Ahmed Hassanein: Aaron Donald Inspired Me

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Hit it! Live from the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles. Shotgun for Rogers, sidearms right over the middle, touch down Pittsburgh Steelers.

Oh is that sweet! Let's talk about the fit of Rogers and the Steelers, Jerry. How is Rogers a fit? The Rich Eisen Show. Rich, I really don't think he is. Earlier on the show, NFL Network insider, Tom Pelissero. Coming up, Boise State Defense Event, Ahmed Hasani, ESPN NFL analyst, Louis Riddick. And now, it's Rich Eisen.

That's right everybody. Welcome to this edition of the Rich Eisen Show. Hour number two on the program has hit. We just had Tom Pelissero on in hour number one.

Louis Riddick in hour three. Some of the best talking about football information wise as well as evaluating. And we just also talked about Steph Curry going from a kid from Davidson, splashing on the scene and then becoming one of the all time greats. And we just love stories like that.

And in terms of that, I'm always interested in bringing you some stories that you may not be familiar with. And I became a bit more familiar with this young man's story at the combine, certainly in preparation for it. And then he had me at hello when I saw him barking back at some of the coaches on the field that were trying to get the prospects into it.

This young man needed no such prodding. He was giving it right back and I loved it. And I'm like, you know what? At some point, I'd love to meet him on the program.

And that moment has arrived from Boise State by, I guess, from Egypt by way of Boise State. Ahmed Hasani is here on the Rich Eisen Show. How are you, sir? Yes, sir. How are you?

I'm doing great. Did I pronounce your name right? Because I heard about 15 versions of your name's pronunciation at the combine. Yes, sir, you did.

Okay, terrific. Thrilled to meet you. Man, I don't even know where to start with you, but let's start with how you first became aware of football, Ahmed.

That's a great question. I'm from Egypt. I'm not from here. I was born in the United States. I left when I was six years old. I left with my dad and I left my older brother, Corey, we're half brothers.

He stayed with his mom. I left with my dad to Egypt. I only spoke English back then. When I went to Egypt, they only spoke Arabic, so I did not speak any Arabic when I went to Egypt.

But 10 years go by, so I learned Arabic language and I forgot all the English when I never practiced English for 10 years. And I was like six years old, so I grew up in Egypt and the Egyptian tradition and stuff, did not know anything about football, couldn't speak English, but sports was the big thing in Egypt. So I did CrossFit, I did jiu-jitsu, I did judo, I did ping pong, I did soccer, I did basketball, I did everything. But what I was really good at was CrossFit. And I was ranked top 10 on Africa, number one in Egypt in the CrossFit Games in Egypt, but didn't know anything about football or spoke English.

So I had a little bit of like a memory of like I can understand a little bit what people are talking about, but I can't say what I want to say. And I went through a lot of hardships in Egypt. This is why sports kind of was my outlet. And I felt like culture and I felt like energy in sports that's like in like no other sports. So 10 years go by, I was struggling.

I was struggling as a kid, as a young kid. And at that time, I suggested to my dad, I was like, you know what, I have the American citizenship. Why not just send me to America? I want to go to a military school in Riverside. It's called in Georgia. It's called Riverside. My cousin went to it and he turned out to be like, have that discipline to wake up at 6 a.m. to follow instruction. I was like, I want to be like that.

I want to have that lifestyle. At that time, my brother Corey, we never talked in 10 years. We haven't spoken to each other.

He was playing semi pro football in Austria and he was visiting Egypt. My sister bought him a ticket and he was like, you know, it's been 10 years. You haven't seen the family. You haven't talked to your younger brother.

Come visit. He needs you. And he came and visited and he saw me and he was like, so this is to my dad and told my dad, why are you send them to a major school?

I'm a high school football coach and English teacher. And my dad was like, that'll work out perfectly. It would save me a ton of money.

And then you just live with you. Sure. And and he was like, OK, so I moved to the States in southern 18 in August with no English. I did not play any. I didn't know. I just knew about football that people were running and hitting each other. That's all I know. Somebody throwing the ball and catching the ball.

That's all I know. And my brother played the wide receiver. He coached the wide receivers.

And that time I was like 200 pounds, 196 foot. I was I was very small, but I was very like clean says a wide receiver type of body. And my brother was like, OK, we're going to try him as a wide receiver and see if he can catch the ball. Couldn't catch the ball.

Try him as a linebacker. There's just too much stuff going on. There's people moving everywhere. So I was like panic attack. So these just put me in a D line and told me to go get the guy who has the ball. And I was always strong.

I was like a strong athlete from the CrossFit. So I was like, OK, see ball, get ball. I can do that. And I just start and I just start doing it. Like I didn't have the hottest start cost my team so much penalties because there's a start grabbing face masks, throwing people. Can't do that. Can't do that. Exactly. You see, this is this is the word that I told my coach and I was like, coach, I can't do that. What? And it is like in an accent. And he was like right.

Every and every time I have to practice coach Mitch Olson, he goes, I'm mad. No, you can't do that. And I'm like, oh, OK, fine.

I'm not going to do it. But then one day where the D one like an NFL dream started, I did not know what the NFL was. One day one time I was like I was watching the NFL and I saw Aaron Donald play.

Oh, boy. And I was like, I mean, he was like dominating people. And I was like, what high school he goes to. That's the NFL. The NFL.

What's that? And he was like, bro, that's the National Football League. I was like, OK, I want to go there. I want to play that. I want to be like that guy.

And he goes, bro, do you understand? That's only like one and the two percent that makes it. I'm like, OK, I'm going to be the one to two percent. What would I need to do? He was like, OK, first you got to earn a D one scholarship. You got to do good in college. You got to get invited to the combine and then get drafted and then be great. I was OK. What's the first step? OK, I'm going to start taking the camps because you're not going to get seen from lower. I played it.

I want to one of the lowest division in high school. I didn't have a D line coach. I didn't have a sled.

I didn't have anything. I was just going against trash cans the whole time. And I go to my brother's actually suiting up in practice. My brother's like five, seven. We have different moms. So I have to go against him because I had no competition.

Right. And he's just like and I played both sides of us and defense in my high school because it was like a low school. And he was OK. I'm going to start taking him to camps and you got to have to show yourself. I was like, OK, take me. So he just start taking me to like winter circle camps and start taking me to like all these different camps. And I just start going and dominating people. I was literally watching YouTube videos about how to pass rush.

And I was like, OK, works. A guy stopping me from getting to this guy. But there was one guy stopping. So how to either go through him or go around. It is that simple.

It is that simple when you think about it. And I just start dominating. Like I start downing people from modern day basketball, five stars, four stars, like you name it. Pull me at the three. I dominate.

Pull me at four, five, six, nine, whatever. And people were like, who the hell is this kid? And he was like, yeah, that's Ahmed Hassanine. He's been only playing football for two years. He's my brother. And he wants to make it.

Do you want. I'm like, OK, so offer start just rolling in and people start knowing my name and who I was. And this is why I believe in God, such like a good God and to be the first Egyptian to ever do it. It's amazing to me. Spencer Danielson, he was the D-Line coach back then.

Yes. He played with my brother at the Pacific in college. So when I was getting recruited and getting known, he texted me and he was like, hey, loved your film. And I got excited that was texting me. I was like, wow, brother, check this out.

He's like, wait, that's Spencer Danielson. I played with that guy. That's my friend.

And just the connection happened. Let me just jump in here. Had you ever heard of Idaho?

Never, never. I only know like Boise State was the Blue Field. Sure. So did somebody have to point out to a map where Idaho was to you? My brother, my brother showed me, but at that time also it was it was covered. So I couldn't travel.

I couldn't do any business. Right. It was really hard to get known and get like out of the state because it was really hard because it was the midst of covered. So I literally like committed on the spot. Coach D called me in a virtual like meeting and show me the facility. And he was like, I'm going to school. I feel like God called me to be here and best decision I ever made to be able to stay. And it taught me so much other than football told me how to be a man, how to lead men, how to just be myself and just have so much energy and just dominate, you know, and have that mentality of like, well, I'll do whatever it takes to get there, you know, and just have that toughness and, you know, and just the work ethic and really grateful for Boise State. What a story. And obviously it's just begun, which is the neat part about it. Have you met Aaron Donald yet?

I have not. I wish. That's my that's that's kind of my dream. Well, this is this is doable.

That's for sure. What would you say to him if you met him? Teach me.

Teach me. I want to be great like you. And like, I just want to like follow his footsteps because I know he's not the tallest guy, but he's the strongest. He has a tremendous work ethic. He's dominating.

He's everybody's just like when he walks in and just go against people, people know who he is to the triple team and double team. And that's what I dealt with in college. But I want to be like that guy. I like I want to have that kind of like a legacy and be the first Egyptian to ever do it. So I'm just following people so like inspired by my story and people just want to be have kind of my work ethic. Hopefully I can be that connection one day to have the NFL P.A.

just go to Egypt and get people out of there just like they do in Germany. That's going to be my dream, you know, just to be inspiration for people to to lead men, to to let men just know my story and just look how I was and how I am right now. And I'm still growing and I'm still learning and I'm just super grateful, you know, and just God is so good. I had Hasanine here on the Rich Eisen show fresh back from the combine. And again, I'm sitting there on NFL Network in the booth next to Daniel Jeremiah. We're seeing these drills for defensive ends and edge rushers. And the coaches are, you know, kind of like telling all the guys get get ready, get into this.

And they're barking at these prospects. And at one point you barked back. You start.

Can you walk through that process, walk me through that story from your perspective? That's just me. You know, I do this in practice every single practice, even my quarterback, Mad Dog Madison.

He was like, yeah, I seen that practice a couple of times. And just just how I do everything is I want to bring energy. You know, I want to have joy. I want to have fun. What I do. I'm not just out there just to do a drill. I'm just want to be out there, have fun and do that thing with passion, you know, and desire to be the best at it. So I also like I yell in practice every time I did.

I did at the Shrine Bowl. I did have to come and I was like, it's not going to be any different. I'm going to yell. I'm going to just be getting myself going, you know, and I'm going to have that like, come on, like, let's get it. Like, you know, just do whatever. So it was really cool to see a coach give it back to me because I was like, oh, this is going to be good. Yeah.

This is the National Football League, sir. Like, this is it. Yeah, absolutely. And I do this if I'm going against somebody and I'm like ready, like I know that's the double team coming or the triple team coming. Come on, bring it.

Or there's a Rimmer coming tight end. Come on, I'm going to go through you. So this guy, like my mentality is to get myself going and I love it. You know, I'm just I'm never I'm not I don't want to be somebody different because it's the combine and this lights are on. No, this one I shine.

This one I like ready to go. This is my moment. So, yeah, you've been dreaming about it. Like this is what was you know, you were saying earlier in our conversation that, you know, here's how you do it. You start here, you go there, you go there and then you go to the combine, then you get drafted. So you've you've done this already, which is awesome.

Now's the next step. And in terms of that, who did you speak with at the combine? I spoke with all 32. You did.

OK, I spoke with all 32. Everybody's like really inspired my story. I just love my work ethic.

I'm kind of the guy that's like, if you show me how to do it and you tell me how to do it, I promise you, I'll do whatever it takes to get it done. I couldn't speak English five years ago. I couldn't play football five years ago. And to get just to get invited to the combine and have the NFL interest, all 32 NFL voted, do you want to see me?

It's truly it's a blessing, you know, and I never want to take that thing for granted. I'm so grateful for the opportunity and I'm just I'm ready to to literally I I talk to coach D every time because it was hard for me leaving Boise State because I just build a strong connection with that team. I was a I was a team captain for the past two years, voted by my teammates. It's just it means something to me, you know, like I'm ready to sacrifice my body for this team.

I do not care. I'm ready to die for this team. I told him that every game day I was like, Coach, I'm ready to die for you today. And I truly mean it. And I just like whatever it takes to get the job done, I'll do it.

So this is my mentality and that's who I am. But I talk to everybody like I talk to everybody like yesterday, like yesterday, I talked with the Packers, Green Bay Packers the day before I talked to the Chiefs the day before that. I talked to the in the virtual zoom meeting. I talked to the Detroit Lions. You speak to Dan Campbell, speak to Dan Campbell. I wish that it was it was recorded, so hopefully he can watch it. OK, because, well, I mean, I would by the way, I would be a fly on the wall, but conversation between you and Dan Campbell, I would I would want to see that because I love it. Yeah.

I mean, just the passion that, you know, obviously he has portrayed and how much it means to him. And it seems like you'd match that. You see, you spoke to Seattle as well. I'm sorry to interrupt you there, but who else? You spoke to Seattle as well.

Seattle. I spoke to the commanders. I spoke to I spoke to a lot. I spoke to the Raiders. OK. I also I met with the teams twice because I met them with the Shrine Bowl and I met them at the Combine. What about top five?

What about your top 30? Where are you going to go? You going anywhere yet? Have you had any plans for that yet? I got invited to the Chargers. We'll see.

I mean, I have I think my agent kind of told me that you going to have because you already met with the teams a lot. Sure. So you probably and you're like a clean like you you don't have anything to worry about.

So I won't I don't think you're going to get invited to any visits. But if no, if so, then do I'll do whatever it takes. I just want to talk, have a conversation, because this is just me. You know, I'm I'm out there.

I'm not nervous. I'm I'm passionate. You know, I love this.

I love talking about my story and just what God leading me to. So I couldn't pick up on that, man. I couldn't pick up on that. Just get it.

So before I let you go, what about them? Sarcasm, sarcasm, sarcasm, sarcasm. And I was getting it now. I'm getting it.

Oh, I can I can teach you the ropes on sarcasm. Let me be your guy. I'll be your guy before I let you go. What is what is your draft night plan? What is your draft weekend plan?

Have you are you formulating that right now? I want to be with teammates. I walk with Spencer to be there. I want my loved ones to be there. I want my brother to be there.

My pastor, Mark, to be there and just have a like a night. That's you know, it's going to be pretty emotional for me. Just a guy that's, you know, the first to ever do it to see where I came from and where I'm at and to have the following that I have. I mean, I never want to take this for granted. I'm just it's going to be emotional for him because whoever gets me will get a guy that's ready to die for that team.

And to somebody that believe in me, that could Spencer believed in me after only with two years of playing high school football. It means a lot. You know, it means a lot to me and just ready for that phone call. And I'm just going to be watching my phone for him and see, man, I'm just excited.

You're getting emotional right now. Looks like I know I know because I truly believe that God has a plan for me, you know, and God never fails, you know, and I'm just excited. I'm excited to work. I'm excited to come on. I'm like, you know, I'm ready to I'm ready. I'm probably going to go work out right now. That's great. I'm just excited, you know, we're going to go ahead. TJ Jefferson, one of my colleagues, just got in my ear saying before we let you go. Go ahead, TJ. What's up, brother? Your story is amazing.

All the best to you. But you mentioned Aaron Donald. So I just recently was watching the Kelsey Brothers podcast, new lights that Rams quarterback Matt Stafford on. And he was sharing a story that the older teen was in the Make-A-Wish program.

He had just overcome cancer. And his goal was to work out with Aaron Donald. So he comes to the facility and Matt Stafford is like, all right, I'm going to sit over here and watch this.

And he goes in. The next thing you know, A.D.'s working this kid out so hard, he's throwing up in the trash can and he goes up to him. He's like, Aaron, like, have some kuth, some understanding. He just beat cancer. And apparently Aaron Donald's response was, you want to be like A.D., you got to work like A.D.

So that's awesome. You just know he might put it on you in that way. When you do, Aaron Donald, come on.

I'm right. I'm ready. Like, fly me out right now. I'm ready to work out.

I really worked out twice already. So let's go, man. I'm just I'm excited. I would love to meet him and just get his tells and how he does that, how he does things, you know, because he's great. He's the best of all time, in my opinion. He's just like how he does things and how he's work ethic is, how he watches film, you know, how he go on his daily basis. What separates him, you know, what separates him from the others? And I just want to get his mentality, you know, so I can have that and I can have it like I can do it my own to and clarify it because this process is his own process.

But I want to I want to look to somebody like that. You know, this he's the greatest of all time. And man, I just want to get his mentality.

You know, I would love to work out with him. Well, it'll be great. Let's see what we can do on that front. Trust me, I'm going to make sure this gets in his hands. And I thank you for your time. And yes, sir, I thank you.

No, you bet. And and, you know, look for more of me reaching out to follow your journey. Yes, sir, I appreciate it. Thank you so much. What a pleasure. What an absolute pleasure.

I was incredible. Right here on the Rich Eisen Show, one to root for and one to know about. As you go about your business, getting ready for the NFL Draft. I told you guys, didn't I tell you when we came back from the combine, I'm like, there was this kid out there who was barking back at the coaches. But not in a disrespectful way.

No, not in a disrespectful way. The coaches are like, come on, let's do this. And he just like any basically said to him, you know, yeah, I've got this. I've got this.

I love that. You know, and the coach, I think, soaked in the response. And I said, let's get him.

That went better than I thought. And I wanted to bring you guys the story and obviously everybody at home or wherever you're taking in the show. You said we love stories. And me personally, that's it.

Like, that's it. There's always so much of the bad that gets put out in front of everybody. But to me, I'm the type that stuff that guy, he's got a fan.

I know all of us in this room are going to follow him. You are not wrong about that. And in that regard, you are right. Absolutely. You're not wrong about that.

And in that regard, coming up next, Tank Lawrence and the Cowboys. We still hope nothing but the best. Oh, no, we're going back there.

That was awesome. Back with your calls at 844-204-Witch when we come back. At the Hyundai getaway sales event, get deals so right, it almost feels wrong. Now is the best time to get that Hyundai car or SUV you've always wanted. Plus, every new Hyundai comes with America's best warranty and three years or 36,000 miles of limited complimentary maintenance. Don't think you can get away with all that.

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Investment products are not insured. Not obligations of Navy Federal and may lose value. For you personally, you have an embarrassment of riches. You've got a beautiful family, a beautiful stadium.

You're the guardian of the star. You've got a bust. You've got a Hall of Fame ring.

You've got a jacket. What you don't have is a fourth Lombardi trophy. How bad do you want it, Jerry Jones? How bad badly do you want this?

Well, Rich, like you said, you've been around for two decades now and you haven't seen us raise that trophy. I did ask the man upstairs when I got the third one, I said, if you'll give me this one, I'll never ask again. I'm asking.

I'm trying to re-trade that deal. And so to the extent that he's listening to us, and I'm sure he is, I will do better. I've got some things that I could offer you to get that trophy. On the other hand, you know, that's why we're here. That's why I'm involved. A lot of people say and relate us to financial, but I was fortunate, lucky, and I had some resources and I used it all to buy the Dallas Cowboys.

Every bit of it to buy the Dallas Cowboys. I'm excited for this season. And on behalf of everyone at NFL Network, greatly appreciate your support for our network for all from Jump Street to now. And then just for me personally, I want to thank you. I truly appreciate it. Rich, I've watched you handle Michael Irvin and Deion Sanders.

Anybody that can keep them in their place deserves to be the star of the network. Jerry, I really appreciate that. That means a ton. Best to your family and good luck over this for the season. We appreciate the call. Thank you. Thank you, Rich. You got it. You got it right back at you.

Thank you. That's Jerry Jones here. And we're about to talk about the Dallas Cowboys on the program. Talk bad about the man.

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Call clickrainger.com or just stop by. What a total delight. We just talked to one of the most unique prospects I've seen come into the NFL draft, Ahmed Hassanine from Egypt by way of Boise State. Didn't know where Idaho was.

To be fair, there are Americans that don't know. That tracks. Again, if you're just joining us, please go to our YouTube channel or watch our re-air on the Roku channel, the Rich Eisen Fast channel or our podcast. What a delightful chat that was.

That was awesome. Tommy in Washington's been holding on since jump pretty much. What's up, Tommy? What's up, guys? Driving through Yakima, Washington right now.

Isn't that lovely? Home of Cooper cup. I think that's a good sign for the Seahawks. Hopefully we'll see. But the reason for my call today was I kind of wanted to bug TJ. I know you guys have been hinting at it, but Hank Lawrence had a good interview with one of my favorite guys.

Shout out Brian Nemhauser with Hawk Blogger. He interviewed Tank Lawrence yesterday and Tank pretty much said the reason I left Dallas was because they're not going to a Super Bowl. And then that's why I'm here in Seattle. So TJ, how are you kind of feeling about that? And do you think if you had to choose between the two teams, who has a better chance of making a Super Bowl this year?

I know it's not likely for either team, but Tank Lawrence seems to think otherwise about Dallas being kind of in the dumpster and then Seattle on the up and up. So I kind of want to hear your guys' thoughts on that. Tommy in Washington, ladies and gentlemen, appreciate that. Tommy, you're about to hear those thoughts.

Basically, I think Tommy just set things up. Yeah, I was about to say, I think for a couple things. Is he reading our rundown? No, no, he's not just reading our rundown, but he's also promoting the fact that what's more likely is coming up.

I smell a poll question. So, Tommy, if you want to you want to hang up and listen or you just want to let's put put Tommy back on hold here because we're about to talk about it. We wouldn't mind putting him back on hold.

Well done. Del Tufa would have hung up on him a long time ago. Tommy, this is your lucky day. Lucky was a Friday. Tommy is referring to Tommy.

Tommy is getting upset. He's referring to Tank Lawrence, a new member of the Seattle Seahawks after many years playing for the Dallas Cowboys with distinction, I might add. For sure. And a Dallas person through and through, also from there. So he's now with the Seattle Seahawks and had this to say when he was talking in Seattle for the first time as a member of the Seahawks. Change of scenery is always good, you know, but, you know, Dallas is my home. I made my home there. You know, my family lives there. You know, I'm forever going to be there.

But, you know, I know for sure I'm not going to win a Super Bowl there. So, yeah. We hear.

We hear. He's like, yeah, he knew what he was saying. And in this day and age, you say it to a Hawk blogger or you say it to whomever. It's going to get out. And it got out and then it got enhanced because it got retweeted by none other than Micah Parsons, who called this what rejection and envy looks like. This some clown s. Wow. And then Tank responds to Micah calling me a clown won't change the fact that I told the truth.

Maybe if you spent less time tweeting and more time winning, I wouldn't have left. And that is in reference to what is truly. Under current. That you get from Dallas nonstop. I heard it at the combine. I hear it all the time.

And you hear it, too. Everybody hears it is that Micah isn't the most popular in his place of business. Because of a lot of the talking and the tweet and the podcast and all of that business. And if that's at all true, if there's any truth to that, I would just it not that he wants my two cents, but he has sat in this chair. Right.

And once upon a time when Micah was here, swapped seats and he brought pizza, I will counsel Micah to tread lightly because Tank appears to be a veteran in his early to mid 30s who is out of F's to give. And is also maybe referencing the undercurrent you hear from Dallas and you see is the subtext of every Dallas is in trouble story that the Cowboys are about winning. They're about winning championships, but they're also about making sure that the Cowboys are a cash cow. And let's have such and such move practice because there's a tennis tournament going on in the star. Or let's have the players being looked at while they eat and work out and all that sort of business. Because we're going to have tours come through and the Cowboys are more than just a football team.

They're an attraction. And if that is at all true, then Tank is potentially ready to talk. And you know, we're all here is when it comes to that.

That said, on the other side of things, my opinion on it. Miles Garrett has turned me into a cynic and potentially Tank was one of those free agents that I heard at the combine. They were not all in on anymore.

They're all out on. And Stephen Jones, even when he was talking about selective aggressivity and free agency, kind of intimated that Tank might retire. And the Cowboys didn't pay him.

And Seattle did. And this does sound like a guy who didn't get the money and is now in a different spot and ready to move on. Well, or lob in some verbal bouquets like that every now and then. Maybe he's just done that and the ensuing kerfuffle of all the shows that talk about this sort of stuff might make this a one and done comment from Tank.

Who knows? But there's some there there. Don't you think? I think to marry an overshone just recently tweeted out in the last few minutes, Cowboys versus everybody, which is something that, you know, obviously rings less than hollow to me because Michigan versus everybody did lead to a natty. I mean, I've had that T-shirt for years, Cowboys versus everybody. But look, man, as if, OK, he's not that well liked. Well, Michael Jordan wasn't the most well liked. I'm not comparing Michael Jordan to Micah Parsons.

Just saying that. You're saying that you can win with a star player who is who rubs people are all my potential. By the way, you wouldn't want to you'd want Michael. You want everybody to get along, if I may be different, if I may push back. Michael was the red ass to his teammates. As he said in the last dance, because he was pulling people and they didn't want to be pulled and he was all about winning, he wasn't podcasting.

Michael didn't have anything with Bleacher Report, you know what I mean? So there's different there's a different thing. But I do have this certificate here that still is unsigned.

There's a notary sitting over there with his equipment. I'm going to hide that, by the way. I'm starting to think I should have put expiration date on there.

Oh, you shouldn't have made it. That's the first twenty five, twenty six season. So that technically is an expert. So that is the next two years. Basically, it's not like the NBA where it bleeds one into the next.

It's still these are two it's it's it's a it's a two season release. Just wait to see where Arch goes, DJ. Now, what are your thoughts? I guess Tommy in Washington wanted to know where my thoughts bring Tommy back on his Tommy. There's Tommy, Tommy. Tommy, you're still there. Still there. You still still in Tacoma now? I did talk a while.

He might be important at this point. I'm almost at this point. All right. Now talk to Tommy. Give Tommy his answer. Your question, Tommy, was how do I feel about this? Yes.

Yes. OK, well, if you watch your show, you know, I've said for years that I feel at this point, the Cowboys as an organization are more worried about the brand of the Dallas Cowboys than the football team, the Dallas Cowboys. I don't understand a lot of the moves that they make.

I don't know why we wait to pay players so long, costing them extra money. But also with Tank Lawrence. Right.

I like Tank Lawrence. Great cowboy for his time there. But he was also a guy who, after a playoff game, went on a national show and said we were tired.

Like you can't come out and say like you were tired at the end of the season and that's why you lost. You know, and and as far as the podcast stuff goes, I don't know. Rich, is that that big of a deal? I wouldn't know. I honestly, I'm not in there. I don't know.

Post more than any of us do. Micah, again, Tank is basically saying to Micah that he's not all I mean, I don't know. Is there a play where you could see he gets beat or he takes a playoff and you're like, you know what, if he didn't spend Tuesday getting ready for his podcast, he would have actually won that round. I don't know. You know what I mean? Like, I don't know how I don't know how that manifests in that way. And also, like, I'm sorry, go ahead, Tommy.

Tommy. Sorry. But to kind of cut you guys off there. The question the question isn't really as far as with the podcasting, it lends itself better to the Dallas Cowboys doing better, which obviously it wouldn't because people have their free time and hobbies as far as just doing outside of football. It's more of a tank getting at the point that, yeah, the Cowboys are not going anywhere.

And holding on. I mean, this is just me reading more into the situation, but holding on to players like Micah Parsons and C.G. Lamb and all that is kind of to the detriment of the Cowboys.

I don't know about that, but what's to the detriment of the Cowboys, I think. And Tommy, thank you for the call. Appreciate it. Drive safely.

Keep your head on a swivel and your hands on ten and two. Is signing these guys late? Yep. How does that affect the scene in terms of building the roster?

Because you're sitting here seeing, you know, creating anxiety. Dude, it's just like the Cowboys are the only ones paying a quarterback 60 million. The Cowboys are one of two teams paying a receiver over 34 million. The Cowboys waited to a point where if they had signed Micah Parsons when they could have, they could have gotten them for low to mid thirties.

Now it's going to be 40. And and you're watching other teams make splashes. And potentially the reason why there is no splash is because they're making the splashes too big for their salary cap because they're waiting too damn long. I don't know.

Ways around it. But I guess in advance of the what's more likely we're about to do, what is more likely, Seattle or the Cowboys? Winning the Super Bowl? Go further. Right. How about just go further this year? Neither one of those teams are winning the Super Bowl.

Let's just be honest. I'll still take Dallas. To go further? Yeah. To win a playoff game? Yeah. Well, I guess it depends on how much you feel Sam is ready to go there.

I'm also looking at what's around them. I like Dallas a little bit more. Well, let's see what Seattle does on that. What if they signed Cooper Cup to go with Jackson Smith and Jigma and have those two running backs and they and they keep beefing up that line and they get another player. What if Dallas takes, what if Dallas gets Ashton Gente? I don't think they're gonna.

Because he doesn't fall to them or he doesn't make it to 12? Heck yeah. Okay.

Heck yeah. But that would be a splash on draft night. They trade up and go get him.

Yes. And I think they have to get into the top 10 to do it because they think the Bears are going to go get him. I agree.

Bears need to chill. Now you sound like I'm on Ross St. Brown. I don't think we have to go to break before you start working blue.

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That's bombas.com slash listen and use code listen at checkout. All right, we're back here on the program. The other day we showed Marshall Falk addressing the players for the first time as the new running backs coach in Colorado. And as long as Marshall is in front of a microphone being a coach, I'm going to show it. Marshall press conference moments? We'll find out how many the running backs coach will be afforded at the microphone. But I think this is probably like if you're going to hire Marshall Falk as your running backs coach, he's going to be placed in front of the media to have a conversation. And I just love watching Marshall do this stuff.

That's cool. So we're going to show it. And this was Marshall, I think, talking about Dion and being hired by him. And he's got the sunglasses and everything in the Colorado gear and the gray beard and the Hall of Fame and the first balladness and the greatness. Man, the Buffalo's man, they are building.

Hit it. This is what I love about the man and the person. Obviously, you guys, you see the glasses and the chain and, you know, he has his isms that he says and, you know, and all the stuff that he does.

And he appears to be this this, you know, this this figure that's larger than life. But in reality, when these kids leave here, the most important thing that he cares about is who they become as a young man. That is the most important thing. And making sure because he knows and in sports, not just football, in sports.

When a lot of athletes leave their sport financially, they're not in good standing. And he wants to educate you on the field. He wants to educate you in life. He wants to make sure you're educated in finances. You know, making sure that these young men take the values of football and go be great in football, but make sure you're great in life as well.

And that's the that's the that's the idea. He said something yesterday that like that like hit me. A lot of a lot of and I lost my father at a young age, so I grew up kind of fatherless as well. And a lot of these young men that come here, they come here fatherless. And then one of the worst things in the world is to be fatherless and then become a father.

They without being taught how to be a father and making sure that they understand the aspects of life and how when you're taught something, the best way is to then teach it to make sure you that is ingrained in you. And, you know, he's he's one of those guys that care. He he talked more about the GPA of the team than he does the nine wins that they had last year. And that's that's indicative to the person that he is that don't show up when you see him sitting here, you know, given those those superlative answers that I love it.

He just looks happy, too, because he is just so cool. I just it means a little bit more maybe to you and I, because we worked with them. Right. We worked with Mark. You worked as Marshall. You were his second producer on Game Day Morning. And then obviously Dan was in the building. And Dan was in the building.

And as somebody who is with them on the road traveling, sitting in, you know, green rooms and things like that and being on the road and being around them, they talked about this stuff back then. So this is not BS. And Marshall was asked a question if he was also brought enough to be the running backs coach, but also to be a financial literacy coach. And he said yes. Makes sense.

He said yes. Back on the Rich Eisen show here at the radio audience. And we just showed Marshall Faulk talk about how, you know, he's not only just been brought into Colorado to be running backs coach, but a financial literacy tutor for these young men.

That's so important. It is stuff that like it doesn't get talked about enough. You know, kids, a lot of us didn't have that that financial background with so many of us come from households that they're living paycheck to paycheck.

You never had any, you know, excess money to do anything with. So now these guys are getting a little bit of change. They got to know how to handle their finances. TJ, I was at some rookie symposiums when they used to have those things at the beginning of NFL Network times.

And I would be there. They used to the NFL PA have classes on on balancing checkbooks. I've heard that. Yeah.

Because a lot of kids don't know how to do that. And so Marshall is going to be part of that. And that's part and parcel of the program there in Colorado. And, you know, if Marshall was here, I would ask if part of that was telling these kids to, if they do get to the league, demand that the Bengals not draft them. See, that's how he became financially literate.

That's true. I love that man. Also, he said something there that was like just on the human scale when he said, like, kids without fathers becoming kids without knowing how to become or how to be fathers. And that is always talk to me about Dion would always talk to me about how when he got to college, it was the first time he ever saw a grown man shave because he did not have a father and a father figure. He's about it. It's not just B.S. This has been in the making for a long time.

Eight, four, four, two or four rich numbers. Don't hold stand. Hold.

We're going to have tons of time in the third hour. Let's do what's more likely. Hit it. Hit it. Hit it. What's more likely?

Never say never, but never. Christopher, have at it. Guys, what's up?

Great to see you. Happy Friday. Hey, more likely quarterback in a new home to start week one. Kenny Pickett. Daniel Jones. Daniel Jones. You didn't think Ross is going to Cleveland, don't you? I think Cam Ward might show up in Cleveland.

Possible. Dude, Daniel Jones is coming there to be more than just a competitor. I think he starts week one. And if it is a real competition, how is a guy who who has played as much as he's played in the NFL not win the job? If it's a true straight up competition, I don't know the way it's going to be.

Seems like it might be. I really I I'm obviously this is a dart throw right now. And you know, on the Friday of the new league year week. But I'll just say that.

All right. Speaking of the aforementioned quarterback, Wilson, to start more games in twenty twenty five, Russell or Zach. Every single time you mention Zach, it means I'm assuming he's going to be the starter because Tua gets hurt. And I never want to speak that into existence.

So I'll always choose the other option. OK, just understand that. Understand that it's Ross is going to get to a spot and be the starter.

All right. And the unbelievable thing is it could be in Cleveland where Kenny Pickett is. It's unbelievable already. And it would be the second AFC North stop in which Pickett's there. Russ shows up and then gets the starter's gig over Pickett. This one might be an actual competition as opposed to, well, here's a guy with a pole position. It's crazy, man.

Can't make it up. So I'll choose Russ. What else? Wide receiver to have the bigger impact in their new spot. DK or Debo?

I'll go obviously Debo right now, because as of right now, dude, as of right now, here's the crazy thing. You want to talk about unstealers like moves. We talked about it with Jerry Dulac. We've been talking about it all week.

The most unstealer move of all the unstealer moves we've seen in quite some time. And it's all done with the good intentions of trying to zig when they've been zagging. Right. It's like Costanza doing the opposite and hoping for the best.

But for them to go and send a second round pick and pay a receiver one hundred and fifty million dollar contract without a firm plan in place for a quarterback. But I do believe at the end of the day, Rogers is going to show up there and he and DK will have a day. But Debo's got the man throwing to him and he's got Cliff Kingsbury dialing it up. Come on now.

I can't give you all the ingredients to the hot dog you might not like. So I'll go Debo as of right now, for sure. And by the way, just to circle back, I think Russ beats out Zach because I think Russ winds up in New York and is the starter for the Giants. How does that sound? Oh, that's the likely scenario here.

That's fun, too. How about this is our favorite topic, TJ. Handsomely paid MVP quarterback under more pressure to beat the Chiefs in the playoffs. Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson. Hey, Jesus. Well, I always do this for rich.

I always do this for rich. Josh Allen isn't under any pressure at all. So this is so dumb. I'm going to use my pre-entry and say this is dumb. I'm not answering it.

I'm going to blow the whistle. This is dumb. I'm not answering it.

You should do your favorite one. Both. All right. Sure. Wow. Look, he's blowing a whistle.

He keeps a whistle on me. I'll go Lamar and Lewis Riddick's coming up in our number three. We're going to finish up what's more likely in the Roku channel only segment until our radio listeners to check that out on a rear.

Our podcast or the Rich Eisen show YouTube channel. Finish up, Christopher. All right. All right. Let's finish strong here.

What do you have that's not dumb? I think this one's pretty good. I think this next one's pretty good. More likely to win more games next year. Sam Darnold or the Vikings. Oh, I'll go.

That's a good one. I'll go the Vikings. Everybody thinks JJ McCarthy is just, you know, I understand that he's Bambi. You know, he's still he's still getting his legs under him like Bambi. He's a fawn, a fawn quarterback in a nasty, nasty forest called the National Football League.

The new golf. I'm going to Vikings, pal. OK. Yeah, buddy.

Sam's wearing 14. The quick turnaround for those DK Metcalf jerseys. DK who? OK. All right. We heard from this man this morning.

That was a good one, though. Newly extended pass rusher to make the playoffs next year. Max or Miles? I'll go Max. I'll go Max. Don't you think?

I have no idea. You know, the likely scenario is neither right now. They're all still building. But I like Gino, pal. I like Gino. And let's see who they add in in the draft and other cherry picked free agents. They might be a gente spot at six. What about cup, baby? They got cap space, pal. Yeah. Rangers could turn around pretty quick.

What else? It is more likely to be the higher number. Millions in Cooper Cup's contract or his jersey number.

This should be easy. I'll go contract. I'll go contract if he's going to stick with 10. If he gets to 15, I was like, whoa. If he gets to it seems pretty high.

Yeah, dude. Is that 20? Wasn't I mean, the guy who's replacing him got twenty six million guaranteed.

So and I know Davante Adams has been at it longer and and has stayed healthier and is going to the Hall of Fame. But I'll you know, I'll just assume coppers can say I'll take 10. So certainly if he goes to New England, 10 is available. They'll give him Mac Jones's number, won't they?

They'll definitely give him more millions than 10 if he goes to New England. Trig maze number 10. Oh, OK. So then we'll go to 11. That's Jules. Oh, damn it. 12 is pretty. Oh, my goodness. I'm so surprised. Guys, it's three one four. Happy Pi Day. Yeah.

Great to see you guys all. More likely to give their star player a bigger chunk of the pie first. Jerry Jones or Mike Brown? Oh, my God. Oh, this is easy, too. Oh, my God. You can't say neither. You can't say neither. I don't go, Mike Brown. No, you don't believe that. That's a nice chunk of the pie.