Hour 1: Power Rankings:  Players with most to prove,  Michael Irvin talks Cowboys, Michael Irvin & Linda Fletcher talk Fetching Fletchers

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1:13Bear Ultra, only at the Home Depot. 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. Miss the show? We've got a podcast so you can listen anytime. But here's the best part. Our YouTube channel. Subscribe at youtube.com slash Rich Eisen Show and you'll never miss a moment. Now, on with the show.

1:46Rich Eisen:This dude is a freaking animal. This is the Rich Eisen Show. The buck stops here. Essentially, that's what I'm saying. Live from the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles, today's guests, Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Irvin, Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield, UFC president Dana White, five-time Grammy Award winner Michael Buble, and now it's Rich Eisen. That's right, can't confirm it, it's me. My name is Rich Eisen. 844-204-RICH is the number to dial. I'm going to speak straight up with everybody, whether you're watching on Disney Plus and the ESPN app or listening on ESPN Radio, Sirius XM, Channel 80, or you're taking in this show via podcast later on.

2:34Rich Eisen:Two words. Buckle up. I think that's fair, yeah. Yeah, because Michael Irvin's hanging with us in the entirety of the show. Yeah, boy. And he just landed at LAX. He just texted me. He's in a car. I heard him. Yeah, he could probably, yeah. Or it could be like the Flintstones. You could hear his feet on the bottom, you know, of the road. You have talked to him. What do you mean, about being here? I have not spoken a word with him. No, he texted me in the car. He's here. He's coming. Okay, great. All right. You know Liz is on. And he's going to help me interview Dana White in hour two. And then in hour three, Michael Buble is going to be zooming in to talk fantasy football.

3:18Rich Eisen:We are hoping that when O'Shea Jackson Jr. arrives for No Contest Wrestling's, wait for it, 100th episode later today with Becky Lynch in studio. Yes, sir. With the two of you gents. We'll hook Irv up with O'Shea as well together. Why not? And that's when the buckling happens. Oh, by the way, Baker Mayfield joins us too. What a day, what a day. Let's go. It's Erica. So that's what's up. That is. And wherever you are. that's what's up yeah just hang with us and it's going to be awesome and it's going to be one of those where we in the studio all look at each other and go that was three hours we've had a few of those we're going to have another one of those tomorrow when Mark Wahlberg is in studio for much of our three with us for his new film by any means so long story short it's going to be a fun good time good to see you over there hey Rich what's up man Jason Fuller.

4:15Rich Eisen:Hey, what up? Del Tufo's going to be jealous of you today. Why now? Because he's missing today. He's missing today. I know. Shout out, Hoskins, for my new Raiders flag. And so, good to see you, TJ. Candles lit 100th episode of No Contest Wrestling. Mazel tov to you and O'Shea Jackson. Thank you. Good times. I hope I used that right. You did. You did. I'm a man to the people. You know that. It is a power rankings Wednesday. Oh, here we go. I can't do a regular power ranking of NFL like which team's the best. Well, it is too early because next week next Wednesday is when you do it. Are you going to do it right when the season starts?

4:59Rich Eisen:Yes. Why would I do it now? I don't know. Just like his fantasy football league. He doesn't mess with me. I wait to the last second. That is crazy. I'm a last second guy. I'm a last second guy. So our weekly power rankings of NFL teams starts next week. so I'm going with something you kind of you dig this sort of stuff you dig about there's two things you love talking about who's under the most pressure I do love those and then you like who's got something to prove and those two kind of meet you know what I mean because it's who's most pressured to prove something so I kind of giving you and others of your ilk of which there are many.

5:43Rich Eisen:I know. What you want. Thank you. I'm a crowd pleaser. All right. What I like about you. So my power rankings of the most to prove. Let's go. In the 2026 National Football League season brought to you by SoFi.

6:05This is my power rankings. There are many like it, but this one is mine. Power Rankings.

6:11Rich Eisen:Okay. Okay. You ready for this one? Got my J-Fally pen. I'm going to write this down. Yeah. Because there's a cowboy on this line. Oh. A cowboy on every list. I get it. There's a bad list. All right. Power Rankings of the most approved in this upcoming National Football League season. Brought to you by SoFi. Number 10. I'm going with a wide receiver here. He's proven a lot already in his career. in his two previous stops. This one, however, with all due respect to the quarterbacks in his previous stops, this one, he's got himself a Rolls Royce on top of a Maybach, on top of a Lamborghini thrown at him.

6:58Rich Eisen:These are all Dajon Love's cars. And he is the guy. Everybody says this quarterback, oh, if he only had a number one. He did have Stephon Diggs for a while. But now Josh Allen's got DJ Moore, and I think DJ Moore's got something appropriate. Oh, interesting. I can be the wide receiver one here in Buffalo. I can be a guy who is top 10 wide receivers. I can be a guy who, if Josh Allen wins most valuable player and this team goes to the Super Bowl, I raise my hand and say, I stepped up my game. I'm DJ Moore, and I should have my name in the mix of all the elite receivers in the National Football League.

7:38Rich Eisen:I put him in there at 10. Number nine. I'm putting the coach of the Cincinnati Bengals. Yeah. Zach Taylor. I just players here. Well, let's go. Let's go. All right. Because Burrow, knock on loose side here. He's entering the season healthy. Jamar Chase gave us a scare, but he says he's ready to go. Did he ever. T. Higgins, Chase Brown, ready to go. They got Dexter Lawrence. His 10th overall pick sent to New York for that. Pardon me. Sent to New Jersey. Don't want to piss off Bills fans for saying DJ Moore is under the glass for having to prove. I'm putting Zach Taylor here because this team has high expectations.

8:25Rich Eisen:Joe Burrow says it's now or never. And if the never happens, I think the coach will be on a seat that despite the franchise's history, I think he's got to prove I'm that guy from our season when the NFL held the Super Bowl in SoFi the last time. Number eight. I'm putting pretty much anybody who plays quarterback for Atlanta. Tua and Penix. The Falcons, QBs. Jack Strand. All right, seriously. Like Tua, he starts week one. Okay, man. Do you have a lot of proof? Because the memes. Oh, my God. Did you guys see the mashup of Tua fumbling the snap again in the preseason game in Miami? Mashed up with the longest yard remake moment.

9:17Rich Eisen:Oh, man. Speaking of Michael Irvin being here. About you go on out there. You're our guy. And then fumble the snap. Okay. Did you see the Instagram thing about him maybe switching burn? Yeah. Yeah, and that, you know, his Instagram accounts, you know, put up a photograph of him, like, and good luck, you know, ready for the season, and then... The first comment. The first comment was from him saying, love you, Tua. Great job, you deserve it. Goodness gracious. And then there's panics. If he gets in there, let's go. Right? The three guys in front of him and one of the guys after him have already had terrific seasons in their careers.

9:57Rich Eisen:Number seven. I will not put Jalen Hurts on this list. I will not do it. I won't do it. Not going to do it. So I'm putting Sean Mannion on the list. The offensive coordinator of the Philadelphia Eagles. Hey, Sean, it's your time in the barrel, man. And now, hey, Kellen Moore, his time in the barrel, he's got a headset on for the Saints. Hey, Shane Steichen. his time in a barrel he's got a headset on for indianapolis so those two guys it's an every other year thing it's now your year sean and what are you gonna what like what's the play calling gonna look like what's going on no aj brown all that stuff and it's in his hands he's got to prove that he's got the eagles in the right hands and if not a lot of long-time listeners first-time callers lighting up phone lines.

10:53Rich Eisen:WIP. Number six. This wide receiver. It's time. I mentioned all those cars before. It's time for Maserati to come out of the garage here and look like the kid from the Ohio State. It's time. TJ's boy. You know what I mean? Rich, I put this dude in the Hall of Fame when he was a sophomore. So I agree. That's all we heard. Everything we're hearing about Jeremiah Smith now, by the way. We heard about Marv. Oh, my gosh. Everybody at the Pro Days for upperclassmen are looking at this kid. They're already scouting him. So, it's time. It's time to see it. And I think they've got the offensive situation for it.

11:38Rich Eisen:Jacoby Brissett is on my list of most surprising players. But I think Marvin Harrison Jr. is number six on my power rankings of players with most approved. Let's go top five. And this, I could put him higher. I could put him higher but there's only one number five then you could not have put him out of respect out of respect to the Jaden Daniels family I think he's got to prove that last year was just the injuries I think that's up there you know what I'm saying I don't think that's unfair is it He's got to prove year one. That's the Jaden Daniels. That's the Jaden Daniels, not year two. So, number five for you, sir.

12:28Rich Eisen:I salute you. Number four. The last wide receiver on this list, and it's your guy. Uh-huh. All right, George Pickens. I saw you last year. I saw you last year. I saw your franchise tag. I see you playing on that tag. I see you betting on yourself. I see you telling everybody in the Pittsburgh Steelers organization I can be a leader. I can do the routine things routinely, which is what Mike Tomlin said. He was his coaching point back in the day when Pickens was a Georgia Bulldog trying to learn the ropes. I see you, George Pickens. Prove it that you are the man still. Let's see it. George Pickens is number four on my player list of most approved.

13:15Rich Eisen:or not players, those with the most to prove. Number three. You know what I always say about pressure, right? Diamonds. Plus pipes. No, it's just the players under the most pressure. It's like, this could be their last opportunity. Oh, yeah. I thought you meant diamonds were a girl's best. Malik Willis is number three. All right, Malik. Let's talk about one. I understand. I understand that roster might not look as deep on the playmakers as many other quarterbacks have coming into the season. That said, it's your team. We've been waiting for a long time. He has been. Let's go. Kid from Liberty.

13:54Rich Eisen:Making his bones in the league when the Packers say we'll take you from the Titans and put you in some serious high-leverage situations in which he's shined. Let's go, Malik Willis. Prove it. If he doesn't, Dolphins might be in that mix for a quarterback in next year's draft. Or a Lamar Jackson. Oh, yeah. That too. That part, Chris. Number two on the list. Two. Deshaun Watson. Come on. Wow. How is he not number one? Wow. Because I think there's one more high profile. Okay. You know. Deshaun Watson's two. And he may get two weeks in which to prove it. Yeah. You know, because if they're 0-2 and it's the home opener for the Brownies.

14:38Rich Eisen:Nope. Yep. You push that idea. I did. And I push back on you. Until Joe Thomas is like, your guy might be right. So if you and Joe Thomas are saying the same thing, first of all, I hope you don't take that as disrespect. But secondly, if you say it, that's one thing. Joe Thomas says it's another. How many people in your life does Sarah listen to when they say the same thing as you and she doesn't really pay it much mind to you? I don't mean to project my marriage onto yours. You should be. I'll tell something to Susie and she goes, really? And then somebody else, one of her friends will say it.

15:16Rich Eisen:I'm like, that's what I told you. All right. Show sometimes. You told me, then Joe Thomas told me that Deshaun Watson may have two weeks to prove it, so he's number two on the list. I said two? Number one on the list, it's Kyler Murray, man. Oh. It is Kyler Murray. Does he have lots to prove? And does Kevin O 'Connell have a lot of chips at the center of the table with Kyler Murray holding the cards? Oh, baby. with all due respect to everyone else he's played with in Arizona. I mean, what would you say? Hey, Justin Jefferson. Hopkins is the only one that's in the realm of, or in the area code of Justin Jefferson.

15:56Rich Eisen:You know what I mean? Yeah. But he was kind of on the back nine. Somewhat. The Hail Murray was some of the great nuke. It's on a highlight reel of a nuke the bomb highlight reel. That's true. You know, as we talk about for him, for Kent one day. At any rate, this is it, man. and if he proves it, he's getting paid. Oh, is he ever? Paid. That is on the line. You are picking up what I'm putting down, sir. Number one is Connor Murray, and those are my power rankings of the most approved in 2026, brought to you by SoFi. Get your money right. Some others I was thinking of putting on the list. I was toying with Dan Campbell, toying with it.

16:41Rich Eisen:I don't think that's unreasonable. Davis Webb calling plays for Denver with Sean Payton saying here. That's a big one. I also, just for you, I almost put Justin Herbert in January. Nice. You know? Yeah. Almost popped him on there. Brian Thomas Jr. almost cracked this list. Good one. Yeah. John Harbaugh. I don't think he's got him. I mean, come on. John Harbaugh doesn't have anything to prove he does not no sir I mean the giant with anything to prove is Odell something to prove but he's also Odell

17:29Rich Eisen:Cam Ward you know what I don't think he's got not yet I mean it's too soon CJ Stroud I had him down there but if he gets paid what's he got to prove so So TJ, am I missing anything? I was going along with your list, kind of checking it. Checking it twice. You mentioned Herbert. First of all, thank you for not putting like the normal, the usual suspects on here, not the Dax, the Lamars, people like that. But Herbert, like in January, he is nothing to prove until the playoffs. I guess that's then that then the rubbers meet in the road. True. Okay. Speaking of rubber meeting the road, the car that has taken Michael Irvin from the Los Angeles International Airport to the Rich Eisen Show has arrived.

18:17Rich Eisen:Irv is here. Oh, baby. And I believe he has brought a friend with him. and it is Linda Fletcher the mother of Mark Fletcher of the U who is apparently not too thrilled about flying around the country to watch her son play so she drives and Irv and his production company hooked her up with an RV to drive around the country to watch her son play this year and made a show about it and is making one as well And the first episode premiered this past Monday on YouTube. Fetching Fletcher's is the name of that show. So he's here in support of that. And then he's going to hang with us all day long. He's going to help me interview Dana White.

19:05Rich Eisen:Nice. And O'Shea Jackson Jr. And then just hang with us. Yeah, we're predicting the NFC North as well today. I've asked for his. Like an old school game day morning. Is he going to play the win-loss game? For the Cowboys? Let's do it. Maybe we'll have him come out and do that next. Good idea. Michael Irvin here. He's here. You're there. Irv. The playmaker. Coming up next. The Rich Eisen Show podcast.

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20:05Rich Eisen:Rich Eisen here. Running a small business means every hire matters. A bad hire costs time and money, but the right one helps your business grow. The challenge? Finding that person without sorting through resumes. That's where LinkedIn Hiring Pro comes in. It screens candidates so you can focus on conversations with qualified talent. With Hiring Pro, you can hire with confidence and build the team you need. Join the 2.7 million small businesses using LinkedIn to hire. Get started by posting your job for free at linkedin.com. Terms and conditions apply. The greats don't shy away from change. They attack it head on with confidence, preparation, and a clear strategy.

20:42KPMG LLP and their transformation professionals work with organizations across industries using their advanced AI to help them move faster, work smarter, and adapt with purpose. Because in today's business environment, winning teams don't react to change, they shape it. Learn more at visit.kpmg.us slash velocity. Dana White knows. I used to go to fights with Dana White, hang with him in his room. This is my dude. Dana's my dude. Okay, so he's joining us in our number two.

21:12Rich Eisen:I love Dana, man. In support of Garcia versus Ben and so much else that's going on in Vegas. Let me get a little more love, man. Michael Irvin here, by the way, our radio audience. Dana believes in me. Dana always believed in me, even back there. Rich, you guys don't know this. Dana used to bring me to Vegas to speak to his fighters. You know, when I came across and got good, he brought me in to speak to his fighters, man. I'm going to tell you, I can't wait. I'm so happy to be here with him here. I've been around so many people who have asked you to speak. Susie and I asked you to speak at Taylor's baby naming just three days after she was born.

21:48Rich Eisen:She just got bat mitzvahed this weekend. It's unbelievable how life works. 13 years ago, we asked you to speak when we were all in Munich. When we were all in Munich, Germany for NFL Network calling. How long ago was that? Oh, man. Had to have been now five years. It was Brady versus Pete Carroll Seahawks. Yeah, that was a great team. And so Pete asked you to break down the Seahawks practice. You did that. You're right. I did speak over there. You sure did. I did. I forgot about that. Pete asked you to speak. Right. At the end of the practice. I just seen the faces of the Seahawks. Oh, Rich, I was right about that.

22:24Rich Eisen:Oh, yeah, man. I was there. Oh, you're right. They were into it. That was great. That was great. Yeah. That was great. It does not surprise me that Dana White asked you to speak to some fighters. All right. Have you heard this soundbite from Brian Schottenheimer just yesterday? Let me hear. He was asked about Aaron Donald returning. I haven't heard. All right. Here we go. Here we go. Keep your ears open, eyes peeled. Michael Irvin, roll it. Yeah, well, I saw a picture of him. He looks pretty good. So he's been training a little differently than I have. But, you know, great player. He's good for the game, you know, and just gives a good team another great player.

23:05But we've got a little time until we have to see him. Who would be your bat phone call? to bring out of retirement if you could, like Sean McVay with Aaron Donald.

23:16I'm going to just take a shot. Now I'm going to go Michael Irvin. He's right here somewhere. Mike, you around? You can never have enough good receivers. That's my guy. Hey, now listen, I love that he threw him out, and that's my guy. He really is a great dude. Him and his wife, beautiful family. you know and rich and i said a whole lot of things even when we were trying to make this decision you know but i really got to know him i'm so happy with the decision that they made what decision when when i'm talking about when they was talking about the heights uh making making a new head coach bringing a higher coach to hire to hire decision to hire him i should say right and and you know because i was like we need somebody from outside coming in to change the whole culture But he has changed the culture there.

24:05And people, you know, he's changed the culture in such a way that I think now, here from here on, it goes different. And I believe, Rich, what has happened is an outsider came in to show everybody how blessed you are to be with the Cowboys. George Pickens making the decision that you just talked about to say, hey wait a minute I've been other places I know how great this is see all other people you guys have never been other places so you just you're spoiled with this but the decision George Pickens made I think is a galvanizing decision decision that says oh we must really have something great if he can go through that all right so there's many different ways to go

24:51Rich Eisen:with what we just heard and everything else let's start with Pickens okay because he had a remarkable season last year yes and it does appear based on what people are saying and what people are reporting and what i'm hearing that he has become a leader like he has been a god he's vocal um and the example people are using is how the players are running sprints on their own after practices after those joint sessions would say the rams here and the rams were kind of having their fun watching the cowboys do that and pickens looked at the rams and say keep your eyes on your own team get out of here.

25:30Rich Eisen:And that may be part of what you're talking about, but Brian Schotner was brought to the equation. And what Piggins has brought to him. What I love about what Coach Schoenheimer has done is when we go over there, because they bring us all in, right? And we all meet with the team and then we break off and do all the meetings. You know, they come in in the morning in the big team room. He brings up a couple guys. They got a basketball goal and a free throw. They start shooting free throws, 30 seconds on the clock. Everybody's yelling. Football, winning football is about playing great late. Making plays, what, under pressure.

26:08Making great plays late under pressure. That's what it's going to be. He's creating all of those moments. Everybody's yelling while you're up. You know, you're nervous. You're trying to win. And you just create those fun moments. I love that. You create competition. you create competition under pressure. Jimmy Johnson used to do it. Clock's running down. Whole team around the ball. We yelling. The kicker got to make this kick. It's not going to be quiet. You can't be out here practicing in the damn quiet. We got to make it difficult so you can get used to difficult and you can be a friend and a real great friend with pressure.