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Top 5 College Football Playoff Performances

The Rich Eisen Show / Rich Eisen
The Truth Network Radio
January 16, 2025 3:09 pm

Top 5 College Football Playoff Performances

The Rich Eisen Show / Rich Eisen

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January 16, 2025 3:09 pm

1/16/25 - Hour 2

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac tells Rich why the Steelers once-promising season ended with a 5-game losing streak, Mike Tomlin’s long-term future as the team’s head coach, and if Russell Wilson, Justin Fields or someone else will be Pittsburgh’s QB1 next season. 

 

Rich comments on the evolution of Lamar Jackson and the Ravens reaping the rewards of their long-term investment in the 2-time NFL MVP. 

 

Rich and the guys react to Jim Harbaugh’s season-ending press conference, and Rich reveals his list of the top 5 performances we’ve seen in the College Football Playoff so far.

Please check out other RES productions:

Overreaction Monday: http://apple.co/overreactionmonday 

What the Football with Suzy Shuster and Amy Trask: http://apple.co/whatthefootball

The Jim Jackson Show: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-jim-jackson-show/id1770609432

No-Contest Wrestling with O'Shea Jackson Jr. and TJ Jefferson: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/no-contest-wrestling/id1771450708

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But here's the best part. Our YouTube channel. Subscribe at YouTube.com slash Rich Eisen Show and you'll never miss a moment. Now, on with the show. Just a bit outside. He tried to corner in us. This is the Rich Eisen Show.

Please welcome! Live from the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles. Touchdown, Derrick Henry! How much does one need to mentally prepare oneself to tackle Derrick Henry, Ron?

Me and Derrick Henry are exactly the same time. Earlier on the show, ESPN NFL analyst Marcus Spears. Coming up, Steelers Radio Network host Jerry Dulak.

Pro Football Hall of Famer Ed Reed. Host of Pro Football Talk, Mike Florio. And now, it's Rich Eisen. Our number two of the Rich Eisen Show is on the air here on this Thursday before divisional playoff weekend.

844204 Rich is the number to dial. You want to have a conversation with us? We're here.

Let's hang out. We've got Ed Reed, Pro Football Hall of Famer and Mike Florio, Pro Football Talk and our number three. We just had a great chat. Fun chat with Marcus Spears of ESPN. 844204 Rich is the number to dial here on the Roku Sports Channel and the Infinity Sports Network.

A friendly reminder for those listening on Sirius XM. We are moving channels to 375 tomorrow. 375. It's a great Tony Gwynne batting average, wouldn't you say? 375? That might be Tony's career mark. I don't know.

375. That's when you could find the show on that channel. Listen, so many of us in the media, sports media world, certainly those who do a show like this one make things so difficult. We overthink things sometimes. Honestly, I think we sometimes overthink things. We try not to.

We try to keep it simple. For instance, when we're talking about the Pittsburgh Steelers and what are they thinking about with Mike Tomlin? Would Mike Tomlin consider leaving? What's going on with the quarterback situation? We're like sitting here. We make it so difficult.

We should keep it simple. We should just ask Jerry Dulock what the hell's going on. And here he is, back here on the Rich Eisen Show, a man who's been covering the Steelers forever and a day. Our friend from Western PA, Jerry Dulock. Good to see you again, Jerry. How are you?

Well, Rich, always good seeing you. I put my Harvey Specter tie on for you today. I like it.

I hope you don't think. I didn't keep it simple. I got overdressed. I actually have to do TV after this.

I'm just glad everyone's okay in your life because you're not going somewhere else after this. But all good, Jerry. So let's just jump into why did the Steelers finish 0-5? What's your estimation as to why a team that was so promising 4-2 under fields and then 6-1 under Russell Wilson to make them 10-3, finish 10-8?

Well, Rich, part of it was the competition. And that's no excuse. That's the reality. And the reality of that is when you play the Eagles and the Ravens and the Chiefs, the Steelers aren't good enough to just line up and beat those guys. They're a turnover reliant team. Mike Tomlin throughout the season, he doesn't use that exact expression, but he talks and laments the lack of turnovers, the lack of missed opportunities.

And you do that when you're just not able to stand up and play with the big boys. And that's been the biggest thing. The other thing, the defense has been a terrible disappointment in this stretch. You know, you allow 299 yards to the Ravens in the postseason. And, you know, Rich, I hark back to the days of James Farrier and Casey Hampton and Brett Kiesel. If Derrick Henry ran for 162 yards three weeks later against those guys, he'd be lucky to get 30 because their purpose would be he ain't going to do that to us again. And what does he do? He comes back with 186.

To me, that's unconscionable. I don't know how that happens, but I think that's just, you know, somewhat kind of symptomatic and emblematic of what's happened with the defense here in the second half of the season. And their inability to stop the run, their defensive line has been exposed.

Thank goodness they have Cam Hayward. And that is the number one unit on this team, Rich, that has to be revamped and rebuilt. Well, I got number 92, Jerry, you know what I mean?

Or I should say number 90 as well. So it's interesting you go defense because I'm sure most Steeler fans would say offensively they disappeared. Russ disappeared. The quarterback room wasn't good enough at the end of the day, Jerry. Yeah.

Yeah. Rich, I'm not letting them off the hook either because they failed to score more than 17 points for the last five games. You have to go back to Chuck Knoll's first season to find an instance where they failed to score more than 17 points in five straight games. And so, yeah, I'm certainly not letting them off the hook. They have, you know, despite the fact they want to run the ball, it does not control the game. And I'm not going to let Russell Wilson off the hook. But I will tell you, the offensive line, I think the injuries finally caught up with them.

You know, you're starting two rookies. And while Zach Frazier has been outstanding, I don't want to say they hit the rookie wall, but they had issues with protection. And of course, the other thing, too, Rich, their wide receiver room was it. It just showed up what they feared all year. And as they don't have they don't have anybody besides George Pickens, and they don't have anybody who can get open in the middle of the field and you add all those things together. And you saw a disconnect in the passing game for sure.

And the offense as a whole. All right. So then let's get to the larger picture then, Jerry, do you like how how is everything that you just laid out landing in the house of the Rooney's? Well, I'm sure it's not landing very well, I will tell you, Rich, only because you mentioned this at the start and everybody wants to know.

But I think, you know, I kind of laid that to rest on Monday. The Steelers have no plans to move on from Mike Tomlin. Look, they gave him a three year 50 million dollar extension in June and they're not just going to walk away from that. And when they did that, that was just another indication that Mike Tomlin and the Steelers will part ways only when Mike Tomlin wants to. And the Steelers apparently and obviously just aren't going to do that.

So for those people, especially around here, Rich, I'm sure you hear it nationally, but locally, you know, it's the cries among the fan base. It's time to move on. It's time to get away from Mike Tomlin. Well, that's not going to happen. You know, this idea that the Steelers would trade him. Rich, you and I have a better opportunity to be the Steelers head coach than the Steelers ever trading Mike Tomlin. That's not going to happen either. But when you look at all the moves they made in the offseason after Art Rooney, the second issued that declaration that it's, quote, time to start winning playoff games.

And now what? That's why you brought in Russell Wilson. That's why you gave Patrick Queen the biggest free agent contract you've ever done. That's why they moved on from Kenny Pickett and Deontay Johnson.

Two starters made a trade for Justin Fields. All the moves they made were designed to, hey, let's at least win a playoff game and see if we can't get this back on track. And not only are they right back where they were last year, Rich, to me, they're farther back than where they were last year. So then what do they do, Jerry?

Good question, Rich. You know, this is the third year out of four that they are going into the offseason with, you know, uncertainty at quarterback. And, you know, I think you've heard me say when we've talked before that when Russell Wilson and the Steelers agreed on a contract in the spring, that the intention on both sides was to do a longer term deal.

Now, I don't know how that's going to play out now. I don't know if the same feeling exists among the Steelers. You know, you have two running backs who aren't under contract and I doubt both of them will be back. And if I had to bet, I'm going to guess despite four consecutive 1000 yard seasons, they might have to move on from Najee Harris. They can put the franchise tag on them. That's going to cost them 13 to 14 million.

I don't think they want to do that. And so, yeah, there's a lot of questions here that need to be answered. And of course, the big one is going to start at quarterback. But they they, you know, to say they have to revamp everything. The problem is they brought in a lot of veterans last year.

You don't want to keep doing that, Rich, because all of a sudden your roster gets older. And and, you know, a lot of their backups are older. They don't have a dynamic person. They can bring off the bench both offensively and defensively that you think, OK, this guy is going to be good in 2025 and, you know, maybe a pro bowler in 2026. They don't have that kind of guy, especially on offense. And so there's, you know, they need to go find a running back who can get up and get to the edge. And I think you will see them in free agency, make some kind of deal or sign a player in free agency, a number two receiver, or eventually who will be number one like they tried during the regular season and fail.

Jerry Dulock here on the Rich Eisen Show. So listen, if somebody gives me a three year, 50 million dollar contract, I don't want to go anywhere. That's number one. Number two, I do look around the quarterback room and I do look around what other teams do have. And I do see Andy Reid leaving the state of Pennsylvania to find a new spot and, you know, reimagining his entire career after the age of 50.

You know what I'm saying? Like, I can see what what else could possibly be out there if I'm Mike Tomlin. Does he not think that at all? Does he not sit there and think that at all?

Jerry, you know, Rich, I can't speak to that. I mean, but I wouldn't sit here and say he doesn't think that. I mean, the the the kind of flip side of that is, you know, this will be his 19th year. He's closing in on Chuck Knoll territory. Believe that or not.

Chuck Knoll was here 23 years at some point. You know, to me, the Steelers have to ask themselves. This has nothing to do with whether Mike Tomlin is a good coach. That's not even debatable. We know his credentials and, you know, politely a Hall of Fame coach one day. But that's not an issue here.

What is an issue is the same things keep happening. These late season swoons failures to win a playoff game. That's six in a row.

It ties the Dolphins for the most among active teams. Eight years without a playoff win. Going back to 1972, their first playoff victory. That's the longest drought they've ever had. And it's getting blown out in these games, Rich, 63 to nothing. They've been outscored in the first quarter of the past five playoff games. I mean, they they are going into these games and playing as though they are are not prepared.

Use whatever word or expression you want that they were flat, that they were out coached, out scheme, whatever the case may be, whatever it is. And I can't sit here and put a finger on it. But whatever it is, it keeps happening.

And how long do you how long are you content to let it keep happening? And that, to me, is the question the Steelers need to ask, although I'm not sure they might have discussions about it. I'm not sure that's a serious question that will be addressed.

And I guess on behalf of all fans that would love an answer. Why not? Why? Why? Why?

Take a look. Why not take a look at the last eight years and say it's just not working. If you're either one. And I know Tomlin said this week that, you know, he understands the frustration because he shares it, you know, and that makes complete sense. And he never strikes me as a guy who would just throw his hands up and say, it's just not working here. Like he just wants to dig in deeper and figure out the answer to it.

But you look at it. I mean, is Russell Wilson a year older going to be the answer? Is Sam Darnold the answer?

Aaron Rodgers at age 42, if he wants to keep playing, is he the answer? Because that's the first order of business. Because the one way to make sure that Derrick Henry doesn't run for all those yards is if you have a lead, right? That the Ravens might not just keep on loading up Lightning McQueen and have him go down the highway. Jerry, right? I mean, that's what I'm thinking.

So what's the answer to all that? Yeah. And, you know, obviously quarterback most position, not only in this sport, it is most important position in sports and that you have to figure out, OK, do we want to go forward this way? You know, I think there's a little disconnect between Russell Wilson and the offensive coordinator the way he wants to play in the way Russell Wilson would like to play. I'm not going to sit here and tell you that's the reason for their their skid here at the end, because it worked for a good while for seven games.

It worked very well. You know, they were averaging twenty eight, nearly twenty nine points with Russell Wilson for that seven game stretch. All of a sudden they had an offense or so we thought that was the equal of the defense. They could bail the defense out if they had to, as they did in that December 1st game in Cincinnati when they put up forty four points and five hundred twenty yards. But the Steelers did the offensive scheme, the deformations that they become predictable to their personnel groupings, become predictable and start tipping off what they were going to do.

Those are all things that were addressed and talked about because it was happening. And so, again, it's hard to put a finger on what it is, but no question, quarterback number one priority with every football team. That's why teams try to unearth and find the guy that's going to be the guy to take him through the postseason. And the Steelers thought, OK, let's bring in Russell Wilson and see if we can get a playoff victory and maybe get back on right track on the right track. And and it didn't happen. And I'm not saying they're just going to give up on it, but it didn't happen. And so now what's the next step? And I can't sit here and tell you for certain what that's going to be.

But I'm going to guess that they probably will bring back Justin Fields unless some other team makes him a better offer as a free agent. That's what I was going to ask him before I let you go, Jerry Dulac. Crystal Ballot, as we're sitting here the Thursday before divisional playoff weekend. Mike Tomlin is the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers week one in twenty twenty five. Yes. Correct. Oh, yes. Correct. OK. Arthur Smith, is he is he the offensive coordinator first week of twenty twenty five?

Yeah, I think so. I don't think the Steelers have any chance, any inclination to move on from Rich. I think, you know, with all due respect to Arthur, who I like a great deal and I think is a fantastic coordinator. I think when you do not well, you are not successful in your very first stint as a head coach. You have a hard time getting a second opportunity as a head coach. So I say that and again, with all due respect, I don't think it's going to work out for Arthur.

I don't know that. I hope it does because I like him a great deal. But so I think I think he will be back. The running back, starting running back of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Is he currently on the roster? I think, you know, I think Jalen Warren will be back as a restricted, restricted free agent. They can keep him at a much cheaper price. I'm not so sure about Najee Harris, but I will tell you, Rich, one of the priorities in the draft will be finding a running back who can get to the edge. They don't have that kind of guy. They have two, you know, plotters inside the tackles kind of guys.

And so they need they need to find a guy who can get on the edge to kind of, you know, supplement what they already have. And I'm not going to go macro on this last one. I'm going to ask for a name. And if you're right, you nailed it. And if you didn't, I'm I'm I'm the idiot who was asking you this question the Thursday before divisional playoff weekend. Jerry, not you. So the starting quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers week one in twenty twenty five is named who?

For right now, Rich, I will say Justin Fields. And now, but don't hold me. Of course not. I'm asking you now.

Well, I mean, it's it's it's the middle of January. So outside the organization, take your shot. Who do you think that would be? You know, I could tell you I could tell you it won't be Aaron Rodgers.

They have no interest in doing that. You know, Sam Darnold would be a good landing spot. You know, we did not see the best of Sam Darnold the last two games.

I don't know if that's going to hurt him or not. You know that that's it won't be Kirk Cousins. They don't need to go that direction either. And they're not going to take one in the draft. They're not in position to do that. So plus, I'm not sure that's a great year for that anyhow. But so if I again, if I had to throw a name to me, it would come down to they want to come back with Russell Wilson or do they want to sign a Sam Darnold. And that's what it's basically going to come down to. Jerry, thanks for the call.

Greatly appreciate it. You're done with suits, right? You zip through that, right?

Yeah, I've done with that a long time ago, Rich. In fact, I've even thought about watching it again. I'm curious to see what suits L.A. is, but I'm sure it'll be a big disappointment to us original suits guys. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Have you watched Landman?

You never know. Did you watch Landman? Have you watched Landman?

You know what? I started I started one episode and I have to tell you, I didn't continue. But I hear a lot of no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

Pick it back up, Jerry. It's OK. It's great. It's great acting, great writing, great drama.

And how do I put this? Part of the reason why you might have enjoyed watching suits. There's some similar aspects to Landman. Jerry. Rich, I was a big Peaky Blinders guy. Have you watched that start to finish?

You need to I need captions to do that. Well, you're right about that. I did, too. But it is really good.

It is really good. Jerry, appreciate the time. Look for more of our calls, as always. Thanks for the two cents.

You got to stay safe there, my friend. You got that's Jerry Dulac from Pittsburgh, P.A. radio network host television writing. He talks about the Steelers in so many different ways. There you go. Tomlin's not going anywhere. Arthur Smith's probably not going anywhere. Russell Wilson might go somewhere.

Najee Harris might go somewhere. But for Steelers fans are like, I want radical change. No change. I don't think it's coming.

And by the way, three years, 50 million bucks. Have you heard that number for time? I did see that. I've seen that now.

Now I feel silly of Tomlin sitting there saying maybe I should go somewhere else. That's a nice chunk of change. Yeah.

My gosh. So somebody gives me three or 50. I'm. Yeah. Don't call. I'm not going to answer, but save your time. Eight four four two oh four rich numbered adult. Please call us.

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Allstate Fire and Casualty Insurance Company and Affiliates, Northbrook, Illinois. First one up, Herm Edwards on October 30th, 2002 after a week 8 loss to the Cleveland Browns. Oh, here is play to win the game as told by Victor Numan. This is great about sports. This is what's the greatest thing about sports is you play to win.

Hello. You play to win the damn game, right? You don't play just to play it. When you start telling me it doesn't matter, get your ass out of here, then retire.

Cause it matters. Well done, that's number one. Next up, on October 16th, 2006 after the Cardinals blew a 20 point lead against the Bears on Monday Night Football. Dennis Green, they are who we thought they were as portrayed by Victor Numan. Bears are who we thought they were, you know? That's why we took the damn field. Now if you want to crown them, then crown their ass. But they are who we thought they were.

And we let them off the damn hook. Very good, very well done. Alright, last one for you. I can feel it. I can feel it.

I'm glad that we got it rolling cause here's the last one. I can feel it. On May 7th, 2002 the famed practice press conference of one Allen Iverson as recounted by the man who plays Victor Numan, Eric Braden, hit it. I mean listen man. You're talking about practice, okay? Not a game. It's not a game. Not a game, alright? Not the game that I go out there and die for and play every game like it's my last.

I know it's important, yeah I do, I do, I do, I honestly do. But you're talking about practice man. What are we talking about? Practice.

You're talking about practice man. I can feel it. Oh my gosh. I love re-watching that. That is so good.

I love it. Back here on the Rich Eisen Show on the Roku Sports Channel, the Rich Eisen Show Radio Network, the Infinity Sports Network back on the air. I'm sitting at the Rich Eisen Show desk furnished by Grainger with supplies and solutions for every industry. Grainger is the right product for you.

Call clickgrainger.com or just stop by. Steeler fans, you know them, I know them. Relate to a lot of them. They will not like hearing that the Rooney family is like, yeah this is not great, we're not happy about it, but. Run it back. Year two of Mike Tomlin with another one on the other side of it. Tomlin is not going to just, Tomlin is not going to walk in and say, you know what, we're done here.

I'm done here, my family, we're done here. No way. You know. Yeah.

That's not going to happen and the Rooney's are, I mean that, they're not going to end the reign of Mike Tomlin after 19 seasons with two years and 18 million per left, right? Yeah. I do the math right, I should never try the math on the air. You're better at math than me, three into 50.

Yeah, that's actually 16 in change. Yeah, they're not going to, they're not going to do that. But if what happens, what you always claim is that someone hires him in five seconds, offset, he'll probably make more, they'll end up having to pay basically zero. Right, but I don't know, Tomlin could basically say I'm taking the year off, I'm going to television. That would be smart too.

I don't know. Make that paper. Because by the way, television networks would hire him in five minutes too. Five minutes. Stay by your phone, man, I may need you. You want to talk about head coaches who would get a job on television in less than five minutes for as much money as potentially making right now?

Right now? There's Mike Tomlin and there's Sean McVeigh. Sean McVeigh would be hired in two seconds flat.

Oh yeah. Also what's crazy, he's been the head coach for how long? 18 years. He's only 52. That's why I said when you're looking at Andy Reid's second act, how old is Andy Reid? He's in his mid 60s right now. Is that how old he is?

Andy Reid's a little older than you think. He's 66. He's 66. He's in his mid 60s right now. He'll be 67 in a couple months.

Right. And so he's been with the Chiefs how long now? 10, 12 years? I would almost bet probably longer than he was with Philadelphia.

Well, there's no doubt. I think he's passed the Mike Holmgren line is the way I put it. Oh no, it's 12 years with Kansas City, 14 with Philly.

So he's coming. The reason why I call it the Holmgren year is because that's when you're at your new spot longer than the one that you were most associated with your entire career. Well, the Venetieri played longer with the Colts than the Patriots. That's crazy to think about that. We'll relearn that one.

He's a first ballot Hall of Famer next year. Yep. Yep.

And that's why I keep mentioning that. So Andy Reed was two years older than Mike Tomlin is right now when he and Philadelphia parted ways. But again, Philadelphia went four and 12 and, and, and they're not close to the, the, the, the floor hasn't fallen out in Pittsburgh.

Although the last five games, it sure did. I just don't know what they're going to do at the quarterback spot. And again, it's been since 2019 is when big Ben threw for 5,000 yards and led the league in passing and every single year since then diminishing returns. And now they're going to go on like year six without some young new quarterback that you know is your face, the future for the next 10, 12 years, set it and forget it.

They had that with big Ben tried it went through that run. Yeah. Kenny Pickett tried it.

Did you really think he was going to be that guy hometown kid? I understand that there's good chance of any, I mean, when you drive someone, you have the best intentions and hopes. I get it. Yeah. All you know is Kenny Pickett got me 20 bucks from Brockman.

So why is that? I did pay them. Remember the bed. I remember that. Yeah.

He doesn't, but I said the Steelers would draft them and they did. Yeah. And Pickett almost wound up on a new team before he actually paid off that bet. That's how long it took for you to get the Peter Gammons. I was still holding onto that money, Peter Gammons. And I, let me, let me say this here. Certainly for those who potentially may be new to us and the infinity sports network because we're back on terrestrial radio network style, baby for the first time in five years, first of all, where you've been, you know, should we introduce ourselves to them again? No, no, no.

I just want to just introduce the fact that I'm, I'm one of those type of broadcasters who will revisit things that I say and admit when I'm wrong. Yes. And I think there is a new, there's a new one of these up there with the Giannis. He shouldn't trade for Giannis in terms of predicting, I don't know if you, having takes and making predictions are two different things, but two years ago when I said the Raiders were going to win the division and beat the, beat the, beat the chiefs finally in their reign and that was the Josh McDaniels Derek Carr year, you know, No. With Devonta Adams. Here we go. Here we go.

Josh Jacobs. Right. And then, and then it all fell to what's the word for it. I can't say it.

You can, you have a few times. Awful. Yeah. Terrible.

Hit that dumb button. Well, I mean the chiefs haven't lost the super bowl since then. Super bowl. But I remember saying, you know what? Lamar Jackson's a free agent. He wants out.

I wouldn't trade two first round picks for him. Oh yeah. I remember you said that.

I was like, Atlanta had the same thing. Remember Arthur Smith admitted. They talked about it. Yeah. They talked about it. Yeah.

They didn't want Lamar. Think about that. How would that look right now?

Pretty good. Do you think Arthur Smith would still be the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons? Probably. What? I mean, would Kyle Pitts turn into Mark Andrews? I don't know. Yeah. Good one.

They probably don't get Drake London or Bijan, right, because they're not drafted in the top 10. It just serves as another reminder as we're going into this crazy season of coaches being hired and carousels spinning into the draft season, which is the free agent season as well. And the lying season starts big time. The lying. So much lying.

Or the things that come out of someone's mouth that makes you think, are they really telling the truth? All the fun stuff you hear at the combine. And I don't mean to keep using Atlanta as an example. Terry Fontenot, the general manager who's been on this program before, and I look forward to having him back, him basically saying, you know what? If Kirk Cousins stays on our roster at 40 million bucks, he can be our backup. We're fine. You know what I mean? We're good with that.

Cool, cool, cool, cool, cool. You know, Chris Greer is saying, we had a chat with Tyreek Hill. He didn't ask for a trade outright with us. You know, I mean, at least, hey, Terry and Chris Greer can go, just talk to our friends with the heat, as Jimmy Butler has refreshed, apparently, his request for a trade. Remember I asked for a trade, Pat Riley? Guess what?

I still want one. Yeah. But I bring all this up to say that when you as a fan are sitting here saying, I would not give up all those draft choices for that guy, if it hits, you do not think about the draft choices at all. Not for a split second.

Never again. Now I understand if you take a look at Atlanta's last two first round draft choices, they wouldn't have those players. So you can't sit here and say the current roster of players right now. Wasn't Drake London one of those first rounders? Would they have not been able to draft him with a first round of choice?

That's what I'm saying. And Bijan Robinson was eighth overall. They probably wouldn't have been in a position to take him.

Right. And suddenly, you know, maybe it's different or you can just build around Lamar anyway with somebody else. Maybe Derrick Henry would have been a nice free agent acquisition for Atlanta.

There you go. So I know it's not all apples to apples, but I sat here and I really believed it. Now, I also believe that if anybody, one of the reasons why I did say I wouldn't offer the two firsts for Lamar, because at the time he was going to be franchise tagged and it would cost two first round choice, first round draft choices to successfully sign a franchise tagged player. Part of the reason why I said that is I was fully believing the Ravens would have matched them and that they were having trouble figuring out their contract for Lamar and you signing Lamar and saying, I'd be willing to give up two first round draft choices. You were solving the Rubik's Cube puzzle for the Ravens saying, here's a fully negotiated deal. You know, here's a fully negotiated deal right now. And I know you had trouble figuring that out, but we just did it for you.

And by the way, our legal staff, we paid that legal bill, saved you the legal bill too. But man, how's that looking right now? What he looks like right now is a much better quarterback than the one that the Ravens resigned.

He has fully dedicated himself, clearly. And I'll never forget watching him play right now and dissect the defense with his eyes and his legs and his mind. I still never forget the thing that John Harbaugh said to Kurt Warner and yours truly when we sat in a production meeting prior to a Snoop Huntley quarterback game for the Ravens against the Browns.

I think it was Snoop versus Deshaun Watson, who was just two weeks back from that 11 game suspension to start his Cleveland Browns career. And they couldn't figure anything out on offense then. Not like they have since, but I just remember John saying that they expected Lamar back from his knee injury the next week, and then he never returned from the knee injury.

We were all wondering, is this contract related? And then he did have that off season where he demanded a trade because nothing was coming and it started getting ugly and spinning out of control. John Harbaugh telling a story of how Lamar would make some crazy play, seeing somebody like his fifth option away across the field, and he's running in the other direction and he finds the guy and he makes a play and he said, Lamar, how'd you see that? He would just said to him, I'm just playing ball, coach. And then he would throw an interception and he would ask the same question.

What were you seeing out there? And he would give the same answer, just playing ball, coach. And I asked Kurt Warner, I'm like, is that a good thing? And he just wordlessly over dinner and he just went, not a great thing. That's not the quarterback that's taking the field in Buffalo on Sunday, early evening.

That's not him. He's a back to back MVP possible. And he has done, and by the way, Ravens have done him well too, right? Let's draft them Zay Flowers, let's get Derek Henry going. Let's change offensive coordinators.

Let's get a two tight end set. It's really worked out. I was way wrong. That's tough for me to say, I'll be honest with you, but I still say it. You do, Rich. I own it. I respect that.

I own it. I don't like saying it. Can you imagine? The weather on Sunday is going to be so bad. It is just going to be Smash Mouth 10 to seven, maybe. Are we back to the weather report?

Mike, 10 degrees. That'll be tomorrow. I'm just telling you right now. Don't do his work for him. Don't do his work for him. I get excited for these, Chris. But I'm worried you're not going to be right.

So I want to give the real information now. Thanks, Chris. I'm actually pretty good. I just screw up a couple of things during it. You know what sucks? When Gus? You know what sucks about this?

Negative attempts? It's going to be called as hell. The fact that one of these two quarterbacks is going to lose this game. I know. I know. And then the narrative is going to be, they can't win the big one.

Probably coming from you on Monday is going to be, their legacy is destroyed and this guy can't win the big game. And it just stinks. And excuse me. That's what sports are. I know.

It can still stink, though. And that's why I think it's unfair to say what you're saying about Sam Darnold. The 14 wins have nothing to do with his success story moving forward. The last two games just shows you when it all comes down to it, he just saw ghosts again. And that's the guy that he is as opposed to going through it for the first time for real with a team for real. And how come he can't learn from it?

How come he can't the next time he goes through it be better? We always wonder about the other guys and we always maybe give the other guys some breaks. Granted, but Sam Darnold is not Josh or Lamar either. He's just not looked at the same as those two. And those two are both very likable. And the fact is, like, come Monday, one of these guys is going to be branded a loser and can't get a job done.

That's going to stink. Let's push back on that, then. It's not like we don't have the proper platform and it's not like that they're both likable guys. They actually are likable guys who like each other. This is what Lamar had to say about his relationship with Josh Allen this week.

I've probably seen Josh, like, early on in our career, like, going to certain events, like, Super Bowl time and stuff like that. But all season, I don't really chill with people all season, like, especially in our other quarterbacks. Like, nothing, like, don't get me wrong, it's no problem or nothing like that. But it's like, we competing against each other, like, I'm trying to beat you, like, I'm not trying to be your friend. Do you think, though, that because you guys were from the junior class class, that you'll kind of always be linked together? Yeah, yeah, yeah, no doubt, no doubt. When we older, we'll probably laugh about it, but nah, it's serious.

I ain't laughing with you. I kind of like that, but TJ, to your point, the facts of the case are this, Lamar loses, he's three in the five in the playoffs, can't get him to play the big game. If Josh Allen loses, he's 500 and you're like, bro, when are you going to make a Super Bowl? What if Lamar, what if, but what if, those are just facts, but that, but that's an advance. What if Lamar has a terrific game, Josh Allen has a terrific game, both teams have a terrific game, it comes down to who has the ball last, and actually that's the person that makes the play, while the other one's just standing on the sideline, can't do a damn thing about it.

That seems unlikely to me. You know, I mean, one year, you know, right, Josh Allen didn't touch the ball in overtime? Yeah, that's right. Honestly, this is, this, and then they change the rules, you know, I'm saying, you know how this business works, obviously, you know, but I do like that about, I do like that about Lamar.

He's got that red ass in him that you know, that red ass right there, I do like that. And also, you know, standing there in his cold weather gear, doing the interview, you know what, there's one word for that, you know what that says? What's that? Florida.

Yeah. When we played in them cold weather games, we was cold. He said Michael Irvin, one of our favorite tweets of all time. He is from the state of Florida.

I pulled you out the ghetto with these hands. I think, I think, didn't Deion, Deion once say that, that's, when he was a free agent, there, Green Bay is a town that he would just never would consider. It's something like that, right? No, no domes and warm weather for guys who grew up in the state of Florida.

Almost universally. All right. We'll take a break. Eight four four two oh four rich number to dial the top five performances of the college football playoff to date. We will hit that your phone calls eight four four two oh four rich number to down on the radio side.

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Get an expert now on turbo tax.com. Back here on the Rich Eisen show, uh, Jim Harbaugh had his, um, had his end of season press conference on Wednesday, by the way, he announced he's going to have a heart surgery and hip surgery procedure and a hip replacement. You've seen him limping around and remember that there was also that scary moment where he had to leave the sideline, right?

So we wish him the best. He did his usual thing, which is, you know, coaches will always protect their most important players. Um, and his quarterback's the most important player. He, he took the blame for Justin Herbert.

Check it out. My responsibility. We did not put him in, um, we did him a disservice, um, and didn't put him in the positions, uh, to be successful enough. And he, he played like a beast. I mean, there's nobody. And that was your, your question.

How do you, how do I think he played? Yeah. After watching the tape, uh, you know, I, I second that double down on that, on that statement. Uh, there's nobody, there's nobody in this entire organization, uh, who gives more blood, sweat, and tears and contributes more, produces more for the entire organization than Justin, Justin Herbert. So take your, he's not a winner and shove it is what he's basically saying, even though pretty much everybody's just saying that outside the building, uh, after a four interception performance, but he had only three during the regular season. I don't know what he means by the, um, we did him a disservice with the roster, with the game plan, with the protection. I don't know.

All the above. Maybe he didn't have a lot of great pass catchers this year outside a lad who, you know, you didn't know it was going to be this good. How good is he?

Right. He didn't know it was going to be this. That's why Daniel Jeremiah said earlier this week that the, the good news is this is going to be the worst office Justin Herbert has, because totally, but that's Jim, man, Jim is going to just basically throw him. He just threw himself on those tracks and then, uh, did it in the most heart, Jim Harbaugh way later on, which is the final, I guess, in season edition of the Harbaugh files.

Sometimes people that are standing on third base think they hit a triple, but they didn't. He's a complete stud stalwart. Uh, and he is, and, and, you know, research with that word, what that means. I mean, it's, it's, it's tough.

It's loyal, strong. Uh, you know, he does, he, he's the opposite of a, um, of a houseplant. I mean, he is, he is field corn, you know, uh, and just like field corn, I mean, it'll, doesn't need to be talked to in a, in a certain way. It doesn't need the conditions to be, to be, you know, perfect sunlight, shade, water, you know, water content, soil content. I mean, field corn, it'll, it'll burrow down for any energy that it can find and it will it will rise up and start producing.

That's that's Justin Herbert. What? Well, you have to talk to a houseplant. You've got to nurture a houseplant.

You've got to make sure the conditions are ideal for the houseplant to survive. He's saying it doesn't matter. Field corn, you just, and then of course he's also quoting big cat. You see that? You see big cat also is like all proud of it. As if all the slander I got in the years Wisconsin was beating Jim Harbaugh didn't exist.

He's a gym guy. I like it. I like it. Back here on the Rich Eisen Show Radio Network. Ethos everybody.

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Get your free quote at tryethos.com, that's try E-T-H-O-S dot com. Okay. We got a top five now we can do at the end of the show. Mike Hoskins, your choice.

Let's do it now. It is the top five performances of the college football playoff presented by Sonic. High five, one, two, three, four, five. Richest top five.

All right. Top five performances of the college football playoffs going into the weekend of the divisional professional playoffs in advance of the final on Monday. Number five is the Peach Bowl performance of Texas wide receiver, Matthew Golden, 149 leaving yards, seven catches, and then the overtime touchdown on fourth down and two point conversion in the second overtime that fourth down one saved the Texas season. I thought it was all over, sure looked like Arizona State was going to win it and instead Golden had a Sterling performance, number five. Number four, the quarterback, our new friend, my new BFF, who I'm rooting for on Monday night.

My name is Riley Leonard. Do what you did against Penn State, sorry, TJ. In the Orange Bowl, he led the Irish to four, count them, four second half scoring drives, including the game winning field goal drive. He was stupendous. Now obviously he got some good field position in that last one, but he did what he had to do. His colleague in the game that night did not, Riley Leonard.

You go Dookie. I can't believe I'm saying these words, but we all understand why I am. Number three on this list, because I'm a professional and this kid is a stud. He is a stud and he took his former roommate and put him on the ground in the biggest play of the game and took it 83 yards the other way, like he was Zeke doing the same thing in that building years before. Jack Sawyer in the Cotton Bowl, an 83 yard sack fumble touchdown. He had the trifecta. He had the whole damn shooting match. He was terrific in that big moment.

Number two, I think everybody saw this kid and fell in love with him. Cam Skadibu of Arizona State in that Peach Bowl did it all 149 yards on the ground, 99 in the air, 42 yards in the air. He threw it for a touchdown pass, two touchdowns. He accounted for three.

He was doing that arrow thing. It looked like he was going to bounce Texas. We all know what happened in the end, but I cannot wait to meet this kid at a combine and shake his hand and say, I like the cut of your jib, sir. I like the way you play football. He's inspirational.

Just the whole thing, everything about him was terrific. Number one, though, on this list, the best performance of the college football playoffs to date. Jeremiah Smith, the Ohio State Buckeye wide receiver against Oregon, one minute into the game essentially ended it. It's just like, OK, Oregon, can they do it again to Ohio State?

Can they keep Ohio State out of the end zone enough? One minute into the game, 45 yarder, 20 minutes into the game, 43 yarder. A hundred and sixty one yards in the first half on five catches. This game was over because number four said it was.

Seven catches, one hundred and eighty seven yards and two touchdowns. And that's the best performance. I think we need one more.

Why not? All right, we'll get one more. OK. You know, it was tough to pick just the best performance from Ohio State period because they're just been dynamite. Right. Yeah. Right. They've been dynamite. They're making plays on offense and making plays on defense. You know, and and the question is, is where does this come from other than just a terrific roster and a terrific game plan?

But I know it's coming from it came from a flag plant on November 30th. Yep. You're welcome. The Ohio State University. Wow. I'm putting this, even though it wasn't a college football playoff moment, but this moment might lead to a college football playoff run for the ages because it sparked a flame.

Jack Sawyer was throwing punches. You're welcome. On behalf of the University of Michigan. That's our top five list. My richest top five presented by Sonic. Enjoy the new bacon deluxe Sonic Smasher packed with crispy bacon, melted cheese and fresh veggies. It's the perfect meal for game day. Go free.

Eat Sonic. What? So if they win on money, you want like half a ring or something? You want like credit? What are we looking for here? I'm not looking for anything except the truth. Interesting. OK. OK.

I'm not looking for anything. Chris. Deep down, you're rooting for them. I know it. I know it. I know it. I know it. I know a chance.

I don't understand. Deep down in my soul, you want them to win. No way.

That actually matters again. Chris, may I ask you a question? There's no way.

May I ask you a question? Where were you watching the Cotton Bowl? Was that directly to your left? Was that on Friday? Chris, who was that last Friday was directly to your left? It was you.

Yeah. Did I look like a guy rooting for Ohio State? Did I come across as a guy rooting for Ohio State? I've seen your performances on CSI Miami, unlike Mike, the league. He was acting. Excuse me, sir. How dare you? He was acting. He was acting. Monday night's going to be a tough one.

That's got to be it. You could just watch Raw instead. You know, TJ might be in the open again. Are you not going to watch the college football national championship? I mean, I guess I have to for work, but I don't want to watch it. I mean, Raw is your work too.

That is true. I'll take care of Raw and you guys watch that game. How can you not be well versed on the exploits of Monday Night Raw on Netflix that you can see here on Roku? Who's more versed in it? I'm just saying you need to be versed on it for Wednesday's no contest wrestling with O.J. Jackson Jr.

I've got to be versed too. Of Denathis too, Pantera. The game will be on the other TV, but I don't like either of those squads. Like I said, I'm rooting for a tie.

Who are you rooting for? I can't. You have to. I don't want to. I'm choosing a side. You must.

Well, I guess Notre Dame. Oh, thank you. I don't like it. We're not going to win. I'm rooting for content.

So give me the Buckeyes. Why is that content? Because of what he's been trying to say that you prefer it because it makes the rivalry seem. Yeah. Why is that content? I just can't.

I'm already front loaded for you right now. Who was the last champion to go completely undefeated? Would it be Ohio State? Nope. I don't know how that's relevant. Oh, very relevant. Very relevant. Very relevant. Very, very relevant.

Having a zero under the L column I think is particularly special. Hey, it's Rich Eisen here. Join me and my compadre, Chris Brockman, every Monday on the Overreaction Monday podcast. You're also saying the record's going to go down.

I'm saying the record's going down anyway. I don't think you're off on this at all. Like you're spot on here. I don't think this is an overreaction because we have no idea what we're reacting to. Come react or overreact with us. Overreaction Monday. Follow and listen on your favorite platform. It's game over. It's game over, man.
Whisper: medium.en / 2025-01-16 17:00:17 / 2025-01-16 17:24:21 / 24

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