Hour 2:  NFL Insider Tom Pelissero, plus Chris Webber Talks Final Four & NBA

2 Apr 2026 · 47 min · 15 chapters

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In short

Rich Eisen Show Hour 2 mixes NFL contract/league business with NCAA/NBA Final Four talk.

Guests (backgrounds)

  • Chris Webber: Basketball Hall of Famer; former NBA star and “Fab Five” member tied to Michigan.
  • Tom Pelissero: NFL Network insider; reports on league transactions and contracts.
  • (Also mentioned/appearing later in the hour: actor Wilson Bethel, known for Daredevil: Born Again as Bullseye.)

Key claims

  • Webber argues crunch-time basketball should trust the best shot, but passing can be the “right” play when the team is winning.
  • He favors Illinois over UConn and calls Arizona–Michigan the de facto “national championship” matchup (though he disputes the label’s certainty).
  • Pelissero explains Kirk Cousins’ Raiders deal structure: likely 1-year $20M (Raiders pay $11.3M; Falcons offset; roster bonus defers cap/cash), with a possible 3-year $100M if he’s on roster by the league-year fifth day.
  • Pelissero says Steelers are still likely to end up with Aaron Rodgers in 2026, but no firm answer yet; Cousins was on their contingency radar.
  • He reports Puka Nacua is in rehab; Rams knew about potential issues and aren’t rushing a long-term extension.

Notable examples

  • Webber cites Duke vs UConn Final Four ending and Caravan’s late-game unselfish pass.
  • Pelissero references Clint Kubiak’s system fit for Cousins and Raiders’ roster-building (Tyler Linderbaum, Brock Bowers, Ashton Gentry).

Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.

Chapters

Tap a time to open that second in VO

Kirk Cousins Joins Raiders

1:16 to 2:06

Rich discusses Kirk Cousins' move to the Raiders.

“From the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles.”

Chris Webber Joins the Conversation

2:06 to 2:28

Chris Webber talks about his insights and experiences.

“to give us some considerable meat on those bones.”

Reflections on Duke vs. UConn

2:28 to 3:54

Chris and Rich analyze the Duke vs. UConn game and key plays.

“and one of my favorite humans on the planet.”

Illinois' Performance in the Tournament

3:54 to 5:12

Chris shares insights on Illinois' chances in the tournament.

“You know, and Caravan having, you know, the presence of mind to not force it up himself and get it back to the freshman to shoot the three and win it.”

Previewing Michigan vs. Arizona

5:12 to 7:44

Discussing the matchup between Michigan and Arizona.

“I'll give you the floor on that, though, Chris.”

Chris Webber's Excitement for Alt-Cast

7:44 to 11:44

Chris shares his excitement about the Fab Five's alt-cast for the game.

“It's not a given for anyone getting to that championship game.”

Reconnecting with the Fab Five

11:44 to 17:44

Chris reflects on the camaraderie of the Fab Five and their past.

“But, you know, that's what I think we can do.”

The Importance of College Friendships

17:44 to 19:42

Discussion about the lasting significance of college friendships and memories.

“But, Chris, it really is the dream of anybody fortunate enough to go to college and have experiences with friends and meeting friends and knowing friends.”

Kirk Cousins' New Contract Details

23:04 to 28:01

Tom Pelissero analyzes Kirk Cousins' contract negotiations and potential outcomes.

“That's why with America's best lineup of hybrids from Hyundai, you get the best of both worlds.”

Kirk Cousins' Future with the Raiders

28:01 to 31:48

Explore the potential scenarios surrounding Kirk Cousins' contract and future with the Raiders.

“and all of a sudden now you've got a two-year$80 million deal or two for 90 prior to the third day of the league year that maybe could be tradable for the Raiders.”
Show all 15 chapters

Aaron Rodgers' Uncertainty with the Steelers

31:49 to 34:17

Discussing the implications of Aaron Rodgers' commitment and its impact on the Steelers' quarterback situation.

“Tom Pellicero here on the Rich Eisen Show.”

Puka Nakua's Rehab and Future with the Rams

34:18 to 37:09

Analyzing Puka Nakua's rehab journey and what it means for his contract and the Rams.

“But they went out and got Rico Dowdle, who I know Mike McCarthy really likes and the fit for him in the backfield.”

NFL Officials' Negotiation Stand-off

37:10 to 42:00

Examining the ongoing negotiations between the NFL and referees and the potential implications for the league.

“I have no doubt if he comes back and plays well, that that monster contract is going to be there.”

NFL Officiating Standards and Challenges

42:00 to 43:11

Explore the implications of the NFL's officiating standards and potential changes.

“If we're willing to do this on a one-year basis with replacement officials, why wouldn't we do this with the regular officials?”

Comparative Insights on NFL Contracts

45:58 to 48:29

Discussion on NFL quarterback contracts in comparison to MLB salaries.

“So I'll go Kirk Cousins, 11 straight years.”
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Transcript

Automatic transcript. May contain errors.

0:00Tom Pelissero:Protein is now at Starbucks, and it's never tasted so good. You can add protein cold foam to your favorite drink or try one of our new protein lattes or matcha. Try it today at Starbucks.

0:15Rich Eisen:K-pop Demon Hunter's Saja Boys Breakfast Meal and Huntrix Meal have just dropped at McDonald's. They're calling this a battle for the fans. What do you say to that, Rumi? It's not a battle. So glad the Saja Boys could take breakfast and give our meal the rest of the day.

0:29Chris Webber:It is an honor to share.

0:31Rich Eisen:No, it's our honor.

0:33Chris Webber:It is our larger honor. No, really. Stop.

0:36Tom Pelissero:You can really feel the respect in this battle. Pick a meal to pick a side. Ba-da-ba-ba-ba.

0:43Rich Eisen:And participate in McDonald's while supplies last. This is The Rich Eisen Show. Hey, everybody. Can't get enough of The Rich Eisen Show? You'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 Rich Eisen Show and you'll never miss a moment. Now, on with the show. How do you think ABS is being taken in? The batter's challenge in the pits. It's entertaining. I think he's getting right again. The Rich Eisen Show. From the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles.

1:27Rich Eisen:Earlier on the show, 14-year NFL veteran Levante David. Coming up, basketball Hall of Famer Chris Weber. NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero. Actor Wilson Bethel. And now, it's Rich Eisen. All right, everybody. Hour number two of the Rich Eisen Show is on the air. Kirk Cousins is signed with the Raiders. A lot of head-scratching going on for that one. You gave my two cents at the top of hour number one. thinking it's a really smart move. Don't have to start Fernando Mendoza right off the bat. They might do it anyway. Not forced to do it. Tom Pelissero is going to be joining us in 20 minutes time to give us some considerable meat on those bones.

2:12Rich Eisen:844-204-RICH, number to dial. Phone lines are all lit because Raider fans are kind of the same way. But lit with excitement or curiosity. Not the other way. Oh, it is Vegas. At any rate, all of you. Joining us right now is a basketball Hall of Famer and one of my favorite humans on the planet. Makes me happy every time I see, certainly that block M in the middle of this man's chest, Chris Webber, back here on the Rich Eisen Show on this weekly spot. What's up, C-Webb? How are you? What's up, Rich? What's up, fellas? You know, did you hear a lot of our conversation about Duke Hayton? Did any of that come back to you?

2:46Rich Eisen:Because it certainly came back to me when we talked last week, you know, about that.

2:51Chris Webber:I saw so many other publications taking that argument. So I didn't even know it was that. I didn't even know it was out there until you told me.

3:00Rich Eisen:It's out there. And you and I chopped it up. Where were you watching the end of Duke UConn? I was sitting on my couch and just screaming. And everyone came out from the other room to see if Dad was okay.

3:14Chris Webber:Yeah, it's crazy. I was with some family and friends, and I missed it. and I ran up and everyone was telling me what was going on. But that was just, man, that was just an incredible play. You know, you got to feel sorry for Boozer after playing so well all year. You know, I know he'll fight back through that and have a great career. But, you know, he has to, you know, just be down right now. But you think of just not giving up coming back and, you know, pressure defense late in the game can cause turnovers. And it was a great play by UConn to get that shot.

3:53Rich Eisen:No doubt about it. You know, and Caravan having, you know, the presence of mind to not force it up himself and get it back to the freshman to shoot the three and win it. Like that was a really savvy move in crunch time. But that's what happens when you played in the final four, you know, two out of your first three years of your college life, Chris, right?

4:14Chris Webber:Yeah, I love it. You just made a great point. And I try to make this to young players all the time when I talk to them about hero ball. The best players should always, always take the shot. But when you're in a game time winning situation, the best shot needs to be taken. And that's when you really trust the team. We've seen stories from Phil Jackson or Michael Jordan talking about it all the way up to today. It's a common theme and passing it back from the best three point shooter in the conference because two guys are as was in his view, he would have the right to take it. But if he didn't feel that confident, and that doesn't mean not trusting yourself for being ready for the moment, meaning like, oh no, this is not the time, passing it back, I just thought was a really unselfish and selfless play and just as important as the shot because he had the right to take a bad shot.

5:02Rich Eisen:And then now it's UConn versus the Fighting Illini in that portion of the Final Four. And Chris, you know, I obviously am over the moon about what our school is doing, and that Arizona game is going to be nuts, and we'll get to that in a second for many reasons, since you will be working it, and we'll talk about that in a second. that UConn versus Illinois is just for the right to be the Washington Generals, to use a phrase that you were using a little bit a couple of weeks ago on your spot here, that the Arizona-Michigan game is the de facto national championship game. I kind of think that's ridiculous.

5:46I'll give you the floor on that, though, Chris.

5:49Chris Webber:Yeah, you can't buy into that, especially if Michigan were to win and go up against Illinois. You always know that in a conference play, there's a different familiarity with that. And so you really can never just say, you know, David's going to be Goliath. But when you look at Illinois, I've been preaching. I've been preaching about, I feel like I've been preaching about Acuff, Illinois, and San Antonio all year. Because it was just themes that I thought was coming out. out. And the fact that, you know, you have, if you really think about not only the bloodline, not only the relationship to Jokic and his agent, not only the unity of that Illinois team, why wouldn't they continue?

6:33Chris Webber:Why wouldn't they? They're playing better on the defensive end, and they have some great scores on their team. They have guys that have lineage to the league, so they're ready for big moments. They want more. I loved it. You know, I look at Stojakovic as a de facto nephew, and I get so proud sometimes just from the little things. And you know what I was most proud with him is when they made it to the Final Four. It was an interview in the locker room with him, and he expressed how joyful it was, but he was like, we're not done. And that's the mentality you have to have, and when you have players that truly have that mentality and are in the process and enjoying the moment, You know, I always tell my brother this the other day.

7:15Chris Webber:You never want to fight a dude that's already crying before you fight. If you don't know that, that's a rule. Trust me. You never fight a guy that's crying before the fight. And I feel like you never really want to go up against a team that believes more in themselves and in the moment that's not satisfied than one that is just being giddy and happy to be in the process. And this team is saying, you know, we got a lot more work to do. So I really trust Illinois. We're going up against UConn. That's going to be a slugfest. And no, it's not a given. It's not a given for anyone getting to that championship game.

7:51Rich Eisen:Of course not. I mean, anybody could take it now. So let's get to the Michigan-Arizona game. Not going to lie, a little nervous, Chris. I mean, that Arizona team has been a wagon. Obviously, we have been as well, certainly leading up to this point. I mean, how do you see Arizona and Michigan facing off on Saturday night? Chris?

8:11Chris Webber:I like being nervous. I was nervous for every game I played. That doesn't mean I'm scared. It just means, you know, our juices are flowing. So I'm with you on that. But, you know, that's because Arizona's good and you respect sport. And you know that anything can happen in sport. As I said before, I like Arizona a lot because they're tough. They're big. They play defense. They don't just rely on the three-pointer because I think that, you know, three-pointers can come and go. And so they have a steady play. They play inside out. They can get you in foul trouble. And, you know, I think the coach has done a wonderful job, and they have some wonderful players over there.

8:51Chris Webber:And that being said, you know, I really like what Coach May has done. I think that the player of the big, I mean, Marr started off the game the other day when he dribbled to his right. thought he was going to jump hook, came back, spent left, and dunked it. And so one thing I really like is I see the player development. I don't know if he would have been able to do that move earlier in the year and still be great. And what I'm saying is that as great as Michigan play, they always get better, even if it's coming out as a bad play. And that's what I look forward to in this, the consistency of Yaxel, the great play of our guards.

9:28Chris Webber:We can't turn it over. and we got to play great defense like we've been doing and shoot the heck out of the ball. So I'm excited. It's a great game for us and for great teams, your best player, you know, your best player step up. And so it's going to be exciting, man. But I feel good about the Wolverines.

9:44Rich Eisen:Well, me too. The reason why I'm nervous just to, you know, I guess turn this into a little bit of a support group conversation is Michigan's superpower in many ways this year has been its versatility. And we saw that on display in the rounds of 16 and in the Elite Eight, where they beat Alabama and Tennessee, two teams from the SEC that do two different things. One in Alabama is shooting threes, playing as fast as they possibly can. They did, in fact, take Mara out of the game. Literally, literally, Dusty May removed him from the game because you could see the type of game it was was not a Mara game for his talents.

10:27and then here comes Tennessee totally different totally different and Michigan you know punked

10:34Rich Eisen:them to use the phrase and and that's what you need to do to survive in advance certainly in a tournament where you have to do it in such a quick turnaround Arizona appears to be a team that can play in the same way right and so here we go here we go that's my level of concern no and

10:54Chris Webber:And let me add to your level of concern to make it, you know, to get you, you know, to make you think more. But these are the games with foul trouble, man. Two fouls early, let's say in the first 10 minutes is going to sit out a great player for the rest of the for the for the half and affect them during halftime and get them cold and maybe take about two minutes to come back in the second half. And, you know, we're going to see how players handle, you know, how the refs are going to call it, if they allow it to be physical, because you have two physical teams, and then who takes advantage of the momentum early.

11:31Chris Webber:And so, yeah, man, I think they're going to fill each other out. But again, I'm worried that the fact that, you know, Arizona gives a lot of body blows, and body blows may not show up until the end of the fight. So we're going to have to, you know, get out in the passing lanes and get some easy ones early. But, you know, that's what I think we can do.

11:50Rich Eisen:Chris Weber here on the Rich Eisen Show. Speaking of support groups. Speaking of groups. Speaking of this game, Michigan and Arizona. Chris, I am so excited that you are here right now so we can talk about what was announced quite literally when we came on the air in this hour and started our conversation, is that you and the rest of the Fab Five are going to get together and conduct an alt-cast coverage of the Saturday night Final Four game between Michigan and Arizona. You, Jalen, Juwan, Jimmy King, and Ray Jackson on the call. It is happening. Holy crap, man. Wow. That's awesome. And I'll give you the floor on however you want to talk about it.

12:38Rich Eisen:How are you feeling about that?

12:40Chris Webber:I feel great. You know, we've been excited. I'm working on this for some time now. You know, it's been great working with Jalen back at Turner. You know, glad to be doing this with Juwan and Jay and Jimmy and Ray. So excited, man. You never know what you're going to get with Turner. And so I love the Turner family for doing this. So one thing I would say is going to be fun. Adam Lefkoe is going to be hosting. He's a cool dude. So I know it's going to be fun, but I don't know what to expect when you work with such great producers and all that. But I'm excited. I don't even know what to say. Like you said, it's announced today.

13:19Chris Webber:I know we've been talking. Everyone has, you know, made sure that we could be together. This is the first time, you know, I know that, you know, I've been with the guys publicly in quite some time. And so, all five of us being together in quite some time. So it's going to be fun. but hopefully the fans enjoy it like we do, and we're going to be rooting on Michigan, but respecting both teams and all the players that are there. But, yeah, I'm just going to keep rambling because this is something. I mean, what do you say? You get to be with your boys and watching the game? I mean, everybody at home should be able to relate.

13:55Chris Webber:Hanging out with your boys, watching the game, and sharing it with the world is pretty cool. That is awesome.

14:00Rich Eisen:And I was going to ask you that, so let me follow up on it to see if you can jog your memory. When was the last time the five of you were together? at all, period.

14:10Chris Webber:Oh, well, we all were together a couple years ago when we went to the Michigan game and ate dinner and hung out, and we were on a text thread. We're always talking, always communicating. So it isn't that. I just mean being able to really hang out in front of the world. Maybe the Michigan game when we came together, when Jawan was coaching to support him. But it's been some time. But the funny thing is that everybody, when we get together, everybody goes back to being 18. So it's a lot of fun. It's a lot of fun. A lot of talking. So it'll be fun.

14:50Rich Eisen:There's a text chain of you, Jalen, Jawan, Jimmy, and Ray? That's it? Oh yeah.

14:58Chris Webber:Everybody's on there. That's been forever. I think to go back, I don't think most people remember that when I came out of the NBA and I went to Golden State. After that situation there, I was in control to choose any team I could go to, right? And so my bright idea was to go to the worst team in the league, which is the Washington Wizards at the time, to hang out with my boy Juwan and play with him. And so our tech chain has been going on since, you know, since phones, you know, since we had cell phones. But if you go back and see the silly stuff we talked about of the players or how this guy, you couldn't have checked this guy, or this team would have beat you just to kind of, you know, down-king the relationship and just throw something in the air to start some good arguments we have.

15:48Chris Webber:And so, man, I love those guys. It's a lot of fun. We talk about everything from, you know, family to favorite basketball plays. We're sincerely and true friends. Jalen and I have been friends since about 12 years old. Juwan and I have been really good friends since about 14 years old. And so, you know, it's all genuine. And that's why it's fun to be able to share this moment, you know, with the world. And, again, Turner, for let us do this, they're crazy. And it's going to be fun.

16:17Rich Eisen:It's great. I couldn't be happier. So Palenka's not allowed on the text chain, Chris? No, no.

Read the full transcript

16:23Chris Webber:He's too busy. He's too busy stealing draft picks. You know, he's too busy stealing Luca from teams. He has bigger things to worry about.

16:33Rich Eisen:stealing Luca from teams. Yes. I made it. That's what he's doing. I was going to mention, so no Dugan Fife. Dugan Fife was the one I was going to say. You were going to go Dugan Fife? I was going to go Dugan Fife.

16:44Chris Webber:Well, we have our old chain, but I was talking to Freddie Hunter, who runs Detroit Pal, the other day. We're going to do something. Been texting and trying to find Bosco. So James Bosco hit me up. But, you know, he's an astronaut, so he's probably watching the moon.

17:00Rich Eisen:Yeah, the Artemis too. You know, yeah. That's what he's doing.

17:03Chris Webber:Right, exactly. You know what I mean? So, yeah, we all have our relationships. And it's really cool because, again, you know, it's fun. And we get the brunt of publicity. And, you know, we did a lot and we deserve it. However, you know, when we talk about banners or anything like that, it would be unfair to put a Fab Five on anything because we would not be us without Chip Armour and all the players that we play with Sam Mitchell and other players. And so, yeah, we have text chains with everyone else because at the end of the day, we are Michigan. But the Fab Five is a pretty funny text chain, and hopefully people can see that come to life this weekend.

17:43Chris Webber:You know what?

17:44Rich Eisen:But, Chris, it really is the dream of anybody fortunate enough to go to college and have experiences with friends and meeting friends and knowing friends. And I know you mentioned how you've known some of the Fab Five since, you know, teenage years prior to college. But everybody wants to go back to school at one point, one day. Just go back in time and live like you did and have fun times and connect and reconnect and keep that thing going. It's going to be a moment for the five of you at a Final Four, getting mic'd up, getting ready to sit down, looking around. There's the crowd, you know, the UConn and Illini fans are, you know, just saw that game.

18:27Rich Eisen:But you're about to sit down and do your job like this for Michigan, Arizona. It's going to be awesome. And you deserve it. You guys deserve it. You deserve it.

18:36Chris Webber:Thank you, brother. And, you know, it's funny. When Coach Harbaugh brought me back to Michigan to go to the football game, I didn't want to go to the team breakfast and everything else because I didn't want it to be a distraction. right because I knew if I were on the other side I'd be like oh he's here watch what we do and so we're gonna have fun and what's great is that we have a team that's already aligned and doing their thing and by us having a presence we're not taking away from them but actually saying how fun it is to honor this team and to come together for this team that we love that we believe in and we're excited for this team and yeah we're gonna get a lot of the limelight but it's gonna be cool support him.

19:18Chris Webber:So looking forward to it, brother. And definitely be texting you and be laughing the whole time.

19:23Rich Eisen:Richard Jefferson's jealous. Bibby's jealous. Who else? Gil, Arenas. Miles Simon. Yeah, we got him. There's only one all cast for this game. Chris, have a blast. We'll chat about it next week. Take care. Thanks. Appreciate you guys. That's the Hall of Famer, Chris Webber. There he goes. See you, buddy. the reason why i got into michigan or i started looking at michigan is because of the movie the big chill um which is again uh it's an older film um but it was about michigan graduates getting back together after the death of one of their friends by the way played by kevin costner who got cut out of the film he's only in the first scene in the coffin right you just see his wrist That's it.

20:10Rich Eisen:At any rate, there's tons of Motown music to it. It was written by Lawrence Kasdan, who went to Michigan. And it's all about college friends getting back together and realizing how they've grown apart, still trying to remember about why they were together to begin with. And it's a brilliant film. And Lawrence Kasdan spoke at my college graduation inside Chrysler Arena, as it was known at the time, which was the home of Michigan basketball, still is. And his speech was essentially, you know, hey, everybody, your college relationships that you have made are so important. You need to realize later in life, if it's for a wedding, it's for a bat mitzvah, a bar mitzvah, for a confirmation or whatever, make the time and go and reconnect.

20:58Rich Eisen:And it was a beautiful speech that really, you know, hit me hard. The only thing missing was the Motown soundtrack as he was delivering that speech. and he's been on this show and I've told him this because he's written a million other things and directed a million other things like every great Star Wars and Indiana Jones film. But he gave a message and I'm thinking about that right now. Yeah. That these guys, they got back together for a college friend when he was coaching and now they're all going to get back together. I'm going to have to peek in on this thing. Yeah, for sure. During the game.

21:33Rich Eisen:I mean, on a far smaller scale, So in about three weeks, I'm going to get to, I guess, personify that when we head to Pittsburgh and do the show. Yeah, for the draft, right? And thinking about just my personal story.

21:46Tom Pelissero:For us to be able to go to Pittsburgh, where I was born and raised in Altoona, but obviously I grew up in Pittsburgh. It's where I learned to become a man.

21:53Rich Eisen:I learned everything. My boys are still my boys. So when we go back there, man, that's going to hit me like a ton of bricks for us to be able to. Are they going to come by the set? I don't know if you want them at the set. They're a little too rowdy. That was a different message than I got on my graduation day from Rudy Gioianni. Which was? Wait a minute. He spoke at your graduation. At Syracuse? Yeah. Okay. For real. Let's take a break. Tom Pellicero next right here on The Rich Eisen Show. The Rich Eisen Show podcast.

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23:44Rich Eisen:It's buzzing, packed, electric. Now, take that energy and multiply it by the entire world. That's what's coming this summer with the FIFA World Cup. fans from every corner of the globe are going to be traveling to experience it live and when that many people come to town they're all looking for a place to stay that got me thinking if you live in or near a host city this is one of those rare moments you already have a space this summer you could list your space on airbnb while fans are in town for the fifa world cup not as a full-time thing not as some huge lifestyle change just during an event when demand is naturally high When I travel for big games, I just want a comfortable place in a real neighborhood.

24:26Rich Eisen:And that's exactly what so many visiting fans will be looking for. If you've ever thought about listing your space, this summer is a great time as we welcome FIFA World Cup fans. Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at Airbnb.com slash host.

25:11Tom Pelissero:next angle it away from the mess that my children have created on this side. I think I did a pretty good job.

25:19Rich Eisen:By the way, awesome. It looks like you're already at Disney World, Tom. All right, let's get into it here. Where did Kirk Cousins to the Raiders come from, Tom?

25:31Tom Pelissero:The Raiders were pursuing Kirk Cousins ever since the Falcons released him. The issue that they had to work through was Kirk Cousins was due$10 million, fully guaranteed in 2026, even if he was sitting on the couch. He was not going to play in his mind for free, which means that he was going to need to make more than that$10 million if he was going to play somewhere. The Raiders and Cousins agent Mike McCartney came up with a pretty unique structure to work around that issue. And I know there's a lot of numbers that people have seen on social media. Let me break it down to you this way. There's really two ways this contract can go.

26:08Tom Pelissero:The most likely one is for Cousins. This is a one year,$20 million deal of which the Raiders are paying$11.3 million. The$10 million he was owed by the Falcons is subject to offsets. He took a minimum salary this year from the Raiders, so about$1.3 million, which leaves the rest on the Falcons books. But then to increase his compensation for 2026, they put a$10 million roster bonus on the third day of the league year in this coming March in 2027, which defers the cash and cap until March, but effectively means he makes$20 million to play this season. There is more to the contract, though. The other version of the deal is this potentially could be a three-year,$100 million deal.

26:50Tom Pelissero:Because if Cousins is still on the roster on the fifth day of the league year next March, then he is going to have an additional two years and$80 million in the 2027 and 2028 season become fully vested. It's basically a team option. And as much as it seems unlikely right now that they could pick that up, Rich, I would say this. Kirk Cousins had one of his best seasons playing with Clint Kubiak as his offensive coordinator in Minnesota. It's where Cousins won his first playoff game over the Saints. They were in the game the following week against the 49ers before they kind of ran out of gas. Cousins has played well in this system.

27:26Tom Pelissero:He's 37. He played a lot better once he got his opportunity last year that he had coming right off the Achilles back in his first season with the Falcons in 2024. So let's say, hypothetically, Cousins plays really well. Of course, the Raiders have the number one pick. We all expect them to draft Fernando Mendoza, but Kubiak has said himself a couple of days ago at the league meeting, in a perfect world, you'd like the rookie to come in and sit behind, this is Clint's words, a grown adult and see how he runs things before giving his opportunity. Let's say Kirk plays so well, they don't need to go to Mendoza at all in 2026.

28:00Tom Pelissero:There is a scenario here where Cousins plays really well, and all of a sudden now you've got a two-year$80 million deal or two for 90 prior to the third day of the league year that maybe could be tradable for the Raiders. They have an exclusive negotiating window to maybe try to work out a restructure. They also have the option of a take. He played really well, but it's Fernando's time. Let's move on from here. There is a scenario where they could trade Cousins. And oh, by the way, the other thing that I just learned about the way this deal is structured, that additional$80 million, almost all of it is in 2028.

28:33Tom Pelissero:He's on the books for a minimum salary again in 2027, of course, in addition to the$10 million roster bonus. So 78.5 or whatever is pushed out into 2028. It really gives the Raiders time here to figure out exactly how they would want to proceed. All this, presuming that Cousins comes in, plays really well. It does give some optionality really to both sides because if they don't pick up the option, which I would say is most likely, then Cousins is right back in the same spot, except this time with no offsets. And he's a free agent again next March.

29:01Rich Eisen:And obviously agents and front offices need to parse everything now to the final syllable for a contract. And of course, again, run the traps about how it could all work out in success in the long run, which is what you just laid out for us. And that all has to be figured out now. Get it. But let's not put the salary cap and the extra years cart before this horse, which is what happens in September. Remember, what has, based on your reporting or knowledge, Cousins been told about a week one possibility this year?

29:35Tom Pelissero:Tom, what has he been told? Everything that Kirk Cousins, from my understanding, was told behind the scenes. This was not a recent thing. This was going on for several weeks now. Match what Clint said during his breakfast with the media, which was, in a perfect world, you'd prefer that the rookie sits. Now, what does that look like through the course of the offseason? How does Cousins perform? How does Fernando Mendoza, who, by the way, is coming from a vastly different system where he hasn't really been under center, he hasn't had to turn his back to the line of scrimmage on play action, all those things that are fundamental to the system that Clint wants to run, does he accelerate quickly enough where it's like, hey, he's ready.

30:13Tom Pelissero:He's ready to go. What this does is this gives them a fallback option. And really, I would say it's more than that. The preference for Clint Kubiak is that he's not throwing Mendoza out there in week one. There's still things to go here in terms of the draft. There could be additional free agent moves. There could be trades. But if you look at the Raiders' office, yes, they have Ashton Gentry. They have Brock Bowers. Those are two really good pieces to build around. They went out and they got Tyler Linderbaum to play center on a deal that is almost identical to the three-year,$84 million deal that Cousins signed back in 2018, which was the massive deal that shocked everybody.

30:47Tom Pelissero:And now a center's getting that eight years later, which tells you how the salary cap has gone here. But if you look at the way that the Raiders are building this year, they know they've got more work to do at wide receiver. They got more work to do on the offensive line. Kirk coming in, in a way, is similar to Tyler Linderbaum coming in, which is let's build out as many ways as we can to protect the rookie quarterback. Again, it's possible. Mendoza comes out, lights it up in the preseason, and they just say, hey, we're going to go with Mendoza out of the gate. But unlike the other quarterbacks who, granted, will do more guaranteed money, Rich, guys like Tua and Kyler who went in on pure minimum deals, the Raiders are paying Cousins$11.3 million to play in 2026, regardless of whether or not he's on the field.

31:28Tom Pelissero:That means I don't envision Kirk Cousins getting cut. I don't envision him trading him this year. I would say standing here right now, and again, we are five months out from this, Rich, I would say the most likely scenario is Kirk Cousins is the Raiders quarterback in week one. his play and the progression of Fernando Mendoza will determine exactly how long that lasts.

31:49Rich Eisen:Tom Pellicero here on the Rich Eisen Show. And the other aspect of this that I was pointing out in the first hour, Tom, I want to hit you on is the Rodgers part of it. Was Cousins ever on the Steelers' radar screen, or are they just all, it's Rodgers, we're just waiting on his timing, and that timing is eventually going to result in him saying, yep, I'll play for the Steelers in 2026, Tom.

32:13Tom Pelissero:Kirk Cousins was on the Steelers' radar, just like he was on the Steelers' radar a year ago. They did call and check on his availability while waiting for Rodgers, which, remember, didn't resolve itself until June last year. They were checking on a bunch of different contingency plans. Cousins was one of them. The Falcons regime at the time just didn't really make Cousins available, but they certainly had a level of interest. And this time around, if Rodgers didn't come back, my understanding has been that Cousins was one of the possibilities that they could go out and pursue. You're talking about a really short list at this point of experienced veteran quarterbacks who are still available on the market.

32:52Tom Pelissero:You have Russell Wilson. The Steelers have already gone down that road. I don't foresee them doing it again. Jimmy Garoppolo, if he's on a team in 2026, I would think, especially with Cousins off the board, that it ends up being back to the Rams. You got Tyrod Taylor still out there, but I don't envision Tyrod at this stage in his career being a walk in the door day one starter. It's really Aaron Rodgers or the Steelers potentially are going to roll with Will Howard and Mason Rudolph and sign or draft another one to fill out the depth chart. Having said all that, Aaron Rodgers has not committed to the Steelers.

33:29Tom Pelissero:He has not given them a firm answer. I know that Mike McCarthy said at the breakfast for the AFC coaches that he talks to him every couple of days. All the indications, Rich, have not changed from what I've been told over the last two months, which is if I had to lean one way or another, I would lean toward Aaron Rodgers as the Steelers quarterback in 2026. But at what point does he actually tell them that? At what point, if at all, do the Steelers simply say, we're down the road? You know, all those missed reps in the spring last year weren't helpful. You know, when Rodgers was getting frustrated with some of his young receivers during the season, and it was, you know, hey, if you put in more time in the spring, maybe it wouldn't be that.

34:09Tom Pelissero:You know, maybe it would not be that way. They're voluntary even if he's under contract. But from a team-building perspective, even from a free agency perspective, knowing Aaron Rodgers is the quarterback might have made it easier for them to pursue some things in free agency. But they went out and got Rico Dowdle, who I know Mike McCarthy really likes and the fit for him in the backfield. They traded for Michael Pittman. They have made some moves. Obviously, DK Metcalf coming back. It's not as if Aaron Rodgers will be walking back into an empty cupboard. I know that Art Rooney said that he hoped to know before the draft what the decision is going to be from Rodgers.

34:41Tom Pelissero:That begins three weeks from today. I would expect sooner than later they're going to get an answer. And again, if I had to guess, if I had to lean one way or another, I would lean toward Rodgers returning. But this is Aaron Rodgers. Only he knows what he ultimately wants to do. I know he's out in California. He has been working and training and staying engaged with Steelers personnel, namely his old coach from Green Bay, Mike McCarthy. Those signs all point toward him playing, but he hasn't actually said if or when he's going to do that. And so once again, we await that news.

35:13Rich Eisen:The signing of Puka Nakua has certainly hit an interesting turn here, usually when you're about to try and hit it. Um, or he's, he's in a rehab facility in Malibu right now, Tom, what do you know about this and how it affects the Rams plans to, to pay him long-term?

35:33Tom Pelissero:Well, in the short term, the focus is on, of course, Huka working through the issues that he has. And this was not, I know that the news came out yesterday, but this was known by the Rams. This had been known frankly within the league for the past couple of months that there were some potential issues there that were going to have to be addressed. I think that as much as you don't judge anybody off videos and things like that, there were signs in terms of just behavior and decision-making that you could tell something had been a little bit off with Puka. In terms of his long-term future with the Rams, I don't get the sense that they were going to be in any rush regardless to get a contract extension done.

36:12Tom Pelissero:Unlike Jackson Smith and Jigba, Puka was not a first-round draft pick, so he's got one year left at a very low number, where Jackson Smith and Jigba had two years left of that fifth-year option being a pretty big number, the math and the way that you spread those numbers out is going to be a little bit different here. But I would also say, you know, a player going to rehab doesn't necessarily mean they're not going to come back and be better versions of themselves. We've seen Max Crosby do that for a long time. When he first went away to rehab, something he revealed years later, I mean, frankly, I knew about it.

36:46Tom Pelissero:Other people knew about it. These are private matters and guys are going through real life and death types of things at times. Brett Favre, once upon a time, went away to get treatment for a Vicodin addiction. There's all kinds of players. And so the sense that I get is the Rams love Puka. He's obviously a phenomenal football player. Whatever he might have been dealing with last season, it didn't stop him from being one of the best players in the entire NFL. The focus right now is get him back, give him the support he needs. I have no doubt if he comes back and plays well, that that monster contract is going to be there.

37:17Tom Pelissero:It's just not on the front burner right now. And again, I don't get the sense that this was really going to be something that was going to get done now regardless. I mean, it's the first week of April. JSN did his deal in March. There's not many deals that get done. Let's see where we are closer to the start of the regular season and see exactly how the Rams decided to handle this.

37:34Rich Eisen:Handful of minutes I have left, Tom. The story of the annual meeting was what?

37:40Tom Pelissero:I would say it's the standoff with officials, which has really accelerated from, oh, well, you know, The deal's coming up at the end of May, but they've always worked it out in the past to, if not a five-alarm fire right now, Rich, we've at least got some things aflame at this point, namely the flame throwing back and forth, namely from the NFL Referees Association and their executive director, Scott Green, who has not been shy about publicly, which he had not really in the past in his time leading the NFLRA, taking public shots and laying things out there. You know, the dispute, it's multilayered.

38:16Tom Pelissero:There is a financial component to it. And that is the argument that Scott Green made in his most recent public statement. And it certainly has been made in the negotiations, which is just you guys are all making a lot of money. We deserve a larger chunk of that money. They're offering the NFL is offering the largest year over year salary increases that they've ever offered. It's in the five to six percent range. The NFL RA wants 10%. They also want$2.5 million for marketing rights that the NFL essentially would say, we'll just give you the rights. They're not worth anything. Nobody's putting a referee on a Wheaties box.

38:51Tom Pelissero:You can have the rights. They're not of actual value here. So that's one part of it. The second part of it is a resistance from the official side to anything that would resemble substantive change to how they are evaluated and how they are compensated. The NFL's pushes, it's a lot of things that we all as media, as fans, as people around the game can say are common sense, which is extending the probation period as you're coming into the league, subjecting underperforming officials to additional work, including having to work UFL games in the spring if you are one of the very small percentage of officials that falls below the line.

39:29Tom Pelissero:It is rewarding performance for playoff assignments rather than seniority like it is right now. If you're a first-year official, you're not allowed to work in the Super Bowl right now. The NFL would say, well, we're not going to ban a rookie quarterback from going and playing in the Super Bowl. Why would we ban a first-year official So if he's the best for the job, so there's resistance on a lot of those things. And for anybody familiar with, you know, municipal unions, what are they what do they protect? It's wages, it's working conditions, it's benefits and it's job security. This is not a traditional municipal union, but they are, you know, on a fundamental level addressing all those things.

40:07Tom Pelissero:They want to maintain the status quo. Just me talking. I would certainly say there is something to be said for if you're one of the 90 plus percentage of the officials who are above the line. you probably don't like the other 10 % of the officials who are falling below the line and giving everybody a bad name. So if the financials got to a certain place, Rich, I think that the union potentially would be more meldable to some of these other things that the NFL is asking. Right now, though, it feels like they're nowhere. And the NFL is already, based upon people I talked to at the league meeting, setting in motion some of those things.

40:40Tom Pelissero:They're more than a warning shot. They're also a direct, here's what our plan is going to be, and we are going to reach a point of no return. That includes they're going to start hiring replacement officials on a contingent basis as soon as next month in advance of the deal expiring. These are Division I, Division II, Division III college officials. By hiring them in May instead of waiting like they did back in 2012 with the fail Mary and all the other things that people remember, this will give them June and July to put those officials through a battery of training. They will then send them to training camps to get the maximum number of live reps possible throughout the course of training camp so they're best prepared for September.

41:17Tom Pelissero:But on top of that, you had two rule changes that were approved at the NFL annual meeting. One of them was a permanent rule change, which is subtle but significant, that allows the league office starting this year to weigh in on non-football offenses or things that would be ejectable. You know, helmet hits, swing a helmet, hit somebody, DK Metcalf going after a fan. This would allow, even if there's not a flag on the field, for the NFL to not only say you're out of the game, but also we're putting a flag on the field. That's the first time that's happened. And that opens up a can of worms in terms of the potential expansion in years to come.

41:54Tom Pelissero:The second one is on a one-year basis that would grant the league office the power to overrule anything that is clear and obvious. and clear and obvious has been a tricky standard ironically enough we saw it in the pass interference thing back in 2019 but essentially they're saying we can get by with a lesser caliber a less experienced caliber of officials because if they screw up we're just going to fix it we're just going to weigh in and fix everything that also rich is going to be hard to come back from if we go to an environment where the nfl is able to fix anything i know for a fact there are coaches who brought this up at the meeting.

42:31Tom Pelissero:If we're willing to do this on a one-year basis with replacement officials, why wouldn't we do this with the regular officials? Part of that is because those things are collectively bargained. But just imagine if we get even a taste of the full-on big brother and somebody at 345 Park putting down flags for pass interference, overruling an official, what he just called on the field. We are into a completely different territory that the competition committee has not gone, wanted to go to in the past, substituting one person's judgment for another, but it does open up the door to a lot of different possibilities that would fundamentally change how NFL officiating works.

43:06Rich Eisen:Tom, we got to run. Thanks for the time. Enjoy time with your fam. We'll chat again next week, brother.

43:11Tom Pelissero:Sounds good, Rich. Tommy P, everybody.

43:13Rich Eisen:Back on the Rich Eisen Show in just a moment. The Rich Eisen Show, the podcast.

43:23Rich Eisen:Rich Eisen here. The April 15th tax deadline is coming fast but don't worry hand off your taxes to a turbo tax expert today you know how april feels everything speeds up games matter more hoops and hockey schedules tighten your phone won't stop buzzing and somewhere in the middle of it all there's that quiet little reminder taxes you'll get to it tonight or tomorrow or after the weekend and if you handle it the old way you're refreshing your inbox like it's breaking news waiting wondering hoping everything's squared away That's a lot of mental bandwidth. With Intuit TurboTax Expert full service, you can match with a dedicated expert who understands your specific tax situation and handles your taxes for you, start to finish.

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45:09Rich Eisen:Back on the Rich Eisen Show. No one likes having a choose, and this is why, with America's best lineup of hybrids from Hyundai, you get the best of both worlds, like the reliable and efficient Tucson Hybrid, with America's best warranty or the stylish yet capable Santa Fe Hybrid, with the power to navigate the toughest terrain. It's like having your cake and eating it too, but, you know, better. Hybrids from Hyundai, it's the best of both worlds. Visit HyundaiUSA.com right now, or call this number, 562-314-4603, for more details. Ben in Columbia, Missouri has been hanging on since we said hello.

45:44Rich Eisen:What's up, Ben?

45:45Tom Pelissero:Ben. For taking my call. I was wondering who you think has the better agent. Kirk Cousins, Sam Bradford, or Chase Daniels, who I believe has the highest dollar per snap out there.

45:57Rich Eisen:Well, Chase Daniels paid very well as a backup. We know that. Sam Bradford was the last quarterback drafted under the previous collective bargaining agreement where you paid the first overall pick the most amount of money anybody's ever been paid in the history of the NFL and certainly of your team. So I'll go Kirk Cousins, 11 straight years. Thanks for the call, Ben, and thanks for hanging on. I'll go Kirk Cousins. Yeah, and just in terms of overall dollars, he will have now been paid more in his career than Tom Brady. Well, not just Tom Brady. It's so well done. I'm saying his boss. You know what I'd love to see?

46:31Rich Eisen:I'd love to see him compared to Major League Baseball pitchers since he's been drafted. paid fully guaranteed like a throw a thrower of the football paid like a pitcher of the baseball is there a is there a baseball comp off the top of your head brockman uh max scherzer 345 million and how much is cousin i think kirk's gonna get to 341 is the number i saw he's paid like max scherzer's been paid justin verlander the most pitcher 409 yeah the fact that an nfl player is in that neighborhood. That highly respectable neighborhood, to use the midnight run phrase. You know? It's a pretty respectable neighborhood.

47:10Rich Eisen:3.28. He's paid like a major league baseball pitcher. A world with no salary caps and everything's guaranteed. An NFL quarterback. It's nuts, man. So, yeah, I mean, that answers the question right there. You know, 100%. so that's why it's hard to feel sorry for Kirk Cousins in any situation he's doing alright no I understand that you know feel sorry for him he's done really well in his career it's just he hasn't had the results that somebody paid like that which is like just get to a Super Bowl you know Wilson Bethel the man who plays Bullseye in Daredevil Born Again The Rich Eisen Show Podcast From 30 for 30 Podcasts.

48:28Chris Webber:Listen now.

From the publisher

Basketball Hall of Famer Chris Webber and Rich discuss their Michigan Wolverines’ chances in the NCAA Tournament’s Final Four against Arizona, says why you shouldn’t assume UConn will easily handle Illinois in their national semifinal game, and reveals he’ll be doing an alt cast of Michigan/Arizona with his former Fab Five teammates on Turner Sports. 

NFL Insider Tom Pelissero and Rich break down the latest in the league’s busy offseason including Kirk Cousins signing with the Las Vegas Raiders, the Pittsburgh Steelers options if Aaron Rodgers decides to retire, what Puka Nacua entering rehab means for a possible contract extension with the Los Angeles Rams, and what the sticking points are between the league and the officials in their labor talks.
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