Hour 2: Rams GM Les Sneed Talks Myles Garrett Trade, plus Rich’s NBA Finals Power Rankings

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1:09Now, on with the show. I am a bad man.

1:15Rich Eisen:This is the Rich Eisen Show. Bless me. This is a bad man. From the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles. The Rams started calling the Browns about Miles Garrett in 2022. Earlier on the show, Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Cup. Coming up, Rams general manager Les Snead. Actor and comedian Patton Oswalt. And now, it's Rich Eisen. Our number two of the Rich Eisen Show is on the air here on Disney+. The ESPN app, ESPN Radio, Coast to Coast, Sirius XM, Channel 80. and on Monday this show came to a screeching halt when word came that Miles Garrett was joining us in the Los Angeles community. And the man who made that happen back on the Rich Eisen show, the general manager of the Los Angeles Rams, Les Snead, is here on the program again.

2:07Rich Eisen:How are you, Les? Good to see you. I'm good. How about you all? Sorry to disrupt your show on Monday. No, sure you had that. By the way, oh, my God. It was a great lineup, great, you know. No, no. It was a great disruption. Great, yeah, yeah. You. Could have been better. You. I'm going full De Niro analyze this on you. You know what? Somebody sent me that GIF. Did they really? Someone sent me that GIF. Okay. There you go. Second time I've been De Niro. That'll be a first. I can retire now. I've got my eyes on you, Les. So when did you know this was going down for real? For real, real. Where you're like, okay, I think this is happening for Miles Garrett.

2:46I think when we first reached out, when they adjusted his contract, it was a no. It's been a no. I can see why it's a no. I think I've said it a lot. Miles is going to be on the Cleveland Browns Mount Rushmore when this is all said and done. And I think the Browns felt like he'd be better in a Browns uniform than a Rams uniform. But was persistent in reaching out, knocking on Andrew's door, or at least calling him, blowing him up, texting him, things like that. And somewhere along the way, between that first March and into May, and a little bit right before the draft, because we started talking about draft compensation and things like that, I would say that, wow, this could be a possibility.

3:35This opportunity actually could be a possibility. And again, we just kept knocking, kept working to try to seize that opportunity.

3:45Rich Eisen:Is it true you've been knocking on the Cleveland Browns door for Myles Garrett as far back as the year you were defending the Super Bowl championship? You know, it's interesting. I saw the Jordan Roderick article or someone mentioned, Oh, we tried in 22. And I'm like, wow, did we? But here's what I do. I do remember that because that was post Super Bowl. Vaughn was Vaughn Miller was a free agent and left for Buffalo. So I do know that we were working to try to replace Vaughn. And that was a call that we did that we did make. But, you know, she I had to go back to my journal to see if that was correct or not.

4:25Rich Eisen:Yeah, we had Albert Breer, Sports Illustrated, on the show yesterday. He dropped that nugget. We're like, what? Since 2022, you've been pursuing this, I guess, whale of a defender here, man, and pass rusher. And another thing I just want to ask breadcrumb-wise as well is, of all the teams to propose a rule in this year's annual meeting that teams should be allowed to trade first-round picks up to five years in advance would be the Cleveland Browns. And of all the teams to potentially chime in to support it, as we noticed our friend Kevin Demoff, the president of the Rams, tweeted out in response to Adam Schefter talking about more trades than ever during the new league year, how great the Cleveland proposal is to be able to trade more draft choices.

5:16Rich Eisen:Were you already in talks at this point in time? Was this Miles Garrett potentially related because you might not want to cough up Jared Verse? Because he's that good in a trade line? What I'm trying to think was that they adjust the contract before the league meetings. I'd have to get that. I'd have to go to the journal, do that. Here's what I do think in that. If you know Cleveland, if you know Andrew, you know their outfit, they're very creative outfit. I think Kevin being, let's call it a CEO of Cronky Sports now and having some of that basketball and hockey DNA and his, you know, let's call it leaking into his system.

5:56I think he's, you know, Kevin's always been one to go, OK, that that might be something to support. I don't think it was just specific for Miles Garrett. I think that's Cleveland being who they are, creative, innovative. Kevin taking a little bit of what's going on in some of the other sports says, hey, maybe this is a way the NFL could go. At the end of the day, though, that one got shot down pretty good. Yes, it did. I don't even think we took it to the table in the end.

6:23Rich Eisen:That's correct. It never even made it to the membership, as we call it. And then last time you were on this program was right at the draft when everybody here in this town was lit up about the fact that you chose Ty Simpson 13th overall instead of getting Matthew Stafford something right now with that pick to win this year. Was the Miles Garrett trade real enough at that point in time for you to say, if we get our quarterback of the future here now, then there's more picks to F, if you will, for Miles less? Was that part of it? It was more real at that time. And that is something we did discuss internally.

7:09But I would still put it, Rich, at questionable right around the draft. So you were going to have to write. We're going to have to go through the draft with the possibility that this is just questionable. uh you know and but it was hey it was it was more than doubtful so uh but it wasn't probable but it was questionable so it's something you know we will you work through a lot of scenarios with the draft when you're going through it uh uh and that was definitely one of them that we did discuss

7:35Rich Eisen:okay so but i'm just trying to see how far in advance things happen and how many dimensions of chess you play here less you know what i mean like because it all connects this all connects You know, it's definitely – it's all interconnected. And I say that the offseason was intentional. We came into it. What can we do to add to the defense in this offseason? And it started with the Trent McDuffie trade and then signing his co-pilot, his partner in Kansas City, Jalen Watson. But this was an opportunity. And sometimes a friend of ours, Annie Duke, who is more poker than chess, She's always said, you know what?

8:16Football is more poker to me because, you know what, chess, there's a there's a finite amount of moves. I guess you'd call it the ecosystem is pretty strict and structured and there's a perfect move. And sometimes in in poker, there's an element of random luck and or just randomness that occurs on a draw you may get. And that's essentially what the Miles Garrett situation was because we didn't think that was a possibility, but it became an opportunity. Something you probably, if you go into the offseason and say, hey, the thing we have to do is trade for Miles Garrett, it's probably more fantasy football than reality.

8:58Rich Eisen:Well, you know, so I guess in that respect, because I have been on Andy Duke's podcast with you. We were co-guests on her podcast together a couple of years ago. So I guess you didn't flop. I do remember that. I do. Okay, let's go. You didn't flop Miles. You didn't river him. You might have turned him. You know what I mean? And the turn comes right after the June 1st deadline where the rest of the division or league conference doesn't have a chance to use the draft to make up for it. Is that part of this equation for you? That's definitely part of it. Also part of it. There's so many variables in this.

9:32I know Cleveland preferred, if they were going to move Miles, is to do it post-G1 so they could spread. It really helps their cap situation in the immediate 2026 season by doing that. So that was a variable as well. But I think it was a complicated situation because, hey, having this blueprint, having this vision, let's try to trade for Miles. And even if Cleveland thought in the end, there's a possibility, right, this could be a win-win. Actually agreeing to the compensation is always the complicated part of the equation. Because like you said, you can really want something, but it might just be too expensive, right?

10:18We've all lived through that. We've all lived through that, probably buying real estate in Los Angeles.

10:25Rich Eisen:Which Miles is now going to do. Although he spends a lot of time out here. Susie and I saw him at a UCLA women's hoops game in the winter time and he spends a lot of time here now he's going to work here, less need here on the Rich Eisen show and again, last time we had you on. It is a positive that his significant other That's correct. That's true too He's a Los Angeles resident born here This all works. It tracks Last time you were on, we were talking about Mr. Grumpy, who wasn't grumpy at all yesterday in a press conference. And I know you'd like to keep the emotion out of things. At any point during this press conference yesterday, did you look to your left and see there's Miles Garrett being introduced with your head coach, Sean McVay, and think to yourself, how the hell did I pull this off?

11:18Rich Eisen:Did that happen at any point in time yesterday? I can't say this. Maybe the press conference was a little anticlimactic in terms of it was finally here. I do think when this situation flipped from a possibility to, okay, there's a good chance we could pull this off. I think at that moment during the process where you go, wow, the opportunity to acquire the reigning defensive MVP and acquire him to be a teammate with the reigning, it's called MVP of the league. And then just the team that we have. And again, here's the deal. We're well aware of the window we're in with Matthew, with the team that we have.

12:08We have efficacy. There's evidence that we can contend. I always say this about evidence. Evidence is the past. The future is still the future. So we still, Kara and I have talked about this. you'll appreciate this double on on tondra intended we have miles to go before uh we do anything uh so that was a dookie that wasn't somebody from auburn who came up with that let's be honest okay oh yeah she you know she refreshed it oh yeah there is a double on tondra

12:38Rich Eisen:i can't pronounce it probably look at kata rubbing off on you last fantastic i do love seeing it um At any point in time in your negotiations with Matthew Stafford, whose sensibilities were part of the equation of Sean McVay's demeanor in that press conference back in the draft, that's my only way to put it here, at any point in time when you're talking money with him and comfort level with him, did you let it slip? Miles Garrett might be coming. Hey, buddy, guess what? I know Sean definitely has had a discussion with Matthew about, Look, we're always going to try to, right, let's call it, attack the acquisition variable that we can in the NFL to, right, to let's call it take advantage of his window along with our teammates.

13:28So we definitely have some of those conversations with Matthew because he's a very important part of our ecosystem here. How long do you think he's going to play, Les? What do you think? That's a really good question. We truly like to take it year to year. I think it's really for Matthew's sake in that I know Matthew puts so much into playing this game that sometimes it's daunting to think, oh, I have multiple years and it's better. Let's just focus at the year, right, the year that we're about to embark on. It's interesting. Every year that we've done this, probably 24 hours after the season, Matthew's come right in and said, let's do it again.

14:10I mentioned to someone earlier, too, if he was a baseball player and he could throw, I call it over 100 miles per hour on the pitch, I don't think Matthew would ever be. I think he might be able to throw 100 miles per hour at age 60. Like he just has a special gift in that arm, in that wrist, all of that. So it's not going to be the arm that that finally he says, you know what, it may be time to hang him up. It'll probably be the grit that's required to play that position at an elite level. So we'll take it year by year. And I can say this, he's not slowing down.

14:48Rich Eisen:So, yeah, it could be the babies at home as well that he wants to go hang out with. I can't say this. For four little ones at home, football might be a lot easier than the energy required to keep up with that bunch. Although they're beautiful. The paycheck helps too. um so listen les um we you know you're you're in los angeles you're in the los angeles market you compete with uh other franchises you compete with the movie industry which you know is all about amassing superstars superheroes running it back sequels at what point are we calling aaron donald to kick a tire les when does that happen what do we got here you know i know this i know here's what i do know about aaron aaron aaron and sean talk a lot okay i do think for the first time since he's retired.

15:33He's maybe tempted that, oh, let's maybe do one last stand. I don't know if he's been tempted since he has been retired. And I think if you know Aaron at his core, he's one of those humans that if he doesn't think he can really, really help, he probably doesn't want to try. But for the first time, I'm betting that he's tempted. I can sense that. And that's cool that Aaron's uh excited this you know like a lot of our fans Aaron's uh excited about this move and he's probably tempted for the first time but you know what let's let him sleep on it rich uh as he mentioned let that see if that fire that flame he called it uh stays lit or or starts

16:15Rich Eisen:burning a little bit a little bit hotter now we talked to a couple people on this subject matter um over the last couple days uh one earlier today and I'm going to play a sound bite there in a second uh and one yesterday and eric weddle uh two former uh rams as a matter of fact that we spoke to about it eric weddle who we all know that was born out of necessity the last time and and it does take some time um to wrap your arms around it and get ready and what have you but donald you know he's he's ready to roll now so you leave it alone you let sean handle it like what do you got a plan you got a man you i know you you got a plan you're not just gonna wing it here like what do you think i think this is one though i do think it's one where aaron i think it's hey if you talk about let it alone organically occur hey does does aaron want to do it or is this just you know what it was it was it was like you said it disrupted his day monday disrupted aaron's week with this news and was it just a disruption and and caused this emotional stir or is this real?

17:20Because I know, and Eric Weddle, that was a, wow, you talk about nice, random, good luck in terms of the bad luck being, oh, wow, we were getting injured at safety. The good luck being, wow, Eric Weddle will come do this on the practice squad and we standard elevate him. I think if you know Aaron, Aaron's not one that would want a helicopter in, right, to the peak there. And he would want to start at the bottom with his teammates and go earn whatever's to be earned every step of the way. So I think that's what Aaron would be weighing as he determines whether, you know what, coming back would be fun or not.

18:00Rich Eisen:Or it's already not going to happen, Les, which is breaking news here. Cooper Cupp was on the program last hour, Les, and I asked him about this possibility of Aaron Donald coming out of retirement to play for the Rams again. is what he had to say. There's a lot of conversation that thinks that Aaron Donald might be sitting at home going, I wouldn't mind playing with him. I already texted him and told him that he's not allowed. So we're good. Oh, wait, what? Pardon me? What happened? I just texted Aaron and said, yeah, I said, don't even think about it. I just left it left at that. So we're good.

18:35I'm not worried about it because he's not. So you stopped it?

18:39Rich Eisen:I already nipped it in the bud. Yeah, sorry, Les. just wanted to break that news you know it seems like cooper would be a little biased and i certainly uh understand right yeah yeah hey maybe cooper could retire yeah maybe it's not maybe maybe it's time for him to hang it up i'm enjoying the by play here uh hey les thanks for the time congrats on uh on the big trade and the buzz that you're creating in this town it's so difficult to create buzz in this town certainly in June when you're talking football, but man, you could feel the jolt. There's no question about it. This was definitely not a nuts and bolts move.

19:19Rich Eisen:No. Hey, listen, I remember you were part along with Thomas Dimitrov for that Julio Jones trade years ago, and it's like you see a generational guy and you can go get him. Go get him. Doesn't matter who he picks. Go get him. Let's go. Yeah. At least he's crying, right? At least he's knocking on the door. You've been doing that forever, man. thanks for the time we'll chat again soon enjoyed it appreciate it that's Les Snead everybody right here on the Rich Eisen show like all of us married up married smarter Kara Henderson Snead who I've known since the mid 90s working with her at ESPN telling Les Snead what a double entendre is but some say entendre but it's okay do you think Cooper Cub would retire if it meant Aaron Donald would not come back no he would not And he would leave it to his championship offensive line to do the job.

20:12But if you just honestly spend, because we like stirring it up and talking about things

20:19Rich Eisen:and passing the time until actual football gets played or an NBA Finals gets tipped off tonight or a Dynamite game, one of the Stanley Cup final gets rolling as it did between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Carolina Hurricanes last night. Giveaway with three and change to go was the difference of a 5-4 victory for Vegas. While we're waiting, we like stirring it out. Hey, maybe Aaron Donald could do this. But just before we throw it a break, can we linger for a few seconds of what that would look like? Sure. Unfair. With Aaron Donald 99. Yeah. The guy who's like, Mr. Ringfinger. Hey, everybody.

21:03Rich Eisen:Remember last time we were in the Super Bowl in our city, in our town, in our stadium? Yeah. Walk-off. Best defensive player this century? Walk-off moment. TJ? Certainly interior. Certainly interior linemen. Because. Certainly interior linemen. And you want to talk about who's maybe the best defensive end we've seen this century? With all due respect to everyone else. Yeah. Nat 99 now has 95. These two guys. Okay. like what would that look like with brandon fisk with poona ford i've heard i've heard hell is a terrible place i think it would look like that land man other people with the land man and mcduffie and lake and watson just to name some on the back end who's house what would this look like Oh, and by the way, they're protecting a lead that Stafford and Nakua and Adams and Corum, sorry to give him first because he's Michigan over Notre Dame, and Kyron and all 19 of their tight ends that are out there on the field who can run and catch, run block and catch and creates this mirage for Sean McVay about what play they're going to run out of the same damn set.

22:27Rich Eisen:super team bro what would that look like if aaron donald says you know what i'm gonna reach out because it sounds like that's what's gonna have to happen they're gonna have to you but he basically for the first time remember we asked him a couple years ago last like hey what if donald comes out of retirement yeah to help in the playoffs he's I don't know, you know, probably not. That's not going to happen. Now, this is real. He is somewhere in the greater Los Angeles area thinking about it. And I don't blame him. What's it going to mean? Like just you're delaying your – he's in the class of 2029 right now for the Hall of Fame.

23:15If that matters at all, he would push that five years into the distance.

23:20Rich Eisen:So what? he'll still look like he can come up with a hundred tackles looking perfect in his, you know, gold jacket. You started the super team, bro. I mean, this is real right now. It's real. Yeah, for sure. Let's take a break. Eight, four, four, four, rich number to dial here on the program. We'd come back. Got my power rankings of the NBA finals. Most influential coming up.

23:51Rich Eisen:The Rich Eisen Show Podcast.

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