywhere from the quarterback to the defense, the line's not blocking. There's just a lot of guys.

It's a lot of individual parts. That's just not playing up to the sun. Damian, what do you hear on the Rich Eisen show as we're sitting here, the lone remaining undefeated team are the two time defending champion, Kansas city chiefs. Now that we have seen six, if not seven games from the rest of the conference, give me the team that you think within the AFC can knock the chiefs off, Damian. Baltimore. Baltimore is a team that I could see doing that. I think defensively, they're only going to get better.

They're still rounding the form. They got a first year defensive coordinator, Zach Ward, who's, who's still, you know, kind of finding his foot in that defense is only going to get better and better. But you look at the Baltimore Ravens, their identity couldn't be any truer. It seemed like week in and week out, they're going to run the football. They're going to look to bludgeon you.

Okay. With Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson and Lamar Jackson is playing about as well about as I've seen him playing this man as a two time league MVP. And so when I look at a team in the AFC who could knock off the chiefs, it's the Baltimore Ravens for me. And Derrick Henry seems to be a perfect fit. And then you look around and we'll see what the bills look like with Amari Cooper. And when they get some of their defensive prowess back, maybe if Milano can return and obviously upfront Houston does appear, it does appear that the NFC North has given a blueprint to the rest of the league on how to handle CJ Stroud. Damian, would you agree with that right now?

Oh, absolutely. Cause I can tell you right now, the Green Bay Packers put CJ Stroud in a blender yesterday. They just, they was just smothering, suffocating him all over the field.

You know, getting after him, obviously the running game, you know, wasn't all that effective. I mean, they held CJ Stroud, maybe to the lowest point of any game throughout his young career. So that just speaks to the Green Bay Packers defense, Jeff Halflett and a new defensive coordinator from my alma mater, Boston college has done a fantastic, has done a fantastic job with that defense. And boy, you talking about a division. There's like four heavyweights in the NFC North division. It's going to be fun to watch. Who's the best team in the NFC through seven weeks in your mind, Damian? I would probably have to say that the Lions, the Lions are probably the best team. They're well coached.

They know what they are. And I have to say Jerry golf might be the league MVP right now. Look at us, Jerry golf, Jerry golf, the numbers that Jerry golf has put over, put up over the four last four games. No other quarterback has done that since Peyton Manning.

Uh, I think back in like 2008, it's something crazy. Uh, the numbers he's completing over 80% of his passes. He's just been like sour, especially when you try to blitz him.

He's been, he has ice in his veins. So Jared golf, the way they're able to run the ball, uh, it's just been phenomenal. The question, the only question I have with the Detroit lights, you know, what are they going to do with the absence of Aidan Hutchison? Cause he sees, you know, he's such a, he was such a dynamic player. They're going to need a pass rusher. Uh, I think via a trade to kind of get, keep this team where it is right now.

Yeah. I said, uh, Jared golf, the MVP of the league, literally 10 minutes before you zoomed in like right now through seven weeks, you can't, you can't argue with what you're seeing, the efficiency to start a game, to, to help the lions get off fast. Um, the consistency that it, that brings in the calmness, I imagine that must bring to the entire team. Um, and, and, and also similar to the city, I'll say it, which is interesting to say this about a kid from Northern California, honestly making something of himself when people do not believe in the product and believe in the, the, the, uh, the community that, that is being fostered by him. It's similar to, you know, the city's back, the city's awesome Detroit versus everybody. Jared Goff is, is, is an incredible story that I think everybody's buying into there right now.

Yeah. He fits in so well because remember when that trade with, with Matthew Stafford, you know, Jerry golf was an afterthought in that trade. And all he's done is come to Detroit, work his tail off. Uh, GM Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell had done such a great job of assembling a team and Jerry golf has just blossomed into one of the best quarterbacks in the national football league.

And you're right. I, I, he's the right now if I had to, he's the MVP, he's playing at such a high level at the quarterback position. Like that's why the Detroit Lions sit where they are right now, in my opinion, is the best team in, in the conference. Damian Woody here on the Rich Eisen show, two-time super bowl champion, uh, from, uh, the worldwide leader in sports. What, what did you make of, uh, Gerard Mayo calling the Patriots soft Damien?

Uh, that's a very interesting way to go about, you know, critiquing your team. Uh, Rich, I, um, as a player, you rarely ever hear a player say that word soft because in football vernacular, it's a, it's a, it's a derogatory term. You're talking about, you're talking about someone's manhood, uh, when you're calling someone soft on the football field. And so, um, I'm just, I'm so fascinated to see what those guys in the locker room think of their head coach using that word in the media, calling them soft.

Um, it could go one or two ways. It could, you know, it could rally guys or guys could just turn on their coach. Uh, I'm just fascinated to see how this Patriots team respond at the hearing that coach calling them soft through in the media. Did Bill, did Bill ever call you guys soft behind the scenes? Did that word ever? Cause again, I'm just trying to, and it's unfortunate, you know, maybe for me to do this, cause anything that somebody like Gerard Mayo in new England would say, I'm wondering if he would pick up from bill in any way, shape or form bill never really did that obviously ever publicly, but I'm, I'm wondering where that came from.

Yeah. I mean, to my, my recollection, I don't remember Bill Evers using it saying, you know, you guys are soft. Again, that is very, it's very rare that you hear anyone call, you know, whether a coach or anyone's called tell players, a group of players that they're soft. You just, it's a very touchy thing, man.

And so I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm shocked. I'm actually very surprised that he would say that in the media, I am Damian Woody here on the rich eyes and show another line that usually don't cross is, is to boo or is to cheer a player who's hurt because that player has been substandard in his production. And that was what happened when Deshaun Watson, who we've been talking about here on this show is being unbenchable because of his contract and, and how he's been put out there over and over again because of his contract in a way that other quarterbacks would be benched. Brown's fans, when he went down with what is now been confirmed a season ending Achilles injury, there were some who cheered. I want to play you Miles Garrett's response to it and get your response to all of this. Whether it's an opponent that goes down on one of our own, we don't boo.

We don't boo the guys that are injured on the field, especially, you know, with the extent where the cart comes out, you know, that's, we should be ashamed of ourselves, you know, as, as, as Browns and, and as fans to, to boo anyone and their, their downfall to be season altering, career altering injury. Man, it's not perfect. He doesn't need to be. None of us are expected to be perfect. Can't judge him for what he does, you know, off the field or on the field because I can't throw stones for my glasshouse. But we, we need to do better. We need to do better on the football field and we need to do better as fans for having some empathy for a man who's, who's doing the best he can and did the best he can up to this point.

We have to be better. What'd you think, Jamie? I, I, I a hundred percent agree with Miles Garrett. I think he said the exact, you know, the exact right thing to say, you know, as I, you know, I always tell people, you know, as players, we spent a lot of times, we spent more times with the guys in the locker room than our own family.

Uh, and so we look at each other, there's a brotherhood. We see how guys work. It's a lot of preparation, rich that goes into, you know, when, you know, winning these football games and to go out there and you see a guy like the Sean Watson, you know, put in the work, he's not trying to go out there and play back. I mean, he's, yeah, he's not playing up to his standard, but I can, I can tell you from the guys, you know, in the locker room that this man is preparing his butt off and then to go out there and have that type of injury happen. And then to hear fans cheer for another person's downfall. No, I can't ride with that at all. I just, I just don't think, I think there has to be a level of decorum with the fans.

Um, as far as that's concerned, um, you just never want to see any player, again, a teammate or an opponent, uh, have to have that type of treatment towards them from the fans. So I agree with Miles Gary 100%. Damian, I really appreciate the time here. Uh, I'd like to do this more often if, if you're up for it.

I really enjoy watching, watching you in my former place of business and, and having you on here. Uh, does Greeny need a hug? Um, does he, is he still wearing the Rogers jersey underneath his, his gear? Damian, what do you think what's going on? I think, I think Greeny is numb.

I think that's the best, the best word to use right now. He's numb. It like, we were just talking and, you know, this morning it was just like, I don't even know what to feel after watching that debacle last night on Sunday night football. He's a smart guy. I mean, I know him, he went to Northwestern. So did I, I don't know why he keeps on, uh, keeping on. I don't understand it, Damian.

I don't get it. Yeah. I mean, for you right there. Yeah. Yeah.

He's a, he's a fanatic, but at some point you gotta start, you know, letting it go a little bit, I guess. Damian, thanks for the time. Really appreciate it. Let's do this again soon.

Absolutely. Anytime, Rich. You should check out Damian Woody on Get Up and the rest of, uh, the, uh, the morning, mostly, um, shows.

And of course on NFL live, that's Damian Woody doing all the shows on ESPN right here on the Rich Eisen Show. Good stuff right there. Um, anything that he said you'd jump out at you before we take a break? You want to pull on that string a little bit? Ravens, the team that beat the Chiefs more than any other one.

I mean, they, they were in Isaiah likely, uh, Tony all the way from doing it on opening night. I like that. I like that. I want to see how they look tonight. Let me ask you this question. Let me ask you this question.

It's just, and, and I, I totally understand why. And certainly the Houston Texans, if, if, if CJ Stroud is going to, um, struggle against blitz, happy fronts, as he has in Minnesota and now in Green Bay, as I tweeted out yesterday, I'm like, it's a good thing. He doesn't play in the NFC North right now.

If he's going to struggle against blitz, happy schemes, how do you think Spagnola would handle him in a playoff game? So, you know, that's something for the Texans to work on between now and then, and Houston does play Kansas city, uh, soon in Kansas and not soon week 16, into December. Wait. Okay. Possible.

By the way, Houston, by the way, Houston's week 16 and 17 at Kansas city Christmas day against Baltimore at home on Netflix. So that's that. That's right.

They're one of the four teams Saturday Christmas. Yeah. Yeah.

That's tough. Yeah. The other ones are, um, are, um, the other one involved in this is Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh, I believe plays Baltimore on the Saturday and then Kansas city on the, on the Christmas. Don't want to jump too far ahead because Sunday is for first place in the South against Indy.

Okay. I think that's going to be a get right game for, uh, for the Texans. How does that sound?

I want to see his playing quarterback first for Indy. I, Anthony Richardson is still on the struggle bus a little bit here. It's, it's not, not great, Bob. That's what I'm saying. So, but that said, therefore you are what you are and what they are is an opportunity to go into Houston and tie them up. They're also, I hear you.

I hear you. Um, that said, almost that said is the Ravens not on the bill. Let's see what the bills can do. But right now, that's why I'm saying Kansas city could be a one seat and looking good looking pretty because at the end of the day, when the Ravens have to go back into Kansas city on a, uh, frigid evening and try and beat them to go to the championship, to go to the Superbowl, which is, I'm imagining what would be the game. It would be an AFC championship game. Talk about symmetry. The season begins and ends in the AFC in the same spot.

Same team. It's going to be great. Somebody's going to have to do it on that night. I want to see tonight first before I, before I talk about the Ravens, by the way, good news is, is that you'll let you get to see three months too. I know. I'm excited. I also think Tampa can win tonight. No doubt. Let's take a break.

8 4 4 2 0 4 Rich number two dollar. Let's talk baseball and the world series. When we come back, we have when you think about businesses that are selling through the roof, like aloe or skins.

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Call 1-800 Grainger, click Grainger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done. Is it true that you met Lorne Michaels as a vendor at Yankee Stadium, the SNL founder? Is that true? Gate 4, and I was a kid and he was my friend. So that's Lorne Michaels.

That's Lorne Michaels. He came out of the players gate and I overcharged him for like three bats and some shirts from Yankee shirt. And then when I became a cast member, I gave him back like $14 and some cents. And he said, what's this for? I said, cause I overcharge you for some items. He started laughing.

He started dying. This is when you said game four, like what, the 96 world series? Is that what that was?

Tracy, what do you think? It was, it was a, it was a Derek Jeter. No, no, no.

Manically I think manically he was playing. Okay. So there was probably like 95 or something like that. Okay. So, so you were, so what were you doing out there? You were selling stuff. So we were stopping tickets. I've scalped tickets. I sold souvenirs and I sold cocaine. And that's when it was $21 a gram.

I'm getting $45 a hour go down for me. So this is true because I live right up to hell. So I had tickets, I had cocaine and I had souvenirs. You got it all.

That's what you're saying back in the day, $20, $21 a gram. And so you sold hats and bats and stuff like that. And that's how you met.

Don't forget to cope. You got some in there. Tracy really was hustle man from Martin. It really was hustle man. I was, I was, I worked souvenirs and I was Tony Montana on the spot. Oh, one of our favorite, uh, celebrity true or false is back in the day, back here on the Rich Eisen show game time picks is a new feature of game time tickets.

Uh, by the way, um, my, my game time app was open real quick last night. And then, uh, and then I, and then I immediately flipped off it. There were some tickets with, uh, with two numbers to the left of the commas, sir. You got your name on mugs, baby.

No, it was really, it was really great. I mean, obviously we're bottom line is it's a great way to start looking for tickets and start getting curating for tickets and being able to see the tickets that, that are in your price range or where you want to sit. It really is so easy to navigate and game time picks filters out. The fluff shows you all the incredible deals on great seats.

You don't have to waste time searching through thousands of tickets. Obviously I'm going to go back on there like every five minutes and check out everything's working and taking the guesswork out of buying tickets with game time, picks, download the game time app, create an account, use my code rich for $20 off your first purchase terms apply. Visit game time.co for details.

Again, create an account, redeem my code R I C H for $20 off. Download game time today. What time is it? Game time.

When I was a young lad, when I was in Staten Island, New York, New York, 1977 and 78. That's correct. That's me.

Expect the deck. All of us. Back in the day, 1977 and 78, the New York Yankees took on the Los Angeles Dodgers in the world series and they were epic contests. As we all know, Reggie Reginald Martinez Jackson, three home runs and three games to wrap up the 1977 world series. And then back at it 1978. Then in 1981, I cried myself to sleep when I knew Reggie would no longer be a Yankee and the Dodgers knocked off the Yankees in 1981.

Now here we are again. After 1981 and 1996, it was 15 years between the Yankees making the world series and believe it or not, it is in fact the same number of years in between the last Yankee appearances in the world series, 1999 to present day 2024. And who are the Yankees playing?

The Los Angeles Dodgers. Thanks to a resilient Yankee team, somehow, some way being able to beat back a guardian's team that is so good at the baseball and have so many good players. I got to tell you, it seems like Steven Kwan came up once every three batters as opposed to once every nine batters.

Unbelievable. The guys up the middle that Jimenez at second base, he kept the guardians in it so many ways with his glove, including in game in game five, throwing Gleyber Torres out at home plate on a relay throw that was just perfect and so on and so forth. And then coming back after Stanton hit a three-run shot, I mean Stanton is playing the best baseball he's ever played as a Yankee. Ever? Well, I mean saying ever, I mean the time when he was red hot with the Marlins though. Yeah, in games that didn't matter.

In games that didn't matter. Correct. Now this is it. Okay, got it.

Thank you. But honestly, to keep things cheaper for the New York Yankees, as I said back, I believe in the spring, they should just make Juan Soto a Steinbrenner. They should adopt him. Price has gone up. Juan Steinbrenner. I don't know.

I'm sure you love your family and everybody in it, but guess what? You're now a Steinbrenner because it's cheaper. It actually will be. Because his three-run shot in the 10th inning is the reason why there's no game six tonight.

Great head. Because the Indians sure is playing his day. We're going to win that game. Oh yeah. Pardon me, the guardians.

I did it again. Listen, bottom line is the Yankees have a team that can win it all and they're now taking on a Dodgers team that is absolutely one of the best we've seen in a long time. And the fact that, I mean, Tommy Edmond is playing out of his skull right now.

Right? And Betts and Otani and Kike Hernandez and Teoscar Hernandez and the rest of them, Will Smith, on and on and on and on. And this is the ultimate matchup for major league baseball, Fox and Shanks and all of them there. And their hope chest has finally landed with a Dodgers, Yankees, World Series, Friday night, Dodger Stadium. Shoei Otani's presence there, of course, now sends the interest level of this World Series, not only through the roof, but across the Pacific Ocean to the left.

International interest. What a win for major league baseball with all due respect to the 28 other franchises. And your New York Mets had a very nice season and sort of the guardians and everybody else who made it. But it is the matchup of billionaires and gajillionaires, but really talented players, Soto and Judge and Betts and Otani. And my goodness gracious. You're talking superstars, you're talking future hall of famers in this game, in this series. It's great.

So much fun. And they're all playing really well. There's not really any, like who's kind of slumping of the big name star?

No, that's the thing. It's Freddie Freeman's ding-dong. Freddie Freeman, I don't know how much we're going to see him, unfortunately. But you know, Judge was really struggling and then he had the home run against Cleveland and got it going. And he's woken up, obviously Stanton is just playing out of his mind. Soto, goodness. Has that ball landed yet? My God. One of the best baseball players I've ever seen, ever. He's going to get paid.

Oh, I know that. And it comes down to the pitching for both sides, which have been major question marks this year. You know, the Dodgers really banged up, you know, starting staff. And Garret Cole, let's go, man. You're worth your money. This is it. This is it for him. This is it for him.

Soto's going to look great in the Mets uniform next year. Nice try. Keep going.

Keep going, pal. You should just worry about keeping the polar bear. Well, if we got to exchange one for the other, you know. This guy. You know that. Stop it. Pipe down.

But it's Soto, baby. And I got to say to them, the managerial matchup is really interesting to me. Guys that have taken a lot of heat in both their hometowns in the last few years for their lack of playoff success and early exits. And, you know, are they really managing the team?

Is it the binders and the front office calling the shots? But also really interesting. Also with seminal moments in big time playoff games. Yeah, against each other. It's kind of wild. The Aaron Boon home run, the Dave Roberts stolen base.

Yeah, it's fun. A lot of storylines. These are the matchups. You live against the Yankees, Otani against the Yankees, Soto against the Dodgers, Aaron Judge. Keep Aaron Judge in center field, nowhere near that bullpen door that broke open.

Yeah, well, he ran through it and, you know, a 275 pound guy. Maybe we should seal it. Just seal it. Seal the door a little bit.

Make the bullpen just climb the fence. Still drunk off the champagne, right, from getting this World Series matchup. No doubt. No doubt. Because, you know, as much as I love my hometown, you know, the rest of the country doesn't care about New York versus New York subway series and all that.

This one, though, is a different ball of wax. Like you said, this is a Japanese audience. Oh, my God.

Ten percent of Japan's population got up at 9 a.m. to watch. Here we go. One of the games Friday is going to be crazy. Friday night. All right. Just going to have to lose my left arm to take the family.

That's all. All right, Bill, we're recording now. And please put your phone on silent. Oh, where is my phone? Let's go, man. Get it together over there, player. Go ahead. Pick on me the way that you want to. I would say that to my son. Just go.

All right. Why would people want to listen to the Sims Complete podcast? Father, son, dynamic duo talking about the game of football. We do a lot of quarterback and coach talks. It's fun. I love doing this. It's been awesome. Sims Complete. Check us out on the Believe Network. Appreciate it. Just search Believe BLEAV wherever you listen.