The Dan Patrick Show: Covino & Rich – "LoogieGate" & Extra Sauce September 6, 2025 | iHeartPodcasts & Dan Patrick Podcast Network

Episode Overview

This lively episode with Covino & Rich covers the opening of football season, a dramatic “LoogieGate” controversy involving Jalen Carter and Dak Prescott, reactions to the incident and game analysis, plus lighthearted reflections on NFL rituals and food, fandom, and sports betting. Listeners get both humor and sharp sports commentary, with some classic heated debates about respect and player behavior.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Season Kickoff & Personal Updates

• The hosts open with excitement about the return of football season, joking about “Wild Wing Friday” and the joys of watching the weekend’s games.
• Covino shares a string of personal setbacks – tire issues and a broken AC during a heatwave, with estimates over $16,000, underscoring the “when it rains, it pours” trope.
  • Quote (06:30): Covino: “16 plus. That's not including taxes. And you know they have to break the ceiling open. That's more money just to get this done...And now I'm getting estimates while sweating my ass off every night. 16 GS on top of the tire, on top of my daughter busting my chops because she's a pain in the ass teenager.”

2. "LoogieGate" – The Spitting Incident

• Focus shifts to “LoogieGate,” the highly controversial incident during the Eagles–Cowboys game’s opening moments.
• Initial reaction portrays Jalen Carter as the villain, spitting at Dak Prescott before a snap has even occurred.
• As the story develops, it’s revealed (much later in the broadcast and primarily via social media) that Dak Prescott may have spit in Carter’s direction first, fuelling the controversy.

Host Analysis & Debate

• Covino & Rich dissect intent and perception:

  • Covino argues context changed public perception, as many felt too quick to judge Carter.

  • Rich makes clear that spitting back is different and far more egregious.

  • They agree Carter’s actions were “uncalled for and atrocious,” but also try to understand the emotional escalation.

  • Quote (10:00): Covino: “...the fact that I think it was a retaliation spit does change it a little bit. A little bit.”

  • Quote (11:24): Covino: “What Jalen Carter still did was uncalled for and atrocious and disrespectful. It was gross...but I could see where it was coming from because he thought that Dak was spitting at him.”

  • Quote (14:01): Covino: “I think it's a gross look for the NFL, for Carter, who apparently is a great player and a great guy. I love how Dak Prescott handled it.”

Jalen Carter’s & Dak Prescott’s Voices (16:03 - 17:38)

• The hosts play soundbites from both Dak Prescott and Jalen Carter addressing the incident post-game.
  • Prescott: “I probably spit a thousand times throughout the game...I wasn't gonna spit on my lineman, I just spit ahead.”
  • Carter: “I heard the ref talking, and then I heard him say, this is a tossable offense or something like that. And that's when I knew...I walk off the field calmly. I was not mad...the rough decision is the rough decision.”

Broader Themes

• The hosts reflect on respect and team-first behavior:
  • Carter’s action is deemed “not a team-first move,” and Dan Beyer suggests this could be symptomatic of deeper issues for the Eagles’ season (20:06).
  • Speculation arises whether the Eagles’ cohesion last season was an “anomaly.”

3. Game Analysis & Key Moments

• Quick recap of the Eagles vs. Cowboys game:
  • Eagles ultimately win, with the LoogieGate incident leading to Carter’s ejection.
  • Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb has high yardage but crucial drops.
    • Quote (22:23): Rich: “It was catchable, man. And [Lamb]’s a superstar. And you got to give credit to Dak, too, for putting it there.”
  • Discussion on how critical plays could have shifted the result.
  • Both hosts give Dak Prescott credit, arguing he played well and handled the post-game gracefully even when it would have been easy to lash out.
    • Quote (23:56): Rich: “That for Dak, that was like, dude, I put the ball in the money.”

4. Social Media & Meme Culture

• Rich observes how quickly memes and reactions to sports events flood social feeds.
  • Quote (33:49): Rich: “the minute the Jalen Carter spit happens, there's people rushing to their MacBook and they're making photoshops...It's amazing how people are so motivated to be the first with the meme…”

5. Listener Reactions & Calls (35:37 – 53:09)

• The hosts take spirited phone calls on Dak, Carter, and wider NFL subjects:
  • Debate over whether Carter genuinely misunderstood Dak’s spit as directed at him.
  • Discussion on whether Jalen Hurts is more of a “game manager” vs. a dynamic quarterback (with quotes from Cam Newton).
  • Light moments about being a school mascot and fandom rituals.
  • Parlay picks and upcoming weekend games are previewed for listeners.

6. Extra Sauce: Football Food & Rituals

• The gang jokes about how football season brings overeating (“get fat time”), with wings and pizza feeling justified during games.
  • Quote (45:37): Rich: “It's the time of year where beers go down smoother, wings go down easier. Pizza is easier to order.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (Chronological Timestamps)

• 06:30 Covino on his stacked-up home expenses: “16 plus. That's not including taxes...now I'm getting estimates while sweating my ass off every night. 16 GS on top of the tire, on top of my daughter busting my chops...”
• 10:00 Covino on the impact of new information: “...the fact that I think it was a retaliation spit does change it a little bit.”
• 14:01 Covino on Carter’s actions: “I think it's a gross look for the NFL...I love how Dak Prescott handled it.”
• 16:03 Dak Prescott: “I probably spit a thousand times throughout the game...And something I guess I'm not proud of...I wouldn't spit on somebody. I'm damn sure not trying to spit on you.”
• 17:08 Jalen Carter: “I heard the ref talking, and then I heard him say, this is a tossable offense or something like that. And that's when I knew...I walk off the field calmly. I was not mad.”
• 20:06 Dan Beyer on team impact: “That's why...if the Eagles don't have the season that we think they should be having...I think that this is a point we can look back to...maybe last year really was the one off.”
• 22:23 Rich on Lamb’s dropped pass: “It was catchable, man. And he's a superstar. And you got to give credit to Dak, too, for putting it there.”
• 33:49 Rich: “the minute the Jalen Carter spit happens, there's people rushing to their MacBook and they're making photoshops...It's amazing how people are so motivated to be the first with the meme...”
• 45:37 Rich on football food: “It's the time of year where beers go down smoother, wings go down easier. Pizza is easier to order.”

Segment Timestamps

• 03:44 – 05:36: Personal mishaps (tires, AC, LA heat); football weekend kickoff
• 09:02 – 14:53: “LoogieGate” breakdown – incident, reactions, motivations, debate
• 16:03 – 17:38: Dak & Carter soundbites responding to controversy
• 19:01 – 24:44: Immediate and season-long consequences for the Eagles, analysis of game flow, Cowboys’ missed opportunities, praise for Dak
• 33:49 – 34:54: Social media’s instant reaction and meme economy around “LoogieGate”
• 35:37 – 53:09: Listener calls and additional NFL takes (Hurts as “game manager,” parlay picks)
• 45:20 – 46:35: Food rituals and “extra sauce” on wings – how NFL season disrupts healthy eating

Tone & Style

• Energetic and conversational, oscillating between impassioned debate and playful banter.
• Humor is woven throughout, even when addressing serious moments (“body shaming” during food talk, for example).
• The hosts strive to maintain balance and nuance, especially in assigning blame or defending perspective around heated controversies.

Conclusion

This episode is a quintessential slice of Covino & Rich: equal parts sports radio, barroom debate, and friendly banter. The "LoogieGate" saga kicks off the season with a bang, giving listeners a fresh controversy, a lesson in snap judgments, and a reminder that in sports – as in life – often the full story comes out only after the rush to hot takes. The rest of the show offers forecasts, food talk, and interactive caller segments that round out the classic fans’ pre-game experience.

For more, join the live show weekdays on Fox Sports Radio (5–7 Eastern), catch the podcast, or check out the best-of compilations.