The Dan Patrick Show (Covino & Rich)

Episode: "Good Bets & Bad Takes"

Date: September 6, 2025
Hosts: Steve Covino, Rich Davis, Dan Beyer, and team
Podcast Networks: iHeartPodcasts & Dan Patrick Podcast Network

Episode Overview

This episode serves up Covino & Rich’s classic Friday mix of sports banter, NFL betting tips, lively debate, lighthearted games, and pop culture references as they gear up for an action-packed NFL opening weekend. The theme centers on “Good Bets & Bad Takes”—exploring which predictions are strong, which are suspect, and holding media personalities (and themselves) accountable for bold statements that don’t hold up. The show is heavy on NFL discussion, with segments on betting parlays, questionable hot takes in sports media, audience interaction about everyone's worst predictions, and a playful trivia game.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. NFL Opening Weekend Bets and Solar Panel Humor (03:43-11:24)

• Rich Davis’ Solar Power Parlay:
  • Rich shares his signature parlay bet of the week, tying in jokes about his solar panels and their purported utility in paying for his wagers and home upgrades.
  • Picks:
    • 49ers (-1.5) over Seahawks
    • Steelers (-2.5) over Jets
  • Straight Bet:
    • Bengals (-5.5) over the Browns — confident the Bengals will break their slow-starting trend.
  • Quote:
    • “I just think Seattle is a very tough place to play. I just think the 49ers are a better team and…win this game on the road to prove a point that your window’s not closed.” (07:46, Rich)
  • Segment includes lighthearted solar panel banter with the team poking fun at how often Rich references his solar setup.
    • "My electric bill went way down. Guys, did it really? Well, it's zero, but I had to pay for the solar panels." (06:41, Rich)

2. Parlay Picks: Team Reactions and Accountability (12:02-13:15)

• The group critiques Rich’s parlay.
  • Dan Beyer expresses concern about the 49ers pick—calls it homerish.
  • Dan questions the Bengals pick:
    • "I do question Cincinnati's offensive line and I feel the Browns defensive line is a little better than we [think]." (12:34, Dan Beyer)
• Conversation shifts to how on-air personalities should be accountable for their predictions:
  • "Is there any accountability if you're wrong about it on Monday?" (13:07, Covino)
  • Rich claims he owns his misses and suggests more authenticity and humor about past hot takes in sports media.

3. The Sports Media ‘Bad Take’ Olympics: Ryan Clark Edition (13:34-19:15)

• Controversy:
  • Ryan Clark (ESPN) is in hot water for saying Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and Peyton Manning were not generational talents.
• Hosts’ Take:
  • They mock the take and debate whether sports talkers should face consequences for extreme hot takes.
  • Compare Clark’s tone to other personalities:
    • "He seems really mad about stuff. It's football. I get the feeling he doesn’t like Justin Herbert based on some of the things I heard." (14:12, Covino)
• Notable Quotes:
  • "We don't claim that Brady, Brees, and Manning aren't generational talents." (15:01, Covino)
  • “It just makes you wonder, do you have to take accountability when the Internet is there to remind you of everything you ever said?” (18:40, Covino)
  • Hosts note the cyclical nature of hot takes, referencing Max Kellerman (Brady’s "done") and others for humor.

4. Owning Your Weakest Sports Takes & Audience Interactivity (21:21-22:59; 30:07-32:31)

• Listeners share their most embarrassing sports predictions:
  • Boise Bob: “Michael Crabtree has the potential to be the next Jerry Rice.” (30:54)
  • Others recount losing big Super Bowl bets or backing disappointing players.
  • "I put like, $1,000 on Ricky Hatton to beat Manny Pacquiao, and Pacquiao knocked him out in the second round. You know, I was pretty confident at the time." (31:40, Covino)
• Hosts urge more honesty in both fandom and sports media, and suggest fun punishments for "bad takes" (shame walks, pie-to-the-face, etc.).

5. Game Segment: NFL Player or Chipotle Worker? (32:06-37:48)

• How It Works:
  • Contestants guess if a name is an NFL player or a Chipotle employee.
• Highlights:
  • Great energy, playful bickering, and quick wit.
  • Callers and hosts perform admirably.
  • Winner: Meg from Montana, with a perfect score — “Send her some koozies with that IOU, man.” (37:33)

6. Sports/Pop Culture Roundup: Weekend Hobnobbing (47:07-52:17)

• Must-see NFL matchups:
  • Ravens vs. Bills — billed as the marquee matchup (48:11)
  • Lions vs. Packers, Steelers vs. Jets also highlighted, with subplots around Aaron Rodgers and divisional battles.
• Baseball:
  • Covino and Rich emphasize the Yankees-Blue Jays series (and their personal $1,000 Yankees-Mets bet).
• TV/Streaming Recommendations:
  • Documentaries:
    • Netflix’s "Unknown Number: The High School Catfish Story" ("It'll make you feel like the greatest parent of all time." - 48:01, Covino)
    • Jerry Jones Cowboys docuseries, "Love Con Revenge" about romantic scams
  • Movies:
    • "Hamilton" (theatrical run), "Final Destination: Bloodlines" and "The Conjuring: Last Rights" discussed for horror fans.
• College Football Highlights:
  • “CyHawk game” — Iowa vs. Iowa State noted for local interest (50:46, Dan)
• Quote:
  • "It's a weekend that's going to be all about football for the most part. So enjoy your NFL and then come Monday we get right back into our old routine..." (52:43, Covino)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Hot Takes and Accountability:
  "I think it humanizes you, and I think it makes you…a real person that takes chances and you make mistakes. I just think there should be more people that come back and say, man, was I wrong about that?" (18:00, Rich)
• Mocking Overblown Outrage:
  "Should the punishment be almost like, wear [a] dunce cap? Like old school—walk down the hallway. Shame, shame, shame." (21:30, Covino)
• Energy on Betting:
  "You're making money!" (06:14, Rich; recurring throughout)
• Game Antics:
  "Could it be both? Could he [have] played in the NFL, got cut, and now works at Chipotle?" (36:53, Covino)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Time (MM:SS) | |---------------------------------------------------|----------------| | First Parlay of the Season / Solar Panel Jokes | 03:43-11:24 | | Picks Get Picked Apart / Parlay Critique | 12:02-13:15 | | “Bad Takes”: Ryan Clark & Sports Media Debate | 13:34-19:15 | | Audience Bad Sports Takes + Fun Accountability | 21:21-22:59; 30:07-32:31 | | NFL Player or Chipotle Worker? Game | 32:06-37:48 | | Weekend Hobnobbing: Sports, Pop Culture | 47:07-52:17 |

Final Thoughts & Overall Tone

The episode is high-energy, self-deprecating, and interactive, with plenty of laughs and real sports insights—true to Covino & Rich’s signature blend. The theme of “good bets and bad takes” underscores both the fun and folly in sports fandom and media commentary, encouraging listeners (and themselves) to admit mistakes and treat sports with joy rather than rage.

This summary captures the essence, highlights, and flow of the episode—ideal for anyone who missed it but wants the major talking points, memorable moments, and actionable recs for the sports weekend ahead.