The Dan Patrick Show: C&R - Raiders Bad Beat, LeBron or Kelce

Date: December 9, 2025
Hosts: Steve Covino & Rich Davis (with Dan Beyer)
Network: iHeartPodcasts / Dan Patrick Podcast Network

Episode Overview

In this fun, banter-filled episode of Covino & Rich (C&R), the guys recap the sports weekend, spotlight wild gambling outcomes and "bad beats" from the Raiders game, and dive into speculative conversations about star athlete retirements—specifically Travis Kelce (NFL) and LeBron James (NBA). Along the way, they riff on pop culture, AI in entertainment, behind-the-scenes athlete behaviors, and key storylines heading into the final stretch of the NFL season.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Raiders Bad Beat: Gambling Fallout & Conspiracies

Segment Start: [10:31]

• Breakdown of the wild finish:
  Rich and Covino, joined by Tripp (Vegas insider) and Dan Beyer, dissect the highly questionable sequence at the end of the Raiders game, where a seemingly meaningless field goal "bad beat" unraveled betting spreads and over/unders.
• Impact on bettors:
  Covino notes the double whammy: “The Raiders going for a meaningless field goal affected... the point spread AND the over/under. It was a double bad beat. If you had like a parlay, it affected both.” [12:19]
• Conspiracy Theories:
  • Tripp and the crew muse about “Vegas wins,” odd play-calling, and possible intent behind the field goal.
  • Dan Beyer jokes, “I think that Pete Carroll did it to make sure all the Broncos fans in attendance did not hit their bets.” [14:01]
• Portnoy's Rant:
  The team recalls Barstool's Dave Portnoy's viral rant, calling for "prison for Pete Carroll" (the Seahawks), reflecting widespread bettors’ outrage.
  • “At one point he said... he was going to go murder him... [He] was saying it was the worst criminal, they should be in prison.” [12:55]

Memorable Quote:

“It almost felt like one of those situations where you’re hoping for something to happen... and then somehow, something wild happens.” – Steve Covino [13:06]

2. Athlete Social Media & Sliding into DMs

Segment Start: [07:46]

• The crew skewers the neverending “sliding into DMs” culture among athletes, using the (denied) rumor of NFL QB Jackson Dart messaging influencer Alex Earl.
• Covino summarizes: “If you don’t think these players are shooting their shot, yo, I promise… as much as they put in... gameplay, it’s scrolling and DMing and copying and pasting their little opening line.” [10:06]
• Rich adds: “They don’t get stock options, they get ass options.” [08:35]

3. Travis Kelce and LeBron James: Who’s More Likely to Retire?

Segment Start: [34:24]
Major Segment

• Retirement Chatter: Following Henry Cejudo’s actual UFC retirement, Covino and Rich debate which icon is more likely to hang it up next: Chiefs TE Travis Kelce or Lakers’ LeBron James.
• Arguments For/Against:
  • Kelce:
    • Priorities changing (broadcasting, “bride-to-be” Taylor Swift)
    • Stephen A. Smith fuels speculation
    • Rich: “I think if anyone’s going to retire, it’s Kelsey.”
  • LeBron:
    • Lakers are hot, but would he bow out on “magic number” 23rd season IF they won?
    • Covino: “LeBron’s proven it all… If there’s no path to a championship… he could walk away.”
• Dan Beyer weighs in:
  “I think Kelsey, I think it’s at the end of the rope. And I think that LeBron, even with the Lakers success this season... wants that farewell tour.” [38:17]
• Result: Panel is split, but consensus leans toward Kelce as the more likely retiree.

Memorable Quotes:

“He’s got a top 25 podcast, 13 million… They’re getting married and then I bet you, within a year… they’re gonna have a kid. And I bet you that he runs it back one more time after the career he’s had.” – Steve Covino (on Kelce) [36:45]

“We ain’t going out like that. I think that gives him more reason to be like, 'It’s over… This run is over.'” – Rich Davis [37:21]

4. Combat Sports & “Robbery” Talk

Segment Start: [15:29]

• UFC recap, including Cejudo’s retirement and the overuse of “robbery” to describe close fights.
• Rich: “If it’s a close fight, you can’t say you were robbed… It could go either way. That means a lot of swing rounds. It was a clear draw.” [16:58]

5. Pop Culture: Zootopia 2, AI Movies, and Viral Content

Segment Start: [04:24] & [17:44]

• Covino raves about family movie “Zootopia 2” making $1b worldwide, and the guys debate whether AI-generated films (like the viral ‘Little Mac Punch-Out’ trailer) cross ethical boundaries or are just the next evolution after Pixar.
• “We don’t want AI taking our jobs, but we both really want to see this… So, what’s your thought?” – Covino [20:34]

6. NFL Playoff Format: One Bye or Two?

Segment Start: [30:14]

• Crew revisits NFL’s move to a single top-seed bye, disagreeing whether fewer byes improves the playoffs.
• “I like the old way... There was something cool about the two elite teams in each conference had a bye.” – Dan Beyer [30:47]
• But more football = more fun.

7. Schedule-Watching: Key NFL Week 15 Games

Segment Start: [46:36]

• The guys preview and circle three pivotal games for the coming week:
  • Bills at Patriots: Are the Patriots for real?
  • Packers at Broncos: Implications for AFC West title race.
  • Rams hosting Lions: Playoff picture and rooting interest debates.
• “Every week now… it’s like playoff football before the playoffs.” – Covino [47:44]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Athlete DMs:
  “You don’t think he's trying to kick it to every hot chick out there on IG or whoever? A prominent figure.” – Rich Davis [08:11]
• On Portnoy’s Outrage:
  “At one point he was said… he was gonna go murder [Pete Carroll]. But no, he’s saying it was the worst criminal, they should be in prison.” – Covino [12:55]
• On AI in Media:
  “How do you feel about AI in that scenario? Are you okay if they made an AI movie? Or is that crossing [the line]…” – Covino [20:34]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Raiders Bad Beat / Gambling Conspiracy: [10:31] – [15:24]
• Athlete Sliding into DMs: [07:46] – [10:23]
• Retirement: Travis Kelce vs. LeBron James: [34:24] – [38:45]
• Boxing/UFC ‘Robbery’ Talk: [15:29] – [17:08]
• Pop Culture & AI Films: [17:44] – [21:46]
• NFL Playoff Byes Format: [30:14] – [31:39]
• NFL Schedule Lookahead: [46:36] – [51:16]

Tone

The episode is humorous, casual, and sarcastic, full of inside jokes, quick pivots between sports and pop culture, and a friendly, barbershop-style debate energy.

Summary for the Uninitiated:
This C&R show episode blends sharp NFL gambling talk (the infamous Raiders "bad beat"), speculation on sports icons’ retirement plans, behind-the-curtain athlete gossip, and lively riffs on viral culture—all while looking ahead at make-or-break games for NFL playoff hopefuls. If you're after analysis, laughs, and a heavy dose of sports pop culture, this one covers it all.