Hour 1: Cowboys Trade for Joey Porter Jr, plus Hall of Fame WR Larry Fitzgerald

0:00Rich Eisen:Hockey on ESPN is blowing up. Hockey is back. So, what does it look like now? The kids? Hughes. Celebrini. Schaefer. That's hockey. Ovi and Crosby. That's hockey. And with access to over a thousand out-of-market games, you can watch them and the rest of the league. Holy hockey. That's more hockey to love for more fans who love it. The NHL's best on ESPN. Watch all season long on ABC, ESPN, ESPN Plus, and the ESPN app. This is the Rich Eisen Show. Hey, everybody. Can't get enough of the Rich Eisen Show? You're in luck. You can find us everywhere. Watch us weekdays on Disney Plus from noon to 3 Eastern.

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1:32Rich Eisen:Welcome to this Thursday edition of the Rich Eisen Show, live on Disney +, the ESPN app, ESPN radio, Sirius XM, Channel 80. The wild card series are all in the books with the exception of the Phillies and the Braves. We have one game three later on today. that's going up against the Thursday night football contest in Cleveland, Ohio where the equally two-in-one Steelers and Browns have at it. We'll preview all of that. Our first guest, Larry Fitzgerald, is going to be joining us in about 20 minutes time. Mark Schlereth in hour number three. He will be giving us his two cents on everything going down in the National Football League.

2:10Rich Eisen:And just because it's now officially Patriots season, Tommy C., Tom Kern will join us for the latest on that They get set to head to Western New York to take on the Bills, whose former coach Sean McDermott returns to the program tomorrow to help get us through to the weekend for week number four. That again in the NFL that begins tonight. 844-204-RICH number to dial to have a conversation with us on our WeatherTech fan line. And it's a higher register Thursday where once again, we've got to go higher register to believe anything that we say. and just as an example, I think I look pretty good in that Iowa helmet yesterday.

2:50Rich Eisen:By the way, George Kittle has furnished me with a return address. Oh, yeah, you've got to send that back. I was planning on sending it back. These guys were trying to get sticky fingered. We wanted to hold it for a while to show off. He would like it back. Good to see you, Chris Brockman. How are you? Good to see you. I've been better, but I'm trudging forward. I understand all of that. It doesn't feel good when your diehard rivals knock you out for the second consecutive year. It was to be expected, but still going out like that never feels good. Mike Del Tufo, good to see you over there. My East Coast team advanced.

3:25Rich Eisen:Please keep that dumbass Yankee Dodger hat on, please. You're the worst. For later on. He is. I can confirm that. What's up, TJ Jefferson? How are you, sir? Chilling, man. How are you guys doing? I'm doing great, thank you. How are you doing? I'm doing great. And I kind of think your team's doing great. today, TJ Jefferson. Listen, we didn't hit this soundbite last week, kind of got lost in a lot of the shuffle. But I guess an old man with money is a powerful combination. At least this is what Jerry Jones had to say on this subject matter after the Cowboys came up with their first win of the season.

4:11Rich Eisen:You feel more dangerous than an old man with money. Nothing more dangerous than an old man with money. That's the quote of the day. I mean, I think we were aware of that already, right? Well, everyone was wondering what kind of that meant after Dallas took care of Washington. And the insight is he's not done. He has said that he and Stephen Jones had said that they were willing to spend draft capital to improve this team this year. And and thus one would think the draft capital that would be spending would bringing somebody significant enough that it's a price tag on top of it. That would require digging deeper into that wildcat pocket is the budget.

5:06Rich Eisen:The Metroplex. And so this week on his weekly radio hit on 105.3 The Fan. Jerry was asked specifically about a Pittsburgh Steeler who's had one of those back injuries that keep cropping up that a lot of people are wondering if it really was a back or it's just like he and the Steelers could not see eye-to-eye contractually and Joey Porter Jr. was not showing until there was a dotted line that he felt comfortable putting his JPJ on. Look, Rich, we've all had bad backs. We get it. Oh, my arm. My back. So Jerry Jones was asked specifically about Joey Porter Jr., who did appear to be on track to appear for the Steelers tonight in Cleveland.

6:03Rich Eisen:he's getting out there practicing and then all of a sudden he was declared out we were wondering what's up with all of that as Jerry Jones was asked about it we're right on top of it we're very aware of the moving parts out here we should be and communication is a big part of that it's a big part of it and communication at all levels at my level at Stephen's level at the scouts level. We all have contacts, and this is a time when you really can have discussions and they could be productive. Yes, there's conversations going on, not specifically to the player you just mentioned or referring to situations.

6:56Rich Eisen:Trying to avoid tampering here, folks. I literally was going to say that to you, is that you can't specifically say, absolutely, we're talking to the Steelers about Joey Porter Jr. and adding him to the back end of a defense. We're absolutely interested in him, and we're absolutely down the road because I'm an old man with money, and that's dangerous. And lo and behold, late last night, yes, indeed, Joey Porter Jr. acquired by the Dallas Cowboys. Not one, not two, but a third trade between the Cowboys and the Steelers. That's wild. Over the last year and a half. And Joey Porter Jr. is coming from Pittsburgh to Dallas for a 2027 sixth and a 2028 second round pick.

7:53that's a steal

7:55Rich Eisen:and interestingly enough that 2027 sixth round pick used to belong to Pittsburgh and that pick that they just sent to Pittsburgh came from Pittsburgh with George Pickens in the first of these three trades between the two teams I was referring to back on May the 7th 2025 George Pickens was acquired by Dallas along with a 2027 sixth that they are now sending back for Joey Porter Jr. Broderick Jones, the left tackle that's protecting Dak and trying to keep things going on the running game for the Dallas Cowboys, he was acquired back in August of this year, late trade in training camp season. Steelers were done with him.

8:55Rich Eisen:The Cowboys were like, we'll take him like you took George. And now they take Joey Porter Jr. Jones and Porter Jr., by the way, were the first two picks for the Steelers in their 2023 drafts. Wow. They're now the Dallas Cowboys property, if you will. And Pickens was a second round pick, 52nd overall in the 2022 draft. And the Cowboys are like, OK, you want to keep on sending us your problems. We'll acquire them. We'll take them. The Reclamation Project. And the question is, is are they going to pay Joey Porter Jr. the amount of money that the Steelers would not? Don't know. We'll see about that.

9:41Rich Eisen:One would think if they coughed up a second in 2028, they're not just going to let Joey Porter Jr. linger. they're going to wrap that up that's a significant draft choice and just to bring it all into full circle here jerry jones would not pay as we know micah parsons the amount of money that he wanted and there was a handshake agreement apparently that the two of them had a couple of springs ago that Jerry took to mean that they had a deal. Word is bond. And then Micah's agent stepped in and goes, yeah, no, no, no. I'm the captain here, if you will. Yada, yada, yada. We all know what happened after that.

10:35Rich Eisen:Put the tweet up if you don't mind. Ben Solak of ESPN pointing out, I figured I'd bring this to the people here. Instead of paying Micah$46.5 million per year, the Cowboys traded him for two ones in Kenny Clark. They've now traded a first-round pick and two second-round picks for Quinton Williams and Joey Porter Jr., whom they will pay combined, assuming there's an extension coming, $65.3 million a year. I mean, financially, that seems like a better deal, right? Well, I mean, you're getting two players for one. You're getting a guy in the middle. You're also bringing in Kenny Clark. And another first-round pick.

11:14Rich Eisen:And another first-round pick. Another one. And another one. Another one. Another one. Now here's the scoop. What's the scoop, Rich? How's it going to all work with Christian Parker, the new defensive coordinator? I'd love to know. That is the question. That's the question. And I'm assuming the back injury. We've taken a couple Advil, and we're going to see JPJ out lickety split against the Houston Texans team that the Cowboys are visiting this weekend, needing a W in the worst way. And if Nico Collins is in fact going to be out there and coming back, let's see what JPJ can do. I'm imagining that's the case.

11:58Rich Eisen:And what does Christian Parker do? Is he ready for the task? Wink Martindale doesn't think so. I don't know if you saw that. He appeared on a podcast recently and said, I don't mean to be the a-hole here, which, by the way, Lincoln could start every sentence that way, you know, with all due respect. But he's he's ready to help out. Because from his perspective, Parker's not up for the gig right now. Look, man, it's his first year. Like, you know, and that's the thing. How quickly can we get everybody on the same page together? Because so far, there have been a lot of pages. A lot of pages. You know, one particular page that just jumps out at me was the epilogue in Rio, which is OK.

12:47Rich Eisen:There's one play that the Ravens need, which is a big, huge chunk play to get a game winning field goal with no time left. And everybody knew that in the two hemispheres, the planet Earth has watching the game. And the Cowboys didn't stop. and also immediately tackled Zay Flowers. I guess that's 20-20 hindsight if you just let him run five more yards. Yeah, don't help him up. He was kind of going down on his own. Kidden Porter is great and all, but it doesn't address. What doesn't it address? We're getting beat up, man. We need some physicality. And the more you think about it, Brockman, I feel like we should have done everything to get Max on this team.

13:34Rich Eisen:based upon him. He's not available anymore. We should have done. Like this offseason when the name was floating around where the Ravens gave him two, we should have gave him three. Obviously, now you can't get him. The Raiders are three. His knee was clearly not 100. I just don't think this addresses the bigger problems on the defense. Happy to have him, though. This is what you want. You want somebody who's like we have a window now. Jerry's going for him. And it could be part of it they really believe in the roster, which I would. And part of it is he's 83. He wants one more for the case. And you've got to like that out of your management.

14:19Rich Eisen:And it's basically looking at the locker room and saying, I know we're one and two, but we believe that you have what it takes, and we're just going to keep adding. And I don't know if they're done. Who knows if they're done? Because they just made a big trade right now in week three to four, and the trade deadline's not for another month. This takes a nice chunk out of the pie. Well, guess what? They got it done, and I think this is a terrific move. You got a young guy who's pissed, and the other team that he comes from once upon a time that drafted him and developed him said we're done here because we don't believe you're worth what you're asking.

15:10Rich Eisen:And it's a similar tale that the Cowboys enjoyed last year with a story of 1 ,300 yards from the kid-wide receiver the team was done with. Hey, Joey, talk to George how things are around here and what you can do with an opportunity with the star on the side of your helmet. makes sense i dig it question is is the dc up to the task is he up for it is he the right guy did you find the right guy did you go ahead and put this in the hands of a young up-and-coming coordinator who needs to for a clearly use a phrase from the nfc east pushing pushing the chips to the center of the table saying, this is it.

15:58Rich Eisen:We got it. We got Gotti and we got it. And now the it is a bunch of young players. Some who have already established themselves and some in the case of Joey Porter Jr. and Caleb Downs, a rookie, who, by the way, did you see that moment where he stood up? Oh, yeah. Derrick Henry in Rio. I mean, this kid is really good. You've got some very talented players, including my Wolverine, who I texted you on draft night, Jay Sean Barham. He is flashing. Yeah, he's looking like a dog. But again, we gave up 165 yards, 182 yards, and 192 yards rushing in three games. I'm not sure how much Porter is going to solve that problem.

16:42Rich Eisen:And I think as fans, that's the area that we want to see addressed because that's where we're getting killed. I'd have to sit here, and if I'm the Cowboys, I'm like, we got Kenny Clark. We got Quentin Williams. We just got to get these guys in their proper lanes and have some sort of discipline and understanding what the scheme is or having a coach coach it better. That appears to be what I'm hearing is the case. And what people from Wink Martindale to anybody else who's watching the film is saying what they're seeing. Here come the Houston Texans at 0-3. Joey Porter Jr. added to the mix. Kind of dig it.

17:20Rich Eisen:And we'll see what the Steelers do without him because they're already 2-1 without him this year. It's a huge game for these two. Wild game. Let us take a break. Still to come on this program, the baseball playoffs. We'll dive into that. In a sticky situation last night in the Bronx. As well as one year where there's a diehard Dodger fan who's taking credit for the Yankees, who he's forsaken multiple times in this program. We'll hit on that. Don't know that guy. Ridiculous. We'll hit on that. Also, the pass interference call on Sunday Night Football looks like the NFL has put their thumb on the scale on whether it was right or wrong as a call.

18:01Rich Eisen:We'll hit that. 844-204-RICH, your phone calls. It's a higher register Thursday as well. Larry Fitzgerald when we come back.

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20:07Rich Eisen:Be confident in your hiring decisions with LinkedIn HiringPro. Post your job for free at linkedin.com slash Eisen. Terms and conditions apply. The Rich Eisen Show podcast. Freshly minted pro football Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald is here, courtesy of DraftKings and the annual Pinkham campaign. It is October, so it is now Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and there's going to be something going on with DraftKings that Larry's going to be here to talk about right here, and it's great to see you. Our radio audience has just returned, Larry. So we were just talking about how you're seeing Devin, your son play at Notre Dame, and that's how you're spending part of your time.

20:50Rich Eisen:I haven't spoken to you since your induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. That moment with you and Chris Carter, the night of the jacket dinner, where you chose Chris to put the jacket on you, and what a moment that was, because you've known Chris forever in a day, right? You were the ball boy of the Minnesota Vikings from back in the day, and your dad was part of the coverage team then, and your dad's no longer with us. And it was just incredible for me to just witness. What was that like for you, Larry? Well, first I want to apologize to you because I know that walk through the Hall of Famers should only take like a minute and a half, right?

21:32But I've known a lot of the guys that I was spending time with walking down for a long period of time. You know, my dad, you mentioned earlier, has been in the journalism profession for, you know, 45 years. And so it afforded me to be able to meet Thurman Thomases and the Bruce Smiths and the Jim Kellys and the Dan Marinos. And like, you know, you name them, I've been around the game a long time and I have a personal relationship with a lot of those guys. So I wanted to make sure I told them how much I appreciate them. And I know I can hear you up there just trying to extend it and extend it and extend it.

22:04And I was like, I'm sorry, Rich. I'm sorry, Rich. No, Larry, it's your moment, man.

22:08Rich Eisen:It's your moment. And it was quite a moment for sure. But having Chris be able to put that jacket on, and it's hard because you have, you know, having Kurt Warner, who, you know, was a huge part of me getting to that place. But I've known Chris since I was 10 years old. And, you know, it wasn't just me being a fan and watching him play for the Vikings. I actually had a personal relationship. I could call him and talk to him on the phone. I stayed at his house in Florida when I'm trained, and people watched tape with me. And, you know, like he did a lot to help me get to this place. But the very best part of that whole weekend was me during the speech, letting him know that my hands are better than his and him not being able to have any rebuttal.

22:44It was great. It was great to be able to have that one up on him there.

22:47Rich Eisen:No, no. He had a rebuttal on this show that Monday, Larry. He came on and he he was still very rankled. The only way to put it, Larry, you got in his kitchen, you know, I did. I did. I love doing that to him. I love doing that to him, man. But who did you see that weekend for the first time, though? Again, you have been around the game for a long time. But who did you perhaps see meet for the first time from the Hall of Fame where it hits you like, OK, I'm now in the same gallery as this individual, Larry. Who is that for you? So I've known a bunch of the guys, you know, from Ronnie Lott to Daryl Green.

23:32Like a lot of the guys I've had some relationships with, like I never had much time to spend with Willie Neer, you know, Bobby Bell, you know, Larry Zonka, John Riggins, Paul Warfield, you know, like Mean Joe Green. I mean, some of the some of the older guys who like we stand on their shoulders. Right. They they made the National Football League what it is today to be able to sit there and talk to those guys for a few hours and pick their mind and understand, you know, what it was like, you know, playing in the 60s and 70s and how much the game has changed. and to hear about what they've done, you know, Willie Lanier having his own stock brokerage firm.

24:11And I just incredible, incredible, you know, Ron makes being a, you know, an attorney and and and things that he's doing through his law firm. And like all those things that you just don't know, you know, the story about their football careers and what they did and why they're in the Hall of Fame. But to see who they are as human beings and what makes them so special was that part that I really appreciate. and what I'm going to really look forward to as I go back because when you get in, you're kind of whipped around and ran from place to place to place. You don't really get a chance to take it all in.

24:40And so I'm looking forward to being able to go back and do that and be able to build those relationships.

24:46Rich Eisen:Yeah, and look at that. There's the class right there. And that's the neat thing, too, about the Hall of Fame is how the football gods kind of shake up the football snow globe and the pieces fall, right? And it's a total random class that you're now connected with forever. Right. I mean, it's pretty cool. Yeah. I mean, I've had a great relationship with Drew when we've known each other a long time. You know, I spent a considerable amount of time with him. Same with Luke Keekly. And so I didn't I knew Adam and passing a little bit. But to be able to build that relationship. And that was the first time I ever got a chance to meet Mr.

25:22Craig. And, you know, to see somebody who waited 29 years to have their name called. And, you know, to think about the way running backs play, you think about Alvin Kamara, you think about Saquon Barkley, think about Christian McCaffrey. You think about the modern day running back who was a guy who does not come off the field. They are three down back. They can pick up pass protection. You think about Marshall Falk, the guys who are thousand thousand like he he created that narrative like he was the guy that I mean, he was 30 years before his time. and to be able to see him have his moment, it was amazing.