Hour 3: Drake Maye’s Super Bowl Postmortem, plus NFL Insider Tom Pelissero

18:47Tom Pelissero:let's start out with the ones that have the the early triggers so to speak where decisions are going to have to be made sometime in the next month here uh to a tongue of Iloa all signs are pointing toward him not being back in Miami whether that's via trade which would be very complicated or via cut which would be less complicated and in some ways uh provide more flexibility of the salary cap. Kyler Murray, it's nothing is final or firm on that front yet, but certainly I would say it is likely that Kyler Murray has played his last down for the Arizona Cardinals. He's got, again, he's got an even more complicated contract because he's got a rolling guarantee in 2027 that would vest if he's still on the roster next month.

19:28Tom Pelissero:Arizona's got decisions to make. New coaching staff with Michael Fleur. I ultimately believe that Kyler Murray is going to be someplace else. Geno Smith with the Raiders. If they take Fernando Mendoza at number one, Geno also has an additional vesting that comes up next month. They just hired Michael Fleur officially a couple of days ago. So they're working through that process. But I would tell you teams within the league are anticipating that Geno Smith is going to be available. Mac Jones, high bar in terms of what it would take. I know that there have been reports that the 49ers will absolutely not trade him.

20:03Tom Pelissero:I would just say there's maybe only a couple of dozen players in the entire league that don't have a price tag at which someone would not be willing to trade him. So for Mac, is that a second-round pick? It's probably something like that. It would be significant because he's a great value backup player on a team in Brock Purdy who showed you the second half of last season once he got healthy, how good he can be, but also historically has missed some time. And so you're not going to be sitting there going, we just want to get anything we can and move on from Mack. He's a huge value to the 49ers.

20:36Tom Pelissero:You've got some other quarterbacks, former starters, who potentially could be available in this offseason. What do the Colts do with Anthony Richardson? If presumably they get Daniel Jones back, which we talked about this on game day morning, every plan is that he's going to be back in Indy. He wants to be there. The Colts want to work out a deal. It'll be a complicated deal, as they often are, particularly with a player coming off of a season-ending injury like the Achilles tear that Daniel Jones had, if they can't get a deal done, the franchise tag is an option. One way or another, I anticipate Daniel Jones being back in Indianapolis.

21:11Tom Pelissero:You then still have about, when I redid my board this morning, you got like eight or nine teams. Kirk Cousins, I didn't mention that one. That's another who has a trigger in his contract. He's going to get released prior to the second day of the league year, but that doesn't preclude him from going back to Atlanta. It's just a contractual thing that was done by the prior regime. He has a history with Kevin Stefanski. He had one of his best seasons, won a playoff game with Kevin as his offensive coordinator in Minnesota back in 2019. Justin Fields, another player who's due $20 million next year.

21:41Tom Pelissero:He could become a free agent here. So you've got right there, that's like seven different guys who one way or another, I anticipate becoming available sometime in the next 30 days. It's just a matter of how are any of these guys potentially tradable where they could end up going someplace. The free agent market, I mean, it's pretty thin. It's, you know, besides Daniel Jones, it's Russell Wilson is set to become a free agent. It's Flacco. It's Malik Willis. That one is going to be really interesting. I know that everybody has already, you know, Photoshopped the Dolphins uniform onto him because of Jeff Halfley and John Eric Sullivan, but the price is going to be high, particularly if you're a team that may be eating most or all of Tua's$54 million guaranteed salary next season.

22:23Tom Pelissero:It's early, Rich, but I wouldn't be surprised if Malik Willis is commanding somewhere between$20 and$30 million on the open market, just because you've seen, if Justin Fields can get$20 million a year last year when we've got a pretty good track record on him and a pretty good idea of what he is, Malik Willis in spots, you saw him and you're like, This guy looks like an NFL starter in an offense that close to half the league runs. Beyond that in free agency, you're down into the Jimmy Garoppolo's and Marcus Mariota's of the world. So the trade market and the cut market is going to be a big piece of what teams are looking at.

22:57Tom Pelissero:And then you have to look at the draft and what's going to happen there. Aaron Rodgers, by the way, I should mention, also set to be a free agent. If he comes back, I anticipate that's going to be with the Steelers. Him and Mike McCarthy have talked often. This draft is not thought to be and believed to be, again, we're still early in the process, it's not believed to be particularly deep at the quarterback position. Fernando Mendoza, barring some type of an act of God, is going to go number one to the Raiders. The second quarterback going into this is pretty clearly Ty Simpson from Alabama. And I've been perusing some of the mock drafts from our friends over at NFL.com, Rich.

23:34Tom Pelissero:I have not seen Ty Simpson's name in a lot of those mock drafts. I would just tell you, and we are, what, 70 days or so, I believe it's exactly 70 days out from the NFL draft. I would be surprised sitting here right now, not only if Ty Simpson doesn't go in the first round, I don't think Ty Simpson gets out of the first half of round one because there are too many teams that need a quarterback. There is tape of Ty Simpson doing a lot of things at Alabama that you see NFL quarterbacks doing in terms of under center, running play action, turning his back to the line of scrimmage. The way last season ended was not ideal for Simpson.

24:12Tom Pelissero:We all saw the bowl game where he's just under duress the entire game and taking some big shots. He also was sick the back half of last season. He lost a bunch of weight. He has a skill set and a knowledge of offense that is going to serve him well. It's different than Tyler Shuck last year, but it is, I would say, there are some similar types of things where the more time people get around Ty Simpson, the more that they're going to like him. And if you're sitting there, and remember this too, Rich, we've got several teams that have multiple first round picks. The Jets are one. If they're sitting there at 16, is Ty Simpson getting past them there?

24:50Tom Pelissero:How about the Rams? Even with Matthew Stafford coming back, they own the number 13 pick. Stafford's 37, 38 years old. at some point you're going to need that next guy if you've got a guy that you can develop for a year or two you know just like the Packers have done for years and have him ready to go I wouldn't rule out something like that either there's a few other quarterbacks Garrett Nussmeyer Carson Beck we'll see I think Trinidad Chambliss is currently in federal court so we'll see how that one goes yeah there are some other quarterbacks who could climb in the process but don't be surprised if we're talking about Ty Simpson appearing in those mock drafts more and more as we get closer to

25:22Rich Eisen:drafted he is in federal court i saw during the break joe judge was on the stand you know i mean it's it was quite he had some things to say too he did i know what he said uh has gone viral that's to say the least uh tom pellicero sir we'll chat with you next week and advance the combine that's

25:40Tom Pelissero:right around the corner i'll remind my wife right tom tell me everybody

25:49Rich Eisen:Another great appearance. We'll take a break. 844-204-RICH is the number to dial.

25:59Rich Eisen:Rich Eisen here. The tax deadline will be here before you know it. And you just want to know your taxes are actually being handled. But the old way? You hand everything off and then silence. Days pass. Weeks pass. You start wondering, should I send another follow-up email? It feels like you're chasing updates and getting nowhere. But now, taxes are different because your taxes are done for you by a TurboTax full-service expert. With Intuit TurboTax, you can match with your dedicated tax expert and hand off everything right in the app. And while your expert checks for every deduction, you'll see real-time updates on your phone so you always know exactly where things stand.

26:39Rich Eisen:Suddenly, you're not refreshing your inbox. You're going for a run, grabbing a coffee, scrolling anything other than a just checking in message. Because your TurboTax expert is handling it and keeping you in the loop. So this tax season, get your best possible outcome and every dollar you deserve without the guesswork. Visit TurboTax.com today to learn more. Real-time updates only in iOS mobile app. Only available with TurboTax full-service experts. If you're like me and my family, you're all about creating amazing memories while on vacation. And for me, many of those have involved a home we found on Airbnb.

27:17Rich Eisen:We had such great experiences that whenever we travel somewhere new, we always check Airbnb first to find a place that fits our needs. The homes we've stayed in, comfortable, safe, private. You feel like you're part of the community. After a long day of exploring or sitting on a beach, it really is nice to come back to a place you can call your own. Airbnb is also a great way if you want to earn some extra money while you're traveling or out of your house for an extended period of time. You can make your home work for you while you're away. Not as a full-time thing, not as some big production, just something that fits into trips you're already taking.

27:52Rich Eisen:You can use the money for that dream vacation or put that money towards that outdoor kitchen you always wanted. Hosting on Airbnb just feels smart. Your home may be worth more than you think. Find out how much at airbnb.com slash host. The Rich Eisen Show podcast. Back here on our simulcast, everybody. Let's go to the phone lines. Let's go to Tom in Chicago, Illinois. We're on there, too. ESPN Radio in Chicago. What's up, Tom? Hello, Rich and crew. And first of all, I need to apologize for having a boring name, Tom. I wish I was Swamp Dog or something more. Tom Dog. Interesting. T-Dog. Well, what's your last initial?

28:35Rich Eisen:What's your last initial? M. Tommy M in Chicago. Oh, okay. Well, and I have another follow-up before we talk about my beloved Eagles. I am not technically from Chicago. I'm from Lake Forest, about a couple miles from Howl's Hall, where the Bears play. Okay. All right. Yeah, well, just because we were talking off Staten Island, not being part of New York, Lake Forest isn't part of Chicago, but I just wanted to be clear. And it now says graphically on the screen here, Tommy M in Chicago. So there you go. Or should we say, Tommy, I'm in Lake Forest. Forest. Okay. What's on your mind, Tom? So, you know, it kind of reminded me when he talked about the Eagles' rings and having wings on the rings, which I thought would be interesting.

29:16And, you know, there was a time when people were like, are the Eagles building towards a dynasty? And now it's, you know, it was every other year. My question is, given a lot of the supposed dysfunction, AJ obviously issue there, we lose probably the greatest offensive line coach in football who resigns for reasons and retires for reasons we'll probably find out later. Do you know where Jeff Stoutland's from, Tommy?

29:41Rich Eisen:Do you know where he's from? I do not. He's from Staten Island, New York, but keep going. How about that? New York City. There you go. Obviously, some in-aging roster, still a lot of talent. The question is, you know, love to know your opinion. Will the Eagles figure it together? Will Howie Roseman pull out his magic wand and, you know, exceed expectations in the draft? And where do you see the Eagles? Tom, Tom, very rarely do I answer a question with a question. Is Howie Roseman going to figure it out? Tom, what do you think? What do you think? Honestly, like what do you – of all the general managers in the league to He can self-scout.

30:24Rich Eisen:He can figure it out. And he can also find out what he needs. And Jedi mind tricks somebody in the league to give it to him. He does it all the time. And, you know, Jalen Phillips was an outstanding acquisition. Unfortunately, though, it just, you know, didn't work out this year. and whatever the hell's going on on an offense, he knows. He knows. I don't know what's going on with Stoutland. I don't know if this is all Sirianni-related. I don't know anything about that. But I do know that it's oxygen for this team and this franchise, and he's the perfect guy to figure it out. Will he do it? I don't know.

31:09Rich Eisen:Does he have the skill set to do it? One million percent, Tom. One million percent. Well, and he'll probably, you know, we do have a pick in the end of the first round. He'll probably end up trading it down and doing just as well with other picks. Well, whoever is still sitting there that you're like, how the hell is that guy still there? He'll draft him. Certainly if he's from Georgia, thanks for the call. It's Tom in Lake Forest. Tommy M in Lake Forest. He's Tom in Chicago, but he's Tommy M in Lake Forest to us. I'll tell you this. We were just talking about the Eagles there, Chris Brockman.

31:40Rich Eisen:Yes, sir. Jalen Hurts is somebody who you should take heart in. Why am I saying this? I have this piece of information. Drake May, your Patriots quarterback, Chris, became the 37th quarterback all time to lose his first career Super Bowl start. Of the previous 36, only seven went on to start another Super Bowl wow yeah it's not great and of the 36 only four went on to start and win another Super Bowl the four guys who after losing their first career Super Bowl start to actually be so fortunate to make it back to start another one and win The most recent one is? Jalen Hurts. Correct. Kurt. Nope.

32:42Rich Eisen:No, Kurt won the first one. Kurt never went on to win another one. Yeah, he won. Thanks to you and Brady, and then obviously Big Ben in the studio. Oh, right. Oh, no. Right, right. Start and win another one. His name, last one before Jalen Hurts was John Elway. Wow. Yeah, that's right. Before that, Bob Greasy. Oof. And before that, Len Dawson. Ben Dawson. Wow. That's it. Yeah. It's a short list. It's a short list. Yeah. So. It's like I said a few weeks ago, it is hard to win this season. So Jalen Hurts is the only quarterback in the last 30 years to do it. He's also the only quarterback all time to lose their first career Super Bowl start at age 25 or younger and make it back to another Super Bowl start in their career.

33:36Rich Eisen:Marino didn't do it. David Woodley didn't do it. Goff is yet to do it. Bledsoe never did it. Burrow's yet to do it. Kaepernick is not going to get the chance to do it. Vince Ferragamo never did it. Brock Purdy has a chance to do it. So there's that. Drake May was asked this week if any Super Bowl experience that he just got, does he think it will help him down the road? I think 100%. I think you can use it as a learning experience and an experience that I have a chance to remember for the rest of my career, the rest of my life. And it's a chance to battle back for something that didn't go your way or you wish would have gone different and give you fuel to remember that.

34:23And that's what you give me something to work for. I think it's something for this team to work for in this organization and these coaches. And, you know, we left it all out there. I know that. And we came up short and we didn't execute or play how we wanted to. but there's a lot of things that this team did well, and we can use it down the road.

34:39Rich Eisen:What else are you going to say? No, I don't think I picked anything up. Well, the only thing he picked up was his own self off the turf. I don't know if you've seen the NFL films. The NFL films stuff is so amazing. It's amazing. And it comes out day after day after day. It resonates kind of like Bad Bunny's halftime show where the Easter eggs are still coming out. You talk about the Vrabel in the locker room? Well, there's that, which I'll get to that in a second. There's footage of May standing next to Vrabel on the sidelines. And Vrabel's trying to keep him pumped up. And May's like, I'm not giving up.

35:17Rich Eisen:I'm going to keep going out there. And then we see him late in the game, rolling to his right, getting rid of the football and getting absolutely smoked by a Seattle defender and May falls down, you know, gets taken down to the ground. He's lying on his back and he lands right at the feet of Vrabel, who basically asks him if he wants to stay in. And May's like, yeah, I'll get up. Because Vrabel, you know, Steve Young doesn't just throw out. On Monday's show, I think he's hurt. I think he was hurt. He was hurt. He was hurt. Afterwards, he was also asked about surgery. Is he going to need surgery on that shoulder?

36:09Just get some time off. Time off. Time's the best healer. I definitely just need time off. Nothing that needs anything to be done. Just some time away and time to get some rest. Just time away from football.

36:26Rich Eisen:Time away from football. I mean, they got an injection before the game, so clearly something was going on there. Yeah, and this is why, take heart, of the last 10 Super Bowl losers, five went on to miss the playoffs the following season. The last team to make the Super Bowl again after a Super Bowl loss was the 2018 Patriots. And so Vrabel's the right guy, man. I mean, again, everyone should seek out the video of him welcoming everyone back to the locker room, which he's done all year in a loss and in a win. It was only the fourth time all year he did it in a loss. He did it in a win 17 times where he welcomes everybody back to the locker room.

37:10Rich Eisen:Seek it out because he's mic'd up. And you hear him basically tell everybody that comes back to stay pissed together. Yep. and what does that mean? Stay pissed together, which is don't go in that locker room and point a finger. Do not point fingers at anybody. We are collective and we are going to use this collectively to get better. Do not go in there. We are a team. If you're pissed, we're pissed together. That's the way I took that to mean and the other thing he was telling everybody again seek this out it is awesome we can't play it on the earth we don't have the rights to it um he says it was 307 days did you see that too chris yeah 307 days he knew the exact number of days from the minute that they got together as a team to that day that they just got beaten thoroughly in super bowl 60 just 307 days there's more days to come.

38:20Rich Eisen:They're just at the beginning of their journey. This is not over. Yeah, that's what he told Milton Williams. And he told that to others too. 307 days. That's all it is. We've just gotten started. Now, obviously, listen, Super Bowl teams, you look around in the locker room, you'd love to do it in a win rather than a loss. You know there's people not coming back. There'll be players who are done playing. There's people that are, in terms of the franchise's way of looking at them, done playing for them. And then there's other players that are thinking, I'm done playing for you. Whatever. But collectively, don't point a finger.

39:03Rich Eisen:And for those who are staying, to use the Michigan phrase, those who will stay but will be champions. And 307 days feels like a long time, but in the grand scheme of things, it isn't. And don't worry about it. I mean, you got the right guy. You got the right guy at the top. You got the right guy shopping groceries. You got the right guy coaching. And I think you got the right guy at quarterback. I know I just read this list of players who get back to the Super Bowl, who lose their first. Seven of 36, but only four of 36 have gotten back to win it, and to start and win it. And it's a small list, but why can't Drake maybe be the fifth?

39:44Rich Eisen:how many of those guys were arguably the mvp of the league i think there's no question he's the right guy i don't know i don't know i don't know the names of i don't know i don't know the names of the people you know there could have been somebody who lost the mvp race to be second in the in the voting and by just one vote um because somebody who did vote the other way was right if that's what you're referring to i'm not referring to you that's for sure okay sorry i I forget what the name of the show is sometimes. But no, if I had to, yes or no, he gets back and starts another Super Bowl? Yeah, a thousand percent.

40:21Rich Eisen:I would think so. Yeah. I would think so. And hopefully the next time he does that, he doesn't need a shot in the arm. Right. Figuratively or literally, you know?

40:31Tom Pelissero:No doubt.

40:32Rich Eisen:Because the shot in the arm he took, we know before the game. And then again, the NFL films footage, he was trying to, Vrabel was trying to pump him for the Heisman and give him a bunch of attaboys. He got his butt kicked all day. 844-204-RICH, number to dial here on the show. We'll wrap up Thursday, let you know who's on Friday, and phone calls in a moment.

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42:29Rich Eisen:844-204-RICH, number to dial for small businesses every hire counts. And so does your time. Hiring can quickly become overwhelming from sorting applications to figuring out who's truly qualified. That's where LinkedIn Hiring Pro helps. It streamlines the process so you can focus on connecting with the right candidates and not managing the noise. Hire right the first time. Post your job and get$100 off towards your job post at linkedin.com. slash Eisen. That's LinkedIn.com slash Eisen's terms and conditions apply. Joe in Houston, Texas. Been hanging on for quite some time. What's up, Joe? What's going on, Rich?

43:07How you doing? What's going on? Man, what up? Man, look, let me say this. As a Raider fan of 50 years. Now, that tells you something. I'm originally from LA, so I've been a fan of this team for a long time. I've seen a lot of the Max Crosby's come and go. So, So we've lost players in this, that, and the third. I get it. But that's what I was telling you, producer, man. Most Raider fans don't understand this because a lot of them haven't lived through it. But this is the first time since John Gruden, and I'm talking about the first stint, John Gruden, that this Raider team has honestly and truthfully blown it up to the point where we will have a system.

43:44And what I mean by having a system, the Raiders have always been known to draft the fastest, the biggest, the most athletic. that's the Heisman Trophy everything that brings and puts the asses in the seats. But it doesn't mean or replicate good football players. When you come to a system like you have with this Shanahan system which Kubiak is a portion of or basically a product of that system is built on drafting football players that fit a system. That's why I'm glad Rich that you've been on here proponent of no don't trade that pick get Mendoza don't do this do that you know because a lot of the people out here on the air saying, oh, you got to blow this thing up completely.

44:23Yeah, you do have to blow it up completely. But as I said before, this is the first time they're going to be building a system where they're going to draft players that fit that system. If they don't fit the system, they won't be in that organization. That's what Spitech and Brady is bringing to the organization, a modern-day run organization. This Max Crosby thing, let me touch on that right quick. As a fan, as I say again, I want him gone. I think he wants to be gone. And if that's the case, then so be it. it's going to help us build our team because timelines don't match up. The timelines do not match up.

44:55He's upset and he's pissed. Okay? The longest 10-year Raider on the team right now is Colton Miller. Colton Miller ain't said a damn thing. But he's one of the better tackles in the league. He's one of the better left tackles in the league. But he hasn't said a damn thing.

45:08Rich Eisen:Well, Joe, let me just say this. Let me just jump in here. Max Crosby hasn't said anything either. You know what I mean? These are all reports that are ascribed to him that he's told the Raiders he doesn't want to play another down for him again. And, you know, here's the thing, and thanks for the call, Joe, and I love your passion, man. Call back. Here's the thing. It's on Clint Kubiak. It's on Clint Kubiak to basically lay down a culture and come on in and calm the waters here, all right, and prove to be the guy like who is he like is he going to be can he be like ben johnson who is just like good better best this is my my style and you know i i'm a hard ass i'm a hard ass but i'm not just a hard ass i'm a play calling genius and follow me to freedom to use the charlie steiner line from the y2k sports center ad you know what i mean finally where it's chaos everywhere.

46:13Rich Eisen:You got the lantern, you know, follow me to freedom. And will Max Crosby buy it? If that is in fact the case that he needs to buy into it. Otherwise you can get a ton of draft capital, but at some point you got to turn those guys into picks. That's what it kept saying about the jets. Like, Hey, we're going to rebuild. Hey, we're going to rebuild. Hey, we're going to rebuild. But at some point you need a quarterback. And if you look at Fernando Mendoza and you look at what Sam Darnold just did in the Clint Kubiak system and you get enough weapons around him and if you think that Fernando Mendoza can do the same thing what Sam Darnold can do which is be internally motivated block out all the noise go home when it's quitting time in Las Vegas and and be the guy then you draft him and then you figure out how to protect him best you can right off jump through the draft, through free agency.

47:07Rich Eisen:Be smart about it. And if that's a plan that Max Crosby needs to be sold on, then sell him on it, damn it. Because he's Max freaking Crosby, and you don't trade guys like that who are filled with pride and filled with all sorts of nastiness that you want to send in the direction of Bo Nix and Justin Herbert and when he's healthy, Patrick Mahomes. Damn straight. that wraps up this Thursday edition of the Rich Eisen Show we're back on Friday's show Tim Hardaway Sr. is going to be here in studio that'll be fun 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

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