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Learn more at americanexpress.com slash Amex Business. This is the Rich Eisen Show. Go! Quick release down for Klay Thompson and a time out by Steve Kerr. Live from the Rich Eisen Show Studio in Los Angeles.
That stadium was built to feel like it's outdoors when you're indoors. The Rich Eisen Show. Earlier on the show, senior writer for The Athletic, Kevin Fishbane. Coming up, Box Sports College Football Insider, Bruce Feldman.
Basketball Hall of Famer, Shaquille O'Neal. Actor, Ronny Chang. And now, it's Rich Eisen. Hour number two of the Rich Eisen Show is on the air.
The Chicago Bears are meeting with the media this hour, apparently, to start talking about the new offensive coordinator there. We talked it with Kevin Fishbane, who covers a team for The Athletic in hour number one. If you missed any of that, guess what? There's so many different ways to catch up on this program. The Roku Sports Channel re-airs this. So does the Rich Eisen Channel on the Roku platform. There's also a new way for you to follow us. YahooSports.com slash Rich Eisen is a way to check on some of our videos as well.
We've got a new relationship with Yahoo Sports. Just checked it out yesterday. Yeah, just to get some of our stuff out there a little bit more. There's, of course, our YouTube channel as well. YouTube.com slash Rich Eisen Show.
There's also our burgeoning podcast network. We'll be doing overreaction Monday on a Wednesday in just a second here on this program. The overreaction Monday pod, Chris and I recorded it before yesterday's program. And then after yesterday's program, Suzy Schuster, Amy Trask sat down for What the Football with Dan Patrick. And DP sitting in his studio there in Connecticut, zooming in with Suzy and Amy, minced zero words when they asked him about, yes, Chris, the Jets, we're gonna talk about them, at three and seven, because not only is their season disintegrating, but Aaron Rodgers is disintegrating before our very eyes, according to Dan Patrick. There's some kind of like Aaron Rodgers curse stink that has to do with his team, like. And is he back next year?
No, no, no. Well, that's, once again, if you want to attract a coach, the first thing I'm gonna say is, what's Aaron's status? Because you don't take over that team, where you're gonna have a lame duck quarterback. You just don't. And I don't, you know, I'm old enough to remember when Unitas ended his career, when Namath ended his career.
You're really old. Willie Mays, I am, I am. And Willie Mays ended his career. Like, we're watching this and I think in our minds, Tom didn't slow down. Brady's could play right now. But Aaron does rely on his footwork so much more, dancing out of the pocket, the whole, and you're watching the end of a career.
And I don't think we were ready for that. I think you just thought, well, Aaron Rodgers is just great. Like, he'll be great forever, but he's not. It's like Peyton Manning. Like, it was like, wow, it's over. And it's usually the player is the last guy to recognize that. I think Aaron thinks or thought, I'm Aaron Rodgers. I don't think defenses are like, oh my God. Whereas it used to be, they knew. They knew if he had the ball, somehow, some way, just like Brady, just like Mahomes, you're gonna win this game.
And you just don't see that. And I think leaders can lead by example, which he probably did in Green Bay. Now is when you need to lead by your words too. And I think he's failed the Jets.
This is what you need. You don't have a head coach. Maybe you wanted a change. You got your offensive coordinator.
Now you don't. You wanted Devonte. Like, you got everything you wanted.
The Jets now want something back from you. And that's being a leader. And I think that that's where he is really disappointed. Dan Patrick. Think he nails that.
Wow. That whole conversation they had, check it out, on what the football, cause it's just 45 minutes of exactly that. And just hearing Dan just say it in such plain language. I'm sorry to say this, Chris. Cause I always argue sometimes too, where, you know, Susie hears it from somebody else and she'll be like, you know what, I believe that. And I'm like, I've been saying that. And I hear Dan basically say, Rogers is falling apart and it's the end of his career. And I'm like, it kind of opens my eyes a little bit. Who's been saying that around here over the last eight weeks, at least?
Where's my camera? But then you see some throws though, man. Yeah, but you know what that is? You see some throws. It's kind of like the Ving Rhames line from Pulp Fiction. That's nostalgia effing with you.
And you think, oh, there it is. It can be the glory days again. That throw to Devante Adams to beat the Texans. That was a great throw. He was also wide open.
Well, I mean, cause he and Devante Adams knew how to scheme it, get it out there. But then you watch him play and it's like a 40 year old guy playing football who doesn't want to get hit. I don't want to get hit. I don't want Cage to hit me in the Musburgers. It's like, dude, he can't play next year and the Jets can't bring him back. I don't care what it costs.
I hear you. I don't believe that's what's going to end up happening. I don't believe that's what's going to end up happening. Well, that is an institutional failure to all the other players on that roster.
Well, and I will say this, cause hearing Dan say it, do you agree with it, TJ? Do you think this is the end of Rogers? You're watching it? Cause he mentioned Peyton Manning. Remember Peyton and the Super Bowl year? It was really bad.
Right? He had eight touchdown passes that entire season. And his walk-off? The backup looked better. I'm blanking on his... Osvaldo looked better than Peyton that whole year. Do you feel that way about Rogers?
I'll be honest. I have not spent a lot of time watching the Jets, but from what I've seen, like at the end of the game last week, he got hit and he laid, he just laid there. He laid there for a minute. And I was like, oh no, he's hurt. And it just took him so long. This, you know that play I'm talking about when the camera lingered? And it was just like, at that moment, Rich, I kind of felt like that's a guy who seems to me like Danny Glover and Lethal Weapon.
I'm too old for this stuff. Yeah. Well, he doesn't move as well, clearly. I mean, and that was always his, one of his many extra special powers.
I was a superpower man. Right. And he had that. Right, where he just, you couldn't sack him. You couldn't get him down.
You couldn't make him, like Roger Federer. He wouldn't sweat while he made an incredible play. And it would come out of nowhere. Like it would fly out of his hands and it would just make you go, wow.
And it was subtle. But here's the thing that Dan has hit on here that I believe, because you can go back and forth, is this the end of Rogers, is this not, or what have you. We'll see what does happen over the final stretch.
And they might win this week and trick everybody again. But it is the question of, if you're a head coach, would you want to take this job? And your first question is, what is going on with Aaron Rogers? And how long is he going to stay here? And what is the plan?
And the issue is, is also, you'd have to look at the owner and say, what's the plan for you? Because word is that Woody Johnson might wind up back overseas again in Trump 2.0. And if he's not there, then he's going to hand it off to his brother. And then who is the GM?
Are you here? Is the GM here? What's going on? And I think Woody deep down, again, I don't have any personal knowledge of this. I think Woody deep down wants to stick with Rogers. That he believes that this is the guy.
And it's just circumstances. The coach that his brother hired while he was overseas and in the last time he was an ambassador, wasn't his guy. And I just think at the end of the day, he is going to stick with Rogers, find a new coach who's willing to work there. But if you're a new coach, would you want to go there?
No chance. And the thing is, I get Woody wanting to stick with Rogers because it's a fun, cool name and it sounds awesome. It's not just that, I think just deep down, he just believes like in his gut, like Rogers is still got it enough. And all you just need to do is get the right circumstances, the right line around him, the right head coach, the right offensive coordinator.
Rogers brought all of his friends along for the ride. And it's been a disaster. You guys said, if you were a coach, a new coach, would you want to go there? Fact of the matter is, if you're someone who's a new coach in this league and you don't have a resume, you don't have the, I would say you don't have the ability to turn down a coaching job if it gets offered to you, especially a head coaching gig, because- But is that the type of guy that you'd want to hire?
Okay, now that's a different- For Aaron Rogers, that's at age 41? That's a different question. I'm saying if you're the coach, yeah. I don't know how many head coaching opportunities I'm gonna get. I would take that job.
Now, the way you just presented the question, that's a little bit different. I can wait. Every year, there's six to 10 openings. If I'm that good and I believe in myself, look at Ben Johnson. I'll just stay where I'm at. They could win a Super Bowl and now his price tag went up even more than it was last year. Yeah, I mean, sure.
Better on yourself. But like I said, these jobs, there ain't a whole lot of them. You can go to New Orleans?
There are though. Every year there's openings. You can go to Jacksonville if that's gonna be open. Dallas, if that's gonna be open.
I mean, these are all possibilities, sir. And then there's always two kind of mystery teams. What if Chicago's open?
Yeah. I mean, the Jets are gonna have to get their house in order from ownership on down before you get a candidate that can actually make this work. What if the Raiders is open?
What if- At any rate, what the football? It's a great conversation, Susie, Amy, and DP. And by the way, you and O'Shea Jackson Jr, TJ, are recording the latest episode of No Contest Wrestling after today.
We are. Your guest is? Well, on the anniversary of the late great Eddie Guerrero's passing, we will bring in the man who almost single-handedly brought down the WWE empire for 83 weeks, Eric Bischoff, at WCW on top. And today we'll be zooming in with Eric and talking about all things wrestling.
That is gonna be awesome. I also have some news for you, TJ. I don't need more flowers, Rich.
I really don't. I have some news. No, no, I have some news for you. Bring them out.
A guest that you were hoping to get has agreed to come on. No. This is true. All right, well, we can't, for real? I'll say it, yeah, yeah. No, let's not say it. No, I'll say it. I'll say it. Okay, say it. Bob Costas said he would do it.
Hey! He wants to go back in his WWF Saturday night memory lane. He says he'll do it. You and O'Shea. And Bob Costas. And please get Bob to curse. You know what this proves, people? Please do it.
Closed mouths don't get fed. I wanted Bob Costas. I thought there was no chance. I mentioned it. Rich was like, what? I'll call him. Rich and I are talking at like 6.30 last night. He threw out a couple of December dates that he thinks he can do. Oh, fantastic.
In Switzerland, it's illegal to own only one guinea pig because they are prone to loneliness. Let me ask you something, Rich Eisen. Yes, sir. I just got back from Munich, Germany. The people were showing us love.
We come back here, you know, and I got Eric Bischoff and then you just tell me Bob Costas is coming on my podcast. Why do you think I... You got flowers! I'm not letting the flowers bring me down. I'm not letting the fact they can't get their crap together bring me down, all right? Things are looking good. A grown man sent you flowers yesterday, TJ. A grown ass man. You know what I mean? As the Philadelphia 76ers found out last night as well. Well, I'm saying things are good for your boy.
Carl Anthony Towns looks like he was made for the next right now. It's so great. He's looking great. It's really fun.
Let's do it. It's overreaction Monday on a Wednesday presented by Sleep Number. That was terrible. That was crap.
That was garbage. This place sucks. Overreaction. Mondays. Monday. On a Wednesday.
Okay. Wednesday. It's actually overreaction Monday on a Tuesday. On a Wednesday.
On a Wednesday, yeah. Hey guys, everybody good? We're good.
I just told you I'm great. See, TJ's doing great. Who has it better than us? Nobody. Nobody. If you look at the projections for next April's NFL draft, the Jaguars have the number one pick.
They need to think about trading Trevor Lawrence and doing a hard reset. Wow. Dude.
Dude. That's not gonna happen. They just paid him. They just paid him. Yeah, and actually it's a cheap price now for anyone else. Guess what?
Yeah. They can take the number one pick. They can take Chidor or Cam Ward and start over.
I don't think that contract's tradable. They get a new coach. New GM. Start over.
Hard reset. I don't even know if that's even possible cap-wise. I think that's unrealistic. I'll call that an overreaction at present. Kind of set yourself back another four or five years though, Chris, won't you? Yeah. What have the last four years been?
What have they done there? I... Dude, look at you, man. Coming out the gate. I'll call that an overreaction. All right. I'll call that an overreaction. But he's out again this week.
Uh-huh. He might be out for the rest of the year. I mean, it's a serious AC sprain in his left shoulder. Clearly.
Non-thrilling. Clearly. But it's gonna be Mac Jones against the Lions. Oh my gosh.
Mac Teane. Take cover. Fed to the Lions. I'll just call that an overreaction. Say that I don't believe that they're gonna go on a quick spin like that. They just sign him and I don't even think that he's... I don't even think that contract's tradable. Who would take... If the Jaguars say we're gonna go hard reset, who's gonna take Trevor Lawrence for all that money?
Who would do it? The Jets. Okay, very good.
Because you almost had him to start with, but you had to go win that game. That's true. This is like a coming home situation. You know? Okay. It's a do-over. Okay.
Well done, TJ. Chris. What's the biggest game on Sunday, you think? I'll go Chiefs-Pills. Yeah.
Cowboys-Texans. Oh God, that's Monday. Oh my bad. Yeah. Sunday is the biggest game of Josh Allen's career. Bigger than the AFC Championship games? That they lost?
That's gotta be the answers. Bigger than the divisional playoff games? Come on. That they didn't win? Get out of here.
Biggest game of his career. Oh, it's not. They have a chance to end the perfect season so far. Right?
No, it's not. You rip it, suddenly the one seed is in play if they win the game on Sunday. And you can prove, hey look, we can do it at home.
Cause guess what? Last year, they had these guys at home. Right.
And what happened? Or they fall to the dreaded eight and three with Matt Milano getting ready to come back. If they lose this game this year, Super Bowl out, AFC Championship out, Rich, you know it's true.
No, I don't. And everyone in Buffalo, I'm sorry, Mike Hoskins, knows it's true. Oh, come on. I like your- Because Mahomes owns you. The bit here. Owns you.
Okay. Have to win. Biggest game of his career. And you win this game suddenly, boom, you're MVP.
Come on. They're going to win the division. They're going to host a playoff game at home. The only question is, is it could it possibly be the divisional round? Are they going to raise a banner for that? Like they do in Indy? No, I understand that they're not going to raise a banner for it, but I'm just saying is that there is a tomorrow. It's called a bye week.
If they lose. What else, Chris? You aggravated them with that one.
I got aggravated. Yeah. Rich, you got these guys six on your power rankings. A little low.
And maybe I'm inspired by the balloons over there. He loves his Eagles. Or he just doesn't want Carl Anthony Towns on his case. Yeah, you don't want that. The Eagles are going to be the one seed in the NFC. No way. No way. The Lions are going to be the one seed in the NFC.
Lions should have lost on Sunday. Excuse me. They're vulnerable. I will answer. This is an overreaction. I'll answer this way. They have a liability at quarterback. I will answer this way. By the way, you should listen to the pod or watch the pod.
He says that golf's the biggest liability for them winning the championship. He told me that before the pod. Okay, okay. So you got a preview? I got a preview.
Yeah. Let me ask you this question. I give you the Lions. I take the Lions versus the field. For the one seed.
Oh, for what? Always take the field. It's real in the field, Rich. That's how I learned how to play craps.
That's what he said. Okay, I'll take the Lions. You take the field. I'll just take the Eagles straight up. For the one seed. I'll take the Eagles straight up for the one seed. Okay, sounds good. Somebody write this down. He'll take the Eagles straight up for the one seed.
Eagles versus Lions, one seed. Okay, great. I don't know what we're gonna do. I got the Kelly green. We'll figure it out about what this is, but sure.
And I don't need cat's enemy flowers. By the way, just so everyone in Philadelphia or the Eagles organization, I'm happy to be wrong. I won't be.
What else, Chris? Hey, speaking of the Eagles, they got a big game tomorrow night against the Washington commanders. If the commanders lose tomorrow, they were officially timed to be worried about their playoff chances. No way. Worried about their playoff chances? Yeah. No. No, man.
Rookie hitting the wall. Who have they really beaten this year? They've beaten Arizona. No, I mean, the other teams that they beaten would not be in the mix for the wildcard.
Got super lucky with the Hail Mary. No, I hear what you're saying. I still think that after this game, they have a mini buy before hosting Dallas and then Tennessee, and then they're buy, and then they're at New Orleans.
Come on, dude. I think that they're absolutely playoff bound. The question is, if they win in Philadelphia, how about this, flip the script. They win in Philadelphia, they look really good to win the division. They've already swept the Giants. They're about to take on Dallas twice.
At Philadelphia would give them a huge leg up in winning the division. That Thursday night is big. It's big. That's a huge one.
It's big. So I will push back on this. I'd love to agree with you on one. Sure. What else? How about this one?
I think he might agree with me on this one. I saw this team on Monday night. The Dolphins are one win away from everyone thinking they're gonna make the playoffs. Sure.
That's not an overreaction. I already, you know. You think they're gonna make it? If the Dolphins win this week. They got the Raiders, they should. Right.
Yeah. And then four and six is not, I think the Bengals might make the playoffs. Yeah, but they're a half game back of the Bengals right now. They're still behind. They only have three wins.
How about this? I mean, I can't sit here and say the Bengals and Dolphins will make it because I think the Chargers aren't gonna fall apart. They're gonna fall apart.
But I don't think that's an overreaction. I think that the Dolphins, if they win and they're four and six, the Broncos this weekend have Atlanta. I mean, the Broncos can get got. The Chargers are taking on the Bengals this week. What if the Bengals beat the Chargers this week?
I kind of think that's gonna happen. All right. So then I don't think it's an overreaction at all. I agree with you. Okay. What else? You think we need one more? Oh, wow. All right, we can't believe where that came from. One more? Sure. I'm shocking.
Yes. Guys, AR is back and he has taken the Colts to the playoffs. Get out here. Anthony Richardson's gonna do it, people. Taking, he's gonna do what Flacco couldn't. He's gonna get back out there. He's gonna beat the Jets this week. They're gonna be five and six and they're going to the playoffs.
They're gonna raise another playoff banner in Indianapolis. To quote Rob Reiner's mom and from Harry Metzaly, from when Harry Metzaly, I'll have what he's having. Totally different context.
I understand that, sir, but it's still the same meaning, as you know. I'll have what he's having. Come on, dude. They're gonna make the playoffs. Anthony Richardson's gonna actually start playing like the first month of last season, be totally unstoppable on the ground, in the air.
Colts are, well, I mean, they're playing the Jets this week still. Hard reset. Remember when you were a kid and we were playing Nintendo and you'd just take the cartridge out? I'm blowing it. That's it? Give a little blow real quick and throw it back in, hit reset. That's it?
That's what AR needed. Boom, playoffs. Well done.
Chris Brockman. Nice finish. Nice finish with a splash of insanity.
Splash of insanity. That's overreaction Monday on a Wednesday presented by Sleep Number. Sleep better together during the Black Friday sale.
Save 50% on the Sleep Number limited edition smart bed, exclusively at a Sleep Number store. When we come back, college football playoff rankings are out and we've made up a bracket. Oh yeah.
It's that time for Bruce Feldman when we come back. This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. You chose to hit play on this podcast today.
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Bruce Feldman, Fox Sports, The Athletic. You wanna see Prime? Is that where you're gonna go? Yeah, tomorrow, flying out. Can't wait to see it, because the last time I was in Boulder, they were the hot thing, but it was like- Last year, you're talking about? Yeah, last year, it was September. We had them coming off of the TCU win. I think they were gonna play Nebraska. They were gonna win that game and would go on to it. But now, they take a huge, big step this year. You know, maybe Travis Hunter's gonna win the Heisman.
There's a lot of stuff going on. They're seven and two right now. And, you know, they make the Big 12 Championship game. You could win it, and then they're going to the playoff, and they're going to have a bye, probably have a bye for the first thing.
You think so, huh? Well, if they win it. I mean, it's not a lock that the Big 12, especially a two-loss Big 12 champ would definitely get a bye. We'll see what would be with potentially Boise State. But just the idea that they have a legit shot to make the playoff, and they do. You know, look, they're gonna play a Utah team that's really good on the front seven, and they get after people. And if they get after Chidor and bang him around, he's, to me, the most valuable quarterback of anybody, because he's, you know, quarterbacks are obviously always really valuable, but more so than anybody else. Well, it's a huge step down.
Is that what you're saying as well? I mean, but I guess you could say they have the most college program. Yeah, but I think they lean on him so much in the offensive line. Like, you know, Alabama certainly leans on Jalen Milro. But, you know, like Will Howard, he's the clearest starter at Ohio State. Dylan Gabriel, clearest starter.
But at Oregon, I just feel like Chidor is carrying so much for them, so. And that's a Friday night. That is, no, that is a Saturday game.
Saturday game, okay. And then you'll be spending a lot of time in Columbus. We'll talk about that in a second. I know you're gonna want to join me on that. Sneaking the luggage, Rich, come on. 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 just stop by, and Bruce Feldman here. And we were just talking for the last couple minutes about Deion Sanders, who you're gonna go see on Fox and Utah at Colorado. I mean, can you give Deion Coach of the Year, you know, run here?
What do you think? I mean- He's definitely gonna get consideration. I think Kurt Signetty with what he has done at Indiana. Now there's still, you know, look, maybe they'll knock off Ohio State. You know, still, even if they lose and they get to 11 and one, not somehow, given what Indiana was.
But I think, you know, it's tricky, because right now, Deion's done a terrific job. I would say the guy who would probably win Coach of the Year in the Big 12 is Kalani Satake, because they were preseason number 13 in the Big 12, and they're undefeated, and they really beat down a really good Kansas team that's in the top 20. They won it, SMU, which is 14th in the poll. So they have, and they have no losses.
So I think, you know, my guess is, those two guys would be the front runner, but Deion definitely will get consideration. I mean, the fact that Colorado's got seven wins, they're seven and two, they have, I guess, the so-called control of one's own destiny here. That's right. They win out, including a Big 12 championship game, potentially against BYU.
Colorado's in the college football playoffs. That would happen. Yeah, and look. And it's possible. Look at this prism, Rich.
Yes, sir. Like, every game they play in, they will have the two best players on the field, Travis Hunter and Chidor. Like, now, when we get to the playoff, that might be a different story, but right now, these games, like Utah's playing with their third string quarterback, they're coming off in a very emotional loss where they thought they had the game one, and everybody in the building, other than people who are in blue, thought they had the game one, and BYU ended up beating them. And so, like, but, you know, so I don't know what kind of shape they go, they go into this game on, and being Utah psychologically, but like, you know, when you have, and it's not just Travis, and it's not just Chidor. Like, Jimmy Horn Jr., when he's healthy, looks like he's the fastest guy on the field, and Lajonte Wester, looks like he's the quickest guy on the field, and that, you know, the fourth, the number four receiver is making one-handed catches in mossing guys, and, you know, the offensive line is quite a bit improved. It's still shaky, but like, in the defensive line, they added a bunch of guys in the portal, and they're playing well. You know, it's not just, it's not just those two guys, but those two guys are the difference makers. Well, and that's why they're seven and two, I think, because you could make a case that last year, Colorado frequently had the two best players on the field anyway. I know Chidor was still growing up, if you will, but Travis Hunter's been the grown-ass man that he was the minute he started suiting up for Deion at Jackson State.
You know what I mean? Like, so it is an improved team, you know, and obviously I'm biased, I'm excited about it. Rich, you could have two guys who arguably could be at the Heisman, you know, in the top five. It's not that deep of a Heisman crop right now. Now, a lot can change, but like, Ashton Gente from Boise State has had a phenomenal season. Cam Ward at Miami, they just lost.
It wasn't his fault. It's like the defense is struggling, but it's like, it's not like where you say, oh, there's 10 guys right now who have a phenomenal season. Like Jalen Monroe last week looked awesome against at LSU where they blew out LSU, but there's like, he struggled against Tennessee and, you know, there's off games.
I think there's, those two guys, I would say, legitimately have a case to be in the top five of the Heisman race. Is this the big noon game or it's not the big noon game for Fox? It is the big noon game. Okay, it is.
Okay. I hope I'm not speaking wrong. I know it's our big noon game. Is that, I'll check.
The Colorado game? Yeah, it is. Yeah, it is.
Thanks for doing my work for me. I'm only asking that. You're asking me. No, no, no, I'm only asking that as well because that means that Gus and Deon are talking this week and I would love to be a fly on a wall in that house. I'll tell you that. It's funny, I was, so we had a connection through DFW and so I didn't realize Gus was with me on the second leg of it. He wasn't with me on the first leg.
Okay. It's like a barbecue place in the DFW airport and there are, it's Texas, Georgia game is on and I'm sitting there watching and just waiting for our flight to leave and here comes Gus and Gus was not a huge guy and he has a hat on and he's like, and like, so nobody's really recognizing him at first until Gus opens up his mouth and then all of a sudden people are like, wait, I know that voice, you know, do your thing. And Gus isn't like, like, it's not a subtle voice. Like it's a impassion, you know, even when he's talking about, he had to go to Burger King to get something because the, you know, whatever.
It was like, just like, we're looking, you know, so, yeah. I love the many onion rings. The best. God, I love it. Look, he's a talent. I mean, you know, like people in our business, your business more than mine are considered talent. Gus is like, he's got a gift. He's clearly, you know, it's like, you know, I'm a fan because I mean, just of, he can do big moments that are, you know, there's plenty, there's a lot, there's a handful of, you know, great play-by-play guys. No, not to correct you, you know, it's not he can do big moments. Big moments can do him. Yeah. That's basically it.
He finds them, yeah. It's unreal. It's unreal and that's why when I say go into a game like Carolina and the Giants, I'm like, can I have a little bit of the Gus in me? Just a little bit. And I got a nice, you know, finish over time, right? But I, listen, Gus, we will, when he was here, he spent an entire hour with us. He'll never forget it. I got Bruce Feldman here on the, we could talk about him for hours.
Bruce Feldman here on the Rich Eisen Show. Let's pop up the rankings. We're getting to the nitty and the gritty here now. It's a lot of big 10 at the top, man. It's four big 10 teams.
It's tough to still consider Oregon one. The first two are hard to argue with at this point. After that, especially those next two, I don't know. Why?
Oh, why? Because Texas has not beaten anybody in the top 25 and they lost by two touchdowns at home. Now, like, Georgia's really, really talented and Georgia's defense was healthy and got after Quinn Ewers. But Georgia's a two-loss team.
Georgia just got blown out pretty much by Ole Miss. And then you got Penn State. The best thing Penn State has was a close loss at home to the number two team. Penn State doesn't have anything great on their resume beyond that. They struggle with Bowling Green. Like, I have a hard time going, yeah, that's the fourth best team in the country, but who are you going to put up there? Like, I could make a case for BYU based on resume. I think Tennessee's got a terrific defense, really good running back, but like, I don't know.
This is where you kind of run into some obstacles here. I just have a hard time, like, Texas's resume, I'm a believer in the eye test a little with them because I was in Ann Arbor where they looked really good, but that's a six and six team they knocked around. No offense. I mean, I don't care. Yeah, but like, that's what we're going off of because there's nothing else. You know, they beat Vandy, who's having a great year for Vandy, but they beat Vandy by three points.
You know, it's not like there's anything else. Like, I don't know what the win is you look at and go, yeah, that's why Texas is number three. Well, I guess, you know, the rankings will matter once we finally get through conference championship games, or maybe even before conference championship games. You could make the case that, you know, Indiana, who you're going to see in person, because that's the big noon Fox game in two weeks.
Next week against at Ohio State. Right, and so let's just say, obviously if Indiana wins that game, you know, they're going to Indianapolis to play most likely Oregon for the right to get that bye week in the college football playoff. But even if they have a near miss, I mean, that's- They're probably going to be 11 and one. Right, so that's what I'm saying.
So that might actually be good enough. I mean, to make- Oh, I think it would be good enough without any great wins. Now, up till last week, they had kind of taken it to everybody they played. Last week, they had their hands full with Michigan. Oh, trust me, I stayed up till two in the morning in Munich thinking this is the one, and then it wasn't.
But no, no, I hear you on that front for sure. But when you take a look at the brackets the way it would be right now, we've created that right there. Indiana would get a home game. Alabama would go visit Bloomington. Ole Miss would go visit Happy Valley.
Boise State would visit Columbus. That's a rematch of last year's bowl game, Ole Miss and Point State. Well, I mean, yeah, but Ohio State didn't, you know, everybody kind of tapped out, right? No, I'm saying like Ole Miss and Penn State played in the bowl game last year.
Oh, that's right. Miami, Ohio State in the quarterfinal, oh my God. And then Tennessee would be hosting Notre Dame. And then Oregon, Texas, BYU, and Miami would be the ones that you're basing it right now if they won their conference championship. And the conference championships can actually knock people out, right?
I mean, is it possible? Like, let's just say Colorado beats BYU. Would they give BYU an at-large?
Would they do that? I think that, you know, if it was competitive, I think it's hard to knock BYU out of it with 12 and one when you have two very good wins already. You know, I, again, like, people are having a hard time with BYU because BYU is preseason number 13 and they haven't been in the conference, not just in the overall. And I think that's why it's being held against them.
Look, I could make a case. Boise State should be higher up. Like, Boise State has one loss, same as Texas. Their one loss was three points at the number one team in the country, right? They didn't get blown out.
They lost by three points. They also have a win where they beat Washington State. And people can snicker about Washington State, but Washington State is ranked higher than anybody Texas beat. And they beat Washington State who has a really good quarterback, John Mater. And they beat Washington State by three touchdowns.
You know, I mean, I get it. People are gonna look and go, yeah, they had their hands full with Nevada. Well, you know what, so did SMU. You know, the rest of the schedule isn't great. It's certainly not of the SEC caliber, but they went to Oregon and almost beat Oregon. You know? So Georgia is out?
Is that what we're saying right here or what? How does Georgia get back into this? Georgia's gonna play Tennessee this week.
Okay. If they beat Tennessee, then Georgia's gonna probably springboard, you know, into the top eight at least. And, you know, if Georgia wins out, whether they get to the SEC title game or not, you know, if they're sitting there at 10 and two with the schedule they beat, their schedule is much better than, their schedule, Alabama has a really good resume because they've beaten a bunch of teams in the top 25. They've beaten more than those first five combined.
So I guess let's just, you know, walk through it a little bit here. Again, Bruce Feldman, we're going over the college football playoff rankings right now. It's tough to imagine there won't be four big 10 teams, right?
At this point in time. That the conference champ, like, let's just say Ohio State wins out with all due respect to Indiana. Indiana would still, unless they get totally blown out, right? I don't know how Indiana- Even if they did.
They're 11 and one? I mean, Penn State's not gonna lose the rest of the way either. They shouldn't.
Right? They shouldn't. Right, let's just say they don't. And then again, they would have the benefit of not having to play a college, I mean, a big 10 championship game. They're in. Ohio State- Four teams who would have to fall quite a bit, because keep in mind, Tennessee and Georgia are gonna play this weekend. What does that- So does that mean that, let's say Georgia beats Tennessee, that would knock Tennessee out of competition here?
I don't know. Tennessee has a good win over Alabama. And Alabama's sitting right there. So how many SEC teams do you think make it? The one who I think has the best positioning right now, they're also the team that I think people in the SEC at least want to play, is Ole Miss. So Ole Miss is sitting there, they have two really bad opponents remaining on their schedule. Ole Miss- So it'll be 10 and two.
Most likely 10 and two. How do they make an SEC championship game? Well, I think you gotta see how this plays out with Tennessee. You got that game in College Station where number three, Texas, is playing. Number 15, Texas A&M.
And this is the one I have a hard time wrapping my brain around. If Texas A&M wins at home and beats Texas, Texas is gonna be most likely 10 and two. No top 25 wins. Is a team like that going to get left out of the playoff? I really have my doubts that there's gonna be a 10 and two SEC team that has, and I'm not entirely sure why other than it was a playoff team last year when there was a 14 playoff and they beat Alabama.
So I think in people's minds, including mine, but I'm not on the committee, obviously, I think there's the perception of the eyeball test where we think they're really good. And you don't unwrap it to be like, oh, but they got it taken to them and got handled by Georgia. If they lose another game, then all of a sudden it's just not a one-off. It's like two games where, because I don't feel like people look at Texas A&M like they're a powerhouse. Like Mike Elko's done a really good job in the first year, but they lost at home to Notre Dame. And you can say whatever you want about like what state, you know, it was the first game for Elko at A&M.
Notre Dame went in there with like a really inexperienced offensive line and they ran the ball well when they needed to and they won the game. And you know, they also lost handily at South Carolina. You know, I'm not saying if they beat Texas, they shouldn't be in the playoff because then that would be a big win. You know, I think then it comes down to they would most likely be a two loss team and Texas would be a two loss team and they would have the head-to-head win. So I'm sure there's nothing more the Aggies would love than to knock Texas out of the playoff.
But like, that's the kind of what if discussion that I think people are rolling around their heads right now in November. These are the next three weeks playing out next three, well, four weeks, right? Because the first weekend of December is when a lot of these conference championship games, but that shouldn't have, I mean, maybe the Big 12 does affect who gets in. I don't think it should in the case of BYU, unless BYU stumbles along the way. Like if BYU is 12 and one, I think, you know, again, just my two cents, I think there deserves to be two Big 12 teams in there. How about Miami?
They're safe, right? Miami- Well, they've win out, you know, but like Miami loses in the ACC title game. I think Miami has a tougher argument. If they lose two games, like they obviously lost to Georgia Tech on the road. And then if they lose to the ACC title game, they're really, they only have one win of any note, which is over a top 25 Louisville team on the road.
That's not a great run. And give me Army's chances. I mean, Army beats, let's say Army beats Notre Dame. What happens? Well, then Notre Dame is definitely out.
Right, so then what happens? I think then Army- Can Army get in there? Can Army get in over Boise State? I think that would be a significant win. You know, we'll see, you know, like- Dude, if Army makes- That would be awesome. A college football playoff, that would be unbelievable.
Like the most old school, back in the days- No NIL, no transfer portal, yeah. Making the first ever 12 team college football playoff would just, I'm getting goosebumps even talking about it. What if they're undefeated though, and they're left out? Is the cry going to be as loud as it was for Florida State last year?
It's up to Rich. No, seriously, I think it's up to people like that because, you know, like I felt like I was pretty vocal on the Florida State side, and that was a four team playoff. This is a 12 team playoff.
It's different. You know, again, what does it look like when they play Notre Dame? I don't want to say that's a playoff game because like it's easy for us to say all these games are elimination games, when in reality, half of them probably aren't. That one, you know, certainly would feel like it is. Army, Notre Dame, that's in a couple of weeks, right?
Yeah, and keep in mind, Navy was undefeated and Notre Dame just absolutely clobbered them. Well, let's see, man. All right, we're getting there. We're getting there. It's fun, let's do it.
Send you off to Boulder, Colorado, sir. Thanks again, greatly appreciate it. We will see you next week when- Send regards to your people. Will you please, Sap too. Say hi to Sap. I see him. 99 in your program, number one in your heart, Warren Sap.
Killing it on that staff for Deion Sanders, 72 Colorado, let's go. Take a break. Thank you, sir.
Safe travels. Take a break, back with more before Shaquille O'Neal joins us. Let's talk LinkedIn people and small business owning. I'm a small business owner, yeah.
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Shopify.com slash WestwoodOne. And we're back with a spotlight on The Curiosity Effect, an exciting new documentary series on the Roku channel presented by T. Rowe Price. This three-part series captures the remarkable stories of three individuals harnessing the power of curiosity to challenge the status quo in their industries, communities, and own corners of the world. From the inspiring journey of the blind woodsman, John Furnace, to urban farmer, Yemi Amu, fighting food insecurity in the heart of Brooklyn, and Judy Oyama, the tenacious professional skateboarder still competing today in her 60s. Each of these stories showcase how persistent questioning can unlock potential, inspire change, and lead to better outcomes, aligning with the philosophy of T. Rowe Price's active investment approach.
Stream The Curiosity Effect free on the Roku channel presented by T. Rowe Price, where better questions have led to better outcomes. Back here on The Rich Eisen Show, everybody, right here on the Roku Sports Channel, at short, four Big Ten teams, right? Feels about right. It looks like this is an elimination game for Georgia. No? Seems like it. This weekend?
Oh yeah, feels like it. But not for Tennessee. I think if Tennessee loses, yeah, they still have an outside shot.
Okay. Georgia got smoked last week. That was embarrassing. Texas, man.
Texas. Sitting there at three and he's like, who have they really beaten? He laid it all out.
I know, right? Yeah, he laid it out. So what would you say? Three SEC teams? Four Big Ten?
That's seven. If Deion beats BYU, they maybe still give BYU a spot because they're undefeated. Like if Deion beats an undefeated BYU. It's like when we're watching March Madness and like some random team wins a conference tournament, and we're like, oh man, well, that stole a spot from a big at-wire. Yeah.
College football, baby. Love it. Back here on the Rich Eisen Show, 844-204-Rich, number two dial. Shaquille O'Neal about to join us.
Shaquille O'Neal? Anthony Richardson has spoken. Let's hear from him. This is what he had to say about what he has learned in the two weeks off. You know, to show that I'm willing to be a pro and I'm willing to sacrifice anything that I need to do for the team. You know, I feel like these past two weeks will definitely open my eyes and allow me to have the opportunity to do that and just take a deeper dive and look into myself and see what I'm made of.
So I'm thankful for these past two weeks and I'm low-key glad they hope to have it. And again, maturity has never been his question. It's just lack of experience, which is why you're not gonna get any better. I guess you can't say that. He says he's been better watching for two weeks.
Who knows? He's saying all the right things. That's why, by the way, kids, you don't torch the joint when something goes the other way. Because if he torched the joint, Well, maybe. it'd still be Joe Flacco against the Jets. Well, he might be on another team.
I mean, We might have got rid of him. That's why you do not torch the joint. Who knows that better than me, Rich? You know what I'm saying? Remember, I was in a situation where I kind of comparted myself in a way that was very professional until you brought me back into the fold. Well, I mean, I guess that then it's more than just a piece of advice than NFL teams. Just in life in general. Right. Yeah, for sure. Because it could have went the other way for him, you know?
No doubt about it. But it seems as though the team likes this guy and I'm happy for that. I'm happy he was able to take a step back and kind of understand you can't tap out. Well, he did actually tap out in the game. That's the problem. I'm saying you can't tap out. I see what you're saying. He didn't realize.
Oh, he didn't tap out of this situation by going all... Yeah, he couldn't go and scorched bridge. Right, okay, very good. You know, this is kind of like, you remember the show Home Improvement? Yeah. You know?
Remember that? Where you always talk to his neighbor and you never saw him behind the fence? That's right now. I can't see him past the flowers.
You know I'm here. For Shaquille O'Neal, next hour, he's top of the next hour, we are going to widen out the shot and put all of Karl-Anthony Towns' flowers back in. Because if there's anybody who appreciates what Karl-Anthony Towns is doing to TJ, it's a fellow cowboy fan like Shaquille O'Neal. Shaq can understand. I think he's going to get a newfound respect for Karl-Anthony Towns when he sees how Karl...
I think if you guys don't beat the Eagles in the next visit to Philadelphia, I think he's thinking of sending live music into the studio. Yeah. Do you... Hold on. That's his next move.
You have inside info or are you speculating? What are you saying? What are you saying?
Like, am I... I'm just saying is that he went flowers to flowers and balloons. Oh, right.
What's the next step? Live entertainment. A candy gram, yeah. Like a singing telegram or something. Something like that.
I don't... Who's the band that sings We Them Boys? This is what I would do. Whatever it is.
I'd hire that guy. The issue is, is you're dealing with somebody with an unlimited budget. Unlimited. People are like, what are you going to do back? I'm like, well, I'm kind of limited as to how much I can fight back.
Limited budget. Let me just say this too. Cause I watched last night, the double header on TNT. I have a feeling the... Listen, the NBA is just like any other large sports entity. I work for one, maybe the largest. You could say that. And so decisions get made for revenue purposes and partner purposes and all of that stuff that are above my pay grade.
And sometimes, leave me scratching my head. I think the NBA is going to rue the day that they made a decision that might end inside the NBA. There's just nothing like it.
There's nothing like that show. And I don't know if Amazon or NBC is going to hand off their pregame show to basically like outsource it to them. Why not? Because it's not theirs. And you're basically saying, come to us and watch somebody else's stuff.
Some are on Madden, we're on Fox. And then Fox got them and we loved it. That's a great message to everybody out there. The four of them together are just dynamite. They're thought-provoking, they're funny, they're sometimes ornery towards each other and it's fun. It just doesn't get old. It was fun last night, again. I think the biggest thing with a show like that is it's familiar. And that's the thing that draws people and you know it's there. You're welcoming, you're looking for this. Well, again, I'll just quickly say this. We met an individual from, where is he, Venezuela?
Yeah. In at- Constantine. At the Hofbrauhaus. Hello, Constantine. Good to see you.
Give you a shout out. Hofbrauhaus, he came up to me, he goes, he watches the show all the time. I'm like, great. And I'm like, meet these two guys.
Came around the corner, he saw the two of you and he flipped off, which is great. Familiarity. That's, it's a leg up in this profession. I'm just saying when you have it, you don't wanna pitch it away. Absolutely. Shaq coming up. The actor Ronnie Chang is here as well in studio. So I was watching it last night and I'm just shaking my head.
I said it to Suze. I'm like, they're gonna rue the day that if this thing is done and it's gone, who would you rather watch talk NBA than them? You know, and then Kenny jumps up and he goes behind the screen and he winds up. What the hell's technology is that? That wall is awesome.
Well, he's suddenly on the top of the, he's on the top of the key pointing out defense. I don't know how they do that. It's cool.
I'm sure, you know, other people will have confined that technology. It's not like propriety to them, but the four of them are proprietary to them. And still no sponsorship for EJ's neato statenin, you know.
Statenin, sponsored by nobody. I don't know. I mean, I'll ask Shaq, right? I mean, any plans just to stick it out, all four of them all four of them and go and go somewhere as a package deal. And on the other end of that, how weird was it watching Clay on a different team? I know, right? Kind of jarring.
Happens to almost everybody. If the four of them unite, if they stay together like the Fantastic Four, they, again, write your own checks. Someone's going to pay that, right?
Hopefully so. All right, TJ, let's widen out. Yeah, let's fix a shot. Let's get the balloons, let's get the balloons.
Turn the machines back on, essentially. Fantastic, Shaquille O'Neal coming up and the actor Ronnie Chang is in studio as well. Perfect fodder for a show like this one.
I appreciate you coming out of the gate hot. Come react or overreact with us. Overreaction Monday, wherever you listen. It's game over. It's game over, man.
