Hour 2: Mike McDaniel as Chargers OC, plus PFT’s Mike Florio Talks NFL Coaching Carousel

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0:27Rich Eisen:See Home Depot dot com slash price match for details. so good so good so good spring styles are at nordstrom rack stores now and they're up to 60 off stock up and save on rag and bone made well vince all saints and more of your favorites how did i not know rack has adidas why do we rack for the hottest deal just so many good brands join the nordy club to unlock exclusive discounts shop new arrivals first and more plus buy online and pick up at your favorite rack store for free great brands great prices that's why you rack This is The Rich Eisen Show. Hey, everybody. Can't get enough of The Rich Eisen Show?

1:06You'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 richeisenshow and you'll never miss a moment. Now, on with the show. This is the Rich Eisen Show. From the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles.

1:37Rich Eisen:Fernando Mendoza, the only social media site that he's on is LinkedIn. He basically told the Raiders, you're on the clock for me. Earlier on the show, Pro Football Hall of Famer, Kurt Warner. Coming up, host of Pro Football Talk, Mike Florio. Broadcasting legend, Bob Costas. And now, it's Rich Eisen. Hour number two of the Rich Eisen Show is on the air. For those who are watching on Disney Plus and the ESPN app, you could see from my Rich Eisen Show mug, the steam coming out, fresh new cup of coffee, which I was able to squeak out from the very small remaining amount of water. It was kind of like Kramer taking a test drive on the car.

2:20Rich Eisen:You know, very close, you know? Very, very close. But I did fill up the machine with water for those coming after me. I saw him do it. Thank you. Who else is... I don't know, man. There's some people around here. I haven't used it. I don't want to go full-on festivus here. Who else is... I got a lot of problems. I almost didn't get my cup of coffee in the commercial break. Who are you finger of blaming right now? I don't know. Damn fine. I mean, here's somebody. Oh, is that a Kyle McLaughlin drop right there? Did you really do that? Yeah, that's a felly. Okay. I like it. He's all excited. is Seahawks are playing in the NFC Championship game, but I'll have a damn fine cup of coffee I have here, which I'm very happy about.

3:03Rich Eisen:Damn fine and hot. It is. Look at that. We have a new drop every time we get a cup of coffee now? I kind of dig it. I like it. We spent hour one talking about not just Kurt Warner, with Kurt Warner, but about the press conference that happened in western New York with Terry Pagula. You know, everyone's talking about how wild it was. I'm still reading some of these quotes, and they're just bananas. The craziest one, I don't know if you've seen this yet, he referred to Sean McDermott as Iceland four times. Wow.

3:42Rich Eisen:844-204-RICH is the number to dial. Let's go to Jared in Rochester. Rochester, New York. What's up, Jared? Hey, Rich. How are you doing, guys? How are you? What's up, man? Good, good. So I got a couple points to make about the Bill situation. Number one, I think Terry Pagula is making a complete fool out of himself and the organization, firing the guy that did all he could with the roster he was given by the guy that they're promoting. And the whole thing with with Keon Coleman saying how McDermott and the coaching staff wanted him. That's got to be a lie. I mean, there was a video draft night where Bean was on board with Keon as well.

4:20And the second thing I'll say is that he's making a mess of the Bills, but guess what? He's made a mess of the Sabres for the last 15 years. I haven't made the playoffs. That's where I stand with it.

4:32Rich Eisen:Damn. Jared in Rochester, you're pissed, huh? Rack him. I mean, I'm a Buffalo sports fan. How can you not be pissed at something? Well, I mean, listen, I know this isn't what you want to hear, but I'll just say it to you. Jared, there's about, what would you say, two-thirds, maybe three-quarters of NFL fan bases that would love to be in your position? Yep. Year in and year out? Yeah, I believe it, but it's just the pain that we suffer after a while with all these heartbreaking losses, and then the Sabres just not fielding together a good team for 15 years. I mean, they're getting better now, but still, even that.

5:15Rich Eisen:Well, how about combining your hockey team's futility with your football team's futility and choosing Sam Darnold instead of Josh Allen only to watch him potentially take on the Patriots to win the Super Bowl? So how about that? Put that in your Jets fan pipe and potentially smoke it. I know that's not helpful to you, Jared. But I understand. I understand. Let me put it this way. And I'll pull the room here. So what's more likely? Bills get this coaching hire right or they don't? They don't. Oh, really? I mean, what's right? The only right way is they've got to win a Super Bowl, right? Well, no, the right way is that Josh Allen's unlocked to the point where they make the Super Bowl.

6:04Rich Eisen:And I guess the reason why they haven't made the Super Bowl is things somewhat out of the coach's control. Every year, a quarter to 30 % of the league changes coaches. Often, teams get this wrong. Repeatedly. You hung up on him? No. He hung up. You know, the Belichicks and the Harbaugh's and the Coughlin's. We started ignoring him, I guess. Coughlin, what other coaches have been around for a long time? I guess Sean McVay is one of the longest tenured. Andy Reid's. Those are the outliers. The norm in the NFL is every three to four seasons, your team has a new coach. Yeah. I keep returning to what Tom Pelissero told us two weeks ago.

6:44that somebody once upon a time told him that owners watch what other owners do. And other owners like Pagula saw Bishotti part ways with Harbaugh after 18 years.

7:01Rich Eisen:No doubt. The Roonies were willing to give Tomlin a 20th year, but Tomlin decided now's the time also. and pagula is like as i said you got somebody like ben johnson coming in bringing the bears to new heights that potentially you have somebody else bringing the bills to new heights and again i'm i apologize because i'm now once again referencing somebody not by name but by me seeing this person on a podcast co-hosted by siciliano our buddy siciliano talking about Jessica Pagula, the sixth ranked tennis player in the world, changing her coach because she wanted to get over the hump and get further in her career than she's already gotten, despite her being highly successful with her coach.

7:52Rich Eisen:Hired a new coach and made the U.S. Open final. And I'm wondering if the Pagulas are just like, look what happened to Jessica. And then you hear Pagula today, and he did sound highly emotional and charged. He's still pissed about the catch. He's referring to it. When I first heard the soundbite played for us before the show, Pagula referring to all the issues that have happened in the playoffs with the Bills.

8:22Rich Eisen:Referring to 13 seconds. We know what that is against the Chiefs. Tyler Bass missed a kick against the Chiefs. None of those things. Well, I mean, the 13 seconds you could lay at the feet of McDermott. Yay? Nay? Yes. Okay. And then he refers to the catch. I'm like, when did Montana and Dwight Clark connect? What's the catch? We know what the catch is now. It's this on the screen. There will not be... Has a Bills fan called into the show and said this was properly called and officiated? I don't know. Maybe in a week they will. They're probably still emotionally charged up about it. I don't know.

9:04You've seen several angles. It's clear as day. It's not a catch. I mean, Joe Burrow even said it, and he has zero skin in the game.

9:09Rich Eisen:Correct. 844-204-RICH, number to dial. Aiden in New Jersey. You're here on the Rich Heisen Show. What's up, Aiden? Hey, Rich. How you doing? We're in Jersey. Yeah, what exit? I'm actually in West Milford. Oh, my sister's there. Hey. That's her sister. Say hi to her sister for her. What's your sister's name, Mike? Lucille. Lucille? Yeah. What's her last name? Davey. Okay. If you see Lucille Davey, Aiden, tell her Mikey D said hi. I'll make sure. I'll make sure. That'll be a great moment for all of us. So I'm actually probably one of the only Charger fans in New Jersey. Wow. I wanted to call and ask you guys.

9:47So we haven't officially got Mike McDaniel, but it's basically official. If we keep Jesse Minter, do you think that we could be a Super Bowl team next year? A healthy Joe Waltz later in that defense.

10:01Rich Eisen:Aiden in New Jersey saying I'm one of the only Charger fans in New Jersey. I think that's a very bold claim that's not so bold, I would have to say. Aiden, if you are so lucky to have six remaining National Football League teams interview Jesse Minter and say no thanks, if you wind up being that fortunate and wind up with Mike McDaniel as your offensive coordinator and you get Alt back healthy, Slater back healthy, Omari and Hampton fully charged, and the front office with Joe Hortiz and Harbaugh in the draft room nailing more draft choices. 100 % you got to sit there and think you got a shot at playing in SoFi next year like the Rams did and win a Super Bowl in that building.

10:55Rich Eisen:No doubt about it, Aiden. No doubt in my mind. I think not only is Herbert the big winner for this, but I think Hampton is also the big winner because McDaniel runs that zone run and not the power run, so he'll get a lot of pass volume. And I think that this team is just, if we can stay healthy, which, I mean, I say if every year, but we can stay healthy. Listen, thanks for the call, Aiden in New Jersey. Listen, I heard the news yesterday,

11:26Rich Eisen:and I thought to myself if the I guess because Mike McDaniel is still in the running for the Ravens and the Raiders head coaching job and if the Ravens or the Raiders hire him clearly he'll take those jobs but if I guess he's already pulled his name out of consideration for the Cleveland head coaching job and it's apparently informed anybody else that's trying to hire him as an offensive coordinator no thanks and he's chosen the chargers is that spot first of all i would say to mike mcdaniel wise choice wise choice certainly for a guy who is no longer the head coach of the miami dolphins in a way because of the inability to succeed unlock however you want to put it, with the guy who was chosen by the Dolphins famously before Justin Herbert, and for him to basically move to a division that is a deep end of the pool, but to join a team and a franchise that has got the ability to put into play to put into existence his X's and O's melded with a guy who's all about running the football.

12:55Rich Eisen:Now, I understand McDaniel and what happened with Tyreek Hill and Jalen Waddell and the passing game is something that we all focus on because of how big play it is, take the top off or whatever. but it all is about the run game at its very start with Mike McDaniel. And now he's the run game coordinator for, for what, for, for San Francisco, right? Like that's what he, he, he, the way that he and San Francisco scheme things up, you know, gives a running back an extra degree of an angle towards a hole created by an offensive line that is very tough for people to defend. That in the construct of a Jim Harbaugh world, I heard that, I'm like, holy crap.

13:46And the folks here in Los Angeles,

13:50Rich Eisen:the Chargers fans here, complaining about the lack of creativity, well, that's going to go out the window as well. That's coming to town with Mike McDaniel. I thought that is also one of the greatest pairings that I think the rest of the world needs to see is Jim Harbaugh and Mike McDaniel together. And I thought to myself, can Lululemon make a Capri khaki? Yeah. You know what I mean? Like, can we do that? Can Jim maybe change his eyewear for McDaniels? Can we meld these two minds and styles together? You're saying, is Jim going to start showing ankle? i don't know wondering yeah i don't know i just think there's a lot of possibilities here i also think they should go and pitch a sitcom about town we've even created a graphic for it there it is the odd couple bring it back jim is oscar and mcdaniel is felix i think that's it and the chargers logo on the hat this is it because you sit here and think these two guys how are they gonna coexist or get along and i will just give you this answer because um mcdaniel loves ball man oh yeah he loves ball and jim loves ball and they love talking ball and i asked jim harbaugh when getting ready for the chart i'm done asking you know special secret sauce questions of him um and the last one i asked him was just a few weeks ago and i'm like you know what what what do you love so much you know about coaching and and what's what's helps you succeed and he basically said i love football and football loves me yeah and i love people who love football and people who love football love me and i think that's the common denominator they love ball they love talking ball they love running ball they love hitting people while running ball and and mcdaniel coming here and coaching up harbaugh coaching up uh herbert with harbaugh for harbaugh if everybody stays healthy and the defense comes and our caller just said if jesse minter stays i I don't think that's going to happen.

16:19But if it does, you got your coordinators, you got Jim,

16:23Rich Eisen:you got Justin Herbert with this offense. Sky is the limit, man. Ballin'. Yeah. Yeah. The odd couple. I mean, it's great. Joint press conference. So it would go like this, Rich. No, no, no. I got it. Leave it to me. You got it all prepped. Don't you worry. Leave it to me. I got you. But this is all coming to Los Angeles, it seems. unless the Raiders step in and just hire him and hook him up to Fernando Mendoza. Fernando. And then he makes silver and black capris. Yeah, that sounds pretty fun. Because clearly this is also, I understand he's not an HC now if he takes this job. He'd be one, two seasons away from just getting a call again.

17:09Rich Eisen:For sure. Don't you think? If it all works out here, this is a very smart move for somebody also who maybe wants to stay in the nice warm weather. Yeah, because he don't want to cover his ankles up. So he definitely don't want to go cold. But Mendoza-Gente-Bowers, that's a good base to kind of start. How about Lamar, Zay, and Derrick Henry? Also not bad. But you've got to wear socks. You've got to wear socks. Probably heavy jackets in winter. Sure. Eat crab cakes. And the question about does your scheme work in the cold weather. Right. With Derrick Henry and Patrick Ricard, it would. I'm guessing Henry won't get two second half carries and I imagine there also wouldn't be a wide receiver saying we need a fullback causing the head coach to go to the podium and go we already have a fullback and the wide receiver knows that which is what Mike McDaniel had to do perhaps in his Miami existence I kind of dig this combination so well you'll have a few laughs with Mike McDaniel that's for sure I'm going to put this up as a poll question which is what if you're Mike McDaniel what do you do Raiders, Ravens, Chargers, OC.

18:16Rich Eisen:Okay. Let us know. At RichEyesAndShow. We haven't done a poll question in a while. Well, it wouldn't be the OC, that's for sure. Well, he'd be the OC here. I'm saying he'd probably want one of the HC jobs. But if you're him, what would you do? I'm going to go be the head ball coach. And the Baltimore Ravens. I would choose that. Or you look at the Steelers, you know you're going to have some longevity there. I don't know if he's up for that gig. I think he's up for everything. He pulled out of the Cleveland job, and apparently Tampa really wanted him as the OC. Why not? Why not? And interesting, he doesn't take the Tampa OC job because two of the three predecessors, his immediate predecessor just got bounced, but the two previous ones got head coaching jobs in Liam Cohn and Dave Canales.

19:01Rich Eisen:So if you're going to take an OC job, you want one that has a pathway to being an HC, and I think here would be 100 % that. and he gets to coach up Justin Herbert and help Jim take him to the Hall of Fame which as you know is the goal the stated goal. Alright, we'll take a break let's be on time for Mike Florio even though I wasn't. I think I did book him for the top of the hour and he chimed in and he's kind enough to join us again in two minutes Don't go anywhere

19:30Rich Eisen:The Rich Eisen Show Podcast

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21:15Rich Eisen:Back here on the Rich Eisen Show, 844204-RichNumberDahl. Back here on the program, our friend from Pro Football Talk and Peacock and NBC PFT Live with Mike Florio Podcast as well. Mike Florio, good to see you, Mike. how are you i'm doing great you needed the music the read was awesome you needed the music and i can envision season two episode three jim and mike mix up their glasses because if you haven't noticed the prescription between the two is very different it's very different i know i thought that that uh jim should start wearing mike's glasses and or um lululemon needs to make a capri khaki you know what i mean like show off some ankle you know what i mean possibilities are limitless they are limitless seven seasons at least i am thrilled to have you on this program mike i want to give you the floor on terry pagula's press conference today and how that hits you well number one it was way too long which is excellent for our business yes i think i have a list of maybe 10 12 different pft posts that either have gone up or will go up as a result of the things that were said during that rollicking like you usually hear time for two more very quickly at a press conference like that they went on and on and on and it's in the eye of the beholder i've been arguing with some people whether it was a good thing or a bad thing i think the prevailing view is all told i i i don't think it was a great session and it raises more questions than it answers i think the idea of a press conference is you want to resolve questions i don't think it resolved many questions and i give the folks their credit a lot of times we see the the reporters that cover a team tiptoe around because you worry about access and relationships they asked all the right questions they did their duty on behalf of the fans who want to know how the hell we got to this point well i think the question that got answered emphatically mike is that terry pagula clearly trusts brandon bean implicitly and also trusts him to move this franchise forward to a super bowl way more than he trusted sean mcdermott to do it and um and even spilled some tea that um you know keon coleman might have to clean up with his play in year three for whoever the new head coach is i mean and leading the questions that you you you mentioned about not being answered it led to other questions being asked like like who are the draft choices that are yours and yours alone brandon right like those are the ones he was doing what he thought was the right thing in caping for the guy that he elevated um but it did lead to more questions on that front yeah the overriding question that was hovering over the bills weeks before if not years before the firing of sean mcdermott is whether or not the failure of the team to get to a super bowl is a result of talent a result of coaching the firing of sean mcdermott coupled with the promotion of Brandon Bean tells us that Terry Pagula resolved that issue in favor of saying it's a coaching problem, not a talent problem.

24:33But then we get this mix in there that some of the talent was the fault of the coaching staff because the coaching staff wanted this guy and Brandon Bean was a team player and didn't push back. And I take a step back generally, and I'm not saying Brandon Bean should have been fired. I'm saying that the properly functioning football operations have the coach and the GM joined at the hip. And if it works, everybody benefits. And if it doesn't, everybody's accountable. Because I think we learned today, it's virtually impossible to make a clear and reliable decision as to who's to blame when you have one of these situations where you keep knocking on the door, but you can't kick it open.

25:16Seven straight playoff appearances. Terry Pagula rattled off the seeds for the last seven years, and nobody knew who he was talking about. He starts spitting out numbers like it's Powerball night. And like, what do you need? Those are the seeds for the last seven years, but they've never been the one seed, and they've never gotten to the Super Bowl. And so it's the coach's fault, and that puts enormous pressure on the next coach. They tried to say there's no pressure. They're getting calls about the job. Yeah, you're always going to get calls about an open NFL job, even if it's one of the dysfunctional teams.

25:45The question is, what's this next coach stepping into and what is his burden going to be? You've got to get at least as far as Sean McDermott or you're a failure. And you're expected to get farther than Sean McDermott because we've already established conclusively it's not an issue with the talent of the team.

26:02Rich Eisen:Now we have 10 job openings in all, four of which have been filled already, Mike. Mike, your sense of the room read here based on, you know, your reporting and also talking to everyone. Why have we seen so much turnover, including two guys, one who resigned and one who got fired of 18 plus years of tenure? And I looked it up. Mike, that's never happened in any North American sport. We've never had in baseball, basketball, NBA, or NHL, two coaches as tenured as Harbaugh and Tomlin not return in the same coaching cycle. That's never happened. Why do you think this is happening? I think it's a combination of factors that led to a perfect storm as we were trying to map out where the vacancies would be beyond the two that came up during the season.

26:49And there were only two. It seemed kind of light this year from interim coaching arrangements with the Titans and the Giants. As we got to week 18, the Raiders and the Browns were the two that everybody basically knew were coming. How many more beyond that? That was the question. So you get some of these other arrangements. You're always going to have the cluster of bad teams that stay bad. So they fire coaches every two or three years. And it's the usual suspects who are swinging back around looking for more coaches. But then you have the Harbaugh situation, Tomlin, McDermott on top of that. We get to this spot where there's 10 jobs to be filled.

27:21And so far, first-time head coaches, guys with no head coaching experience at the NFL or college level are being shut out. And I wonder how long that trend will continue because you do take a calculated risk when you take a guy who is X's and O's and you put him in charge of the team. And I think a lot of these teams see the benefit of finding someone who has shown he can be a head coach, college or pro, and be successful because it is a fundamentally different job. So that's one of the things I'm watching is these next six get filled. How many first-time coaches are going to end up with the jobs?