The Dan Patrick Show – C&R: “It's a Trap!”
Date: November 14, 2025
Podcast: The Dan Patrick Show (Covino & Rich guest hosting)
Network: iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network
Episode Overview
In this lively Throwback Thursday edition, Covino & Rich (C&R) bring the heat on sports talk radio. Focusing on the drama surrounding NFL player "report cards" and the controversy about anonymous workplace feedback, they deliver opinions, stories, and banter with their signature humor and old-school sensibilities. The crew also dives into upcoming NFL matchups, the impact of nostalgia on tech trends, and the fine art of constructive criticism—then throws in relatable workplace gripes, memorable listener calls, and a playful tangent on burner accounts and anonymity in the digital age.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
The NFL "Report Card" Controversy
[13:30 – 32:00]
- NFL Player Surveys: Each year, NFL players anonymously grade their teams on facilities, treatment of families, staff, medical care, and more.
- Owner Backlash: Recently, owners (led by Woody Johnson of the Jets) are pushing back, calling these report cards bogus and unreliable.
- Quote: “The weak-ass owners want to stop it. Like, if you were ranked high, you’d love the list. If you’re ranked low, you’d say the list is bunk.” – Covino (15:05)
- Players’ Perspective: C&R enjoy the transparency these surveys offer, especially exposing underperforming organizations and holding owners accountable.
- Quote: “Even though the Chiefs are a dynasty that have dominated—remember, they had some F’s.” – Rich (19:20)
- Entertainment Value: While the surveys might sting for owners, they provide great talking points for fans and media. Covino notes they might influence free agents’ decisions, even if owners deny the validity.
- Cowardice vs. Honesty: The guys debate whether anonymous criticism is cowardly or essential for honest feedback (“It’s a trap!” becomes a recurring punchline).
- Quote: “It’s very cowardly to do it anonymously like that.” – Covino (27:55)
- Quote: “If you want to say something rude and critical, you should own up to it.” – Covino (28:40)
Workplace Feedback and Anonymity
[27:00 – 48:30]
- Parallels to Everyday Jobs: C&R compare NFL feedback to workplace surveys and staff complaints in media, radio, and TV.
- Quote: “When companies say, ‘Put your feedback here, it’s anonymous,’ don’t you feel like, ‘I’m doing it from my work computer—it’s a trap!’” – Rich (29:55)
- Personal Experience: The hosts remember employees making public complaints at company town halls—labeling such moves “a trap” that rarely ends well.
- Listener Input: Callers chime in on the danger of speaking out in front of ownership, the real value of anonymity, and the potential for retaliation.
- Quote (Caller JP in OKC): “These billionaires at the end of the day… could gang up and not sign a guy because he spoke out about a team he was on before.” (44:00)
- Meaningfulness of Feedback: The group agrees that specific, non-anonymous feedback usually carries more weight—“It stings more when it’s real.”
The Value (and Pitfalls) of Peer Reviews
[35:00 – 38:30]
- Critiquing via Surveys: The show examines whether these reviews reflect spite or legitimate workplace flaws.
- Rich: “Do you take any pride into it? Like if your team gets a high grade, you’re like—‘Damn right! I root for a class organization.’” (38:09)
- Fans’ Perspective: For fans, these grades offer validation (“ammunition”) when criticizing struggling franchises.
- Quote: “It gives fans more ammunition—‘That’s why! Look, the players don’t even feel respected.’” – Covino (38:10)
- Do Survey Results Matter? Mixed opinions—while some players care, winning is often more dependent on leadership and on-field success.
NFL Week 11: Key Matchups and Bold Picks
[51:15 – 55:30]
- Throwback Thursday: The hosts plan to break down pivotal games for the week, with Rich spotlighting the 49ers/Cardinals matchup as “a must-win for the Niners.”
- Quote: “If they don’t beat—the pooh—out of the Cardinals, I’ll be shocked. This Cardinals team—no Marvin Harrison Jr., no Kyler Murray, nobody.” – Rich (53:44)
- Listener Tease: Full picks and deeper analysis are teased for their bonus "Over Promised" podcast.
Nostalgia and Old-School Technology
[1:00:20 – 1:10:00]
- Trend Watch: News story prompts them to discuss Gen Z’s fascination with analog/retro tech: flip phones, CDs, vinyl, Polaroids, and digital cameras.
- Quote: “Owning something real has become a new counterculture. There’s always culture, then counterculture.” – Covino (1:01:05)
- Personal Observation: Covino notes his own daughter and her friends’ obsession with vinyl and “grainy” digital cameras despite never owning a record player.
- Why Retro Rocks: They debate the “soulless” quality of all-digital living and why tangible media is making a comeback among young people.
The Psychology of Burner Accounts and Digital Anonymity
[1:13:00 – 1:19:00]
- Burner Accounts: Tangent on celebrities and regular people using secret/anonymous accounts to stir online drama or check on rivals and exes.
- Quote: “Jennifer Lawrence says she loves to fight with fans on her secret TikTok. My wife says most women she knows have some kind of secondary account.” – Rich (1:13:30)
- Parallels to NFL Survey: Are anonymous voices less credible? “It means nothing if you don’t know who said it.”—the consensus is yes.
- Best/Worst Example: They recall infamous stories (like NBA execs and the “worst mom in the world” catfishing her own kid)—highlighting the messy consequences of hiding behind an alias.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
| Time | Speaker | Quote | |----------|-------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 15:05 | Covino | “The weak-ass owners want to stop it. Like, if you were ranked high, you’d love the list. If you’re ranked low, you’d say the list is bunk.” | | 19:20 | Rich | “Even though the Chiefs are a dynasty… remember they had some F’s.” | | 27:55 | Covino | “It’s very cowardly to do it anonymously like that.” | | 29:55 | Rich | “When companies say, ‘Put your feedback here, it’s anonymous,’ don’t you feel like, ‘I’m doing it from my work computer—it’s a trap!’” | | 38:10 | Covino | “It gives fans more ammunition... Look, the players don’t even feel respected.” | | 44:00 | JP (caller) | “Billionaires… could gang up and not sign a guy because he spoke out about [another] team.”| | 53:44 | Rich | “If they don’t beat—the pooh—out of the Cardinals, I’ll be shocked.” | | 1:01:05 | Covino | “Owning something real has become a new counterculture. There’s always culture, then counterculture.”| | 1:13:30 | Rich | “Jennifer Lawrence says she loves to fight with fans on her secret TikTok. My wife says most women she knows have some kind of secondary account.”|
Important Segments & Timestamps
- NFL Report Card Controversy and Anonymity – [13:30 – 48:00]
- Listener Reactions & Workplace Stories – [41:30 – 48:45]
- NFL Matchups: Whose Season Is on the Line? – [51:15 – 55:30]
- The Return of Retro Tech – [1:00:20 – 1:10:00]
- Burner Accounts, Digital Shade & Social Media Drama – [1:13:00 – 1:19:00]
Tone and Language
Fast-paced, humorous, self-deprecating, with a “guys talking sports at the bar” vibe. The banter is playful and relatable, with personal anecdotes, light roasting, and a keen sense of how sports talk mirrors everyday work frustrations.
Summary for New Listeners
This episode is classic Covino & Rich: spirited debate, inside jokes, relatable workplace rants, and playful nostalgia. You’ll learn why anonymous NFL player feedback has owners shook, hear why old-school tech is back in style, and even get some advice for handling workplace surveys (“it’s a trap!”). The hosts blend sports analysis with everyday truths—always with plenty of laughs and personal stories.
Skip the ads and dig in for authentic, energetic sports-talk radio that feels like hanging out with your friends—if your friends knew way too much about the snack wall at Fox Sports Radio.
For More
- Catch NFL picks and extended talk on their "Over Promised" podcast (YouTube: Covino & Rich FSR)
- Live: Weekdays 5–7pm Eastern / 2–4pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio