Hour 3: Vikings ‘4-Downs’ Season Preview, plus Akbar Gbajabiamila & Matt Iseman Talk ‘ANW’ and Raiders

0:00You know when you're locked in, focused and fearless. Welcome to the WNBA. Your vision narrows. You can't look away. Every assist, every stop, every logo three. From beyond the logo. Every did you see that moment. You bet. What records are going to be broken this season? All of it right here. Lock in. It's the WNBA on ESPN. All season long.

0:30Rich 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. 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. This is the Rich Eisen Show. Peyton, thank you for generously donating your forehead for today's teleprompter. Live from the Rich Eisen Show's studio in Los Angeles. Earlier on the show, pro football hall of famer Chris Carter.

1:16Dolphins head coach Jeff Halfley. Coming up, hosts of American Ninja Warrior, Matt Eisman and Akbar Bajabiamila. And now, it's Rich Eisen.

1:30Rich Eisen:All right, everybody. Hour number two of the Rich Eisen Show is on the air. Great chat with Chris Carter, Hall of Famer, and jacket presenter to Larry Fitzgerald. In hour number one, Larry Fitzgerald, it was announced during almost, oh my God, how great would it have been if I informed Chris that they were retiring his number. He was announced. Right as he was done, yeah. All right. But they're retiring Larry Fitzgerald's number. Awesome. Jeff Halfley, the new HC of the Miami Dolphins, kind enough to step out of training camp for a bit to answer our questions and hang with us in less than 20 minutes time.

2:05Rich Eisen:It's Vikings four downs Monday. Overreaction Monday has already been cooked up and popped into your RSS feeds. Or if you listen to podcasts, you watch it, it's on our YouTube channel. It's going to be on ESPN2 later on today as well. 844-204-RICH is that number to dial right here on the program. Akbar Bajab, BML, Matt Eisman of American Ninja Warrior joining us later on in this program. Just let me unpack just my last stories on the Pro Football Hall of Fame weekend. Hosting the Jack at dinner is pretty cool. It's an honor to do that. And, you know, it's my job to set a stage and, you know, move things along, have some fun with the audience or have some fun with them making fun of me because I'm a Michigan Wolverine.

2:57Rich Eisen:And, you know, sure enough, step to the podium. They're like, oh, H, you know. And my initial response was to basically say, I always love coming here to the Pro Football Hall of Fame so Buckeye fans can prove that they can spell four-letter words. Oh, God. And I'm like, I've got one I would love to say in response, but the commissioner of the NFL is sitting right next to me. You know, yada, yada, yada. It's great. And at one point I did work in because they gave away they gave away a piece of jewelry at the end. Oh, as an item that, you know, on page three of everybody's guide, there's a number.

3:37Rich Eisen:And if your number hits, you win the jewelry. And after the jackets are given out and the class is introduced one more time, they had them announce who wins the item after the hall of famers are introduced as one class with all their jackets and i'm like i actually called over the people who run the event because i can't help myself i'm like shouldn't that be the end shouldn't we give out the item and then bring up the hall of famers of the canton class as constituted in their jackets one more time for a big clap and that's the finish like shouldn't that be the crescendo and they explained to me the reason why they do it differently is to get the 125 returning members of the hall of fame the gauntlet members out the door before there's a crush of everybody to leave the arena because some of the members of the returning class the hall of famers don't move very fast i'm like got it makes sense so i set it up in advance to basically tell everybody when we give out you Stay in your seats to find out who wins the prize.

4:49Rich Eisen:I want to give them that heads up in advance. And I'm like, and it's going to involve page three on your program. For those Buckeye fans, that's between pages two and four. Rich, you're so bad. At which point the commissioner of the NFL, after I sat down after that, Roger Goodell says to me, do you have security? I hate Rich. And I said, I've got Steve Hutchinson. at which point the returning hall of famers are now introduced dan fouts does that now an expert job they put um an earpiece in his ear and each member of the hall of famer that's lined up in the tunnel all the way around you know into the concourse of the downtown canton civic center um they all line up and they have their names on a card with it i imagine you know a quick bullet point from their resume and they hand it to an individual at a podium who's got a microphone that's clearly attached to Dan Fouts' ear and Dan does this sometimes he ad-libs it it's off the top of his head he says he does it without fail perfectly every year he's awesome at it but for some reason my Michigan caping pisses him off he's an Oregon duck you know Dan you have no big 10 I get it, but not, I mean, new to the Big Ten.

6:10Rich Eisen:Certainly not this rivalry. I don't know why he feels the need to insert himself. So Chris Carter was the first one out. And he goes, you know, from the Ohio State. Sorry, Rich, you know. And he kind of gives me a little bit of the business. And at one point, then he brings out Orlando Pace, and he goes, you know, another Ohio State guy, Rich, he goes, are there really any Michigan guys here tonight? There aren't any. At which point I look at Hutch, who's sitting right there. He was one of the first people introduced. And I turn to Roger Goodell. I'm like, Hutch is standing right there. And we both look.

6:49Rich Eisen:And you could read Hutch's lips. He says, Bull S. And then Ty Law comes out. And Roger goes, there's another one. I'm like, yeah, I know. Like, this is the exchange that we're having during the jacket. But, you know, my my job is to keep things moving and then to make things exciting. And and then each member of the returning class, I mean, each member of the returning Hall of Famers line up in a gauntlet that's that, you know, emanates from the center stage where everybody goes up to receive their jackets. They start on the edges of the arena on a podium and then walk through one of the gauntlets to get to the stage.

7:33Rich Eisen:Larry Fitzgerald, I think, had a conversation and a hug with every one of them. It took him five minutes to get to the stage. Oh, man. He's very popular. Everyone on a piece of Larry, too. So it's my job to keep things going. And the applause stops at one point. You just hear music. So I got to tell a fact or a story or whatever. And it's fun. There's nothing like it. That's awesome. And then you go to this, you know, hangout afterwards. All the Hall of Famers are there in a party. And I told you in hour one, at one point, it's Mean Joe Green, Mel Blunt. Lynn Swan. Lynn Swan sitting there and Jackie Slater.

8:09Rich Eisen:I mean, come on. Wow. Come on. I just like want to say, can I sit down? But I'm not a stealer from the Steel Curtain days or Jackie Slater, you know. you know and i was just like want to ask i'm like all right so jackie what it was like to block him as in mean joe green come on unreal and then you just look around and there's just there's john lynch and there's you know uh bill cower and then there's you know warren moon walking around and then there's yada and yada and yada they're all there jim kelly you know Thurman Thomas, Andre Thurman Thomas was sitting with Bruce Smith and Tim Brown and Jerome Bettis.

8:57Rich Eisen:That one I sat down on just like to chit chat with him because Thurman's coming on the show this week. And I'm like, wanted to confirm with him that he understood. And he's just like, I'm coming on this week. I'm like, yeah, you are. And I actually showed the text from Erica, our booker saying, do you want Thurman Thomas this week? And my thumbs up emoji. I'm like, see, I approved. so you now have to appear at thermon oh yeah okay fun stuff amazing stuff there's nothing like i said like heroes and legends and just the fact i sit there and i think about the fact that you're so closely associated and tied with this how cool it is hey man i've been i've been around a while which i'm thrilled about you know and i'm honored to be uh flight home you know got all screwed up I had to fly through Dallas.

9:43Rich Eisen:Cliff Harris crossed the aisle. Drew Pearson right behind him. And at one point, Cliff Harris turns around and says to Drew Pearson, it's very rare that I'm in front of you. Or actually, no, pardon me. He says, it's very rare that you got behind me. That's what he said. That's funnier now. And Cliff Harris then proceeds to tell me a story about how Tom Landry used to give them full computerized printout sheets. I imagine and the pixelated, you know, printouts, right? Matrix printer. Matrix printers, right. Of the tendencies and the routes that would be run by the opposing team's wide receivers based on downs and distances.

10:27Rich Eisen:And he would then take a, you know, colored marker and first 10 first down routes were be like brown and be blue and red. So he'd be able to study what the tendencies were. Because he said Tom Landry would always preach anticipation is better than reaction. That's how you win, that you anticipate. you might be able to react but if you anticipate you'll be able to react faster. And this is what he said he would preach all the time. And he starts telling me about how he would be sitting in the opposing team, you know, in the hotel the night before studying all these printouts that no other teams had.

11:12Rich Eisen:And mind you, this is the mid to late 70s when this is going on, right? Which is great. Hearing these stories just from, but him turning to Drew Pearson is very rare that you got behind. I'm sure Drew did not take that well. Drew, it's just, there's the ADA clubber right there, who by the way said that Drew Breeze was named after him. I could see that. Breeze is named Drew because of Pearson. Wow. I didn't hear that in the speech though. And in terms of Breeze's speech, the thing that jumped out at me here is the moment you want to hear about the moments where somebody realizes they need to do something to become great or change something to become great it's very rare where somebody gets up and says yeah it was easy for me this entire time i've never heard it right i've never heard it i've heard speeches since 2003 never heard one saying you know what i was born with it and it great and i got it i got it from the beginning what he said about sean payton you know about how he never wanted to let him down and he thanked sean payton for letting him make both of them great is what he said you know that's cool thank you for letting me be great and helping in whatever you wanted to be great.

12:45Rich Eisen:Basically, thank you for being that guy for me. But it was before he got to New Orleans that he had the moment where the light bulb went on, the epiphany. And interestingly enough, it involves your new head coach of two years in Dallas. Brian Schottenheimer was Drew Brees' quarterback's coach in San Diego. Cameron was the offensive coordinator for Marty. So Brian was his dad's QB coach. And this is what helped Breeze become great. Thank you to Coach Cam Cameron and Brian Schottheimer, offensive coordinator and quarterback coach for the Chargers. Never forget a film session in 2003. I was coming off a tough game, and as we watched the tape together, they asked me the question, hey, why didn't you throw to this receiver?

13:36He was wide open. To which my response was, I couldn't see him. The tape paused there was a moment of silence they glared at me and said it's your job to see You reach a point in your career when you stop making excuses It's usually a moment or an event where you flip a switch or make a very conscious decision And it becomes part of your being they were right and never again would those words or thoughts come out of my mouth i would need to find a way to play the game a little bit different even if it was in a way that had not been done before it would shape me for what came next new orleans and then the place went nuts because

14:27Rich Eisen:there are saints fans everywhere in tom benson stadium by the way and so i heard that and i'm oh i i did not know that wow that's awesome yeah that's the moment where he just said you know what you know i i know i've got i'm height challenged and i just he told his coaches i just couldn't see him and the coaches are like too bad let's figure something out and he realizes okay i need to yada yada yada he's a first battle hall of famer with a gajillion records no excuses he figured out which nobody saw thought possible when he was oh you know battling with phillip rivers chargers definitely didn't think so because they chose man i i that moment hit me and then you know complete surprise had no idea uh adam venateri would uh tell everybody to tip their waitress by the stake my man was on fire you know two drink minimum speech from adam venateri didn't see that coming as you said on air i did say that yeah yeah yeah venateri not about it's not like hey i'll be here all week i'll be here for all eternity tip your waitress try the veal or whatever and first I mean he was firing away you'll see his tie was a little bit open I had no idea he was channeling Rodney Danger oh hey hey look at me hey I'm a hall of famer I'm the leader in points of all time hey Bill Belichick got the first high and in tight fastball to mix sports metaphors unfortunately Unfortunately, Bill couldn't make it here today.

16:01There's a lot going on at UNC right now. He may be on a recruiting trip right now looking for the next Lawrence Taylor. I thought it was because training camp had already started. But in truth, it's because he's judging his girlfriend's cheerleading competition.

16:22Rich Eisen:Was that necessary? Hey. Come on. Hey. What are we doing? What are we doing? Hey. You pick on your friends. Oh, and then Brady got some next. Yeah, he did. Hit it. I was lucky enough to play with the greatest quarterback in Patriot history. Unfortunately, he was unable to make it here today. Drew Bludsoe.

16:43I had a few more Tom Brady jokes, but I was afraid that he'd run up on the stage and maybe give me a Will Smith like he did to Logan Paul last month.

16:50Rich Eisen:Hey, hey, hey. Even Will Smith got some, huh? Like a Will Smith drive-by? Like, come on. I'm telling you he was on fire. Oh, wait a minute. We're not done. But wait, there's more. He gave, did you not hear this? He gave Pat a shout out because Pat showed up, obviously. Right? Remember, Pat told us years ago when he was a guest here, McAfee, that he'd lied to Polian about holding footballs. Vinatieri sent him the holder's camp. Right. He sent him the holder's camp because he lied to Polian to say, of course I was a holder in West Virginia. And now he had to hold for Vinatieri. and Vinny Cherry's like, you got to figure this thing out, kid.

17:29Rich Eisen:And who knew that would lead to this moment in the Hall of Fame speech? Hey, Pat McAfee's here in the crowd today. Great to see you, brother. The only person who enjoyed holding my balls more than my wife.

17:55Rich Eisen:i heard that i'm standing next to kurt warner and lewis riddick on the set i'm like whoa now he did follow that up though yeah because chris is like wait what yeah oh he followed it he followed up you know his wife would hold firm in the offseason whatever which led kurt to say on the air he's like yeah because i brought up you know hey two drink minimum and kurt's like yeah so you know our wives play you know significant roles for all of us in the off season and i just went on the air i'm like don't think that was my takeaway

18:28Rich Eisen:i don't think that was the takeaway from that comment adam vinatieri it's up and it's good and you and you saw manning peyton right before oh yeah he went with a with a forehead joke about Oh, yeah, the prompter. Yeah, the prompter was going to be on his forehead. Man, everybody got it. Everybody got it. Scoring points everywhere. Minutari. Minutari. What a legend. That was a first. He just picked off everybody. Oh, my goodness gracious. Didn't see that one coming. Great weekend in Canton. This is the headline. A SoFi personal loan is here to help you achieve something once thought impossible.

19:10Rich Eisen:It's overcoming high-interest credit card debt. Walk the tightrope of your finances with one low fixed-rate monthly payment, no fees required, and as soon as the same-day funding. Pull off your own debt-defying stunt right now with a SoFi personal loan by visiting SoFi.com slash trick to learn more. Loans originated by SoFi Bank, N.A. member FDIC. Terms and conditions apply, NMLS 696891. Jeff Halfley is the head coach of the Miami Dolphins. Let's take a break and have him join us back on the program next. The Rich Eisen Show Podcast.

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22:02Has his own Nike ninja shoe. That's how we know this sport has made it.

22:07Rich Eisen:Matt Eisman, Akbar Baja Biamila here on The Rich Eisen Show. American Ninja Warrior airing Monday 8 Eastern on NBC and the next day on Peacock. It is season 91 million. Did you read that right? Get your glasses. Season 18. Season 18. Crazy. Yeah. And the guy that we just saw in the clip named RJ, it was very loose fitting clothes. Like, are we changing the dress code here? You know, a lot of these ninjas have their own type of swag. And so they wear shoes now. They own shoes. We have ninjas who compete in suits. You know, the classy ninja, like a full on three piece. Like the way I run my 40 yard dash.

22:47Yes. Yes. But only he has a vest on. It's like swimming. Some people go Speedos. Others go the boxer briefs. Whatever suits your style of running. I tend to choose the bag of your clothing. Understood. For reasons that are hard to grasp.

23:02Rich Eisen:I do that seriously. Somebody's in a three-piece suit doing it. Three-piece suit. You got to look them up. The classy ninja dude did a 360 on the warped wall. Just decided, like, you know, I'm going to do this in a suit. Dress shoes and all. I mean, it's unbelievable. How that's not a commercial. Remember those stride right shoes that women can play basketball in? Here's a suit, gentlemen. You could be a ninja warrior in and still go close deals with Gordon Gekko. Are we going to have a Tom McCann drop? I remember going to those shoe stores as a kid. Oh, my God. Stepping in that thing to put your foot in, and they'd have that fader that would go down and took their toes.

23:47If anybody is born like 1989, they would be like, what are you guys talking about?

23:56Rich Eisen:I know. I know. What are we going to say? Speak for yourself, man. We're vintage. We're classic. We're classic is what we're saying. So what was the first meeting like? What were you two? First meeting was audition, right? Was it really? Yeah, audition. But I didn't remember. It was in the old, yeah, in L.A., old A. Smith Studios, the production. And I went in there and he's like, all right, react to what you watch. And I just kind of was going on. But they show you like an actual. An actual, you know, season two, maybe season three ninja. And I started just going and I kind of went in WWE style, just like, oh, shoot, look at that.

24:36And Matt's right there. And then he was, hey, what's up? And then I took off. And at that time, I had gotten like a thousand no's going on auditions. So I took off. Didn't really get a chance to really connect with you. Right? Well, as soon as you left, we just started slow clapping. It was clear he was the guy. He followed. He followed, though. He did have a big act to follow. Warren Sapp. Sapp. Wow. Who I just saw over the weekend, by the way. Sapp. Yeah.

25:00Rich Eisen:Wow. Wow. Yeah. I did not know. This is the first time I've come here. Yeah. Sapp, he said he wanted to take me out partying. But I said, I think we're going to go with Akbar. so sap tried out you're saying he tried out and he was great he was great but when akbar came in it was just like you know it's like that's it's probably when they saw ryan gosling walk in for the notebook audition like that's the guy that's the guy america's gonna fall in love wow i don't know i was ryan gosling i appreciate that man i mean by the way ryan gosling and notebook coming off the stride right reference you're like you woke you know i've got a seven month old i am Very much in what can make my wife happy mode, Rich.

25:39Seven months? Yeah. Best dad ever. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Best dad ever. It's like a reminder that I'm not doing enough. Seven months. It's so cool to see Matt as a dad, man. It is like, that is, it's a different, it's a different Matt. Yeah.

25:52Rich Eisen:Okay. Are you setting up obstacle courses at home? Literally, I had to go get weights and like reinforce the little crib fence because he was already doing like prison riot style, like trying to break. Trying to get out. It's going to be like Andy Dufresne. and he's going to tunnel through the couch. Where'd he go? Zewataneo. Hey, man, you're on fire right now, man. You are on fire. Well, I had to get up early this morning with him, and my wife is not going to, she does everything. Fantastic. It's been amazing, though. What's your son's name? James McIntosh, and we call him Big Mac. Oh, yeah. And he's a little delight.