Hour 3: ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt, Raiders’ Geno Woes, Mets Miss Playoffs

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1:02Rich Eisen: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 3 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 richeisenshow and you'll never miss a moment. Now, on with the show. Let's do this. This is the Rich Eisen Show. I got a lot of confidence in our rookie quarterback. I'm glad we got him. Dark design run. Up the middle he goes. To the tank to the front. Touchdown, Giants. Jackson Dart. Live from the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles, today's guests, ESPN SportsCenter host Scott Van Pelt.

1:50Plus, your phone calls, latest injury news, and more. And now, it's Rich Eisen.

2:00Rich Eisen:Hour number three of the Rich Eisen show is on the air. Scott Van Pelt will join us in about 20 minutes time before he mans the studio fort for ESPN and ABC tonight on not one but two week four finale games. The Jets and the Dolphins first up at 7 Eastern time and then an hour plus later on ABC. It'll be the Broncos hosting the Bengals in the finale of week number four. What a week four Sunday. It was quite something. Good to see you over there, Christopher Brockman. Hey, Rich. What's up, man? Our Overreaction Monday pod is already out there on RSS feeds and our YouTube channel everywhere. So we appreciate that.

2:35Rich Eisen:Good to see you, DJ Mikey Diaz and D's Nuts. TJ Jefferson, the candle's been lit for a couple hours. He's brandishing that kendo stick because he knows I'm going to go all in on the Mets later on before we leave today. So there's that. 844-204-RICH being the number to dial here on the program. Let's go to Zach in Idaho back here on the program. What's going on, Zach? What's up, sir? how's it going rich how you doing today i'm doing well what's going on up there in big sky country oh just a beautiful little bit of rain you know hanging out by the river okay doing some work is that is there a van near that river okay i'm just kidding what's on your mind you know i just wanted to waste that few 10 seconds i know how much you love it thank you zach no excuse me zach zach zach zach i don't mind pleasantries with Zach from Idaho.

3:30Rich Eisen:It's just, I think, you know, this is what this show's about, that I get to talk with somebody named Zach from Idaho, that person being you. I don't mind that back and forth, sir. It's just us. It's just these morons in studio, and I say that lovingly. Of course. I mean, obviously. Give a good shout-out to TJ. What a boy. You know, hey, Mike. Hey, Jim. Better not put anything other than Rader Joe on. Otherwise, I will have a problem with you then. Whoa. And Chris, you know... Shut up. By the way, that's a new drop. Go over there, sit in the corner. By the way, that's a new drop. Chris, you know.

4:05And then a pause.

4:06Rich Eisen:Long pause. See, Zach, without the pleasantries, we wouldn't have gotten a new drop. I want to talk about my Raiders real quick. You know, everybody finally showed up. The run game showed up. The offense. The line looked better. JPJ, I feel, should be on the center. But that's another story. Max Crosby obviously had his day. And the defensive backs, you know, are decent, I guess. But what's going on with Gino, man? Great question. I'll let you have the floor, and I'm going to jump off. Ladies and gentlemen, look at that. See you, buddy. Yeah, knows when to say hi, knows when to leave, knows when to apologize, even though he doesn't need to.

4:48Rich Eisen:Zach from Idaho, that was outstanding. Callback. I don't know what's going on with Gino. You know, they wrote him off, but he says he never wrote back. Right now, he's giving it back. That's the problem. He now leads the NFL with seven interceptions. Three more again in week four. That's two of the three games last three weeks in which he's had at least three interceptions. You know, two passing touchdowns to go with it. Ashton Gentry. Finally. Got in the end zone with two of those receiving touchdowns. He ran one in also. And he ran it in from the minus side of the field, meaning their side of the field.

5:34Rich Eisen:He just took it to the house, got through tackles. He's running people over. This is the guy we're looking for. Yeah, it was good to see. This is the guy we're looking for. This was the man from the Boise to men we were talking about. He was a grown-ass man himself. And we were waiting for it. He needed to run this way. And the thing that I enjoyed seeing for him and for Raiders fans, he was on the field in third down. Raheem Mostert was the one coming in as well, and he was a nice. Yeah. Do you call him a change of pace? Because he slashes and hits people too. He's fast and he hits people too.

6:05Rich Eisen:So you've got two guys who can run fast and hit you and run over people. That's what you want from the Raiders. You know, we haven't yet to see Brock Bowers really breaking out. Fewer than 50 receiving yards in three straight games. That didn't happen last year at all. but the interceptions are killers they're just absolute killers they're killers because they're drive killers or in the case of the raiders here you are start the second half let's go first snap he throws it right to the the bears who couldn't do anything with it and so pete loves the guy and for good reason. He trusts him and he was asked if he was asked if he was considering changing quarterbacks.

6:53Rich Eisen:Here was his answer. After Gino's third interception, he now leads the NFL. Was there any consideration to go on with Kenny at all? No, we're not there. That's what I told you during Overreaction Monday. We're not there. Yeah, I brought this up as a potential situation. Right, because Kenny Pickett's sitting back there. don't forget they acquired him right before the beginning of the season when Aiden O 'Connell went down. And, and so there is, you know, I like hate the word solid, right? You truly do. You know, because I think you could use better adjectives than solid, like excellent. I appreciate you saying that.

7:34Rich Eisen:You know what, you know what, you know what the equivalent for a backup for solid is? What's it? Serviceable. Oh yeah. When you call the serviceable backup, that means, you know what? You're not a starter. No. Serviceable is. It's like you're a stopgap. Stopgap is another version of serviceable. Bridge. Yeah, bridge. You know what? You're not. You're not the quarterback. You're a bridge. Yeah. Yeah. Troubled water. But we're not there because Pete's not there. I'll tell you what. another three interception game at Indianapolis where the fans there are plugged into what that team is doing and it just gets louder and louder and louder in there.

8:15Rich Eisen:That's a tough place to go and win when you're turning it over. That ain't it. Three straight losses after that surprising win in New England to start the season is not it either. In the same way, though, that I'm talking about New England being 2-2 and having a shot to make the playoffs, All you got to do is just tie yourself with New England. And you're in because you've got that tie break. But you can't keep throwing interceptions. And Ashton Gentry, there it is. Rick Dalton, Jeff, right? Oh, that's the guy. From what's from the time in Hollywood? That's the guy. When he ran one in? Okay. That was it right there.

8:57Rich Eisen:There's Ashton Gentry. There's the guy that they went and drafted sixth overall. Third Raiders rookie in the Super Bowl era to have a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown at least in a single game. The others are named Marcus Allen and Bo Jackson. Not bad. Max Crosby was everywhere. He's incredible. Yeah, he was destructive. So, you know, let's just again, one and three is not the way you wanted to go through the first quarter of the season, certainly when you started it with a win. But at Indianapolis, home for Tennessee, at Kansas City, then a buy off of which Jacksonville comes into your house.

9:33Rich Eisen:you split those heaven forbid you go 3-1 and you're in good shape so we're marathoning we're not sprinting as for the Bears the Bears oh gosh Roma Dunze has scored at least one scrimmage touchdown in every game this year not too bad I told you Caleb Williams and he are connecting DeAndre Swift got in the end zone for the first time so maybe the running game is beginning to percolate a 68-9 yard go-ahead touchdown drive in week four to go on top of Vegas and then a blocked field goal to wrap it in another team to block a field goal to preserve a win um second half they got better than the first how about that it's not like it's just first 15 scripted and I understand it's tough for Bears fans to accept baby steps when it comes to Caleb Williams because you drafted him first overall and had a full season last year but he was getting his ass beat again and he came he He keeps getting up off the turf.

10:33Rich Eisen:Didn't have Colston Loveland, and the Bears kept turning Geno Smith over. Gente also fumbled as well on a fourth down. And so Chicago's where Vegas wanted to be, which is two and two through four. And the Bears next four games at Washington, Monday night. and yes fellow friends in uh our disney orbit jayden daniels expected to be back for that one so we will see caleb at jayden on monday night a big game between two a two and two bears team coming off of a bye that's week six so the next two monday nighters how about that kansas city at jacksonville and then this one then they're home for new orleans before they visit baltimore Will Lamar be healthy enough and back for week eight?

11:29Rich Eisen:Bears at two and two. Not too bad. Two in a row. And I don't know if Aditi Kinkabwala is going to be on Ben Johnson's Christmas card list or vice versa. But Ben got very short with her. And I did not appreciate watching that. I know how hardworking Aditi Kinkabwala is. Just go check out that exchange. I believe coming out at halftime. But anyway, the Chicago Bears, well done. They're 2-2. The Raiders, 1-3. Gentee, looking good. And Gino, stop giving it to the other team. Otherwise, that I'm not there turns into not there dot dot dot yet. And then suddenly Pete's there because he has to be. 844-204-RICH is the number to dial on the program.

12:20Rich Eisen:Josh in Wisconsin, let's take your call. What's up, Josh? Hey, Rich. How's it going? Great victory Monday for the Bears, although it was very stressful. But, you know, sometimes you've got to win ugly, and it's nice to see Caleb growing. And I completely agree that we, as Bears fans, need a little more patience with him. He got rocked last year with 68 sacks, and you can't expect a guy to succeed when he's constantly on his butt. I would 100 % agree with you about the officiating in the Ohio State-Washington game. It was absolutely garbage. But college football gets one thing right when they review targeting.

13:04Why can't we go a step further and review all personal fouls? Josh, I've got to push back here.

13:09Rich Eisen:I've got to push back here. First of all, reviewing all personal fouls, I'm up for, but I'm not up for putting a flag on the field, which targeting does. and targeting is the scourge of college football it is the worst thank you for the call josh and i appreciate your uh you're calling into the show even though i disagree with you on that front um targeting is the worst officiated rule in any sport anywhere by anyone there was a targeting review in penn state oregon check it out there's an oregon receiver who's being tackled from behind and somebody from Penn State comes right up in front, lowers the helmet, and connects helmet crown to face mask, which is, without a doubt, 100 % what targeting is supposed to abolish.

14:05Rich Eisen:They look at it, say it's not targeting. So just call 15 yards and get rid of the targeting and the removal of ejecting people. Can we do this, please? Because you don't get it right, like, ever. ever and it ruins everyone's faith in your ability to have eyes and sight because that's absurd oh let's read into somebody's uh window into their soul the kid didn't mean to do it was incidental right you know what's incidental michigan's best defensive player future top 10 pick getting ejected for targeting after he sacks a quarterback and we're reviewing it to see if the ball comes loose to see if the ensuing return for a touchdown stands.

14:50Rich Eisen:And as a matter of fact, nope, touchdown doesn't stand, which was correct in the call. But the kid's now objected for targeting a quarterback. What is his job is to sack a quarterback? It's the stupidest thing. It just ruins your faith in all. In all. Humanity. We can throw that in there. That's how bad targeting is being officiated. Umbrella. Yeah, he included humanity. I'm with you. 844-204-RICH is the number to dial on the program. We'll take a break. Scott Van Pelt's going to join us on the other side. Our buddy from the Worldwide Leader in Sports, the perennial Emmy nominee for his outstanding work.

15:33Rich Eisen:He deserves one, too. Coming up.

15:39Rich Eisen:The Rich Eisen Show Podcast.

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18:02Rich Eisen:Back here on the Rich Eisen Show. We are here on ESPN Radio presented by Progressive Insurance. Joining us right now, I think he's doing man-on-the-street interviews on behalf of ESPN. My buddy, Scott Van Pelt, joining us here. Are you on the streets of New York, Scott? Is that what's happening right now? Man on the street. I've always kind of wanted to do this. I feel like I'm reporting live here. We're on Van Damme in the city. It's a lovely day. Moods are sky high with the Giants coming off a dub and the Jets playing tonight. Mets, not so much, but hey, you got the Yankees coming up. Yankees Red Sox on the NSPN starting on Tuesday, maybe for three straight days.

18:41Rich Eisen:Scott, let's go. Ride the lightning. Are you already dressed? Did you fly in your suit? Did you fly in your suit? That would be next level. That would be next level. Great question. Thank you. This is an oddity with me. All right, I don't want to get too inside the beltway, but you can relate to this. Like the days of doing the late night overnight sports center, Neil Leverett and I, when we did it really late, I would just be dressed in like bummy clothes until it was time to do the show. And then inevitably, like with five minutes before airtime, I'd be sprinting down the hallway with tying my tie.

19:17Yes. And so as I've matured and became an adult, I now arrive suited and booted for work. We don't have to be on the air for hours, but I am I'm properly outfitted. This is what we got. There's the pocket square. There's the lovely Zenya tie. Nice. And this is it.

19:31Rich Eisen:Okay, so later on tonight, when we watch you expertly man a studio for not one but two games, this is what we're going to see. This suit, the tie, jacket, the whole thing. This is all I got. Okay. I like it. Scott Van Pelt joins us from the streets of New York, getting ready to host Monday Night Countdown on ESPN. Let's just jump into it, Scott. New York also home to the Ryder Cup this past weekend. What's your opinion of the golf? Let's start with the golf first up. Scott, on that. Europe was amazing. They're better at this than the United States, and they've demonstrated that for this entire century, if you will.

20:13There's a sincere fondness for one another. Something about it matters to them in a way that it just, I don't think, does on the same level for the United States. And that's not a knock against the United States. It's a compliment to Europe. Their very best players play great. Rory's amazing. John Rommel. And then they've got guys like Fleetwood who, until Justin Thomas took him down, like feel unbeatable. And they knew what they were walking into, Rich. But, I mean, look, I've been to Bethpage. I've seen it. There's great things about it. But this weekend was ridiculous. It was ridiculous behavior.

20:57there's no call for that ever and you can turn around and go oh they did that in italy no they didn't people followed rory mckeloy and shane lowry around for five hours and it was personal and it was it was it was ridiculous rory called it unacceptable he's right um but then maybe not surprisingly because the americans are incredible individually here comes the the stars and stripes on sunday and you heard luke donald say like those are some of the toughest hours of my life they could feel it slipping away and it very nearly did if henley's putt on 18 goes i think it's very possible the american side would have pulled off the comeback because then the the pressure would have been so immense on the european side i don't know if they could have stood up to it but they were they were they were a proper and deserving champion in the end um i love beth page i love what it is i love the passion of american sports fans but there's a big difference between cheering your guys on and showing up to talk a bunch of crap to people that's personal

21:55Rich Eisen:and and was over the top yeah and and also throw projectiles and and also a heap abuse on loved ones like not even the participants not even the competitors scott you know not that's that's totally beyond the pale that that's just you you can hackle people you could you could root for your people and there's some hackling it happens like but this weekend you know hopefully it's a bit of a of a point where people say you know what we're not going to do that anymore yeah but i don't know and then in terms of the golf as well can you give a voice to what a captain can actually affect you know because one of my favorite sound bites came from xander shawfly is as uh keegan bradley was being asked about whether he got out captained and shawfly interrupts his answer by saying yeah he should have told us to make more pots you know what i mean like and and i i found that refreshing from shawfly as well as supportive of his captain but what what can a captain do scott well if they could do it then i guess all of the the nine of the 12 that lost it for america would have been able to do better jobs i think it they're set up course set up as part of it and keegan owned that he said you know we there's things we do differently probably have the rough be taller we didn't know it was going to rain we didn't know the greens would be this soft uh but ultimately europe made a mile of putts when they mattered and the thing that i think people miss is oh the united states played like crap not really scotty and uh bryson played together and were nine under through 15 holes i believe it was and didn't get to play 16 because the other side is that much better um the europeans put on an outrageous putting display outrageous and so you know i think and this gets a little in the weeds but there's something called data golf which does a great job of analyzing analytics and they said this morikawa english pairing was the 132nd out of 132 but that's that's measuring analytics which doesn't measure what it feels like and nothing feels like the rider count nothing and so there are human beings that are involved here and they felt like there was something with Morikow in English and it didn't translate.

24:13So you can blame Keegan, I guess. But ultimately, Xander's right. If they make more putts, then that's not the conversation we're having. So I think the captaincy, Luke Donald deserves a massive amount of credit for being as meticulous as he has been and creating an environment where the Europeans feel so invested in one another. All credit to him for that. I don't think you can blame Keegan for not having his guys make every single putt they looked at. But he owned the part that he could have done better, and I'm good on him for that. I'm just bummed because he's a great dude, and you invest a lot, and then you get boat raced for two days, and everyone thinks you've done a lousy job.

24:50Rich Eisen:Do you think part of him sits here and thinks he should have named himself, Scott, like in a quiet moment, heart of hearts, or are we past that? What do you think? That's the part that sucks the worst. He should have been on the team two years ago, and he was overlooked. I think he's the captain this time around because of that. And then he didn't want to choose himself because he didn't want to not pick someone that was deserving because he knows what that feels like. And so that's the real cruelty, if you want to say it that way, about Keegan's situation. He should have been on the team. They'd have been a better team if they had him.

25:25Rich Eisen:A few minutes left here with Scott Van Pelt. Man on the street joining us from the streets of New York, already in his suit, getting ready to host two studio shows, pretty much. and one for tonight's week four finale here on the Rich Eisen Show. The best football team in the NFL through four weeks. Doesn't have to be a team that is 4-0. Could be a team that's 3-1. What do you think, Scott? Best team? Buffalo Bills. Why? Because I think Josh Allen is reaching the point in the matrix where it's all just slowing down. Maybe I'm guilty of just wanting something new, and Philly's a boring answer. All they do is win games.