Hour 2: Falcons RB Bijan Robinson, plus TNF’s Ryan Fitzpatrick & Andrew Whitworth

18:26Rich Eisen:Oh, it's all popping. Just like the bus that Fitz and Witt is on.

18:36The Rich Eisen Show podcast.

18:44A bandwagon fan. The biggest insult in sports. But this summer, during the FIFA World Cup, it's an invitation, America. Never watched soccer before? Perfect. Think a corner kick is a karate move? Sure, why not? Prefer sports where players can use their hands? Me too. Just here for the snacks? Now we're talking. So grab a bag of Lay's and jump on the bandwagon. We're undefeated.

19:10Rich Eisen:Lay's, the official sponsor of the FIFA World Cup 2026. Save$2 when you buy two cans of Superior Products Coverall tire dressing. Plus receive four times O rewards points now at O 'Reilly Auto Parts. Coverall delivers long-lasting shine. Visit your O 'Reilly Auto Parts store or OReillyAuto.com. Rich Eisen here for gusto. On my shows, we talk a lot about what happens in the spotlight, the games, the highlights, and the moments that get replayed and debated. But in any successful operation, what happens behind the scenes matters just as much. Small businesses are no different. Payroll, hiring, onboarding, benefits, and all the details that keep things moving may not be the most visible part of the job, but they still have to be handled right.

19:53Rich Eisen:That's where Gusto comes in. Gusto is online payroll and benefits software built for small businesses. It's all-in-one, remote-friendly, and incredibly easy to use, so you can pay, hire, onboard, and support your team from anywhere. automatic payroll tax filing simple direct deposits health benefits commuter benefits workers comp 401k you name it gusto makes it simple and has options for nearly every budget and it's all built to save you time with built-in automated tools for offer letters onboarding docs direct deposit and more plus you get unlimited payroll runs for one monthly price no hidden fees no surprises try gusto today at gusto.com slash rich and get three months free when you run your first payroll.

20:36Rich Eisen:That's three months of free payroll at gusto.com slash rich. One more time, gusto.com slash rich.

20:46Rich Eisen:Back here on the Rich Eisen Show on Disney Plus, on the ESPN app everywhere and ESPN radio presented by Progressive Insurance. Our friend Bijan Robinson from the Falcons, courtesy of Colgate. We've been chopping it up with him on our TV only segment. So just help me out here, man. because when we first met it you're like call me bijan and then during the spring i'm i'm hearing through the grapevine it's bijan he wants to be called bijan and then uh tariko and collinsworth on sunday night football earlier this year and you're back on sunday night football this weekend i mean tariko never gets anything wrong and he starts calling you bijan i'm like what's up with that and he then says you then green-lighted bijan again can you help me with this yeah so So in the summer, you know, I was on the NFL network and they came to practice and they're like, you know, how do you pronounce your name?

21:40So everybody can know. And I just said, like, I pronounce it Bijan. But my mom, you know, her pronunciation for it is Bijan. And I mean, since that moment, like, yeah, it's became like a really big deal everywhere. to the point where like I have just random people like they'll call my name and then they'll like correct it because they don't know so you know it's it's I always just say like it's however you you want to say it it's however it sounds good to you and you know if if Bijan is is the way you want to go like that's that's how it's been said for a long time in my life so yeah man I mean it's I know it's became a thing, but however it sounds good to you, I'm all for it.

22:24Rich Eisen:Well, again, I just want to make you happy. You know what I mean? Like, you're coming on this program. I don't want to antagonize you. And again, you're on Monday Night Football this weekend. Pardon me to my friends at Disney. You're taking on Buffalo at home, and then you're at San Francisco on Sunday night. Your next two games are on national television, and your last game that you had before your bye was the first time ever in which you, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts scored a touchdown all in the same game. Are you aware of that, Bijan? I wasn't aware of that before that happened. And then obviously, like after that, they told us and I was like, you know, let's try to make this a continuing thing, you know, one week at a time, man, because I feel like when we all start to become clicking and all start to do stuff like that, then, you know, we just become super hard to stop.

23:11So, you know, it's definitely a cool accomplishment that it happened. And obviously it happened in year three for me, but, you know, it has happened at some point.

23:19Rich Eisen:Do you feel as if something clicked in potentially in week four with Michael Penix at quarterback and then the three of you guys at your positions? Yeah. I mean, we just did all the little details, right? You know, it wasn't just us. Like with the O-line that we have, you know, they're so explosive. And not only that they helped all of us on the field, but, you know, just have the mic back there, you know, have time to throw the football, you know, me, you know, finding holes, finding open, open creases to run through. Like those are the guys that set it, set it all apart. Those are the guys that make it all go.

23:57But when they're, when they're going, then that's when stuff like that can happen. And that's when we can all just get in the end zone and help this offense become like the best, the best that it can become.

24:07Rich Eisen:Has the game slowed down for you since you left the campus in Austin? Absolutely. Absolutely. How so? I mean, from the running game to the passing game. I always tell people, you know, the first year when I'm in college, you know, everything's fast. Everything's super fast. The play calls are fast. Me trying to, you know, get my run reads. Like, everything's going, going, going. Then when that second year hits, you know, that's when things start to slow down. That's when things start to, you know, open up little by little. You're starting to get more comfortable. But then when that third year comes, then everything, everything's coming to you the right way.

24:45Everything's slowed down. You know, it looks like you're playing in college, in high school when you're in college. And then for me, like, now that I'm in my third year here, like the whole game slowed down. Now I can, you know, be comfortable in all my run reads and, you know, in the past game, my route running route technique. So obviously I have so much work to do still. Like I'm continuing to learn. I'm continuing to get better. I'm continuing to, you know, perfect my craft and all aspects of my game. But, yeah, the game is slow down.

25:13Rich Eisen:Like what? Now, here's another follow-up. Like what? Like what do you need? Do you feel like you can get better at than you already are right now? Yeah, I mean, you know, for me, like me playing receiver now, like my route details, you know, I'm trying to learn as much as I can from my Drake, Mooney, Kyle, you know, Ray Ray, like all these guys. Like I'm continuing to learn from them. and, you know, they're teaching me on the fly, like, you know, how to run a couple routes, how to run the routes that they run. And then obviously in the run game, like, always trying to perfect my eyes. You know, yeah, like God's given me a gift to do this, but like always trying to perfect my run reads and, you know, trying to manipulate linebackers in practice so I can do it in the game and set up blocks for my O-line, for the tight ends.

25:58And then, you know, just always just in path protection, like making sure that I'm striking first and, you know, Making sure that I'm just knowing where the protection is coming from, where the signals are coming from, and me just knowing everything before the play even starts in all aspects of my game. That's what I'm trying to continue to perfect. Those are the things that I'm trying to be great at, and I've got to continue to do it when we get done.

26:21Rich Eisen:Well, I mean, your next two games, your counterparts on the other sidelines are named James Cook and Christian McCaffrey. Does that something that factors into your thinking that the other team has that guy? I need to be the guy for me? Yeah, yes. And, you know, my respect for both of those guys is tremendous. It's huge. Like, I watch their game, and I watch them week to week, and, you know, they're always super impressive every time they step on the field. But for me, like, you know, it's a competition. So it's who executes the right way. It's who executes at a higher level that game. And, you know, obviously we're in practice, you know, trying to perfect everything that we can to be at our best for the Monday night game and for Sunday night game coming right after that.

27:07But, you know, I'm excited to play against those guys and I'm excited to get to share the field with them and just to play at a really high level on these next couple of games coming up.

27:18Rich Eisen:And I know my time is limited with you as you're going on a tour for Colgate here. What advice do you have for Arch Manning, sir, right now? Yeah, I would say just continue to stay consistent. You know, stay consistent as much as possible. You know, don't listen to the media because the media can either steer you in the right direction or it'll tarnish you for your career. So for him, like, always know that everybody has his back in that building. And Coach Sark continues to have his back. Everybody around him has his back. But, you know, I think it's not just him. It's the whole team. Like the whole offense has to come together, especially this week, playing against Oklahoma.

27:58Like this is going to be a really big game for not just Texas as a program, but those individual players. Like these are really big games for them. So they got to, you know, hone in and become player led and become, you know, who they want to become this week. So, you know, my advice to them is just, you know, put their head down, you know, stay out of the outside noise and just go on that field on Saturday. and show everybody what they can do.

28:24Rich Eisen:Yeah, I asked that question of Tim Tebow a couple weeks ago and he said his advice for Arch, and this is before, obviously, what happened against Florida, saying just go back to the time where all you cared about was in the backyard loving football. That's what he said. That's it. Don't think about what you can be, who you can be. Think about who you are now and then everything else to take care of yourself because you're the one on that field and you've been blessed to be on that field. So everybody needs to play that way so they can maximize their efforts to get the wins. Bijan, thank you so much.

28:57Rich Eisen:I prefer Bijan, if that's okay. Yeah, it's okay. And Colgate is pronounced just Colgate, right? That's just straight up, correct? We got that? I would hope so. Okay, very good. And I appreciate those at Colgate making you available. I'll take you even when you're not on a tour or anything like that. You know you're one of my favorites, and I appreciate you joining here, and I look forward to seeing your commercial for Colgate on Thursday Night Football and then seeing you doing your thing with your oral hygiene all handled on Monday night against the Bills. Yes, sir, Rich. I appreciate you grabbing me as always.

29:31You got it. Good talking to you, man.

29:33Rich Eisen:You got it. That's B. John Robinson, one of the best in the business for the Atlanta Falcons, courtesy of Colgate, right here on the Rich Eisen Show. It's interesting. It's him speaking about Texas versus Oklahoma that you could say that's the case in the NFC South as well, right? With Baker. Oh, nice. being the quarterback there. And they don't play each other again until week 15 on a Thursday night. Right? It's a week 15 Thursday night. Keep that in mind. Just put a pin in that Thursday night and keeping an eye out for me and other different places. Oh. Just dropping a breadcrumb. Interesting.

30:16Rich Eisen:Dropping a breadcrumb. Maybe in a way that you saw me in August. just throwing these breadcrumbs out there. 844-204-RICH, number to dial. So an announcement has been made in Cincinnati. We were on the air just right around this time yesterday, right? Yeah, exactly. And we already heard from Kevin Stefanski earlier in this program of when he said about what went asked if Shador is going to be his second-string quarterback. And he's just like, hey, everybody, it was enough of a process to decide if Dylan Gabriel was ready to be a starter. You know, I've got to take my time. We've got to think about what's best for the team, what's best for the player and whose development we're invested.

31:06Rich Eisen:It wasn't an immediate yes. It wasn't an immediate no. It was like, let's just wait and see. And the reason why he said it in that way also is he said they had just learned they were surprised by the trade yesterday. And the initial thought I heard when I heard that soundbite from Stefanski was like, was he not consulted? Yeah, that's what I was thinking. Right. But he then added the Bengals called them. Right. The Bengals called them. And I guess the deal was too good to pass up. that they immediately, because I imagine the Bengals would be like now or never. Yeah. Like clock's ticking, especially if they were going to acquire Flacco to start him right away, which apparently is in fact the plan.

31:55Rich Eisen:Wow. So Flacco is going to start against the Bengals. He was in Berea on a flight home from London earlier this week. He's probably showing up crack of dawn on a Monday. And it's now, hey, I'm moving to Cincinnati on a Tuesday. And then on a Wednesday, he's named a starter by the head coach for Sunday's game in Green Bay. Zach Taylor was asked about it. Excited to get him out there. We'll start him this week. So he's going to take all the reps, get ready to go. I mean, it's different than a young quarterback coming in, trying to learn a system and understand what a defense is trying to do to challenge you.

32:40Not only that, but he's played Green Bay this year. So he's already gone through a week of prep. So that's the nice part is now the communication and the, and the weekly rhythm is maybe different, unique, but he's already prepared for this opponent. So he gets a chance to refresh himself on that while at the same time, just learning our system and our terminology and our burbage and how we operate um but also knowing that he's he's but now he hasn't played there this year so the crowd noise and all that stuff different but um at least he's got some experience playing sure enough

33:10Rich Eisen:yes flacco's only win as a browns quarterback this year came against green bay really the defense was the one that kept him in a game while the offense sputtered until the very end when they got some points enough to win it exactly um normally when you beat have a chance to beat the packers twice in a year you're playing in their division you're playing in the nfc north not the afc north but that's the way this is going um and it can only go two ways i consider this all right can only go two ways it can work out really well like he's showing up and this offense suits him and that's jamar chase and that is t higgins and the scheme has been the scheme and these guys have been open and Jake Browning has just not delivered it in a way that Flacco is veteran enough to do it.

34:02Rich Eisen:And it's going to look like clockwork, like he's been there all along, or the offensive line that has been a massive question mark in the Joe Burrow era, including a handful of times during the Jake Browning era of 2025. this is the absolute worst you know what did you say iron deer on the front lawn that you could put in there and this with a certain individual coming off of a bye week formerly of the Dallas Cowboys this guy all rested and his back is ready to go coming off the bye week is coming.

34:53Rich Eisen:And it's going to be a spectacular flame out. I don't think there's any gray area here on this one. Now that said, I will fully admit this. Again, for those who might be new to our program here. We turned, wow, 11 years old earlier this week. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And in the 11-year history of the program, My worst take, hands down, still a clubhouse leader, was during the bubble year of the NBA finals and the Miami Heat performed so well, only to fall to the Anthony Davis, LeBron-led Lakers. And the word on the street was the Heat were interested in Giannis. And I'm like, the way they just played with Tyler Hero, that kid, and Jimmy Butler and everybody for Coach Spoh, don't trade for Giannis.

35:46Rich Eisen:Worst take I've ever had. Right? Correct? Don't trade Giannis. It almost made my head explode. And you guys were like, don't say that. You said it for like three days. And on the third day, I couldn't hold back. The first two days, I was like, I don't know if I should say that. You were being kind. You were being kind. I didn't know if I had to write the same. Especially because Giannis was 25 at the time coming off. No, eventually you were thinking of taking the car keys away. I understand. I was going to call Susie, make sure everything was cool with him. I know. And she was even saying something at home.

36:13Rich Eisen:Like, what is happening at work? Are you okay? He doesn't know what he's talking about. Yeah, I mean, that's not what Bruce Arians was referring to.

36:25Rich Eisen:That has been firmly ensconced in the clubhouse. But knocking on the clubhouse door is me saying Jake Browning's better than a third of the starting quarterback to the National Football League based on what he did in 2023 and how he's going to take in the opportunity here in 2025 to fill in for Joe Burrow. And the Bengals season is not over. and he's going to show up and show out. And now he's been immediately benched by a 40-year-old quarterback that was benched by a now 1-14. What are you smoking, bro? Give me something. Now that's maybe what Bruce Arians was referring to in advance. So I see you all out there saying, didn't you say this about Jake Brown?

37:12Rich Eisen:I did. Well, the thing is, you were pretty adamant. We tried to, again, tried to help you. May I parse it? May I parse it? I don't know what parse means, but sure. It means let me, you know, split it up a little bit. Let me split it up. Yeah, let me split it up. I know. I said that the season was not over, which it is not. They're just two and three. I mean, that's true. That's higher register, Doug. No, that's not higher register. That's a fact. They are two and three. Season is not. I was going higher register for emphasis, not to try and make me believe what I'm saying. They are just two and three.

37:51Rich Eisen:A game out of the wild card spot in the AFC. That's all they are. That might be technically true. It is not technically true. It is actually true. Technically true, but we watched it. It is actually true. With still, they're still healthy, right? Jamar Chase and Tee Higgins, they're going to start, right? They're going to both be out there, right? They're going to threaten the defense of the Green Bay Packers, correct? How do they get the ball? Okay, so I don't know. Blacko season, baby. The season's not over. Jake Browning being the guy to prove that the season's not over, way off. I mean, way, way off.

38:29Rich Eisen:Donkey! Wow. Wow. Donkey off. Yeah. Does that mean I'm the donkey? Is that what you're saying, Mike? okay so that's the latest the Bengals are so done with Jake Browning they call the Browns to say we'll take your benched quarterback and give you a draft choice that you you can't even turn down wait a minute you're going to give us a fifth we could draft the best quarterback out of Colorado with that just like we did last year we'll elevate him to the second string position unless we won't we'll figure it out for the rest of the week but send Joe to Cincinnati we'll send him in division I mean, yeah.

39:10Rich Eisen:And we're going to get him off the bus, hand him the playbook, and say, you've been through these wars enough. Go find one Jamar Chase and T. Higgins and Chase Brown and the offensive line. Lishy boss. It's time. This is on you. This one's on you. It's not on the 40-something guy that just is probably looking for, what, an Airbnb to crash in this week in Cincinnati? I'm sure they put him up in a Motel 6, Rich. Is he staying in Jeff Driscoll's house, his old house? The only other quarterback ever to start for the Browns and the Bengals? Yeah, Joe Burrow's probably got some room in his career. I mean, whatever.

39:58Rich Eisen:You know what I mean? Right, the Batcave? Yeah. Just... There you can start him. That's how they're so done with Jake Browning. And I'm done with that take. Uh-oh. Oh, good. I'm done. I'm turning the page. Yeah, I mean, it should have been turned a while. That's enough out of you. Just saying. And you too. Everybody. I get it. Wasn't good. Not my best. Just admit their season's over and we can turn the page for real. I will not do that. That is not what I'm saying. I cannot do that. I will not do that. So if they get blown out on Sunday, then what do you think about it? It's two and four. That's it.

40:32I get it. You have a valid point. Thank you. And technically, yes, the season is not over.

40:39Rich Eisen:844-204-RICH is the number to dial. We'll visit the Thursday night game, Giants and Eagles. Dayball throwing shade from northern Jersey that envelops all of the city of brotherly love. It's awesome. That's coming up.

40:58Rich Eisen:The Rich Eisen Show, the podcast.

41:05Rich Eisen:Rich Eisen here with some advice. If high-interest credit card debt is grinding you down, it might be time to call an audible with a SoFi personal loan. It consolidates your debt into one low monthly payment with no fees required. And with as soon as the same day funding, you can make the right play fast. Call an audible on your debt today at SoFi.com slash debt play. Loans originated by SoFi Bank N.A. Member FDIC. Terms and conditions apply. NMLS 696891. Fast Fund's terms apply at SoFi.com slash DebtPlay. 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.

41:43Rich Eisen: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 slash Eisen. Terms and conditions apply. Back here on the Rich Eisen Show, the Hyundai, all-new Hyundai Palisade Hybrid, an incredible SUV that I've been talking about for a while. It's got a spacious interior that's comfy for your entire crew.

42:20Rich Eisen:It can go off-road, so it's capable in that regard. 600-plus miles of range. That is an absurd number. the all-new hyundai palisade hybrid is very special and it becomes even more special when you're the driver behind the wheel so check it all out so much more than just another suv visit hyundaiusa.com or call 562-314-4603 for more details that's 562-314-4603 for more details jeff in detroit let's take your call what's up jeffrey how you been what's going on family how's it going what's on your mind jeff my cousins my cousins what a difference a month makes indeed sir you know what allow me to be petty for a minute first of all wishing you safe travels uncle rich disseminating the nfl across the world my best pleasure allow me to be petty for a second about a month ago a caller called in and suggested detroit get rid of jet golf and go after Gerber.

43:21Rich Eisen:I heard that. I did, and I thought that was absurd, like that would never happen anyway, but it's okay. Okay. Listen, another thing I want to make a point of, what a difference a change of scenery makes. Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones, Baker Mayfield. I mean, when they get... One man's trash is truly another man's treasure. Well, and again, and thanks for the call, Jeff. It's always great to hear your voice and give us food for thought. Listen, Goff was successful out here. He went to a Super Bowl. It just wasn't meshing in a way that we're still unfamiliar why. It was the end of an era between him and McVay.

43:58Rich Eisen:But you can't argue. Stafford won a Super Bowl here. He's got the Rams on a path to win another one this year. If they can, you know, just block for their kicker. And Goff has got the Lions, again, on a path to do the same thing. You know, trades can be win-win. It can actually be win-win. and and golf is playing like an mvp and as you know i think baker mayfield is as well and baker mayfield has been playing like a most valuable player this year four out of the five wins for the tampa bay buccaneers have come um either tied or behind in the the final throws of a game they're winning games on a razor's edge and this guy's been leading him and he's also an mvp at the podium to the point where we have created another segment on our program called let's bake i have no idea what this one's about but i have been told oh it's about trash talking the fans in seattle he was doing it in the tunnel before the game and then he found that fan running off the field in victory afterwards this was brought up to baker mayfield in another edition of let's bake fire the panning we don't take any that's about it let's bake How much fun was it for you after jawing pregame in the tunnel with that Seahawks fan and being able to have the last word?

45:23Pretty fun. Is there something where you kind of realize maybe your younger years, I don't know if you were as accepted for doing some of that stuff. And now it does seem like it's a little bit more embraced. You know, people gravitate to it a little bit more. The narrative changes around that. Do you notice that? Yeah, I mean, I told you guys I try and not get too high, not get too low, which is something that I was not doing early on in my career. But, you know, early on in my career, yeah, it's looked as cocky, immature. Now it's Moxie. He's a dog. So it's the same s***, different day. As long as you play well, they change the narrative.

46:04But you just got to be yourself, and I've always been like that. Let's bake!

46:11Rich Eisen:to our credit most of the time if not the entire time we we were calling it moxie from get-go listen we've kind of always liked bakers wow the reason why is when he planted that flag in the middle of ohio stadium he had me at hello i mean that was it that was it we were even saying like what's he supposed to do shake the hand of of of the coach that in cleveland right you jackson Didn't want him. Yeah. Like, we even said that when people were like, oh, that was classless. Yeah. He was doing that for the guys in the locker room. Fake, we see you, man. You always have. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast.