Hour 2:  Colts GM Chris Ballard, Commanders HC Dan Quinn, plus LIV Golf on Life Support

23:10Rich Eisen:That was it? Don't have to wait any time? It was cool. Like, just the way it felt. Like, man, there's going to be an excellent player. And I'm sure you guys kind of felt the same thing into that space. when Kansas City traded above, I didn't know. Honestly, it said, oh, man, here we go. And so when that took place and knowing that we were going to add him to the group, man, that was awesome. He had such an impact at Ohio State. And even on his visit here, it was so strong, Rich, how much he loves it. The traits, what he looks like playing the game and where we think he can go to, man, we're really pumped about it.

23:44Rich Eisen:Well, I mean, he is a mixture of a monster and humility. Yes. That's an excellent combination for a linebacker. Right. And so let's just take it one step at a time. The combine. I've done the combine now for 20 plus years on NFL Network. You can count on the number of times on one hand that I was blown away by a combine performance saying it's one of the best I've ever seen. and his was that. What about for you? Yeah, I think it's rare. You know, you've covered it enough and certainly me being in the league long enough, this type of linebacker, the athletic traits, the speeds, the size, the length, it's not an every year player.

24:30And I'm a developmental coach, man. I can't wait to coach him. And he's hungry for it. He wants to improve. Seeing, you know, his first couple of years at DB and then shifting down to linebacker at the start of the 24 season, I just feel like Rich, this guy's going to take off reps at the position and like just seeing it more and more. Man, I can't wait to get rolling with him.

24:53Rich Eisen:Yeah, I know. When you say I'm a developmental coach, I can't wait to get started on coaching him. Can you pull back some of the layers for the fans here? Like what do you mean by that? What will you do? Like what when you see this kid, you will do what? He has such unique traits to him. And so we'll play a lot of zone where we'll have vision to the QB. And you can imagine this type of speed, this type of length to be able to close to the ball. Although he hasn't blitzed a ton at Ohio State, you know, Reese was there as well. And so the fact that we're going to also send this guy as a blitzer.

25:27So I think it's that kind of versatility, where we'll align him, how we can do that. He's got the football acumen because of his time at safety that the coverage part of his game is intact. And so to see him unleashed in some new ways, that's going to be something that, like, man, I very much look forward to being a part of. Do you possibly green dot him? Do you green dot him? In the practice, we'll certainly consider that. And a number of guys will have it during their practice times. But he is definitely capable of that. And it's one of the nice things now with the guys already doing that in college, Rich, that in the old days we'd wait.

26:01Does he have the leadership? Does he have that space? And so for him, he's the type of player that can certainly handle that. Have you ever crossed paths with his dad ever? What was kind of the fun part of he and his family coming here? He was actually teammates with London Fletcher. And so he was here working the draft on the media side with the team. And so to see these two guys as teammates years ago winning the Super Bowl together, I believe in St. Louis, and then having the chance to come and spend time together here, that was a pretty cool moment. and it kind of speaks to teammates and friendships and walking right back into a conversation that you might have had 20 years ago.

26:40Rich Eisen:Yeah, when you mentioned London Flusher and obviously the position and the defensive side of the ball, that's some significant franchise connective tissue to say the least here. Yeah, I would definitely say London was good with it. Yes, he certainly was. And then tell me more about the visit where you're like, okay, this is it. Yeah, so on our 30th visit, not every team does it quite the same, but we do where a number of guys are here. Oh, I remember that. That was supposedly where you were disrespected, where Jaden Daniels was being disrespected. I remember that from a couple of years ago. Quarterbacks and et cetera.

27:13Rich Eisen:Okay. I remember that. All right. Jay would be the first one to tell you that is absolutely not the case. Right. No, I know that. I'm sorry. I say things in terms of media narratives. You talk about reality. I talk about media narratives, which might not. Some of them are the same, but that one is not. But I remember it. So you're still doing that where you get a whole bunch of guys together, right? And leaving here, he said, man, I'm coming back. And I said, man, let's put it out there right now in the atmosphere. So that night when we selected him, I said, how about it, man? Just two weeks ago or whatever it was, we talked about coming back, being in this building.

27:48He had such a connection. You could feel it with Ken Norton during their time together. And Ken's been just tremendous at developing linebackers through the years. So every once in a while, all the stars aligned to make it happen. And this was one of those cases.

28:02Rich Eisen:Yeah. And just a couple more minutes on Sonny here. I don't know if you're aware of this. I told the story here. Not that you're aware of everything that I say in front of this microphone. But after Sonny was done with his combine workout, he wound up with some of his teammates and some of his friends in the same hotel restaurant that all of us, a bunch of us at NFL Network were in. Okay. No, I haven't heard of this. Okay. And he was, again, fresh off that workout. One of our producers went up to him and said, hey, great workout. And he looked the producer in the eye and said, do you really think so?

28:46Rich Eisen:Is what he said. He meant it. Yes. Yeah. No, he meant that wasn't sarcastic, which is what it might sound like. It was genuine. Like, do you think so? And our producer goes, yeah, I think so. and so does the rest of the world, but it goes, it's kind of a window. You know what I mean? To the humility of this guy, like the hard work, the humility, the, the awareness that he wants to go and improve and get better. He's got really high standards. So I couldn't have been more impressed meeting him and his family when they came after we selected him here. And so it's not, not surprising to see after meeting mom and dad, man, he and his brother two squared away guys.

29:28Rich Eisen:And I've got Dan Quinn here on the Rich Eisen show. If we take a look at the rest of your draft, if you wouldn't mind doing us a favor and walking us through these picks, what you think, why you liked, starting with your third-round selection out of Clemson, the wide receiver, Antonio Williams. Yeah, so it was another guy that we had here up to Virginia and D.C. to visit with, and a wide receiver with elite quickness inside and out of breaks. He was an excellent route runner, and we thought he could play both outside and inside in the slot. So, man, we're pumped to add him to the crew. Josh Joseph's an edge rusher.

30:03Man, does he have width get off. I think he's got real pass rush to him. So Adam and I, we felt, man, this guy in the fifth round, what a cool guy to try to develop and see where he can take it. Katron Allen in the Penn State record books as the all-time leading rusher at Penn State. I think that speaks to a lot. But when you watch the tape, we're going to run a lot of zone. Man, he can put his foot in the ground. He's physical. He's got good size. We're excited that Catron being a part of it. An interior player, Matt Goldman, we're going to put him at center. Played at Wake and both at Michigan State.

30:36We thought he was tough. He could play these interior guys with good strength, get movement off the line of scrimmage. We're excited about him. And then from a quarterback spot, adding Nathan to this group, into the four with Sam and battling up for the third spot. Another good competitive guy, man. So we're excited about the class. And then, as you know, Rich, also like some guys that get signed after the draft. And so that whole crew, which we would consider the rookie class of 26, they'll report a week from tomorrow, and we'll get started with the whole crew. But I'm rock solid about these guys, man.

31:11I can't wait to get rolling with them.

31:12Rich Eisen:So did you like the eight minutes? Again, I understand you didn't need to wait long to turn in Sonny Stiles' card, and you didn't have a first-round selection in addition. But did you like the eight minutes? I did. I thought maybe as it went down into the middle rounds, would there be more difficulty, somebody trying to get to 15 or to 20 who was further away? Would there be more calls? In the early ones, it's not as many on those calls when you're up in the top 10. So I thought, what would that look like between 15 and 25? But I'm a fan of it. What about your perspective? Oh, God, I felt like I was doing cardio, Dan, to be very honest with you.

31:52Rich Eisen:We lost two minutes, but I didn't lose a number of voices as a host to get in. And I thought it was too quick because from the broadcast, I know we're just talking about what you're doing. But when you've got Jeremiah Love drafted, and then the big shocker, honestly, as great as Sonny Styles is, and Caleb Downs is in your division in your old spot and, you know, Arvel Reese is in your division in your home state. You know, it was a stunner that Carnell Tate was the first Buckeye mentioned from the podium. To go through all the guys. Oh, gosh, yeah. Now here's Carnell Tate. And then, oh, well, here's Arvel Reese in the Giants.

32:41Rich Eisen:Hold on a second. Now there's a trade with the Chiefs. Wait a minute. Oh, here's Sonny Stiles. I honestly felt like I got my steps in. yeah you're doing a play-by-play you weren't calling the draft you're play-by-play you know but that's listen those are what we call television first class problems uh you know i'm honored to be sitting there at the desk but you asked that's my answer i thought it was quick yeah but i would take i would take uh four minutes or three minutes in rounds five through seven i would take that you know let's let's let's let's go home you know what i mean like that's the way i kind of felt would you would you be up for something like that cutting cutting minutes off the back end because maybe in the last couple, you have a good sense.

33:18And as the draft board's going, you're trusting those grades where you're at. And so there's not a lot of deliberation when your guy's there and you're pumped about it, man. You turn it in and get rolling. So I think your next visit with Roger, you can certainly.

33:33Rich Eisen:RG1, I'll speak to him, sure. And I'll turn you again one more time into a pundit in a way. this draft where the running back taking three, you know, a hybrid guy taking five, receiver taking four. You took a guy that's supposedly an off the ball linebacker right at, at seven, you know, you want a, I thought, you know, is one of the best offensive linemen in this draft, but he's an interior guy. Can't go middle of the first round. I mean, do you think any sense of the conventional way to draft players positionally might change from this, or that's just the way it is in the NFL? Yeah, I think there's some chances for things to change and adapt.

34:17And what you may think one year could be different based on the talent at the position, how deep it would go. But yes, I do think where things we wouldn't have thought of doing before years ago, now we would consider and oftentimes are doing. So I like that, honestly, our game changes and evolves. and what we did 20 years ago on offense and defense has evolved. And so I think the fact that we're seeing that now in scouting and draft, I think that's pretty cool.

34:46Rich Eisen:All right. So the superpower, I think, one of the many for your quarterback in Jaden Daniels is he's the same guy, right? Same guy, doesn't change, demeanor doesn't change, his sensibility doesn't change, his fire doesn't change. That said, last year had to be so frustrating for him. Is he coming back differently? Do you think year three different sense at all? Well, definitely his most frustrating year in his young career of ever playing football, like just injuries and missing time and having to go through that. Anybody who goes through those significant ones, man, there is a little extra hunger that comes back.

35:25That's human nature. It's whether guys coming back from an injury or a performance, there's there's usually an edge. That's all competitors, Rich. And so I definitely feel that with him. He's already an elite competitor, but to add on and a little fuel to the fire, man, nothing wrong with that. And I can definitely relate. So I think for a guy who's already at an elite level as a competitor, nothing wrong with turning up the heat a little bit. Do you stoke it? Yes. Do you stoke it? Yes. In a good way. Like I know what he can be and what his goals are and where he would like to go. So that's our job, right, as coaches, to push it and see if we can bring out the very best in the players.

36:05It's one of the most satisfying feelings as a coach, knowing you can take a player from point A to point B and help them reach where they want to get to. Those are significant moments, and Jaden is exactly the right type of player to do that with.

36:18Rich Eisen:How do you stoke it, if you don't mind me asking? Do you literally say what people are saying, that sort of card? No. Do you play that? No, I don't play that card. so I would it's more the you know at practice uh the location of the ball the the accuracy those are the things when you're really going to be excellent can you push the standards that you're wanting to go compete with so yeah it's definitely an internal one uh not not a narrative from outside but knowing what he's capable of I'm uh I'm qualified to do that push you had some leadership goats and some hall of fame goats on that defense uh we i know we spoke to von miller recently he wants to be a general manager he was talking about hanging with adam peters a little bit but i think he also still wants to play and then you got bobby wagner you're reigning walter payton man of the year award winner any any chance we still see them in in burgundy and gold or what players like that you never uh close the door and uh they are remarkable rich not just as ball players, but as teammates and the level of detail those two go to to play and different positions.

37:26But if you wanted to go find out about pass rush, just spend an afternoon with Vaughn Miller and hand placement technique, what are you looking for? He could literally coach a number of the interior players. And even when we're watching some pass rush in a meeting room together, you'd see him share insight or share a comment. So he's got remarkable ability not only to know what it is, but articulate how to apply a skill or a technique. And with WAGS, he's one of the very best leaders I've ever been a part of. The standards that he sets as a ballplayer, as a teammate, the traits, preparation mentally, physically, the practice habits.

38:04And I think of him and I think of tackling. I just do, man. like I've used his example all the time. And man, am I like honored to have coached him at two different spots and yeah, still both these guys can still play.

38:20Rich Eisen:And I'm sure they would be able to download Sonny styles with some crucial information. You know what I mean? There's no question about that. And that's one of the fun parts, man, of the NFL. When players give back to one another is I have learned quite a bit from players myself, a different perspective from the lens of the helmet. And so guys like Wags and guys like Von Miller, they provide insights that others don't. Zach Ertz is another one in that space. That's right. That's a unique perspective because of the matchups they've been in, the games, the situations. And so when you're adding a player like that, you're not just adding just the player.

38:56It's a lot of times the wisdom that comes with that. And I enjoy those moments of digging deeper with guys like that.

39:05Rich Eisen:How's Zach doing? He's doing excellent and working hard from a rehab standpoint, a knee injury towards the end of last season, but he's absolutely putting it in. And just like Vaughn and Wags, you know, has a lot to prove. Yep. Dan, thanks for the time, man. Always love our chats. Always love chopping it up with you. Do you get down time anytime soon? What do you got? Yeah, we've got the Rooks coming in soon, but summer break, it'll be here before we know it. That's the time to charge back up before we get rolling. So I always enjoy being out with you too, bud. Thanks. That's Dan Quinn, Washington Commanders Head Coach, right here on The Rich Eisen Show.

39:40Rich Eisen:The Rich Eisen Show, the podcast.

39:47As you know, managing maintenance, repair, and operations is never easy. But for the ones who always rise to the challenge, Granger has your back. From professional-grade products you can count on to fast, dependable delivery, they're there to help you keep things running smoothly. Plus, their technical product specialists are here to help answer your toughest questions. And because Grainger knows safety is always a priority, they're committed to being your partner in protecting both your people and your facilities. Call 1-800-GRAINGER, click Grainger.com, or just stop by.

40:17Rich Eisen:Spring is the season everyone refreshes everything except their blinds. People put it off because they think it's complicated. But at Blinds.com, we've spent 30 years proving it's not. Right now, you can save big during the Spring Cyber Monday sale. Whether you want to DIY it or have a pro to handle everything from measure to install, we've got you. Free samples, real design experts, and zero pressure. Just help when you need it. Shop up to 50 % off site-wide. Huge savings on special buys, plus a free professional measure now during the spring Cyber Monday sale. Rules and restrictions apply. Back here on the Rich Eisen Show, 844-204-RICH is the number to dial.

40:53Rich Eisen:PayPal is proud to be the official peer-to-peer payments sponsor of the NFL. When fans come together on game day, PayPal makes it easier to split ticket costs, cover tailgate supplies, parking, or even food. It's a simple way to settle up so fans can stay focused on the moments that matter. The NFL brings people together, and PayPal helps make paying each other feel easy from kickoff to the final whistle. Download the PayPal app to get started. Account with PayPal is required. PayPal is also the presenting sponsor of this week's Overreaction Monday pod, which you can get out there. No Contest Wrestling Pod as well.

41:31Rich Eisen:Get it on our YouTube channel, wherever you get your podcasts. All three hours of this show as well. So it seems like a couple of very well-to-do individuals are trying to save live golf right now. Investment bankers, Gene Davis and John Zinman. Okay. One of them sounds like a guy I went to camp with. It wasn't Gene Davis.

41:57Rich Eisen:have established a new independent board as it attempts to survive a quote-unquote diversified multi-partner investing model. Trying to survive is that. Because let me tell you something. When the Saudis say, we don't have any more money for you, something's not working. They're out. Saudis have put their money on the table and slap, we're out. Sooner than you thought. That understands what reference I'm making right there. It was, here's the one thing I'm pouring one out for. Are, you know, and you could say whether they should do it or not, but, you know, there's a lot of people in our industry who hook themselves up to live, you know, behind the scenes, behind cameras, in the trucks, you know and hopefully for them there's a paycheck coming the players not really pouring one out for him not pouring out much for the players and nor will the pga tour if this is it the 2026 season apparently is going to be it although um the uh governor of louisiana jeff landry announced tuesday that a scheduled tournament in new orleans had been postponed with a potential date later on being considered so he's canceled two things over redrawn maps leave you to google the other thing i'm referring to um and so it looks like the live tour has got not much left to it they are playing at trump's golf course next week That one's not getting canceled.

43:47Rich Eisen:No, probably not. And so I don't have much sympathy for the players who left the PGA Tour. They thought they were trying to make a point. And the interesting thing is the PGA Tour did change some ways of doing business based on the Live Tour creation, right? Yeah, suddenly there was more money for tournaments. There were some changes. There were some no-cut events. There were some changes. because I'm seeing people say the live tour. Thanks for nothing. You didn't do anything, but I'll be honest with you. I never got into it. I never watched it for more than just, Oh, is it on? Let me see what it is.

44:25Rich Eisen:I couldn't care less about one team, the fireballs versus the, whoever the what's the shotgun 54 holes. And I didn't care. Not once. I didn't miss the players. I was watching the PGA tour events. Once I was still locked in. And now those who left and took the big-ass paychecks are going to have to reap what they sow, unless the Live Tour somehow moves on. But it did make some changes, hopefully for the better, for the players who stuck on the PGA Tour. And hopefully those, you know, if the Live Tour continues, is those who took jobs can still put food on the table. But the players, there's a very tiny violin over here.

45:21Rich Eisen:Yeah, they made their bed. It's going to take more than a year to get back, don't you think? Right, and they opened that little window that Brooks Koepka took advantage of. He paid his fine and donated to charity, and he's out there grinding on the so-called mule events to play in these big money events and the qualify. You know, he's major exempt. But it's just, it's Bryson, it's Jon Rahm, and maybe one or two other guys. And that's it when you're talking about who is going to be back on the tour. And, you know, the rules for Koepka and Patrick Reed are not going to be the same for these other guys.

45:56So is the fine going to double, triple? The qualification is going to get back on the PGA Tour. Are they going to change? Don't know. a giant big TBD you know Bryson could just be a YouTube golfer for all we know but yeah man

46:12Rich Eisen:good riddance to the live tour I never really paid attention to it it didn't break through at all and in terms of everyone wondering will the PGA Tour potentially cave for some of these people the man in charge now is named Brian Rollap comes from the National Football League I know him very well And I can say the PGA Tour has the right man in the right spot for this moment. Because he's not playing. I've been in negotiations with him. I can personally attest. We're out of time. That's our two. Chris Webber's coming up on this program. Don't you dare move on the radio. The.

46:59Rich Eisen:The Ridge Eisen Show podcast.