Hour 3: NFL on FOX Analyst Mark Schlereth, plus Jaguars & AEW Exec Tony Khan

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0:53Rich Eisen:So good, so good, so good. You rack. This is the Rich Eisen show. Hey, everybody. Can't get enough of the Rich Eisen show? You're in luck. You can find us everywhere. Watch us weekdays on Disney plus from noon to three Eastern. Miss the show. We've got a podcast so you can listen anytime, but here's the best part. Our YouTube channel, subscribe at youtube.com slash Rich Eisen show. And you'll never miss a moment. Now, on with the show. Now, now, now. This is the Rich Eisen Show. Show, show, show. And here to kick off Super Bowl week, I'm excited. Live from the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles.

1:37Earlier on the show, pro football Hall of Famer Troy Aikman. NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero. Coming up, three-time Super Bowl champion Mark Schlereth. Jaguars chief strategy officer Tony Khan. And now, it's Rich Eisen.

1:57Rich Eisen:Yep. Hour number three of the Rich Eisen Show is on the air, and we're live on ESPN2. And this show will be live on ESPN2 in this third hour tomorrow and Thursday and Friday from the Super Bowl city of San Francisco. We're setting up shop in downtown San Francisco, just blocks away from the convention center in the media center and the guest list is uh is strong if i may say so myself and we'll mention that before we get out of dodge today 844-204-RICH is the number to dial uh we have some phone calls we'll take those todd monken had some very strong words to say uh when he took the podium as uh introduced as a newest coach of the cleveland browns we'll hit that again before we hit the airport for san francisco let's uh go to our next guest he's been a part of this show uh in this slot on this day for much of the season and love his work on Fox and certainly love to pick his brain before the Super Bowl that he played in multiple times, winning three of the Mark Schlereth here on the Rich Eisen Show.

3:00Rich Eisen:Good to see you, sir. How are you? I am doing great, Rich. How are you, my friend? I am awesome and lucky. So I appreciate you spending some time with us. Your first blush thoughts on Super Bowl 60. We got them last week. You've had a week to think about it. What do you think about the upcoming game on Sunday, Mark? Yeah, you know, my opinion hasn't changed. I still think that Seattle probably over the last six weeks has probably played better football than any other team in the National Football League. I think the other thing that's really interesting for me is I think there's been a maturation process.

3:38And this happens for all players. But I think Sam Darnold has been great throughout the playoffs and toward the end of the season. and just understanding how good that football team is, how good they run the ball, how good Smith and Jigba is, how good they are from a structural standpoint, from an integrity standpoint, from a balance standpoint on the offensive side of the ball, but also how good their defense is. And that a punt isn't a bad thing, or sometimes taking a sack isn't the worst thing that can happen. The only way you can truly lose a game right now with as good as they're playing is if you screw it up.

4:13And I think you've seen Sam Darnold in a day and age where, you know, and this has been this way for a long time, Rich, but where people say, oh, you know, you just got to manage the game. And people look at that like a scarlet letter. I think he's accepted that as a challenge and a way to do business. And Sam Darnold's like, I'm OK with that, man. I'm not I'm not egotistical enough to think that, hey, man, I got to be the reason we win a football game. And I remember going into Super Bowl 32, you know, the Denver Broncos versus the Green Bay Packers, where Mike Shanahan literally told John Elway, hey, listen, man, if you want to win this game, and I'm sure you do, you're not going to be the MVP.

4:50That's not how we're going to go about winning this football game. The way we're going to win this football game is dominating the run game. Terrell Davis is going to have to have a great game. These are how we're going to do it. And, of course, John Elway is like, I don't give a rip. I've gone to three Super Bowls and kind of drug teams to three Super Bowls, and we got shellacked in all three of them. So if you're telling me we can win the game and it doesn't have – I don't have to be the star, I'm all in. Yes, and I feel like that's kind of how Sam Darnold's approached these last six to eight weeks of the season.

5:24Rich Eisen:So what do you – by the way, Wild, that Elway was told that directly by the head coach of the Denver Broncos before those Super Bowls. And by the way, he was right. TD won a 1-1, and he did win another MVP in the two that they won together. So the offensive lines, which one? Obviously, the one in New England is the one that has a lot of heavy lifting to do compared to what we've seen from the Seattle front lines, correct? and I'd imagine this is the sort of thing that Mike McDonald and the defensive group are targeting to try and win this football game up front. Yeah, I think if you look at New England with Jared Wilson and Will Campbell on the left side, I mean, two rookies who I think are really good players, but there's been a challenge.

6:17There's been leakage over on that side of the line of scrimmage a time or two, and I think you can take advantage of some of that. I think one of the things that Mike McDonald does a great job of, and we talk about their, you know, match coverage and all the different things they do. I just think they're really good at attacking your protection and breaking down your protection. And they've got the players to get that done. So I think that's going to be a huge matchup. You know, Mike McDonald versus the protection aspects of the New England Patriots. And let's face it, you know, going into the AFC championship, you know, I mean, you look at Drake May had taken 10 sacks.

6:52I think he had six fumbles, three fumbles lost. If you can do that and you can put that pressure on him, there's an opportunity to get extra possessions for your offense with the football, turn the ball over, and we know how vital the turnovers are. And then I just think if I look at Seattle, what they're doing right now, just from a balanced standpoint, their ability to run the ball, to tie that play action into it, I think they're playing as well as anybody up front. I think they're really good. Their right guard is a little bit of a weak point for them. but you can hide that. That's a guy that you can protect a little bit.

7:27But I think on the left side of the line of scrimmage, they're playing great football. And I think just from a schematic standpoint, their ability to execute schematically, their ability to block the right guys, their ability to get movement on the line of scrimmage, even if you don't get the second level blocked, if you make that guy bubble over the top of things, those linebackers bubble over the top of things and don't allow them to attack downhill, you're automatically with Kenneth Walker You get three to four to five yards. And when you get those, you know, when you're when you're second down and five minus, you know, you're second down and and just over just over five yards.

8:05Now, your whole playbook, everything is open. And then ultimately, as a defenseman, you have to respect everything. And so you just can't ever pin your ears back. And I think Seattle does a phenomenal job of that. I think their group up front is playing really, really well.

8:18Rich Eisen:But there is just the sensibility, Mark Schlereth, of what New England's been cooking for all season that nobody expected. And again, Mike McDonald's got his finger on the pulse of his locker room, and I'm sure he's got them playing as one and playing for each other. And we've heard quite a bit about that. But the reason why I'm bringing this up about Mike Vrabel is it involves the offensive line. And it's in an article in the Boston Herald today. I don't know if you've been able to see this yet, Mark. And I can't wait to get your reaction to it and how Vrabel found out that the offensive line group had been finding themselves in a fine system within their own locker room to keep themselves accountable.

9:02Rich Eisen:And they're raising money for an offseason trip, an end of season trip that they plan to take together. and Vrabel caught wind of it and he caught wind of the fact that part of the fundraising by the offensive line group is they would fine an offensive lineman a hundred dollars anytime Vrabel mentions them by name in a meeting yeah okay yeah and so Vrabel caught wind of this and instead of telling them I know about this he went in and particularly nailed Will Campbell over and over and over again because he's the rookie uh quote players quickly got wise to their coaches antics and the room echoed with roaring laughter by the end Vrabel said Campbell's name 11 times in that meeting alone but when Vrabel called on a veteran like Senator Garrett Bradbury he refrained from name calling quote hey center what do we do here he asked Bradbury right you hear that and you're like okay I get it right Mark well I I sat down I sat down with Vrabel midway through the season, I was doing a Patriots Cleveland game.

10:06He told me he was doing this to Will Campbell. So he told me. So, yeah. So, Vrabel and I were having a great time in the meeting just kind of talking about it. He goes, oh, this is what's going on. Do you guys, because Denver Broncos were kind of one of the first that I knew of that had the whole offensive line kangaroo court, right? And that we find each other for everything. And that has become kind of tradition across the league. Everybody kind of does it. And so he told me, like, he was all giddy about it, too, because he's like, they don't know, you know, but I know. And so, yeah, and he told me about the Will Campbell stuff, how he just belted out Will Campbell's name in the meeting, and he's like, all the offensive linemen hate it, because you know, offensive linemen hate.

10:50Like, just playing that position, Rich, nothing good can happen to you when you play that position. You can be the greatest, you guys can have the greatest game ever, right? You're tied together, running back gets 250 yards and you're nothing more than a tagline in in a post-game press conference right hey gotta you know before you know like hey had 250 yards you did a great job yeah hey before we talk about me let me talk about the big guys up front they didn't have a job now let's get back to me and what i was able to accomplish right and so like there's nothing good but you get one holding call right and your name gets you know entered over the intercom and all of a sudden you're a bad dude or you can't play or you give up one sack.

11:31And so, yeah, everybody just wants to go through a whole game without their name ever being called. That's a big – that's kind of a big deal. But, yeah, Vrabel – you know, Vrabel has got this unbelievable ability to be authentic, to be hard, to drive his guys, but also to be connected relationally. He does a great job. And, you know, you go out to practice on a Friday and Vrabel's out there in a penny, you know, playing outside linebacker. And, I mean, he's mixing it up on a Friday with guys, you know, that got their helmets on and everything else. And, like, he just doesn't care. He's out there, like, really playing, given the look squad, you know.

12:10And so he's a dude that I think they really appreciate. He's a guy that's earned that trust and that respect that can absolutely get in your ass about something. At the same time, you know that he does it out of a position of, I'm trying to make you better. And I think guys really, really respect that.

12:27Rich Eisen:And they respond. I mean, look at what this season has been for back-to-back four-win seasons. And I understand there has been some significant additions in free agency and also in the draft, but to collectively bring them together in a span of 17 regular season games in a training camp, obviously, and in the playoffs, just rewarded with outstanding situational play to overcome lack of points, to overcome slow starts to, at the end of the day, win a game. And you're just like, how the hell did that happen? And why can't that happen in Super Bowl 60, Mark? Yeah, no, it certainly can. I think it starts defensively.

13:12This happened a couple of years ago. I remember Sean Payton taking over the Broncos and a bunch of national publications had the Broncos rated with the 30th or 31st best roster. And I'm sitting here in Denver doing Denver Radio, just because the national media doesn't know the names doesn't mean they don't have really good players. They do. And he'll mention a bunch of defensive players. I think the same can be said for the Patriots. Like just because nationally, maybe they don't have the name recognition or value of a Houston or somebody else. They're really good. You know, Milton Williams is a really good player.

13:46Christian Barmore is a really good player. Landry, even though he didn't play in the AFC Championship game is a really good player off the edge. Spillane, and I think you take all those things, Gonzalez, all those guys are really good players. But then, like right from the very start of the game, they did a great job of creating confusion defending the run. So they roll a safety down into the box, and then the safety and the linebacker exchange. They do kind of a cross dog against the run, and it screws up the blocking assignments of the offensive line. and all of a sudden the very first play of the game is no game.

14:21You tackle it at the line of scrimmage and now you're behind the chains. And I was like, they did that several times during the course of a game. So it's not just understanding, hey, man, this formation, you know, in this down a distance, they're going to run the ball. But how can we become kind of the aggressors in this? And I thought, you know, Mike Vrabel and his staff did a phenomenal job on the defensive side of the ball, making that AFC championship a defensive battle and saying, hey, at the end of the game, you know, we're going to create just enough mistakes on that, on that side of the ball from their offense to give us a chance to win.

14:54And it's, it, it worked out perfectly. It worked out to, you know, to plan.

14:57Rich Eisen:What's your favorite memory of a Superbowl that you won? Give me it. What do you got? Um, all right. So, um, you know, you always have to lighten the mood a little bit. Um, and so, you know, I'm a bit of a practical joker. and so I'm playing in Super Bowl 33 and our facility didn't have the kind of the walk-in cold tub and walk-in hot tub and so we're in Miami's facility and I'm doing the contrast bath between hot and cold then I get in the jacuzzi and I'm laying in the jacuzzi and I say to one of the Miami Dolphins trainers who are cleaning up something hey man go get Steve Antonopolis, go get Greek, our head trainer.

15:41I'm not feeling well. So he goes scurrying out of the, you know, the, the jacuzzi room, scurrying out of the jacuzzi room. And he goes in to, to talk to Greek. And so Greek and the whole training staff of both the Broncos and the Miami Dolphins come into the jacuzzi room. Now, at this point, I've already gotten myself on the very top step of the jacuzzi and I'm laying kind of over the railing and Greek goes what's up he goes what's up he goes I said Greek man I don't feel good like something's wrong I'm dizzy I feel like I'm gonna throw up I like I feel like my heart's racing he's okay get up get up and he goes he goes come here and I go no I can't I can't I can't move I can't move mind you I'm butt naked standing on the top you know the top row right completely I go can't move I can't move I go just do me a favor he goes yeah what I go I go check my temperature and I turned around and I had that 12-inch thermometer hanging on my ass.

16:38Jeez.

16:44I fell back in a jacuzzi and I was howling and he was so pissed off at me. And all these Miami Dolphin trainers are like, who the hell, what is this guy doing? And so anyhow, fast forward a couple of years ago, the Super Bowl was in Miami and I was on Radio Row. and I have this guy walk by and I'm sitting there and we're in radio break and he just looks at me. He stops and he just looks at me. I have no idea who he is. And he looks at me with this disgusting look on his face. He goes, thermometer guy. And he just walked away.

17:25Rich Eisen:And here I am thinking I'm going to get an LA story in the huddle or here I'm standing there for the national anthem and I'm like thinking about my upbringing and I finally got it. No. Thermometer guy. That's the story I get. Thermometer guy. Best memory. Ladies and gentlemen, Mark Schlereth. Your prediction. Give it to me. What do you got? I got Seattle winning this. I think they're the best team in football right now. I think it will be close because I think New England, I think their defense is phenomenal. I'll take it to something like 23-18. Something crazy like that. All right. And the MVP, who do you think?

18:06I'm going to go Smith and Jigba.

18:09Rich Eisen:Oh. Guy's been unbelievable. So that would be a rarity, obviously, as you know, not to go, you know, obviously Ben Roethlisberger had to throw it, but they gave it to Santonio Holmes instead just as a for instance. I guess Edelman, right? Cooper Cup. Cooper Cup, obviously. All right. So you're going to go Jackson, Smith, and Jigba as the MVP? Yeah, well, I just go against quarterbacks because they get all the glory anyhow. So I'm like always, always going to pick against the quarterback. Understood. And then let's dart throw it, Mark. And if you're right, I will play this back over and over again.

18:48Rich Eisen:If it's wrong, I won't. Like, who's Mark Schlereth? I don't even remember it. Yeah. Except the thermometer thing is difficult to forget. give me the name of a of a seattle defender who could win the mvp like the last time they won the super bowl oh god leonard williams okay i think leonard williams would be right on the top of my list as far as defenders are concerned um that dude if they get him and i think mike mcdonald does a great job with this they get him locked up one-on-one um with the guards on on the patriots where they're having slide protection and get him to one-on-ones, he could have one of those three-and-a-half sack games and create a strip sack fumble that wins the whole damn thing.

19:30Rich Eisen:Mark Schlereth, thank you for the time. We'll chat next week after Super Bowl 60 to get your thoughts on that. You've been awesome. Thanks so much, man. I appreciate you, buddy, and don't forget, I'm a stickler for accuracy, so those rectal thermometers are the way to go. Trust me on this. Okay, I didn't have my notebook open. I got it. Thank you. Stinking Truth Podcast with Mark Schlereth. And we just got exactly that. You're on the Rich Eisen Show. The Romiter guy. Okay. We take the temperature of Tony Khan when we come back here. From the front office of AEW and of course the Jacksonville Jaguars coming up.

20:15Rich Eisen:The Rich Eisen Show Podcast.

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23:04Rich Eisen:ceo gm and head of creative aew and he is also in the front office as the chief football strategy officer of the jacksonville jaguars look who's joining us here by zoom it's tony khan everybody good to see you tony how are you brother good to see him great to see you thanks for having me on rich it's great to see you and the whole gang is that a is that a jaguar mug is that what that is a spotted mug that you have a jackson jaguar mug it's a jaguar spotted mug in lieu of uh kurt warner's george costanza gore tech i think you should also pack a jacket maybe like a like a tan ralph cifaretto or like a oscar isaac in a most violent year kind of okay jacket yeah i don't know if you yeah we we saw what uh mike mcdaniel wore a bottega veneta sort of leather deal when he got announced here in uh southern california tone about i that's a pretty cool mug i you know i i wouldn't mind a mug exchange you know what one of mine for one of yours i have some of yours because i'm very that's right proud to have been a guest on your show so i have your mug in my office i should have brought that one instead but no no no no no no no you be you man you be you I want the full Tony Khan and I have clearly received him with that mug may I ask what's in that Tony what is it just coffee a lot of coffee that's one that is one liquid I would think you don't need much of Tony just having met you having known you like caffeine you don't need more it's the secret to keeping the work going throughout whether it's AEW because pro wrestling goes year round So we do a dynamite every Wednesday night, like tomorrow night, every Saturday night on TNT, Wednesdays on TBS, 52 weeks a year.