Aaron Donald's Return & NFL Preseason Week 3

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0:33Rich Eisen:it is time for another edition of overreaction monday the preseason is in the books the rosters are set and rich eisen along with chris brockman on the orm set here and with the rich eisen show studios in los angeles california home of the new millennium fearsome foursome the los angeles rams did something happen yesterday i have a feeling that's going to be part of your rundown here Oh, interesting. Yeah. All right. So fantasy football drafts are underway. Let's go. You just had your big one over the weekend in Seattle. My goodness. Home of the defending Super Bowl champs. Hit it. Go for it. That was terrible.

1:10That was crap. That was garbage. This place sucks. Overreaction. Mondays. Monday. What do you have over there, Chris? Rich, you did mention I was in Seattle over the weekend. Yes. I love the Pacific Northwest. Why not? I got to say, talking to the locals, they're talking repeat.

1:27Rich Eisen:They should. Why wouldn't they're basically running it back with the exception of Kenneth Walker, the third, a handful of defenders who are part of a terrific defense that one would think John Schneider has got next man up ready to roll for a lot of these guys. Yeah. And then, you know, the offensive coordinator and the ownership is switched. Other than that, you could run it back. Yeah. They're talking. They're talking repeat and they want everyone to stop talking about him. OK. They like flying under the radar. kind of like the way they feel about the city yeah that's right don't talk about how beautiful our city is so it's crowded enough that's right i mean that's their mentality it was a great time however the the biggest news in the nfl took place here in los angeles sir on sunday let's get right to it rich with 99 back the rams are going to be undefeated for the christmas showdown against said Seahawks.

2:17I think that's possible, but not likely.

2:24Rich Eisen:I mean, I get it that these guys are remarkable and they are loaded. They're loaded, loaded. Okay. But you look at their schedule and it's going to be a really tough go of it. I mean, they could lose the first one in Australia against the Niners. that's entirely possible. You got to go to Denver and Philadelphia in back-to-back weeks, and then Buffalo strolls in on a Monday night. I mean, that alone is a rough stretch. You've got the Chargers at home. The Chargers could, you know, show up and knock them off in one week. There's always that early window game on the East Coast that could get you.

3:08Rich Eisen:Let's see if Washington's any better. Green Bay the night before Thanksgiving. that's one that leads into a Kansas City visit at San Francisco home for Dallas, then you think that that's going to be a 14-0 record going into the Week 16 game at Seattle. I'll just call this an overreaction and say, they're going to be great. It's going to be fun. It's going to be must-see television. It's going to be potentially, you know, historic. I see where you're going with this I mean that's the expectations that's the conversation that's all anyone thought when the Miles Garrett trade went down and I mean I believe we were one of the first people to throw out hey what if Aaron Donald comes back and now here we are A.A.

4:02Ron has returned is he back yet? Yes and my god look at that dude

4:07Rich Eisen:yeah I know and I'm fully with you on just how exciting it is and how good they can be but i'll just go with an any given sunday mentality all it takes is an ill-timed turnover all it takes is one of those days which is not one of our days uh in some very difficult spots to win and um i'll i'll i'll just err on the side of it's so tough to happen no matter how terrific the rams are i'll just call this another reaction at this point in time out of respect to some other teams sure of course any given Sunday if the Rams make it to the Super Bowl um you know beat them on that Super Sunday you mentioned uh you know great schedule some tough road games and you know they could lose to the 49ers but you know they don't have the best vibes going right now so I'd be surprised got it uh all right number two let's let's stick with it Rich here's the deal I watched uh all the interviews and the press conferences on Sunday, the practice footage that's been coming out with Aaron Donald.

5:10And you know what? Not going to be his only comeback season with the Rams. Everyone thinks it's just for this year. Uh-uh. He's going to play at least two years in Los Angeles.

5:21Rich Eisen:Well, we're going to have Les Snead on the program on Monday, and I'll ask him, what do you think? You know, what do you think? Do you get a sense that this is just a one-off? I know that the deal is just a one-year deal. when your deals can become two-year deals. What do you think? Yeah. I will say this, however, is just an overreaction. I'll say that too. Okay. I'll say if the Rams go ahead and do what you are thinking or at least your first question and topic matter for this pod. Yeah, what if they're 15-2 and win the Super Bowl? Then he's like, mission accomplished. I'm going home. I did that.

6:02Rich Eisen:I wanted to play with Myles Garrett. Check. I wanted to win one more check. I wanted one more check. Check. You know? I mean, like, so what else would there be other than just go home and go back? I don't know. I got it. I hear you. Seems like his wife fully on board. What's better than her post was just like, I let him out of the house. Yeah. That was fantastic. You know? And then his letter to Roger Goodell, dear Commissioner Goodell, I'm back. Signed Aaron Donald. I love all of it. It's so great. It's great for the league. And I know a lot of people have been taking in this show over the last couple of weeks and months, and they're like, you know, I've turned into a Rams honk.

6:43Rich Eisen:Yeah, maybe we're Ramsed out, yeah. But it's the story of the National Football League season. It is great for the league that somebody as great as Aaron Donald is saying, you know what, I love the sport, I love the game, I love the idea of playing with somebody who is generationally brilliant. I love all of it. and the fact that it's out here on the West Coast in an East Coast-dominated media, it's great for everybody and everything, certainly with the Super Bowl here in Los Angeles. It throws a spotlight on all of that. It's great. But I'll just say for the moment, that's an overreaction. The guy hasn't even played a snap yet.

7:24Rich Eisen:I got it. Do you expect him to not be? I expect him to do well, but I expect it to go, if it goes as well as the ultimate is, he'll have checked every box. Okay. What else? Rich, Sunday we had a 99 come out of retirement to play with a generational defense and a generational future Hall of Fame defender. Okay, I'm wondering what the setup is here. Rich, seeing Aaron Donald's comeback is giving J.J. Watt ideas about coming back to Houston. Where are you getting this from? A number 99. Okay. coming back to play with a generational defense and a generational defender and will anderson jr with a shot to win the super bowl you know jj watt yeah only retired one year before aaron donald 2022 all right okay he had 12 and a half sacks that year for arizona jj watt is still a player i've seen him in the booth he looks in shape i know why aren't they calling jj watt to say yo jj you got anything left aaron was sitting at home J.J.

8:30Rich Eisen:Watt is in the booth with one of the A++++ broadcasters in the history of the game getting to call these games on CBS Sports. I don't know, man. You see him strolling on the field with his wife and his kid. I get it. You see his family together. The one itch J.J. Watt never scratched, making it to a Super Bowl. No, I get it. Houston has a chance to make the Super Bowl. Okay. I'll just call this an overreaction. I'm just stirring something. You clearly are. I mean, it would be. A 99 comes back to a great defense. That gave me thoughts of J.J. Watt. And you know he's thinking about it. I don't think he's thinking about it at all.

9:13Rich Eisen:I think he's like, this is wildly amazing that I'm a broadcaster. He already checked a box of studio. Then he goes in a booth, and now he's with Nance. I know. He's doing great. He's going to be calling all the 50 million households. He's going to be in the middle of all of this. You know? You don't think he wants to play one more? I kind of don't. Interesting. Yeah. What else, Chris? All right. He's buying beers for people. All right. I was just kind of half kidding. I wanted to gauge your reaction. All right. That's my reaction. I think, look, last year ended, you know, the Iceman. Uh-huh. This is all about – this season is all about Caleb Williams, Rich.

9:50All right. Caleb Williams is not going to just have the greatest Bears quarterback season we've ever seen. Caleb Williams is going to have 5 ,000 total yards, 40 combined touchdowns, and the Bears will be in the NFC one-seat hunt.

10:03Rich Eisen:They might be in the NFC one-seat hunt, but I don't think with 5 ,000 yards and 40 combined touchdowns like a Mahomes year. That's rushing yards, too. That could be a 44, 600, eight rushing touchdowns. I got you. I don't know, man. I don't know. Year two Ben Johnson offense, blowouts, shutouts, baby. Rome hasn't been healthy. right? Fully, right? Luther Burden entering the season, potentially banged up. Monongah with the same. Back. I'm trying to see who are the weapons that he's going to be lighting it up with. I don't know. And I'm not sitting here saying the Bears are a lead candidate for regression, which is what you know, Ben Johnson said.

10:47Rich Eisen:I just need to see it again for me to believe it. It was great. It was incredible. is incredible loveland i think is going to be have a terrific season that that i'm with you but um deandre swift i think the bears will be in the nfc one seed hunt you do yeah yeah but do you think caleb has an mvp type year or is it just i'm just gonna say they might heaven forbid be a little bit more balanced i know that not a lot of people are saying that i like that dylan thenaman uh draft choice yeah that they made well they've always needed you know i think that their defense is going to be a little bit better than what people think despite despite um a lot of thoughts contrary um i i just don't see 5 000 total yards and 40 combined touchdowns that is just a an explosion of offense and again he was great in the fourth quarter and all these comebacks where we just come alive you know that you know put tebow time to shame um so one would think he if he does the same thing but just spread it out over four quarters he can get these numbers right um i'll just let's put a pin in this okay and revisit this at the end of september do me a favor bears start the season yeah let's take a look at this all right they start the season at carolina home for minnesota then a monday nighter home for philadelphia and then home for the jets Okay.

12:15Rich Eisen:Okay? So. No reason they can't be three and one. I got you, but those defenses are no joke. Carolina has stepped up. Don't forget Jalen Phillips and Devin Lloyd now are in their front seven. True. Right? The Minnesota Vikings top five defense with Brian Flores still coordinating it. Right? Philadelphia is no joke as well. And, you know, we'll just throw the Jets in there because that's their first three home games. All right? In a row. They've got to. So this is a favorable start in terms of geography. It is, however, in terms of defense, not easy. Let's see what happens in the first month. We'll revisit this on October 5th.

13:00Rich Eisen:Monday, October 5th will be the post first month of the season edition of Overreaction Monday. Put a pin in it. Let's revisit it and see how that one stands. All right. But for the moment, I'll call it an overreaction. I'm all in on Caleb, but not just because I took him in my draft this weekend. Very good. As you know, managing maintenance, repair, and operations is never easy. But for the ones who always rise to the challenge, Grainger has your back. From professional-grade products you can count on to fast, dependable delivery, they're there to help you keep things running smoothly. Plus, their technical product specialists are here to help answer your toughest questions.

13:35And because Grainger knows safety is always a priority, They're committed to being your partner and protecting both your people and your facilities. Call 1-800-GRANGER, clickgrainger.com, or just stop by. Rich, I have been all over this particular guy for, I don't know, years. Okay. He's number one on all the hot seat lists, rightfully so. Zach Taylor? Yeah. And the more I think about it, I'm going to zag. Yes, he is on the hot seat, but I think he will perform. The Bengals will perform for him. Zach Taylor will be a coach of the year finalist. Wow. If we think, if the Bengals do what we think they can and are capable of.

14:19That's got to be a 12-win season. Revamping the defense. Last year.

14:23Rich Eisen:Burrow healthy. They went from, so you're saying they're going to go from 10th overall to coach of the year finalist. 10th overall in the draft. They traded that pick away so the Giants could grab Francis Maui Nola. Absolutely. Okay. And Dexter Lawrence being acquired with that is going to be a large key in tightening up that defense to allow the Burrow Renaissance in terms of his health to be more than enough to win enough games where this guy is a coach of the year finalist. Last year, the coach of the year winner won 13 games after being 14. 14 and 3. 14 and 3. After four wins. After four wins.

15:03Okay.

15:04Rich Eisen:So. We've seen it. So. A 14-win season. I'm not saying the Bengals are going to win 14. But if they go 12-5 and they win the division. Right. That suddenly, we're always talking about him hot seat. And for them to come out, perform, Joe Burrow, back to the Burrow we know and love. Got it. I'm going to call this an overreaction. But also say, we say he's on the hot seat. There's one person who decides whether he's on the high side. I know. His name is Mike Brown, and he does not pay coaches to not work for him. Again, Marvin Lewis was the Bengals coach for 16 years. That's crazy. 16 years. Who coaches 16 years in places anymore?

15:53Rich Eisen:I mean, Tomlin and Harbaugh were just let go after 16 years, and it was one of those stunners. the fact that Marvin Lewis did not get anything similar to what Tomlin and Harbaugh did in their tenure and still was there 16 years shows you Zach Taylor's maybe not even on the hot seat, but I do believe the Bengals have a chance to win the division. And for Zach Taylor to be a coach of the year finalist, they're going to have to win 13 football games. And that's a tough, tough call. They got the offense. What else, Chris? We love this guy. And I think we love talking about this team. We love talking about Raider Nation, Rich.

16:36Okay. And we've been talking a lot about Cousins and Mendoza, but I want to talk about their best player. And that's Brock Bowers. Yes. And the tight end reception record is 126 by Trey McBride a few years ago. Okay. He came close in his rookie season. He did. But that's going to get blown out. I'm talking about Brock Bowers is going to challenge the all-time single season's catch record of 149 by Michael Thomas. Man. Who else is going to catch the ball on this team? It's not just that.

17:11Rich Eisen:It's not just that. It's – I do believe the offense will be better. Clint Kubiak is really a sharp-minded guy from everybody who's played for him and everyone knows his pedigree. That is just such a tall order. I mean, you really went up the flow chart on this one. We got the extra game, obviously. Can't guard Mike was only 16 games. 149 catches. You're right. Who else is going to really? So why wouldn't you take him off the chessboard if you're the, you know, you're Jeff Halfley week one. You're going to triple team him every single time. Or you're at least making sure he's got a second guy marking him.

17:54Rich Eisen:I don't think it's going to matter. This guy's going to get his, and we're going to see it early. I'll call this an overreaction. I like where you're going, though. Okay. Right church, wrong pew. Okay. Look, running back's banged up. That's now a. No, I know. That's now a. I get it. Not a one-two punch. But he also can't stay healthy. It's been a while, right? You know, just the one year last year. He was a little banged up. But his rookie year was phenomenal. It was. Just like Jaden Daniels. This is your three-second year. Second year was just a total disaster. More likely, Jaden Daniels is back to the rookie year for him, or Bowers comes close to this record.

18:31I'll go Jaden Daniels. Okay. You saw the report that they can't block anybody?

18:35Rich Eisen:I saw that, too. Okay. I did. Talking about Washington. But Jaden Daniels can single-handedly do something. then Brock's got to get somebody able to get him the football again. Okay. What else? Three more. Uh-huh. Three more as we head into first week of September, Rich. Here we go. One of our favorite guys is batting. I mean, I saw the post. It's like, you know, your childhood is not gone forever. Uh-huh. Odell Beckham, Rich Eisen, is on the Giants, made the team. So excited. And he's going to be their second best pass catcher this year. I don't think that's an overreaction at all. you saw my top five my uh my my top five list last week of most surprising seasons coming the one more was odell beckham jr odell made it he made the 53 man and that's not seeing that that's not because they're trying to sell jerseys john harbaugh is not trying to sell jerseys no john harbaugh is trying to win football games and he's trying to do it with somebody who is really talented and i just love how it's you know the og who handed out all that money on the field at uh lsu you know and then a hundred dollar handshakes and then and then the guy who you know succeeded that era malik neighbors is on the other side pretty cool it's pretty cool and i think um he's one of the reasons you should feel optimistic about the giants offense sit here and go, oh, okay, what's going to happen when he starts playing football?

20:03Rich Eisen:I'm with you. Well, certainly Calvin Austin's gone down. We'll see who else on that in that wide receiver room can step up to be the number two, if you will. But I'm with you. He's got a chip on his shoulder. Yeah. And he made it with the Giants. I know, it's awesome. It's good to have him back in the league. In 2026, man. I am psyched to see it, and it's not going to take long. What if against Dallas? Seriously, let's go here. Okay. Let's go here. I mean, look, we've been talking Dallas for months about how. Let me ask you this question. We love what they did this offseason. We love the offense.

20:38Rich Eisen:When he made that one-handed grab, who do you do it against? I was against Dallas. Where do you do it against? Them. Yeah. Where did this catch take place? In the middle. And on what platform? On what platform? And what platform? Sunday Night Football. Okay. So who is the first Sunday Night Football game of the season? It's Dallas. Where are they playing? In MetLife. What if it's the same damn spot? Oh, come on. I'm John Harbaugh. If I'm John Arba, I run the play. Just a go route? I run the play. Throw it up. Give it a chance. Hey, Jackson. Jackson. Let it fly, man. Just like, and talk to Eli beforehand.

21:12Rich Eisen:Let's have Eli out on the field beforehand. Talking to Jackson. Eli coin toss. Eli coin toss. Odell is there. He's one of the captains next to Eli. This is fun. Giants are there. Sunday night football. Let's go. Yeah, buddy. You know. You know the NBC people have that tape. The minute Odell made the squad. they're like, let's get that tape ready. You know, Tariko's ready. Collinsworth to do it. The thing, as TJ will point out, the Giants lost the game. I understand that. I'm not saying the Giants win it. Okay, okay. This is about Odell Beckham Jr. will be the Giants' second best pass catcher this season.

21:47Rich Eisen:Yes. Yeah. So let's just say yes. I'm with you. And now let me potentially overreact and say Sunday night football, same spot, same team. I love it. Same time, same back channel, same let's go. I mean, let's go. If I'm John Harbaugh, I am like, we're running this play. The minute we get to midfield, first thing, first thing. I don't want to put my business out there, but I will be betting Odell anytime. Touchdown in that game. Same corner. Come on. Let's do it. Same corner, same spot, same end zone. Let's do it. That's so fun. Does that answer your question? It does. All right. What else? One of our favorites.

22:25Rich Eisen:uh obviously that was a spinning curve in the zone for me man love odell okay uh quarterback always top of mind uh all these battles going on last year we had three teams start at least three quarterbacks the entire season going one more we're gonna have four teams do it this year sadly i think you're correct and i think it might be the same ones i mean last year was with minnesota the jets and cleveland as of this recording and now atlanta i think is a prime as of this recording, there's only 31 teams that could do it. Because Miami has only one quarterback as of this recording. Well, they did trade for Kyle McCord.

23:03Rich Eisen:Oh, they did. They did. Yeah, they did trade for Kyle McCord. So they do have a backup. I thought they still only have one. Let's roll Malik out there. They do have a backup. Sort of like the one-handed McCaffrey in the NFC Championship game. Well, they started the Wildcat back in the day. They could have went that route. I'm with you. It's unfortunate, and it'll be another conversation that we'll have either on the main show, the flagship, or here. It's just how do you get quarterbacks ready? And again, the number of teams that are going to be down the depth chart is going to be significant. And that's just because it always goes that way.

23:46Rich Eisen:I hope I'm wrong because it's just never any good football watching a third-string quarterback go against a defense that is, you know, just like chiseled through 12 weeks of fire and brimstone activity. You know, here comes somebody who hasn't played, you know, since the UFL or whatever. And they're like, you know, thrown into the deep end of the pool. But I don't think this is an overreaction. Yeah. Let's finish up strong. You got a positive one to finish? Well, I mean, I guess not. Well, this is also just kind of me airing some out, some personal stuff. The Patriots are playing a dangerous game, man, with Christian Gonzalez's contract.

24:26I saw some stuff over the weekend that he's on the block. I saw that, too. I was like, I forget who it was. It might have been CBS's Instagram account. And it was like, possible trade. I'm like, trade? To Detroit. We're talking trade?