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He's crazy. It's Rich Eisen. Let me ask you this question. This is the Rich Eisen Show.
Are wide receivers becoming the new running backs in the league? DK Metcalf has demanded a trade live from the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles. Today's guests, senior writer for the MMQP, Albert Breer, 2025 NFL Draft Prospect, wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr., comedian Nick Thune. And now, it's Rich Eisen.
Hi, yes, everybody. Welcome to this edition of the Rich Eisen Show, live on the Roku Sports Channel, 12 to 3 Eastern every single day. Love being here. Love being on the Infinity Sports Network, 120 Rich Eisen Show radio affiliates coast to coast and growing.
It's a family. It's Sirius XM Channel 375 if you want to check us out every single day by listening to us via satellite. And then there's the way you could stream us for your Ear Gate Odyssey.com, the Odyssey app. There's our podcasts. Later on today, Jim Jackson will be here for the Jim Jackson Show. Spike Lee is his guest today. And that'll be in your Ear Gate and on the Rich Eisen Show YouTube channel that has over 905,000 subscribers and growing.
844-204-rich is the number to dollar. Always love looking down and seeing phone lines already light up as soon as we're saying a syllable on this program. And Albert Breer's first up there is a ton to talk about with the lead NFL reporter of Sports Illustrated and Amazon Prime videos, Thursday Night Football coverage. He's first up. Could you see over there, Chris Brockman? How are you? Hey, I'm great. What's up, man? Fresh off the Rich Eisen Show milk carton. Ladies and gentlemen, the South Bay's feeder of nuts to squirrels across South Bay. Mike Del Tufo is back.
Yes. Good to see you, Mike. Good to see you guys. It's a one day.
Hey, it's a one day residency. One day? Good to see you, TJ. Good to see you, brother. How are you? I'm good.
Are you guys all right, man? Because it was looking kind of like scary, ominous driving the work today. Did you know this? I didn't drive behind the airport. What was going on behind the airport? It was looking like something wicked this way comes. Oh, really?
I didn't see it. So it's sunny and beautiful here in the studio. Good to see everybody here.
Again, 844-204-rich is the number to dollar. Have a conversation with us. We're excited to chat with you.
We'll have enough time to do that for sure. Comedian Nick Thune is in studio on our number three. We haven't seen him in years. He threw out a first pitch at a Mariners game because we connected him with the Mariners. He's a diehard Seattle fan, which means he's freaking out that D.K.
Metcalf wants out. And Tyler Lockett gets basically released after 10 years. I'm sure he's freaking out about what's going on with the Seattle Seahawks.
Oh, I'm sure. And Jimmy Horn Jr., who's the lead son atop the Deion Sanders son draft board right now, as you know. That was a really fun moment at the combine over the weekend. Jimmy Horn Jr. will be joining us in our number two to talk about his draft process and things of that nature. Rich, you have to ask him what Deion was mad at him about. Remember, Sidor just said, oh, he was mad about something and say what? And Jimmy was like, yeah, I did something. OK, find out what we will look under the hood.
We will look under the hood. Listen, folks, salary cap maneuvering isn't, some would say, a very sexy subject matter. But it is crucial when things happen and things occur. And also when it's something of note, when we've been talking about a certain contract for years and the news came across today that the Cleveland Browns have redone Deshaun Watson's contract once again. And what they did was convert X, Y and Z to clear 36 million bucks. But the key fact of this is, and Tom Pelissero tweeted this out, Tom's on tomorrow's program. The Browns have now paid out the vast majority of Deshaun Watson's five year, two hundred thirty million dollar fully guaranteed contract. All that's left is a minimum salary this season, which makes sense because he's not playing this season out with an Achilles injury for all of 2025. And then his salary in 2026 is 46 million bucks.
That's all that's left. And as we know, forty six million dollars for starting quarterback in this league, kind of a bargain. It's on the low end of things to the point where, you know, the opening offer reportedly from our old friend Jason Lock and Flora from the Niners to Brock Purdy is forty five million. And that's seen as a low offer in this day and age, certainly for somebody who's taken a team to the playoffs multiple times, somebody who has taken the team to a Super Bowl once and a Super Bowl overtime loss, I might add. That guy's being offered forty five million and Deshaun Watson would cost forty six million a year from now.
But anything can happen between now and obviously the beginning of the 2026 season, certainly when the Browns have the second overall pick on the clock. And I am sure Browns fans might be sitting out there wondering, why are you bringing this up? Because there are certain stories in the NFL and transactions in the NFL that keep on echoing.
There's still a ripple in the pond. Ask the Giants front office about that. Because of what Saquon Barkley did after leaving and what the Eagles have done, paying him after leaving the Giants in a manner that he felt commensurate to join the Eagles and run for two thousand yards and be the offensive player of the year and now break the 20 million dollar a year barrier at the running back spot. And every single time he does anything, it's like, what the hell are the Giants thinking? And the Giants have an opportunity this year to turn the page with a third overall pick and a free agent market. And the Giants, as I said earlier this week, how would it sound to you? They sign a veteran quarterback. And I understand Giants fans saw the Aaron Rodgers movie with the co-tenants in that building and really might not want to run it back. But what if you draft, say, Travis Hunter and you add him to, you know, neighbors and you may be signed Devante Adams, just throwing this stuff out there, sticking names off the wall.
Now, suddenly you're not terribly upset. And the Giants can win this year and show that they've got some dynamic talents of their own. And you're hearing less and less about Saquon Barkley. That's their plan, whether it's going to work or not. Don't know. They'll never hear less about Saquon.
I hear you. But in terms of the Deshaun Watson trade, now that he is not playing in 2025 and we're seeing the end of the tunnel here, where it's just most of the money that was fully guaranteed that everyone was wondering, why are the Browns acquiring somebody with so much baggage and giving him the first fully guaranteed contract of its kind? And are they playing with fire? And now we're sitting here in this moment in time and you look at this in perspective and you take a look at what Deshaun Watson has done. By the end of next season, he will still have started 19 games and he'll have missed 51. And he'll still have only 19 touchdowns with 12 interceptions. And he'll still have a passer rating of 80.7 as a Brown quarterback. And he'll still have only 3,365 yards. And that's what the Browns have damn near paid off a $230 million contract for.
And the question is, will this fact again, this reason why I'm bringing it up here is it just, you got to put it into perspective. Will this cause the Browns to say 2026, $46 million is not a bad number for a guy who used to be Deshaun Watson and given it one more tire kick to the point where they don't use the second overall pick on a rookie quarterback. As a matter of fact, they can actually take the guy who might have heard the plan that kicks the can down the road a little bit, which would make complete sense if you are not in on Cam Ward or Chador Sanders, and you are looking at who might be coming down the pike in next year's draft. And you do have Abdul Carter sitting there second overall potentially, or the ability to just flip some trade asset to the Titans to swap spots. And you do choose Abdul Carter and you trade Myles Garrett, who wants no part of your organization anymore. And I understand you don't want to be that front office that trades away a future hall of famer who the fan base adores or past tense adored. And when you look at the draft compensation, you gave up for Deshaun Watson and got only this return on the field and have doled out damn near $200 million to him for all of that.
For three firsts, one third and two fourths, you know how you could get back two ones and another player and maybe a fourth or a third? Unless you go into this in the Dallas Mavericks way of looking at it. Sorry. Wow.
They just hand out all the shrapnel here. No reason. I'm serious. I understand you don't want to be in the position of you traded away Myles Garrett, but Myles Garrett says I want out. And he is officially no longer a volunteer. He is a hostage to use the phrase of one of their colleagues in the AFC North. You can get back a couple of ones. You can get back another player.
You can absolutely put this guy out for bids and have a remarkable bidding war and have future capital next year when Deshaun Watson can be your bridge quarterback for $46 million. That may be a plan. Now listen, this contractual redoing was happening no matter what. We were going to have this news break no matter what. It just happens to be today.
Okay. This was coming down the pike to the point where if Myles Garrett is talking to Jimmy Haslam as Diana Rossini told Susie and Amy on What the Football that he spoke to the owner. First I'd heard Jimmy Haslam's name in terms of a post season confab. I thought it was just with the GM and the coach, but it might've been with the GM, the coach and the owner. And Myles heard whatever the plan was or that, Hey, give us some time.
We're formulating it. And whatever it was, he said, I want out. And then had a very orchestrated effort to get his side out. When you pop something out there on your Instagram on Superbowl week, and then fly into the Superbowl city, then trade away Garrett. He doesn't want to be there. You can send him away where you see him only once every four years, make your draft capital back, figure out your quarterback spot for this year to get through it.
And you might listen. This is a team that won with Joe Flacco. This is a team that, that has a two time coach of the year can coach things up. You get yourself the right veteran quarterback.
You can get through this year. You can get to Deshaun Watson and give that one more tire kick just to say, you know, in the same way that you're hearing in Atlanta, they're not getting rid of Kirk Cousins right now because they could use him as the backup to a rookie in Pennax who has an injury history. And plus, you know, word on the street there in Indianapolis was Arthur Blank doesn't want to pay all this money to a guy that gave him two thirds of a season.
I get that. You know, paying somebody 90 million bucks for two thirds of one season and you're now paying him to go play somewhere else. That's a bitter pill, man. I don't know if the Ashlums are like, we're paying 200 mil. Put that, put that board up one more time.
And again, this is not the low hanging fruit where you're just trying to, you know, point out the negative. This is a factor in what the Browns might be thinking now. And for next year, can you choose Cam Ward second overall, if you love him and just say, okay, Deshaun, you're 46 million and you'll be a tradable commodity at that price.
You could do that. I'm just saying that if you love Abdul Carter and he's a real frigging ding and you can get him and you're trading away, Myles Garrett, you're saying, Hey, Browns fans, here's somebody who's eight years younger. And as the first overall capability of rushing the passer, here's your new Myles Garrett.
And good luck to you, Abdul, with those shoes that you need to fill. But it sounds like a plan, either one. And I'm wondering what they're thinking. But I think it starts with trading Myles Garrett and just, you know, looking at the clock on a wall here. There's nobody else on your roster that can net as many people as, or as net as much draft compensation as you gave up for a guy who's only given you 19, by the end of this year, 19 starts and 51 missed games.
But do you want to trade Myles in the next couple of weeks? So you have a first round pick in this year's draft, or do you want to do it for 26, 27 ones? And obviously a few extra picks and maybe a player.
I'd want to do it now, I think, because at least, you know, you're pegging it where you know where you're getting it this year. So you're getting two firsts this year and maybe a first next year. So you're getting an extra first this year and one the next year. And for him, you can ask for a third, go for it. Or a top-notch player and a second for this guy. You can get four or five picks and a real starter. Certainly when he's out for bids. Certainly when it's a bidding war, it's not like, again, not to catch another strike. And it's not like we're calling one team.
Don't tell anybody. And that's what we're going to do. Well, and that's why I'm looking at the draft order right now. And I'm like, look, if you're Cleveland, you don't want a back end of a first round pick in this year's draft.
You want a top 10, top 12 pick. Is it Dallas at 12? Is San Francisco involved?
Is it Chicago? New Orleans probably needs a quarterback. The Jets need a quarterback. It's none of those top six teams, unless you're talking about maybe New England or Jacksonville.
What you're talking about, you're talking about an NFC team. That's where it starts. I don't want him anywhere near me.
I don't want him anywhere near me. If the price is right, you'll send him anywhere. The price will be right to an NFC team. There are, last I checked, 16 of those. And it's not like this guy's a bad fit anywhere. He's a brilliant fit everywhere, including their own team, which is why I understand they have reservations.
But there's a clock on the wall and there's also the figurative clock on the wall. Well, then I'm looking at 10, 11, 12, Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas. Let's go. Are you serious about being contenders? Chicago would be a great spot.
They would go out of their minds. He's perfect for Chicago. Perfect. Again, perfect for everyone.
Perfect for everywhere. But yes, but if you're looking at an NFC team try again, try again. Give me another one.
Give me another one. The Dallas Cowboys. Perfect.
The Philadelphia Eagles. Oh my God. No, no. That's more than perfect. You've just spoken to existence, ripped the knob off.
Howie Roseman's like, wait a minute. But if you're Cleveland, you don't want the 32nd pick. You want the 10th pick.
You want number 2 and 10. That's right. Yeah. Yeah. It has to be one of those, one of those types of teams. Let's take a break.
844-204-rich number to dial phone calls. Albert Breer on waters. DK Metcalf won out. What's going on there? The free agent market and where the trade market for wide receivers.
It looks like your fantasy, you know, first round draft choices from back in the day and the present day, Albert Breer, the MMQB senior NFL reporter of Sports Illustrated coming up. At the Hyundai getaway sales event, get deals. So right.
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Not available in all States. Hey, Rich Eisen here. I hear from a lot of business owners like you about the work it takes to pursue your passions. So I know how important it is to have the tools that can help keep you moving forward. And with access to world-class business and travel benefits, the American express business platinum card helps you take your business to the next level. It offers a flexible spending limit that adapts with your business.
Plus you'll have complimentary access to more than 1400 airport lounges worldwide, including the Centurion lounge. So you can keep running your business while you're on the go. See how the Amex business platinum card gives business owners like you, the tools and rewards to do more of what you love. Not all purchases will be approved. Terms apply.
Learn more at American express.com slash Amex business. All right, we're back here on the program. Uh, there's a breaking news and Chris, I'd love for you to, uh, read the tweet on the screen so you can let everybody know what the, uh, the news is. Uh, there it is. Can you do me a favor from Garofalo?
Are you serious? The bears are retaining a linebacker, special teamer, uh, amen. Amen. Hey, all right.
Oh, for one, ladies and gentlemen, go for it. Ladies and gentlemen, what are your eyes? See, what are your eyes seeing? Uh, what do they see? Uh, Bonga Miga. Now cover your left eye.
I think my eyes are honestly going bad. What do you think? Uh, Oh, Oh, sound it out. Sound it out. You got this.
I think you got him. Oh, I think the G is silent. I'm going to go. Oh, none of the G's are silent. I'll give you that hint. Oh, bong. Yeah.
The Amiga. Yes. Oh, bong. Bemiga walk off. Amen. Oh, bong. Bemiga. I work here.
It's not sometimes you just got to go slow and just, you know, sounded out. We can go home now. Thank you. You want to finish the rest of the tweet now? Uh, sure.
Cause you got caught up on a hooked on. You got, you got, it's tough. One more time.
Here we go from the top of the bears are retaining linebacker, special teamer. Amen. Oh, bong. Bemiga. Yes.
As Dan, I can't even pronounce that guy's name. So it's a $2 million deal. Amen. Deal Don.
Oh, hallelujah for Chicago. Careful. A well done there. That was tough.
You got through it. Geez. See, that's why you're not a newsman of any kind. I mean, I'm an award winner.
You are, you know, 2009 main sports college. Amen. You got it. I'm so proud of you back on the rich eyes and show radio network. I'm sitting at the rich eyes and show desk furnished by Grainger with supplies and solutions for every industry range has the right product for you.
Call click ranger.com or just stop by my God. What are you going to talk about on March 6th? I remember that was, we got that when we started NFL network.
What are you going to talk about when there's no football, everything, Albert Breer of sports illustrated and prime video back here in the rich eyes and show dude. Right. I mean, yeah, by the way, as a, as a, as a Roman Catholic who is in the midst of Lent right now, I could tell you there are multiple pronunciations of amen. And, uh, and also, and also I, I, uh, I was coming out of a meeting at my kid's school when I saw Garofolo's tweet and I read the hallelujah for Chicago, you know, you don't always control where your eyes goes for eyes go first, you know? And I read the hallelujah for Chicago thing first for some reason and thought like, Oh my God, is there something I'm gonna have to react to? And then not so much, not so much. Maybe not so much. Yeah.
Good to see Albert. Um, let's just jump right into this. The um, Deshaun Watson restructuring, we knew how to come, but how does this play into what, what is the Brown's plan? Second overall quarterback this year, 46 million, uh, remaining on Deshaun Watson's contract is a very doable salary for a starting quarterback in 2026.
Should they want to go in that direction? Miles Garrett says, I want out Abdul Carter's sitting there as a possible replacement. If they go ahead and trade him away, what can you tell us about Andrew Berry's plan here for Cleveland? I think it's important to start, um, back a couple of months ago. Um, and yeah, I did some reporting on this in November and December ahead of one of our games where we had the Browns. And, um, you know, I know back then this is before the second Achilles tear that, um, their plan was to add a lot of competition to the quarterback for him, which is different than the way they approached it the last couple of years with Deshaun. Um, what they were putting in the room before was what they felt like was support for Deshaun, not competition for him.
And that was one of the reasons why the divorce, you know, from Joe Flacco happened is because they wanted to set it up to support him. That was going to change from really like almost the beginning of, of last season. Like they felt like after the way he played and then he tears the Achilles, that, um, it was time to get better production out of the position.
So that's the baseline, like this is, this is not just related to the second Achilles tear. Um, you know, from there, I think their, their, their approach has been, we're going to look at the draft. We are going to turn over every rock on every player in the draft. Cause we know we're going to have a high pick and we're going to attack the veteran market too. And it wouldn't surprise me, Rich, if they pull both levers.
Now, what does that look like? I think because of the number on that they have, um, on their books from Deshaun Watson and the guarantees and the cash, not just the cap, but the cash, the $92 million, they have fully guaranteed over the next few years for Deshaun. Um, they have to get a little creative in the veteran market. That's why I think most people have looked at it and said, Kirk Cousins would be the perfect guy because you'd probably be working off the offset.
You get them in for the veteran minimum and still draft one. The problem is you don't control Kirk Cousins becoming available. Um, he might become available next week. If things get really ugly, he might not be available for three months. So you can't really control that if you're the Browns.
So now what do you do if you don't know whether or not he's going to be available, if he can't force his way out, cause he doesn't want to be in Atlanta. Um, you know, then it's, well, do we look at Daniel Jones plus a rookie? And that's part of why, by the way, Rich, they're having the 30 visits with the quarterbacks this week. They're trying to get as complete a picture as they possibly can of Cam Ward and Shidoor Sanders. So they know what they're going to be dealing with in the draft. And they know if there's, um, really what they view as a, a real answer there, or, you know, do they have to go heavier on the veteran option and then, you know, maybe they don't deem one of those guys worth a top two pick and they say, okay, we'll draft one in the second or third round either way. Um, they're going to come out of this, I believe with a new veteran and a new rookie on the roster, it's just sort of a sliding scale.
What levels those are at. Interesting. So you're saying they're kind of going early on their visits with Ward and Shidoor prior to free agency, cause that it will inform them how they approach free agency with what aggressiveness and who to target.
Interesting. And I'm just wondering, listen, I totally understand that this is Andrew Berry's plan. It makes total sense, complete sense. And but also makes sense that if you're telling this to Miles Garrett, he would say, yeah, I don't want any part of that as I'm pushing 30. Like I, and I'm wanting a trophy like that. That sounds like far away from a trophy is what, to be honest with you, or it sounds like, you know, where we're still trying to figure this thing out, hang with us.
We need you to win some football games while we get up to that speed. Right. I mean, or you believe that Cam Ward or Shidoor Sanders second overall could just continue this remarkable string of rookie quarterbacks drafted in that position. You know, I mean that that's the question about Garrett.
Yeah. That's hard too, because like I, I think it's, there's part of it that's on the, that's on the Browns to, to, to show Garrett how serious they are about winning right now. Cause let's be honest, Rich, like any guy in Miles Garrett's position, he doesn't care about your three-year plan.
You know what I mean? Like he wants to compete for a championship right now. Like tomorrow's not promised to him. So he wants to go chase rings right now. And I do think he's being forthright when he says this isn't about the money.
This is a guy who thinks a little bit differently. And yeah, I mean, could I see new money being part of whatever the conclusion is here? Absolutely. But I don't think it's the driving force. I think the driving force is he wants to go win somewhere.
So that's part of it, right? Like it's showing Miles Garrett that you're serious about winning in the here and the now. And then I think kind of attached to that for the Browns, this is just me talking.
Okay. But I think like the Browns, like I think it's on them to take a serious look in the mirror and just say to themselves with guys like Joel Vuittonio and Denzel Ward and Miles Garrett most of all, right? These guys that are either in the heart of their primes or the back end of their primes. I think a huge part of this is looking at it and saying, can we get good enough fast enough to still have these guys in the primes of their careers while we're competing for championships, right? Like in other words, can we get this thing where it needs to be a quarterback most of all and all over the place in general in the AFC, in that environment, in the division with Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson, in a conference with Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen, can that happen fast enough where when it does happen, Miles Garrett and Denzel Ward and those guys who've been at the core are still at the top of their games. And I think to me, like that's the question you have to ask if you're the Browns that informs you whether or not you seriously consider trading them.
Albert Breer here on the rim. But just to be clear, they haven't shown any indication, any one that they're going to do it. The two things I heard at the combine, Albert, one that I mentioned in my annual rumors segment is that the Browns truly have no intention of trading Miles Garrett. And the other one I heard is that they're definitely taking a quarterback second overall.
But I don't know about that. As you pointed out, there's a lot of moving parts. And it's interesting that you point out that they have the top prospects in now before the draft, before they're making their decisions. I've got Albert Breer here from Sports Illustrated. Why did DK Metcalf ask for a trade, Albert?
Yeah, I think there are a couple of things at work. Number one, like he's going into a contract here. And I think he's seen what's happened to the receiver market. And if you want to roll the clock back three years when he did his extension in the first place, he signed a three-year extension so he could get another bite of the apple. He's been banged up a little bit now.
That bite of the apple is here. He's still only 27 years old. So there's the chance to go and maximize his value and get somebody to pay him at the top of the market.
So that's part of it. And then where are the Seahawks at with all the young guys they have to pay? They've actually got some pretty good young talent there. Charles Cross left tackle. Jackson Smith and Jigba, I think some would argue, is already their number one receiver. Kenneth Walker. We saw that with results in numbers last year.
Yeah. And then Witherspoon on defense. They've got a lot of guys that are coming up that they're going to have to pay in the future. They've got a new offensive coordinator coming in and Clint Kubiak.
They're going to recommit to the running game. I think there are a lot of things here you look at where it's like DK Metcalf, he wants that bite of the apple and he's asking kind of, where do I fit into all of this? I can certainly see a scenario where the Seahawks look at it and say, we're going to have to pay all of these other guys.
DK's a little older than all of them. He's been beat up. If we can get a one for him, we should really entertain that. Now the question is whether or not they can get a one. I think with only a year left on his deal and a $30 million ask, let's call it somewhere around there, $30, $35 million ask, is there a team out there that's willing to give up assets on both ends on the cash cap side and the draft pick side to go and do that? Would the Chargers do it? Would the Raiders do it? Would the Patriots do it? I think if you're a team with a young quarterback or a team that's in need of a number one receiver, it could be one way to solve it.
One thing that does help them as far as potentially trading the pick or trading DK and getting maximum value for him, there's not a lot out there on the free agent market. They're all older guys. T Higgins is tagged. Then after that, you got Chris Godwin, Amari Cooper, Cooper Cup, Devontae Adams.
Those guys are all really good players. They're at the end of their careers, right? Or getting closer to the end of their careers. Then for the first time in what, like a decade? I mean, what was the last time... Rich, you do this every year. What was the last time we had a bad draft class at receiver?
No, I hear you. That's why as we look at those guys up there, I'm wondering if we've finally reached the salary threshold for front offices to start treating wide receivers like the running back spot. Why am I paying somebody top 28 million? You're already hearing that.
Is IU going to market too? What's going on with him in San Francisco at 28 million? I think they're sort of listening to everything on everyone.
This has been coming. If you looked at their books, and I know they restructured some guys, but in the middle of last year, if you looked at their books, they had almost $300 million committed in cap to this year. So they were kind of at the point where it's like, this is where the Rams were a couple of years ago, where it was either like, if we don't start to clean this up now, especially with a quarterback contract coming down the pike, then we could be looking at not a one year, but maybe a two year cap clean out, right? And the Rams decided, if you remember, it was sort of connected to the Jalen Ramsey trade where they decided, you know what? We're going to take on whatever it was, 75 million in dead cap right now. We're going to hit the hard reset.
We're going to get younger. I don't know the Niners that go through that hard a reset, but I do know part of their thought process right now is this is probably the time when we need to reset. So if somebody comes along and offers something great for IU and he's got the ACL right now, would they listen?
Sure. I think they're sort of open for business on any ideas. It doesn't mean their best players are all on the block, but I think they are listening. And then the Purdie negotiations, has it started with a 45?
That's what our friend Locke and Fora tweeted out the other day, Albert. I think the Niners would like to keep it in the fours and Purdie's camp would like to have it in the fives. I thought initially there was a good chance, do they try to do what they did with Jimmy and just speed up the whole thing and get it done in January the way they did with Garoppolo all those years ago. And they've been through this before of course.
I think that they weren't able to kind of get some traction early shows there is a little bit of a divide between the sides right now and it's going to take some time to get through this. What you hope is with your quarterback that they aren't going through what they went through the last three off seasons in a row right now, right? Like where it was Debo in 22, it was Nick Bose in 23, and it was Brandon Ayuk last year where those things lasted all the way deep into training camp.
They'd like to avoid that. Look, there's a disagreement in where they stand, but I think the Niners would tell you both publicly privately that Brock Purdie is their guy. I don't think they want to go into a contract year with him, but I don't think anything is off the table right now.
They've obviously got the franchise tag if they have to use it in 2026. Albert Breer here on the Rich Eisen show. Yeah, treat him like Kirk Cousins. That's what we were talking about the other day is that honestly the irony that everybody thinks that Kyle Shanahan has been trying to get Kirk Cousins for years or has always got a side eye for Kirk Cousins, keep an eye on him and they might have a guy that they financially treat like him, which by the way is not a bad way to be treated financially in this day and age in this world. So in the few minutes I have left with you, Albert, walk me through it. Sam Darnold has two ways to go about it because the next two weeks are going to be a fascinating two weeks for him.
It's a rollercoaster ride. The first order of business is Minnesota didn't franchise him, but I'm sure that they're not cutting off all communication with him. And then let's just say that Darnold does reach free agency. What's the market and the teams that would be interested in him, Albert? The Vikings would love to have him back.
Here's the reality. They really, really like J.J. McCarthy. And I think if you had asked them before he got hurt in the second week of August how they felt about him, they would say, we're actually having a conversation now about the potential that he could start at some point this year. That's how much he impressed them. That wasn't part of the plan initially, but he impressed them to the point where that was a discussion point. Then he gets hurt. Then he has a second surgery, which is more of a cleanup.
I think you and I have talked about that. And he lost a bunch of weight. I think the kid's trying. I think he is.
But here's the thing. I like J.J. a lot as a player. I think the thing with the Vikings situation is this isn't a rebuilding team. They won 14 games last year. If you're the Vikings, can you roll the dice on a kid who, again, needs to get back to his fighting weight and lost four months of on-field development? Can you look Justin Jefferson in the eye, Christian Derissa, Andrew VanGinkle, Jonathan Granard, all the guys they have that are veteran players in the roster and say, yes, we're going for it right now. We won 14 games last year. We're going after a Super Bowl.
I don't know. I feel like they have to have some sort of insurance on that. Going with Sam Darnold for another year would be one way to attack it. Bringing Daniel Jones back would be another way to attack it. I think they've given themselves some options.
I just don't know which path this is going to take them down. I think a huge part of it right now is dependent on where the market is for Sam Darnold. If you're the Vikings, you could put something good in front of them, but if, say, the Raiders come along and say, we're going to put a deal in front of you that says basically you're starting for the next two years. With the Vikings, it's like, yeah, you'll probably be our starter this year, but we got the first-round pick there.
I think that that's where the rubber meets the road a little bit. I think how the market bears out for Sam Darnold, whether it's the Raiders, whether it's the Giants, whoever it is, teams that throw their hat in the ring, I think that's going to determine whether or not the Vikings wind up with Darnold back. The one thing that would be hard for them to compete with now, unless they trade J.J. McCarthy, which I know they're of a mind to do right now, the one thing that would be tough for them to compete with is some team coming in and making the commitment to Sam Darnold, you're going to be our quarterback in 25, you're going to be our quarterback in 26, and here's the contract that reflects that. What about the Steelers? Could they be in that market? Or they're going to Justin Fields here?
What are they going to do? I could say they love what they've gotten from Justin Fields. You've talked to him. He was a Steeler before he was a Steeler, so to speak.
You know what I mean? Just his kind of approach and his demeanor and all of that. It's a really good fit for the program and they want to keep working with him. I don't know that he did enough to say, yes, we're going to bring you in and anoint you our starter and we're not going to add competition to the room. I think this is that sort of puzzle for them. Say the Jets come along and offer Justin Fields something to start, would the Steelers be willing to come in and say, yes, you're our starting quarterback for 2025?
Maybe they love him, but I don't know if they'd be willing to do that without having competition in the room. Then is Kirk Cousins available? That's another question because that would be a way to kind of get around the whole idea of paying a guy top dollar or going above and beyond to keep Justin Fields.
I think if you give the Steelers people truth serum, they'd probably tell you in two weeks, we'd probably see Justin Fields being kind of the lead dog. What was it that Mike Tomlin, the term he used, pole position? Yeah, that's what happened last year.
He lost pole position and that's part of the reason why he's been amazing, man. He didn't complain out the door in Chicago. He didn't complain once in Pittsburgh. He's just kept his mouth shut and his head down.
I will tell you this too, Rich. What Arthur Smith did with Ryan Tannehill in Tennessee, he believes he can do that with Justin Fields in Pittsburgh and maybe more than that. Now again, I'm not telling you that this is going to become Patrick Holmes or Josh Allen, but Ryan Tannehill got the Titans to an AFC title game and that's a pretty good roster there in Pittsburgh. If you feel like you can do that, if you have a full offseason to build an offense for Justin Fields, it's not a horrible option. And then just in the two minutes I have left here, is Justin Fields the target of the Jets? What's their plan at quarterback as they D-Rogers the roster?
Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised. It's funny because I think maybe the blueprint would be like, can we find our version of Sam Darnold that's going to trigger some PTSD for people like yourself? What Sam Darnold was last year for the Vikings, what Baker Mayfield was two years ago for Tampa, what Jared Goff was when Aaron Glenn was there in Detroit, where Aaron Glenn was a little bit of a distressed asset.
Can we find somebody who's talented who can come in and be that guy for us? Justin Fields would be a name, Daniel Jones would be a name. I think Daniel Jones is going to have some interest from the Vikings coming back, the Jets, maybe the Colts. But I look at the Jets maybe looking at an opportunity like that that would mirror what Aaron Glenn's experience was in Detroit. Because again, if you really want to dig into Aaron Glenn's past, like the Saints, they built around a distressed asset, Drew Brees, what he was six, right? And then the Lions built around a distressed asset in Jared Goff when he came in there. So I think the idea of a Justin Fields or a Daniel Jones or someone along those lines could make some sense for the Jets.
And I don't think bringing Tyrod Taylor back as an insurance policy would be a horrible idea either. Robert, you're the man. Thanks for the time. Greatly appreciate it. I mean, we just scratched the surface. It's kind of crazy what's going on. I love it. Thank goodness, right? Thank goodness for us. Absolutely. Absolutely. Hey, I always tell people, Rich, it's two weeks between the – we all complain about that, right?
The Super Bowl and the Combine. But I've made my peace with it because it's a lot better to have people care a lot about this stuff than not at all. And people care a lot about this stuff for sure.
They sure do. And like I said, we just barely scratched the surface. Let's chat next week. I appreciate the time. You got it.
Absolutely. Everybody follow him. Everybody listen to his pod, the MMQD NFL podcast. Read his material. He's the best of the best.
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Savings products insured by NCUA, investment products are not insured, not obligations of Navy Federal, and may lose value. Good to see you, Shaquille O'Neal. How are you, sir? Before we get started. Yes. If I take this home, will I get arrested? The Vince Lombardi trophy? Is this the real one?
That's the real one. That's a real Vince Lombardi trophy. I don't know if that's the one that's going to be given to the Rams or the Patriots this weekend, but that is a real... You want to lift it? Well, if I lift it, I want to take it home. Well, then I think we're at a crossroads here.
Actually, we're not at a crossroads. Let me tell you why. Okay, sure. I'm not a lawyer, but I watch a lot of law shows. I got about 50 witnesses that see me hit my head on your set. So if you just give me this, I'll let bygones be bygones. So it's a liability issue for me that turns into an even worse liability issue.
I don't want to have to call it the Shaq Eisen Show. No, I know that. I know that. All you got to do is just give me this, and I'll put it next to mine. This is beautiful. I'm doing the math in my head as to how much you'd be suing me for personal liability as to how much this trophy costs, which I've been told is around $22,000. Well, I'll be suing you for $23,000. You want to lift it? No, I don't want to touch it. Okay, you sure you don't want to touch that?
Bad luck for you or for...? No, to touch the trophy when you don't earn it. I like that. Yeah, my father used to always... Are you serious? He always used to... Because you know when you're a kid, you get the trophy from a local trophy shop?
Sure. You'd be like, if you listen to me, guys, you get this. You want to touch it, don't touch it. It's bad luck.
You got to earn it. So that's why... You know how in the NBA, when you win the Eastern Conference or Western Conference, they give you those little trophies? I never touched it. Never? I never touched it, and I never celebrated it.
I remember Phil did that, too, right? Like when you guys won the Western Conference finals of one of the many times you did. Yeah, I never touched it. I never looked at it. I never celebrated it.
This is beautiful, though. It's a beautiful trophy. Do you get a replica? Because you know NFL players can get a mini replica of this.
Do you get it? I got four replicas. Of the Larry O'Brien trophy? And I gave them to my father. Because growing up, he used to always take my trophies and let me celebrate it one or two days, and then he'd put them away.
So finally, I got enough courage to ask him why he did that, and he said he never wanted me to be satisfied. So after he passed away, I went and retrieved all my trophies from Little League, high school, college, and I put it in a room in my house and I dedicated them. So now, if you go, you get to see all my trophies. But I wouldn't win it. I'd celebrate it one or two days, and me and him would have dinner, and he would say, thank you very much. And he'd put it there, and I'd come back the next week, hey, Dad, let's go to dinner. Where's the trophy?
I don't know. Go get another one. And then you did. And then you would.
Then you would. Happy 53rd birthday to the big fella, Shaquille O'Neal. Wow.
Check these out. Some of my favorite videos is Shaq giggling like a school grade child at Charles Barkley's That's What She Said type comments. Have you seen that video?
That's right up your alley. The complete opposite of you and me when I say it. You don't laugh and giggle. Right.
Because you beat it out of me, and I don't do those. Well, it's one thing if it's our show, and it's one thing if it's another show. But Shaq's responses to Charles are just- Yeah, those guys are, man, just so much.
And if you don't know any better, you'd think that they're really going to fight at some point. Oh, no, it's felt like many times that they were going to throw down. And by the way, all of them talking about Starbucks last week at the combine. It was great. When we were all at the combine. It was great. Fantastic.
Fantastic. I'm glad that they're going to stay intact for next season on ESPN. Back here on the Rich Eisen Show radio network, phone calls, please stay on hold. We got Jimmy Horn Jr. top of the next hour.
We got tons of your time for you guys and gals, and we'll empty the phone banks. Albert Prairie just said something. Yeah. So you mentioned Justin Fields, that the Steelers are targeting him as their next starting quarterback, but they don't know. And you know, if another team jumps in and he mentioned the Jets for Justin Fields, then I followed up and he mentioned some other choices for the Jets.
And he mentioned one that would just be mind blowing. And his name is Daniel Jones. If Daniel Jones shows up to be the next starting quarterback of the New York Jets. It would be the most Jets thing. Or hold on a minute.
Hold on a minute. In a long line of Jets-ian things. You don't have to trust that Aaron Glenn knows what he is doing and that the front office knows what they are doing. And it also offers a great opportunity for them to, you know, show up the other team in town.
That's true. And here's my advice to Daniel Jones. If this happens, Daniel, you show up to the press conference and you talk about how it's suddenly a Jets town. Do that. Show up and say, I came back to New York because it's now a Jets town.
Pull a full on soda. That would be amazing. Do it. Yeah, sure. Why not? I don't know. Do it and do it with a straight face and do it.
Give it a try. Well, we've never seen him smile. Every single person that signs after him, that first press conference talk about where the we have the real fans, culture. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Go, go, go. The next one, pull AJ Minter, you know, with a nice Southern accent talking about the New York sports market.
Y'all. This would work. Try. This would work.
Give it a try. This would work for Daniel Jones. Because if he strolled in as a four time All-Star, a Homeland Derby champ, a World Series champ, a batting champ. Use this man as your, as your guiding light. You're switching from one New York team to the next and then declaring New York, the town of your team.
When every other normal human being in the city knows completely different, give it a try. Daniel Jones will be the one Soto of football. If he goes to the jets, it would be amazing. Like I said, his resume doesn't even compare to the great one. So excuse me.
He's been in the New York market longer. That's fine. That's for sure. That's true.
He knows the media a lot better. And then this too. This too. And another thing. And another thing.
And another thing. The pain. Could you imagine? Could you imagine? No, not a second.
What? No, could you imagine? Could you imagine? This is where my brain works. Imagine if you would have liked this, huh? My cheeks hurt.
This is so funny. Daniel Jones shows up and say, oh, it's a Jets town now. So no, no, outside of that. What coup de grace could be delivered harder after Saquon leaves and wins a championship for Philadelphia than if Daniel Jones leads the Jets in a manner that nobody expects.
And the Jets with a terrific young, talented roster start winning. And Aaron Glenn is the guy. And he's got a new way of doing things. And Daniel Jones, who, as we all know, has a very special skill set that just has not been unlocked. It was unlocked for like a couple of weeks. You could say he's locked it himself, like he's left the keys in his own car.
I get it. He's gotten hurt. But what if Daniel Jones becomes a Jet and they start winning in a manner Aaron Rodgers did not. And he's the man. He's the as Albert Breer pointed out, Aaron Glenn was in New Orleans, Aaron Glenn was in Detroit, and they built around, as he called Drew Brees and Jared Goff, distressed assets.
What's more of a distressed asset? Daniel Jones. And then the Giants respond by signing Sam Darnold and winning with him. Can you imagine if this happens in the New York market? I think we need this to happen now.
Honestly, this is like those 80s body switch movies. It's like big. Let's go to what Zoltan down in the Jersey Shore and ask if this is possible. I believe. Was it? I thought it was the Jersey Shore. No, no, no, no. It was Kony Island.
I believe that's where Zoltan was. I don't know. Well, Daniel Jones is known for wearing oversized suits.
Okay. No, no, no. That was his coach or the previous coach. That was McAdoo. McAdoo showed up like he was a lead singer for the talking heads. That's a nice 80s pop culture reference for you.
I got it, Rich. For those who watched MTV, when his video killed the radio star. I think we need this to happen. Right? Like a body switching movie.
Like Father, Like Son. Remember that with Kirk Cameron and Dudley Moore? 18 Again. Remember 18 Again? 18 Again. Oh, there's a million of them.
His name escapes me, became George Burns. There was the Lindsay Lohan. Yeah, all of them.
Yeah, all of them. Freaky Friday. That's right. Freaky football. Freaky. That's it. Sam Darnold's the giant starter and Daniel Jones shows up and declares it a Jet's town. Like Soto. Boom. Without all the talent. There's the season. There's the season.
