In short
Kurt Warner breaks down the Cowboys-Eagles opener and NFC East outlook, then discusses year-2 QB leaps and Super Bowl 60 predictions (Chiefs vs Packers/Lions/Ravens depending on speaker), plus a Steelers/Packers-era Rodgers storyline and Steelers expectations.
Guest backgrounds
Kurt Warner is a Pro Football Hall of Famer and longtime NFL QB analyst/commentator. He also discusses his son E.J. Warner, Fresno State’s starting QB.
Key claims
Caleb Williams needs faster progression reads beyond receiver one; Ben Johnson’s system should speed processing, but consistency after the first read remains the question. J.J. McCarthy is mentally ready, but Warner wants to see physical/throwing consistency at the NFL level (touch/layering). Biggest year-2 leap: Warner picks Drake May over Bo Nix, while still expecting improvement from Caleb and Michael Penix. Steelers with Aaron Rodgers should be better than last year, but Warner doubts they’re “great” enough to beat the Chiefs/Ravens/Bills. Super Bowl picks emphasize Chiefs’ ability to make the big play.
Notable examples
Warner cites film/preseason vs Buffalo for Caleb’s decisiveness; mentions Mahomes/Herbert playing in preseason; references Ravens January “unlucky” moments (Zay Flowers injury, Mark Andrews postseason). Super Bowl examples include Chiefs’ clutch fourth-down/field-goal stops and “make the play” culture.
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Chapters
Tap a time to open that second in VOKurt Warner Joins the Show
0:04 to 0:27
Rich introduces Kurt Warner and discusses the upcoming NFL season and games.
“It can help you with practically anything on the web, like restoring a vintage motorcycle from a 50-page restoration block, or finally break down that long article you've had open for weeks.”
Kurt Warner Joins the Show
1:25 to 2:44
Rich introduces Kurt Warner and discusses the upcoming NFL season and games.
“Live from the Rich Eisen Show studios in Sao Paulo, Brazil.”
Flushing Toilets in the Southern Hemisphere
2:44 to 4:39
The hosts share humorous anecdotes about flushing toilets in Brazil and food experiences.
“My guys are back in the Northern Hemisphere, way above the equator.”
Game Day Preparations
4:39 to 5:10
Rich shares his busy schedule leading up to the NFL season, including calling games.
“I mean, eating bread is a little bit better than that.”
Analyzing Caleb Williams
5:10 to 8:40
Kurt Warner evaluates Caleb Williams' performance and development for the upcoming season.
“And then I will just go home and just sit on the couch and just veg.”
JJ McCarthy's Readiness for NFL
8:40 to 11:33
Discussion on JJ McCarthy’s potential and readiness to perform at the NFL level.
“You know, I think the questions that I had coming out of college is that he wasn't a guy that had to carry the team throwing the football.”
Expectations for Aaron Rodgers
11:33 to 13:58
Kurt Warner shares insights on Aaron Rodgers as the Steelers' new quarterback.
“Surprised that Penix didn't play in the preseason?”
Super Bowl Predictions and Team Analysis
14:03 to 22:26
The hosts discuss their Super Bowl predictions, team strengths, and player insights.
“Steelers out, Bengals in in that segment that we did on the game day kickoff.”
NFL Updates and Team Discussions
24:04 to 28:00
The hosts cover recent NFL news, trades, and game previews, including team rivalries.
“ESPN radio is presented by Progressive Insurance.”
Debating Cowboys and Eagles Story
28:00 to 30:44
The hosts discuss rumors surrounding Jalen Carter and the Cowboys' performance.
“I would normally, if I was back there in the studio, I would have already popped it out of my drawer to the right of my desk.”
Show all 14 chapters
NFC East Predictions
30:44 to 35:21
The hosts predict the standings for the NFC East teams and share insights.
“But I don't know if that's the way we're sourcing it.”
Super Bowl 60 Predictions
37:28 to 46:10
The hosts make their predictions for Super Bowl 60 and discuss team prospects.
“Back here in the Rich Eisen Show radio network with getting hooked on phonics on our Disney Plus ESPN Plus stream and ESPN app everywhere.”
League Overview and Excitement for the Season
46:10 to 47:14
The hosts talk about the competitiveness of the NFL and share their excitement for the upcoming season opener.
“Bengals could possibly make it if they start playing defense again and they go on a nice hot streak.”
League Overview and Excitement for the Season
47:35 to 47:59
The hosts talk about the competitiveness of the NFL and share their excitement for the upcoming season opener.
“Well, I'm letting go of the worry that I wouldn't get my new contacts in time for this class.”
Transcript
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.0:01This episode is brought to you by Google Chrome. You think you know a browser, but Gemini and Chrome, that's new. It can help you with practically anything on the web, like restoring a vintage motorcycle from a 50-page restoration block, or finally break down that long article you've had open for weeks. Gemini and Chrome is here for it. Ready to make anything online make sense? There's no place like Chrome. Check responses set up required, compatibility and availability varies 18+. Hey Chicago, class it up with Crocs. You know back to school is coming in fast. So why wait to find your new fave footwear?
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0:55Rich 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 3 Eastern. Missed 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. Live from the Rich Eisen Show studios in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
1:38Rich Eisen:Earlier on the show, podcast host and journalist Pablo Torre. Coming up, pro football Hall of Famer Kurt Warner. And your phone calls, latest news, and more. And now, it's Rich Eisen. Hour number three of day three of our new partnership and friendship with ESPN, Disney Plus and ESPN Radio presented by Progressive Insurance. It's day one of two in Brazil and Sao Paulo, Brazil. It's hour number three of three here in day number one. We've been counting down the seconds until kickoff on Thursday night of the 2025 season between the Cowboys and the Eagles. Later on in this hour, we'll preview the NFC East.
2:25Rich Eisen:We'll predict it one through four and then give you our Super Bowl predictions before football actually gets played in earnest. And game number one, game number two features the Chiefs and the Chargers. I'm calling that game with our in-studio guest to kick off our number three, Kurt Warner, still here in studio with me here. My guys are back in the Northern Hemisphere, way above the equator. TJ and Chris Brockman, along with DJ Mikey Diaz and Dee's Nuts. Have you done this yet? And I'll admit it. Have you flushed the toilet to see if the water goes the wrong way the other way? Oh, my gosh. No.
3:03That was not anything that I thought about or considered. I actually did that. And? And? And? I didn't notice anything. But you thought you might. You thought you might. Okay.
3:13Rich Eisen:It's my first time in the Southern Hemisphere. Will anybody back off? We're in Brazil. I thought that only happened in Australia. I've been below the equator my entire life. Okay. All right. 6 ,200 miles. Is that an awesome? 6 ,200 miles. Yeah, 6 ,200 miles from home. You do crazy things like flush a toilet for no reason. Some people do. Except science. Some people do. What can I tell you? Hey, Rich. Let's talk football. Oh, yes, TJ. Real quick, you might find this funny. Earlier during the first hour, you were eating the cheese bread, right? And you were showing it to us. And so I get a text from Manager to the Stars, Jerome Soboitz.
3:45And he goes, you're on TV. And I'm like, yeah, of course, indeed, I am on TV. He goes, oh, I just wanted to make sure you knew that. And so I was confused. Brockman got the same text. And so I called Jerry. And I'm like, hey, what's up? He goes, you know, I saw Rich eating bread. And he thought that it was a glitch in the Zoom link. Oh, Jerry, that's my agent. He got very worried that you were eating bread on air. He was freaking out. No, Jerry, we know. We were talking to him. He goes, oh, OK. He goes, I was just sending texts to everybody. I was nervous.
4:15Rich Eisen:So just thought, wait a minute. Did I get one of those? Let me see here. There it is. You're on the TV. You're on, he said. Yeah. I'd say we all got that. We all got that. You got bread in your mouth. You're on TV. What are you doing, Rich? Listen, when in San Paolo and offered a basket of cheese bread, you eat it. I force you to do it. You finish it because it is good. Better than you being in the bathroom seeing if things were spinning while you're on TV, right? I mean, eating bread is a little bit better than that. Like Frank Drebin in Police Squad, you know, with the microphone still on. Oh, my God.
4:47Rich Eisen:So there's that. If you missed it, don't worry. This show, you can hit the Disney Plus page and watch our show right away. There's also our podcast, all three hours, courtesy of the ESPN Podcast Network. And, of course, there's our YouTube channel, youtube.com slash RichEisenShow for all the clips. Listen, you know, I'm doing this game with you, Kurt, doing this show today and tomorrow. And then we do game day morning together Sunday. Yep. Okay. And then I will just go home and just sit on the couch and just veg. Okay. You've got to still call Monday night on Westwood 1. Yes, I will be. It always seems that way for the first week of the season because I'm usually calling the opener on radio with Kevin, but obviously not doing that because we're doing the game tomorrow.
5:37So it's always a busy first week. But it's the energy. You know, you know, you just get off a plane and you're coming to do your show. But the energy of week number one, the games that we have, and the excitement for the season, it carries you through week one until you get a chance to take a nap.
5:53Rich Eisen:Well, let's hit on that game here because, you know, Caleb had quite the year one. His best game was the one we called in London. It was, yes. He had four touchdown passes, and the Bears were 4-2. That was the zenith of the Iberflues era because they went on a bye. Then the Hail Mary happened the next week, and then yada, yada, yada. He's now the defensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys tonight. And so the idea is that Ben Johnson's going to get Caleb, you know, on a better path. And then there's J.J. McCarthy. Let's take it one at a time. Okay. Because you showed some film on the game day preview on Tuesday night that Caleb still is a little slow processing past receiver one in a progression.
6:37Rich Eisen:Right. Is that just something that takes time? or you're still wondering if this is still in there for him? Well, I think both. I think you have both questions. Is that, you know, it's not overnight when you haven't been taught to play this way and you haven't played this way. I don't think he played this way in college. You know, I talk about it all the time, the pure progression type plays where it's look at your receiver. If he's open, throw it, then move to the next guy. As opposed to reading defenders where it's like I'm going to read Rich and if you go this way, I'm throwing it to that guy.
7:07If you go the other way. And so it speeds up the process. And so that to me is kind of where he's at. Last year you saw him holding the football a lot. They were running a lot of pure progressions, and it was tough for him to get beyond number one, figure out when one wasn't open and get to two and to three. What we've seen early with Ben Johnson is he sped up that process in terms of recognizing what you want to see, and if you see it and like it, rip it. We saw that in preseason. That was part of the tape that I showed, especially against Buffalo. he was getting back hitting that back foot getting the ball out when he knew where he wanted to go he's very decisive but I also showed when he had to get beyond number one and you know that guy wasn't open to be able to process and work through things from there he still has some work to do and so that's what I'm looking for this year I think it's going to be better I think Ben Johnson does some great things offensively going to dial some things up to you know utilize that talent get number one open more but inevitably there's going to be a lot of times where he's got to get beyond that and teams take that away how quickly can he do it how consistent and effective can he be
8:15Rich Eisen:when he's going beyond his initial read now you've you've spoken to jj mccarthy right yes give me an indication of how ready you think he is and whether this is going to be another kevin o 'connell masterpiece with a kid that that knows how to win obviously from other levels yeah i mean I think he's ready. I mean, he's been in a lot of big moments, so I don't look at it being too big for him. You know, I think the questions that I had coming out of college is that he wasn't a guy that had to carry the team throwing the football. Minnesota has been a team that likes to throw first, and so I want to see, okay, if that's the case.
8:54If we're going to throw it 35 times, can J.J. carry the load that way? You know, can he make those kinds of throws? Consistency, You know, you watched him a lot at Michigan. I thought when he came out of the combine, he kind of had one speed in which he could throw the football. Like everything was a driven throw. And when you drive the ball, you either hit or you miss. There's not a lot of margin for error. I know he's been working a lot on what we call layering the football, putting touch on the football and allowing his receivers to help him on that end. So I'm looking forward to seeing that.
9:27We just haven't seen a lot of him play at this level. He pulled one preseason game last year, a little bit in preseason this year. So I have questions, but my questions aren't can he handle it mentally? You know, is he ready for that part of it? The questions are more the physical aspect of playing the game, seeing what he needs to see, and I can't wait to see that on Monday night.
9:50Rich Eisen:So let's remove J.J. from the equation for this Sports Talk radio question. Maybe Penix is part of this question. I'll leave it up to you. the rookie from last year that's going to have the biggest leap this year and i know jayden daniels has last year to count against him because how much more of a leap from that right can you take but which is it drake may we're going to throw nicks in this equation caleb jayden daniels if you want to throw pennix in there as well the biggest leap from year one to year two is which quarterback, Kurt? I've heard a lot of great things about Bo Nix and how excited they are for his second year.
10:35I also thought he played really well last year. I'm going to actually go with Drake May. Okay. And again, I thought he played really well last year. I just don't think he had the pieces in the system set up to allow him to have as much success or to connect the success to how well he played. And so I believe there is going to be an uptick there just in how it looks and his consistency and effectiveness because I believe Mike Vrabel is going to come in and build a team and has built a team around him. I don't know if he'll throw it as much as he did last year, but I think that team takes a jump.
11:15I think he's going to look really, really good this year in that system. And so I'm going to say him, even though I do believe Bo's going to be better. I do believe Caleb is going to be better. I'm excited about Michael Penix. I was a huge fan coming out. I think he's going to be good as well. But I'm going to look at Drake May.
11:34Rich Eisen:Surprised that Penix didn't play in the preseason? I'm always surprised. Did you play in the preseason? I always played in the preseason. And I was a guy that wanted to. And I didn't need to play a lot, but I wanted to feel like when I went into week one, I was ready. And when you play football, you can go in for a quarter and you go, oh, speed's good. I'm seeing it. I'm good. I'm ready. I'm confident going into the season. And so I'm always surprised when young guys that haven't played a lot don't play at least a little bit. I mean, especially when you see guys like Mahomes and Herbert, guys we're watching, both played in preseason to a degree.
12:08I like that aspect of things. So you know what you're getting and you're ready to go week
12:12Rich Eisen:Can you believe Aaron Rodgers is the Pittsburgh Steelers starting quarterback right now? I mean, I know we're used to saying it, but we're about to see it. I know. And it's pretty big for the Steelers. It's a pretty big season for them in many different ways. Yeah. They just paid Watt. I mean, Cam Hayward is not getting any younger. DK Metcalf, I mean, we're talking about un-Steeler-like moves. Let's acquire a receiver. who's never played for us and make him the best paid player we've ever had on offense outside of a quarterback. And let's bring Rodgers in. What's your level of expectation there at the end of the day?
12:55I'm excited about the football. I think they're going to be a better football team than they were a year ago. They were a playoff team a year ago. But I think Aaron Rodgers offensively, with what he brings and what they want to do in that system, I think he's going to be really good for them. and we know that their defense is going to be good. And so I think they're going to win a lot of games. But I don't know if they've made the moves or if Aaron is at the point where he can push them over the top. You know, on our preview show, the Steelers were the team that I kicked out of the playoffs. Even though I believe they're going to be a better team than they were last year, I kicked them out of the playoffs just because of when I look at the AFC and I look at the talent there and I look at their division, They're going to be a good, solid football team, but I don't think they're going to be a great football team.
13:44And although Aaron makes them better, I don't know if he makes them that much better that they can compete with the Chiefs and the Ravens and the Bills. I even think the Bengals are going to be in the mix this year because of what they can do offensively. So I just don't know if they can compete with those guys. Because you did put the Bengals in, right?
14:04Rich Eisen:I put the Bengals in. Steelers out, Bengals in in that segment that we did on the game day kickoff. And on that show, we finished up with our Super Bowl predictions. Yours was? I actually just went with the same two teams. You know how I am, Rich. I want to see these teams play. So I think the Chiefs are motivated. So I said the Chiefs were going to beat the Eagles this time around. I already told you, the Rams, I like the Rams. I like the Packers. I want to see what they do. I mean, we could be wrong. I mean, you could be wrong. The more I was thinking about it, even after we did it the other day, is there's something about the Ravens that I wonder if it's their time.
14:43I think they're as talented as anybody. Is it the time for them to get over the hump and Lamar to get over the hump in the AFC? I'm wallowing back and forth because I haven't seen anybody play yet. I picked those two teams because I think they're two really good teams, but there's some other ones out there that I'm interested in. I mean, you could make the case Chiefs are better. I agree. make the case that the Chiefs are better.
15:04Rich Eisen:They love Josh Simmons, the left tackle, who's the 11th difference starting left tackle in Mahomes' career. Matt Nagy told me that one to six wide receivers they've got there, including Rasheed Rice, is the best six he's ever been around in the NFL, so he's excited about that. Maybe the most interesting stat that I found when I was doing my research for the game was that, you know that the Chiefs defense only have four guys on it that That haven't played for another team besides the Chiefs. They're all their own. Everyone else is homegrown on the defense. I couldn't believe that when I read it.
15:40Rich Eisen:Tied with the Bucs, by the way. Tied with the Bucs for drafting and keeping and winning. And so they've got so many guys that know and understand and are part of the culture on both sides of the ball that I'm with you. I think they're going to be a better football team this year than the 15-win team that they were last year. And just to finish up with the Ravens, because at the beginning of the show, I gave this whole season preview based on narratives and conversations, not all 22 or anything like that. And the way I set up the Raven season, it's January. It's not like they're not going to make January.
16:16Rich Eisen:Okay, like barring something wild and completely unfortunate and unforeseen. They're that talented. They're going to make January. It just seems that something always happens in January. Zay Flowers gets hurt. Or Zay Flowers had a great play in the making, and then the ball comes loose. Just to name one guy in two different postseasons. Last year, Mark Andrews, man, of all people. What a nice dude, man. What a good soul that doesn't deserve to have that sort of thing happen to him. It's just something. Can they avoid it? Which you can't do an X's and O's breakdown or something like that. But I don't know if it's avoiding or just stepping up and making those plays in the moment.
17:01That is the difference. I mean, if you look at any one thing about the Chiefs that makes them different, they always make that play. When they need the play to be made, they always make it. Whatever it is, block field goal, AFC championship game, stop on fourth down with a little bit of a tush push or a quarterback sneak. Patrick finding a way to make a run or make a play on fourth down in a super – like they always make the play. And so I think one side is always, well, if they can avoid those mistakes or do those guys just have to step up and make every play that's available to them to win, especially in the AFC because you've got a team in the Chiefs that always seems to do it.
17:47Rich Eisen:Right, and the Bills in the postseason have had that issue with the Chiefs. and I guess the way to beat the Chiefs, the Bucs showed it and the Eagles showed it too, is just make Mahomes' life miserable. Right. Easier said than done. And then get so far out in front that the Chiefs aren't in the position to make that one play to beat you, and you're in that position to not make that one play and have it cost you. And an area where, again, talking to the coaches, they believe their offensive line is as good this year, even with a rookie starting to left tackle, as it's been since they've been there, since Patrick's been there.
18:20And so, man, if that plays out too and the wide receiver room is better, I mean, it's going to be fun. It's going to be fun.
18:28Rich Eisen:Reed talked up Josh Simmons. That was that time in the pre-broadcast meeting. He was busting my stones for not looking at the camera because he thought I was just doing something with my phone. I was taking notes on my right. And he goes, Josh Simmons, who played for that school, Ohio State. He's like texting you, hey, Rich, do you know you're on TV? Do you know you're on Zoom? By the way, Reed would not turn down this Brazilian confection right here. Put a burger right in between it. Before I let you go on with the rest of your day, I'll ask you this, even though you weren't expecting it. I should ask you this off the air, but I'll ask it on the air anyway.
18:59Rich Eisen:You're tough watching film, man. I've been around you for a while. You're tough watching film. What is it like watching film of E.J. Warner, the starting quarterback of Fresno State, your son, who's made so much of himself and his opportunity with all these schools and playing for Fresno State? What is that like for you to see this? It's twofold. You know, that there's a one side of it that I'm just in awe of how good he is at this age. You know, and, you know, I watch all the film on Sundays of these guys playing on Sundays. And he processes information and gets the ball out of his hands as fast as most of the guys on Sunday.
19:35No kidding. Oh, yeah. Better than a lot of them, actually. And so I'm just in awe of that part of it. But I'm also, you know, an analyst. I'm also a dad. I also love the game. And so I'm also trying to push him and be, you know, I don't want to say ultra critical, but critique him as tough as I can because I want to push him to see how good he can be. And so we have fun film sessions where there's times I'm just lifting him up and telling him how great he is. And then there's other times where it's like, OK, can't do that. You know, what were you thinking? You know, check this out and think about this.
20:11So we have fun. We're on the phone almost every day talking about their offense and watching film and going through little nuances. And it's fun to hear how he thinks about the game and then to be able to throw nuggets at him like, have you thought about this? Or this is what I would think about in this particular situation. And it's just valuable time. It's fun. It's fun to – when your kids love what you love, it is so great to be able to be a part of that. But there is nothing better, even though I'm as nervous as I've ever been when I watch him play, knowing that every throw, You know, every time he drops back, it's all on him.
20:46So I'm nervous, but I enjoy the heck out of it, and I'm so proud of him.
20:50Rich Eisen:I'm so happy for you and your fam because it's geographically sound to where you live and where you've got to go to work the next day in Los Angeles. And I was watching the game Fresno State against Kansas. I know the final score wasn't what you wanted or him. But just before, I was walking out the door with Koop, my youngest, and it was a third down. He stood in the pocket. he converted over the middle and he took one right in the chops and I turned to Cooper and I said, just like his dad. Stayed in the pocket, knew the hit was coming, delivered the football. That is something he can do. Something he can do, yes.
21:23Rich Eisen:It's awesome. I'm so happy. Thank you, man. I appreciate it. I couldn't be happier, obviously, that we're working together here in Brazil and thank you for the time today, man. Oh my gosh, my pleasure. You could have been sitting in that hotel room looking at film. but I would have just been thinking about all this stuff anyways. You know, so... Take one for the room. Yeah, I'll take one for the room. Take one for the room. Take one for that. Okay, there you go. By the way, there's more of the good stuff over there. There's chocolate stuff. There's some chicken and cheese. Oh, God. You know how the season is when you're traveling.
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21:49It's all this stuff. You gain 20 pounds.
21:52Rich Eisen:I know. And you're trying to do it to me right off the bat. It's the same thing every year when we start with game day morning. Mooch looks thin as a rail because he's around Gale. He can't sneak eat. Now it's on. Now it's on. He can't sneak eat. All right. Now it's on. Kurt Warner right here. Check us out on Friday night for Chiefs and Chargers on YouTube around the globe. Stay right where you are right here on Disney +, ESPN, and ESPN Radio. Your phone calls, the NFC East, and our Super Bowl predictions coming up.
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22:57Rich Eisen:While the world watches the stars at the FIFA World Cup this summer, Hyundai has its eyes on the next generation of talent. Future stars who are already turning heads at age 14. Because next doesn't wait for an invitation, and neither do we. Hyundai has always moved the future within reach. We did it when we made advanced safety standard on every vehicle and engineered EVs with ultra-fast charging capability. Because the future isn't some far-off concept. It's already here. Next starts now. Hyundai, an official partner of FIFA. Rich Eisen here with some advice. If high interest credit card debt is grinding you down, it might be time to call an audible with a SoFi personal loan.
23:36Rich Eisen:It consolidates your debt into one low monthly payment with no fees required. And with as soon as the same day funding, you can make the right play fast. Call an audible on your debt today at SoFi.com slash debt play. Loans originated by SoFi Bank N.A. Member FDIC. Terms and conditions apply. NMLS 696891. Fast funds terms apply at SoFi.com slash debt play. The Rich Eisen Show podcast. Back on the Rich Eisen Show radio network. Certainly on this ESPN radio affiliate. ESPN radio is presented by Progressive Insurance. Good stuff from Kurt Warner right there, gents. Back there in the Los Angeles studio.
24:17Rich Eisen:Chris, TJ, and Mike Del Tufo tapped out? Did he tap out? Is Jay Feli in the chair? That one was a bit shocking. He just said he was good, and then went, all right, I'm out. Ladies and gentlemen, Jason Feller making his Disney Plus ESPN premiere. What's up, everybody? Jay Feli is a voice that many of you will hear instead of Mike Del Tufo's because Mike doesn't hang out with us as much as he used to. It's all good. He's got another job with our friends at Fox Sports. Jay Feli, a diehard Raider fan, Amari Cooper just announced his retirement? Did that happen in the commercial break, guys? It did.
24:52Rich Eisen:For real? Yeah, for real. For real. Wonderful. Just like a week after signing, what, a one-year up to$3.5 million deal? Wow. That is something. After Jacoby Myers requested a trade and was told no? Well, he said he was told no, and he basically – He's like, okay. Did you see his soundbite this week? He was asked about it. He's like, well, I asked. They said no, and I'm here. I could be happy anywhere, but I'll be happy here. I'm ready to go to battle with my teammates. He's going to New England, where once upon a time he threw a game-winning touchdown pass to the Raiders, if I'm not mistaken, right, back in the day.
25:28Rich Eisen:So it'll be the first Patriots-Raiders game since that nuttiness that went down. What a week one game. We'll be previewing all the week one games on our Friday program. The Friday show is going to be from the stadium, and we'll explain why later on. in the final half hour that we have left here. So Adam Schefter reported this. T.J. Jefferson, if you thought the Cowboys trading Micah Parsons was bad enough, and if you thought the Cowboys trading Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers, the team that goes all the way back to the ice bowl with a history of beating the Dallas Cowboys, Jerry Kramer, all the way through Favre, all the way through the Rogers years, Even Jordan Love messed things up so significantly.
26:16Rich Eisen:A couple years ago, the Cowboys organization still reeling from the way they handled all that. Remember the all-in? We keep forgetting the all-in season, right, Chris? Remember the all-in season last year? All-in. That's the Micah Parsons stuff? Okay. Okay. If you thought the reality of trading Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers was tough enough, Adam Schefter says the Philadelphia Eagles made a run at the guy. Yeah, let me tell you something. And I don't know. I mean, do you think the Cowboys said two ones in Jalen Carter? Do you think they said that? I hope they said three ones in Jalen Carter.
26:52Rich Eisen:That would have been it. Well, by the way, that would be – By the way, in his lockbox, you know, that would have to be it. Like the premium to trade him to their hated rivals in division would have to be Jalen Carter in three ones. And I'm sure Howie's like, okay, thanks, and just hung up the phone. But God bless Howie Roseman for getting in the batter's box. Here's the deal. Just alone. I will tell you this without fail, without – there's no doubt in my mind. Had the Dallas Cowboys sent Micah Parsons back home to Pennsylvania to the Eagles. You'd have signed the document? You'd have signed the document?
27:30You would have thought I was Quicksilver or The Flash for as fast as that. I said I would never sign the document. That is the one thing that would have got me to pull out this feather pen that I have sitting here to our Disney plus ESPN people. I would have signed that document with this pen. It looks like Ben Franklin used it.
27:47Rich Eisen:That's how quick it would be fitting in Philadelphia for you to use that contract there. It was bad enough that the Packers but had it been really real quick before you jump in Chris. Okay, the piece of paper to which we're referring. I would normally, if I was back there in the studio, I would have already popped it out of my drawer to the right of my desk. It is the T.J. Jefferson release of fandom document that he has yet to sign. Do you have a copy of Chris? A release of fandom from the Dallas Cowboys. I don't have it. It's all good. It exists. There's a fake seal of approval from non-notary.
28:24Rich Eisen:Del Tufo thought he was a notary. Jay Feli. We all thought. So had they... Jalen Carter in three ones. Oh, well... Jalen Carter in three ones coming back. If we got Jalen Carter, sure, that'd be different. But we wouldn't have got Jalen Carter back. Here's what I don't get about this story. And I can't believe I'm the only one to think of this. What's that, Chris? I don't buy this for a second. Well, that doesn't surprise me. This sounds like Howie Roseman kind of kicking the Cowboys when they're down, saying, oh, yeah, Schefter, we called. We were in on it. We were thinking about it. This is like Howie Berry getting married and then TJ going, man, I almost had a date with her once to make himself look cool.
29:02This is just kicking the cowboys when they're down. I don't buy this story at all.
29:08Rich Eisen:Well, I don't know why. First of all, be careful. We're talking about our new ESPN friend, Adam Schefter, about buying the story. Like, he's not making it up. No, but this just smells like Howie being like, how can I kick the cowboys when they're down? How do you know it was Howie? Let me call Schefter and be like, hey, we almost got it. Scott Micah. Yeah. Oh, we called. We were close. How do you know it was Howie? He doesn't need that sort of pop. He's got the trophy in the case. He's got the scarf from a beer can on his head to prove it. I get it. But this is just beating down the Cowboys on the day of the banner raising.
29:39Rich Eisen:Well, first of all, I'm surprised you don't view that sort of high-level trolling as worthy of praise as opposed to whatever you're heaping upon this right now. I thought that's your language. That's your language in a way. It's utterly hilarious, but I just don't believe it for a second. Well, I believe it. Because if I'm the Eagles, I'm calling up the Dallas Cowboys just to see, A, is he going to take my call? B, let me just find out what the market is here. I want to know. I want inside information. I'm going to find out. What do you want from me, Jerry? What would it cost to get Micah Parsons in Philly Green?
30:16Rich Eisen:Since he is the only other individual with four seasons to start a career with 12-plus Saxons Reggie White, we might as well bring him to the team where Reggie White had those stats. You know what I mean? Instead of sending him to the team where Reggie White left after having those stats, I would have done that if I was Howard Roseman just for informational purposes. And then I would definitely call up somebody, if that's the way you say, and say, on the day of this opening, oh, by the way, yeah, and just get out there. I kind of dig it. I kind of dig it. But I don't know if that's the way we're sourcing it.
30:48Rich Eisen:What we're going to do, though, is use this as a leaping off point to predict the National Football Conference Eastern Division. We're going to finish up our annual preview tomorrow with the AFC West, since obviously it's Chargers Chiefs here in Brazil. We do these things on purpose. We think. This is not just willy-nilly. We roll these things out. We produce. We plan. And we now predict. Who's first up? Where are we going first? Who are we doing first here? Chris Brockman, you are first to predict the NFC East. What do you have over there, Chris? sorry tj i don't think tonight is very close and i think this is going to be a horrific season in dallas i have the cowboys fourth i think the giants are going to surprise a lot of people with the defense and whether it's russell wilson or jackson dart the giants are going to be a really fun team this year they are third i like the commander second and i don't see a world that the eagles do not win the nfc west east and probably make the nfc championship game if not go back to the Super Bowl.
31:48Eagles first, Commanders, Giants, Cowboys. TJ? All right, well, first and foremost, the reason Chris brought up Halle Berry, as you can see, I do have my autographed Halle Berry from Boomerang still here next to my desk in case anyone... Yeah, but that's Eddie Murphy. That's not you. It's like a promotional still. It's Halle Berry we made, and she signed this, she autographed this, right? She held this picture is what I'm saying.
32:13Rich Eisen:Halle Berry. Right on the doorstep. By the way, and by the way, just again, Just before you go on, I will, just for your own edification and just to back up your play right there. Yes, tell them. I'll retell the story I once upon a time told on this show. Back when I was running and jogging from exercise. Yeah, uh-huh. I was running and jogging in my neighborhood. And as I'm running past the street corner, I noticed who was picking her children up from the school bus, but none other than Halle Berry. And I sucked in my gut as I ran past just out of default. I don't know, you know, like not not like it would really mean anything.
32:48Rich Eisen:It would lead to nothing instinct instinct Might have been the last time I actually jogged in advance of my 40 yard dash run So she just sucked in your NFC East prediction. What's your NFC East prediction? Let's go. What do you got? I'm delaying because I don't I'm not gonna like the words that are about to come out of my mouth I don't know if this is just me being petty or not, but I got the Giants fourth I'm putting the Cowboys third I got the Eagles at two and I got the Washington football team winning this division I don't even see commanders I don't know who that is what a hot mess it's the Washington football team and like I said I don't know if this is me being petty or not but that's my story and I'm sticking to it on the petty scale that might be Tom perhaps Richard that's up there man it's definitely not Kyle or Lori on the petty scale We need to actually come up with a color-coded petty skill.
33:45Rich Eisen:That's actually Kendrick Lamar-level petty. What a hot mess that was. Just throw mine up on the screen. I agree with you, Brockman. I'm with you. Oh, come on, man. TJ. No, no. In all seriousness, I need to know why you think the Cowboys finished third. Because we're better than the Giants. Are you really? Yes. At what? At the game of football. At what? Week two is going to be – week two it's going to come out in the wash. Listen, Rich, it's the sport of kings, better than diamond rings, like Goldie Hawn said, football. And we are better than the Giants, okay? Guess what? You know what the Giants prove with their defensive line?
34:21Rich Eisen:You can have individuals on the same line that stop the run and can rush the pass. You don't have to sacrifice one for the other. Come on, Rich. You can have somebody like Dexter right there in the middle, right? You can have him right there. And you can have Abdul. You can have Kayvon. And you can have Mr. Burns. and you can stop the run while also rushing the passer. And I'm concerned about who's running the football for the Cowboys. I hope your boy Blue, if you're a Texas fan, it winds up being a bell cow with Javante Williams. Hopefully, maybe even Miles Sanders can put together a surprising running attack.
34:59Rich Eisen:But, you know, no Micah. As Kurt said, you know, Javante Diggs is already on a pitch count to start the season. And I've got the commanders, too. I still need to see the Eagles, you know, have something significant happen to them to not win the division. So that's my NFC East predictions right there and all of ours together. Good stuff out of all of you. When we come back, though, the rubbers meet in the road. Super Bowl predictions in advance of tonight's season kickoff. 844-204-RICH is also the number to dial if you want to have a conversation with us as we wrap up our first of two days from Brazil in a moment.
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37:28Rich Eisen:The Rich Eisen Show. The podcast. Back here in the Rich Eisen Show radio network with getting hooked on phonics on our Disney Plus ESPN Plus stream and ESPN app everywhere. Good to have all of us here on the program. Fun stuff. Yeah, we're doing this show from the stadium tomorrow. We were going to do it here from this studio in Sao Paulo. but we're going to do it from the stadium because the NBC sports crew that is producing the game for YouTube said that last year's crew left the hotel for the stadium as the crow flies like 20, 25 miles took three plus hours for the crew to get there and they were really nervous they weren't going to make it for the game.
38:15Rich Eisen:So I've got to do the show from the stadium and when the show ends, it's five hours until kickoff. Oh, they're just going to hang. Dude, I might personally welcome both team bosses to the stadium. That would be hilarious. You know, I might like a front desk, like check them in. You know what I mean? I might check them in. Welcome. Right. I'm the Walmart greeter of the kickoff to the International Series tomorrow. I love it. Honestly, what am I going to do for five hours? I'm prepped. I'm ready to go. I want to see you in every shot of the players walking in in their fits, Rich. I want to see you somewhere in the background recording them walking by and then put them live on Instagram for us.
38:58Rich Eisen:I don't know if I have that on me. Why not? You've got five hours. I don't know. I need to find some NBC Sports couch and pass out on it. Oh, Rich, you know what? You know what? You should be on Taylor Watch. We don't know if Taylor's going or not. Maybe you could sit there and see if you can catch her coming in. And I know that Susie feels this way. You've got to get yourself invited to that wedding, So you've got to do whatever it takes, even if you're international, to get the invite. You know what I mean? Listen, I'm imagining if this is anything, that's got to be like Fight Club, right? You can't ask.
39:32Rich Eisen:You can't lobby. Yeah, but you can cozy up enough to make them go, oh, you know who else? That's true. That's true. Just cozy up. We've had Travis Kelsey on the show for 10 years. I love Jason Kelsey. You don't know the new missus quite like that. Yeah, but you don't know Miss Swift. You know what I mean? I don't know. I feel like I'm Mr. Perfectly Fine. Get in there. You know? I don't know what that means. In my own way. I don't know what that means. That's a reference to one of her best songs as far as I'm concerned. We know which one of us definitely won't be getting invited. No idea. But I'm not talking about it.
40:03Rich Eisen:It's absurd how sad that would be. How can I get invited to a wedding? I know, but Rich, you have no shame. By the way, for me to get invited to that wedding, that guest list has got to be four figures strong. Four figures? Nobody's got that many friends, Rich. There's a thousand people at a wedding? Dude, there's a hundred thousand people who watch her perform. Yeah, but they ain't only invited to the wedding. How many people were at your wedding? You're asking the wrong guy. Plus, this is Susie, bro. You know Susie has a level of fame like that. It wasn't a thousand. With Susie, it probably was like 350.
40:39Rich Eisen:Definitely not. No, that wasn't. No, I don't know the final two. I don't know. That's a lot. That seems like a lot. You mean people who said they were coming and then showed up? Those people? Oh, you're not talking about... You know what? I need to put this to bed. I'm putting everything to bed here. Oh, man. We're past that. I'm just having my brigadero. I'm finishing it off. That was old stuff, Rich. It was old stuff. You're in San Paolo. That's so 2003. That table got filled. Someone ate those meals. That's right. Yeah. I got the rights to my songs back. You know what I mean? Rich's version?
41:12Rich Eisen:I got my songs back. Yeah. rich's version this is rich's version espn rich's version right here wow i couldn't imagine what a sad thing is to lobby to get invited to somebody's wedding have you ever done something like that chris uh the last thing the last thing i want to do is go to a way i'd lobby to get uninvited from weddings to be honest with you i'd be like you really want me to come i'm like larry david at this point how far man how far is it that's the floral if if that's the floral arrangement for the engagement. What's the wedding? I mean, that's the gig you want as the florist for that wedding.
41:46Rich Eisen:My goodness. How beautiful is that picture? They should do it at Arrowhead and sell tickets. Oh, man. Someone said his knee wasn't all the way down, though. What's the matter with you people? What's the matter with you people? I'm sure it's going to be some private beautiful affair that I don't want to talk about anymore. Get out of here. That you hope you're at. Okay. It's time, guys. It is time to put... Our names to a prediction that is like throwing darts at a board. Yep. That if you get it right in five months from now, you're going to be like, see, I got it right. I must know football. And if you got it wrong, it'll be like, what prediction?
42:26Rich Eisen:Super Bowl 60. Who wins it? 6-0. Who's first up? Who's going first? Ooh, 60. T.J. Jefferson, you are first up. The first item up for bids is Super Bowl 60. who comes on down and goes to Santa Clara. It's going to be the Cowboys and... No, I'm just joking. Stop. Listen, I've been watching the kingdom. I told you guys this. I've been watching the kingdom on ESPN, and I'm telling you, man, watching how the Chiefs run from top, from the ownership, all the way down to the coaching staff, to the GM, to the generationally talented players on both sides of the ball, and watching Mahomes, he looks hungry, man.
43:04I got to be honest. Chris, I know you're not going to agree, but after watching the kingdom, It just made me feel this organization, man, until somebody proves otherwise, they're the best in football. I know what happened in the Super Bowl last year. That was one game. But overall, men lie, women lie, numbers don't lie. The Chiefs have been there. So I'm going to pick the Kansas City Chiefs until further notice to represent the AFC. And then for the NFC, you know, providing, like I said, Sir Smoke-A-Lot said the doctor said he needed a bacchiatomy yesterday as long as Micah Parsons' back is fine.
43:38I think Jordan Love, along with our boy Matthew Golden, is going to lead the Packers to the promised land, to the Super Bowl, where they will take on the Chiefs in a rematch of Super Bowl years, years, years ago. And this time, Mahomes, Kelsey, Swift, Jones, Veach, Stone Street, all of them, they're going to raise another banner and have another ring to the Chiefs' kingdom. That's fun. All right, TJ, you took a little bit of my thunder with Green Bay. I'm also going to take Green Bay. I love all the number stuff with you, Rich. I was a little early. I had them last year. I'm going to stick with it.
44:16I'm going to go with them this year, the Micah Parsons thing. Puts them over the hump, and they're going to play the Ravens. They're going to beat the Ravens. I think one of the two teams, I couldn't decide. It was the last second thing. Buffalo or Baltimore, they do get over the hump this year. They get home field, and they take care of business. I'm going to go Baltimore. Just like them a little bit better, especially the way they're built for the playoffs and the cold weather. Derrick Henry does it again, but Green Bay takes them down.
44:42Rich Eisen:Green Bay over Baltimore. And here's where I'm going. I'm going NFC North makes it for the NFC as well, just in the mere fact that I just feel it's so tough to make back-to-back Super Bowls or three and four years, even though we've seen a team make it to three in a row and five and six for the Kansas City Chiefs. I think everyone's overlooking Detroit. They won 15 games last year. They lost their coordinators, and that's basically it. They're gaining so many healthy players back. The defense was such a problem, they couldn't run offensive plays in training camp. These guys are ready to roll, and I think the Detroit Lions win the NFC.
45:24Rich Eisen:And I think they're going to come back, and I think they're going to have a chip on their shoulder. I have the Lions making it, and I'm with you too, TJ. the Chiefs are better. And I think it's just going to be one of those moments, again, of how are you going to beat Mahomes and Kelsey and Reed and the rest of that team when the rubber meets the road and must-win contests in January. I think the Chiefs make it, and I think the Chiefs win it. And I think that's the way Kelsey is going to stroll off into the sunset to his wedding day. Chiefs over Lions in Super Bowl 60, and they're going to make six and seven years and they're going to be a dynastic team we talk about for years to come with that cherry on top.
46:07Rich Eisen:And then we'll see what happens after that. Those are our Super Bowl predictions here on the day of the season opener, 2025. Yeah, man. I love it. Chiefs. I can't wait. Packs. Obviously, the Bills can make it. No, seriously. Bills can make it. Yeah. Bengals could possibly make it if they start playing defense again and they go on a nice hot streak. Obviously, you know, the Rams can make it. The 49ers can make it. The commanders can make it. You know, the Vikings, if they get something out of J.J. McCarthy, can make it. The Bucs can make it. I had, you know, over a third of the league being Super Bowl contenders, and I believe it.
46:46Rich Eisen:Would I like to be right? You know I love to be right. But if I'm wrong, you know, whatever. And it just shows you that, no, I'm serious, that this league is just chock full of great teams. and that starts tonight with a banner raise. By the way, tell all your friends in Philadelphia there's a banner raise because there's a group of guys that didn't help. Somebody shout out Colin Wolf on that. I can't wait for tonight, man. I can't wait for tonight. It's going to be great. Let's go. 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 +, and on the ESPN app.
47:25Rich Eisen:The Rich Eisen Show, the podcast.
47:34Close your eyes, exhale, feel your body relax, and let go of whatever you're carrying today. Well, I'm letting go of the worry that I wouldn't get my new contacts in time for this class. I got them delivered free from 1-800-CONTACTS. Oh my gosh, they're so fast. And breathe. Oh, sorry. I almost couldn't breathe when I saw the discount they gave me on my first order. Oh, sorry. Namaste.
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From the publisher
Pro Football Hall of Famer Kurt Warner and Rich discuss the year-two expectations for the 2024 NFL Draft’s quarterback class and explain why Aaron Rodgers will elevate the Pittsburgh Steelers this season. Plus, Kurt weighs in on his son, E.J. Warner, the starting QB for Fresno State.
Rich and the guys react to Adam Schefter’s report that the Eagles tried to trade with the Cowboys for Micah Parsons in the offseason, predict how the NFC East will shake out among the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, Washington Commanders and New York Giants this season, and reveal their picks for which teams will meet in Super Bowl LX.
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