Hour 2: Rich’s Way-Too-Early NFL Power Rankings, plus Cowboys LB Rashan Gary

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1:28Rich Eisen: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 three 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. This is the Rich Eisen Show. Caught! Touchdown! Boy, what an opportunity this is for Collin Martin. They can win the division and go deep. Live from the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles. Earlier on the show, University of Washington head coach Jed Fish.

2:16Rich Eisen:Coming up. Cowboys defensive lineman Rashawn Gary. Host Chris Hardwick. Your phone calls, latest news, and more. And now, it's Rich Eisen. Our number two of the Rich Eisen Show is on the air. Rashawn Gary is going to make his way to our studio, and we're going to hang out with the New Jersey legend, Michigan Wolverine. Long-time Packer and now Dallas Cowboy getting set to rush the passer alongside Quinnen Williams and Kenny Cleese reunited with Kenny Clark. How about that? He would go. He would go, man. He's going to be here in studio, everybody. Chris Hardwick after him. I found some old pictures when he first visited us in 2019.

3:02Rich Eisen:Both you guys look really young in these. Oh, look at that. Two Michigan Wolverine guys. That's back in that day. And then Chris Hardwick in our number three. I don't know how far afield from Rashawn Gary one could get that guy who created a nerdist. Okay. Points. Points. I did that midnight when he was a host there back in the day. Anyway, 844-204-RICH is the number to dial right here on the program. Let's go to the phone lines real quick before we get to my power rankings and so much more. Daniel in Downey, California, everybody. Daniel in Downey, very alliterative. What's going on, Daniel? Hey, Rich.

3:43Rich Eisen:Big fan. Long time, first time here. Very good. And I wanted to ask you, with all that's going on with the Rams and their roster acquisitions and the NFC West gearing up for another run, do you think this is in effect because the NFC West had the single greatest season a division has ever had last year? and if so or if not do you think that there was a division that had a single greater season than the NFC West did last year that one I can't know off the top of my head but listen uh if if you are less need and you saw what happened last year where you had the defending Super Bowl champions right there in front of you twice in their home and one game goes down the tubes with a two-point conversion that doesn't go your way for a million different reasons.

4:39Rich Eisen:And you had so many different ways to win that game and couldn't put it away. Certainly because defensively, you kind of fell apart. Sam Donald caught fire and, you know, the Seattle Seahawks defense was on its heels. Puka Nakua running free to take the lead. And then Mike McDonald saying, screw it. We're going to go for two again, and over time we're going to win this thing. And they do. And then you saw what happened in the NFC Championship game. Damn straight you're going to say to Andrew Berry, this conversation we've been having for years over Miles Garrett, can we get this done now or what?

5:22Rich Eisen:And then the Aaron Donald stuff is just gravy. That's just the cherry on top. So you're Seattle. You're sitting here going, and thanks for the call, Daniel. You're Seattle. You're sitting here going, okay, we can't counter the move that they made on Miles Garrett because they did it in June. Okay, we certainly can't counter the move of Aaron Donald. Right. You know, who do we have from our past that could come out? You know, can we get Marshawn to run the ball just until Charbonnet comes back and Jadarian Price can get some help? I don't know. There's just no way to counter those moves. But the way to counter them is for you to show up in training camp and ratchet the intensity up.

6:09Rich Eisen:I don't know. Did you see Hard Knocks? We got to do it. Last night? No, not yet. Oh, my goodness gracious. Not the new one yet. Mike McDonald, man, is such the real frigging deal as if we don't already know it. There is a moment that's really going all over the Internet tubes today. I believe it's Derek Hall. got kicked out of practice or kicked out of a drill. Yeah. He showed up in a monster truck last week. Well, he had to wrestle Leonard Williams. He was getting too close to Sam Darnold. Yeah. He's a little hyped up. And McDonald, you know, let him hear it at one point and say, stop it. And then he got too close to him again, and he's like, you're out.

7:02Rich Eisen:and you know he's got a player upset angry complaining vehemently profanely and he's like i don't care what you're saying i'm running the effing practice like that and you're seeing this and you're like hell like if you're a seong fan you're like hell yeah even though you love the players sure they just made you the happiest you've been in a long time probably ever but he's like this is my way and that is the highway off the practice field for the moment if you haven't seen this just look it up it it is exactly why you want to watch hard knocks is exactly why hard knocks is there and and i appreciate the seahawks saying show it show it even though it involves you know him kicking one of the players off the field now it makes sense i saw a tweet yesterday rich that said something about the upcoming episode the hard knocks is going to show you something rarely seen and they made it seem like something big was going to happen i guess this is exactly what they were talking certainly when you're saying hard knocks is scrubbed and hard knocks is not showing you the real stuff anymore because teams won't allow it.

8:22Rich Eisen:They don't want you to see inside it. You know. So yeah. It's already on. And in San Francisco, you know, Niner fans are like, what's going on? McCaffrey has tightness. Nick Bosa's got a week-to-week injury now. You know. The Titans are are practicing with them correct am i i believe i am not mistaken on that front right now they are actually yeah they're practicing together and so salah is back where he once belonged right away twice cooper says to me dad did you see where the titans are practicing and i'm like well santa clara right he goes yeah they have them on the side of the field closest to the uh electric grid.

9:15Rich Eisen:The substation. The substation. Yeah. I'm going to tweet out this Mike McDonald clip from the show. It's so good. It's so, so good. It's great. It's so good. But the Niners, I mean, Niner fans are like, is this contract related with McCaffrey and Bosa or is it injury related? And if it's injury related, come on. Really? Purdy looks terrific. The young kids look terrific. Like, who the hell knows, right? Last year, it's like the Niners are going to be hot garbage, and they damn near won the entire regular season in their division and conference. August is hopium month, man. I know. Everyone is 0-0, and everyone thinks they can win the division and compete, and that's kind of why the sport's so great.

10:06Rich Eisen:But the NFC West, man, and that's why, again, when I led the show talking about the Minnesota Vikings, Kyler Murray's like, okay, I hear you. We're starting home against Green Bay, and then I got to go to Chicago. That's tough, sure, but okay. I got to take on the Rams twice and the Niners twice and the Seahawks twice. Every year. Every year. Every year. And I know the NFC North fans think they got the best division every single year because it's cold, yada, yada, yada. I got it. Who wins more games? Which division? This year? The West? the west man the rams arizona is going to bring that division down where all four teams in the north last year it didn't last year the other rest of the division was so damn good all right let's get to my power rankings here we go it's my power rankings they so you you guys man you make me do this stuff we make you yes you do you want to do it well you egg me on.

11:08Rich Eisen:I mean, he's got a... I always listen. You egg me on and I acquiesce. Well, we know what's good for you. Do you really? I mean... Well, I did the way, way, way too early... I did power rankings. Did I do it after the Super Bowl also? Didn't I do it... It was whatever. Yeah, well, that was the end of the season, but this was This is May. Way, way, way too early NFL power rankings. So now, with the preseason beginning on Thursday night, you know an NFL network does have Titans in San Francisco as the second game on our double dip. Ratings are going to crush. That the way it's now time for my way too early power, right?

11:51Rich Eisen:And I'm like, do I really do this? Because like I'm going to do it again in a month for real. I know, but that's for real. What do you mean? We got three. Show them a whole month. No, we got a whole month of preseason games. Guys could get hurt. Guys could hold out. And more importantly than that, we got three hours. Max Crosby's going to be on the Cowboys in like a long day. Oh, baby. You know what I mean? Okay. Rashawn Gary, how do you make a point? Are you guys cool? Major point. Here we go, everybody. My way too early NFL power rankings brought to you by SoFi. Let's go.

12:25Rich Eisen:This is my power rankings. There are many like it, but this one is mine. Power rankings. My way too early NFL power rankings brought to you by SoFi. My number 10. He says nobody's talking about him. I'm going to put him on the list. Oh. Yeah. Take these photographs of Caleb Williams' coach and put it next to the Jacksonville Jaguars at number 10 on my list. Jaguars. Yeah, man. I believe in them. Not on the list in May. They weren't on my list. But I'm like, you know what? I hear you, Liam Cohen. You know, I zag when everyone else zigs. You know what I mean? He's a zigzagger. I'm going ahead and making my thoughts known.

13:10Rich Eisen:Why not? It's my right. Okay. I believe in you, Trevor. I kind of do, too. What's up, Trevor? What's up, Trevor? What's up, Trevor? Yeah. By the way, that's our new drop anytime I mention the Jaguars. What's up, Trevor? So what if it's Bill O 'Brien pissed off in a B.C. press conference? Nobody needs it in the net. Some reporter named Trevor. Too bad. We're not down. The sun is up. That's right. And the Jacksonville Jaguars are getting attention. Duval. That's right, man. Duval. I believe in Basial Tootin as your first running back. Parker Washington can't lose. Can't lose. Duval. That's right.

13:52Rich Eisen:They don't want you to play that. Yeah, they don't like that anymore. Number nine on the list. And just because, you know, you got to take the good with the bad. That's what they say is the facts of life, right? Facts of life. You see what I'm saying? Here's a picture of Caleb Williams right there at nine. Oh, yeah. Ooh, down from six. I'm concerned about Luther Burden. Ah, they're not. He was walking around. Okay, good enough. I don't know. I saw Colston Lovell at a certain garden party. You love Colston Lovell. Dude, I'm telling you. That's your man. I am telling you. And I'll just leave it at that.

14:26Rich Eisen:The Bears are nine. Okay. Number eight on the list. I left them off in the way, way, way too early. I don't know what I was thinking. Houston Texans are eight. Okay. You know the Houston Texans are going to finish in the final four of the AFC again. They do it every year. Three years in a row. Why wouldn't they do it again this year? I don't know. Why would they not? I think David Montgomery there with Woody Marks is a hell of a one-two punch. Tank Dell's back healthy. Those kids that they drafted last year taking step forwards in year two with Nico Collins. Nico. Let's see CJ Stroud step it up.

15:02Rich Eisen:That's all. And that defense. Dude, I'm going to read it out. I'm going here, man. I should have had it ready if I was going to do this, but I just decided to do it. David Montgomery. Take a look at the Houston Texans depth chart. These are your starters. Will Anderson Jr. Will? Daniil Hunter. Aziz Alshair. Beasts. Derek Stingley Jr. Kamari Lassiter. Jalen Petrie. They added Reed Blankenship, and I didn't name all of them Because some of our names are being, quite frankly, difficult to pronounce. To-oh, To-oh. I cannot pronounce that dude's name. To-oh, To-oh. What's hard enough? I just said it.

15:40Rich Eisen:What do you mean? Tommy Togiai. Marte Mapu. Okay. Jadeveon Clowney's back. Number seven. I know Jadeveon's back, too. Number seven on the list. I'm putting the Eagles here. I'm not quitting them. I'm not quitting them. Up from eight. I think they're going to be better. I think Jalen Hurts, you're hearing he's faster. I think Saquon's going to come back. I think the offensive line is going to do it. I think defensively, Jalen Carter is paid. You know? As long as he just stops spitting at people. You know? They posted a video of Hurts throwing a pick today. I was like, why would you do that? I don't know.

16:19Rich Eisen:Because Philadelphia. It's going to hype up the defense. I like the Eagles, man. I think they're going to be better. And it's every other year, as you know. Every other year. Number six are your Patriots. Ooh. Ooh, up from seven. Yeah. Nice. AJ Brown being added. He's cooking, man. Did you see Sauce Gardner responded to that one play? He's like, there's only one. He goes, why do you think they only have one play that you're seeing? Yeah, Sauce. You shut him down the rest of the way. That's a good point. Did he? That's what he said. I believe in Sauce. I can say a lot of things. Patriots are six.

16:54Rich Eisen:Yeah, you see all this from a one-on-one rep, an eight-yard sit route at that. It's a reason that's the only one y 'all saw as sauce. It's not. I saw like two touches. And he put the lock emoji down. He did because he saw his gardener locking people down, man. You still love sauce? I will never quit him. I will never. Don't forget. I spoke his drafting into existence. That is the truth. And you got him traded. What? I didn't do that. All right. Number five on the list are the L.A. Chargers. Ooh, down from two. You know what? I just decided I got all hyped up back in May. Okay. I got hyped up. But they're still that good, man.

17:36Rich Eisen:Okay. I do need to see a couple things from them before I start saying they're the second best team in the NFL. But I got hyped up. You were feeling it. I was feeling it. It's understandable. And they signed Njoku since then, too. They added Njoku. I don't know. Njoku might have already been there. I can't figure it out. All I'm saying is he got engaged to Madison Beer, which means Zander now has two teams that is his favorite in the AFC. When the Chiefs face the Chargers, Cooper's going to have a field day. Oh, is it Taylor Swift versus Madison Beer? Who are you going to root for? I love Cooper.

18:10Rich Eisen:There's going to be a fist fight in Eisenhower. Hey, listen. I think Taylor Swift wins a day with Zander anyway. I mean, if he had a power rank, Taylor's going to get crazy. Let's not get crazy. He wants a Taylor Swift cake for his birthday. Cake? Yeah, I know. Like what? I don't know what's on it. All I know is it's... Like a life size? I don't know what it means. Just know that we're going to end up with whatever's left of the cake. The answer came back, whatever it is, I'm sure it's way too expensive. I mean, I've watched This is Cake. You can make anything cake. By the way, his birthday, it was like a week ago.

18:45Rich Eisen:Oh, a week ago? Like it's a birthday palooza for a birthday month, man. Yes, birthday month. Exactly. That's how we do it. That's how I do it. 18. Number four is your Dallas Cowboys. Oh, four? They are not better than the Patriots. Like, what are we doing? Oh, boy. I like his roster more than I like yours. Oh, yeah. I said it. They're set up. TJ, they are in the 11-year history of this show. This is our 12-football season that we're covering. This is the best the Cowboys have come into the season roster-wise, and everything else settled. I believe. In the history of our show, the Patriots have more Super Bowl wins than Cowboys have playoff wins.

19:26Rich Eisen:Why are you bringing up old stuff? It's the truth. Listen, it's not about you. Just because you're right two spots below. Let him shower me and we're showing Gary with us. Dude, it's real. It's real. It's not like some Jerry Jones BS either. This is real. I certainly hope you're right. I've been watching a lot of training camp to feed him, you know, squirrels. All of it. I mean, this is for real, though. It's delicious. Wait, what do you mean? You said just yesterday he won the Micah Parsons trade. You just said it. I said it. I know. So why do you not believe it? Let's play that game you played yesterday.

20:01Rich Eisen:Better receivers running that quarterback line. You want me to do it, and then you have a problem with the way I'm doing it. That's your man right there. That's my answer. See how he does you? Number three is the Denver Broncos. Ooh. Okay. Look, they're one ankle bone away from maybe being soon. I'm aware of that. And then it's just one and two. I toyed with putting the Seahawks at two. I just can't do it with Aaron Donald coming back. I just can't. And I apologize. I apologize to my 12 fans. And I just was talking about before this segment. I know they are. And Mike McDonald is so the real deal.

20:39Rich Eisen:And if you think that they're going to take a step back because they're smelling it, they're feeling it, whatever, the quarterback isn't that guy. And the coach certainly is showing to you in the hard knocks. He ain't that guy either. If anything, they're going to take a step forward when this gets put on the locker room. It's entirely possible. But at the end of the day, a team with the defending MVP, and Puka's limping around right now, I would sit him down until he's got to get on a plane to San Francisco. Like, that's literally, I mean, Australia, play San Francisco. That would be the next time I would tell him he's allowed to even move his body.

21:09Rich Eisen:Look at that genetic freak on the screen. Okay, but Miles Garrett has arrived, and he's not the only guy with double-digit sacks from last year on that line. And Aaron Donald might come back, and they got Trent McDuffie for the back end, and they got Devontae Adams as wide receiver two on the defending MVP's team, and he's got two running backs that can run really well. Multiple tight ends. It's so ridiculous that they have Miles Garrett. I mean, those are my way too early NFL Power Rankings brought to you by SoFi. Get your money right. Yeah, Ravens off, Jags on, everything else is. Oh, 49ers off.

21:46Rich Eisen:Yeah, I mean, they're a little too banged up from our taste right now. Yeah. And it's way, way too early anyway. Ah, we X'd out two of the ways. Well done. That's well done. When's too early? Although those X's look too close to the ones that Ohio State fans use over the last year. It's a little too close to them. Thankfully, there's no M's in way. Oh, and plus, thankfully, there's no hate in that rivalry from Michigan's point of view anymore. maybe your guy's too nice I told you what the issue is and I'm going to bring that up with Rashawn Gary when he's about to join us my coach who I can't love anymore already right out of the box has got to break up with Urban Meyer sorry you cannot be BFFs with that guy and coach the University of Michigan football team you just can't I understand it's a lifestyle choice Known him for decades.

22:44Rich Eisen:Got to break up. Got to break up. New phone. Who dis? A SoFi personal loan is here to help you achieve something once thought impossible. Overcoming high interest credit card debt. Walk the tightrope of your finances with one low fixed rate monthly payment. No fees required. And as soon as the same day funding. That's right. Pull off your own debt defying stunt with a SoFi personal loan. Visit SoFi.com slash trick to learn more. Loans originated by SoFi Bank NA member FDIC. Terms and conditions apply. NMLS 696891. Everybody. Rashawn Gary of TJ's Dallas Cowboys when we come back.

23:29Rich Eisen:The Rich Eisen Show Podcast.

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25:29Rich Eisen:Limits apply. Save 20 % on a micro guard or micro guard select engine air filter when purchased with this Syntec special. Our radio audience has returned. Ladies and gentlemen, the second time I introduce him, formerly of the Green Bay Packers, but always from the University of Michigan, now from the Dallas Cowboys, Rashawn Gary is here on the program. So I'm going to start the interview by asking you the same question I asked Trent McDuffie, who's now at the Rams. Why are you not a Packer anymore? Why am I not a Packer no more? Just, you know, just times for transitions, just understanding those situations and just, you know, both parties just wanting the best for each other.

26:11Okay.

26:12Rich Eisen:So was it a financial thing or was – were you grinding gears there up there in Green Bay, do you think, a little bit, Rashad? No, man. I'm just trying to make sure that, you know, going into the next season, just making sure both parties are happy with, you know, what we wanted. And then we just couldn't see them on the same page. Okay, so you just didn't see eye to eye with the Packer organization? Organization, yes. All right. Was it a coaching staff thing? No, not a coaching staff thing. Just a mutual respect, you know, just all the seven years I put there, just understanding, you know, things I wanted for my career, just wasn't lining up with them.

26:45So, you know, Dallas Cowboys, here I am.