Best of the Week on The Dan Patrick Show

Summary

The Dan Patrick Show – “Best of the Week” (May 16, 2026)

Podcast Summary

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Main Theme

This week’s episode is a fast-paced, wide-ranging journey through current sports headlines, playoff drama, and behind-the-scenes nostalgia. Dan Patrick and his team break down NBA playoff controversies (especially Victor Wembanyama’s flagrant foul ejection), armchair quarterback the NFL schedule release, debate fan loyalty, and reminisce with Rich Eisen about the heyday of ESPN’s SportsCenter. Throughout, the show delivers a blend of analysis, opinion, humor, and storytelling true to Dan Patrick’s signature style.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Victor Wembanyama’s Flagrant 2 Foul and Playoff Ejection

• Incident Recap: Victor Wembanyama was ejected in the second quarter after a Flagrant 2 foul (unnecessary and excessive contact).
• NBA Rulebook: Dan clarifies the distinctions between Flagrant 1 and 2, emphasizing Flagrant 2 is grounds for automatic ejection and possible suspension.
• Analysis:
  • Dan considers whether “star treatment” will protect Wembanyama from suspension: “Because we like Wemby, we want to see Wemby, we don’t think the NBA will suspend him.” (03:08)
  • He contrasts today’s NBA with the “Post-Traumatic Stern Disorder” era under David Stern, suggesting Adam Silver might be more lenient.
  • Observes that teams are being physical with Wemby to neutralize his dominance.
• Team Response:
  • Spurs assistant coach Mitch Johnson supports Wembanyama’s need to “protect himself,” though not to the degree of retaliation.
    • “If the people controlling the game…don’t do that, then at some point he’s going to have to protect himself.” (06:10)
• Dan’s Take: Advocates for other players to do the enforcing, as seen with hockey enforcers or baseball policing.
  • “You can't be thrown out of a game because you want to let everybody know you’re not going to take this.” (05:38)
• Panel Consensus:
  • Generally agree Wembanyama’s ejection was warranted, but debate persists around a possible additional suspension.
  • “Just because they did something doesn’t mean you get to do something. And he did load up the elbow. He had intent. I gotta throw him.” (15:22 – Dan Patrick)

Notable Moment:

• “I hated to see Wemby getting tossed from that game, but I wouldn’t rule out now. He’ll probably be fined then, therefore they’ll keep him from being suspended.” (07:56 – Dan Patrick)

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2. Knicks vs. 76ers Playoff Series & Philadelphia Fan Dynamics

• Knicks Performance:
  • Set or tied the record for most first-half three-pointers (18) in a playoff game, and advanced past the Sixers.
• Sixers’ Future:
  • Uncertainty looms around Joel Embiid’s durability and value: “So let me get this straight. Expensive and injury-prone. Okay, we’ll take him.” (10:32 – Dan Patrick)
  • Debates about whether the season was ‘successful’ for Philly, considering high expectations but persistent health issues.
  • Marvin: “A second round sweep by the Knicks and not a successful season.” (12:18)
• Fan Behavior:
  • Discussion about Philadelphia fans selling their playoff tickets to Knicks fans, leading to a “takeover” of the arena.
  • Dan defends fans making business decisions: “Hey, I got a $200 ticket. You want to give me two grand? Sure.” (13:25)

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3. NFL Schedule Release & Upcoming Season Storylines

• Primetime Game Count:
  • Rams (7), Packers/Chiefs/Bills/Seahawks (6), Cowboys/Eagles/Bears/Patriots/Niners (5), others less.
  • “That’s a national judgment of your franchise... The Jets, that's a monster market. They have to find a way to be so bad they can't get a national tv.” (27:08 – Paul)
• Strength of Schedule:
  • Easiest: Browns, Saints, Bengals; Toughest: Bears, Dolphins, Cardinals, Packers, Chiefs.
• Season Opener:
  • Seahawks vs. Patriots – a rematch of the previous Super Bowl but with more drama than excitement.
• Betting Angles:
  • Discussion of early point spreads for games (23:30–24:32).
  • Insight into fan and betting speculation around QBs potentially missing games and how that swings early lines.
• Quarterback Drama:
  • Raiders and Jets’ lack of primetime games linked to uncertainty at the QB position.

Notable Quote:

• “If the Dolphins, you’re okay with a tough schedule. I don’t think you want to win too many games this upcoming season. And the Cardinals as well. Kind of want to be on the clock.” (28:53 – Dan Patrick)

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4. The Mike Vrabel Distraction Story

• Media Coverage & Team Handling:
  • Mike Vrabel and off-field headlines—how much will it distract the team?
  • Dan mulls the best way for media/NBC to address Vrabel's situation during game coverage—ask the question, move on, show they tried.
  • Panel considers the best and worst ways for Vrabel to field distraction questions.
    • “Don’t plead the Fifth. That never goes well.” (37:28 – Dan Patrick)

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5. SportsCenter Nostalgia: Interview with Rich Eisen

• Upcoming Podcast:
  • Rich Eisen previews his “This Was SportsCenter” series, with Dan Patrick as the lead guest. (42:11–59:00)
  • Focus on ESPN behind-the-scenes, anchor rivalries, and memories from the heyday of SportsCenter.
• ESPN Era Reflections:
  • Dan: “When Ko left and your seat was open, it was on. I mean, it was way on for everybody wanted that seat next to you in the worst way. At least I know I did.” (46:12 – Rich Eisen)
  • Candid stories about management, show politics, nostalgia for “when fans couldn’t get enough of it” (48:08–48:49).
• NFL Network/Schedule Release:
  • Eisen details how the NFL schedule reveal became a TV event: “What if we're celebrating paperwork?” (50:58)
• Too Much Football?
  • Dan and Eisen debate NFL’s ever-expanding schedule: “Is there such a thing as too much football?” “I don't think so. Do you?” (51:43–51:50)
  • Concern shown for watering down Sunday football.

Notable Exchange:

• Dan: “I helped build this place.” (56:26)
• Security: “I still need an ID.”

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6. Personal & Lighter Moments

• Dan’s 70th Birthday:
  • Panel teases Dan about his age and the show’s food spread, with jokes about not looking a day over 63. (21:39–22:04)
  • "If you did what a lot of people do...with the whole hair dye thing, you'd probably…be like, too late.” (22:27 – Todd)
• Food/Meet Friday:
  • “Meat cake” as part of birthday celebration (“Chicken leg lollipops, party ribs, a meat cake…What has it better than we do?”)(21:25)

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Important Timestamps

• Wembanyama Flagrant 2/Ejection Discussion: 01:37–09:40
• Knicks/Sixers Recap & Fan Dynamics: 09:40–15:04
• Poll: Wembanyama Suspension: 15:04–16:03
• NBA Draft Lottery/Tanking: 16:03–17:00
• NFL Schedule Release & Primetime Games: 22:36–28:58
• Mike Vrabel/Media Handling: 31:30–37:42
• Rich Eisen SportsCenter & NFL Reflections: 42:10–59:00
• Dan’s Birthday Segment: 21:25–22:36

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Most Memorable Quotes

• Dan Patrick on Wemby Fallout:
  “You can't be thrown out of a game because you want to let everybody know you're not going to take this.” (05:38)
• Mitch Johnson (Spurs Asst. Coach):
  “If the people...controlling the game...don’t do that, then at some point he’s going to have to protect himself.” (06:10)
• On Joel Embiid and Team Value:
  “So let me get this straight. Expensive and injury-prone. Okay, we’ll take him.” (10:32 – Dan Patrick)
• On Fan Ticket Sales:
  “Why is it teams can have business moves, but a fan can’t have a business move?” (13:25 – Dan Patrick)

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Tone & Style

The show retains a lively, funny, and conversational vibe. Dan mixes astute sports knowledge with humor and lighthearted skepticism, and his interactions with the regular crew (Paul, Todd, Marvin, Dylan) reveal camaraderie and banter. Rich Eisen’s segment adds a touch of sentimentality and nostalgia, while constant asides and quick polls keep things interactive. Even serious topics (player safety, team drama) are treated with a blend of seriousness and wit.

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In Summary

This “Best of the Week” episode is a classic Dan Patrick Show blend: insightful roundtable sports talk, NBA/NFL analysis, old-school media nostalgia, and birthday cake—with laughter, debates, and the kind of honest conversation only found on radio’s best sports playground.

Transcript

[Dan Patrick]

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[Mitch Johnson]

It's getting to a point that it's. If the people that are in charge of controlling the game and protecting the physicality of the game don't do that, then at some point he's going to have to protect himself. We've been asking him to do that now for a while. I'm glad he took matters into his old hands again. Not in terms of hitting Nasrid by all of them. Be very clear about that. I'm glad Nazrid was okay and I didn't want him to elbow him. But he's going to have to protect himself if they're not. And I think it's disgusting.

[Dan Patrick]

That's a playoff voice there with the coach of the Spurs. You can't do it. You can't. Now, I know he wants to side with Wemby, wants to, you know, let him know that he has his back as a coach, you gotta make sure that you keep your cool with this. You don't like it happening. You just don't want to lose him. Because Minnesota benefits greatly because of that. This is why when Wayne Gretzky was doing, you know, what Wayne Gretzky did, Edmonton, all the other teams he played for always had an enforcer. If you're going to bang up Gretzky, Dave simenko is. Marty McSorley is going to come in and pound your face. Now, you can't do that in basketball. But I would bring in Kelly Olenek and say, kelly, why don't you rough up Anthony Edwards accidentally? I can't lose Wemby. And I do want to have his back. And I know it's frustrating. And there was a play in a previous game where he got pushed from behind. It's going to happen. Michael Jordan didn't get up and fight. People. When the Pistons game plan was to knock Mike to the ground, the best player in the game, they roughed him up. But Mike didn't get up and say, I'm gonna fight Bill Lame Beer now. He probably wanted to, but that's where you have players who will do that for you. Great players. That's when you know a great player. Somebody throws at your head. You know you've hit two home runs. I'm gonna throw inside, I'm gonna hit you. I don't like it, but this is what happens. And then that's when your pitcher does that to their star player. You police each other. And I hated to see Wemby getting tossed from that game, but I wouldn't rule out now. He'll probably be fined then, therefore they'll keep him from being suspended. One more game and it's a second quarter violation. And I think if that was in the fourth quarter now, we'd have a real, real discussion here. But you're the spurs, you're favored. Don't screw this up. You're better than Minnesota. Yes. Marvin.

[Marvin]

The refs looked at that replay a little bit longer than they normally would have. If it was a regular season game. That would have been a quick flagrant too.

[Rich Eisen]

They.

[Marvin]

They did not want to eject him from the game yesterday.

[Dan Patrick]

No. And you don't want to, but you have to in that situation. It was so excessive. You have to do it. You want to see stars be stars. But I can't have you out there after one of their players sold stars because you hit him in the jaw. You see what I did with that?

[Todd]

That was nice.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah. Thank you. He got hit. Stars.

[Todd]

Stars.

[Dan Patrick]

Thank you. Yes. Paul.

[Paul]

I've watched it about a dozen times, and as Wemby is getting bounced around and the ball is in play, one of the players that Timberwolves kind of reaches around and hits him in the eye. Not too hard, but he hit him. And he clearly gets in his head and he loads up and swings. And that's the thing. He could have easily not done it. When you see it, it's hard not to call. Very hard not to call.

[Dan Patrick]

Give credit to Anthony Edwards, 16 of his 36 in the fourth quarter, but Minnesota was down eight points. They come back to win that game. Then you have the knicks with the 76ers, New York making 18 first half three pointers. That, that ties the record for most first half three pointers in an NBA game, regular season or playoffs. Last time it happened, the Cavaliers in 2016. The Knicks are doing everything right now. You got rest for OG Anunoby if you're going to need that. Brunson playing at a high level, if anything, you don't want to have too much rest here. But you were too good against Philadelphia, and the story will be about Philadelphia because we tend to put a period at the end of their paragraph this season. And now you look ahead to what do you have here? You got Joe lnb. Normally that's where you go, okay, great. We got him locked up for three more years at $180 million, give or take. I like the backcourt, but I don't know, like, it's weird to say it, but they're two different teams. When Embiid is on the floor and when he's not. And Embiid put up good numbers. It's just, I can't count on him. I can't build around him. Am I going to trade him? We always do this where we go, oh, you know, that team will just trade him. Well, then you have to always look at the other side and go, why would you trade for him? If he's not playing for them, he's probably not playing for you. So let me get this straight. Expensive and injury prone. Okay, we'll take him and you know, use correctly. Maybe, you know, maybe you can get him for pennies on the dollar. Maybe it's a like a Golden State with Steve Kerr coming back two more years. But maybe you could get where you don't rely on him and get that contribution. But if you're Philly moving forward, they had a good year, surprising year like Paul George. I can't count on him to be better next year. I can't count on Embiid to be better. Maxi and Edgam, I can count on them. Kelly U Played pretty well. Yeah. Paul.

[Paul]

You got two more years of Paul George at $110 million guaranteed.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah, I know. Yeah. Yes.

[Marvin]

Marvin, you seem so stressed out about the 76ers, but do you think this was a successful season? Because if I tell the naked eye, you just look at that team with the naked eye. Like, hey, I have Paul George, I have Tyrese Maxey, I have Joel Embiid. A second round sweep by the Knicks and not a successful season.

[Dan Patrick]

I don't think people thought that the Sixers would be this good at the end of the Season or at least even get here, because we didn't know about Paul George and we didn't know about Embiid. So I. I don't know. I think their odds at the beginning of the year were 12 to 1 to win it all. And so maybe there were heightened expectations, more than I remember. Yeah, smart.

[Marvin]

It should be. You see how much they're getting paid.

[Dan Patrick]

Well, I know, but that doesn't. There's a lot of guys who get paid who aren't good. They're not healthy. Just be. It's not about your paycheck. It's. Joel Embiid and Paul George should be good when they're healthy. You know, when that. When you start your sentence with, you know, the Sixers when they're healthy. Okay, stop, stop. I don't want to hear it. Yes, Dylan.

[Dylan]

I don't think anyone even had them beating the Celtics, including the city of Philadelphia.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah, well, that was another thing with the tickets. You know, Philly fans are going to get slammed because they probably sold their tickets yesterday. If I'm a Philly fan, I sell my tickets like game four. The reason why they were selling their tickets is they didn't think they were going to win this series. I mean, it's just a business move. Why is it teams can have business moves, but a fan can't have a business move? Hey, I got a $200 ticket. You want to give me two grand? Sure. I'll go to a pub and watch. Yes, Marvin.

[Marvin]

And if you're a Knicks fan, it's cheaper to take the train, park, go to the game in Philadelphia, get a hotel room, rather than it is just taking a subway and going to the Garden. Those prices are out of control at Madison Square Garden. So why not take a quick train ride or a quick ride to Philadelphia?

[Dan Patrick]

Here is Josh Hart the next guard on taking over Philadelphia.

[Rich Eisen]

Were you even a little surprised at how. How many McFans were here today?

[Mitch Johnson]

Nah, nah, because everybody was begging for

[Dan Patrick]

that, for Phill to not sell the

[Mitch Johnson]

tickets and all that stuff. So, man.

[Todd]

Yeah, it's.

[Dan Patrick]

I used to think Philly was a sports town.

[Dylan]

I don't know if it is anymore, man.

[Dan Patrick]

And Josh Hart went to Villanova. Little shot there. City of Philadelphia, Flyers get swept. Phillies fire their manager. 76ers. You got the Eagles, though. He always got the Eagles. Okay, all right, Dylan, which poll question first hour of the program.

[Dylan]

All right, Dan, we got a couple wembanyama should be suspended for game five or. All good, he got his punishment. Do you have a Problem with him being injected yesterday?

[Dan Patrick]

No, no. He needed to be ejected.

[Dylan]

That's cut and dry.

[Dan Patrick]

Yes. Look, just because they did something doesn't mean you get to do something. And he did load up the elbow. He had intent. I got to throw him. I think now it's. Are you going to find him and. Or suspend him? I think he paid the punishment. Being suspended for most of a playoff game, and I wouldn't suspend him. Another. But they might find him. Yes, Todd.

[Todd]

I was less surprised he got ejected, more surprised that he had to be explained what that means. A flagrant foul, too, that he didn't know that that means he's done for. I found that to be very wild.

[Dan Patrick]

What else do you have, Dill?

[Dylan]

We could talk a little draft lottery.

[Dan Patrick]

Oh, I'm going to wait.

[Dylan]

Wait.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah. I'm going to wait and talk about that because tanking one, those who tank won paid off in probably the last year that you're going to be able to truly tank. Utah was blatant. Blatant. The Wizards finally won. Something felt bad for AJ DeBonsa because he didn't look like he won the lottery yesterday. It's like, hey, you're not going to go to Utah where you played your college ball with byu. You're. You're going to be a Wizard, huh? Yep. You're going to play with the Wiz. That's where you start going. Who do they got on their team? You know who. Where am I going? Washington. Okay, who did I get? Anthony. He didn't play. Trey Young. Oh, okay. Who else do they have?

[Rich Eisen]

Don't.

[Dan Patrick]

Do they have the guy who got punched by Draymond Green? Do they have him? Be sure to catch the live edition of the Dan Patrick show, weekdays at 9:00am Eastern, 6:00am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio in the iHeartRadio app.

[Jason McIntyre]

Hey, this is Jason McIntyre. Join me every weekday morning on my podcast, Straight fire with Jason McIntyre. This isn't your typical sports pod, pushing the same tired narratives down your throat every day. Straight Fire gives you honest opinions on all the biggest sports headlines, accurate stats to help you win big at the sportsbook, and all the best guess, do yourself a favor and listen to Straight fire with Jason McIntyre on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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[Dan Patrick]

It feels good when the story ends with savings. It feels good to Geico say you've

[Marvin]

always wanted to see your favorite team from the best seats in the house. Here's the thing. If you invest well, you could do things like that. With Empower, you can get your money to work for you so you can go out and live a little. Isn't that why we work so hard to splurge at certain moments? Jet setting off to see your favorite team play at one of the most iconic stadiums or getting your favorite players super rare autographed one of one sports card. Use Empower to help you get good at money so you can be a little bad. Join their 19 million customers [e-mail] not an Empower client, paid or sponsored.

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[Paul]

Yes, Paul, you get the theme here, right?

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah. It's a birthday cake.

[Paul]

It's a birthday cake.

[Dan Patrick]

Thank you, Paul.

[Paul]

Happy birthday, buddy.

[Dan Patrick]

Happy birthday.

[Paul]

Thank you.

[Dan Patrick]

Thank you, Todd. Yes. Big seven. Oh, today. And that's when you say, boy, you don't look it. Thank you. Although nobody said that today. When I walked in, Paulie goes, this is a big one, huh? I go, yeah. He goes, all right. Happy birthday. And I was waiting for something a little more like, man, you don't act like. I don't act like I'm 70. I might look like I'm 70. Walk like I'm 70.

[Paul]

Yes, Paul, I did say, I think you're in better shape now than you were 10 years ago.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah.

[Paul]

I meant it.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah.

[Paul]

There were some issues you had 10 years ago, and now you're. You're flying around.

[Dan Patrick]

Actually, 15 years ago. Yeah. Is when this first hit me. And autoimmune doesn't leave. You know, I keep asking, will you please leave? And he's always there, always going to be there. Yes, Todd.

[Todd]

And you're so much more fun to be around. And, like, you don't look a day past 63 to me. And if you did what a lot of people do in this business with the whole hair dye thing, you'd probably

[Dan Patrick]

be like, too late. Too late.

[Todd]

I tried.

[Dan Patrick]

You did the announcement. The Patriots will be at the Seahawks. I don't know if anybody is asking for a Super bowl rematch. I certainly wasn't. But you always gift the defending super bowl champs the home opener starting the season. I probably would have looked at a maybe a little better match up there. But you're going to get eyes on this game anyway because it's the first game of the regular season. Now you throw in the Mike Vrabel element here, that might be more interesting than The super bowl rematch here because I didn't like the Super Bowl. Therefore, I'm not that interested in a Super bowl rematch here. But give Seattle a chance if they want to raise the banner. They have a big night. They have the day night to themselves. So Seattle will open up the festivities against the Patriots. Yes. Dylan, would you like to guess the

[Dylan]

line on that game? Dan?

[Dan Patrick]

Now, I did not know this. Dylan, who is part of the gambling podcast, says there are betting lines on every single game already the entire season. You can find a betting line?

[Dylan]

Yep. DraftKings has every single game for the entire NFL season. You can go bet it right now.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay, but let's say the. Is it Steelers, Broncos on Black Friday? Yep. Can you get the betting line there for me for that?

[Dylan]

I got it right here.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay.

[Dylan]

It is Broncos minus one and a half at the Stillers.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay. That's wild because I guess we assume Rogers is going to play. I don't know when Patrick Mahomes is going to play. Would you give me the betting lines for the Chiefs first three games? Because if it's not Patrick Mahomes and it's Justin Fields, that's probably a four or five point spread there. Change? Yes, Dill.

[Dylan]

Well, I can actually give you the first five games then, since I have them right here.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay.

[Dylan]

Shockingly, the Chiefs are favored in every single one of those games. So they're minus two and a half against the Broncos week one, then minus five and a half against the Colts, minus seven at the Dolphins, minus five and a half at the Raiders, and then minus two and a half back home against the Chargers.

[Dan Patrick]

But is that where you kind of load up on Denver and maybe hope that Mahomes is not playing?

[Dylan]

Yeah, you're sort of. I mean, it's a, you know, like if trading futures, you're basically waiting for things that are undetermined right now to pan out and sort of getting ahead of the game. People will do that and sell their ticket, you know, like on Prop Swap or one of those sites if you just have a good feeling about it.

[Dan Patrick]

The amount of primetime games The Rams have. 7 Packers, Chiefs, Bill, Seahawks 6 Cowboys 5 Eagles, Bears, Patch, Niners 5. 4 Primetime games, Vikings, Giants, Steelers, Ravens, Lions, Texans, Commanders, the Jags, Broncos, Bengals, Falcons, Panthers, Chargers, Bucks get three prime time games, Colts get two. Saints and Browns get one shutout. Jets, Cardinals, Titans, Dolphins, Raiders. Now I was thinking about with the Raiders. If this was Arch Manning with the Raiders, the Raiders would be getting some primetime games because we would be under the impression that Arch Manning would be starting for the Raiders. Week one. Fernando Mendoza, probably not starting. And by the time he does start, the Raiders might not be in a position to be a formidable opponent to somebody later in the season. Let's say Mendoza starts in week 13 and you've got five wins. Now, you still want to see Mendoza, but the reason why they don't have any primetime games is they have Kurt Cousins. They won't have Mendoza starting there, but I think that's interesting. The Dolphins not must see TV Cam Ward. I think if they had gotten Jeremiah Love, I think that they would have gotten a primetime game. The Cardinals have Jeremiah Love and they don't have a primetime game. And then you have the Jets. All right, you can sleep on the jets this year, but next year the jets are going to get at least three prime time games next year. Wow. I'm just. If they continue this path, they had a good draft. Now if they do things right now, they might get a little better than they want to. So they can't get the quarterback that they really want. And then you'd have Geno, you know, for your year two with the Jets. Yes, Paul.

[Paul]

That's a national judgment of your franchise, though. The amount of national TV games you have the jets, that's a monster market. They have to find a way to be so bad they can't get a national tv.

[Dan Patrick]

Easiest schedules, Cleveland Browns, easiest schedule. They'll need it. The Saints. Then it's the Bengals, Falcons, Colts, Lions, Texans, Titans, Ravens, Eagles. That's the top 10. How about toughest schedule, Toughest schedule Paulie. Chicago Bears. Then it's the Dolphins, Arizona, Green Bay, Kansas City, the Patriots, Raiders and the Buffalo Bills. This is the. If you're the Dolphins, you're okay with a tough schedule. I don't think you want to win too many games this upcoming season. And the Cardinals as well. Kind of want to be on the clock. Get your quarterback in both cases here. Unless you believe in, you know, Malik Willis, you know, as a long term solution. Seahawks, Patriots Marks the third time in NFL history there will be a rematch from the previous season. Super bowl in Week 1. Broncos, Panthers Week 1, 2016 and then the Chiefs and the Vikings met Week 1 in 1970 after meeting in the super bowl the previous season. I don't think the Patriots make the playoffs. I don't think the Bears make the playoffs.

[Paul]

A little early for hot.

[Dan Patrick]

I know, I know, I know, I know, I know. I look at the Patriots now, okay, there's drama, but it, it, I don't know how it Reflects on the football team. You have the Mike Brable and I don't know if anything else. I was going to say another shoe drop, you know, Feels like it's a closet full of shoes that have dropped already. The Patriots open the season against Seattle. Then they got the Steelers, Jags and Bills. So that's the most difficult strength of schedule through the first four games since 1986, when the Eagles had a winning percentage with their opponents of over. 700. Alrighty. We got basketball coming up today. Tonight, a pair of game sixes. Looking at the point spreads, the spurs are now favored by five and a half. It was four and a half yesterday. And the Pistons are getting three and a half against the Cavaliers. Fritz, he's here. Dylan's here. Marv Polyures truly backroom guys as well. And you at home or on the road? Poll question for the first hour of the program.

[Dylan]

Yeah, Dan. Well, since we're just talking about the season opener, who would you rather see the Seahawks play in the season opener? Chiefs, Cowboys, Rams or 49ers? These are all teams they'll be playing at home this season.

[Dan Patrick]

Well, they can't do the Rams or 49ers because they're in Australia. Yeah, you don't. I don't want to waste a Cowboys game opening Chiefs. We don't know if Mahomes is going to play. I. It feels like you can put. I mean, you want to have a great game, but I don't know if it matters that much because you're going to watch. It's the first game, standalone game. I mean, I don't want to see Seattle against Arizona, but I would. I mean, I'd be. Jeremiah Love would be interesting to see against that Seattle defense. But I. I don't want to waste games. I think there's a curiosity factor. And once again, it goes back to Mike Brable. Your girlfriends or your wives may not have had any idea who Mike Brable was or cared about Mike Brable, and he was in the super bowl last year. Now, you might get curiosity seekers here maybe, and hopefully it's a good game. Yes.

[Paul]

Paulie, how is that story covered?

[Dan Patrick]

Well, that's what I want to know leading up to that game, and that's on NBC. How does NBC Football Night in America cover that as far as doing a feature? Do you get to sit down with Rabel? You're going to talk to the coach. What do you ask the coach? I think you do something chronologically about super bowl, everything that's happened. Hopefully nothing else happens. If you're a Patriots fan or Mike Brable, but how much, boy, I think you got to be fair and say, how much of a sports story is this? Because that's, that was my approach when we, you know, the story first happened. I really have to look at it as a sports story. I don't know Mike Brable, I know Diana Rossini. And I was trying to be fair to tmz. Everybody else can cover that part of it that I had to look at the sports element here in my, my viewpoint, my angle was, is Rabel, what kind of information was he sharing? Because he's, you know, clearly sharing information with the reporter. How did that affect how that impact players, teams? You know, that was the interesting part. Now we haven't really heard much. People are, you know, combing the Internet, going back and looking at interviews, comments, situations when he was in Tennessee and, you know, are you helping steer somebody, your team away from your team getting a job, going through the media?

[Dylan]

Yes, Dylan, now we've obviously got like a few months before the season starts, which in Internet years is like an eternity. Do you think if nothing else comes out about this, it sort of dies down by the season or is it kind of going to go dormant and then ramp up again when the season starts?

[Dan Patrick]

I think when, when you sit down and you talk to him, when you talk to Vrabel, I mean, you have to ask. And it's the distraction question. How, how much of a distraction. I don't want to say has this been a distraction? Because it's easy for Mike Vaughel to go, it hasn't. How much of a. Just now he can still say it hasn't been. But I want to help him along a little bit and say, how much of a distraction has this been? And you might get one question and they might put a capper on this with the Patriots. They are pretty tough when it comes to. When you go in there and ask questions.

[Dylan]

Yes, Dylan, it might be some interesting road games this season.

[Dan Patrick]

Oh, absolutely. I mean, look at what the Chargers did.

[Dylan]

Yeah.

[Dan Patrick]

Chargers play the Patriots. They came out with their schedule release. They, they went there.

[Dylan]

Albert Breer, I think, said he was like, there will be definitely at least one team that does something.

[Dan Patrick]

Yes. And the Chargers play the Patriots. It'd be great if they open the season against each other with the schedule release. That would have been a lot of fun. Yes.

[Todd]

Todd, if you ask the distraction question and the Patriots allow it and they allow say a second question or a follow up, what exactly would be that follow up? When Mike Vrabel says, I'm like, you know what, it's been a bit of a distraction. I made some poor choices or whatever, he says. But we move on and we're ready to and we're excited to start the season. Then what would be acceptable follow up question to that?

[Dan Patrick]

What was the message you sent to your team when you got them together? Now, once again, when you do these interviews, they're taped like my interviews are 99.9% live and you'll hear a question, you'll hear an answer and normally you might take that out. If I'm doing an interview like I did during the super bowl week where I sat down with Tom Brady before they played the Eagles, well, you might take out a question or an answer just because it wasn't good. And that might be the case that let's say you send Jason Garrett to Foxborough to sit down with Mike Vrabel like coach to coach and you ask that question, you don't get a good answer out of it. Now you might leave it in because you want people to know that you at least asked the question because that happens a lot of times on this show. You're going to ask a question, you may not get a good answer, but you want to at least be on record as trying to get a good answer. Somebody who's forthcoming, going to share something there. But football night in America, I think you got to broach the topic. Maybe, you know, from 10,000ft. Broach the topic. But I mean we've seen super bowl runner up teams that lose that don't make the playoffs the following year. That used to be a big trend. Yes, Dylan.

[Dylan]

I mean if I'm Mike Rabel and I get asked that question, if is it like, has it been a distraction? I'm just gonna be like, no, not really.

[Dan Patrick]

How has it been a distraction is how is what I would say.

[Dylan]

I'd be like, it hasn't. I don't know what you're talking about.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay, then I would say, have you, you know, how did you talk to your address this topic with your team?

[Dylan]

I'm gonna invoke the fifth amendment. I'm not answering any questions.

[Paul]

Yes, Paul, I think if Mike Vrabel took that path, it would make the situation worse. If he was defiant and blew it off, it would actually make it worse for himself.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah, I think you got to get it out of the way. You know, maybe, maybe you have somebody who looks at it as you take. Maybe it's a sympathetic approach that, okay, man, he's gone through a lot. Hey, it's unfortunate for a lot of people involved. But you know what? I hope to be a better man, better husband, better coach. Like you can give. You can dress it up a little bit and come out a little bit better, a little bit better. Maybe not with the wives in the audience. Don't. Don't plead the Fifth. That never goes well.

[Dylan]

They're not going to care what his answer is, though. Anyways, like it's the court of public opinion has made its mind up.

[Dan Patrick]

The Patriot fans don't care.

[Dylan]

No, they didn't care.

[Dan Patrick]

From the jump nationally, they'll care. Yes, Todd.

[Todd]

But he could also say what he's already said. You know what? We've had some. I've had some uncomfortable personal conversations. I'll leave that in the locker room between me and my players and the

[Dan Patrick]

story Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch all of our [e-mail] and within the iHeartRadio app. Search FSR to listen live at the

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[Dan Patrick]

Work.

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[Dan Patrick]

Guys, if your hair isn't playing like it did in your 20s, it's time for a real comeback. Not another workaround because throwing on a hat is not strategy. Nutrafol supports healthier hair from within. It's physician formulated, clinically tested and recommended by dermatologists, giving you a clear, legitimate plan so you can stop covering up and start showing up with confidence. Nutrafol now offers hair growth supplements tailored for men at every age because the root causes of hair thinning change over time and your routine should change as well. Nutrafol for ages 18 to 49 to help improve hair growth and achieve thicker, fuller hair in three to six months and new Nutrafol Men 50 plus the first and only hair growth product specifically formulated for those over 50. Nutrafol, the number one dermatologist recommended hair growth supplement brand trusted by over one and a half million people. Neutrophone.com enter promo code Dan Patrick for $10 off your first month subscription and free shipping N U T R a f o l.com use the promo code dan patrick neutrophil.com promo code dan Patrick let's talk about our friends at Panini America, the official trading card and NFT partner of the Dan Patrick Show. Panini continues to deliver a premier collecting experience. The most coveted cards and stickers across FIFA, wnba, nwsl, NASCAR and so much more with the countries now all set. The official FIFA World Cup 2026 sticker collection available for pre order right now at paniniamerica.net or Amazon.com you'll start seeing it hit the retail shelves across Walmart, Walgreens and more. So jump back into the tradition of ripping these packs and trading to complete your set before the first match. Panini also the exclusive trading card partner of the WNBA and now the nwsl making it the go to destination as women's sports continue their massive movement. As for collectors who want to stay close to the action, Panini Instant deliver real time cards based on the biggest moments just after they happen. Available for a limited time visit panini america.net or download the Panini Direct app and start your collection today. Rich Eisen's Here he is, of course, NFL Game Day morning and the Rich Eisen show on the Mothership. And now you have this was SportsCenter Limited podcast series that you're doing interviews with SportsCenter anchors, including me. That's right. Later today.

[Rich Eisen]

Later today.

[Dan Patrick]

What exactly is the Platform here. What do we. What are we just reminiscing?

[Rich Eisen]

That's it. You and I have done this before.

[Dan Patrick]

Yes, we have. Yes.

[Rich Eisen]

And it's just gonna. It's a fun series that. It's mostly in the can, but you're the missing piece.

[Dan Patrick]

Wait, how many of these interviews have you done?

[Rich Eisen]

I've done five already.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay.

[Rich Eisen]

And you are the. You're the lead guest. You're the one who's.

[Amazon Ad Voice]

We're.

[Rich Eisen]

We're coming out of the shoot on June 5th.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay.

[Rich Eisen]

On Disney plus and the ESPN app and my YouTube channel and wherever you get your podcasts, because you could watch it and listen to it.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay.

[Rich Eisen]

And, you know, I mean, the nostalgia of when we did what we did, you know, or you were doing before I even arrived, you know, with Ko and Berman and, you know, Bob Lee and Robin and Charlie. I mean, I can go down the whole lane here.

[Dan Patrick]

Who are the other anchors that you've.

[Rich Eisen]

I interviewed Chris Berman at the super bowl and Chris Fowler then stopped off in my LA show studio after coming back from the Australian Open.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay.

[Rich Eisen]

So I interviewed him there. Mike Greenberg in New York. And then just this past week, I interviewed Linda Cohn and Kilby Lord.

[Dan Patrick]

Kilby. Oh, kill Craig Kilborn. Yeah. Craig Giller Killer.

[Rich Eisen]

He. He. He told some. He told some. He spun some yards, Dan. Including. I just. But it's just fun. Like, I provide the memories that I have. Obviously, you know, you and I go way back and, you know, and how I first arrived there and. And some fun stories about that. And Craig, he. He and I overlapped by about three months. And I'll never forget, he took me to dinner. Yes. Because we were doing a 2am sports center. He said, spark, do you want to go to dinner? And I'm like, sure. We hopped in his car and he took me through the Kenny Rogers Rolling Roaster drive thru.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Rich Eisen]

In Southington.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah.

[Rich Eisen]

Beautiful downtown Southington, Connecticut.

[Dan Patrick]

That wasn't Plainville, that was Southern.

[Rich Eisen]

It was Southington.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay.

[Rich Eisen]

And I'll never forget him. After we ordered our chicken, he turns to me and he proceeds to tell me that he's got another job offer and should he take it? And I'm like, again, I'm 26. I just showed up from Reading, California. This might have been like my 10th sports center I ever did. I'm like, why is he even asking me this? And he described the Daily show to me, and I'm like, sounds great, man. Like, that's. Go do it if that's what make you happy. Honestly, I didn't know him from Adam. So to recount that story with him now, you know, about 30 years later.

[Marvin]

Not about.

[Rich Eisen]

It is 30 years later. That's what this show's all about, you know.

[Dan Patrick]

Have you reached out to Keith Olbermann?

[Rich Eisen]

I have indeed. And I tried to interview him when I was in New York recently, but schedules just didn't align. But he'll. He's up for doing it. Who else? But that's. This is just for the first season. I'm just doing six just to get this ball rolling. But I told you this, and, and this is, you know, no surprise. I mean, you're. You're the only person I'd want to be the first guest of this series because of what you've meant to me and what you did mean to me back then, what you mean to so many people. And, you know, and I appreciate you doing it.

[Dan Patrick]

The older I get, the better I was, though, Rich. Is that what it is? Yes, I think so. Because, you know, when you're doing it, when we did SportsCenter.

[Rich Eisen]

Yeah.

[Dan Patrick]

You're just trying to survive because it's really, really competitive. And I told people that. I tell people that it was cutthroat.

[Rich Eisen]

Oh, yeah.

[Dan Patrick]

Like, it wasn't. Hey, we're. We're rooting for you. You had people who were circling, you know, the sports center set, waiting for somebody to keel over so they could sit in the chair.

[Rich Eisen]

Well, and this is something that I, I plan on talking with you later. I mean, when, when Ko left and your seat was open, it was on. I mean, it was way on for everybody wanted that seat next to you in the worst way. At least I know I did.

[Dan Patrick]

That was a bad time. It was a bad time for me because I, I didn't want to pick Keith successor. I wanted management to do it right. Because I wanted them to be on the hook for that person to sit in Keith's chair, which that's, you know, almost irreplaceable, you know, trying to get somebody to sit in there. And so I turned it around to management. I said, tell me who you want to watch at night.

[Rich Eisen]

Right.

[Dan Patrick]

And I mean, I had my thoughts, but I was worried, were we going to try to recreate Keith and Dan? And I didn't want to do that because it wasn't fair, whoever sat there. And then I thought, well, Linda Cohn could sit in, and then there won't be any comparison. And then they came back to me. I'm on a. I'm on a scouting trip with My son, I have no contact with anybody. They say they're going to make the decision over the next two days. And all of a sudden I go to a convenience store to get a six pack of beer because I couldn't survive the scouting trip without having beer, even though they frowned upon that. You could lose a merit badge or something like that. And I see my phone, it's got a message and it says, we're going to go with Kenny Maine. And I called my boss and I said, I got your message. Okay. And that was it.

[Rich Eisen]

Well, because we all assumed that you would be giving 2 cents. I did not. And that had to be, you know, how to be tough for you. But I mean, again, this is the sort of stuff that this, this show, this was SportsCenter is all about, like, diving into this behind the scenes, but also reminiscence that.

[Dan Patrick]

And then I went to, sure, no,

[Rich Eisen]

I can enter the airport. Can we just clip and save? But yeah, like, and, and I think fans can't get enough of it. You know, and when you came back and did your show with, with, with Keith, you know, a few years ago, when you did your show with Kilbourne, because we, he and I talked about that. That was the last time he did SportsCenter. Fans can't get enough of it, Dan. They really can't. I mean, I did it twice in the last year and the reaction that I got was overwhelming and obviously humbling and awesome. It's just a different time. And, and, and that's why I'm just diving straight into the nostalgia.

[Dan Patrick]

He's Rich Eisen joining us here in the man cave and the podcast. This was SportsCenter taking off the this is Sports center campaign. June 5th on Disney plus ESPN. The rich Eisen show as well. The schedule release.

[Rich Eisen]

Yes, sir.

[Dan Patrick]

When did it become.

[Rich Eisen]

When we were starting NFL Network and we're like, what are we going to do in between games being played? And you know, and how are we going to follow through on the branding that we put out there? The very first NFL Network super bowl commercial was in 2004, after we launched in 03 in the middle of the Patriots and Panthers Super Bowl. Jake Delome versus Tom Brady. And it was right.

[Dan Patrick]

Was that Janet Jackson, which means.

[Rich Eisen]

And this commercial was amazing because they. We got the rights to Tomorrow from Annie and we had Jerry Jones and Bill Parcells and Warren Sapp and Terrell Owens and all the stars of the day singing Tomorrow. Because the day after the super bowl is when NFL Network, you should still tune in because everybody's oh. And oh, all 32 teams are active, and we're going to be all over it. That was the branding of the commercial, and I'll never forget it. I found a TV in the. In the stadium, in a. In a suite. I snuck in so I could see the commercial. It was very big for me and everybody that worked there. And then it was in the commercial pod right after halftime. Nobody saw it. Not a soul saw the commercial. As a matter of fact, it was the most rewound TiVo moment in the history of that DVR.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah.

[Rich Eisen]

So nobody saw the commercial, but we had to come. We had to follow through on it, though, Dan. We had to start coming up with things that we had to cover. And one of the first things we came up with was, what if we eventize the schedule being released?

[Dan Patrick]

Like, what.

[Rich Eisen]

What if we're celebrating paperwork? You know what I mean? Which is basically what it is.

[Dan Patrick]

Well, same thing with the draft. It's just calling out names.

[Rich Eisen]

That is it. I mean, like, you could do the NFL draft, like your fantasy league and do it in 2. 2 hours and be done with it, but it's a show. And now it's something massive where it's like the super bowl for every team's social media group. And they've been better at it. They're great at it. These are. These are fun videos to watch. And now it's a big thing. And now, you know, the NFL times it with their 10 different partners and all the upfronts, and everybody announces a game here and a game there, and I think it just. It just gives the NFL a big splash in the middle of May right now.

[Dan Patrick]

Is there such a thing as too much football?

[Rich Eisen]

I don't think so. Do you?

[Dan Patrick]

I think we. I think we want. I think we're. We're inching closer to. Are you going to watch all the games?

[Rich Eisen]

Well, I think you're. You're asking a lot of people when, you know, Thanksgiving is one thing. Hey, we're all sitting around. We don't want to talk to each other. Let's watch a game. Or you've spoken to each other enough. Let's watch a game. And there's three of them now. It's a Wednesday and a Friday with the three in the middle. If I'm the NBA, I'm like, you're looking at that Christmas Day triple header.

[Dan Patrick]

Oh, they crushed those.

[Rich Eisen]

And the NFL, you could see the NFL is deciding to just keep on raising the ante on those holiday specials.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah.

[Rich Eisen]

I mean, the Thanksgiving games used to be, you know, two games, and it didn't matter who the Lions or the Cowboys were playing. Now, you know, last year they put the chiefs in Dallas, 57 million viewers for that one. And the NFL is like, all right, let's, let's see if they, you know, this year, last year can hold this year's beer. And they decide to put the Eagles in, in Dallas after the Bears and the Lions, before the Chiefs and the Bills, and that's after the Rams and the packers kick it off on a Wednesday and the Steelers and the Broncos have at it on a Friday. So that's asking a lot of people to watch all five.

[Dan Patrick]

Well, I think we're doing a disservice to Sunday afternoon schedules. Like, I worry about that, where we're kind of kicking games to the curb, you know, like Sunday at 1 and Sunday at 4:30. Sunday night is still going to be special with NBC.

[Rich Eisen]

Okay, so you're lighting a candle for Scott Hansen, is that what you're saying? Right.

[Dan Patrick]

Scott Hansen has one game.

[Rich Eisen]

Red game. It's a red game. It's not even a zone anymore. All right, well, they're on the 23 yard line and it's out for sure.

[Dan Patrick]

What happens to the NFL Network?

[Rich Eisen]

Oh, what do you mean now? Well, the games are now. They're still on NFL Network. There's seven of them, five international, two others.

[Dan Patrick]

Nothing changes, though, with the marriage. No.

[Rich Eisen]

I have been told Sunday, game day morning that I'm hosting is the same. And so is the combine in the draft. We're going to, we're, we're still going to have the combine. We're still have the draft, the rest of it. I mean, we didn't have a scheduled release show for the first time in years. I don't, I don't know if that's an indication other than just, you know,

[Dan Patrick]

but do you want to be introduced as ESPN's Rich Eisenhower or the NFL Network's Rich Eisenhower?

[Rich Eisen]

How about, you know, your, your good friend here on your birthday?

[Dan Patrick]

Oh, I know, but I have to say, okay, you know, Rich Eisenhower, NFL Network's Rich Eisen, who also works for the Mother show.

[Rich Eisen]

The Rich Eisen Show. Rich Eisen. Just so. Because you could say my name twice in the same sentence.

[Dan Patrick]

Oh, okay. Product placement.

[Amazon Ad Voice]

There you go.

[Rich Eisen]

Yeah, it's all about the branding. But no, it doesn't matter to me. But it's pretty wild to me.

[Mitch Johnson]

It's fun.

[Rich Eisen]

I'll tell this story to you. When I went back and I did SportsCenter in Bristol, or did I tell you this when I called you the other day? Whatever. I'll tell it here. Because, you know, 23 years ago, I got handed a cardboard box,

[Dan Patrick]

and I was with your remains, your remain.

[Rich Eisen]

I was escorted? Yes, sir. I was escorted, man. I went in, and then I was escorted. And then Pete McConville and Gus Ramsey. You know, you're.

[Dan Patrick]

Was I there when you got escorted?

[Rich Eisen]

I don't think so.

[Dan Patrick]

23 years ago.

[Rich Eisen]

23 years ago.

[Dan Patrick]

But I was there, and they.

[Rich Eisen]

They helped me clear out my apartment after I got escorted. So I had a cardboard box. And when I went back this time, I wore my show gear. I wore a Rich Eisen show, like, pullover. And I did that on purpose because I'm like, you know what I'm gonna do? I'm gonna wear my show gear. Cause I'm a partner of espn. I'm not just an employee. I'm a partner. Damn straight.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay?

[Rich Eisen]

And I'm a partner. I'm gonna walk through that same door with my show gear that I walked out of with my cardboard box. I was escorted out. And not only could I not find that place when I first got there. Cause it's a totally different spot. I finally found it, and it's now a brick wall.

[Amazon Ad Voice]

So I'm like, okay.

[Rich Eisen]

I'm so glad I spent all that energy on that. But it's just totally changed. It's totally changed. But it's wild that, you know, I have an ESPN ID now, and I am a. An ESPN employee again, working for the spot that I left to go start. It's. You can't make it up.

[Dan Patrick]

You know, it's wild when I went back after 10 years and I was on with Van Pelt, and I. I showed up at the security desk with Paulie.

[Rich Eisen]

Yeah.

[Dan Patrick]

And I didn't want to go back. I still had bad feelings there and some things that happened behind the scenes. But Scott said, hey, look, I'm launching this show. Will you please come on? And I said, yes, I'll do it for you. I get there at the security desk, and the guy goes, ID please. I said, I. I helped build this place. Yeah. And then he goes, I still need an id. So he gave me a. Hello, my name is Dan. So he gave me a name tag, which I wore on the show with Van Pelt. I'm like, all right. And then I remember the producer, Mike McQuaid, goes, hey, can you take that off? I go, no, no, Q. I'm gonna wear this. Yeah, I, I. You know, they Don't. This guy didn't care. Didn't know, didn't matter. Yes.

[Paul]

Paulie and Rich, on the way out, Dan lit up the tires and did a patch in the parking lot.

[Rich Eisen]

Are you serious?

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah. I had my truck. And then I'm like, all right for you. And I burned my. I burned rubber.

[Rich Eisen]

Rubber?

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah.

[Rich Eisen]

It's so funny because when I did the Sports Center a few weeks ago, I showed up early and they had it. They have this terrific team there for special pieces and features involving SportsCenter. And we shot a, you know, this was SportsCenter kind of mock up, old school commercial based on my return. And one of the segments or piece, parts of the piece was I walk up and my card doesn't work. And so the guy we had, this guy in New York, accent was really working behind the security desk, scream, can I see some id? And I held up a picture of me and stuart from like 30 years ago. And the guy goes, really? That's the sort of thing you're talking about. Like, you know, I've been here. You know, like you did with Keith. And all of the colleagues you had in the day created something incredibly special, man, that still, it still resonates today. It's part of your fan base as you sit in that chair. And it's also part of the reason why, you know, Van Pelt says you, I want you to please come and why I'm physically here and appreciate you doing this on your birthday because, you know you deserve it. I know you don't like people talking about you like this. No, but it's the truth, man. But you're the man.

[Dan Patrick]

We'll take a break. It's a meet Friday if you want to join us.

[Rich Eisen]

I have already seen what's going down out there, and I would be offended if you ask me to leave.

[Dan Patrick]

All right, to be honest, you'll be able to see this episode June 5th on Disney Plus ESPN, the Rich Eisen Show, YouTube channel, wherever you get your podcast. Rich Eisen of NFL Network. Espn, espn, NFL Network.

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[Dan Patrick]

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[Paul]

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[Dan Patrick]

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[Dan Patrick]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.