In short
Rich Eisen’s interview with MMQB senior writer Albert Breer, plus Eisen’s “power rankings” of the best Super Bowls covered during NFL Network’s 1.0 era (Super Bowl 38–60). They discuss NFL trade rules (future draft pick trades), Ohio State receiver impact on NFL contract markets, the NFL draft QB situation (Ty Simpson vs. Fernando Mendoza), Steelers QB options (Aaron Rodgers and Kirk Cousins), and AJ Brown trade rumors.
Guests
Albert Breer (Sports Illustrated/MMQB senior writer; long-time NFL reporter). No other named guests in the interview segment.
Key claims
Future first-round pick trades are being debated; Browns argue it increases flexibility and buzz. Ohio State receiver success (JSN, Chase) could raise non-QB salary benchmarks and affect negotiations for corners/other positions. Draft consensus: Fernando Mendoza is top; Ty Simpson is viewed by many as not a first-rounder due to size (~6 feet), arm strength, and limited starts; pro day could shift perceptions. Steelers likely respect Rodgers’ process; Cousins is a fallback option. AJ Brown trade talk centers on contract timing (post–June 1) and market dynamics.
Notable examples
Super Bowl XLIX “Malcolm Butler” play; Super Bowl 51 comeback (strip-sack by Dante Hightower); Super Bowl 43 Steelers comeback after Fitzgerald TD; Super Bowl 58 overtime Chiefs–49ers; Super Bowl 56 Rams–Bengals (Stafford-to-Cup, Donald sack).
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Chapters
Tap a time to open that second in VOUpcoming Super Bowl Power Rankings
2:06 to 2:28
Eisen teases his power rankings of Super Bowls he has covered.
“844-204-RICH is the number to dial later on in this hour.”
Transition to Albert Breer
2:28 to 3:14
Discussion about the upcoming interview with Albert Breer.
“I don't know what that meant, but that seemed like the right time.”
Legendary Quarterbacks and Rankings
3:14 to 3:41
Debate about the best quarterbacks and their rankings.
“Joining us now here from Sports Illustrated is Albert Breer, everybody.”
Draft Trade Discussion
3:41 to 4:44
Breer discusses potential changes to draft trading rules.
“So, like, then you'd be talking about that versus the entirety of Mahomes' career.”
Team Responsibility in Draft Trading
4:44 to 8:07
Conversation about team management and draft trade responsibility.
“I really haven't thought about it very much, to be honest with you.”
Ohio State Receivers Impact
8:07 to 10:48
Breer analyzes the market impact of Ohio State receivers.
“I do agree with that, but I think it's at least an interesting discussion when you talk about where that responsibility should lie.”
Seattle Seahawks' Market Strategy
10:48 to 12:36
Discussion on the Seahawks' approach to player contracts.
“Because I do think what's interesting about the position that he's in is it's rare in that now he's won championships with two different programs, two different head coaches, and the lessons of the last time around.”
Ty Simpson's Draft Potential
12:36 to 14:02
Breer discusses Ty Simpson and his draft prospects.
“The NFL draft, Ty Simpson's pro day is today.”
Evaluating Quarterback Prospects
14:02 to 15:11
Discussing the potential of quarterback prospects like Ty Simpson and Mendoza.
“But I do think some people like him more than Cam Ward last year.”
Ty Simpson's Draft Positioning
15:11 to 16:39
Analyzing where Ty Simpson might land in the NFL draft and team fit possibilities.
“And, you know, you and I have been doing this and having these conversations for a long time, Rich.”
Show all 20 chapters
Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers
16:39 to 19:10
Exploring the implications of Aaron Rodgers potentially joining the Steelers.
“And the reason for that is the Steelers are kicking off the bottom third of the first round, 21st overall.”
Kirk Cousins as a Backup Option
19:10 to 21:54
Discussing Kirk Cousins' potential options if he doesn't secure a starting job.
“And they felt comfortable, even though it looked like to everybody else, there was no contingency plan.”
Rumblings Around A.J. Brown's Future
21:54 to 24:40
Contemplating A.J. Brown's trade rumors and the Eagles' strategy moving forward.
“Why do we keep hearing AJ Brown's name mentioned?”
Eagles' Trade Considerations and Receiver Depth
24:40 to 28:00
Analyzing the Eagles' potential decisions regarding A.J. Brown and the deep receiver draft class.
“And so unless, I guess my last one for you, what's your reporting on?”
Rich's YouTube Milestone and Upcoming Changes
29:52 to 32:21
Rich discusses reaching 1.1 million YouTube subscribers and upcoming career shifts.
“Yeah, we're almost 1.1 million YouTube followers or subscribers.”
Power Rankings of Super Bowls: #10 to #8
32:21 to 36:22
Rich shares his rankings and insights on Super Bowls from the NFL Network era.
“And number 10 on my power rankings list is Super Bowl 56, Rams 23, Bengals 20.”
Power Rankings of Super Bowls: #7 to #6
36:22 to 38:33
Continuing his rankings, Rich shares memorable moments from Super Bowls 44 and 42.
“for the Carolina Panthers to tie this game in the fourth quarter at 29 apiece, but that's when Tom Brady, I'll never forget this.”
Power Rankings of Super Bowls: #5 to #3
38:33 to 42:00
Rich recounts thrilling moments from Super Bowls 52, 47, and 51.
“It was such a, because I was standing in the corner of the end zone.”
Power Ranking Super Bowls: Key Highlights
42:00 to 43:58
Explore the top Super Bowls ranked by memorable moments and plays.
“The Julio Jones catch, a 27-yard game down to the 22-yard line of New England, would have been one of the greatest catches of all time we'd be talking about.”
Super Bowl Memories and Ticket Controversies
44:48 to 46:26
Discuss memorable Super Bowl experiences and ticketing issues that arose.
“I gotta say, I don't really have a lot of notes.”
Transcript
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.0:00Albert Breer:ESPN is now the home of MLB.TV. If you have the ESPN Unlimited plan, you'll get a$15 discount on the 2026 seasonal MLB.TV package. And if you don't, no problem. When you sign up for MLB.TV, you'll receive a one-month free trial of ESPN Unlimited. Cancel any time without losing your MLB.TV access. Get in on the action at stream.espn.com slash MLB TV. ESPN Unlimited. Auto renews at$29.99 per month after free trial unless canceled.
0:27Rich Eisen:Blackouts and other terms apply. From 30 for 30 podcasts.
0:39Albert Breer:Brian Pata, senior defensive lineman from Miami. Gunned down. The key to this case, it's Brian. An hour before he died, he was on the phone arguing with somebody. This might be a hit. You want the truth. They just want a conviction being placed into arrest.
0:56Rich Eisen:We had a killer amongst us. Murder at the U. Listen now.
1:28This is The Rich Eisen Show.
1:30Rich Eisen:This is the Rich Eisen Show. It's time for baseball. The pitch to judge swung on and hit him the air to deep right. It is gone. Live from the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles. Earlier on the show, TNT college basketball analyst, Jamal Mashburn. Coming up, senior writer for the MMQB, Albert Breer. Author, Dave Ogleton. And now, it's Rich Eisen. Our number two of the Rich Eisen Show is on the air, everybody. 844-204-RICH is the number to dial later on in this hour. I've got a power rankings of my top 10 Super Bowls I've covered in my 23 years with NFL Network 1.0. At this point next week, NFL Network 2.0 will be officially underway with ESPN taking over the operation.
2:27Rich Eisen:But you're still poised, though. I'm still poised. Yeah. I'm poised to still host the draft. I'm poised. I need you to be poised. Poise counts! It does count. I don't know what that meant, but that seemed like the right time. Yeah, that was the right time. Poise counts. That's what Kramer told you. Poise counts. Next week, I guess my last power ranking on that front will be power ranking the top 10 players of my NFL network to 1.0 tenure. You might as well just do 2 through 11. Yeah, because we kind of know. Yeah, 2 through 11 is what we're doing. Yeah, I totally understand that, you know, there's everybody else.
3:07Rich Eisen:And then at the very top, there's Peyton Manning. Matt Jones. Okay, listen. I'm so lost. Who? Matt Jones. Made a playoff game before the Jets. Thank you, sir. Oh, wow. Joining us now here from Sports Illustrated is Albert Breer, everybody. What's up? How are you? Good to see you, buddy.
3:23Albert Breer:Who would number two be, though? Would that be Mahomes, Manning?
3:27Rich Eisen:like that'd be tune in tune in next week it's a tease albert okay tune in next week not even
3:33Albert Breer:not even for you will i give that info i didn't know it's oh so it's an actual list i didn't
3:38Rich Eisen:catch that so you actually have a list yeah i'm gonna i'm gonna create it i don't know you know lists who would you take albert yeah who would you take after brady again i mean it would have
3:47Albert Breer:to be between i was so all right so nfl network launched in oh three 2003 week 10 2003 our first
3:55Rich Eisen:in-studio guest was the quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs who were undefeated at the time and Trent Green because he was down the street and available as part of the NFL Players Association at Wheel of Fortune which as you know was in the Sony studios down on down the blocks from our
4:11Albert Breer:Culver City studios and I was a year out of college which is that's amazing truth yeah that was a that was that 2003 was a fun year I I'd say see like the thing with Manning is then you'd have to lop the first five years of his career off. That's right. Right? Yeah. So, like, then you'd be talking about that versus the entirety of Mahomes' career. I think that one would be close for me because I think Mahomes, yeah. And if you're just going quarterbacks, I guess, is the other thing, right? Well, yeah.
4:43Rich Eisen:I mean, I'm going to have to include defenders. I really haven't thought about it very much, to be honest with you.
4:48Albert Breer:KJ Watt, three-time defensive player of the year. Aaron Donald, three-time defensive player of the year, all in that window. with Amy Thompson, Adrian Peterson. Yeah, it's a tough one. It's a tough one.
4:59Rich Eisen:Good luck with it. I'll be looking forward to it. Thanks, buddy. Appreciate that. Let's start with this one. Are the owners going to really let teams trade draft choices five years into the future? Is that really going to happen?
5:12Albert Breer:Yeah, it's interesting. I don't think the Browns put that in intending or expecting that it would change this year. I think the expectation is that discussion will start on this. And the Browns point on it, there's a couple points the Browns are going to make here. Number one, they think that increased player movement is good for the sport because it creates more buzz around the sport, more flexibility for teams to build. And so, you know, if you can trade first round picks further down the line, it does give you more flexibility. They also and look, they were at the forefront of trying to push the trade deadline back a couple of years ago, too.
5:48Albert Breer:which wound up happening. And their point here is the same as their, which is trying to make it more commensurate with the other sports. Now, for people who don't know, in the NBA, you can trade first-round picks seven years out. Now, you have to have a first-rounder every other year. But even with that, NBA teams have gotten creative with pick swaps and all that different stuff. And then in the NHL, there's no limit at all. You can't follow it.
6:12Rich Eisen:You can't follow it. NHL, no limit. But the whole point of this is, though, is, Albert, Why would I, if I'm a coach or a GM, want to take a job where somebody's already traded three draft choices? And I'm showing up, and I know I've got one this year, but the next three years I don't. And the reason why I have the job is the guy that they traded for blew it up so badly. So I'm going to take that job where it's a dumpster fire and there's no way to get better? Of course not. You're not going to do it.
6:43Albert Breer:And I'm with you on that. But that's the same reasoning behind the trade deadline, too, you know, is that the rules are built to protect the league. And what the league wants is to everybody to be as close to 500 as possible, which gives them the most relevant teams, which ultimately gives them the most relevant games. And so, you know, not having the trade deadline further back, for example, is to prevent teams from turning themselves into ghost ships at the end of the year, you know, where you then would have non-competitive games that would devalue the games at the end of the year. It's the same sort of thing here.
7:20Albert Breer:As you just explained, your fear would be that a head coach or a GM on the hot seat winds up just throwing everything and trying to save himself. The owner doesn't have his hands on the wheel at 10-2, and now all of a sudden, that franchise has a job that no one wants. And you have a team that's maybe not competitive for a few years. The Browns point here is that they feel like more of that responsibility should be on the team, should be on the owner. And that's where I think this discussion becomes interesting, right? Like, do you believe that responsibility for that falls on the league or it falls on the individual team and the individual owner?
8:04Albert Breer:You know, and obviously there have to be guardrails somewhere. I do agree with that, but I think it's at least an interesting discussion when you talk about where that responsibility should lie.
8:12Rich Eisen:Albert Brea here on the Rich Eisen Show. Let's turn to one of your favorite subject matters, Albert, which is Ohio State receivers dominating at the professional level and getting pizzayed. Jackson Smith and Jigba resets the market. Walk me through the ripple effect in that pond. What do you got?
8:28Albert Breer:Yeah, I mean, I think, well, I mean, for one thing, there's no question there's an immediate effect on somebody like Puka Nakua, right? Like, and I don't know that the Rams are going to do that right now. But, you know, I think they, they, there's obviously some growth that's needed, you know, from Puka, you know, with the off the field stuff that have happened, stuff that's happened over the last year. But do I think they're ultimately going to wind up paying him? Yeah. You know, and remember he wasn't a first round pick, so he doesn't have the fifth round option the way, the fifth year option, the way that JSN did.
8:59Albert Breer:So there's the immediate effect of it and then I think there's like a bigger picture effect here too which you know we've seen the edge rushers go into the 40s and now you've got a bunch of guys that are there Miles Garrett TJ Watt Micah Parsons Aiden Hutchinson at receiver now we have multiple guys in the 40s and and Jackson Smith and Jigba and and Jamar Chase so now like if you're an offensive tackle, do you look at it and say, well, wait a minute, like, why isn't my position up there? And could that create a problem? Like, say, Joe Ault a year from now, if you're Joe Ault, would you make the argument if you have a great year next year for the Chargers?
9:38Albert Breer:Like, you should be paying me what a top what a top receiver is making or what a or what a top edge rusher is making. If you're if you're a corner, could you make that that that that argument based on it being a premium position. So could this affect a Christian Gonzalez or a Devin Witherspoon where that market right now is at 31? That's what Trent McDuffie got. Sauce Gardner and Derek Stingley were at 30 last year. If you're a Christian Gonzalez or Devin Witherspoon, do you look at it now and say, no, I want to be closer to the top non-quarterback pay, not just over the top corner pay. I want to be closer to where guys like Chase and JSN and Watt and Hutchinson and Parsons are.
10:24Albert Breer:The more guys that get over that mark of$40 million per year, the better the argument is going to be for a guy at another position to pursue it. So it'll be interesting to see what it does to some of those negotiations.
10:35Rich Eisen:And again, I mean, what about within the Seattle building, right? I mean, we were talking about how this is how it shows everybody you ball out. you get paid we'll give you the market value this is perhaps one of the reasons why they're like you know thanks for winning the super bowl mvp kenneth walker but we're just not going to be able to pay you what you're looking for or we're we're unwilling because they got other people too right there's witherspoon you know there's i mean down the line byron murphy nicky minwari in two years like things like that right you gotta you gotta figure that stuff out right right and i
11:09Albert Breer:think that that's going to be you know i'm really interested to talk to john schneider about that over the next few weeks. Because I do think what's interesting about the position that he's in is it's rare in that now he's won championships with two different programs, two different head coaches, and the lessons of the last time around. They obviously did a lot right in building the Legion of Boom era, Seahawks. But I'm sure there are some things they learned from in there. and maybe part of it is like who you pay, who you don't pay, how you manage all of that. Because if you remember back then, they sort of paid everybody, you know?
11:50Albert Breer:So you see them picking and choosing here to some degree where they do let Kenneth Walker go, who is so important to what they were. Meanwhile, they're paying three receivers now, you know? They paid to bring back Rashid Shahid and free agency. They've got Cooper Cup at almost$15 million a year. and now you got JSN at the top of the market. So, you know, like they've obviously as talented as that team is, they've got a lot of big names coming down the pike. Byron Murphy will be eligible next year. Two years from now, Nick Emanwari. They've already paid Charles Cross at left tackle. And so it's just going to be really interesting seeing the way they manage that and how the lessons, you know, of the way things went down 10 years ago, how all that affects the way that they approach all this going forward.
12:35Rich Eisen:All right, let's talk about the 31 teams trying to match what the Seahawks just did and catch up to them. The NFL draft, Ty Simpson's pro day is today. What are you hearing about his stock? Obviously, a colleague of ours here at ESPN and Dan Orlovsky's ruffling some feathers of evaluators saying that he's the best, better than Mendoza, who just announced there's going to be the Raiders. There's a top 30 visit coming. No surprise. What's Ty Simpson's stock? What's it looking like? How can it be affected by today's pro day?
13:07Albert Breer:So let me start here. I very much Dan Orlovsky knows how much I respect him. I like him. I've had a good relationship with him over the years. He's forgotten more about quarterbacking than I'll ever know. But so I'll start there. But, you know, just having talked to people that I have thus far, it does feel like the general consensus is it's Fernando Mendoza at the top of the class and then a drop off. and there are teams that don't view Ty Simpson as a first rounder. That doesn't mean that's everybody. And to be fair, I haven't really dove all the way in on my draft calls yet, like I will over the course of the next four or five weeks.
13:48Albert Breer:So I'll know a lot more in a couple of weeks than I do right now. But the sense I've gotten is that Fernando Mendoza is like a Jared Goff type of prospect as a potential number one overall pick. Like, I don't think most people view him as like what Caleb Williams, Jaden Daniels or Drake May were coming out two years ago. But I do think some people like him more than Cam Ward last year. I do think some people like him more than Bryce Young and CJ Straub when they were coming out. So I think he's in that category. And I do think some people look at Ty Simpson and there are just too many marks against him to see him as a first rounder.
14:27Albert Breer:He's about six foot tall. So he's deficient in that area. He doesn't have a massive arm. He's got a good arm, but doesn't have a massive arm. He falls well short of that threshold of 25 starts that you want to see in a quarterback coming out. On the flip side, son of a coach, you know, got a really good ability to process. So there's I just think he's one of these like he's not for everybody types of prospects. And again, like the consensus that I've gotten thus far is that Mendoza is far and away, you know, the number one guy. But, you know, in a couple of weeks, you know, two, three weeks after I've made a few dozen phone calls on this stuff and really focused in on it, I may I may have I have a little bit of a different opinion.
15:10Albert Breer:We'll see.
15:10Rich Eisen:OK, where does Ty Simpson wind up?
15:14Albert Breer:So I didn't think like until I heard some of this drum beat, I was thinking second round, you know, and I actually thought like, man, it'd be interesting if he went to a team like the Rams in the second round, you know, like where they could sit him and develop them. And, you know, you and I have been doing this and having these conversations for a long time, Rich. We both know the way that that that position gets pushed up the board, especially when there aren't a lot of names to wrap your arms around. You know, so it would it surprise me if you went in the first round? No, because that's just the way that works, that position.
15:53Albert Breer:And there's a reason why you have so many guys go in the first round. and then you don't have a lot of second and third rounders if you look at it historically, it's because either you view a guy as this guy can be my long-term starter at the position, in which case you take him in the first round, or you say he isn't a starter, and now you're not taking him in the second or third round either. You know what I'm saying? So that's always been the dynamic in that position. And so it wouldn't surprise me if he winds up going in the first round. But, you know, until, you know, you hear that drum beat over the last few days, I would have told you it was, I would have said it was unlikely that he would go in the first round.
Read the full transcript
16:38Rich Eisen:Well, I mean, the first round, one would think it would be in the bottom third of the first round. And the reason for that is the Steelers are kicking off the bottom third of the first round, 21st overall. and that's where some mock drafts have him from those who are in the know or at least or as plugged in as someone like you albert or it's somebody uh or or it's a team that would trade back in um yeah our our colleague field yates has the cardinals being that one in his most recent mock draft 26th overall and the reason why i'm that's my big wind up for this pitch about what's going on with the Steelers at their quarterback position.
17:22Rich Eisen:And I've got a soundbite to set you up, actually. Okay. Did you hear what McCarthy had to say to?
17:28Albert Breer:Yeah, this was at Bob Harlan's services, right? Correct.
17:33Rich Eisen:As Kevin, Bob's son, one of our favorite humans, was interviewing McCarthy and brought up Rodgers. Hit it. I'm wondering if there may be a reunion with another Green Bay person in Pittsburgh. and I'm just maybe the reporter side is coming out of me here a little bit but but I saw you working last night wouldn't wouldn't that be an interesting story if that happened yeah in Pittsburgh yes it'd be a great story um I don't know and I would love to tell everybody this is breaking news but um you know you know it's it's it's really uh it's it's really cool to to see Aaron at 42. You see, you know, a young man at 22 and, you know, all that he's been, you know, all of what he's been able to accomplish and, you know, where he's at in his personal life and, you know, in, in trying to make this decision.
18:27Rich Eisen:So he's in a really good place. But I, I think he's in a really good place. You want to interpret? Okay. Albert.
18:37Albert Breer:Yeah, I think, I think two things. I think number one, when the Steelers are trying to respect Aaron Rodgers' decision-making process, and no one knows better than Mike McCarthy how important that is to Rodgers and that it's not a great idea to rock the boat on that. So same as we saw last year when Mike Tomlin and Arthur Smith, I think at this point, had a pretty good idea that Aaron Rodgers was coming. That wasn't actually consummated until the beginning of June, right? Right. So there's that part of it, which I think is a very relevant part because we've been here before with that franchise, with the GM there, Omar Khan, and that they went down that road last year before they even had him in the building.
19:23Albert Breer:And they felt comfortable, even though it looked like to everybody else, there was no contingency plan. My second thought on it is I they've got a pretty there's a pretty good option out there if it's not Rogers and that's Kirk Cousins. and Kirk Cousins still hasn't signed anywhere yet. I think Kirk Cousins can take one of three roads here. He can either take one of the available starting quarterback jobs, right, which I'd say at this point there are two, Pittsburgh and Arizona, and that's Pittsburgh if Rodgers doesn't come back. He could go to a championship team and be a backup, which no shame in that if that's how he wants to spend the year, or he can sit out for now and wait for there to be an injury or a situation to materially change somewhere.
20:11Albert Breer:So I think, you know, Cousins like gives them at least an option if they don't wind up with Aaron Rodgers. I'd also say this. I think over the last two to three years, Aaron was, and this is my perception, putting some pieces together. I think, you know, for so long, Aaron wanted to convince everybody that like this was all bigger than football for him. and you know i think over the last two or three years my interpretation of it at least is that like aaron really kind of wanted to fall back in love with football again right and really enjoy being a football player and not worry about what i am that i'm more than a player or whatever just enjoy being a football player and i think he finally accomplished that last year in pittsburgh even though they didn't achieve the ultimate goal like i think he really enjoyed the year last year playing for Tomlin, playing with the teammates that he had, a veteran group, you know, like guys on that roster who've been around forever, like Cam Hayward and TJ Watt.
21:15And so, you know, I think
21:17Albert Breer:for that reason, like there's a chance, there's a good chance he comes back because if he had had the experience in Pittsburgh that maybe he had the two years before in New York, he'd be retired by now. But I think like the experience he had in Pittsburgh last year was a really good one. And the presence of Mike McCarthy there combined with that, you know, I think sets up for a scenario where, you know, maybe he could come back and play a, I think this would be 22nd year, right? Which would only put him one year behind Brady, believe it or not. Wow.
21:54Rich Eisen:Last one for you, Albert. Why do we keep hearing AJ Brown's name mentioned? because we have nothing else to talk about is that really seriously i'll accept that as an answer
22:06Albert Breer:i think that's part of it i mean that's part of it it's just it's just by far the biggest thing i i also so here here's what i would tell you um you know i i know um it was the eagles preference to deal them out of the nfc and i know i can tell you that you know the eagles were given four preferred destinations and those were buffalo kansas city the chargers and the patriots and Buffalo obviously was quickly out of it with their trade for DJ Moore. I don't think the Chiefs and Chargers had an overwhelming amount of interest, which left the Patriots. Then the Rams enter into it. The Rams ultimately wind up backing out of it.
22:43Albert Breer:And so, you know, now I think we do have a little bit of a staring contest between the Patriots and the Eagles. And of course, now you've got the fact that you got that June 1st date out there, right? like where the Eagles have almost run out of contracts to restructure. And so, you know, unless they want to do some real cap gymnastics, it makes more sense for them to trade him after June 1st. So if they wait until after June 1st, are they going to have a market there? Are the Patriots still going to be there given the deep receiver class that's there in the draft? Yeah, I certainly think that there's a possibility that the Patriots and Eagles do wind up doing a deal post-June 1.
23:25Albert Breer:but things can happen between now and then. Here's the other part that I think is interesting, and I'm not sure anybody's picked up on this. Mike Vrabel was part of a deal like this five years ago. If you remember, you remember when Julio Jones was traded? Julio Jones was traded on like June 7th, and it was the same sort of situation. It was an older receiver, and Atlanta, you know, Arthur Smith and Terry Fontenot had just gotten there, and they had a kind of chaotic cap situation. And so it made sense for the Falcons to wait until after June 1st to deal off Julio Jones. And there were the Titans waiting for him, whatever, a few days after June 1st, and they wind up doing a deal.
24:09Albert Breer:So I would say if there's a team out there that's at least got the experience in having waited for a player at that position and then having had to incorporate that player at that position thereafter, the Patriots would be that team. And that's on top of the existing relationship that you obviously have. It's well known how much Mike Frabel loves A.J. Brown. So I think there's a lot of reasons why the Patriots and Eagles would do a deal post-June 1. But again, a lot can happen between now and then.
24:40Rich Eisen:Yeah, like keeping A.J. Brown. Right. And so unless, I guess my last one for you, what's your reporting on? Has there been a trade demand under the radar somehow kept under the radar in Philadelphia, similar to Max Crosby in Vegas?
24:56Albert Breer:I don't know that it's a demand. I like it's certainly I mean, I I A.J. Brown's camp has certainly explored, you know, their options. And I think it's like one of those is the grass really greener scenarios, like looking around and seeing, OK, what's out there for us? you know I don't know that it's a I don't know that it's a demand I do think like if they were going to go back through that door and and reconcile this and and try to go forward I don't think that's impossible you know one of Nick Sirianni's greatest strengths as a head coach is his ability to manage people you know and so I I wouldn't put it past the Eagles to to say like Nick Sirianni can manage this.
25:40Albert Breer:You know, I, I, I do think the reason we're here is the relationship between the quarterback and the receiver and AJ Brown's really well liked in that building, in that locker room. And so, you know, I think that the, the, the relationship between AJ Brown and Jalen Hurts, like that would be would have to be at the center of any sort of reconciliation where the Eagles are going forward with him as their number one receiver. And again, in that draft, this is a very, very deep draft at the receiver position. So could the Eagles' plan be affected by what ends up happening over that weekend in Pittsburgh the same way the Patriots' plan could be affected by what receivers are available to them that weekend?
26:32Albert Breer:I absolutely think that's possible, too. too.
26:34Rich Eisen:Albert, you're the man. Thanks for the time. We'll chat again soon, bud. Have a good one.
26:38Albert Breer:Awesome. Thanks. And good luck to your guys this weekend, too.
26:41Rich Eisen:I appreciate it. There's six Big Ten teams in the Sweet 16.
26:44Albert Breer:Yeah, I mean, if they have some success, maybe North Carolina starts sniffing around. I don't know. Oh, nice try. Nice try.
26:52Rich Eisen:No, it's okay. He's in a perfect spot, Albert. You missed out on him. Don't try and get him poached by someone else just because you whiffed on him first. I know. I know. All right, Albert. Thanks for the time. That's Albert. All right. Thanks, Rich. Ladies and gentlemen. There he goes. I have to drop in that one. Boy, A.J. Brown. What is going on there?
27:15Albert Breer:Going to have to ask Edelman if he can wear 11, obviously.
27:19Rich Eisen:He hasn't been retired. Yeah, I think. It's been a soft retirement. Is that what it is? Soft retirement. Okay. We take a break. 844-204-RICH. Number to dial. When we come back, my power rankings of the best Super Bowls of the NFL Network era. That's coming up next. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast.
27:44Rich Eisen:Rich Eisen here. You know that feeling of handing off your taxes and then hearing nothing? Total radio silence. Well, not anymore. Now your taxes are done for you by a TurboTax full-service expert who checks for every deduction and keeps you in the loop with real-time updates on your phone. Just match with your dedicated expert, upload your docs, and go live your life. Confident you're getting every dollar you deserve. This is how taxes should be. Visit TurboTax.com today to learn more. Real-time updates only in iOS mobile app. Only available with TurboTax full-service experts. If you're like me and my family, you're all about creating amazing memories while on vacation.
28:26Rich Eisen:And for me, many of those have involved a home we found on Airbnb. We had such great experiences that whenever we travel somewhere new, we always check Airbnb first to find a place that fits our needs. The homes we've stayed in, comfortable, safe, private. You feel like you're part of the community. After a long day of exploring or sitting on a beach, it really is nice to come back to a place you can call your own. Airbnb is also a great way, if you want, to earn some extra money while you're traveling or out of your house for an extended period of time. You can make your home work for you while you're away.
29:00Rich Eisen:Not as a full-time thing, not as some big production, just something that fits into trips you're already taking. You can use the money for that dream vacation or put that money towards that outdoor kitchen you always wanted. Hosting on Airbnb just feels smart. Your home may be worth more than you think. Find out how much at airbnb.com slash host. If you're ready for an oil change, trust the professional parts people at O 'Reilly Auto Parts to recommend the best products for your vehicle. Right now, get five quarts of Valvoline full synthetic motor oil and a Wix filter for$35.99 and receive a$15 O 'Reilly gift card after rebate.
29:37Rich Eisen:Upgrade to a Wix XP oil filter for just$2 more. Limits apply. See store for details. Stop by your local O 'Reilly Auto Parts store or shop online at O 'ReillyAuto.com Back here on the Rich Eyes and Show. Yeah, we're almost 1.1 million YouTube followers or subscribers. Yeah, remember when I was going to have a photo shoot plan with the... I don't know. We'll look into it. I mean, we don't need to be so aggressive with our YouTube partners. Like, where's our damn platform? Well, I mean, Rich, it's been a while is what I'm saying. We got one for$100 ,000, right? Yeah,$100 ,000. Yeah, what's that?
30:16Rich Eisen:We're a million. Exactly. Almost 1.1. Almost 1.1. All right. So what's today's date? The 25th, right? 25th. Okay. One week from today, it's going to be April 1st. And I'll tell you this. If you had told me that I would be a full-time ESPN employee again, and you're telling me it happens on April 1st, I'd be like, okay. Crazy. Tell me another one. But that's a fact. At this point next week, I will be an NFL slash ESPN, NFL Network ESPN employer. It's full owned and operated by Disney. My 23-plus year run as an NFL employee would be over. It's crazy. The streak. But it's a 2.0 for NFL Network, again.
31:10Rich Eisen:I'm poised, as Awful Announcing put it, to host the NFL draft. I can tell you right now I'm more than poised. I'm going to do it. It's happening. And, however, the 23-year run of NFL Network 1.0 would be in the books at this point next week. So in that regard, I'm going to come up with a couple of power rankings, one this week, one next week, looking back at the 23 seasons of NFL Network coverage. coverage of the National Football League. And I have my power rankings here of the best Super Bowls of the NFL Network era. Hit it.
31:59Rich Eisen:Power rankings. There are many like it, but this one is hard.
32:03Albert Breer:Power rankings.
32:05Rich Eisen:All right, everybody. Here we go. All right, let's go. Power rankings of the best Super Bowls that I've covered of the NFL Network era. It's been all of them since Super Bowl 38 to the current Super Bowl 60. And number 10 on my power rankings list is Super Bowl 56, Rams 23, Bengals 20. This one is on the list. Joe Burrow and those Bengals. Here they go taking on an NFC West team once again in the Super Bowl. We all know the Niners stood in their way. Now we hear the Rams standing in the way. young Joe Burrow had just knocked out the Kansas City Chiefs. And I do remember I was in the building in SoFi for the NFC championship game that followed, and they had on the Oculus in the middle of SoFi Stadium the end of that AFC championship game, and Rams fans and the Niners fans, because there were Niners fans in the building and the Rams fans, were all cheering Joe Burrow's victory because it knocked the Chiefs out.
33:06Rich Eisen:And Burrow and the Bengals were basically showing everybody, be careful what you wish for but that's when Stafford and Cup started getting going and the first one we're seeing the touchdown that Cup scored but don't forget this drive was a fourth down that that Sean McVay decided to go for it and he handed the ball off to Cup and that's sweet and this this touchdown was preceded on a no-look throw from Stafford to Cup as well an unbelievable drive that did leave some time on the clock for the Bengals until Aaron Donald crashed through and sacked Joe Burrow and pointed to his ring finger to wrap up that Super Bowl in SoFi Stadium in the Rams' house.
33:47Rich Eisen:And it was just an exhilarating game. That's number 10 on the best Super Bowls of the NFL Network era. Number 9 is Super Bowl 58. Two Super Bowls later, Chiefs 25, Niners 22 in overtime in Las Vegas, Nevada. Again, if you had told me at the beginning of NFL Network's existence in year one, I would be covering a Super Bowl in Las Vegas. Yeah. All right. Oh, by the way, and I have it on a list after a game that took place in a stadium in Los Angeles where they would house two teams in Los Angeles. When we first planted a flag for NFL Network, it was like, what's the NFL doing in Los Angeles? What was the NFL doing in Vegas?
34:35Rich Eisen:Well, hosting one of the best Super Bowls I've covered. Chiefs 25, Niners 22 in this game. Jawan Jennings was dominant. He could have been the MVP of this Super Bowl. He put the Niners up in this game. Christian McCaffrey was performing his head off. He did have a fumble on the first drive that was shocking. But the Niners and the Chiefs went into overtime. They forced overtime in this game. such a conversation had about the fact that the Niners took the ball first in overtime. It was the rule that was first finally put into place where both teams had to touch it in overtime in the playoffs. We saw it all playing out.
35:21Rich Eisen:First time it happened in a Super Bowl. And yada, yada, yada. The Niners only get three because Chris Jones comes crashing through and forced to throw. that could have been a touchdown otherwise if Brock Purdy, who played very well, had time. The Niners only scored three. The Chiefs go ahead and score a touchdown. Sky Moore just walking, waltzing into the end zone. No, it wasn't Sky Moore, pardon me. It was... Nicole Hardman. Yeah, Nicole Hardman, who, you know, the Jets basically gave to the Chiefs in the middle of the season. That wrapped up the Super Bowl, and the Chiefs are Super Bowl winners.
35:58Rich Eisen:once again Super Bowl 58-9 on my power rankings list. Number 8 on my power rankings list. Here we go. First Super Bowl NFL network covered. Super Bowl 38. Patriots 32. Panthers 29. This was a game that had hardly any scoring in the first quarter. Second quarter went nuts. Hardly any scoring in the third quarter. Fourth quarter went nuts. Ricky Prohl scored a touchdown for the Carolina Panthers to tie this game in the fourth quarter at 29 apiece, but that's when Tom Brady, I'll never forget this. I was on the behind the goalposts. The Patriots were going away from me. It was the first time I had ever been on a field, a football field for a football game.
36:43Rich Eisen:I'd never done that with the SPN. And there I was standing there. Every single time Brady threw it, it looked like it was going to be intercepted. And a member of the Patriots receiving corps just swooped right in to catch it. After two or three of those, I realized, oh, Brady's throwing their spot. He's perfect. they're not going to stop him. He's doing exactly what he's supposed to do, and Vinatieri's going to do exactly what he did just a couple of years before, which is kick the game winner. And then, of course, I will never forget, this was the night the NFL Network had its first ever Super Bowl commercial on the air.
37:11Rich Eisen:It was right after halftime. I was standing by a television set in a suite saying, can't wait to see it. But I didn't see it, nor did the rest of America, because the Janet Jackson wardrobe malfunction happened just a second before. That's number eight on my power rankings. list. Number seven on my power rankings, best Super Bowls in the NFL Network era is Super Bowl 44 Saints and Colts. This is the one where the Colts and the Saints are going at it. Peyton Manning from New Orleans taking on the Saints and Sean Peyton and Drew Brees just after Hurricane Katrina. And Sean Peyton with the gutsiest call I've ever seen in my 23 years of covering Super Bowls and onside kick to start the second half.
37:53Rich Eisen:And then what wraps it up for The Saints is a pick six of the hometown kid. Touchdown. Saints go ahead and win it. I'll never forget the postgame of this one because Sean Payton was so hyped. He came to the set and slapped my hand so damn hard that I had a stinger in my elbow for the rest of the segment. I had to go to my other offhand for the stick handheld microphone because I couldn't feel my arm. Oh, by the way, Kim Kardashian also stopped by because Reggie Bush was on the team. That was part of the NFL Network postgame. Won't forget that. That's number seven on my power rankings of the Super Bowl eras of the NFL Network era that stand out.
38:32Rich Eisen:Number six, Giants 17, Patriots 14. Helmet catch. I don't recall seeing that. It was such a, because I was standing in the corner of the end zone. Couldn't really get a great glimpse of it. Couldn't believe. I thought it was an incomplete pass, obviously. Then we saw on the monitors overhead that that was an incredible catch. This was a game that really wasn't a great football game, to be honest with you. Certainly when it was just three weeks after we had the season finale between the Giants and the Patriots, and the Patriots beat the Giants to stay undefeated. That was a much better football game than this one.
39:12Rich Eisen:I was in the end zone, though, watching clear path of Plaxico Burris catching the game winner wide open from Eli Manning. You could even see us in the corner of the end zone. There we are. If you put the other one up, there we have me standing right behind Roger Goodell. At attention. That's me standing right in the end zone. I had a perfect view of it as Roger Goodell then went out and handed out the trophy to the New York football giants. That's number six right there. Number five on the list. Top five now of my power rankings. Best Super Bowl of the NFL Network era. Sorry, Chris. You and I were sitting next to each other for this one.
39:47Rich Eisen:in, said Roger Goodell. Great game, though. You are a Red Sox hat. He busted your stones for it. Eagles, 41. Patriots, 33. The Philly special. Philly, Philly. That was one of those moments. I will never forget that. It's a statue now outside of Philadelphia. That was an idea that this thing was going to be more of a battle than a lot of people thought. This also ended with a Hail Mary of Brady trying to find Gronk, and it was close, man. It was close. About a foot away. 41-33 finals. Zach Ertz with the score to be the margin of difference. It was a wild, freezing night in Minnesota. Number four on my list of power rankings of the best Super Bowls of the NFL Network era.
40:35Rich Eisen:Super Bowl 47. Ravens 34, Niners 31 in the Har Bowl. the blackout happened in New Orleans just as the Ravens were going nuts in this game. Blackout ended, but before it did, I was in the NFL Network suite, and I learned that because he did the halftime of the second Super Bowl we ever covered in Jacksonville, Super Bowl 39, the Patriots beating the Eagles, I learned that Paul McCartney gets tickets in the NFL suite every single year of the rest of his days. And he was there, and I took a picture with him. Very cool. And it's one of my favorite pictures of all time, except for the fact I should have tucked in my damn shirt.
41:19Rich Eisen:What a mess. I didn't even notice that, though. Oh, my God. Oh, my God. My goodness gracious. Michael Crabtree, incomplete in the end zone. This thing could have been a Niners gym win instead of a Ravens John win. That's the way that Ed Reed and Ray Lewis strolled off into the sunset. Number three on the list, Super Bowl 51. With 8.31 to go in the third quarter, Tevin Coleman scored a touchdown. Made it 28-3 famously. Would you believe with 8.31 left in the fourth, same time on the clock, Chris, that's when Dante Hightower went in and got the strip sack of Matt Ryan that switched everything. And even with this, making it a 28-20 game with Tom Brady beginning to come back there after that sack force fumble.
42:06Rich Eisen:The Julio Jones catch, a 27-yard game down to the 22-yard line of New England, would have been one of the greatest catches of all time we'd be talking about. Somehow, someway from the 22-yard line, the Patriots forced a punt. Got the ball back. James White touchdown, two-point conversion. Overtime we go. James White touchdown, end of game. Super Bowl 51, we'll never forget it. number two on my list is super bowl 43 steelers 23 cardinals steelers 27 cardinals 23 oh i thought this is the james harrison pick six right before halftime uh it was like watching it in slow motion like the matrix i can't believe he did it and then still we come down the nfl network crew comes down from the uh upstairs green room that we had in an elevator strolled out on the field with three minutes and change to go and the only thing we saw as we strolled out on the field was larry Fitzgerald running right towards us for a touchdown and we're like wait a minute this is live oh my god the Cardinals have the lead and then we watch Ben Roethlisberger march the Steelers down for a touchdown for a touchdown to Santonio Holmes in the end zone that won the game for the Steelers one of the best Super Bowls I've ever seen but number one on the list is the one that we talked about so much leading up to the Super Bowl 60 matchup between the Patriots and the Seahawks the Malcolm Butler play.
43:27Rich Eisen:I've never been in a stadium, never seen a stadium where one team's fan base is cheering and the other one is crying, and then one play later, it's completely reversed. The Patriots scored two unanswered touchdowns in the fourth quarter wrapped around a punt, and then, of course, this interception in Tom Brady, and the Patriots won Super Bowl XLIX. That is the number one Super Bowl as I power rank the Super Bowls of the NFL Network era. as we now take a break. We'll talk about, we'll get your two cents on that list when we come back. You can call us too. The Rich Eisen Show, the podcast.
44:12Rich Eisen:Back here on the Rich Eisen Show, 844-204-RICH is the number to dial. Get into the Hyundai Getaway sales event right now. You can get away with the deal so right, it will almost, almost feel wrong to you. because right now you can get great deals on our most popular models including our adventure ready suvs like the hyundai santa fe or santa fe hybrid in the tucson or tucson hybrid there's the bold and stylish elantra loaded with the latest tech you want to go all electric you got the ionic 5 or ionic 9 so get down to your local hyundai dealer and get away with a deal you'll love during the hyundai getaway sales event visit hundyusa.com for details all right don't leave any off for you?
44:49Rich Eisen:I gotta say,
44:50Albert Breer:I don't really have a lot of notes. No notes on the list. The only other game that you maybe could have put on there of a compelling game was Green Bay-Pittsburgh, Aaron Rodgers. You know, I almost went there too.
45:02Rich Eisen:That one didn't seem to be... And that's the thing.
45:04Albert Breer:It's like, not a lot sticks out
45:06Rich Eisen:from that game. Well, the thing that stuck out from that game is that, you know... Was the week leading up to it. Was the week leading up to it. There was snow and ice and then seats that were in the stadium that were, how can I put it lightly, suddenly no longer. Well, they disappeared because I think Jerry put seats where he wasn't supposed to or where he could and it wasn't secure enough. And he came by the set pregame and acted like nothing was going on. And we then get an email from the NFL saying, if you've got your game day tickets, which I did, you know it's been an incredible perk the nfl gives people who worked the super bowl two tickets to the game to go yeah and so um what i ended up doing is i gave those two tickets to dr bobby cats oh the obgyn of the stars including the person who delivered our kids of course um i was in jerry's suite for that game were you really yeah that's right dude well i mean you know so what ended up happening is a bunch of seats that people had tickets for suddenly you know were ruled unusable.
46:16Rich Eisen:And it created a massive, massive storm of you know what. And that's the thing that leaps out to me for that game 100%. The Ridge Eisen Show Podcast.
From the publisher
MMQB’s Albert Breer joins Rich and discusses the Browns proposal to trade draft picks five years into the future, on Jaxon Smith-Njigba setting the market at the WR position, what is the stock for Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson and where does he end up, what is going on with the Steelers and their QB position, the latest with Eagles receiver AJ Brown.
Rich reveals his Power Rankings of the Best Super Bowls of the NFL Network which includes Super Bowl XLII and the David Tyree Catch, the Pats overtime thriller against the Falcons in Super Bowl LI, and Super Bowl XLIX and the Malcolm Butler interception.
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