The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
Episode: Top Five Games to Watch This Weekend, Drip Drill with Mike Ryan Ruiz, And the NFL's Greatest People with Jourdan Rodrigue
Date: October 3, 2025
Hosts: Dan Le Batard, Stugotz
Guests: Mike Ryan Ruiz, Jourdan Rodrigue
Episode Overview
Broadcast live from the Elser Hotel in Downtown Miami, this episode dives into the NFL's Week 5 matchups, the aesthetics of football uniforms ("Drip Drill"), and the human side of the league with featured guest Jourdan Rodrigue from The Athletic. The show seamlessly oscillates between sharp sports analysis, humorous banter, and insightful behind-the-scenes storytelling. From dissecting regional college football rivalries to the intricacies of NFL quarterback trades and locker room culture, the hosts deliver their distinctive mix of wit, skepticism, and reverence for the game.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Greatest #13 in Football
- Dan kicks off the episode by proposing: "Who is the greatest number 13 in pro football history?" (00:16)
- Mike Ryan: "There's one number 13. If you mean another 13, you're going to need to clarify for me, pal, because that is Dan Marino's number." (01:18)
- Other #13s mentioned: Odell Beckham Jr., Kurt Warner, Brian Griese, Jake Scott (the only Dolphins #13 to win Super Bowl MVP).
2. College Football Rivalry Talk: Miami vs. FSU vs. Florida
- Rivalries dissected: Miami-FSU, Miami-Florida, Miami-Notre Dame (03:49–08:28)
- Mike Ryan: "A common misnomer. I think Miami FSU is a weird rivalry in that more built on mutual respect... But we can all agree we hate Florida." (04:38)
- Personal anecdotes about Steve Spurrier and Bobby Bowden.
- Quote: "Hate Steve Spurrier. Actually hate Jimbo Fisher, way more than I hate Bobby Bowden." (04:38)
- Dan: "You don't care enough about Florida State... You're very much like Don Draper in the elevator, aren't you? 'I don't think about you.'" (06:10)
3. NFL Week 5: Top Five Games to Watch
5. Chargers vs. Commanders (Commies)
- Matchup stats: LAC (-2.5), total 47.5 (09:13)
- Mike favors Commanders for their traveling fan base, questions Chargers’ home advantage.
- Dan: Picks Chargers, 30-21: "The Chargers get this one because they are for real this season."
4. Seahawks vs. Buccaneers
- Uniqueness: Noted as a top aesthetic matchup — further explored in Drip Drill. (10:19)
- Mike: Picks Seahawks, expects Bucs to "come back down to the meme."
- Dan: Seahawks 27-25: "It's an MVP showdown if you're into that sort of thing."
3. Ravens vs. Texans
- Discusses Cooper Rush starting for Baltimore; disdain for Texans’ offense.
- Quote: "It should be a punishment. Federal judges should be able to hand down: you get to watch the one o' clock window Houston Texans." (12:07)
- Dan: "They really do a bad job with the offensive line, I guess would be the takeaway." (13:28)
2. Chiefs vs. Jaguars (Monday Night)
- Mike: "This is going to be a great game... I haven't liked the hook this much since Kylie Minogue's... But I'm going to go with the Chiefs to win straight up and the Jags to cover." (15:59)
1. Eagles vs. Broncos
- Dan’s upset pick: "The Philadelphia Eagles are going to lose this game 28 to 26." (17:20)
- Discussion: Philly’s strength, Denver’s defense, focus on CBs Pat Surtain and Riley Moss.
4. Drip Drill: The Aesthetics of NFL Uniforms
(19:28–30:27)
Seahawks vs. Bucs: An All-Time Uniform Matchup
- Dan: "It’s 1976 all over again... The reason we came to hate the cream sicko uniforms was the satin finish pants." (19:41)
- Mike: "This is the best uniform matchup the league might have to offer, especially this season. The white on the [Bucs] uniform makes all the other colors pop. I may not red zone it. I may just free base this game. Aesthetically sound." (20:30)
Ranking NFC East Uniforms
- Mike’s take: "The Dallas Cowboys uniform is atrocious. It makes zero sense... The finish on the pant doesn't match the finish on the helmet. The blue on the socks and numbers, where's that blue on the helmet?" (22:07)
- Both agree the Giants’ gray pants and classic “ny” logo trump the rest.
- Discussion about Washington’s name change and missed branding opportunities, e.g., "They should have been the Washington Pigskins." (25:17)
- Eagles' Kelly Green retro uniforms: is "the most overrated retro uniform in the league" according to Fuentes, but Mike and Dan push back.
5. Pick Six: Touchdown Picks and Betting Deep Dive
(30:27–34:31)
- Dan’s six-anytime touchdown parlay:
- Jameer Gibbs (Lions)
- David Montgomery (Lions)
- Jalen Hurts (Eagles)
- Cam Scadaboo (unknown team, likely a playful reference)
- Daniel Jones (Giants)
- George Pickens (Steelers)
- Mike Fuentes challenges doubling up on Lions RBs, offers a flyer: "Lad McConkey has not scored this season. I'd put him in here." (33:21)
- Playful disagreement: "That's like going up there asking to hit 21 in seven hands. It's bound to happen this time." (33:29)
6. NFL's Greatest People: Jourdan Rodrigue Interview (34:31–50:07)
Behind the Scenes: Who’s the Best Human in the NFL?
- Jourdan Rodrigue: "The only thing I ever wanted to do... I'm happy to be writing and talking about a game that I love and genuinely fascinated by for a living. I think it rocks, frankly." (35:15)
- Points out Matthew Stafford’s "dry, sarcastic sense of humor." (36:19)
- Chris Manhertz is cited as "one of the nicest people I’ve ever gotten to cover. He would always check in on my mental health." (37:32)
NFL Trade Chatter & Quarterback Carousel
- Kirk Cousins/Atlanta: Falcons are "setting the bar high already in terms of asking price... they know a team will meet that price if desperate."
- Bengals situation, Flacco (stays with Browns), possible Jameis Winston or Russell Wilson moves, Rams would roll with Jimmy G if Stafford falters. (40:25–43:35)
- Jourdan: "When you bring in Russell Wilson, you bring in the entire Russell Wilson experience... The elephant in the room with great hair is Joe Burrow, right, and like he is. He's there until he's not there anymore." (42:24)
Shador Sanders & NFL Criticism
- Discusses perception of Shador Sanders’ emotional responses, media narratives, and implications for his future as a pro. (43:35–45:14)
- Jourdan: "The Browns... want the noise around Chadhur Sanders to be the thing that floods the zone... because, oh my God, look over here. Nobody's talking about the person still on the roster who has eaten up the majority of our organization and been a black hole for the franchise..."
A.J. Brown Frustration on an Undefeated Team
- Explores the classic ‘diva receiver’ narrative and the deeper business realities:
- Jourdan: "If you are going to go out and get a true number one caliber receiver, you're going to accept the fact that they will always want the ball... In January, when they're going to need him to catch a go against a top defender, he's going to make the catch..." (48:11)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Dan on Dan Marino: "I used to see that big boot in Niketown, you know, no bend on that ankle whatsoever. It’s Dan Marino." (01:23)
- Mike on Miami-FSU: "Bobby Bowden would always take ownership of it. So I really like Bobby Bowden. He's a legend. And I kind of respect fsu... We can all agree we hate Florida." (04:38)
- Drip Drill, Mike on Cowboys Uniform: "This Cowboys uniform makes zero sense. Zero." (22:46)
- Jourdan Rodrigue: "It's the only language I ever wanted to learn, and it's the only real passion I think I've ever had... I'm just happy to be here." (35:15)
- Mike on uniform matchups: "I may not red zone it. I may just free base this game. Aesthetically sound. Doesn't even need to be on. This is a beautiful looking game." (20:43)
- Jourdan on NFL locker rooms: "Everybody's got something to teach. Everybody's got something to say about what they do because they love it too." (36:19)
- Jourdan on A.J. Brown/Eagles: "When you have a receiver of that caliber... you sign up for that... because he will make the play when it comes time to make the play." (49:27)
- Dan, sign-off: "It's been a thin slice of heaven." (50:07)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- Greatest #13 debate: 00:16–03:36
- College football rivalries: 03:49–08:28
- NFL Top Five Games: 09:13–17:20
- Drip Drill (Uniforms): 19:28–30:27
- Bucs/Seahawks uniforms: 19:41–21:23
- NFC East uniform ranking: 21:46–30:27
- Pick Six/Betting Segment: 30:27–34:31
- Jourdan Rodrigue Interview: 34:31–50:07
- Locker room culture: 36:19–38:01
- NFL QB carousel/trade talk: 40:25–43:35
- Shador Sanders/Cleveland QB distractions: 43:35–46:54
- A.J. Brown/Eagles dynamic: 47:20–49:27
- Outro: 50:07
Tone & Language
- Banter-laden, irreverent, and knowledgeable.
- Deeply appreciative of football both as a sport and cultural institution.
- Mix of analytic insight and tongue-in-cheek humor ("free base this game...aesthetically sound," "I don't think about you at all. Or if I do, I laugh.")
- Jourdan Rodrigue brings warmth, humility, and a reporter’s empathy for players’ lives off the field.
Conclusion
This episode is a microcosm of The Dan Le Batard Show's appeal: insightful football analysis, regional flavor, nostalgia, skepticism of sports orthodoxy, and moments of human connection. The top five game breakdowns are bracketed by sharp uniform debates and a high-caliber guest segment with Jourdan Rodrigue, whose thoughtful perspective leaves a lasting impression. Whether you’re catching up on the NFL or craving ’football as life’ stories, this episode delivers both, in classic Le Batard style.
For fans and newcomers alike, the episode balances humor and depth—a "thin slice of heaven" for football Americans.