Hour 1: Dolphins Shakeup Begins, plus NFL Insider Tom Pelissero

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1:08Rich Eisen:Now, on with the show. This is the Rich Eisen Show. You want to see something really scary? Nobody around in the end zone. He didn't run the route. From the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles. Today's guests. NFL Network Insider, Tom Pelissero. Colts tight end, Tyler Warren. Basketball Hall of Famer, Shaquille O 'Neal. Academy Award winning actor, Morgan Freeman. And now, it's Rich Eisen. Hey everybody, welcome to this edition of the Rich Eisen Show. We are live on Disney+. We are live on the ESPN app and we are live on ESPN Radio presented by Progressive Insurance and SiriusXM Channel 80. We have got ourselves a heck of a show in store.

2:00Rich Eisen:We've got Tom Pellicero, my NFL Network colleague, first up in about 20 minutes' time. And, boys, there are lots of breaking news, certainly from the state of football, Florida, to discuss with all of you, and we'll unpack that in a second. Tyler Warren, the revelatory rookie tight end of the revelatory 7-1 AFC leading Indianapolis Colts, joining us in the middle of this what's more likely Friday second hour, and then hour three, my goodness gracious. Shaquille O 'Neal is first up, and then once we're done talking with Shaq, we will say hello to Oscar winner Morgan Freeman. That's how we're rolling here on this Halloween Friday.

2:39Rich Eisen:Chris Brockman, good to see you over there. How are you, buddy? Rich, what's up, man? You and I are the only one. I guess we're not in costume in a way. Although I am – are you somebody today? Is somebody who's ready to golf after today's show or something like that? I'm dressed as an adult. And Jason Feller. Good to see you, Felly. Or should I say Jason Momoa Feller. Aquaman, thank you. Pardon me. You've got your trident next to you. And then, I'll be honest with you, certainly when you stole it on the floor, if you stood up, we'd see another trident. So please stay seated, if you don't mind.

3:16Rich Eisen:Jason Feller, everybody here on the Rich Eisen Show. Speaking of the adult, Chris, you might be right about that. TJ Jefferson, you are dressed as today. Who are you today? Hey, one thing's for certain, two things for show. I'm Cam Newton, baby. Let's go. Cam Newton, everybody. Good to see you. And I'll describe for the radio audience, I am dressed as a dad who just wants to be left alone. A tired dad. And stay at home and watch sports TV on Halloween night like a game six of the World Series, for instance. Okay? I'm dressed as a tired dad who needs a nap. I mean, I brought extra Jason costumes for you.

3:56Rich Eisen:It's all good. Thank you. I will put the mask on. Oh, Jason. Get you with props. You got a Kelsey and a hockey mask. Rich, who do you want? Do you want the hockey mask? I want Kelsey. I'm good. I'm good. I'm good. You know what? Give me the Kelsey. It's celebratory, Rich. That's all good. It's our first Halloween here on Disney. Well, let's talk about who is not celebrating right now. Some fish. Well, I mean, the Dolphins are technically a mammal, not a fish. But listen, the Miami Dolphins are two and seven. And when your coach and front office is on a hot seat, and you go on Thursday Night Football, and you lay an egg, and you suffer your largest home loss in four years, four plus years, Week two of the 2021 season is when the Buffalo Bills came in and waxed the Dolphins 35 to nothing.

4:54Rich Eisen:When you have your third game with fewer than 10 points scored this year, and you only had one such game, one such game in the three previous years combined, what's going to end up happening is a, I guess, Halloween term, rolling head. And that does not belong to the head coach, Mike McDaniel. It belongs to the general manager, Chris Greer, an interesting choice by Stephen Ross, the owner of the Miami Dolphins today, telling Chris Greer, who's been with the organization since joining as a scout in 2000 and then working his way up to general manager in 2016, that we're done here. And we're not only done here as a general manager, but the trade deadline is right around the corner.

5:41Rich Eisen:And one would think if Jalen Phillips or Bradley Chubb or Matthew Judon are pieces that are of interest to other teams in the National Football League. And I'm not somebody like Tom Pellicero who's working phones and burning up phone lines. But I can surely tell you there will be some interest for those players. My team. And for sure, the Cowboys could use any of the three that I just mentioned. so um that coaching search i'm pardon me i'm uh that's a that's a cart before a horse right here that um very important part of building this team for the future when you're two and seven and you've got pieces that you can move to other teams and accrue draft choices that is now going to be handled that crucial part of the business of the trade deadline talks not by the general manager chris greer but by senior personnel executive champ kelly and you know we're we're we're checking to see if maybe did ron de santa say he's not going to let the general manager be in charge of who's choosing nice the next items topical is that what's happening right now well done it's going around is that what's happening with all uh red state governors and football programs listen um it's a choice it's a choice and mike mcdaniel's still the head coach but i'll i'll be straight up and this is about somebody who i've become fond of yeah we really like right so this is just shooting you straight as i always do here on this program i can't imagine unless he wins out like a Steve Fisher University of Michigan 1989 type run where he wins out and they make the playoffs and they somehow make sorry?

7:37Rich Eisen:I said Tua turns into Ramil Robinson. Well or Tua. He turns into the Tua of Alabama you know or the Tua of the 70 to 20 wipe out of the Denver Broncos a couple years ago type Tua unless Unless the Dolphins go on that sort of run, there's no chance a new general manager comes in and says, you know what, we're just going to keep the same thing. Let's just run it back. Let's run it back with the same coach. You know a general manager comes in and says, I've got my own people, my own guy, unless they hire a general manager from Mike McDaniel's past and they want to keep him because Stephen Ross doesn't want to pay dead coaching money.

8:23Rich Eisen:And that's the way this is going. And it didn't help Mike McDaniel last night that his offense was moving the football up and down the field with impunity in the first half, out gaining the Ravens 226 to 109 yards while holding the Ravens offense to one of six on third down, but being down at halftime 14 to six because of a host of self-inflicted problems like Taj Washington. The rookie fumbling on his own four leading to the first of two Mark Andrews touchdowns. The second one came after the Dolphins marched down the field and from the Ravens 12-yard line suffered a false start to bring on the field goal kicker.

9:11Rich Eisen:First of many times there were Amazon Prime Video cutaways of a cursing, what appeared to be Mike McDaniel, and then Riley Patterson field goal wide right. and then the Ravens march down the field for the second Mark Andrews touchdown pass from Lamar Jackson and then 14-6 right before the end of halftime and the Ravens getting the ball to start the second half and the Dolphins needing points. McDaniel figured he had the right play call on fourth and two and he's not bringing out the field goal kicker or just, you know, missed earlier even though Riley Patterson had just made it. Regardless, he calls a play and Tua just heaves it out of bounds on what appeared to be a matchup between A-chan at five foot whatever against Kyle Hamilton, who is, as you know, one of the tallest, toughest defenders in the league.

10:11Rich Eisen:Like, that's a one-on-one. You're going to just go a fade right there. After the game, McDaniel said there was a multitude of problems that had occurred on that play call and after the execution of it. And then down 28-6, they marched down the field. The other Washington, Malik Washington fumbles. Everybody named Washington's fumbling in this game. Tua with a pick to seal it. And it didn't help anybody that this was a Halloween night celebration, final game in October on national television stream. viewership that everybody gets to come dressed up and so some folks showed up with paper bags and started booing their heads off and that you know clearly is understandable as Mike McDaniel noted

11:01Tom Pelissero:afterwards yeah it sucks that sucks um all of that does uh but you know I think it's a pretty consistent formula of fans enjoy winning. And so our expectation is that we have to do the work and do the right things for fans to enjoy the experience. And unfortunately, we didn't do that tonight. So we got to get back to work to give them something to cheer about.

11:37Rich Eisen:you know Dolphins fans if you're looking for somebody who's going to turn over tables and wreck the buffet and just start pounding the podium you got the wrong guy there and you know Mike McDaniel picking and choosing his million dollar words are are not what Dolphin fans want to hear but that's the guy who he is and it's his cerebral nature that brings about the ability to scheme an offense to march up and down the field they just can't make it cash they've got a quarterback who's thrown 11 picks who doesn't who doesn't want to take a hit and that's totally understandable right um and they have uh players who aren't performing sharply in the most important circumstances and then injuries i guess everybody's got them tyree kill being out for the year doesn't help at all but put it all together and the miami Dolphins next up as he says got to get to work to give him something to cheer about Buffalo Bills are coming into town and if they are coming in off a loss to the Chiefs or a win against the Chiefs either way they're going to have a head of steam or a massive chip on their shoulder wanting to take it out on Miami before the Dolphins fly all the way to Madrid and are going to be in the big time international series finale and the league in particular very excited about the Madrid game so there's going to be a lot of promotion around it hey everybody tune in to watch the commanders and the dolphins then there's a bye week and then the final six games and you're going to wonder how many people to use a deon sanders phrase that i learned long ago that when a team is no longer viable for the playoffs players treat the game like a u-haul game because they have the U-Haul backed up, ready to pack up for the year.

13:32Rich Eisen:Certainly, if the GM is no longer there and the guy he hired is part of a team that has four or five wins, it's brutal. The Dolphins have absolutely fallen apart this year, is what it looks like. And in terms of what Mike McDaniel says fans like winning, I mentioned Chris Greer joined the team in 2000. That is the last year in which the Dolphins made the playoffs and won a playoff game. It is 24 years, and counting, it looks like, the longest playoff win drought in the National Football League. They last won on the second-to-last day of 2000. That's when the wildcard game occurred in Miami against Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts and Dave Wonsted's Dolphins.

14:25Rich Eisen:won that game despite Jay Fiedler throwing three interceptions. Lamar Smith ran one in an overtime to win it for the Dolphins. That's the last time they won a playoff game. So, Stephen Ross has got another decision to make on his coach, and I can't imagine they're going to hire a new general manager and keep the coach unless this coach's team finishes somehow. I mean, last year they started 2-6, finished 8-9, gave them a lot of belief about this season. I mean, to finish 8-9 this year, you know, that's going to be a tall order. So that's what's up there. Meanwhile, there's big news also out of the state of Florida.

15:15Rich Eisen:Travis Hunter, in a non-contact moment in practice yesterday, hurt his knee so significantly they popped him on IR, and Liam Cohn's talking about they're going to have to evaluate whether he would be available for a January playoff run is what he said about the second overall selection in this past year's draft. And so cue everybody out there saying that's why you don't go and draft somebody who plays two positions because he goes down, you lose two positions. Or that's why you don't play somebody who plays two positions because at some point in the NFL he's going to break down. we'll find out what this was all about but the jacksonville jaguars just as they're coming back from a bye prior to which they've lost two in a row prior to which they didn't just lose two in a row they were looking like they're in a fog 10 penalties and a loss at home against seattle 13 penalties and a loss in london to the rams then a bye brian thomas got hurt just before the by he is expected to play this week but now all eyes will be on him on offense for sure now that travis hunter is out for the foreseeable future for the four and three jaguars who are now on the outside looking in and are the only closest object right now in the colts rearview mirror in the afc south big games this weekend to talk about as well i've got my top five other games to look to the rest of week number nine it's a what's more likely friday it's a friday in which tyler warren one of the best tight ends in the nfl this year rookie or vet is in the middle of hour number two and then a a heck of an hour three shaquille o 'neal of inside the nba right here on espn will join us to talk about everything going on in the nba including wait for it the first time ever 5-0 San Antonio Spurs with Victor Wembonyama doing unicorn type things there.

17:21Rich Eisen:And then after that conversation, we've got one of the stars of the third version of Now You See Me, Now You Don't. Oscar winner Morgan Freeman returns to this program. So, that's how we're rolling. And also with you at 844-204-RICH, number to dial. So much to talk about with Tommy P. when we come back. The Rich Isis Show Podcast.

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18:49Rich Eisen:Hyundai has always moved the future within reach. We did it when we made advanced safety standard on every vehicle and engineered EVs with ultra-fast charging capability. Because the future isn't some far-off concept, it's already here. Next starts now. Hyundai, an official partner of FIFA. 100 percent back on the rich eisen show here on disney plus the espn app and espn radio presented by progressive insurance all right focused on the state of florida to say the least tom pellicero joining us here in a very timely fashion oh this is a look of a man who did normally tom's just showing up he's in a hoodie he's just chilling out at home for us maybe a hat Yeah, sometimes in the Waffle House.

19:35Rich Eisen:Tom, did you just do a hit on NFL Network, Tom?

19:38Tom Pelissero:This is not a Halloween costume right here, Rich. Yes, we did have some breaking news. I guess if there were a costume, I would be here as NFL Network's Tom Pellicero. Tom Pellicero. What's up to my boys in the studio? Hey, what's up, Tommy? Hey, what's up, Tommy? All right, Tom. First. Aquaman or whatever it is. Is that George Clinton over in the corner? No, George Clinton. That wasn't a bad choice. That's not a bad pull.

20:04Rich Eisen:Cam Newton. He's Cam. He's Cam.

20:06Tom Pelissero:Oh, Cam. Jason Kelsey. That's very solid. Good expo, Jersey, too.

20:10Rich Eisen:Thank you, Tom. Okay. So, Tommy P., let's just jump into it here, Tom. Why did there need to be a parting in the ways with the general manager after the Thursday night loss for the now 2-7 Dolphins? Tom.

20:26Tom Pelissero:From a timing perspective, Rich, it makes sense that the Dolphins would want to make this move prior to the trade deadline, which is just four days away, allowing somebody with perhaps a little bit different perspective to take eyes to the roster. In other words, Chris Greer, who's a very nice man and had been there for a decade, they had in that time been a 500 team that had been to the playoffs three times and never won a postseason game. When he was getting calls in recent weeks, by and large, his answer to teams was no we're trying to win we're trying to turn this thing around and if you're somebody who is trying to stay in your job you would think that that might not you know can change in the coming days here because you're still a two and seven technically mathematically alive by turning this over now to champ kelly who in a very strange statistical twist is becoming an interim general manager for the second time in three years both on halloween you're going to potentially take a fresh set of eyes to the decisions that lie ahead.

21:31Tom Pelissero:There have been calls on a bunch of the Dolphins veteran players. They've gotten calls on Jalen Waddell, on Jalen Phillips, Bradley Chubb, Matthew Judon, Razul Douglas. And in most cases, the answer they were getting from Greer was essentially like, we're not really in that mode right now. Let's see, and these are not going to be Champ Kelly making these decisions unilaterally. Certainly you're going to need buy-in from ownership and other stakeholders because you are the interim GM here. But let's see. I can guarantee there's going to be a new flood of calls on some of those very same names and others.

22:01Tom Pelissero:Let's see how the Dolphins try to navigate this here, knowing that while they are mathematically alive, they've also got a lot of decisions to try to set themselves up in 2026 and beyond. Let's see how aggressive exactly they're going to be between now and 4 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday.

22:15Rich Eisen:Well, the question, the follow-up question I have is, wouldn't Chris Greer then change his tune about, yeah, we're not trading anybody if ownership said you lose your job unless you take a different approach to the trade deadline? Or was this, best to your knowledge, ownership saying full vote of no confidence? We just don't want you to be the one to make these trades. We're done now. Like, which one was it, do you think, Tom?

22:49Tom Pelissero:Steven Ross has a great deal of affection for Chris Greer, who's been in the organization for like a quarter century. It was framed by the club as a mutual parting of ways. They had a conversation. And listen, you know, Chris Greer, I don't know that it would be entirely fair to Chris to put him in a position, much like you remember Reggie McKenzie was in his final year with the Raiders where John Gruden had effectively taken over all things in football operations. He essentially made Reggie McKenzie trade away all of his best draft picks, including Khalil Mack, and then fired him that December.

23:22Tom Pelissero:This allows Chris to walk away from it at this point to allow people who might be around. And listen, Champ just got there. He was hired this year as a senior personnel executive. I saw him briefly in training camp. He may not be a part of the long-term vision either, but at least it allows there to be sort of a reset here. It certainly is going to generate more phone calls as this thing rolls forward. And the next question then becomes, is Mike McDaniel going to be a part of the club in 2026? And here is what I would say on that front, Rich. Mike is another guy that Stephen Ross believes in. He extended his contract in the prior offseason in 2024.

24:03Tom Pelissero:He has shown that he can be an effective NFL coach. He has been to the playoffs. He has won games. He came into this season with a winning record. obviously this season has not gone his way but take into account the broader picture of where we are right now with the Dolphins they are locked in with Tua Tunga-Vailoa for over 50 million dollars fully guaranteed in 2026 and I brought this up on this show a month or so ago when questions were first really arising about Mike McDaniel's status if you were to fire Mike McDaniel which again is it possible that happens sure we got to see how you know the next couple of games go.

24:39Tom Pelissero:They're in Spain in a couple of weeks, and then obviously they've got a bye and then a half dozen games after that. Let's see how the rest of the season finishes. But I would just say Tua, at over$50 million fully guaranteed, might not be an extremely attractive option to head coaching candidates who are coming in, especially given his medical history and the up and down state of his play through the course of 2025 here. There is certainly a scenario, And again, we will see exactly how this goes, but there is certainly a scenario in my mind where you take a vision to what's going on with the bigger football operation here.

25:17Tom Pelissero:Bring in a person or multiple people to try to get things right. Keep Mike McDaniel for one more run with Tua, who is a quarterback who Mike got the job in part because he was the one coaching candidate back in 2022 who said, I can win with this guy. Give him one more shot with a lot of different moves in terms of personnel with a new GM or maybe a head of football operations calling the shots here. And then you make the decisions at the end of 2026. By and large, I'm not a fan of jagged transitions. I'm a believer that if you get people who are on the same timeline and reboot the whole thing at once, that has advantages.

25:51Tom Pelissero:But in a case like this, where you're tied for that much money to a quarterback that the coach has shown he can get the most out of, at least he has over the first few years that Mike and Tua were together. Don't discount the possibility here of Mike McDaniel still getting another crack at this in 2026.

26:08Rich Eisen:Well, that's interesting because, again, so the choices would be let's hire a new general manager and you tell the new GM you have to keep the coach and obviously you're keeping the quarterback because that's the, you know, we're not dead capping to the tune of some insane number. And you have to wonder what general manager that you'd want would take that job. Or you tell a general manager, you hire whichever coach you want, but you got to tell the coach that two is your quarterback for at least a year. And you're implying basically what coach would want to do something like that based on what we're seeing from Tua this year.

26:52Rich Eisen:Am I missing either of the doors here for them to go through?

26:58Tom Pelissero:It quite possibly would be a deterrent to a new head coach, to be told, essentially. I mean, yes, you could eat that cash and have all the cap accelerate, but that's not an ideal situation. And while I would never say any player is untradeable, I would say that Tua's contract is virtually untradeable. So barring them just cutting him, which we saw Russell Wilson. They ate a bunch of money. They took the cap hits and they dealt with it. Barring that type of scenario, Tua is going to be the Dolphins quarterback in 2026 as long as his health permits that. A new head coach coming into that, you're talking about not a lost season, but certainly a season where you're not going to be able to affect the deep type of changes you might think that you need to make in the organization.