Hour 1: Bengals-Steeles Reactions Live from London, plus Rams Legend Torry Holt

24:52So when I finally got a chance to play with him, he got into camp, I found myself just at times just watching him do his thing. And Coach Elsonis would tell me, hey, you got to get in to play. You got a job to do. I'm like, I am. I'm watching one of the guys. I'm watching 2-8. One of the guys that I grew up watching and admired and loved the way that he played the game. And then when I actually got in the meeting rooms with him and got in the huddle with him and understood his smarts and his intellect, But I knew right then that we could be really, really special if we stayed healthy, if we stayed together.

25:26We had an incredible back. Not only was Marshall good running the football, as we all know. Catching it. He can catch it. He knew every position on the field, right? Knew every position on the field and that position assignment. But he was a really good route runner, too. I mean, he could run the whole entire route tree. I mean, this dude was phenomenal. Phenomenal athlete. Doesn't look like much. He's not, meaning, he's not cut up and jacked up like a Derrick Henry or someone. Right. But when he put, as Isaac used to say, when he put that cape on, he was the best. He was one of the best to ever do it, certainly.

26:01Rich Eisen:Torrey Holt is here on the Rich Eisen Show. So news breaking that looks like Pook is not playing. Yeah, I saw that. On Sunday. Yeah. And so he's, who's the best receiver in the NFL today? Is he in that conversation? Do you have to? Sure. Yeah, you got to put him in that conversation. Okay, who else is in there? But my guy is Chase. Okay. Jamar Chase is prolific. Size, strength, speed, routes, hands, understanding the game, understanding the position, awareness. Jamar Chase is the guy. I'm coming off of last night. We saw that last night. Yeah. I mean, he's a guy. He can catch 10-plus balls a game.

26:38One, because he has the physical makeup, and then he has the ability to run routes, and he's savvy, and he's smooth. I mean, he's my tier one. But Puka and the core, you certainly got to put him in the mix. And not only is Puka good catching in terms of catching the football, and particularly on third downs, he is really good and active in the run game. And I know people say, oh, he's a receiver. What does that have to do? No. His ability to be so effective in the run game helps set up things for him in the passing game, as well as the entire team. But Puka does a little bit of everything for this football club.

27:11He's certainly one of the top receivers in the league.

27:13Rich Eisen:Yeah, I mean, Sean McVay in our pre-broadcast meeting on Thursday said that Puka is obviously a top wide receiver. And in the run game, it's like having the top tight end on the field as well. For the run game, he's the top tight end. And for the passing game, he's the top wide receiver. This is somebody on the same field as Devontae Adams right now. and Adams said that he is way ahead in terms of the nuances of the game, knowing body positioning, knowing the playbook, knowing everything than when in year three, than when Adams was in his third year. That's what Adams said about him. And I love that about Devontae, that he is so forthcoming with the guys about where he was in the earlier parts of his career.

28:00Yes. Devontae worked to get to the point to where he's at. So I thought, I really feel like that is very good for that receiver room that he's so forthcoming like that to his guys. But Puka, man, just – I would say this. Puka learned from Cooper Cup. And Cooper Cup is the ultimate pro. I mean, he did everything for the Rams. And so for Puka to be able to learn from Cooper Cup in that way, now he's going out and he's getting an opportunity to show his worth. But I like Puka. He's a great kid, great energy, great spirit about him, and he loves football.

28:39Rich Eisen:Justin Jefferson in this conversation as well, obviously. Who's the one that reminds you of you the most? I would say right now, in terms of how they move and the way they approach the game, I like Tay Adams. I like Devontae Adams. Devontae is so deceptively smooth. He's not the fastest of guys, but he understands coverage. He understands leverage. He's slippery. He can catch the football in traffic. He can catch the ball. He can run routes. He can run pretty much every route on the route tree. And he's exceptional at getting off the line of scrimmage. So Tay Adams, Chase and some of the things that he does with his route running.

29:17He's won Jefferson, as you mentioned. So, I mean, I can go on. But those two guys, I would say Chase and Jefferson. I mean, Chase and Tay Adams, by the way that they move and how they play, kind of reminds me of some things that I did when I was on the field.

29:28Rich Eisen:Adam seems to have enjoyed being in the role of not being the guy every snap. That said, this Sunday, he's going to be the guy every snap. He's going to be in the role that essentially has gotten him to the Hall of Fame. By the way, he's only 32. He and Mike Evans, as they catch touchdown passes, are going to pass each other in the top 10 of the all-time touchdown reception, receiving touchdown category. but he's going to be in that role, and Jacksonville is going to 100 % take all their coverage and throw it in the direction of Devontae Adams. Then it's just going to be on the run game and the tight end groups and see what the Rams can affect against the Jaguar team that's just coming off their first game all season without a takeaway.

30:18Rich Eisen:They've been awesome on defense. They've been great. I mean, these are two of the top defenses in the National Football League, Jacksonville and the Rams. And to your point, Tay Adams will have to step up even more in this game. They'll roll coverage to him, but he can beat double coverage. That's not a problem for him. It's not a problem for him being the number one guy, the focal point. That's not a problem. Whittington, Tutu Atwell, Ferguson, Higaby, Williams, Corham, those guys now will have to raise up a level, being that Puka is now out of the lineup because Puka draws so much attention and he brings so much production to that offense.

30:53Where do you get it from now outside of Tay Adams? And I think those guys are who I'll be focusing on this weekend in this matchup. And then to me, Jacksonville is vulnerable on the back end. You know, I think Newsom just came over from Cleveland and Seattle hit him on a 61-yard bomb. So I'm sure the Rams, they should, they should test that secondary of the Jacksonville Jaguars to see if they have made any adjustments from last week's game. But two of the best two defenses in the league, really good coaching minds and Coach Sean McVay and Lim, Lim Cohen, who's the head coach for Jacksonville. Lim, he was once in Los Angeles with Sean McVay, so he understands the preparation and how the Rams will be ready for this game.

31:40What I like with Jacksonville, they're getting an opportunity now because Lim had spent some time in Los Angeles. they're now getting an opportunity to understand what it takes to prepare from a detailed standpoint to be really good. I listened to Liam Cohen last week in the loss that they had, and he talked about details, not beating themselves, staying focused, handling their jobs and their responsibilities. A lot of what Sean McVay says to his ball club.

32:04Rich Eisen:I just had a broadcast meeting with Liam Cohen about three hours ago before coming here. And he talked about how, he used an acronym for FAST, F-A-S-T stands for something, each letter stands for something. And he read it off and he said, I stole that from Sean McVay. You know, it's what he said. And in terms of the details that you're referring to, Josh Hines Allen said that this is the most professional practices he's ever been a part of. since he came off the campus in Kentucky seven years ago. So that kind of all tracks with what you're saying to bring the McVeigh world to Jacksonville. And in terms of not beating yourselves, I'll tell this quick story also.

32:51Rich Eisen:Liam Cohen says that each week on a Wednesday, they have a film session or a slide session about game wreckers. And each week he puts up the game wreckers of the opponent to watch out for, to make sure you don't let these guys wreck the game. He said this week, coming off of 10 penalties last week and losing that game, the game wrecker he put up was the Jacksonville Jaguars logo to basically say, we're beating ourselves. And I'm like, how did they take you basically say the wreckers of our game is us? How did they take that? He goes, well, I didn't exactly put it that way. I'm like, well, he kind of did by throwing the logo up there.

33:39Rich Eisen:And he said they took it really well. He thinks that they, you know, and Trevor Lawrence came on right after that part of the Zoom and mentioned the same thing. We're beating ourselves. So he's absolutely selling stuff that's being bought there. No doubt. And as players, you sitting in that seat and you and coach pulls up something like that. It eats you up because you're letting the team down. You're hurting the team. Correct. So you do whatever you can as players, as quickly as possible to correct that. And I got to believe in this game against the Rams, that'll be corrected. And the Rams have some of the similar issues as well.

34:13Against the Ravens, they had some offsides penalties. They had some penalties on special teams. So there's been some times where they've hurt themselves. So there's some conversations with them about them not hurting and killing themselves in games. So two teams on the collision course echo, both coaches echoing the same thing. They get the same kind of tool, the same type of preparation. I expect for this to be a pretty decent game.

34:35Rich Eisen:Do you have to the end of the hour? Do I have you? Can I have you for 10 minutes? Okay, let's. You okay with it, man? I just want to make, I'm looking at the whole family. I had to check with the balls. I had to check with the balls. You okay with it, man? Oh, because yesterday, Kurt was like, I got to go. I'm going to, he was going to a live. Did we find out what he? I found out what it is. Okay, good. Just checking. I found out what it is. Yeah, because his wife, Brenda's in town. Brenda's in town. He's like, Brenda got tickets for something. And I'm like, what are you going to go see? He goes, I don't know.

35:01Good man.

35:01Rich Eisen:He's got to get there and show up. So some things change, but some things don't. Right, right. The more they change, the more they stay the same. I've got Torrey Big Game Holt right here on the Rich Eisen Show. Don't go anywhere. We're back with more talking with one of our favorites in a sec. Ryan Clark's going to join us out.

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36:32The Rich Eisen Show, the podcast. Difference. That sets the tone for a football club. A young rookie receiver says, hey, Trevor, let's stay after practice so we can get it right. Get it right. If I'm on that team, I'm like, yo, as a veteran, I'm checking myself. Like he's helping to bring the level of play and concentration and details and want to. He's bringing that level up for that club.

36:55Rich Eisen:Talking with Travis Hunter with Tori Big Game Holt, who's here in studio. Our radio audience is back on ESPN Radio. And I want to talk to you just a brief bit about Hyundai Hope on Wheels before we get back to our conversation with Tori here. For over 27 years, every Hyundai sold has helped fund life-saving pediatric cancer research. together with over 850 dealers nationwide. They have raised more than$275 million, supporting over 25 ,000 kids in their fight against cancer. At Hyundai, hope isn't optional. It comes standard. Visit HyundaiUSA.com and search Hyundai Hope on wheels to learn more.

37:33Rich Eisen:The best team in the National Football League is... Torrey Holt, finish the sentence. Best team in the National Football League. Entering the rest of week seven. Entering the rest of week seven. Oh, man, that's a good question, Rich. I only ask those Tories. Do you do? And there's so much, to me right now, there's so much parity right now in this league. I don't think there's no one right now that's saying I'm the number one team right now. I mean, certainly with the Eagles and Bills having dropped two in a row. They dropped two in a row. The Colts and the Bucs are five and one. Colts and the Bucs, you can say.

38:05And if I had to pick between those two, I would say the Bucs. And here's why. I think Baker Mayfield and the level that he's playing at. Yes, sir. It's pretty outstanding. He's raising the, Mike Thomas, I mean, not Mike, but Mike Evans, who's one of my favorites. You mentioned route receivers. He's one of my favorites. He's out. Obviously, Godwin is out, but the guys that he's playing with, Emeka, Abuka, and other guys, their level of players rising, and I think a large part of that's because of Baker Mayfield and his leadership. He's been unbelievable. and the entire Bulls in their defense, you know they're going to compete and get after you, but Baker Mayfield is right now.

38:39It's top notch.

38:39Rich Eisen:The Bucs are atop my power rankings at one. and I don't know if that word's gotten around London about my PAL rankings. But I still can't quit the Lions, man. Yeah, and I love the Lions. I know that they just lost. I get it to the Chiefs who are turning a corner, you know, and the Chiefs becoming more of the Chiefs. And Mahomes is having an MVP type season for himself. Just can't quit the Lions right now. Yeah, the Lions, man, you know, watching the Lions is, you know, I like watching them guys because offensively they're so good. What do you think of Amon Ra? We didn't mention him either. And he's one of the top wide receivers in the National Football League.

39:12Every week I do a, on my social media, on Instagram, I do a Big Game Ballers. And he's appeared on that Big Game Ballers list quite a bit. Yes. Because of his tenacious attitude, run after the catch, his speed in which he plays is most glaring to me. I'm going to say Brown plays football really fast. And for corners and secondaries that have to deal with that, it's tough. because it's the same look every single time. You don't know when he's getting it or when he's not getting it because he plays at such a speed. That's pretty, like I said, that's most glaring. But his run after the catch, his toughness, he helps to set the tone with that run game.

39:52He helps to set the tone for that Lions offense.

39:55Rich Eisen:Well, I mean, you know what you're talking about. Two more NFL records that I did not mention before that you still hold to this day. Consecutive seasons of 1 ,300 or more yards, six. consecutive seasons of 90 or more receptions also six those are not records in this passing league uh that is still standing today so i i'm just going to say this point blank you should be in the pro football hall of fame the fact that you are not is outrageous um again i i know you don't want to say anything and you shouldn't because it's it's one of those it's like fight club you and talk about it. Right. But you deserve to be in and you should be in.

40:38Rich Eisen:Who's pounding the table for you? Is there somebody who's pounding the table for you in that room? Yeah, so my presenter, Howard Balzer, goes to bat every year for me. Because he goes back to the St. Louis days, correct? Yeah, he goes back to the St. Louis days. Yeah, Howard Balzer. And I've been a finalist now six straight years. So it's been six straight years that he's had to go in and argue my case. Correct. And from what I'm told and then talking with him, he does a heck of a job of going in and making a case for me every single year. So I'm back in the runnings again this year. It's a tremendous honor to be mentioned amongst the league's greats.

41:13And, look, I enjoy playing the game, Rich. I mean, you know that. I mean, you've been around me. I enjoy playing. I took pride in playing the game at a very high level. My goal from when I was drafted to St. Louis is I wanted to play for one team and one team only, and I was close to doing that. I played with the Rams for 10 years, and then I played one year in Jacksonville. so and then I didn't then being a part of a Super Bowl team bringing a Super Bowl to a city bringing conference championships breaking number numbers of records um my work's done man and I enjoyed it I enjoyed it and again I did it at a high level and I did it amongst other great wide receivers that we often talk about I was right in the mix from a production standpoint I was right in the mix with those guys so I couldn't be any more pleased with how my career has ended out now The Hall would be obviously icing on the cake and great validation for my pro football career.

42:05Yes. But the respect that I get from the guys that I played against and played with, that means all the world to me.

42:12Rich Eisen:Well, and you get him. You get it. And, you know, this year is going to be tough again. Larry Fitzgerald on yesterday, second on the all-time receiver list. It's his first time up. But I also spoke to him about Anquan Bolden. Yeah. Who's also waiting just like you. Stut. Deserving to get in. And all I will just say is this is just, you know, you are such a delightful human and you just don't get down about it. You know what I mean? Thank you. I appreciate that. I will tell you this off the air. Also, I remember Harry Carson. He once told me the whole take my name out of consideration. I'm sick and tired of waiting and I'm sick and tired of being on pins and needles and not hearing my name.

42:53Rich Eisen:and one year one the year he got in he said screw it uh on the day of of the announcement he went to hawaii and he got off the plane he turns his phone back on and he's like you have 50 messages and he and he got in and to this day i see him there in canton ohio and a guy who was so pissed at the at the circumstances um and was famous for that yeah um goes back every year happy go lucky hunky-dory, all that weight only just makes it that much sweeter. Yep. Because you will get in. Your numbers support it. Thank you. Your personage and your personality supports it. No doubt. All of it. All of it.

43:36Appreciate that. You're welcome. I haven't gotten to the point yet where I've called the hall and said, hey, take my name. I'm with you. I'm just giving you the extreme example of somebody who walks around with a jacket and

43:49Rich Eisen:a bust. Totally. And I've ridden every emotional wave that you can ride on this journey. I've ridden every emotional wave. But I still have hope. I still, every single year when it comes back up, I still feel like I'm going to get voted in that year. Every single year. So to your point, at some point, hopefully the voters will see it that way. And I'll be getting a call and saying, hey, you're next in terms of being in the Hall of Fame. Right. And then everyone that you played with, you know, will be there. Marshall, Niaz, Kurt, Orlando. They're all Isaac from your team. Yeah. Yeah. The old Dick Vermeule.

44:28Coach Vermeule. You know, all the guys that I went to war with, all the guys that I battled with in practice and, you know, and worked. And we all loved and had a passion for what we did. Again, I think being inducted into the pro football, as we all know, really validates what you are as a football player. And I'm just waiting my turn. You're in the NC State Hall of Fame. I'm in the NC State Hall of Fame. I'm in the College Football Hall of Fame. I'm in the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. I'm in the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. I'm in the Rich Eisen Sports Hall of Fame. That's the most important one of all.

44:58I mean, I know we're talking about Kent. So Kent, whatever, Kent. Let's just check ourselves right here. Torian, you said you thought about it. Do you ever sit and think like, this is the reason I'm not in? Do you ever just kind of question and kind of just think about it? initially, I would say the first three years I did that, it even had me to the point, my wife can attest to this way, it even had me to the point questioning myself. Like, no, I'm really like, you know what I'm saying? I'm like, was I good? Or was I not? So now I'm to the point now, it's like, hey, you look at all the statistics and you look at everything and how it all stacks up, I'm like, yeah, I belong.

45:40You know, I belong. But this is part of the process. This is part of the process. And I'm learning to embrace it and try to find joy in it and accept it. But it's never easy. It's always exciting getting to the point when the hall comes back around. And then when they call out the names, it's like a gut punch. And then you deal with those emotions. And then after a month or two, they go away. and you get back to your normal life. But it can be nerve-wracking, having to deal with it. And for me, it's more when I watch my wife and my kids, my grandmother who's still alive and my pops who's still around.

46:24They want it so bad because they want to be there when it actually happens. So I feel bad for them a lot of times. But I quickly just try to get rid of it and get away from it and get back to life.

46:38Rich Eisen:Well, you are the man. And thank you for coming on here. Thanks for having me, man. Thank you. Absolutely. That's Tori Holt here. Ryan Clark of ESPN joining us next on the Rich Eisen Show in hour two. Got a couple more minutes left. The Rich Eisen Show podcast.