Hour 2: Overreaction Tuesday, ‘4-Downs’ Jaguars Preview, plus Fernando Mendoza Debate

21:09Rich Eisen:the rich eyes and show podcast for rich number to dial back here on the rich eyes and show on espn radio and and disney plus the uh reports coming in fast and furious from the raiders texans um joint practice i'm getting this from the feed of sam warren who covers the raiders for the athletic. Oh, I saw I had an item for this for the news. Well, I mean, I'm just gonna throw it out here anyway. I do it. Fernando Mendoza got extensive reps with the ones. Yeah. Kirk Cousins would go first, but a few team periods, the Raiders kept the ones out when Mendoza subbed in first time. We've seen that. Well, he needs more work.

21:54Rich Eisen:No, I know that. And that's the way to evaluate him. And that's not a saying like, oh, he's going to start week one. Kirk Cousins threw an interception, a pick six to Kwame Lassiter. Mendoza was nearly picked by Kamari Lassiter in the red zone period and then threw a pick six to Jalen Petrie two plays later. So both guys got got. Brock Bowers had a big day. Oh, my God. Do what you can to get him in fantasy. To get him in fantasy, right? Do whatever it takes. We saw that when he was in Georgia. It's just like, okay, this guy's just not human. And then he had one of the greatest rookie seasons in the history of rookies and seasons.

22:37But Mendoza out there with the ones in a manner that they had not with anybody who's been covering the Raiders have not yet seen.

22:47Rich Eisen:Oh, we hear this is what he's got to say afterwards. Hit it. Get some reps with the ones against the superstars on their defense. And then obviously their twos are fantastic as well. we got so much work whether it was move the ball first down, third down, red zone two minute, there were so many situations and I believe overall it was a positive day, there were plays that I loved and plays that I wish I had back but in reality that's a lie, I wish I didn't have them back because it's a growing experience and it's practice and this is what I love and it's a beautiful day to play football here and I'm so happy, it's so many things to learn from today Alright, so good This is the greatest Come on.

23:26Rich Eisen:So good. This is the greatest. I mean, that's our reaction. I know. It's as if he is the quarterback of Sesame Street. Like today's practice is brought to you by the number one. I played with the ones today. Or today's practice could be sponsored by the number two because the Texans twos are really, really good as well. And I absolutely loved the experience, including my failures. Yes, children, you can learn from your mistakes. The only one who doesn't is this grouch in the trash can. You know what I mean? Like, it's so fresh and so awesome, and I just want to hug him and root for him. Brought to you by the letter A for awesome.

24:14Rich Eisen:I'm worried he's too nice. Come on, man. NFL will, you know what? Too nice. he took one in the chin from the Ohio State Buckeyes to start the Big Ten championship. And of, listen. I'm not saying he's not tough. You know I love. I'm saying he's too nice. Listen, hold on a minute. You know I say things about the Buckeyes just to troll on them. Sure. Okay? They are an outstanding football program that is essentially, you could, like, I know Lombardi called North Carolina a 33rd team. All right. Ohio State had on defense against this kid the fifth, if I'm not mistaken, the sixth, and the 10th overall picks in the draft, or the 11th overall pick.

25:08Rich Eisen:That's it. And they were absolutely trying to send him a message. And I know you're saying you're not tough, but too nice. you know, you have to be a red ass to get up off the turf and do what he did against Miami leaping for the end zone. You think he was too nice there? I mean, again, nice and tough are different. It doesn't matter. He's living life. He's present. I'd say that. He's present. It's just different. That's all. I'm being nice. No, but he's saying it's too nice. You're not going to say that's what I'm pointing out. You said you don't think he's not tough. That's not what you're saying.

25:49Rich Eisen:Too nice means, you know, when a push comes to shove, it's just like you want to hug that defender who's trying to knock your block off and that you can't really go for the jugular because you're too nice. Nah. Remember Andrew Luck was like helping defenders up who would hit him? Good job. Great hit. Great hit. No, no, no, no, no, no, no.

26:10I don't know. I kind of feel like there's nothing worse than getting hit by somebody. He's like, good job, buddy, and patting you on the head.

26:17Rich Eisen:That's going to make you even more mad. It's just this world is just filled with just so much dismay and so much anger and so much that we can't agree on. You know what I mean? Not to go too much. It's dark times in many ways here. And here comes the Raiders. It's a shining light in dark times. The Raiders are supposed to pillage just for fun. And this guy's playing football just for fun. You know what I mean? This is a new autumn win, baby. Hit it. You want to get some reps with the ones against the superstars on their defense. And then obviously their twos are fantastic as well. We got so much work, whether it was move the ball, first down, third down, red zone, two minute.

27:01There were so many situations. And I believe overall it was a positive day. There were plays that I loved and plays that I wish I had back. But in reality, that's a lie. I wish I didn't have them back because it's a growing experience. And it's practice. That's a lot. It's practice. And this is what I love. and it's a beautiful day to play football here and I'm so happy. He has so many things to learn from today.

27:20Rich Eisen:He loves life. It's so great. He loves it. I love it. Somebody needs to AI like Ken Stabler saying that and it's not going to look right. That's all I'm saying. Meanwhile, Quay Walker, his teammate, flipped the bird. That's the edge that I want. They have the edge. He flipped the bird. Texans fans were booing him after spiking a football. It's right near Woody Marks after he picked off C.J. Stroud. What a practice. what a joint practice between the Raiders and the Texans. Mendoza by end of October. You know, I know you put that out there for overreaction Monday, the pod version. Just pop up the Raiders schedule just to, since you brought it up here, I just want to pay it off, as they say in the TV and the radio business.

28:07Rich Eisen:I just think, unless, again, in all seriousness, he's out there with the ones you have to evaluate him. Is he ready? Is he ready for weeks three through seven? Because if you're assuming your Saints are a sleeper team, you even put them in the playoffs as an NFC South champion in the first segment of today's program. So going to New Orleans, which when it is a well-oiled crowd, which is all the time, and it is as loud as it gets, as just name whatever place he's been in indoors in college football and just ratchet it up this will be a new experience for him home for Kansas City at New England home for Buffalo home for the Rams is he ready for that I mean that might be the hardest October schedule in the history that's why I'm saying now you go to the Jets you go to San Francisco you have Seattle Denver and Cleveland there's no there's really never any soft spot to put somebody in but if you want him to just sit there and let Kirk Cousins operate and think what's up about what Kirk is doing.

29:14Rich Eisen:But the guy too nice to play football, not him. I saw too much stuff. That final drive against your Nittany Lions, man, Oregon, the big games against Ohio State, Miami, calling the number, Fernando Mendoza, when you need to score that touchdown on fourth down in the national championship game. that guy. Same guy as the one who's like, you know what? I wish I could have them back, but that's a lie. That's a lie, actually. I can't tell a lie. You know, the George Washington of football. Fernando Mendoza on a$1 bill. I got a four downs in the Jacksonville Jaguars. Who says nobody talks about them?

30:01Rich Eisen:We talk about them. Hit it, please. Four downs with Rich. Here we go. All right, here's my four downs on the defending AFC South champion breakout last season with Liam Cohen, Jacksonville Jaguars. Here we go. Here comes a first down that my kids would roll their eyes at. Travis, A-Chen. That's what somebody was threading at me. If you're from the Bayou, it's A-Chen, not E-T-N. A-Chen. That's what he changes his name. All right. With him gone, and he was a terrific engine for that offense at running back. He was their lead back last year. So first down, new lead back. You're darn tootin'. Hey.

30:47Rich Eisen:Oh, okay. You're darn tootin'. All right. I see. You know what, Rich? Go ahead and give you a applause. Because his last name is Tootin', you know, and it's basial. You're darn tootin'. Tootin'. Tootin'. Yeah. Who am I? Rootin' Tootin'. What am I doing here? Oh, my God. What is Eisen? What's Eisen? All right, stop it. I'm sorry. You know what I'm saying? It's a new running back room. Rootin' tootin'. I mean, it is definitely... And Chris Rodriguez there as well. Yes. That's the split. Yeah. So, and then the rest of it, the depth chart, you've got yourself some, you know, hello, my name is for anybody looking for a fantasy pick.

31:31Rich Eisen:Slim Shady. So let's see what happens with the running back position. Second down. Second down. Is Travis Hunter now just a one-way player? I would be heartbroken if this is the case. But all you're hearing is he's playing corner. That's what he's playing. And I don't know. You look, you read your reports, you watch their practices. He's out there. Interestingly enough, on this day that we're recording this, Travis Hunter got out for the Jaguars in practice, Brian Thomas Jr. comes off when he comes on. I don't know. At least that happened on this day. And that's the other thing. Is, you know, I almost put down as a down, will a real Brian Thomas Jr.

32:20Rich Eisen:please stand up? Right? The guy had a house of fire in his rookie season where it's just like, oh, here's another LSU Tiger dominating at this position in the National Football League. And then, like Kaiser Soze, poof. And so if they do need depth at the wide receiver position, Parker Washington has been a revelation and a fantasy player that everybody's jumping on. Jacoby Myers, as we all know, was acquired from the Raiders last year. So Travis Hunter is second on the depth chart behind Brian Thomas Jr. man I want to see him as a two-way player I mean that's why you draft him second overall but he's a superb defender and that's where potentially they need him more than anywhere else so let's see he's coming off a knee injury they just might be working him back in anyway third down will the Jaguars defense remain a takeaway machine they were plus 13 last year in the plus minus That was third in the league.

33:32Rich Eisen:Their 31 takeaways, second in the league, led the AFC. Led the AFC. The Texans had a higher plus minus because I guess they turned it over fewer times themselves. But Devin Lloyd had six of the 31 takeaways. Five interceptions, which was some of the best in the National Football League. And one fumble recovery, including one in the postseason and the loss to the Bills too. So he had seven of them, if you want to include the playoffs. He's now in Carolina. And so that's just one guy I'm mentioning. Because you got to figure when you got that plus minus like that and the takeaways coming in bunches, only the Bears had more last year.

34:21Rich Eisen:That'll put you in the playoffs. That'll put you in the division win just like the Bears too. Can they replicate it? Coach Campanile, their defensive coordinator, I voted for him for assistant coach of the year last year. A lot of good my vote did. He didn't win it. I guess it wasn't as decisive as the MVP vote that you lay at my feet. You keep bringing this up, not me. Fourth down. Just for the comments. Fourth down. Can Liam Cohen tick Trevor Lawrence up another notch? He finished fifth in the MVP voting last year. And I can confirm when I saw him at the American Century Championship that, you know, business they pulled for their schedule release where he had cut his hair.

35:08Rich Eisen:It's fake. That hair is still flowing, and it is glorious. Saw it in person. I don't know him well enough yet to ask him if he does the shampoo and conditioning in one or he separates both. Separates better. But, man, was he a much better quarterback. and I'm looking to see that first overall chosen quarterback kick it up another notch and throw his hat in the top of the MVP voting ring. Like supplant Drake May in the conversation. Get there. Can he do it? Liam Cohn can coach his tail off. That is for sure. And I just love his attitude. I love everything. I love how he's got that edge that he clearly has.

35:58Rich Eisen:Whatever edge he's selling, he has instilled in his team. And they bought it last year. And those are my four downs for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Am I missing anything on this front? I don't think so. I mean, Josh Hines-Allen, Trevon Walker, Armstead, Mr. Walter Payton man of the year. They've got a really good defensive line there. Ventrell Miller is going to be the one who takes the place of Devin Lloyd. That's a big one right there. Yeah, I think it's running back questions. It's do they have a true wide receiver number one? Can Brian Thomas get back to that end of rookie year stretch that he had with Mac Jones, which should be pointed out?

36:48and yeah, can Trevor Lawrence take it up another notch? I like all those. He's the key.

36:54Rich Eisen:Aloha can tackle his head off too, man. I still think they win the division again. They've got the makings of it. The running back position is really fascinating to me. And their backup quarterback is Big Nick Mullins. So, let's keep Trevor Lawrence upright. We could say that about any team, obviously, but that's my Jackson. Look at us talking Jacksonville Jaguars football. So to be fair and balanced, we got to talk about the Bears. The Bears. And show pictures of Caleb Williams. Right, Coach? Oh, interestingly enough, who is tomorrow's four downs? Hey. Is it the Bears? I think it is. It's the Bears.

37:35Rich Eisen:That's completely 100 % random. But we're going by draft order. We are going by draft order. So it's not random, but it is random in terms of that's the team right after them. Right. And Liam Cohen's like, I'm looking on NFL.com. I see 50 pictures of Caleb Williams. There he is, right up there. Okay. 844-204-RICH is the number to dial right here on the program. Ramona Shelburne's coming up in hour number three to talk about the Lakers' legal drama. And more coming up.

38:15Rich Eisen:Rich Eisen here for Gusto. After all these years talking to athletes, coaches, entertainers, and people at the top of what they do, one thing is pretty clear. Success usually depends on getting the details right. For small business owners, that includes payroll, hiring, onboarding, benefits, you know, the work that keeps everything moving, even if it's not the reason you started the business in the first place. That's why there's Gusto. gusto is online payroll and benefits software built for small businesses it's all-in-one remote friendly and incredibly easy to use so you can pay hire onboard and support your team from anywhere automatic payroll tax filing simple direct deposits health benefits commuter benefits workers comp 401k you name it gusto makes it simple and has options for nearly every budget and it's all built to save you time with built-in automated tools for offer letters onboarding docs direct deposit, and more.

39:07Rich Eisen:Plus, you get unlimited payroll runs for one monthly price. No hidden fees, no surprises. Try Gusto today at gusto.com slash rich and get three months free when you run your first payroll. That's three months of free payroll at gusto.com slash rich. One more time, gusto.com slash rich. Rich Eisen here. Running a small business means every hire matters. A bad hire costs time and money, but the right one helps your business grow. The challenge? Finding that person without sorting through resumes. That's where LinkedIn Hiring Pro comes in. It screens candidates so you can focus on conversations with qualified talent.

39:45Rich Eisen:With Hiring Pro, you can hire with confidence and build the team you need. Join the 2.7 million small businesses using LinkedIn to hire. Get started by posting your job for free at linkedin.com slash eisen. Terms and conditions apply.

40:04Rich Eisen:The Rich Eisen Show, the podcast. Business means every hire matters. A bad hire costs time and money, but the right one, well, that helps your business grow. The challenge is finding that person without sorting through resumes. That's where LinkedIn Hiring Pro comes in. It screens candidates so you can focus on conversations with qualified talent. With Hiring Pro, you can hire with confidence and build the team you need. Join the 2.7 million small businesses using LinkedIn to hire. Get started by posting your job for free at linkedin.com slash Eisen. Terms and conditions apply. Robert in Mission, Texas.

40:40Rich Eisen:You're here on the Rich Eisen Show. What's up, Robert? Yes. Hey, Rich. Good night. What's up, man? I'm just calling in because I want to get on TJ a little bit as a Cowboys fan. I don't understand why he throws so much love at Jalen Hurts when he knows how Eagles fans are with Dak Prescott. So I just want to get on TJ a little bit as a Cowboys fan and remind him, we don't like them, TJ. We hate them. We don't think Jalen Hurts is good. Well, may I help you for a second? Please. Thank you. I'm here for you. Please. Robert, one of the things TJ really dislikes, I think out of many things, and you dislike few things.

41:25Rich Eisen:You're a happy-go-lucky sort. I try to go through life that way. Yeah. But you don't like being accused of something that you're clearly not. Oh, I hate that. Which is 1 ,000 % an Eagles hater. So for you to say that to tell this man who has been the butt, I mean the donkey end. Yeah, truly. Of Carl Anthony Towns' enjoyment of the Eagles beating the Cowboys. this you know you're you're definitely um in the correct church but the very wrong pew did i handle that appropriately you did and also robert like i we have kind of a job here to do so i can't let be biased let my biasness just carry over and everything else so you do you can yeah i can but but you're you like hurts by the way there are some athletes that there are some athletes who are above the uniform dislike.

42:25Rich Eisen:There are a few. And you wanted me to keep it real with you? Always. Okay, me growing up, didn't see guys that looked like me playing quarterback very often. That's carried over into the day's room. So am I a little bit lenient? Do I show a little bit more love to the brothers out there playing quarterback? I am not apologetic about that whatsoever. Yeah, I do root for them a little bit more because, like I said, didn't see that growing up. And we know the issues that they have at the quarterback position. And so, yeah, there won't be a lot of times where I will just completely crap on a black QB, even if he's playing for the team that I hate the most.

42:58So there you go. When you put it like that, PJ, I can't really say anything. Robert in Michigan, Texas is a convert. He's keeping it real. Keeping it real.

43:07Rich Eisen:Well done. But do I dislike that team? Of course you do. Through and through. But Jalen Hurts is kind of above it. Well, I feel he gets unfairly judged sometimes. I was that way with Mookie Betts. Was there a Yankee you couldn't hate? Oh, man. Jeter? No, I think Jeter's such a phony. I hate all of them. Oh, my God. Bernie? You had Bernie? Bernie was fine. Okay. You love Johnny Damon, though, bro. Come on. I mean, not after he went to that team. Boggs? Do you see what he looks like now? Shredded. What the hell happened to him? I don't know. What's in his chicken? Oh, yeah. Those are not a nervous bird easy.

43:48Rich Eisen:Protein beer that he's drinking? Protein. I mean, chicken is protein. Take care of your chicken. I saw that. Eat your chicken. Don't just take care of it. I hear what you had to say about Jalen Hurts. I dig him. And by the way, I root for Jock Peterson too. Jock. Does that make sense? You picking up what I'm putting down? Dennis in Charleston, South Carolina. What's up, Dennis? What? Hey, Rich, thanks for taking my call, man. Yes. Right back at you. Sorry. I don't know why you said that. What's up, Dennis? Let's go ahead and sort things up a little bit. I got my first team out. I got New England Patriots out.

44:29Oh, that's two.

44:30Rich Eisen:That is Charleston, South Carolina. And the reason being is that I don't like Super Bowl losers the following year. Who can make the playoffs? Yeah, Super Bowl losers. Except the last team is the Losers. Losers a Super Bowl and then winning the Patriots. Wait a minute. If he follows through with, hold on a second. Dennis, if you follow through with who you're going to take or you're going to put in, if you follow through with what you told our call screener, I need a shot of Chris Brockman as you deliver that line. So the Patriots out and who are you putting in, Dennis? I'm putting in the Miami Dolphins.

45:05You have got to be smoking something over there. Let me tell you why. Yeah, don't laugh at Dennis. Sorry, Dennis. Sorry, Dennis. You're talking about, you know, they lost all these wideouts from last year. Yeah. Tyreek was a non-issue last year. That's right. Okay. Waddle, you know how many 100-yard games he had last year? How many, Dennis? Number one wideout? How many? One. One.

45:32Rich Eisen:They won't miss him. Who's he? And he had 666 yards last year. I'm sure I bet you at least two of these receivers that Miami has this year both of them will go over 666 yards. Dennis in Charleston South Carolina bringing the noise and the funk respectively. Let me ask you this question Chris. Thanks for the call Dennis. What would the odds of that be? Can you calculate that? I know you're the king of odds calculations Patriots out, Dolphins in Standby. Somebody puts one hard earned American dollar down on something like that can win what? Just give me a minute. A boat? Can you win a boat? Tap dance for a second.

46:09I'm tap dancing. Dolphins to make the playoffs. They have the highest odds in the AFC. That's 50 to 1. Okay. And then you parlay that with the Patriots to miss. Yeah, parlay that with Patriots to miss. The third lowest in the AFC. Put it all together. You get about 22 to 1.

46:27Rich Eisen:So I put$1 down, I win 22? Yeah. That's nothing. 0.0. Yeah, you gotta put thousands down. 844-204-RICH, number to dial. We're putting teams in the playoffs. We're taking them out because you can't just do one. It's hand in hand. Right now the Pats are out. Twice. Two times. Dolphins are in. If that happens, I'll buy you a steak, Dennis. Uh-oh. You once upon a time ate a hat around here. Yeah. Well, I'm still owed a steak. You are owed some guy in Portland. Okay. That's true. About three years old. All right. You keep calling him out. That thing is aging nicely. Keep calling him out. Ramona Shelburne and the latest at the Lakers coming up next.

47:10The Ridge Eisen Show podcast.