The Dan Patrick Show (Covino & Rich)

Episode: Indiana Jones & the Colts
Date: August 20, 2025
Hosts: Steve Covino and Rich Davis
Featuring: Dan Beyer, Danny G, Iowa Sam, Listeners/Callers

Episode Overview

This episode of Covino & Rich is marked by the signature blend of sports enthusiasm, pop culture jokes, and lighthearted banter. The central theme revolves around the NFL preseason quarterback decisions—specifically, the Colts naming Daniel Jones as their starter (leading to a running “Dr. Jones”/Indiana Jones joke), the broader trend of veteran QBs getting the nod over young, unproven talent, and the mixed fan feelings about these “safe but boring” choices. The hosts also riff on MLB realignment rumors, preseason football viewing habits, Bryce Harper’s home runs, and viral Jamie Lee Curtis content. Throughout, there’s a healthy amount of nostalgia and humor, making the discussion accessible for casual and hardcore fans alike.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. NFL Quarterback Decisions: "Dr. Jones & the Colts"

• Colts Name Daniel Jones Starting QB:
  Main focus is Daniel Jones getting the Colts' starting job over Anthony Richardson, due in part to Richardson’s pinky injury.

  • Rich: "They're making a strong decision, unless his pinky is that injured. But you heard good things about Daniel Jones all offseason." (05:32)
  • Dan: "Is it just exhibit B that the Giants ruin people—Saquon and now Daniel Jones?" (05:58)

• Veteran Presence vs. Rookie Excitement:
  Discusses why teams keep opting for experienced QBs (Flacco, Russell Wilson) over the perceived higher-upside youngsters (Richardson, Sanders, Dart).

  • Dan: "There’s a sense of teams that look like they’re going to go with someone but deep down inside—you’re delaying the inevitable." (09:36)
  • Rich: "How unready are the Anthony Richardsons ... if these guys are getting the nod?" (10:09)

• "Counterproductive Quarterbacks": Names Flacco, Jones, and Wilson as the “three-headed monster of boring, counterproductive quarterbacks.”

  • Dan: "They might be safe and the best decision, but it’s a boring decision." (08:07)

• Analogy to Relationships/Jobs:
  Repeatedly compares NFL personnel decisions to dating life: sticking with “the old lady” for safety, delaying inevitable breakups, etc.

  • Rich: "It's like your buddy who's on the fence with his, like, his old lady ... and there’s a younger woman who seems so perfect for him ... but he feels safer going with the old lady. Ah, boring, dude!" (21:16)
  • Dan: “They chose that haircut, they chose that shirt … so if they chose a 40-year-old guy to start … think of who they didn’t choose and how bad they must be.” (48:11)

2. Fan Reactions: Excitement vs. Pragmatism

• Is it wrong to want the "exciting" unknown? Frustration that teams aren’t giving the new faces a shot, despite understanding veteran reliability.

  • Rich: “You want your team to make a Harbaugh decision. It’s excitement … not promoting a coordinator within.” (11:06)
  • Dan Beyer (on coaching & QBs): “If you start out 0 and 4 because a rookie’s making mistakes, you’ll likely lose it if you can win a couple of games and then transition.” (15:15)

• Can a decision be both "boring and right"? The hosts challenge each other about whether fans must pick a side—uneventful or rational.

  • Rich: “We always make people make a decision like, hey, is this uneventful or do you applaud the decision? ... It could be both.” (11:33)
  • Rich: “All the props … but it is kind of a boring answer.” (47:35)

3. Quarterback Depth, Readiness, and Leadership

• Trust and Ratings:
  Argues that, despite on-field sense, ratings and excitement are also a factor in who gets to start.

  • Rich: “Remember, ratings are part of the game. This is entertainment.” (12:35)

• Placeholders and the “Inevitable”:
  Veteran QBs seen as stopgaps; the young guys will eventually get their chance.

  • Dan: “You’re delaying the inevitable … Brian Dable and that whole front office loves Jackson Dart. How long of a placeholder Russell Wilson is? … up to how the Giants play.” (09:36)

4. Wider Sports Analogies & Trivia

• Comparisons Beyond Football:

  • NBA “sixth man” phenomenon—sometimes your best player isn’t in the starting lineup due to role, not ability. (14:43)
  • MLB middle relievers promoted to starters—skepticism about their suitability.
  • Wrestling: breaking up tag teams, not always producing a star (Bret Hart, British Bulldog).
  • Flacco’s peripatetic journey (Ravens, Jets, Broncos, Browns) and what it says about QB scarcity.

• Memorable Quotes:

  • Dan Beyer: “40-year-old Joe Flacco with the Browns six years later, to me, is really interesting.” (17:59)
  • Rich: “If they chose a 40-year-old guy to start … think of who they didn’t choose, and how bad they must be.” (48:34)

5. Baseball Realignment & Expansion Rumors (33:22 – 38:29)

• MLB considering realignment and expansion:
  Discussion about Stephen Nesbitt's proposal: 32 teams, new divisions (East/North/South/West). Strong emphasis on maintaining traditional rivalries but moving toward innovation.

  • Rich: “That would be like saying, no AFC and NFC, let’s just sort of throw them in a pile. You can’t do that.” (37:48)
  • Dan: “Innovate or die. And that’s what baseball is trying to do.” (38:12)

• Expansion Cities:
  Debates Nashville, Charlotte, Sacramento, Montreal as possible additions and the challenge of preserving tradition.

6. Preseason Football Watching Habits

• Does anyone really watch preseason football?
  The hosts admit they don’t watch live quarters of preseason, finding it mostly meaningless, but acknowledge the stories of players fighting for jobs.
  • Dan: “I gotta be honest … I haven’t watched a live quarter of preseason football because I find it so insignificant, meaningless.” (50:30)
  • Rich: “Is it wrong to not care about preseason, like, is it even watchable, really?” (51:26)
  • Caller/Danny G: “Each team … have youngsters who have a good story … it’s cool to see youngsters like that trying to make their way.” (50:54)

7. Pop Culture—in Sports Context

• Bryce Harper Home Run Record & Jamie Lee Curtis Viral Video (45:39–47:23)
  • Rich: “Who has two bigger bombs yesterday—Bryce Harper or Jamie Lee Curtis?”
  • Nostalgic, offbeat humor woven into even the box scores.

Notable Quotes & Time Stamps

• "You're delaying the inevitable. That's what I've been trying. Because the inevitable is that Brian Dable and that whole front office loves Jackson Dart."
  — Dan (09:36)

• "Props to the older guys. I'm always rooting for the older guys. ... It's uneventful but I applaud the teams for sticking with their vets."
  — Rich (11:33)

• "You want your team to make a Harbaugh decision. You want them to make a, ooh, let's go after Sean Payton. ... Instead of ... some old guy who's going to talk boring old-school sports all day."
  — Rich (11:06)

• "40 year old Joe Flacco with the Browns six years later, to me, is really interesting."
  — Dan Beyer (17:59)

• "If they chose a 40 year old guy to start … think of who they didn't choose, and how bad they must be."
  — Rich (48:34)

• "Is it wrong to not care about preseason, like, is it even watchable, really?"
  — Rich (51:26)

• Bonus Analogy:
  "It's like your buddy who's on the fence with his, like, his old lady ... but he feels safer going with the old lady. Ah, boring dude!" — Rich (21:16)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 05:02 – 12:35: Daniel Jones and the trend of veteran QBs getting starting jobs, including deeper discussion on fan expectations, “boring” vs. “right,” and sports relationships
• 13:26 – 18:13: Dan Beyer joins; parallels to other sports, Flacco’s career hops, impact on fans
• 21:05 – 23:16: Further analogies to relationships and career decisions in sports, and how “comfort” drives front office choices
• 33:22 – 38:29: MLB proposed realignment, expansion city speculation, and maintaining traditions vs. innovation
• 45:39 – 47:23: Bryce Harper’s record-setting game and Jamie Lee Curtis viral appearance, pop culture crossover
• 48:04 – 52:49: Reflections on the implications of “safe” QB choices, and the fading interest in preseason football
• 50:30 – 51:39: Debate—Is it okay to skip watching preseason football?
• 50:54+: Listener/producer commentary on preseason standouts; the limits of preseason excitement

Memorable Moments and Tone

• Witty banter: From "Dr. Jones" Indiana Jones jokes to Jamie Lee Curtis' "bombs," the hosts keep things energetic and irreverent.
• Relatable analogies: Comparisons of NFL decision-making to everyone’s everyday relationship choices.
• Balanced perspective: While ribbing teams for making “boring” choices, Covino & Rich remain empathetic toward player realities (“Props to the older guys”) and practical team strategies.

Conclusion

This episode is a quintessential Covino & Rich affair: lively, opinionated, full of smart analogies, and ultimately a love letter to the emotional rollercoaster of sports fandom. If you want a sense of why veteran QBs sometimes get the nod, how that feels to fans who long for the next new thing, and the broader implications for both football and baseball, this is a must-listen—or, thanks to this summary, a must-read.

For listeners in a rush:

• Daniel Jones gets the Colts job.
• Fans and hosts debate whether veteran QBs offer wisdom or just "boring" safety nets.
• The NFL is like dating: sometimes you stick with old flames, sometimes you dream about the new.
• Baseball is on the verge of big changes but should be careful not to kill tradition.
• Preseason? Fun for the die-hards but skippable for most.
• Pop culture references abound—come for sports, stay for the laughs.