Hour 1: Bills Hire Joe Brady Reaction, plus ESPN NFL Analyst Marcus Spears

24:54Marcus Spears:On the Joe Brady, I was asking a question a year ago. Like, why is Joe Brady not getting more consideration for a head coaching job? It was just one of those perplexing things to me from the job that he had done as an offensive mind and that tended to be the trend that we were seeing with guys having that much success from an offensive play calling standpoint the natural progression you felt like was to become a head coach but I think this is good for Buffalo now I gotta say this with a little bit of caveat I love Joe Brady so whether the job is going to be done at a high level or not But from where I sit and what I've known about him since he's been at LSU, which is why I asked the question a number of times about why is he not one of these hot names in the head coaching candidacy?

25:48Marcus Spears:From what I know, this team has got a real dude, one that can connect with players, one that probably needed a little more time than I was ready to give to become a head coach. and I'm assuming through these interviews and what they knew about him in the building already that it was comfortable enough for Brandon Bean and ownership to make this decision. Now, here's the thing, Rich. They got to make a decision about how this Keon Coleman situation is going to get fixed because when Pagula came out and said that a natural reaction for me as if I was Keon's agent would have been like, I got to get this player the hell out of here and I'm not sure if that's the progression that they want to take after naming the new head coach, but there's a progression in this offseason and there's matters at hand that need to be attended to, and I think that's the foremost, most pressing issue right now based on what I felt like was a disrespectful statement from the owner of the Buffalo Bills.

26:57Marcus Spears:So now that you got Joe Brady in place, other business has to be handled in the way of trying to get this team to a championship well

27:04Rich Eisen:the keon coleman thing let's let's hash that up a little bit here marcus when i when i heard that okay when when i heard that um my first thought was other players in the organization you know again keon's a young player and young players can be knuckleheads or young players need time to mature on the field as well right and i don't know what's going on behind the scenes it was a big you know head scratch healthy scratch situation for me you know right uh and so i thought rich i'm sorry i got these allergies man it's all good marcus i i'm i'm with you um so with with all of that i was sitting there thinking are there other players in the building who are far more down the line in their careers and also more crucial to the wins and losses and success of the Buffalo Bills sitting there saying, what's the owner thinking about my play?

27:59Rich Eisen:And am I next about being mentioned publicly as whose fault it was that I'm here, right? Like that to me is a bigger question than Keon Coleman.

28:14Marcus Spears:Yeah, I understand. Like Rich, I understand that, but Keon name was used. Sure. Right? So it always permeates in the locker room when things are happening like that. There's obviously 52 other guys when I'm talking about a game day roster. And this is not to absolve Keon Coleman of being late and having to have disciplinary action. But to your point, young players, I've been a veteran in the locker room. I've been a young player. I know that dynamic. And I think a lot of times you would prefer to keep those things within the within the realm of just us and let us handle it. Let the coaching staff handle it.

28:54Marcus Spears:And if it gets to a point where the GM got to step in and make a decision about someone's future, you do that. But ultimately, I don't think it's ever right to mention a specific player and then attribute. well this wasn't my decision you know we had that with Shadour Sanders in Cleveland that's right you mean the pro ball are these owners thinking right saying that bull crap like even if you feel that way what possibly do you think can be positively taken out of that by you making that statement because one you've pitted people against each other whoever made the decision whoever wasn't for the decision.

29:35Marcus Spears:But I know this is about Joe Brady. We'll get to that another day, Rich. Maybe when I see you down in San Francisco, we can talk all things. Sounds good. I'm happy about the Joe Brady hire.

29:43Rich Eisen:Right. And it is going to be part and parcel. I was just saying last hour, I mean, last segment earlier in the hour, that after obviously chatting with Josh Allen, hey, I got the gig. Keon Coleman's got to be his next call. 100%. Just to talk with him about it. And I'm sure he had a front row seat to whatever was happening with the healthy scratches. And he knows how to handle that, hopefully, for the Bills fans. Marcus Spears here on the Rich Eisen Show. What is it like for a defensive player to watch a coach go forward on fourth down rather than getting points for you to defend? Marcus? It's very difficult, Rich.

30:23Marcus Spears:It's very difficult. Listen, man. Right. while my nose runs from allergies. Yes. I listen to, and Rich, we've all had to come around on analytics, right? Yes, sir. And I understand that this is the new wave of the NFL, but I'm so glad you asked this question because to me as a defender, three points still means a lot to me. It means a lot. It means it still means that you have to, that the off the opposing offense has pressure to get points i think when you introduce that element it become especially in an afc championship game which you represent it there's an added pressure to we at least have to make enough plays to get downfield now with that with that thought you may make it you may try to make a tight window throw that you wouldn't make if it's an even game You may play a little bit more aggressively, which sometimes leads into obviously success for the offense, but it leads sometimes to success for the defense.

31:33Marcus Spears:And I don't care what Sean Payton says. If you go back, he'd probably take the three points. Oh, yeah. And the other thing that had me tripping is the people, Rich. you playing with jared stedham it's it's a premium for every scoring drive for you to get points on the board because you don't know what the difference is going to be now to add fuel to the fire the fact that that game ended up 10-7 got the drive him crazy all offseason yep because you don't know what would happen after that but ultimately man like I get it man like this going for fourth down I watched Dan Campbell do it early in the season I was like Dan at some point bro take the field goal um so yeah I like I went through Mina Kimes my sister and one of the one of my one of my castmates on NFL Live on ESPN and when when the analytics part first started getting introduced i was i was so opposed because my view was only well in that situation if tom brady are quarterbacks the hell with the analytics you let tom brady go out and make a play yep um so there's always that element for me it's still about this game is still about people and players making plays in certain situations and the more as a coach based on decision making that you can help them or put the other team in a more critical situation.

33:18Marcus Spears:I think you should. Now, people will say, well, swag. Well, if they score, it's more of a critical situation. I know. But what if they don't? And I would take those analytics and odds for kicking a field goal in that particular situation. Not all are the same either, Rich. Like, if Bo Nix was the quarterback, I don't think I would be as critical as the decision. If Lamar Jackson, my quarterback, or Josh Allen, my quarterback, or Matthew Stafford is my quarterback, a lot of guys, I don't think I'd make that decision. But a guy that ain't played in damn near two years, you want to put him in a fourth and one situation against New England's defense who has only given up eight points a game in the playoffs, I just don't think that was smart.

34:05Marcus Spears:And Sean makes a lot of smart decisions.

34:07Rich Eisen:But that was dumb. Marcus Spears here on the Rich Eisen Show. So your first blush preview for us for Super Bowl 60. What's your first blush thoughts? Seeing a Patriots team come off of two four-win seasons going on a run for the lifetime. And the Seattle Seahawks with Sam Darnold just getting stronger every week with a wagon of a defense and a stellar wide receiver in JSN. Just a top down.

34:35Marcus Spears:Rich, I want to ask you a question first.

34:37Rich Eisen:I'm here for you.

34:37Marcus Spears:You've done so many of these Super Bowls and been around these Super Bowls. Very fortunate, yes. I am absolutely refreshed, and I would like to know your thoughts, that we have this Super Bowl, that we have Drake May with his story and obviously Sam Dorner with his story. And look, I love greatness, and greatness should go as long as it possibly can. I'm not one of those ones that gets tired of people winning. I think when you win, you win all the time. But just the story of a guy that's been on, Sam Dornok, he's been on five teams, won 14 games with another team, had a bad end-of-the-year game, and they decided that they wanted to move in a direction, and they fell absolutely off a cliff.

35:24Marcus Spears:And then you look at Drake May, who was not the darling of the dance, but still considered a really good quarterback. and culturally you see things change around him and they find themselves in the Super Bowl I just think it's such a cool story bro and yes it's great to see Mahomes and Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson and you know Matthew Stafford and all of these guys that we we know play at a very high level consistently be in a Super Bowl and have opportunities to win and we'll talk about it but ain't this cool like it ain't this like one of the cool this one of the coolest Super Bowls I think I've been a part of since I've been covering the NFL at ESPN.

36:06Marcus Spears:I'd like to know your thoughts on that.

36:07Rich Eisen:Okay, so not to answer a question with a question, but do you want me to answer that professionally or thoroughly unprofessionally, Marcus? Thoroughly unprofessionally. Okay, so I'll go with that one first. Buckle up, Marcus. Get ready. I grew up a Jet fan, Marcus. So watching Sam Darnold, okay, Watching Sam Darnold become the first ex-Jet to ever quarterback a Super Bowl for someone else's team. To do that against the New England Patriots, whose ascension to the Super Bowl with a seemingly dynastic setup coming again. only to have that Super Bowl birth come off of two four lost seasons in a row in drafts in which they preceded the Jets only to zoom past them in the diamond lane of the National Football League to the Super Bowl and have that ascension celebrated by my hometown's Empire State Building being lit up in Patriots colors.

37:19Rich Eisen:Get out of here with that nonsense. My God.

37:24Marcus Spears:How's that for an unprofessional? Thoroughly unprofessional. I like that. Because, you know, I live on the unprofessional side more than the, you know, so that resonates with me. All right, that felt better. Give me the professional side, Rich. You're right.

37:36Rich Eisen:This is an incredible, cool Super Bowl. because it is the avatar of you never know, and all it takes is some smart coaching and some smart roster building, a little bit of luck, of course, but some terrific teamwork where everybody comes together and says, you know what? I don't care that nobody believes in us. We believe in ourselves. We follow our coach named Mike. We follow our quarterbacks that say, follow us. We love our team defense, every hat to the football. We're smarter than you situationally. And at the end of the day, we're going to the Super Bowl. I love it. How's that? I gave you my professional and thoroughly unprofessional answers.

38:38Rich Eisen:That's why you Rich Eisen, bro.

38:39Marcus Spears:That was beautiful. That was beautiful. Thank you. Y 'all clip that and put that over the Super Bowl entry when they play it. Here's what I love about this, Rich. Yes, sir. This is what I love about this. I've been a fan of Mike Vrabel for a very long time, even as a player. but I still don't understand what Tennessee was thinking when they let him walk, which now has to be, you a Jets fan and I know it's bad, but imagine being a Tennessee Titans fan.

39:09Rich Eisen:I'm with you. That one I don't understand. And I am going to spend the next week plus diving in when I have information men and women here. What happened in Tennessee? I can gather why Minnesota decided to not sign Darnold to a Tua or Trevor Lawrence contract if that's what he was looking for, even though he signed for less in Seattle, obviously. I understand when you go and you trade draft capital to get a kid that you believe in and you do need to start that process at some point. I get it. I understand why Darnold didn't want to stay there. I understand how they lost to Detroit and the Rams and it didn't look great.

39:50Rich Eisen:But I still do want to know if they did kick a tire on Darnold or not. But the Titans thing, I don't get it. That one is just get out of here.

40:01Marcus Spears:Wow. And the other thing is Derrick Harry has ran for 4 ,000 yards since he left. Like, again, but again, this is not for us to beat on Tennessee. But I do need you to put on your connection hat and find out what the hell happened with the Tennessee Titans. Now, they got a new coach and they trying to move forward. So we don't allow Tennessee to move forward. Here's what I'll say, man. Mike Vrabel and the job that they've done in New England, and we were there a few weeks ago for the Houston game. and you could sense that this wasn't necessarily the old Patriot way, but it was still some of that lingering foundation that made them what they were when Vrabel was a part of that franchise.

40:46Marcus Spears:I think he won three Super Bowls with himself, right? But there was the enthusiasm that just was permeating throughout this football team. It was a confidence in the plan that they had, that they were ready to execute. And, you know, we all got my NFL live crew. We make these picks and people think we like care about making these picks. Like we live and die by it, which I don't. Sometimes I don't I don't even look at it. I tell the producer, pick a game, pick the game and the score. If people really understood how much I actually don't care about who wins unless it's Dallas, they'd never tweet me or hit me on x about anything because they'd be like bro you don't even love your job no i love my job i don't get paid to pick games because if i knew who was gonna win every game i'd just live in vegas and be richer than all y 'all so but here's the thing here's the thing man they are they are as well prepared which you and you expect that from mike but they are also young and vibrant and new energy it's not that you know bill obviously had the patriot way and it was it was everybody you know kind of act like you've been there before man rabble at the door after the game hugging dudes they got their personal handshakes they going crazy on the sideline like they've been a fun team to be around and then you go on the other side with seattle mike mcdonald phenomenal job as a defense coordinator with the Baltimore Ravens gets hired.

42:23Marcus Spears:Sam Dornall comes over. This Seattle Seahawks team is still the reason why we keep talking about the Legion of Boom, because the truth is they are led by their defense and it's very eerily similar to what they've done before. And then you get a rematch of a catastrophic ending for the Seattle Seahawks in the Superbowl. Like it, there is enough here, rich for us to be okay with it not being my home. and Kelsey and Josh and Matthew. Like, I have thoroughly enjoyed – this has been one of my favorite NFL seasons because it's been so unpredictable, unpredictable, and the variables of football has shown itself time after time after time.

43:08Marcus Spears:But I'm excited about this Super Bowl, man. I'm really happy for both of these organizations and franchises. But I'm more happy – if I would say there's like one thing that I'm crazy happy about. It's the fact that when Sam Dornall writes this book to youth and up-and-coming inspiring quarterbacks and all of these things, whether he wins it or not, this is the legit, like, don't ever quit. I'm with you.

43:40Rich Eisen:We see it in real terms. I'm with you. Marcus, thanks for the time. Can we get this man a Clareton, please? I'm going to get up.

43:47Marcus Spears:Yeah, I'm getting me some Allegra D. That's the only thing that's good work.

43:50Rich Eisen:Very good. Very good. And thanks for the time. I agree with you on everything, but we're going to have to light the frigging Empire State building up, okay? You know what I mean? Take care of yourself, Marcus. We'll chat again. All right, brothers. Y 'all take care. See you, Marcus. See you, Marcus. We're up against it. We've got to hit the road. We're back with more to sell.

44:05Marcus Spears:The Rich Eisen Show, the podcast.

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46:27Rich Eisen:The one that sealed the deal. The Broncos were out of timeouts to force the Patriots to punt and have enough time for it. It was over. Okay. According to the Boston Globe, Josh McDaniels was in on it. Did you see this? No. A Patriots coach told the Boston Globe that Josh McDaniels in May called the bootleg on the sideline and purposely kept the rest of the offense out of the loop in order to better sell the fake.

47:02Marcus Spears:Love it. Wow.

47:04Rich Eisen:Quote, we called it from the sideline and told him not to tell anyone else. And he did not tell them in the huddle. Make it as real as we could. End quote. Genius. Remember when Peyton Manning used to do stuff like this? He'd be on the goal line and all of a sudden he'd be naked boot and then he'd just walk into the end zone. It's obviously not the play call. No one's going to have Peyton Manning running for anything. But Peyton also, how do I put this artfully? Doesn't have the same giddy up. as maybe a 23-year-old young buck. For sure. Maybe even more ridiculous. But you would think in the elements like that, you'd just smash it up the middle and punt and play defense.

47:42Rich Eisen:Here's what we're going to do with the season on the line. I mean, just roll the dice. I mean, roll the dice. So even if they didn't get it, if this thing blew up in their faces. The defender had a shot to tackle him. Let's just say if that happened, they're still punting the ball away with like a minute and change to go, right? And they couldn't move it anyway. It's a worthy risk. For sure. You know, it's a worthy risk. But a church Belzian type one, that's for sure. Jeez. Stuff that makes you wonder if it's the Patriots year. Hour two coming up. The Ridge Eisen Show podcast. Monster Energy. Everybody knows White Monster, Zero Ultra.

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