Hour 2:  What’s More Likely, Pro Football Hall of Famer Rod Woodson

19:13Rod Woodson:More likely to be the higher number. Bam Adebayo free throw attempts in his 83-point game.

19:18Rich Eisen:That's 43. Or free throw attempts the rest of March combined. For him? Yeah. Oh, I'll. I'm not done taking shots at this. He's got half a month to shoot 43 free throws? Get out of here. He averages five a game in his career. Okay. Got it. More likely. Last one. More likely to be your favorite Oliver Stone movie featuring Johnny C. platoon wall street any given sunday oh i'll go wall street come on now i'll go wall street wall street was ahead of its time platoon is just such a it's such a it's such a tough dark watch yeah um so it's tough for me to i mean it's and any given sunday is a lot of fun in that regard too but wall street is as good as it gets man it's as good as it gets you know michael Douglas as Gordon Gekko is one of the greatest characters in anti-heroes that you could see in a movie ever.

20:17Rich Eisen:And I'm not, you know, I understand that movies have a lot of those. Would you agree with that or you would take it? I mean, out of these three or all of them? Because none of these are like really rewatchable. First of all, they're all really long. Oh, Wall Street is rewatchable. When was the last time you watched Wall Street? It's been a long time. When was the last time I watched anything? Like Office Space. That's my answer. I could watch that anytime, any day. Not an Oliver Stone movie. Oh, that's true. I was thinking more John C. McGinley than Oliver Stone. Okay, very good. Yeah. I am going to ask Johnny C.

20:49Rich Eisen:about Office Space later on. Yeah, I had Johnny C. on the brain, sorry. Okay, all good. That's What's More Likely brought to you by Pella Windows and Doors. When it comes to your home, Pella Windows and Doors always have the winning game plan, and that's why your neighbors trust them. Visit Pella.com slash Eisen. Rod Woodson on the Ravens and the Raiders and the Steelers. Oh, my. Coming up. The Rich Eisen Show podcast.

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24:07Rich Eisen:they thought about it obviously they brought him in right yes rod woodson they so they they wanted

24:14Rod Woodson:to entertain this idea of having a great pass rusher, which they haven't had, they didn't have last year, right, in the mix. But with that being said, they started thinking, I don't know if they started thinking or it was just the case that, you know, hey, listen, he's injured last year. We might have some pieces that we need to replace coming this offseason. And we don't know if Nambi Matabike is coming back. I know he put out on a social media thing he was working out. And hopefully, for how much I like him as a human being, I hope he does come back because he's a heck of a player. But if they didn't have him, now they got to replace your center.

25:01Rod Woodson:You got to get a tight end. You got to replace a tackle. I mean, that's a lot of bodies you got to replace. So I can't say it's cold feet, but maybe let's say they just thought it over and said it's probably not the best deal for the Ravens.

25:19Rich Eisen:You're so nice, right? They thought it over, you know, on second thought. Yeah, I've never seen anything like it. Have you?

25:30Rod Woodson:I have not. But we cover the way we covered sports today is not the way it was covered 10 years ago, right? Even five years ago. So we overly analyze everything. We have to talk about everything. You know, at the end of the day, is tampering been going on? Has that stuff been happening? You know, people have been backing out of deals for quite a long time. Yeah. it's just it's rare when somebody like the Baltimore Ravens who normally don't do deals like that and bring in a guy like Matt Crosby who's a closer and one of the best defensive attack or ends in the National Football League into your house and I don't know if they were going to match Trey with him or you know because Trey was in that area already he was in that neck of the woods, you know, talking to the Ravens already.

26:26Rod Woodson:So it was, that's an interesting take, Rich. I'll just say that. Listen, listen. At the end of the day, you know, the deal didn't happen. Max was, you know, as he's saying right now, he's a Raider for life until he's not. Right? And that's how these players are nowadays. He's like, most guys, are players going to stay on a team on a given year? No, that's why free agency was created. That's why we sued for free agency back in the early 90s, right? So guys can give their wares to other teams. And I know it didn't happen. I know that's not through free agency. I know it was going to be a trade and all that stuff.

27:07Rod Woodson:But, you know, it was a head-scratcher to me just to even think about the Ravens giving up two number one picks because that's just not who they are to their core as an organization in the National Football League.

27:23Rich Eisen:What do you think the Raiders should do now? Obviously, you keep your head down. I know Max says I'm a Raider for life. The question is if this wild sequence supersedes whatever Crosby felt about the organization because they sat him for the last two games of last year, Rod, right? Like the circumstances have now changed even between his own temples, and he is a Raider for life. Or the Raiders should still try and seek maximum draft compensation for him because they already have planned cap-wise, and they could also use to fill some spots themselves, Rod. What do you think?

28:07Rod Woodson:I mean, the Raiders need a lot of – they need a lot of bodies, right? But, listen, they got rid of Khalil Mack. back in the day. And you get rid of players, you get draft picks, you're trying to replace the players you got rid of. It's an oxymoron. Like, I don't understand that. Like, I mean, and I don't know what the tension is. And I don't know what the, what it's like for him and them, him in the building, around the management side of it. I don't know what, you know, how Max is feeling and how they're feeling toward Max. But man, to get rid of one of your best players, which when you, in the history of your franchise, you got rid of Khalil Mack when he was at his peak, and then you're going to do it again?

28:52Rod Woodson:And then you got to replace that same player that you just got rid of? That, to me, does not make sense. I mean, you can't say you're getting rid of your best player and your team is a better team tomorrow because of that. Now, you're going to draft a guy, maybe, to replace him, or you're going to draft a guy that you need for another position of need. And you got to hope that he's good as Max Crosby at the other position or the D-tack or D-end position. And that's hard to find. Those type of players are hard to find. And what he does for the team, his skill set, what he does in the community, that stuff is hard to find.

29:33Rod Woodson:To being a leader, being a closer like Max is, that stuff is hard to find in the National Football League. again. It seems like these new administrations, these new guys who come into different teams, they always want their guy. Listen, you can get rid of one of the best defensive ends in the National Football League and think you got better if you want to, but you didn't.

30:00Rich Eisen:Right. I kind of feel like this could be viewed at some point like the biggest blessing in disguise for the Raiders, right? that the Ravens either found something that they could not overcome in his MRIs or their viewing of his knee, or they got cold feet, and it's the greatest thing to happen to the Raiders at the end of the day. It could be. I think it is just for the fact that you kept your two-point.

30:36Rod Woodson:So you get rid of Khalil Magna. I'm going to keep saying that because you're doing it again. Right? I mean, you're getting rid of your best defensive player on your roster. Doesn't make you better. I know it gives you, you know, draft compensation and you got more bodies in the draft. That doesn't mean you're going to draft a good player. It doesn't mean that. So that to me just doesn't make sense to say get rid of a guy. Maybe there is some tension inside of the building. Then it's up to Kubiak to come in there and to squash it. Say, hey, listen, that's the last administration or that's the last coaching group.

31:16Rod Woodson:Hey, let's have a conversation. Let's talk. Let's get this thing settled. Because you need good players in the National Football League to win championships. That's just, there's no ands or buts about it. You need those guys.

31:30Rich Eisen:Rod Woodson here on the Rich Eisen Show. So the Steelers, another former spot for you, they acquire Michael Pittman from the Colts, and I guess we're waiting on Rodgers. Is that basically it, Rod? Do you expect Rodgers to be the guy there? What do you think?

31:49Rod Woodson:What is it with these ex-Green Bay Packer quarterbacks that they have to be talked about all the time? Because Brett Favre was that way for years. I just had to talk about Brett Favre and talk about Brett Favre. Aaron Rodgers.

32:01Rich Eisen:You and I spend a lot of time on NFL Total Access talking about Brett Favre, sir. Number of times you watch me call Susie and say, I'm not going to be there for another three hours, right? You watch me make those phone calls from the set of Total Access, Rod.

32:16Rod Woodson:So I'm like, you know, is he going to play? Listen, I get kind of tired of it. Like, listen, if he's going to play, he's going to play. He's going to come back. He shouldn't, and the team shouldn't wait for Aaron Rodgers.

32:31Rich Eisen:they need to move forward it may not be him too though rod he went on pat mcafee's show last week and said there's no contract in front of me so there's nothing for him to look at you know what

32:41Rod Woodson:i mean so him and his ex-coach aren't that aren't that they apparently are though i i can't i don't

32:47Rich Eisen:know because um there's will howard that's there right um mason rudolph is always available for them it seems he's gonna be there forever right and then and then i don't know 21st overall pick there's Rodgers. Yeah.

33:04Rod Woodson:Last year, Rich, they should have took Jackson Dart. He fell to them. It was the best opportunity for them to take a quarterback who has that swag that can kind of fit into that Steeler mold and that Steeler culture and have that standard. And they took the defensive end or defensive tackle, excuse me. And they didn't. And now what are they looking for? Were they looking for the quarterback of the future?

33:34Wow.

33:35Rich Eisen:Yeah, I hear you. So Rodgers is the answer, though, correct? For this year? Yeah. Oh, for this year. Oh, for this year. For this year. Yeah, right?

33:46Rod Woodson:Listen, I would think it's going to be something similar to last year where I think they have a deal in play. He can say he doesn't have a physical contract in front of him. Maybe they've talked about it. And then they maybe need to hash out the terms of the contract for a one-year deal. Maybe so. But it doesn't seem like the Steelers are really moving in any direction to get a quarterback. Or maybe they're that intrigued with Will Howard that he's going to be that guy if Aaron doesn't come into the building.

34:25Rich Eisen:Before I let you go, you got two cents on Kyler Murray going to Minnesota and how I led the show saying that there's no chance J.J. McCarthy beats him out, you know, in a straight up battle for the starters gig when you got one guy entering year eight, another guy entering essentially his second year of being healthy, right? I mean, it's just going to be tough to say the least.

34:52Rod Woodson:It is. It is. I mean, they brought him in for a reason. Right. And then his skill set is similar to J.J.'s skill set. Right. He's a more of a scrambler, though. But J.J. J.J. can scramble for the most part. I mean, he was he was a better runner than I thought he was going to be. Right. Especially coming out of Michigan, Rich. Right. They don't have scrambling quarterbacks come out of Michigan. No, we don't.

35:12Rich Eisen:No, we don't. You know, but, you know, looking at, I don't think he'll beat him up, no.

35:17Rod Woodson:Because, I mean, you have a veteran quarterback who's trying to find the second side of his career in a new place. And hopefully he learns. Hopefully he learns, like, what he can and cannot do. Hopefully he becomes a better quarterback like the other quarterbacks that we've seen. Daniel Jones, right? Darnold, like what we've seen him moving around. Hopefully we can see that with him. because he is talented, but talent doesn't mean a lot in the national league because everybody's talented. It's the guys who keep learning, who keep progressing, who keep understanding the game at a high level. Those guys separate themselves from the guys who play five to seven years in the Hall of Famers.

35:59Rod Woodson:But I don't think J.J. will beat him out just for the fact that he's an older guy. He's been around. He understands systems. and the biggest thing is that he can he got some players over there to help him out you know Jefferson is one of the best receivers in the National Football League and I know Jefferson wants more opportunities to catch the football

36:20Rich Eisen:I bet. Speaking of Hall of Fame you ready for another Boilermaker to enter the bus room with you this summer Rod? Oh Drew that's right yeah

36:30Rod Woodson:yeah I saw Drew anytime you see my Boilers we got some quarterbacks that would come through Purdue.

36:37Rich Eisen:That's true.

36:38Rod Woodson:It's been quite a while that Purdue had some little, had some good football teams. But Drew's coming in. Drew is coming in. So it's going to be good. I'm going back because I've got to respect my baller maker. Yep. And are you going to be there, Rich? I don't know, Rod.

36:58Rich Eisen:As you know, NFL Network is being bought by Disney, and they're taking things over in April. We have no earthly idea what our summer schedule looks like. Don't know. Rich, you go across all platforms, Rich. I understand that, Rod. I'm aware of my platform wingspan. I'm very well aware. By the way, that's not a bad fantasy team name is platform wingspan, or it was a Fleetwood Mac album. But I don't know where that came from. I have no idea. but you know I'll be there if called upon Roderick. I hope you're there I hope I get to see you bro. Me too just I guess while we're on the subject of Purdue do they still play basketball?

37:42Rich Eisen:Oh wow. Do they still play hoops there? I'm just wondering. They started out

37:47Rod Woodson:really good Oh they do still play basketball. And then it seemed like the wheels fell off

37:53Rich Eisen:I don't know what happened One team came into town. I know that I watched that one I mean, it's like basketball is the only time I can wear my producer.

38:01Rod Woodson:I know that.

38:02Rich Eisen:And it's kind of different. It's like a role reversal right now.

38:05Rod Woodson:Well, I had to take that off.

38:07Rich Eisen:Although my team's in a battle with the Buckeyes right now and in the Big Ten tournament. But we'll see. But all right, Rod, it's always good to see you. It's always good to see you. It's great to see a great Boilermaker on my screen. Love you, man. Take care. We'll see you soon. All right. That's Rod Woodson, everybody. He is indeed a legend. He's a legend, not just in his own mind. Okay. 844-204-RICH is the number to dial right here on this Friday edition of the Rich Eisen Show. John C. McGinley still to come here on the program. The Rich Eisen Show, the podcast.

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39:53Rich Eisen:times teams take a time out to regroup and call the right play when it comes to your home Pella windows and doors always has the winning game plan they're not just window and door experts they're experts at taking care of you and your home at Pella they find the products that meet your needs and their experts install them they do it every day and that's why your neighbors trust them discover why Pella is a trusted choice for homeowners everywhere visit Pella.com slash Eisen today. That's Pella.com slash Eisen. 844-204-RICH number to dial Nick in Irvine, California just down the road from us here on the Rich Eisen Show.

40:26Rich Eisen:What's up, Nicholas?

40:28Rod Woodson:Hey, Rich. I, like hundreds of thousands of other people here in Los Angeles, have turned the dial immediately to you after our friend Dan does the due. Appreciate that. Glad to. Thank you. The Raiders got the best player in this situation. the Eagles, if you had, you know, three doctors, all independent, they all would have looked at Max Crosby's situation and said that he has progressed, as you expect, a professional athlete at the very top of his physical performance is projected and he'll be ready for, you know, game one of the season next year, based on what we see. Ravens were not happy and you couldn't put in any better, Rich.

41:15They took his, they took their finger off the piece.

41:19Rod Woodson:It's a weird thing that the NFL has. I kind of like it. It's pretty Machiavellian, but the Raiders ended up with maybe the two best players. Let's see. Let's see if the man who was born and bred to be a Raider for life actually fulfills his destiny. You know, it's kind of like a Star Wars story, you know, really with this guy because he is the Raider. I mean, he is Raiders. And two more points. One, Rich, do you remember when the Raiders lost their all-pro center to a mental health situation in Tijuana the night before the Super Bowl? Yes, Barrett Robbins, I remember.

41:53Rich Eisen:Yep.

41:54Rod Woodson:So now the Raiders finally, 25 years later, have an all-pro center. That's how long it took. And I believe in kind of like ghostly spirituality, especially with the Raiders. And, you know, this just had to happen. So, you know, we got the best player. We may have gotten the two best players. And, Rich, tell me if I'm wrong. I'm sitting in a parking lot out in front of one of Los Angeles' poker casino palaces.

42:22Rich Eisen:Okay.

42:22Rod Woodson:And I believe, like, about maybe six, seven years ago, we were sitting at a table playing yellow chips. Do you remember that?

42:32Rich Eisen:Where? At a local casino? Yeah, in Los Angeles. was um the last time i did that uh nick was man i forget a buddy of mine uh who i i play with on thursday nights invited me to a celebrity tournament and okay that was not me that was no that's and that was like 10 12 years ago long time ago thanks for the call nick and irvine played i was in a celebrity tournament and i caught cards like i've never caught cards in my in my day and I led the tournament two-day tournament going into the next day and they you know they post it whoa and NFL Network caught wind that I was doing in the celebrity tournament and they're like uh what are you doing what are you doing and I'm like I'm playing in a celebrity tournament like right it's like for me well I mean because I guess there was real money on the table but for me it was play money in a way.

43:31And they're like, yeah, no, I had to withdraw. Wow.

43:38Rich Eisen:Yada, yada, yada, I won't be an NFL employee in 20 days. So I survived it. It was play money to you because of the amount? Well, I mean, just because I couldn't, as an NFL employee, I couldn't, you know, I wasn't going to accept it. Oh, gosh, gosh, gosh. I thought it was just because. I don't recall if I could have accepted it or not, but bottom line is. They showed up to get out. I was on, you know, they had me online as leading the tournament. Oh. Ring, ring, ring. Yeah, got a call. Like, what are you thinking? Like, what are you doing? I'm on fire. And someone like you who I know is very, you know, you'll follow those rules.

44:16Rich Eisen:You won't. Right. Probably your heart. Dude, and I, you know, when I turned 50, so this, you could figure this out. So this was, did I turn 50? No, I said turn. No, when I turned 40, I held a charity poker tournament before I had a party and sent the invitations to a whole bunch of people, and it had four kings on it, and I sent it to Roger Goodell. And Steve Bornstein calls me into his office and goes, are you out of your effing mind? Did you send this to the commissioner of the national football league? Did you really do that? Yeah. All right. I'm still here, thank goodness. Made it. Did you know Tua Tungo-Vailoa is joining the Atlanta Falcons to compete for the starting quarterback job?

45:11Rich Eisen:Did you know that? Certainly. Well, Ian Cunningham, the man who was the grocery shopper there, said as much. Roll it.

45:17Rod Woodson:Kevin mentioned this in February. We're not in the business of really handing out starting positions. in February and, you know, in March, the same, right? For Tua coming in here, he knows he's coming in to compete, just like Michael knows that he's coming in to compete. And everybody, quite frankly, not just those two at the quarterback position, but everybody's coming in to compete. There's no starters right now. And, you know, we're excited to have Tua, but we're excited to have all the players that we were able to get this free agent class.

45:44Rich Eisen:Okay. So J.J. McCarthy and Michael Penix have got competition, and everybody else is the clear starter from the first six quarterbacks taken in the draft class a couple years ago. What do you think? I think two is starting week one. I think two is starting week one. I think Kyler Murray is starting week one. Exactly. There's just no way that these guys are going to not win a quarterback competition. It's that simple. There's no – if apples to apples, and it does not matter, The fact that you have gotten a draft choice, you used a draft choice this high on somebody, right? Like, you're just, it ain't it anymore.

46:27Rich Eisen:It doesn't matter. The general manager who drafted Penix and the GM who drafted J.J. McCarthy are not there anymore. The coach who drafted, who was part of the drafting of McCarthy, is still there. The coach who drafted Penix, he's not there anymore. It's down, like, you're, it's scratch. You're down to scratch now. Well, Penix is also coming back from injury, so he's obviously not going to be. So is J.J. McCarthy. Not the same injury as Penix. He came back from a knee injury of his own last year and was not afforded the same, you know, takes a while before you get healthy again type of grace.

47:12Rich Eisen:Listen, man, bottom line is, if you're going to be competing between veterans and guys who have hardly done it before, and it really is going to be about what it looks like pre-snap, post-snap, in the meeting rooms and everything like that, it's going to be a big effort for the young kid to beat out a vet. But it's a competition, huh? In Atlanta. I did not see that one coming. we see John C. McGinley making his way out of our green room shortly right here on the Rich Eisen Show. Our number three is also for you at 844-204-RICH. Some fun numbers of some free agency signings in the past. It'll blow your mind coming up.

47:58Rich Eisen:Thanks for listening to the Rich Eisen Show podcast. You can watch and listen to the Rich Eisen Show live weekdays from noon to 3 Eastern on ESPN Radio, Disney Plus, and on the ESPN app. The Rich Eisen Show, the podcast.