In short
Overreaction Monday’s NFL preseason primer—what to watch in preseason, which teams look most interesting, and key “what if” storylines (Hall of Fame fallout, rookie QB starts, MVP/ROTY picks, and Aaron Donald/other quarterback competitions).
Guests
Rich Eisen and Chris Brockman (hosts). No outside guests mentioned.
Key claims
- Bill Belichick’s absence from the Hall of Fame class was a major miss; the ceremony felt under-attended.
- Rookie QBs: Carson Beck is positioned to start; others (Fernando Mendoza, Ty Simpson, Cade Clubnick) likely won’t unless injuries/coach decisions force it.
- Jacksonville should be discussed as a Super Bowl contender despite skepticism.
- Rams’ NFC outlook hinges on Aaron Donald returning; Trent McDuffie/Myles Garrett changes the conversation.
- MVP won’t be dominated by Bijan Robinson and Jameer Gibbs; quarterbacks will still lead.
- Offensive Rookie of the Year: Carnell Tate as the pick.
Notable examples
Drew Brees receiver-height anecdote; Roger Craig’s dementia disclosure; Luke Kuechly’s age; Adam Vinatieri points leader; Deshaun Watson extra reps; Madison Beer hair-rubbing at Chargers practice (vibes/controversy); Vikings/49ers/Chargers/Giants/Chiefs top-5 “interesting” list; Rams schedule highlighted with multiple national games.
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Chapters
Tap a time to open that second in VOHall of Fame Weekend Recap
0:28 to 1:35
Rich and Chris discuss their experiences at the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies.
“So he got that going for us, which is nice.”
Overreaction Monday: Hall of Fame Inductees
1:35 to 6:20
Rich and Chris analyze the Hall of Fame inductees and discuss notable moments from the speeches.
“All right, Christopher, what do you have over there?”
Rookie Quarterback Class Analysis
6:20 to 14:10
Discussion on the potential of rookie quarterbacks and their chances of starting in the upcoming season.
“You knew where I was going to go with that one.”
Evaluating Jacksonville's Quarterback
14:10 to 14:48
Discussion on the Jacksonville quarterback's performance and expectations.
“We're wondering if Doug Peterson was going to bench him, right?”
Aaron Donald's Potential Return
15:20 to 17:25
Analyzing the implications of Aaron Donald's return on the Rams' NFC chances.
“The minute Miles Garrett came, the Rams became the surefire seal the compartments.”
MVP Predictions for Running Backs
17:26 to 21:02
Debating the chances of running backs winning the MVP award this season.
“That's totally blown off the fact that they got Trent McDuffie for the back end.”
Wide Receiver Rookie of the Year Predictions
21:03 to 22:45
Speculation on which wide receivers could win Offensive Rookie of the Year.
“I see Josh Allen having a Josh Allen year.”
Quarterback Competitions in Preseason
22:46 to 28:01
Discussing the evolving quarterback competitions leading up to the season.
“I think a wide receiver is going to do it again.”
Quarterback Decisions in Preseason
28:01 to 29:55
Explore the financial and strategic considerations behind NFL quarterback choices in the preseason.
“McCarthy, and that guy left to win the Super Bowl, which leaves definitely a mark.”
Top Five Most Interesting Teams
29:56 to 35:18
A countdown of the top five NFL teams to watch in the upcoming preseason, highlighting unique challenges and narratives.
“Every coach could clearly make a decision based within the box of now and be able to look the team in the face, players in the face, media in the face and say, this is now.”
Show all 11 chapters
Kansas City Chiefs and Team Dynamics
35:19 to 40:01
Discussion on the Kansas City Chiefs' dynamics, Patrick Mahomes' status, and the upcoming season's expectations.
“But Brady then had another dynasty, three out of five.”
Transcript
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.0:00Chris Brockman:You 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.
0:35Rich Eisen:all right the hall of fame induction ceremonies and the hall of fame game is in the books so it is time for the full-on first pre-season edition of overreaction monday rich eyes and chris brockman hey buddy fresh back well not so fresh but back from canton ohio how are you christopher i'm great
0:55Chris Brockman:how are you uh great job the stuff was so awesome this weekend was fun love to see the speeches everyone did such a fantastic job it was great weekend it was fun we're back and who knew uh
1:05Rich Eisen:adam vinatieri with the first ever two drink minimum speech i mean i mean i i heard all that i mean that was uh he was going for something yeah yeah yeah belichick got some yeah it was uh chris carter uh got some from larry but uh from vinatieri you know brady got some yeah um and then And then we learned how his wife used to be part of his off-season snapping and things of that nature. Okay. So he got that going for us, which is nice. All right. So we learned stuff over the weekend. It's time for Overreaction Monday. Hit it. Go for it. That was terrible. That was crap. That was garbage. That's why it sucks.
1:45Chris Brockman:Overreaction. Mondays. Monday. All right, Christopher, what do you have over there? Hey, I want to start with a couple of Canton items, Rich, before we get going. for the rest of around the league. Impressive Hall of Fame class, absolute bona fide superstars, Drew Brees, where if it's Gerald, Luke Kuechly, Adam Vinatieri, Roger Craig. And while that was all impressive, not having Bill Belichick there is still a gigantic miss.
2:09Rich Eisen:Of course it is. I mean, there's just no question about it. I even said it on the broadcast, the first ever ESPN NFL Network simulcast. The event ended about five to three. I mean, if you wanted to spend another 15, 20 minutes, Bill, we could have fit in a Belichick speech.
2:29Chris Brockman:Sure could have.
2:29Rich Eisen:Could have also fit in a Bob Kraft speech. Yep. Could also had as many Patriot fans there as Saints fans. Looked around Tom Benson Stadium, there were still a lot of seats. Could have filled some. Yep. And the way that I equated this, very similar to my connection from Chicago to Canton. The plane left with some empty seats on it.
2:54Chris Brockman:Interesting.
2:54Rich Eisen:As I showed up to the gate two minutes after the plane pushed back with five other individuals from the Los Angeles leg that watched the Canton plane just push back.
3:06Chris Brockman:You're just like, really?
3:07Rich Eisen:Belichick stood there watching the Canton plane push back from the voters because there were still some seats that could have been filled on that podium. It was just five people. That's it. and it just makes no sense to me in this day and age that every canton class isn't filled to capacity you can still vote more than five people in it just didn't happen for as you know various reasons and um it would have been a um it would have been more attended if that's what you're looking for there would have been more buzz which is what you're looking for and it also would have been appropriate that bill belichick is a first ballot deserving and when he doesn't go in then somebody like mike shanahan's watching the plane push back and homerun's watching the plane push back without all seats being filled up there's a trickle down ripple effect and then next year when belichick should go in that'll be another year that a coach is going to be waiting so when there's no seats filled in a hall of fame class plane pushing back from the gate it's a shame And it's infuriating, which, by the way, it was for me going to Canton.
4:24Chris Brockman:And seeing the plane go bye-bye. And seeing the plane push back with empty seats on it.
4:27Rich Eisen:Yeah. And so we would have been there an extra 15, 20 minutes. If it was Robert Kraft there as well, we would have been there another 45 minutes. And weather was going to hold up. We would have been there. And it would have been something else. it was but the issue with saying all this is it sounds like we're taking away with what happened um and it was still a moving ceremony um drew breeze telling a story about how he was in um a meeting with the chargers coaching staff talking about um him not being able to see his receivers because of his height and he was called out for not seeing his receivers and he told his coaches well i can't see the receivers and the coaches look back and say it's your job to do that kind of dawned on him having an epiphany that that's an excuse and he shouldn't use that anymore and now look at him uh larry fitzgerald former ball boy uh to the minnesota vikings courtesy of his father was a beat writer for the team growing up and he's getting the jacket put on him friday night by Chris Carter, who he was the ball boy for.
5:44Rich Eisen:Really cool. Two first ballot hall of famers, a guy in Roger Craig who waited 28 years and then used his speech to also inform everybody he's got early onset dementia and that is something he doesn't want to define him, but he also wants to have his story utilized for people to get themselves checked out. Luke Keekly, on the other hand, a 35-year-old, only the second youngest inductee, only Gail Sayers younger to be inducted. And then Adam Vinatieri, who was the all-time points leader. It was a deep roster, but having the all-time great coach in Belichick was a miss. And Robert Kraft could have been there, too.
6:22Rich Eisen:So not an overreaction. You knew where I was going to go with that one.
6:24Chris Brockman:I did. I set you up for that, Rich. What else? We're teammates. Let's talk about the game a little bit from last week. We talked about it a little bit on Friday, but I want to bring it here. You look at this rookie quarterback class. Carson back is starting to establish himself. And I think he's going to be the first rookie to start a game this year.
6:44Rich Eisen:Well, I don't think Fernando Mendoza is going to start a game in September or October, unless there's an injury. Obviously we have to, let's just throw injuries. You're talking about performance, natural progression. Yeah, of course. And the fact that Tyler shock started last year, mid season in a way that we didn't see going into the season. Yep. so he could be sort of a Tyler Shuck type addition here. Ty Simpson clearly is not going to start for the Rams. So who else would there possibly be?
7:20Chris Brockman:Drew Allers looked good at Steelers camp.
7:22Rich Eisen:But I don't think the quarterback class was so deep that, again, that's throwing injury out the door. I don't think this is an overreaction. Cade Clubnick at the Jets. I just don't think this is, he's, he's, let's put it this way. He is set up to start first out of the rookie class because the quarterback is chosen in front of him. One has got Kirk Cousins sitting there for a reason. And then you've also got, so Mendoza could marinate if you will. And then Ty Simpson's just not starting. So yeah, I don't think this is an overreaction that you have to sit there and think with a new coach and Michael floor.
8:00Rich Eisen:and if Jacoby Brissett doesn't add a little extra oomph from even last year's performance where, you know, it felt something going on behind the scenes was, this is it for Kyler Murray around here. We're done. Even though we're assuming that the injury, reason given, is not the reason why he was sitting, I don't think this is an overreaction. And it'll be exciting to see. It will. It'll be exciting to see. because the weaponry is there, which it would be for Brissette as well. I just don't know if the new coach there is going to be, or the front office with the new coach is going to be like, let's see what we have in Carson Beck.
8:41Rich Eisen:And that's going to be for a lot of teams this year is what do we see in who we have now? Let's see it now because this upcoming draft class is chock full of prospects. We expect. Correct. But if Beck hits in Arizona, them then you don't have to use your draft capital on a quarterback next year which is also a benefit especially after you spent the third pick on a running back correct sir what else you got rich
9:07Chris Brockman:uh now we're getting to the point where preseason games are hitting this week yes sir we're reading headlines we're looking at vibes videos on social media and i think we're starting to establish who's going to be top tier super bowl contenders okay and i'm kind of with the coach on this one Liam Cohen. We should be talking about Jacksonville as Super Bowl contenders.
9:31Rich Eisen:Well, last year they won their division but lost to a perennial Super Bowl contender. So we are left with saying, good job. You look good. But when it all came down to it, not ready, you didn't win at home against the Buffalo Bills, who going into the playoffs, a lot of people thought were less than their usual full strength. Bills are going to win the Superbowl type team and they couldn't do it. And now one of their main engines on the offense left by a free agency and Travis Etienne. And now it's Bayshul Tootin's time to show that he can be a full-time bell cow, like Travis Etienne's caliber running back.
10:17Rich Eisen:Brian Thomas we're waiting to see him take a step up from his first year Travis Hunter how significant will he be in what we assume is a one side of the football role and and last year's defense was so opportunistic it was superb in that respect can they do it again i'm just giving you all of the reasons why folks aren't talking about it on top of what everyone in duval county would point out as the obvious which is nobody pays attention to the afc south and then jacksonville in particular sure they have a lot going for them but i understand why they're not being talked about as super bowl contenders outside of the fact that they're in duval county and everybody there counts that as the reason why it's counted against them right so So I'm just trying to reasonably lay it all out there and hope the backlash isn't strong from a fan base that I always hear from on a draft coverage whenever we go to break when they're on the clock as if it's my doing and fault.
11:26Rich Eisen:I have nothing to do with that. You're pushing those buttons. So that's why we're not talking about them. We kind of need to see them do it again. They 100 % have the roster and coaching staff to do it again. But we need to see it. I think we really need to see it coming into the season.
11:42Chris Brockman:We finally saw the Trevor Lawrence everyone was expecting, first overall, coming out of college. We saw that last year. Fantasy-wise, he was top five quarterback last year. Now you've got year two in Lee and Cole, this great offensive system, great offensive mind. You saw what he did for Baker Mayfield. And, you know, sky's the limit. I'm buying. I did go higher register. You just did, yeah. But they are a higher registered Super Bowl contender that I think we need to start talking about.
12:06Rich Eisen:I'm all for it. I'm all for it and Jacksonville's uh schedule that we have right here they're first up home for Cleveland so take care of business well I mean listen we we don't know who Cleveland's going to be yet we're all assuming but they can come down and hit you in the mouth that's a winnable get you have to win an AFC game against an opponent home opener that was you know top 10 in the draft last year at home you got to do that certainly they go to Denver and you can sit there and say, well, that's a tough game, but they went into Denver last year and hit the Broncos in the mouth in their ascendance to winning the division.
12:46Rich Eisen:They're home for New England. That's going to be another one that's a measuring stick game. Go ahead and win that. And at Cincinnati, which I've already told you is my number one sleeper team this year, and you could laugh all you want about a sleeper team having one of the best quarterback wide receiver combinations in the league over the last few years, if not coming into this year. But I don't think people are thinking the Bengals are going to make it back to the Super Bowl. And I think that could be potentially happening before they've got two games in London, one against Philadelphia, and then they have that benefit of having already been in London for Houston to come in for a huge division game before there's a bye and another division game.
13:22Rich Eisen:Yeah, that's a tough first six games. But those are games that they're filled with teams that they have to go ahead and beat if they're going to be Super Bowl contenders. Exactly. Because these are Super Bowl contending teams coming into their house. and they're also divisional games and also conference games that they're going to have to have as a tiebreaker in their back pocket to put on the table in January and say the path to the Super Bowl goes through Duval, as many Super Bowl contenders need to have, go through their home, have the path go through their home to win your conference. So there's a lot of reasons why there's hedging.
13:59Rich Eisen:but you're right so so i don't i'll call this um an overreaction to say i understand why folks need to see it again but it's not because they're in little old jacksonville i'm sorry like if this was a team um anywhere else we'd still be talking about okay your first overall draft choice several years in now it's going to start the extension with the 50 million Plus his one playoff win is still the game where he threw so many interceptions in the first half. We're wondering if Doug Peterson was going to bench him, right? That's his only playoff win so far. So we need to see that again. And then the, the changes that happened, we need to see what they can do.
14:44Rich Eisen:And it's nothing to do with where they play for me. Um, what else you got there?
14:49Chris Brockman:As you know, managing maintenance, repair, and operations is never easy, but for the ones who always rise to the challenge, Granger has your back from professional. grade products you can count on to fast, dependable delivery. They're there to help you keep things running smoothly. Plus, their technical product specialists are here to help answer your toughest questions. And because Grainger knows safety is always a priority, they're committed to being your partner in protecting both your people and your facilities. Call 1-800-GRAINGER, click grainger.com, or just stop by. Okay, Rich, getting close to rubber meets road on this topic, and it feels like this could be the week but if Aaron Donald doesn't come back I think we've been talking about this for weeks now under the assumption that he is what if he goes through the workouts gets a speed coach and says I can't get to the gear I want if that's the case the Rams are not the favorites to win the NFC
15:45Rich Eisen:dude we've already forgotten Myles Garridge there and Trent McDuffie on the back end Like he's the reason why the Rams there's the Rams were already favored to win the NFC. The minute Miles Garrett came, the Rams became the surefire seal the compartments. It's over NFC favorites. The minute that didn't win the division last year. I know Super Bowl champs in their division as well. Right. And just forgetting about the margin of error on on that and how different it could have been was so slim. Um, so yeah, I mean, we're forgetting all the other changes that were made and the other additions that they received.
16:27Rich Eisen:Other teams got better too. I understand that. But the, the minute Garrett showed up, it was okay. The Rams are the favorites to win the NFC. And then the conversation was Donald may come out of retirement because Garrett shown up and then it's just like, okay, they're going to go 17 and oh, who's going to beat them at all. so uh that said i just spent a minute entertaining the idea that he's not coming back did you see the video over the weekend of him working out i did he was doing doing some ladder drill i saw yeah i saw it i saw it did did it did it look to you like the speed coach uh i mean has done his or her job i get it i don't know who the speed coach is but i don't does it look like he needs a speed coach there's no it looked like he was actually faster than brayden fisk with his footwork and Josiah Stewart no pads on younger than him no
17:17Chris Brockman:pad I'm just look I'm just providing a little bit of pushback because for a month I got it it's been I understand coming back it's all the assumption the Rams doing this doing that but what if he gets out there gets the pads on starts hitting right and it's like I don't want I don't want to do this
17:31Rich Eisen:it's entirely possible we have no idea but but the fact is if he says thanks but no thanks gave it a whirl just don't don't have it either in me or I don't want to see if it's in me or any of that um whatever the reason is we're just like yeah I it's all about the want to I tried to I tried to I tried I tried I tried I went in there I went to the depths no I don't and I have enough not at 100 right or I just don't I just know that it's just not there and I just got to get right into it I used to love football more but i love i love being a dad and a husband 24 7 365 couch is great i can watch the games i don't think i was gonna say the couch is great okay well i mean i mean he's by the way the fittest couch potato i've ever that's a fact you know so he could do that and if he does that then there's still miles garrett and the rest of that defense i got you mcduffie like they added trent mcduffie on the back end to the point where we don't talk about it because Myles Garrett showed up and who they chose in the first round with the pick that they got from Atlanta.
18:42Rich Eisen:That's totally blown off the fact that they got Trent McDuffie for the back end. Overreaction, pal.
18:51Chris Brockman:Passionate Rams. Okay. Now that their contracts are done, both Bijan and Jameer Gibbs top 5 MVP incoming for both? two running backs in the top 5 record breaking seasons let's go so that means only 3 quarterbacks are finalists
19:20Rich Eisen:maybe Myles Garrett is 36 and he's in there so you're saying it'll be two running backs and a defensive player. This is the year that these guys finally get their recognition.
Read the full transcript
19:33Chris Brockman:Look, we all know Christian McCaffrey should have won an MVP. Saquon Barkley should have won an MVP. Maybe Derrick Henry in there as well. But this is the year. These guys are going to break through. They got their new deals. All that pressure is off. They're in an offense where they are the bell cow. We've heard their coaches say they will get the ball. One of these guys might even set the scrimmage record this year.
19:52Rich Eisen:Is this because you got the second overall pick in our best ball league? And you had Gibbs because TJ took Bijan and you're trying to talk your way in it. My guy's still going to be the MVP, even though Bijan I love and I know he's going to be amazing. Is that what this is born out of? I also think they're both generational backs. I got it. But there's just not going to be two running backs finalists for the MVP. And you and I both know. Why not? Because it's the most valuable quarterback award. and will give a nod to a running back and say, you're also an MVP finalist before you win the Offensive Player of the Year award.
20:28Chris Brockman:What if each of these guys have 1 ,800 rush yards and 20-plus touchdowns with 75 catches? They're not going to be top five MVP? Okay.
20:38Rich Eisen:I see what you're saying. No. Wow. Because there's going to be enough quarterback play. Is there? Yeah.
20:46Chris Brockman:Passing yards and passing touchdowns have gone down the last few seasons.
20:49Rich Eisen:Okay. So you think this is all going to add up to three quarterbacks and two running backs for the MVP award? That's what I'm saying. I'm putting my stamp on it right now. The MVP award will have a two-fifths chance of being a running back. Of being a running back. Finally. I just don't see it. I don't see it. I see Josh Allen having a Josh Allen year. See, I'm going to start going to the quarterbacks. I see Burrell having a massive year. I see Mahomes coming back and having a year that nobody saw coming. They can't all do it. They can't all do it. I understand that. I think Lamar is going to have a superb year with the new offensive coordinator and Declan Doyle from the Ben Johnson world.
21:30Rich Eisen:You know, you're talking about Caleb Williams having a massive step forward. Dak could throw for a gajillion yards. But those guys are going to have better seasons than these two running backs? In the new Mike McDaniel coordinated offense. I just gave you a handful of the last year's MVP, your kid in Drake May after last year's near miss. I hear a regression. AJ Brown. No, no, no. Okay. You could, again, use this segment for your own mental health from your fantasy team, your actual team. It's not. Okay. I understand that.
22:04Chris Brockman:These guys are fantastic backs.
22:06Rich Eisen:But if those quarterbacks have their usual type year, I understand the underlying point of this topic is that these two running backs are going to have big years, and I hope it's the case for those who ever have them in fantasy or for the Falcons and the Lions, respectively. But at the end of the day, the MVP is the best quarterback award.
22:29Chris Brockman:Do you think Adrian Peterson sits around and pops champagne like the 72 Dolphins?
22:32Rich Eisen:I see what you are saying. Overreaction is my general sense here. All right.
22:37Chris Brockman:Last year, a wide receiver won offensive rookie of the year. Ted Haroah McMillan. Yeah. He fought off a late charging Tyler Shuck. Indeed, sir. I think a wide receiver is going to do it again. Second year in a row, wide out, offensive rookie of the year.
22:51Rich Eisen:Name your, well, I mean, with Jadarian Price and Jeremiah Love being the first round drafted running backs.
22:57Chris Brockman:Yeah, those are the big running backs. And obviously you got some of the quarterbacks, whether maybe Beck has a Shuck-like season or for Fernando Mendoza. I doubt it. I doubt it. I think it's going to be like a love would have been seen out of Carnell Tate. Obviously some Jordan Tyson clips over the weekend. Yeah. Had you kind of raise a few eyebrows. What about the stripling out there in San Francisco? Because Mike Evans is already missing time in the preseason. Debo Samuel's back, but we don't know how he's sure.
23:23Rich Eisen:You know, this is a lemon. There's a bunch of right.
23:26Chris Brockman:Yeah. I'm putting my thumb on a wide receiver and I'm going to call it.
23:29Rich Eisen:It's Carnell Tate. Okay. I appreciate you calling it. I mean, I don't think there's any overreaction on this front. I think we just talked it out that it would be a significant run from a rookie quarterback. We don't see coming sitting here on the Monday before week one preseason in full bloom. And the running backs, Jeremiah Love and Jadarian Price are the only first round ones taken. so could there be somebody from a friday or a saturday draft position coming to the fore sure um never don't see you know any of the tight ends potentially having a brock bowers type season where you've got to throw them into the mix um everything i just said is possible but from the wide receiver class which again was very deep uh i'll go with you on this one i don't think this is an overreaction
24:25Chris Brockman:do you think any of those guys have a better season than mcmillan did last year mcmillan had
24:29Rich Eisen:and i know this because i drafted him in the best ball i know you did and i just decided you know i'm going to try and take as many thousand yard wide receivers there were 20 some of them last year uh and and hope for any improvement suddenly got a thousand yard wide receiver he had just a above thousand yards and about seven uh touchdowns um so uh that's basically you know unless again it's Brock Bowers having 120 something catches or Pukunuku at 1400 yards in his rookie season those are kind of an outlier so I'll say it'll be right around the numbers that McMillan hit last year and you know uh and he had um his quarterback was Bryce Young who was ascendant um deep into his contract now as a you know first time quarterback uh in the NFL I mean he's obviously far from a rookie now so um you know having a rookie matched up with potentially a significantly more uh decorated and veteran quarterback than bryce young would give give a leg up potentially i mean his puka had matthew stafford throwing us man so can we could all be so lucky right but brock bowers had a whole rotation of quarterbacks throwing his way yeah what else two more rich and we'll uh
25:51Chris Brockman:Get on with everyone's Monday here. I think these quarterback competitions are getting interesting now that we're, like you said, we're getting ready for week one preseason. We're going to see these battles really play out on the actual game field and not just in practice with clips we're seeing on social media. But I still think something unexpected is going to happen in one of these quarterback competitions. You're hearing that maybe it's Deshaun Watson got some extra first team reps on Saturday. in Cleveland after it looked like Shador had kind of taken the lead with Watson, you know, throwing a lot of interceptions.
26:27Chris Brockman:You see Kyler Murray throwing some 11 on 11 interceptions. J.J. McCarthy had a great weekend throwing some red zone TDs. I still think there's going to be something wild that comes out of these. Brissette maybe not having the best camp so far. Does Beck steal that for week one? You know, Kirk Cousins gets benched for a weekend because he's fighting with Max Crosby.
26:50Rich Eisen:what's going on yeah and max saying he he got what you know he got what he got or yeah like okay i know that i think this is all just we still have no idea what's going on in atlanta i know it's training camp doldrums um i'll just call it here again one more time um deshaun watson is going to start for cleveland i've always thought that i have no inside knowledge i just have knowledge that they have put so much time and capital in a guy patience well i mean patience they've had no choice but to be i mean they waited for him to start because of a suspension that they knew was coming when they went ahead and acquired him for all of that draft capital and all of this money that they have paid him for hardly a damn thing that with one more year left they're going to see what there is before they evaluate anybody else and that includes chador unless chador is having such a remarkable camp or has the opportunity in preseason to take it that he that Munkin would just have an issue looking at his team in the face and saying we're going with Deshaun I just think there's going to be a thumb on the scale for Deshaun Watson I think there's going to be a thumb on the scale for the two veterans in Minnesota and Atlanta because they're so damn inexpensive right now and certainly for the one in Minnesota and Kyler Murray because they They let somebody go to see what they have in J.J.
28:15Rich Eisen:McCarthy, and that guy left to win the Super Bowl, which leaves definitely a mark. So unless, again, Penix and McCarthy in Atlanta and Minnesota have such remarkable training camps and preseasons that both coaches just in their staff meetings just look at each other and say, how can I look at all these other guys in the face and say that we're going with the veteran? and then when you pull the kid and put in the veteran it's different than pulling the veteran and putting in the kid in terms of what you're trying to salvage from the kid and the veteran there's no actual skin in the game in your franchise or the fan base it's not like Atlanta fans are just like dying to see what they have in Tua or hey Vikings fans are like you can't do that to Kyler he's hardly been there so again these are just narratives I understand but I'm also trying to look at the reality of the finances and then what's over the steering wheel for other teams to make a decision certainly in terms of Cleveland and in Arizona could Carson Beck start week one because the the team has just seen so much from him that like we might as well see what we have in him and if it doesn't work out early on and then you go to brissette and then you make a decision based on next year's draft i mean i i think that's feasible now that would be one of the unexpected so i'll say this is not an overreaction just because you never know right but i i do believe i've just mapped everything out for you based on the finances and based on how everything has been played out in the franchises coming into the season.
29:59Rich Eisen:Every coach could clearly make a decision based within the box of now and be able to look the team in the face, players in the face, media in the face and say, this is now. Forget about what's happened before. Of course a coach could do that. Certainly in Atlanta where you're new, you're starting out fresh. Same thing in Arizona. And in Minnesota, you've got Kevin O 'Connell. is a you know coach of the year one year removed and has the ability to basically do what he thinks is best as all coaches do i understand but i i do believe that's the way it's gonna go
30:31Chris Brockman:what else rich last thing and i want to finish with this a top five oh a top five in an over reaction the top five most interesting teams okay as we get set for the preseason to start with the three preseason games. Number five, and we just talked a little bit about it, I think number five are the Vikings. Okay. For all the reasons we talked about with the quarterback situation. Also, they really handled this quarterback thing pretty poorly with dating back to Sam Donald, right? Okay. So Kevin O 'Connell, I want to say mini hot seat heading into the year. That's an overreaction. Also, what is going on in Justin Jefferson's mind?
31:12Chris Brockman:We haven't heard from him. We don't know what he thinks about all of this, but he's got to be frustrated with how last season went right and the uncertainty heading
31:21Rich Eisen:into this year so i think minnesota's number five all right plus the plus the nfc north is
31:25Chris Brockman:winnable for them nfc north is also winnable and very tough understood we expect detroit to be back you know what else you got what we've what we've because i'll bother being interesting okay number four the san francisco 49ers the kyle shanahan accident we haven't really talked about it but it's weird all the information that comes out it seems like it's something different every day It's very weird. And so your coach is dealing with that. On top of your big free agent signing is already not practicing. Okay. George Kittle, we don't know his status for week one. All the substation stuff. Not a thing, but the fact that it is a thing.
31:59Chris Brockman:Niners are really interesting. Really tough division. They're clearly third in that spot. Number three, going to stay out here, Chargers. Okay. This is based on vibes. Obviously, Mike McDaniel is there, and he's going to boost up the offense. But can your starting franchise quarterback really be on the sideline during practice, having his fiancee play with his hair and stuff?
32:21Rich Eisen:Don't do that. That is really bizarre.
32:23Chris Brockman:And I would. What if it was the end of practice? What if it was lunch? I don't know. Do you see anybody else's girlfriend?
32:29Rich Eisen:No, because their other fiancee's girlfriend or wife is in Madison Beer.
32:33Chris Brockman:Across the league. There are famous partners across the league. None of them are at practice playing with their quarterback's hair.
32:40Rich Eisen:The Boro just was picnicking with his girlfriend. Not in the middle of practice. He was on the practice field. I don't know. It's weird. What do you think? Like, they stopped a seven-on-seven drill so he could sit down with Madison Beer and she could run her hand through his hair? I don't know. It's bizarre. Come on. Come on. That's weird. Just saying. That her, you know, now being his fiance makes this interesting to people who don't normally maybe pay attention to the Los Angeles charges. You got the beer effect? The beer effect? Sure.
33:09Chris Brockman:Also, all the injuries coming back, how are they going to look? Omarion Hampton, does he make the leap, et cetera, et cetera. Chargers are really interesting.
33:14Rich Eisen:All right, I'll buy the football aspect of it, but the other stuff, come on, man. It's bizarre. All right. Win a playoff game.
33:20Chris Brockman:Then you can do stuff like that. Okay. All right. Number two. All right. Number two are the New York football giants. Here's the thing. I don't know. We didn't talk about it. We didn't play it. But the John Harbaugh speech at the beginning of the thing, it was like he didn't really know what to say. And the guys weren't really feeling the vibes. I am worried, Rich Eisen, that this is giving off Pete Carroll, Las Vegas Raiders head coach with John Harbaugh. I'm I'm worried. You got all the offseason stuff, the backflip, the Jackson Dart, you know, whatever.
33:55Rich Eisen:So you're thinking because John Harbaugh may have lost his fastball.
34:00Chris Brockman:I think so. OK, everyone's expecting him to come in and plus them up. They're fighting for the division and maybe back in the playoff.
34:06Rich Eisen:mix and i'm like could this go the other way okay i'm i that's a that's a new twist on why the giants are interesting just saying all right i think that's an overreaction but i think the giants are interesting with the dart scataboo tango and cash combination and yeah i mean on
34:21Chris Brockman:the field they're all healthy defensively and playing smart like they could be fun team but okay you know i don't know i don't know okay let's be careful all right all right last one the most interesting team of the preseason i'm gonna give you this one it's the kansas city Chiefs. And you don't say of course, but of course they're the most interesting team. I'm just saying, look, is Patrick Mahomes going to play in the preseason or not? What is he going to look like? Got to assume he's going to play week one. They probably should hold him out, but they're going to play him week one. They're not going to hold him out.
34:53Chris Brockman:Travis Kelsey now, is this his final year? We don't know anything about that. What is up with Rasheed Rice? Because he looks big in the community and not moving that well out there. That's a problem. That could be a problem. Who is their number one receiver because Xavier Worthy I don't think it's him what's going on there sure again and all the questions with 15 Andy Reid's now 70 let's just let's just keep an eye on that as well I think
35:17Rich Eisen:the Chiefs are one of the most interesting teams well number one they're always because they're the Chiefs and we're and we're waiting we're waiting for the Dynasty 2.0 that's what we're waiting yeah is that going to happen is it that's this is what we are waiting for from the Chiefs because Mahomes' career to this point, at this age, he's already eclipsed Tom Brady in many different areas, statistically, historically, and arguably greatest run of a quarterback in his 20s. No doubt. All right. But Brady then had another dynasty, three out of five.
35:54Chris Brockman:Didn't win for 10 years, though. Correct.
35:56Rich Eisen:And he had a long, well, but he still went to Super Bowls. That's true. Not like he was never going back to a Super Bowl. Agree. So we're waiting to see... what it looks like there but you forgot one team and that's the los angeles rams they are 100 number one on the list really chris but we've take a look at their schedule hoskins call it up but this is for the preseason top 10 preseason teams the rams are too the ram we're sitting here waiting for aaron donald to make the obvious occur and once he does once he does and by the way people listen to or watch this show uh days later i had somebody in canton say to me overreaction monday gets him through his work day oh which is great thanks buddy um so donald may be back by the time people consume this portion sure their first game in melbourne against your aforementioned fourth most interesting team then they have a home opener on a monday night against your second most interesting team in the Giants then you have the Broncos and Philadelphia hosting them weeks three and four week three is a Sunday nighter on NBC so their first one is worldwide on Netflix their second one is on ESPN the third one is on NBC that's three nationally televised games just to start the whole country is going to see them before they visit Philadelphia and then they have a home Monday nighter against Buffalo that's their first five games every game that you see on the schedule for them including against the Chargers who are your third most interesting team their visit at Washington who knows what they're going to be but the bottom line is if they run through this schedule every single one of these games including the Thursday nighter against Kansas City your most interesting team Dallas two games against Seattle visit to Tampa in between him in the second to last game of the season for them every
38:01Chris Brockman:game is going to be a Super Bowl yeah I get it every game is going to be interesting this is regular season interest I'm just talking about this is August this is an August interesting
38:09Rich Eisen:that's all everybody's talking about is Aaron Donald coming back we're having fun with it on our show saying is he back yet I get it so but that's not really interesting we all expect it to happen the idea is who's going to trip up the rams will they go undefeated long if not what's wrong with them what will happen in the postseason what all of it every last thing involving them everybody's fantasy team is going to have at least one ram on it if you if you're lucky if you're
38:38Chris Brockman:lucky you're gonna have to if you're lucky yeah but that's other september items okay august most interesting teams. Nobody's doing an August interesting list.
38:47Rich Eisen:And just again, just because Madison Beer is his fiance. I don't know.
38:52Chris Brockman:Maybe it's because we don't have hair, but like, could you imagine like Sarah just in the middle of the show rubbing my head?
38:58Rich Eisen:How do you know when that happened? That's bizarre. You make it seem like, hold on a minute, time out on this 11-on-11. I've got to go sit down with my fiance so she could run her hand through my hair. Time and place. I'm sorry. I'll be right back everybody. Time and place. As if that's the way it went down. You have no idea. I'm assuming. And somebody else's wife or fiance may have stopped by to sit down on the turf too. Just nobody's taking video of it because they're, they're not Madison beer. We've been through this with Taylor Swift.
39:26Chris Brockman:She was not on the field, rubbing Travis Kelsey's head in the middle of practice.
39:30Rich Eisen:I know we know that because there would have been video. We would have seen it. We would have seen the video. I got it. All right, Christopher, thank you for the time. Thank you for trying. All right. That wraps up this edition of overreaction Monday. We're off and running. Let's go. Football is back Football is back So is obviously the Rich Eisen show every day 12 to 3 Eastern we did Canton Ohio is our Friday destination Last week we're back in our Los Angeles Studio for the foreseeable future For Chris I'm Rich thanks for taking In Overreaction Monday everybody
From the publisher
A weekly staple on 'The Rich Eisen Show' since 2018, 'Overreaction Monday' is now also an extended podcast with Rich and Chris Brockman debating the latest in the NFL. Today's topics:
1:15 - While the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame class was impressive, not having Bill Belichick voted in was still a miss
5:55 - Carson Beck will be the first rookie QB to start a game this season
8:35 - We should be talking about the Jacksonville Jaguars as Super Bowl contenders
14:20 - If Aaron Donald doesn't come back, the Rams are not favorites to win the NFC
17:55 - With contracts done, both Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs will finish top five in NFL MVP voting
21:35 - A wide receiver will win Offensive Rookie of the Year (again)
24:55 - Something unexpected is going to happen in these QB competitions
29:30 - The top five most interesting teams this preseason: Vikings, 49ers, Chargers, Giants & Chiefs
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