Hour 1: Live from the NFL Combine with Broncos HC Sean Payton & Miami DE Rueben Bain Jr.

20:07Rich Eisen:This, we're going to speak to this guy next. Sean Payton. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast.

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23:00Rich Eisen:Sean Payton here on The Rich Eisen Show. No doubt about it. How is Bill Parcells now? How's he doing? We stay in touch. Probably we talk once a week. You do? We do.

23:11Sean Payton:Did you reach out to him during the playoffs and stuff like that? We would speak, I would say regularly. That's awesome. For me, it would be, look, Bill's 83 or 84. So in the morning, on a drive to work, I would call him. And I know that he's two hours ahead. Yes. And he's either in Saratoga, upstate New York during the summer months. He's spending more time there or in Florida. And, yeah, we stay in touch quite a bit. Okay. He's doing really well. He's sharp as a tack. He'll be thinking of the same message maybe I will. What to deliver to your players? Just in each game, like what he's looking at.

23:54Sean Payton:I think because he's able to follow and watch, he's got a good idea of the strengths and weaknesses of our team, and then maybe we're playing someone else. I mean, he's very much on top of it.

24:08Rich Eisen:So looking back at the playoffs, the narrative is that had Bo Nix not broken his ankle, you could have won the whole damn thing. Do you feel that is fair or not?

24:21Sean Payton:I think it's unfair a little to Seattle in that, look, they did it. It's like I'm reading the Twitter feeds on the Olympic hockey, and it is what it is. And so the timing obviously wasn't great and yet certainly can't diminish from the first two years he's had as a pro. But it's tough. Look, it's a grind to begin with. And then the further you go, the more difficult it will be if you lose. And so it's tough to get to that spot in the playoffs and then lose to another good team.

25:01Rich Eisen:And so where do you think your team is entering the year three of the next year? I think it's looking a good spot.

25:09Sean Payton:I think the first check or question always is it's hard to draft a quarterback in the first round and develop and have success, and we feel like we found that. I mean, you know, despite, look, when everyone's got an opinion, especially about the first round, and I think one of the things you have to avoid is pay attention to that bus, because none of us know who's driving it, the mocks and all the white noise, because if you get on it, you're going to find yourself with a player you don't want, historically speaking. And no one goes back to look three years, five years behind. But I think that having a conviction, it's harder now than it ever has been.

26:01Sean Payton:If you're a scout, how do you tune out the white noise relative to grading a player when you constantly hear others' opinions? And those others maybe have watched three games, four games. So the first big question was finding that and getting that right. And I think we feel like we've done that. and now you know you come off of a season like that you you got to start from the beginning again you know you don't pick up and try to pick up where you left off um we're going to be a little bit better shaped cap wise we're out from the cap hit uh the prior two years that that's significant um of russell wilson yeah and so that that took two years and you know that was quite a bit of operating costs or player budget.

26:53Sean Payton:Yeah.

26:53Rich Eisen:And for you to have a rookie quarterback and make the playoffs two years in a row, including the AFC championship game. For sure. There's no doubt about that. But what is that next step roster-wise that you think you can address over the next month here?

27:10Sean Payton:The thing that you have to do sometimes, which is difficult, is you have to take your current roster. And there's a handful of free agents that are on our team. So you have to remove them from your depth chart when you do the musts. And so, well, that being said, two of our inside linebackers that played quite a bit of our snaps, those are priorities. I think, you know, when you take a look at the running back position, Dobbins removed from it. That would be so there's a handful of these musts and then needs and then wants. and you try to prioritize them. But I think sometimes for the fans to understand, when you remove the free agents from your roster, you look at it and think, holy cow, we're thin here.

27:59Sean Payton:And it just tells you currently there's no guarantee. A guy like Adam Troutman, who's a tight end, he's a free agent. There's a number of players that played on the team a year ago. So a lot of those guys are priorities. priorities and yet you can't assume um with this market that all of them are going to return we'd we'd like a bunch of them to um so i think you hope like at this event you hope when you get into this that you're you're trying to get the best player and yet you're paying attention as you get into the middle rounds as to the fit and the vision and that that would imply sometimes need But I think that hopefully we can do enough in this, you know, because what happens when we go back is free agency starts.

28:48Sean Payton:Pretty much right away. Right away. Yeah. And so it was good to us a year ago. We had some key pieces that we felt helped our team. And I think we look forward to that again. But I would say that really to answer your question, man, we're a young team. One of the younger teams in the NFL. and there are a lot of guys that have played maybe earlier than expected. And I think that playing time and that significant playing time is going to help.

29:19Rich Eisen:Sean Payton, a few minutes left here with the Denver Broncos head coach. The competition committee, I've got some questions for you, sir. I hope I can answer because, honestly, I was telling you.

29:29Sean Payton:Is it like Fight Club? You know how to talk about it? No, I can. I just haven't been yet because I got in late. And so I'm excited to be back on. Yeah, that's right. And I know that, look, there are a lot of, I would say there's always a lot of hot button topics. And yet it seems this year is a little calmer.

29:53Rich Eisen:Well, I mean, there's no tush push conversation, right? Or do you think there will be?

29:57Sean Payton:No, I don't think there will be. Because last year, that's all that was being talked about. And so, yeah, I think, look, I don't know that we saw it as effective. I think we saw teams deciding if we're going to do it, we might have Billy do it. Yeah. Maybe not the quarterback or a tight end. And then it became we're always looking for ways to draw defense offside. So we would bring a tight end behind this, you know. Yes. But I don't think, yeah, I don't think it's at the top of anyone's list, at least from my vantage point right now, I think the single biggest change we've seen, you and I, in our lifetime, Yes, sir.

30:40Sean Payton:is the kickoff change.

30:43Rich Eisen:I love the dynamic kickoff. I think it's great. Unfortunately, though, it removes moments like your Super Bowl moment, man. Well. Because now you've got to declare the surprise onside kick's history, man.

30:53Sean Payton:I think I would agree. the one thing that i find now as a coach is man that ball is starting at the 35 right and so we want to cover that yes but even the average drive start let's say might be 32 and when a punk goes into the end zone anymore i'm kind of still celebrating it's at the 20 that's right backed up yeah right and they're really not all right so hear me out yeah sure we would always defer and the by and large most of the coaches win the toss they defer but if you watch where the second possession of a game begins it's almost always backed up inside the 15 or 20 because the first possession has begun in this positive field position there's a neutral spot on the field call it the 24 23 yard line but when the when the first possession begins at the 33 or 34 give or take let's just say one first down maybe punt where's that ball and where drives are starting today and i think it's created look there's a there's always an effect right there's always a result but i think it's created the scoring at the end of game like when you say hey we have a lead but you're kicking off you're like they're going to be at midfield yeah they are

32:16Rich Eisen:and now and now somebody could split the uprights from there too yeah with the exactly right that's exactly right so it's interesting it's fascinating but the punt that goes into the end zone it's it's a relief it's like 20 yard line that's funny man things have changed coffin corner right no doubt about yard line i'm high five in the punter what about replacing the onside kick with an offensive

32:37Sean Payton:play is that yeah i'm not a big fan not a big fan i look if you want tell me the percentage you want to recover those onside kicks. Let's say we want it to be 12%. That's more than what it is right now, right? Yeah, I think, look, they tweak the alignments, and you can, now this is what you have to declare, obviously, so we're not talking about, but I'm saying if you want that to be 10%, we can tweak it to get it to 10%, to 9%, just by, not with guys moving forward, but how they align to the ball. Okay. it's just a matter of if you want that other way i still think the most exciting ending to an nfl game is when a team's down two scores and they score a touchdown the onside kick is exciting when you know it's coming as well right oh yeah and the ball's around and who who has it who doesn't

33:34Rich Eisen:green bay yeah right or obviously green bay in chicago this year and so the onside kick and i

33:40Sean Payton:I think we can play with that to get the number where we want it based on alignment. Should put four offensive linemen on your return team.

33:51Rich Eisen:What about a replay assist being able to put a flag on the field? What do you think of that one?

33:59Sean Payton:I think the way I understand it's going to be for some of the unsportsmanlike stuff that you see that everyone wants. when we have eyes to something that's kind of ugly a fight or something and then you see this other element it's hard if the if the sheriffs are arresting the wrong guy sometimes sean i was

34:21Rich Eisen:saying all season long now that the the the retaliator getting popped as opposed to the guy who started it should be over now like if you see if there's video of who started it you're going to

34:33Sean Payton:the 7-Eleven security camera and we're looking at it and this guy stole the Slim Jims. It's pretty much.

34:40Rich Eisen:That's him. Right. Exactly. So you should get, you should, you should pop that guy. So that's what it's for. It's not for a face mask.

34:46Sean Payton:And I haven't, again, not having, I don't think it's, it's for putting flags on the field for foot. I think it's really about cleaning up some things. Okay. But, but again, in fairness, I'm looking forward to tomorrow be my first morning. Okay. And so, but the way I read some of the quotes, it appears that it'll help them clean up what we all get to see. And that's the thing. It's covered so well now, the angles we have and the cameras we have. I think it'll just help the officials. And that's really what we want to do.

35:21Rich Eisen:Who's the proudest guy that you spotted at a combine and pounded a table for who turned out in your career? Camara. Kamara. Yeah.

35:31Sean Payton:What, you saw him working out here? Well, it was just the process. We had just finished working out Mahomes. We had a private with Patrick in Lubbock. And right after that, it was like, all right, we're not stopping. I don't want anyone to know we're here. And we flew to Knoxville that night and had dinner with 12 Tennessee players. There was a defensive end who was going to get drafted. A group of players, but it was a private workout for them as well. and the next morning came um and all our assistants were there to work everyone out and i said to alvin i'll take the running backs and he wasn't planning on working out and i said look i've coached running backs that you know and and i said get your shoes on it's going to be a half an hour and uh and just put him through really some some routes to see his hands yeah And then this thing continued, and you felt his football intelligence.

36:28Sean Payton:Falk had that. Speaking of guys you coached in college. Well, that's what I said to Kamara. I said, I've coached Falk. In college. Damn straight. But Alvin was one of those guys that when that workout ended and he finished catching punts, I remember we were flying to Ohio State, and I'm like, we're on a roll. We just had the one in Texas Tech. There's our first. You know, we just kept going. But Alvin's was exceptional. You could feel his football intelligence along with his skill set. And there's so many. Look, everyone's got like a closet full of stories of draft room. You know, I remember sitting, I was with the Giants, and there's always that little rivalry with the local Jets.

37:22Sean Payton:Sure. You know, your trifecta would be the NFC East loses Eagles, Cowboys, Commanders, and you win. Mm-hmm. All right? The superfecta is when those three teams lose and the Jets lose. And you win. Sure. So we were in a draft. I can't think of the year. I think we were selecting one after the Jets. So we'd probably be able to do the math. It's only happened probably once or twice. But in the first round, the receiver, Santoni Holmes? No, it was Lavernius Coles? Moss. Moss. Santana Moss. Santana Moss. Right, okay. University of Miami. Sure. The Jets are on the clock, and that pick gets turned in.

38:13And our room going silent.

38:16Sean Payton:That was our selection. So it happens in a good way sometimes. You don't really appreciate when it happens in the positive because you don't really know it happened. Sure, right. But when it doesn't happen, and so I remember when that happened. That was the first time for me as a young coach to say, ah, man, that was a tough one.

38:36Rich Eisen:Well, with everything you said, I know you've got to run, but just to follow up, because the story goes that you were red hot for Mahomes, and Andy Reid and the Chiefs beat you to the punch. Is that true?

38:49Sean Payton:Yeah.

38:49Rich Eisen:Like that you were ready to snag Patrick Mahomes for the Saints?

38:52Sean Payton:We were picking 11, and this story's been told a number of times, but we were picking 11. Buffalo's on the clock at 10. There were two players. So you typically have this puddle of group of players, and if you're on the clock, if someone's on the clock two away from you, And you better have two you like. Yeah. And so the team prior to Buffalo made their choice. It wasn't Mahomes or Lattimore. And those were our two. Yes. And so now Buffalo's on the clock. But we know we're getting one of those two. Yep. And when they announced there's been a trade, it wasn't that announcement. It was with who.

39:33Sean Payton:And then as soon as they said the Chiefs, I turned to Loomis and I said, there goes Mahomes. Because I just knew Andy. Yeah. And those guys had a good eye. for you know respectfully you know had a good eye for that type of talent but who if both were available i i think homes or latim or it was it was going to be it was going to be patrick and yet it ended up being like this is this is always hindsight but patrick was the defensive rookie of the year and camara in the third round was the offensive rookie of the year and in that third round this draft was just given some award it was it was latimore it was ram check it was marcus williams and then in the third it was camara hendrickson and anzalone in the third round we couldn't pay them all i know it was it was remarkable it was it was really and all of them love football and then um you just hope to have that kind of problem with with the draft selection but that was something.

40:37Sean Payton:You're the man, Sean Payton.

40:38Rich Eisen:Thanks for doing this. I always appreciate you always saying that. I appreciate your friendship. Right back at you. Many of them started right here in this town. Great to see you. Great seeing you. Sean Payton, the head coach of the Denver Broncos, right here on The Rich Eisen Show, back with more from Indianapolis in a moment. The Rich Eisen Show, the podcast.

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42:04Rich Eisen:back here i know it's gonna be somewhere that's the voice of reuben bain jr our radio audience has just rejoined us here on our uh third our second day here at the nfl scouting combine reuben bain jr is here when did you realize you you were good at football when did that

42:19Rueben Bain Jr.:hit you for the first time honestly i always felt like i was good at football because i always made plays from my little league but i really realized well i could i could take football around eighth

42:29Rich Eisen:grade eighth grade yes sir were you where what were you playing were you were you always rushing the passer or were you playing tight end were you on offense i was always stuck on a line of

42:39Rueben Bain Jr.:scrimmage um just because i was bigger than everybody at the time and how big were you in the eighth grade i was at least i was about six six feet and i was about 13 okay i was like two 200 210 um at age 13 yeah but i was i was never like i just looked just like this at 200 210 and just feeling loved the game of football. I watched clips on YouTube and go practice whatever I've seen in practice. Whose clips were you watching? I loved, at the time it was Von Miller and like Khalil Mack, but a ghost move, you couldn't tell me I didn't have a perfect ghost move when I was 13. Okay. That was something I was always doing and just trying to learn about football in the right way and just practice it.

43:21Rueben Bain Jr.:Whatever I liked or whatever I liked I seen and whatever I liked that worked, that's what I really fell in love with. What did you show people in the college football playoffs, do you think? That I'm the best defensive player in the draft, the best in the country. I felt like you could see from my energy, my motive, my want to, how I approach the game, each game. No matter what, the opportunities or the odds stacked against us. I just wanted to lead my team in the right direction and have a dominant showcase. What were you thinking when people were saying you didn't deserve to be in the college football playoffs?

43:54Rueben Bain Jr.:I didn't really pay no more. Come on now. I knew it was going to get in. I had a real good gut feeling. I knew it was going to get in. I just had a gut feeling. Because you know it was this, that, the other thing, Notre Dame here, BYU there. We put too much work in for it not to happen. And I knew that God had us in the right way. So once they gave us the opportunity, we just seized it. Maybe just the selection committee knew if they didn't put you in, they'd get the belt from Michael Irvin. They had to, man. He was going to be right there going crazy. What do you think of Irv? Oh, man. He's a hell of a mentor, but that man is crazy.

44:27Rueben Bain Jr.:That man is definitely crazy. I've known him forever. He was at my wedding. He was?

44:32Rich Eisen:He was. He probably was up at the tent of attention. Michael Irvin, he showed up in an electric blue tuxedo at my wedding on my wife's side. I didn't know Michael. He knew my wife from working at Fox Sports back in the day. That's on the spot. He was there. He spoke at my daughter's baby naming. Oh, Irv is family. to me. Yeah, he is, man. But I can admit, he is definitely off his rights. He's riled up. What was that like for you to have him and Ray Lewis and all these you greats on the sideline

45:06Rueben Bain Jr.:during your... Second to none, because I feel like this is the only experience you can only get at Miami, knowing that you got all these Hall of Famers that's coming one after another to come see you and support you and try to guide you and pay it forward. Like this guy? Yeah, that man is crazy. But guide you and pay it forward, Even when we played Ohio State, he was like, man, y 'all got to win. Y 'all got to show out. Y 'all in my stadium. And when he put that in my perspective, I'm like, yeah, you right. We got to show out. That's right. It was Dallas, wasn't it? Yeah, we was.

45:33Rich Eisen:See, he told you, you cannot lose this game in my stadium. Yeah, he said it. And I was like, you said, you right. We can't. Who have you reached out to?

45:44Rueben Bain Jr.:Who was part of your inner circle, Reuben Payne? My inner circle? I'd say first my family. I have a real tight circle with my family. I have a huge family, but they all support me in an amazing way. But you mentioned your mom before. My mom, my dad, cousins, uncles. Huge family, but each game I probably have 20 to 25 family members at each game, whether that's home or away. Right. And they all support me in the best possible way. Just giving me the energy that I need to succeed throughout my days and all my nights. Okay. So how many interviews have you had here? Former interview was 15. 15? already in the books.

46:21Rueben Bain Jr.:Do you have any more tonight? No, only informal. Okay. Which is what? Just you chit-chatting? Basically. It is in a professional setting, but not in a professional setting of the suite. So, have the Raiders met with you?

46:38Rich Eisen:Yes, sir. Okay. Going down the list here. The Jets of the Jets met with you? Yes, sir. The Cardinals met with you? Yes, sir. The Titans met with you? Yes, sir. All right. So we're now four for four off the top of the draft. Yes, sir. The Giants of the Giants met. Yes, sir. Okay. Have the Browns met with you? No, sir. They did.

46:55Rueben Bain Jr.:Praise one.

46:55Rich Eisen:Oh. I mean, wouldn't you want to play with Myles Garrett?

46:59Rueben Bain Jr.:That's my favorite player. I've been watching him. Like when I was 13, I've been watching him since forever. So I had an opportunity second to none. That's all who I watch, all who I cheer, but really. Okay. Commanders? You met with the Commanders? Yeah, I met with them as well.

47:14Rich Eisen:Okay. Saints, you met with the Saints? Yes, sir. How about the Chiefs? You met with the Chiefs? Yes, sir. That's top nine right there. Yes, it is. Okay. Yes, it is. So you're going to be a top ten pick in this draft. God willing, hopefully. Top five? God willing, hopefully.

47:27Rueben Bain Jr.:Okay. If I could go more. Let's speak it into existence. Yes, sir. You're right. Right? You think you'd be worthy of the Vegas Raiders? Yes, sir. Knowing that, I got the right mindset to uplift any team I go to. I got the right mindset to uplift the guys I'm playing with and produce and dominate on any level. Okay. I feel like me and Max Crosby is a wonderful, crazy duo that teams will hate to see. Good luck to you, Reuben Bing. Thank you.

47:51Rich Eisen:Thanks for stopping by here. Yes, sir. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast. Shot clocks, big shots, upsets, aces, TGL playoffs are here. First, Atlanta Drive starts their repeat run against Los Angeles Golf Club. Then, Rory's Boston Common Golf and Tiger's Jupiter Lynx face off in their playoff debuts. Who will advance? Keep up. It's playoffs. Tune in Tuesday, March 17th at 6.30 p.m. and 9 p.m. only on ESPN and the ESPN app.