Hour 2: Browns Hire Monken, Patriots vs Michigan Cheating Debate, plus Hall of Fame WR Jerry Rice

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26:25Rich Eisen:here on the rich eisen show 844-204-RICH number to dial let's uh let's take some phone calls um david in richmond has been hanging on forever what's up david hey rich you know lifelong dolphin fan and i've called before and told you that yep but uh you know for bill belichick not to get into first foul all fame is absurd look i there's no time in the world i would have loved to have him as our coach would love to have brady as our quarterback i don't care if they think they cheat or not they were just a better organization and he was a better coach and anybody who doesn't think that think about who would you rather have coaching your team i think you're right i think it has a lot to do with people being jealous of the success when you know rich eisen's the first ballot of Hall of Fame, when he gets into the Forecaster's Hall of Fame, if they don't vote him in, because you are the GOAT in forecasting, just like Belichick is a GOAT in coaching, that would be absurd also.

27:28Rich Eisen:Well, David, is this the wrong time to tell you that I inflated my microphone nine years ago? I mean, that would be a... Thanks for the call. No, I did not know that. Thanks for the call, David. I appreciate your sentiments. Science will debunk that, Rich. People still won't care. Science will debunk it. Because they didn't pay attention in high school. Oh my god. How many pages was the Ted Wells report? We're also going to spend $12 million to investigate your microphone inflation. Do we still have the Affleck drop when he was on with Simmons on HBO? Remember that? Oh, we lost it. That was one of the first drops in the history of our program, right?

28:06Rich Eisen:When he showed up and he was livid about it. Do we still have it, Jay? I don't know. You're searching for it? I don't know. Our new system. Searching. in the meantime, let's take another call here. Let's go to Tom in Pennsylvania. That's line four, Jay. That's line four. What's up, Tom? Hey, Rich, how are you? What's going on in your mind? Hey, first-time caller. Love your show. I recently got introduced to you when you were doing your promotions for the Stuart Scott 30 on 30, which was just phenomenal. Thank you. You know, miss those times, and you have a great team and really enjoy the show.

28:40So starting with that. Thanks, man. Um, so I don't want to be the skunk of the garden party, but I'm, I'm a little bothered and I've been watching a lot this morning on other shows. And I really think this Belichick thing has just been blown completely out of proportion. Okay. Why? Um, because, and you said it earlier in the show, it's process more so than, you know, how he was voted or not voted in. everybody knows that he's going to get in the Hall of Fame. You've got guys like Elsie Greenwood. I grew up in western Pennsylvania, a big Steelers fan. And Elsie Greenwood, God rest his soul, if he gets in and Belichick has to wait a year, is that really the worst thing in the world?

29:26Well, I mean, because his numbers support it, Tom.

29:30Rich Eisen:His numbers support it. There's no disputing. His numbers are so off the charts, and we'll never see those numbers again. We just won't. We just saw Tomlin after 19 years say, you know, that I can't see me staying here another year. And the Ravens said the same thing to Harbaugh after 18. And we're just I don't know if we're going to ever see anything like Brady and Belichick together again. We might see it with Reed and Mahomes. maybe if if reed sticks around for a while and the and the chiefs are able to do what belichick and brady were able to do which was to have a second dynastic run you know and and at the end of the day the question is is whatever he did should that be disqualifying to be a first ballot hall of famer and if so where where is that in where where is that in some sort of a rule book right like where where is that like where where did that come from that that that we're going to disqualify every other achievement every other achievement without even wondering if his achievements were inflated notice i use the word by the deflation or what what was his role in that even you know like we don't even know it's so it's spygate the one thing we definitely know he's associated with that's it end of story so everything that he did after that with all the success that he had after that whole scheme got blown up or covered up, if that's the phrase that a lot of people want to use with it.

31:04Rich Eisen:So what happened after all that? You know? No, and I don't disagree with everything that you said in terms of what he's done and the accomplishments, but I think people are just, they're seeming to lose. I've seen people say, I'm never going to watch the Hall of Fame ceremony again. I'm going to encourage people to boycott the Hall of Fame. I hope not. And that's the part that's bothering me. It should. I mean, that's really, that's what I'm saying. People are losing their minds over a situation that at the end of the day, he's going to get in. And if a couple other guys get in as a result of him not getting in this year, then, you know, I'm never going to dispute what you say about what the man did and his accomplishments.

31:47And I'm not going to, you know, I'm not going to, you know, whether he did do this, that, or the other thing is not the issue.

31:53Rich Eisen:Tom, thanks for the call. I hate to see people belittle the Football Hall of Fame because of this situation, and they really should fix the process. Thank you, Tom. And I think that would help things tremendously. Tom in Pennsylvania, call back. Please do so. The voters belittled the Hall of Fame by doing this and their actions. But not the Hall of Fame. Please don't hold them accountable. Do we know that Bill is going to get in because... Yeah, maybe the 11 people think it should be a two-year punishment. Like what's the sentence? We all assume. We know what the crime is apparently. What's the sentence?

32:27We all assume that Bonds and Clemens and those guys would be in by now, and now they're off the ballot and may never get in.

32:32Rich Eisen:Can I just bring something up and address you? Me personally? Yes, because I don't want to inflame a situation more. Okay. Have you noticed everything that I have said in defense of Bill Belichick and whether the scandals really mattered? I have. All of my theories and all of my, I think, well-founded defenses are the same exact defenses I have used for the University of Michigan football program. Oh, gosh. And we haven't heard a single bit of pushback about the Belichick version of it from the guy who constantly pushes back across the way on the Michigan version of it. Have you noticed that, TJ Jefferson, today?

33:21Rich Eisen:I don't know how you're making this about Michigan. Well, because it's all of Michigan's a couple. There should be an asterisk. I showed after Indiana win that graphic about the circle around Ohio, Indiana, and the state of Michigan about how that's the radius from where the last three national championships come from. And immediately the word asterisk came from the man across the way. and i'm saying today we don't know what spygate actually led to in terms of wins and losses and certainly deflate gate we will never know that nor should we even think again deflate gate not real uh the patriots oh that's real i mean it's real what what had happened there was stuff it was cold and when you're cold yes things get deflated air get it's science it is i'm sorry that a lot of people don't understand that.

34:14In 2007, the Patriots didn't win the Super Bowl.

34:17Rich Eisen:Dude, the deflated football got caught by the member of the defense. I'm talking about deflate gate. And also, and Spygate, all of that stuff. 2007, didn't win the Super Bowl. And what happened after Spygate was ripped out root and branch? They kept winning. As a matter of fact, they went on a second dynastic run. That is true. We're talking about one year. 2007, didn't win the Super Bowl. Michigan won the championship. After it was ripped out root and branch. So there should be no asterisk is what I'm saying. Not the same. I don't know. We're lost in translation. I don't know how it's lost in translation.

34:51Michigan won the championship the year they were accused of cheating. The Patriots did not. What are we missing here?

34:57Rich Eisen:What we're missing here was somebody caught a football off the top of their helmet to lead to this situation happening. And anything can happen on any given Sunday. Didn't win. so what one so what i'm saying is that they didn't win so is it because they weren't cheating anymore so you know that if they were cheating you don't think like they were would have had an asterisk i i i wouldn't have put one that's for damn sure oh my god it's over i'm not asking if you would have done it i'm asking do you think it would have all i'm saying is i'm a rational person oh when it comes to michigan applying applying something in two different ways and you haven't said a boo or a peep where I'm saying, well, Spygate led to nothing as far as I know.

35:40Rich Eisen:They didn't even use it during a game. Because you couldn't. You couldn't because you were taking the signs in the game. I've heard they tried to turn it around a couple times and it didn't work. It just wasn't, it made no sense after it's all over that the Patriots' success was always because of their cheating. It never made any sense to me. never once in that entire situation did I think Belichick isn't a first ballot Hall of Fame head coach it's just that simple and the same way that I thought Michigan we never knew what the sign stealing really led to in a game we're all assuming oh they're all pointing to the sky and then the next play for Ohio State was a pass they must have seen it coming even though we don't even know that that uh particular instance of pointing to the sky that drive led to a touchdown anyway but we're all assuming the cheating actually was the reason why and we then damn well sure saw it got ripped out root and branch they didn't have that benefit anymore and they went on to win it all anyway and then your coach bailed oh yeah he did because he had a better offer across the street sure what did bill end up doing saying and winning three more titles which is my point which is means that this cheating meant nothing in the long run and to basically say you did it and guess what as a voter i have been sitting here for years thinking you're not worthy and now i'm going to use that right now and potentially find nine ten others who feel the same way and maybe buttonhole them and say, vote this way.

37:27Yeah, boo-hoo. Bill wasn't nice to me that one time. Get over yourself.

37:31Rich Eisen:Let's take a break. Now we'll talk about the Cleveland Browns situation when we come back right here on The Rich Eisen Show. 844-204-RICH. I'm just trying to find common ground that you don't even know exists or willing to admit.

37:47Rich Eisen:The Rich Eisen Show, the podcast.

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38:59Rich Eisen:Back here on the Rich Eisen Show in a world of need of a hero. One man rises to the challenge in style. He is just driving the kids to soccer practice. make every day feel epic in the all-new Hyundai Palisade Hybrid with up to an EPA-estimated 619 miles of range on select trims, advanced tech, and class-leading interior space. Because when you're hauling kids, gear, snacks, backpacks, space matters, and so does comfort. Just make sure they keep their cleats off the seats. The all-new Hyundai Palisade Hybrid. Visit HyundaiUSA.com or call 562-314-4603 for details. Okay. Cleveland Browns. this might be uh evergreen but throughout this coaching process of firing kevin stefanski and then searching for the new head coach a lot of folks are wondering what the hell the brown's doing just don't call him dysfunctional that's what jimmy haslam said he has a problem with this building being dysfunctional um now when you hire a head coach when that head coach is highly successful in advance or the fan base is genuinely excited about that head coach coming season tickets spike and things like that you don't normally hear the phrase we're just not trying to win a press conference if they're not excited about the coach and that's what i'm hearing from some diehard cleveland brown fans with the hiring of Todd Munkin.

40:33Rich Eisen:When Browns fans were getting sick and tired of what was going on with Stefanski, I don't think they thought the guy that they're going to hire is the current offensive coordinator in Baltimore. But they're going to get him. Now, just like I did the other day when they hired Joe Brady in Buffalo, let's talk about who Todd Munkin is. and what he is is a real deal football coach who's been at it in one way or another since 1989 okay this man's in his late 50s and you see him on the screen there with a browns logo on his sweatshirt that's not ai that's him as the offensive coordinator of the cleveland browns in 2018 after spending a lot of time in college um he spent um four seasons as a wide receiver coach in Jacksonville, most notably in 07 for a Jack Del Rio coach team that made the divisional round.

41:30Rich Eisen:Then he went to Oklahoma State where he was an offensive coordinator. Southern Miss made him their head coach for three seasons. He left there to be the Bucs OC and wide receivers coach. He was an OC in 2018 before the Browns hired him as their OC. He left there to go to Georgia where he was the OC and quarterbacks coach for not one but two national champion teams. And when the Ravens looked for somebody to take Lamar to the next level, they hired him. And we all know they never made it to the Super Bowl, but Lamar had some terrific seasons. It's just nobody was thinking in Cleveland, let's go get Todd Munkin.

42:16Rich Eisen:let's try and go shoot the moon let's try and get some big name if we can or let's even you know maybe get some young coordinator who could be the next mcveigh or we'll just stick with jim schwartz who clearly wanted the job he wanted the gig Yeah. So. And in terms of square in the circle, you know, we'll find out. By the way, his brother, I mean, pardon me, his cousin is the current head coach at Army, Jeff Monken. So this is like a no-nonsense guy who's going to come in and dial up an offense for who? We don't know. We don't know. Is it Deshaun Watson? Probably. Probably. This is that guy. And, you know, anyone who thought that whoever they hire on the offensive side of the ball, they'll just keep Jim Schwartz.

43:18Rich Eisen:He'll just be the guy who's going to stay in charge of the defense and kind of split these two and have two sort of co-head coaches. But one guy who definitely doesn't appear to have bought into that is Jim Schwartz. tom pellicero reporting after the browns informed schwartz this morning they were passing him over to hire todd monk and schwartz was visibly upset said goodbyes in the building and told other coaches he's not coming back he's under contract and cleveland wants to retain him but his future is now unclear adding the 49ers among others would likely have interest if and when he becomes available schwartz was in the browns facility the last couple of days in anticipation of being named the head coach but he'd already told people that if he were passed over he wasn't staying but the browns do have contractual control on him what are they going to do now they got to to use a phrase of a guy who used to coach in that division you want volunteers not hostages right and you know if monken is like i want you to be my defensive coordinator let's sit down and somehow some way he can keep him that would be great maybe not for Schwartz if this thing goes sideways which it could possibly go sideways and if you think this sounds dysfunctional or to use a phrase messed up just ask someone who used to be the offensive coordinator there this is an article that's been making the rounds today with Todd Monken's hiring from From The Athletic in 2019, Zach Jackson quoting the article, speaking of disgruntled offensive coordinators, Todd Munkin's one season with the Browns was a disaster.

45:11Rich Eisen:Munkin had the offensive coordinator title, but Freddie Kitchens called the plays. He was the HC at the time, if you remember that, before Stefanski then came in. And it was clear that Kitchens and Munkin were never on the same page. Multiple sources told The Athletic that late in the season, Munkin would spend time on the field before games telling opposing coaches how bad things were with the Browns, calling the team a quote-unquote total mess and saying that Kinchin's Sunday play calling generally steered away from the things that had been in the game plan from Wednesday through Saturday. Wow.

45:44Rich Eisen:So, but again, this is all part and parcel, part of the picture, what people are talking about. It's totally different. The ownership's the same, but there's no head coach there, not on the same page with the offensive coordinator,

46:06Rich Eisen:because Munkin, assuming, is going to be the one calling the plays. But is it possible that the head coach and offensive coordinator is not on the same page as the defensive coordinator who's going to be told, you've got to stay here? you'll come around. What are we like? Monken and the Beast? Put him in the film room and lock him up? Hope he comes around? You know? I'm sorry. I don't mean to be flipping about it. This can absolutely work out. Stranger things have happened. Monken, even though he wasn't calling the plays the year that he was the offensive coordinator, Baker had 3 ,800 passing yards.

46:48Rich Eisen:Nick Chubb almost ran for 1 ,500 yards. Both Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr. were 1 ,000-yard wide receivers. But as we saw, you know, the plays being called were not part of the coordinator's coordination. And again, they may not win the press conference. Munkin may have the outward personality at the press conference that doesn't inspire Browns fans, but we'll see what happens when rubber meets the road. They certainly feel like he did a good job in the job interview, at least on the verbal portion, or the oral portion. The written portion we haven't seen yet. Some Browns fans in my timeline are not happy.

47:41Rich Eisen:But hey, sit back and see what the plan is. He may be waiting his whole life for this opportunity. It'll swing for the fences and you might connect. Hour three coming up. The Ridge Eisen Show Podcast. Two teams, one cup. The primetime stage is set for the TGL presented by SoFi Finals, Los Angeles Golf Club versus Tigers Jupiter Lynx. Keep up, it's playoffs. Tune in Monday, March 23rd, 9 p.m. Eastern on ESPN2 and Tuesday, March 24th, 7 p.m. Eastern on ESPN and on the ESPN app.