Hour 1 – 23 Years, Pink Elephant

Summary

The Dan Patrick Show – Hour 1: "23 Years, Pink Elephant"

Release Date: June 3, 2025
Host: Dan Patrick
Produced by: iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network

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1. Anniversary Celebration: 23 Years of Partnership

The episode kicks off with Dan Patrick celebrating a significant milestone—23 years of working alongside his co-host, Todd Fritz. This heartfelt segment underscores the longevity and camaraderie of their professional relationship.

• Dan Patrick [01:35]: “This is a big one. 23 years, Paul.”
• Todd Fritz [02:08]: “How about that?”
• Paul Pabst [01:47]: “It does remind us that three years ago, Fritzi brought up that it was the 20-year anniversary to the day that you guys work together.”

The hosts reminisce about their journey, discussing the challenges and joys of maintaining a strong working relationship over more than two decades.

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2. Conversations on Retirement and Future Endeavors

The trio delves into discussions about retirement, reflecting on when and how they might step away from the show. While retirement hasn't been on the immediate horizon, they ponder future possibilities and the legacy they've built.

• Dan Patrick [02:18]: “Are you going to retire? When I retire.”
• Todd Fritz [02:30]: “Financially, I will probably need at least one more gig. But the question is what that next thing will be.”

Dan offers to be a reference for Todd’s potential future roles, highlighting their supportive dynamic.

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3. Notable Incident: The "Pink Elephant" Controversy

A significant portion of the discussion centers around a controversial incident involving NFL player Stefon Diggs. Allegations surfaced about Diggs being photographed with a pink substance on a yacht with rapper Cardi B, raising questions about potential violations and the NFL's response.

• Dan Patrick [18:23]: “Idon’t venture into that territory…but there’s an elephant, a pink elephant in the room.”
• Paul Pabst [19:56]: “The new head coach, Mike Vrabel, briefly addressed it last week. He said, ‘they're aware of it.’”

The hosts debate the implications of this incident on Diggs' career and the Patriots' reputation, emphasizing the need for transparency and integrity in professional sports.

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4. Sports Analysis and Hot Takes

The show features in-depth analysis of current sports topics, including:

• NFL Playoffs Predictions:

  • Discussion on unexpected teams that might miss the playoffs despite high expectations.
  • Seton O'Connor [24:26]: “My thought was the Chiefs.”
  • Todd Fritz [25:42]: “I'm going to say the Los Angeles Rams.”

• Bill Belichick's Future:

  • Speculation about the legendary coach's next move following his buyout.
  • Dan Patrick [28:16]: “I don't see him being hired anywhere else.”

• Quarterback Evaluations:

  • Debating the rankings and performance consistency of top NFL quarterbacks.
  • Dan Patrick [26:11]: “He doesn’t have the numbers, but he does have the wins.”

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5. Interactive Segment: Callers and Polls

Listeners engage with the hosts through phone calls and live polls, contributing their opinions on various sports topics.

• Caller Andrew [31:00]: “What are we talking, like Alex Caruso?”
• Poll Results [38:01]: Majority favors Seton O'Connor's prediction about Bill Belichick coaching North Carolina, with 70% backing this outcome.

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6. Play of the Day

A highlight reel segment features impressive plays from recent games.

• Dan Patrick [36:33]: “Fly ball right center field deep... Gone. Second home run of the game for Kerry Carpenter's 12th of the year.”

This segment celebrates outstanding athletic performances, adding excitement to the episode.

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7. Light-Hearted Banter and Humor

Throughout the episode, Dan, Todd, and Paul infuse humor into their conversations, sharing amusing anecdotes and playful exchanges.

• Dan Patrick [35:49]: “There's just no way. No way. It would be great to see. I'd love to see you in the drive-through at McDonald's.”
• Todd Fritz [35:57]: “Burning myself on the oil with the little basket with the french fries. Third-degree burns on my arm.”

These moments highlight the hosts' chemistry and ability to entertain beyond serious sports commentary.

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8. Upcoming Segments and Closing Remarks

Dan hints at future developments, including the show's eventual conclusion and potential new hosts, maintaining anticipation for listeners.

• Dan Patrick [34:30]: “It's going to be the rest of the week.”
• Paul Pabst [35:08]: “We have a lot of time before that.”

The episode wraps up with promotions for upcoming shows and sponsor messages, ensuring listeners are informed about where to continue following their favorite hosts.

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Notable Quotes

• Dan Patrick [07:22]: “If you don't cry, then what's that?”
• Todd Fritz [07:03]: “I might sneak into the bathroom and splash some water under my eyelids or something...”

These quotes capture the emotional and candid nature of the hosts' interactions.

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Conclusion

"Hour 1 – 23 Years, Pink Elephant" of The Dan Patrick Show offers a blend of heartfelt reflections on a longstanding partnership, in-depth sports analysis, engaging listener interactions, and moments of levity. The episode not only commemorates 23 years of collaboration but also addresses pressing sports controversies and future prospects, providing listeners with a comprehensive and entertaining experience.

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Stay tuned for more episodes of The Dan Patrick Show on Fox Sports Radio and the iHeartRadio app.

Transcript

[Dan Patrick]

This is an iHeart podcast with AMEX Gold. You can make dining out before the big event a big event. Hey, you made it.

[Todd Fritz]

It's been so long.

[Dan Patrick]

And earn four times membership rewards points on purchases at restaurants. Up to $50,000 per year. And if you're running late, no problem.

[Paul Pabst]

Oh, we gotta go.

[Dan Patrick]

You get access to card member entrances at select venues so you can make it in time to catch the big win. That's the powerful backing of American Express card number.

[Todd Fritz]

Entrance access not limited to AMEX Gold.

[Dan Patrick]

Card terms apply. Learn more@american express.com with Amex. You are listening to the Dan Patrick show on Fox Sports Radio. Hour one on this Tuesday, Dan and the Danets. Dan Patrick show. Hockey tomorrow, basketball on Thursday night. And not a lot of faith in the Pacers. They probably prefer it that way. We will revisit the Knicks and what they do in the off season. We'll check in with them coming up next hour for final hour of the program. Just got a contract extension. Derrick Henry, the Ravens running back, will join us as well. Big anniversary today. Big anniversary. You guys want to guess the anniversary? Yes. Eaton.

[Seton O'Connor]

Bigger than sausage off.

[Dan Patrick]

Bigger than sausage off Yesterday with Todd. Really? Yes. This is a. This is a big one. 23 years, Paul.

[Paul Pabst]

You and Todd working together.

[Dan Patrick]

Yes, 23 years.

[Todd Fritz]

How did you survive that?

[Seton O'Connor]

Same month, same day.

[Dan Patrick]

Emotional. But we'll probably exchange gifts. You know, I don't know what you get somebody for 23 years, but it feels like 50. So maybe I'll do a 50 year anniversary. Yes.

[Paul Pabst]

Paul, it's very thoughtful of you to bring up, but it does remind us that three years ago, Fritzi brought up that it was the 20 year anniversary to the day that you guys work together. And we looked it up and that was a Sunday, so it couldn't have been the.

[Todd Fritz]

I always thought it was June 2nd, but you looked it up Monday, June 3rd. Okay, that's Sunday, June 2nd.

[Dan Patrick]

Well, here we are, 23 years later.

[Todd Fritz]

How about that?

[Dan Patrick]

We're going wire to wire. I mean, I'm, you know, you're all in on that. Ride or die. I'm with you. Are you going to retire? When I retire.

[Todd Fritz]

Financially, I will probably need at least one more gig. But the question is what that next thing will be. And will it be in sports broadcasting or my selling shoes? I'm not sure. What, am I going to work at the mall? I'm not sure what's next.

[Dan Patrick]

When do you start putting out feelers to espn?

[Todd Fritz]

Specifically espn? You got me going back to.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah, your brother Works there. You know, proximity to the home base.

[Todd Fritz]

I don't have a timetable.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay. In all honesty, do you want me as a reference?

[Todd Fritz]

I would like that, sure.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay.

[Todd Fritz]

I hope I earned enough that you would say a kind word if it came to that. Could be the difference in getting a future job or not, right?

[Dan Patrick]

I'd be more than happy to do that. Why don't you just reach out to them now or.

[Todd Fritz]

Now already?

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah.

[Todd Fritz]

Two and a half years, three years.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah. Just say right after the super bowl in Atlanta, you'll be available.

[Todd Fritz]

I think we have a little time before we got to go.

[Dan Patrick]

All right, fair enough. Just want to let you know that I'm ready to be that reference. Whatever you want. You want to love a lover. Yes, you do.

[Todd Fritz]

You always want to love her.

[Dan Patrick]

So that was a combination between a letter and. Wait a minute. Okay.

[Todd Fritz]

I'll take the lever over the recommendation.

[Dan Patrick]

A cover letter. Cover letter is what I was going for. Do you want a cover letter or do you want me to just. They call me and then.

[Todd Fritz]

Yeah, I think I'd want you to personally speak to each person instead of just sending a generic letter.

[Dan Patrick]

Is anybody retiring when I retire. Paul Ish.

[Paul Pabst]

From this.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay.

[Paul Pabst]

From this type of work. The daily studio show.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay.

[Paul Pabst]

I don't. Wouldn't want to do that type of work. It'd be very unlikely. I'd rather do something else more loose and. But not this.

[Dan Patrick]

Let's say Tony Reali came in and started hosting this in this show. Two and a half years.

[Paul Pabst]

No.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay.

[Paul Pabst]

I don't think I would do that.

[Dan Patrick]

Marvin, you're too young to retire, correct? Yeah, you're too young.

[Paul Pabst]

A follow up. It wouldn't matter. The host. It wasn't Tony Reality.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay. Seaton.

[Seton O'Connor]

No. I'm much more in the Todd line of things. I'm not even remotely close to financially able to retire. I don't even see that as a possibility in my lifetime.

[Dan Patrick]

Stat of the day, brought to you by Panini America. The official trading cards of the Dan Patrick show. That is our stat of the day. 23 years. 23 years ago today, I met Todd Fritz and he was assigned to work with me.

[Todd Fritz]

And we knew of each other, but. Well, I definitely knew of you, but like, you know, there were times where, like back in other shows I worked on in la, I would work with your producers for guest things even before we officially got together.

[Dan Patrick]

Thank you, Todd.

[Todd Fritz]

You're welcome.

[Dan Patrick]

This first hour, brought to you by Rapid Radios, the official walkie talkie of the Dan Patrick Show. I can't blame Todd. I gotta blame myself. I brought it up, even though Todd did. He sends me these emails, and then he'll go, happy 23 years, exclamation point.

[Todd Fritz]

That'll be a nice thing. Right before you went on the air to put that out there. I didn't mention it while you were. We were busy doing other things before.

[Dan Patrick]

And then I didn't respond. And then, you know, Todd will sometimes drop a piece of paper as I walk by and it'll go, happy 23 years.

[Todd Fritz]

It wasn't done for you to, like, announce it on the air. That's, you know, it was as passive aggressive as that might seem. You know, that could have been between the two of us, or I would have said it on the air if I wanted to say it.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay. Why didn't you just pull me aside this morning?

[Todd Fritz]

I could have, but we were busy. We had things to do. You know, we're getting ready.

[Dan Patrick]

I'm never too busy to celebrate with you.

[Paul Pabst]

You're a good actor.

[Dan Patrick]

Win or lose, we celebrate.

[Todd Fritz]

Todd, am I doing so far today?

[Dan Patrick]

You're doing great. I'm going to give you a B plus.

[Todd Fritz]

All right, I'll work on that.

[Dan Patrick]

All right. Yes.

[Seton O'Connor]

Todd, do you have this stuff written down in a calendar or is it just in your head?

[Todd Fritz]

A lot of it's in my head. Something like that. I don't. I wouldn't forget. There's other dates and things that I'll sometimes jot down, like I've got a appointment with the urologist August 5th or something like that. I'll put that in my notebook. But for something like 6-3-02, that's. That's kind of stuck in my mind.

[Dan Patrick]

Visit rapidradios.com up to 60% off and free shipping.

[Paul Pabst]

Yes, Paul, is there a longer partnership in sports media history than you and Todd? Continuous.

[Dan Patrick]

Well, keep this in mind, that around the horn, you know, they went out in a blaze of glory after how many years? 23.

[Paul Pabst]

Is that right?

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah. So Todd and I have had our around the horn here in the last 23 years. Congratulations, though, Todd.

[Todd Fritz]

Congratulations to both of us and to all of us. It's pretty special thing.

[Dan Patrick]

Yes.

[Todd Fritz]

And somehow you'll be able to keep your mental health for the most part with me having to deal with me 23 years. That's. That's a statement.

[Dan Patrick]

You know what? I'm honored. I'm honored to have been able to work with you all these years.

[Todd Fritz]

It's a wonderful, kind thing to say. I feel the same way.

[Dan Patrick]

All right.

[Todd Fritz]

Getting A little teary eyed now.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay. Will you cry the final show?

[Todd Fritz]

I might. I'm emotional like that. I know you are about a lot.

[Dan Patrick]

Oh, yes, yes.

[Todd Fritz]

I think we all are. Some of us don't like to necessarily admit it, but I will freely, you know, express myself.

[Dan Patrick]

Well. It's because I care. I mean, that's. That's why I'll cry. But if you don't cry, then what's that? Tell me.

[Todd Fritz]

If I realize towards the end of that last year that I haven't cried it. I'll probably sneak into the bathroom and splash some water under my eyelids or something to make it look like I'm even more emotional.

[Dan Patrick]

And I'll take that. As an actor. I'll take that. Yeah.

[Todd Fritz]

It's still an effort.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah.

[Todd Fritz]

I'm trying to show something.

[Dan Patrick]

It's content. That's what it is. Yes. Marvin.

[Todd Fritz]

I already got some corny lined up. While I'm tearing up during the last episode, I'm gonna say don't.

[Dan Patrick]

Don't cry because it's over.

[Todd Fritz]

Smile because it happened.

[Dan Patrick]

Wow.

[Todd Fritz]

Make a T shirt.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay.

[Todd Fritz]

I love that.

[Dan Patrick]

I like that. All right. Yes.

[Seton O'Connor]

I'm more curious if it's going to be exactly the five of us on that very last day.

[Dan Patrick]

Do you think it. There's a chance. Okay.

[Todd Fritz]

Can of worms.

[Dan Patrick]

Wow. Wow.

[Paul Pabst]

There's nothing going on.

[Dan Patrick]

All right.

[Paul Pabst]

NBA Finals.

[Dan Patrick]

Who is most likely to not be here? What is that? February of 2028. The Super bowl in Atlanta. Yes.

[Seton O'Connor]

I think you should split that into two categories.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay.

[Seton O'Connor]

Who is most likely to not be here, but by their own choosing or not?

[Dan Patrick]

No. No.

[Todd Fritz]

Now we're getting somewhere.

[Dan Patrick]

No, if I was getting rid of somebody, I would have gotten rid of them a while ago.

[Todd Fritz]

You know, that's an interesting little curveball right there.

[Dan Patrick]

It is. Todd, who do you think might not be here by the end of the super. When I'm going around the room, do.

[Todd Fritz]

I have to, like, provide a reason or I could just throw out a name.

[Dan Patrick]

You can throw out a name.

[Todd Fritz]

I'll say, Paulie, but I just. I don't have any specific reason for anybody to leave before we get to the end of the race.

[Dan Patrick]

Don't you have to have a reason? If you're throwing out Paul's name, he'll.

[Todd Fritz]

Have some kind of super financial opportunity. And you will understand that it's a decision they had to make. And he couldn't wait till late 27 or early 2028 to make that decision. And it was a big opportunity. So he really wanted and much like McLovin, you were understanding about it.

[Dan Patrick]

Yes. I have told the Danets if something comes up that you really want to do and you can better your then great. I would never stand in the way of that. Seton, who do you think, if you think anybody might not be here In February of 2028, my guess would be Paul.

[Seton O'Connor]

So he's got his hands in a lot of different things. I can imagine one of those pulling him away.

[Dan Patrick]

All right, Marvin.

[Todd Fritz]

Paulie.

[Dan Patrick]

For the exact same reason Seaton said, okay, Paul, wow.

[Paul Pabst]

I gotta finish this cycle here.

[Dan Patrick]

Are you picking you unanimous?

[Paul Pabst]

I would, but not as blatantly or flippantly. There's been, you know, I think we've all had chances, but if you take something for just for the money, you know, like this is what we have a special not pandering here. It's to leave this. You better know it's way better, you know, I mean, the daily lifestyle.

[Dan Patrick]

Well, it won't be better, but that's what I'm saying. It'll be different. Yes, it'll be different. And it could be more lucrative or it could be the proximity of where you're working or the challenge of something. I understand all of those things.

[Paul Pabst]

Yeah.

[Dan Patrick]

Yes, absolutely. Yes.

[Seton O'Connor]

Yeah. No, this is certainly a unique environment. There's no doubt about that. You're not going to get another one of these.

[Dan Patrick]

Phone number, by the way. 877-3DP. Show operator Tyler is sitting by. He'll take your phone calls. Play the day poll questions, stat of the day, all of that forthcoming. So the NBA finals Thursday night and the Stanley cup final is Wednesday. Did we ever figure out who got it right with finals in final checking? Because they're both seven game series or slated to be a seven game series, which would denote plural, but then there's only one final. Yes, Paulie.

[Paul Pabst]

Yeah, we emailed a English professor at Dartmouth a couple years ago and he leaned towards final, singular. Because it is an event. It's not a series of finals.

[Dan Patrick]

Oh.

[Paul Pabst]

And so Stanley cup final would be grammatically correct.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay. Should we reach out to the NBA.

[Paul Pabst]

This morning if they'd like to change it?

[Dan Patrick]

No, don't do it, Todd. I know you'll do it. Don't do it. No, I know. Don't do it. It's okay. Pacers are still getting nine in the opener at okc. All right, Seaton, poll question. What do we have today at least starting out.

[Seton O'Connor]

Well, we got two right here from Paul. Okay, more iffy start. Stefan Diggs in New England or Bill Belichick at North Carolina.

[Dan Patrick]

Welcome.

[Paul Pabst]

The hammer. Hammer pole.

[Seton O'Connor]

Oh, and sorry, other. Also available.

[Paul Pabst]

And there might not be another, just.

[Seton O'Connor]

In case there's another.

[Dan Patrick]

Dang. I'm going to hold off on that one after the commercial break because this Stefan Diggs thing, now, he did show up for camp, but I don't think he's spoken to the media. And if you're a member of the media, when. When Tom Curran raises his hand, I'm hoping that he's going to say, what was in the bag? What was that pink stuff you had on the boat with Cardi B. By the way, Bill Belichick's buyout is. Is now a million dollars. It went down at the beginning of June just in case he's less hireable for an NFL team now. Oh, God, yes. Paulie.

[Paul Pabst]

I'm not really surprised Dig showed up to OTAs. He always performs between the light white lines.

[Dan Patrick]

Wow. Wow.

[Paul Pabst]

It's too simple, I guess.

[Dan Patrick]

Wow. The lines were pink, though. Yeah.

[Paul Pabst]

Cheap shot.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah. This had nothing to do with breast cancer awareness month for the NFL with players wearing pink. Okay. Shots are wired.

[Todd Fritz]

Blurred lines.

[Dan Patrick]

I know. And we like Stefan Diggs. He's a great guest when he comes on the show. Oh, my goodness. All right, let me see. What else? So we have that one. That's a. That's a hammer. That's a hammer to start out with. What's the. Yes, Marvin, we buried the lead. What? The Colorado Rockies. They won.

[Todd Fritz]

They sure did.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah, they did. They've got double digigit victories. We'll talk about that coming up. I. I wonder. And of course, I've been in gambling rehab for a long, long time, but if I was betting on the second half of the season with the Rockies, I'd be curious, like, aren't the odds with them to be better in the second half of the season? Can we. Can we run some numbers and maybe ask DraftKings if they have something of. And. And how many games they played? 60 games. So the season's 162. So got a little bit of time before we get to the second half of the season. I'd be curious what the odds would be for the, like, the victory total, second half of the season. Okay. 8, 7, 7, 3. DP show email address DP danpatrick.com Twitter handle @DP Show Big news out of Detroit. They lost their all pro center, Frank Ragnow. He, at age 29, second team All Pro, announces his retirement. This is a big deal. It's a really big deal. But at age 29. He's leaving over $20 million on the table. Made $50 million in his career. But this is a Super bowl caliber contending team and he has decided to retire. NFL OTAs are underway. Still no sight of Aaron Rogers in Pittsburgh. It, it's got to be by the end of the week. I think it has to be because then camp starts and he's got to be there. Got to be there. And by all accounts, it still feels like, you know, Pittsburgh's been kind of quiet, you know, that they know something that we don't know, I guess because I'd be a little bit nervous if I have a rookie out of Ohio State and I got Mason Rudolph there, like, who is it Will Howard that they draft and they like him, but I don't know if he's ready to step in and play and compete for a playoff spot with this team. So. All right, we'll take a break, get the phone calls. Coming up, just getting started here. Dan and the Dan and Stan Patrick Show. Once again, Todd, happy anniversary.

[Todd Fritz]

Happy anniversary, Dan.

[Dan Patrick]

Alrighty, we're back. After this. Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch all of our [e-mail] and within the iHeartRadio app. Search FSR to listen live. Hey, Steve Covino. And I'm Rich Davis. And together we're Covino and Rich on Fox Sports Radio. You can catch us weekdays from 5 to 6, 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific on Fox Sports Radio. And of course, the iHeartRadio app. Why should you listen to Covino and Rich? We talk about everything, life, sports, relationships, what's going on in the world. We have a lot of fun talking about the stories behind the stories in the world of sports and pop culture, stories that, well, other shows don't seem to have the time to discuss. And the fact that we've been friends for the last 20 years and still work together, I mean, that says something, right? So check us out. We, we like to get you involved, too. Take your phone calls, chop it up, as they say. I'd say the most interactive show on Fox Sports Radio, maybe the most interactive show on planet Earth. Be sure to check out Covino and Rich live on Fox Sports radio and the iHeartradio app from 5 to 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific. And if you miss any of the live show, just search Covino and Rich wherever you get your podcast. And of course, on social media, that's Covino and Rich. Only one team has had better odds to Win the NBA championship starting the NBA finals. That was Golden State a few years ago. The Thunder big favorites against the Pacers favored by nine opening up on Thursday night. The authors are slight favorites over the Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final. 877-3DP Show Email address [e-mail] Twitter handle @DP Show I mentioned the Lions losing their all pro center, Frank ragnow, who is 29 years of age. Now you lose both coordinators, offense and defensive coordinators who became head coaches. And now you lose your starting center. You're getting Aiden Hutchinson back, so that's great news. But losing your center for a team that doesn't have a mobile quarterback and you have two really good running backs that, you know, they depend on that offensive line, obviously tough division as well. We know the packers are good. We know the Vikings have been really good and the Bears eventually have to get good. But that's a, that's a big blow here in the off season. I was wondering about this. If I'm a member of the Boston media now, Stefan Diggs, who was photographed or videotaped, I should say, with a baggie that can contain some kind of pink substance there. Now there's speculation of what that is, but to be fair to the story, to the situation, I, I won't venture into that territory. But I still have to ask Stefan Diggs about this. Now, the Patriots don't have to make him available, but he just got there. Now, maybe in August, when all they have to say is, hey, you know, Stefan will talk to you, but it's only football related items. Now, they can say that. That doesn't mean that you have to, you know, acquiesce and go, okay, I'm, I'm going to be hands off here. This can go away. This can go away if he plays good football. Now, I don't know what the NFL does with this. Now, we can talk about the Patriots. If I'm the NFL, I, I @ least have to inquire what's going on because he's a member of the Patriots. But you still have to ask that question or questions. And if you're Stefon Diggs, what do you say? Hey, I'm just here to talk about football. You can say that, but you can't say that to the NFL. If the NFL is interested in this, which I would assume they would be. But if I show up and I'm a member of the media, and I'm sure you're going to get the head of their PR department Saying, hey, only football related questions. They can tell you that. That doesn't mean that you have to go. Okay, I'm not going to ask. There's an elephant, a pink elephant in the room. Yes, Paulie.

[Paul Pabst]

The new head coach, Mike Vrabel, briefly addressed it last week. He said, they're aware of it. He didn't say what it was. He just said, we're aware of it and we. They need players to make, quote, great decisions on and off the field. That's all. He touched on it.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay. And then there was talk that, you know, Scott Zolak, who is one of their analyst, radio analyst, former quarterback, he said, you know, that they have cause to be able to cut him. I don't know what the contract states, but I would imagine if you're caught with something that would be illegal, then they could cut you. He just got there. I didn't like the signing because I don't. I don't. And once again, Stefan Diggs has been nothing but polite, generous, funny, engaging every time he's come on the show. But this is football. This is a decision, and that's where I have to draw the line between somebody I like with. Would I have signed him? It's like Dak Prescott. Dak has been wonderful when he's been on the show. Would I have signed him to that contract extension? I would not. But in this situation, you got Drake May in his second year. I don't want him having a diva wide receiver because we saw this when Baker Mayfield was there with obj and he, I thought, was always looking out to make OBJ happy. And Jarvis Landry, to me, was a better wide receiver, and I thought it hurt Baker Mayfield, Drake May, it's hard enough to play that position. They haven't really surrounded you with a whole lot of talent at the skill position. But I don't. I didn't want to have Stefan Diggs in there at his age, and he's got to get his touches and the whole drama that goes along with that. I want Drake May to be able to develop his own receivers instead of, you're inheriting somebody that a team moved on from, and he went to a team after another team moved on from him. That would be a concern for me, not just what happened on the party boat with Cardi Cardi B. It would be taking a guy coming off an injury, he's over 30 years of age. That's a recipe for disaster.

[Paul Pabst]

Yeah, Paul, if Stefan Diggs ends up talking to the media at the start of actual camp in Late July. How can the Patriots media handle this? How should they handle this?

[Dan Patrick]

Well, you got to ask. There's only so much that, you know you can work on or go with. You know, you're going to get a source on the yacht. You, you can speculate on what he was holding. But. But once again, you don't have the tangible evidence there. The NFL could bring him in and say, what exactly was that? And then he might have to answer some pretty tough questions. But I don't know if the NFL is even investigating here. I haven't heard anything or seen anything. And this might be where the NFL goes. Why don't you guys handle this? You know, he's yours. If, if it gets bigger, then we'll come in. Yes.

[Seton O'Connor]

It does kind of feel like a team thing.

[Dan Patrick]

It does. But then when does it become an NFL thing? This pretty. This is a big story. It is. But, you know, when you have a famous rapper, Cardi B. Involved in this on a yacht, they're videotaping, and he's got a. A powdery substance with him. With all the speculation of what is that pink, powdery substance, it's kind of a big deal.

[Seton O'Connor]

Yeah.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah.

[Seton O'Connor]

The problem is, like, well, not everybody, but there's a lot of people who immediately knew what that substance was.

[Dan Patrick]

I did not. I, I did inquire. And I went, oh, oh, oh, yes. Then that's why I thought, does it become an NFL thing? All right, we. We have our poll question. Are we going to go with Paulie's poll question of Stefan Diggs and Bill Belichick?

[Seton O'Connor]

Yeah, we're going with that one. And then we also have NFL team that could drop off this season. We started talking about this before the show. And are we categorizing drop off as missing the playoffs?

[Paul Pabst]

Yes. This list is based on teams that are completely expected to make the postseason. Which would shock you the most or which could maybe. Which is most likely to miss the playoffs this upcoming year? One of them has to.

[Dan Patrick]

All right, do we have a list of candidates here?

[Seton O'Connor]

We do, yeah.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay.

[Seton O'Connor]

My thought was the Chiefs.

[Dan Patrick]

You don't have the Chiefs.

[Seton O'Connor]

I think the Chiefs could miss the playoffs this year.

[Dan Patrick]

Wow.

[Seton O'Connor]

I think they had a lot of one score wins last year. When. Usually when that. When you squeak by opponents, I feel like that usually drops off rather than gets better, especially when your key players have aged even more. Travis Kelsey kind of limped to the finish last season. Patrick Mahomes certainly getting older. I, I wouldn't be surprised if the Chiefs fell off this year.

[Dan Patrick]

Wow. For a team that went 15 and two, by the way, Travis Kelsey, I think, came in 25 pounds lighter than at the end of last season.

[Seton O'Connor]

Is this an early hot take game? Preseason hot take.

[Paul Pabst]

Quite hot.

[Dan Patrick]

It is. This. This is up there. Now, normally we do. Oh, well, the music started. Okay, so Seaton doesn't have the Kansas City Chiefs making the playoffs. All right, we can do this and then revise this at the end of August. Or maybe we do it again in July. So, Todd, everybody gets one hot take of. Of a team that you would expect to make the plans. Who doesn't make the plan? Playoffs.

[Todd Fritz]

I'm going to say the Los Angeles Rams.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay.

[Todd Fritz]

Miss the playoffs.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay. Seaton's got the Chiefs. Marvin, the Minnesota Vikings. Ooh. Okay.

[Todd Fritz]

They will not make the playoffs.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay, I see where you're going with that. J.J. mcCarthy fall out there.

[Paul Pabst]

Paul, can I go opposite on that one with Marvin? I think the Minnesota Vikings will win the NFC North.

[Dan Patrick]

Hmm.

[Seton O'Connor]

Ball of the balls.

[Paul Pabst]

Ball of the balls. That old game.

[Dan Patrick]

How about flinch ball? Linch ball? Okay.

[Paul Pabst]

Paul, I do have some stats to back up with Seaton saying about the Chiefs. They were 15 and two last year, but they only outscored their opponents by 59 points on the entire season, which is quite low. The Broncos won 10 games. They outscored their opponents by 114. The Bills, 13 and 4, outscored their opponents by 160 points. So the Chiefs close games all season.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay.

[Paul Pabst]

Thesis backed.

[Dan Patrick]

Who is your team that will not make the plan? Oh.

[Paul Pabst]

Oh, man. The Commanders.

[Dan Patrick]

Yes, you.

[Seton O'Connor]

There was a preseason Lions suggestion I want to say, too. Somebody threw out the Lions. I think that was the whole jumping off point of this conversation.

[Dan Patrick]

Oh, because they lost their center.

[Seton O'Connor]

Yeah.

[Dan Patrick]

And they lose their coordinators.

[Seton O'Connor]

So I'll throw the Lions into.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay, I. I have been on this. I don't think the Commanders replicate what they did last year just because they were great in one score games. And. And it's hard to, you know, sustain that. So I would say the Commanders kind of begrudgingly, but I. But I love the story. You know, it's one of those. If you do make the prediction, like, I'm not rooting for it, but it just might happen. Yes, yes. Marvin, you had the Commanders as one.

[Todd Fritz]

Of the teams on scholarship this. This upcoming season, right?

[Dan Patrick]

Yes. Okay. But I had them as one of the surprise teams last year, and. Yeah. Gonna be tough.

[Paul Pabst]

You want to retract it?

[Dan Patrick]

No, I'll stay with it because I've been saying it, that it's just hard to have these one score games. You know, I can see Mahomes and the Chiefs winning these one score games because they've been involved in so many of them. But, you know, Jaden Daniels, second year, does he have a little dip like C.J. stroud did? Maybe. The Belichick buyout, I think at June 1st went down to a million dollars and. But once again, I don't think he's hireable for any NFL franchise because of what you're getting. Oh, the music has started back up.

[Todd Fritz]

What team will Bill Belichick coach next?

[Dan Patrick]

I think he'll coach North Carolina. That's it. Hey, why would I turn my team if the Falcons didn't do this when they could have. There are other teams that could have said, here, Bill, take over. But there's no openings in June. It's not like you're waiting for a quarterback to get injured and then you're going to go and play for that team. But I. I just don't. I don't see him being hired anyplace else.

[Paul Pabst]

Yeah, Paul, can't you get Bill Belichick on the cheap now? Like it's damaged goods, like it's a stock that's undervalued.

[Dan Patrick]

Oh, I think it cost you. That may not be the money, but it's going to be costly because of everything you're bringing in. That's. That's. You're bringing in the circus.

[Paul Pabst]

But let's say, hypothetically, the New York Giants don't get any better.

[Dan Patrick]

I. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. I don't. Greatest coach of all time. I don't want him running my team. And he wants to be the gm, or if he doesn't, you know, or he wants to be the gm. You don't want him to be the gm? No. This is a mess. No, no, no, no. Can't. And. And it's not like she's just gonna be on, you know, go away and not be around this. She's his muse. It's a package deal here. Yeah.

[Paul Pabst]

If Carolina wins 12 games, would it be the Music City Miracle muse?

[Todd Fritz]

If I would have said that, I would have been.

[Dan Patrick]

Well, that's easily the rest of the week.

[Seton O'Connor]

Is that one bomb shot muse?

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah. If it was in Tennessee, then maybe. If that was. Yeah. Titans. That was terrible.

[Seton O'Connor]

God, you just had to squeeze that one in there, didn't you? Couldn't just leave.

[Paul Pabst]

It's gonna get blamed on Todd.

[Todd Fritz]

Actually, I actually emailed Paul and told him to say that.

[Dan Patrick]

No, you didn't. No, you didn't. Yes, Mark.

[Todd Fritz]

I'm gonna blame this one on Todd too. Who's Bill Belichick's favorite NFL quarterback?

[Dan Patrick]

Jordan Love. Okay, man.

[Paul Pabst]

Thank you, Marvin.

[Dan Patrick]

Damn.

[Todd Fritz]

It's the anniversary show.

[Seton O'Connor]

What's who doesn't survive the next three years?

[Dan Patrick]

Jordan Love. Okay. All right.

[Todd Fritz]

James. Jordan.

[Dan Patrick]

No, no, I got it. No, I got it. I got it. Damn. Damn. Three piece.

[Todd Fritz]

Damn. Three piece.

[Dan Patrick]

Andrew in Washington. Hi, Andrew. Welcome to the program. Good morning, Dan Dennett. Thanks for taking my call. I had a NBA question and a question for Todd. The NBA question is to go around the room. It has to do with the Paul George Invitational that starts on Thursday. Which Draftee from the 2020 NBA Draft has the chance to become the first two time NBA Champion in this finals? I got to recuse Marvin. He probably knows the answer. What are we talking, like Alex Caruso? Actually, it's Our man number two pick of 2020 draft. James Wiseman. Started the season with the Indiana PA scored six points, popped his Achilles tendon. Was traded at the deadline, but could get weight with a ring if Indiana wins. My question for Todd is. Todd, let's play best and worst. What has been your best time in 23 years with Dan? What has been your worst time in 23 years with Dan?

[Todd Fritz]

This is a more of a general answer comes to mind. But best is the camaraderie and how. I know I can't think of a specific. Maybe meeting Tim Tebow is exciting at the super bowl, but that's not really it. Imitating Shannon Sharp for Shannon Sharp. I don't have to. That's 23 years. It doesn't. Something doesn't just jump to the top of my head. I was going to say something more.

[Seton O'Connor]

Like meeting Tim Tebow.

[Todd Fritz]

That was kind of a big deal. I wanted to say something more along the lines of the camaraderie and how, you know, the team efforts involved with the show.

[Dan Patrick]

But that's not a moment that, that's. That's that Andrew was talking about. Was there a moment, A specific moment.

[Todd Fritz]

Doing my Hank Williams Jr. Monday Night Football song. I enjoyed getting dressed up in the cowboy outfit and doing that. That. That's a series of moments. Doing my rap video, super bowl rap videos as T Frizzle. I enjoyed that a lot with the girls dancing around me.

[Dan Patrick]

Mark in Vegas. Hey, Mark, what's on your mind? Hey, how you guys doing? I want to talk about what you guys should do after you guys retire. I think you guys have so many great stories. I think you should make A sitcom.

[Paul Pabst]

Kind of like how I met your.

[Dan Patrick]

Mother believe something like that. I would love to see the backstory about dance.

[Paul Pabst]

Stuff like that.

[Dan Patrick]

All right, well, we kind of do a sitcom every day for three hours, but thank you, Mark. Yeah. This isn't scripted. It's just kind of. Well, sitcoms are scripted, but this is just a our life for three hours each day.

[Todd Fritz]

If it was scripted, I would have much better answer two minutes ago.

[Dan Patrick]

Thank you, Todd. Cody in Texas. Hi, Cody. What's on your mind? Hey, Dan. You know, with. With.

[Todd Fritz]

In the past two weeks, we've had.

[Dan Patrick]

To say goodbye to around the horn and with the NBA on tnt. Let's. Let's can all this retirement talk.

[Paul Pabst]

Okay.

[Dan Patrick]

I can't take it emotionally right now.

[Todd Fritz]

You know, let's down the road.

[Dan Patrick]

Look, it's still real to me. Damn it. Thank you, Cody. I'm gonna give you a bloop for that. Yeah. I don't like bringing it up, but I would rather just bring it up because I don't want it to build up until that last week and then all of a sudden that, you know, we walk away. Yes. Marvin, is the final show Friday of Super bowl week in Atlanta? I think so. Okay. I think so. I think so.

[Paul Pabst]

I think so.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah. Because, you know, we started it was going to be at the end of 2027 is going to be Christmas Eve. And then my boss said, hey, well, why don't you just end it in Atlanta? Your career started in Atlanta at cnn. And I go, okay, and then we could go to the super bowl, have fun, hang out. And then we just. And the show on that Friday. But we have a lot of time before that. A lot of time. Just want to just let everybody know what are the. Dan, it's going to do when it, you know, who's going to come in and, you know, be the new host. Right now I don't have any answers to any of that.

[Todd Fritz]

One time I've been practicing for my next job. So for $0.99 more, you can supersize the fries and get a large drink if you want.

[Dan Patrick]

There is no way you could work at a fast food restaurant because I.

[Todd Fritz]

Would be eating the stuff that's in the back there or because I would just get too nervous while they're all lined up and I'm not getting the dip and the stuff fast enough.

[Dan Patrick]

You couldn't take the pressure.

[Todd Fritz]

There is a lot of pressure.

[Dan Patrick]

You could not take the pressure. And you would talk to. If somebody cute came in, you would take her order.

[Todd Fritz]

Let's Go. Where's my barbecue sauce? Can you go to spot number two? We'll bring that out in a little while.

[Dan Patrick]

There's just no way. No way. It would be great to see. I'd love to see you in the drive through at McDonald's.

[Todd Fritz]

Dude, I said no onions on the quarter pound. I'm sorry. Sorry. I told them. I don't know why they.

[Dan Patrick]

You know what? I can make that happen, I think.

[Todd Fritz]

Could you. You could pull a few strings.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah.

[Paul Pabst]

We could call a franchise and do a day in the life.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah. Okay. Maybe our next road trip. We'll see if we could have you do drive through.

[Todd Fritz]

Burning myself on the oil with the little basket with the french fries. 3rd degree burns on my arm. You're not supposed to stick your arm in there. That's what the bath can hold onto the handle. That could get very messy.

[Dan Patrick]

Thank you, Todd.

[Paul Pabst]

How many years left?

[Dan Patrick]

Let's take a break. Play of the day. Up next, be sure to catch the live edition of the Dan Patrick show, weekdays at 9am Eastern, 6am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the iHeartRadio app.

[Paul Pabst]

Oh, my God.

[Dan Patrick]

The play of the day. This is the play of the. Check this out. Fly ball, right field, deep down the line, hooking by the foul pole. Gone. Second home run of the game for Kerry Carpenter's 12th of the year. Another two run shot. Tigers having some fun now. Fly ball right center field deep. Roberts back at the fence, looking up, he leaps. And it's gone. A home run. 3 Homer Night for Kerry Carpenter, courtesy of the Tigers radio network. The first Tiger to Homer three times in a single game since 2016 when Victor Martinez did it. That's your play of the day. Play of the day brought to you by Mako. Your car could probably use a little tlc. Most cars on the road could use a little tlc. Bring them into Mako and it's like a car spa. Affordable paint jobs, light collision repairs. Get a free estimate today. Uh oh. Better get Mako. Early poll results there, Seaton. Yep.

[Seton O'Connor]

We got two of them right now. One of them got a big reaction from the room. The other is getting a big reaction, I think from the audience. Let's see more iffy starts. Stefan Diggs and the Patriots are Bill Belichick in North Carolina right now. Bill is running away with that one at about 70%.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah. Okay.

[Seton O'Connor]

And then we also have the NFL team that will drop off this season and miss the playoffs. The options there were Chiefs, commanders, Rams, Vikings. You want to guess.

[Dan Patrick]

Rams right now.

[Seton O'Connor]

The Vikings have 51 of that vote dang. Followed by the commanders at 24.

[Dan Patrick]

Okay. All right. Yeah. You don't know what to expect from J.J. mcCarthy. And I think probably it stems from the way he was used at Michigan. Great defense is always running game, and then JJ would sprinkle in some passes. And then you're thinking, okay, in the NFL, you got to be able to throw the ball. And I don't know if we've seen a large enough sample size where you go, hey, I know exactly what this guy's going to be all about. By the way, here's a fun fact for you. This quarterback is 10 and oh versus Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Jaden Daniels and Matthew Stafford, 100 in his career. If you said Jalen hurts, you would be correct. Still feels like we begrudgingly put him in as a top 10 quarterback. He doesn't. He doesn't have the numbers, but he does have the wins. And is he with the perfect team for him? Absolutely. Because I don't think he needs to be a mad bomber. I think that he can provide. I, you know, it's nuanced really, with what you see from him because there are times and when he gets to the playoffs, he's put up some big games, but there are times during the regular season where he just doesn't look like he's a really good passer. But that's a really good team. And that's why sometimes it's hard to judge that where you go, is it the quarterback or is it the team? Did the quarterback make the team or the team making the quarterback? In Philadelphia, the team has made the quarterback, but he has stepped up in big moments. But we love these top tens. Who's a top 10 quarterback? Who's. Who's 11? Who's top five? And I mean, Patrick Mahomes hasn't put up great numbers the last couple of years. If we did regular season, Patrick Mahomes hasn't been great. We know what he does when game is on the line, you get to the postseason. But he's also. It's a completely different offense the way it used to be. You know, if, if you. It's more ball control. You don't have home runs with Tyree Kill. You know, Kelsey, Isaiah, Pacheco, they play good defense, but sometimes we get caught up in these numbers and. But I look at team success, I have to look at team success because you can put up great numbers. That doesn't mean you're a great quarterback. But when your team is really good, then in, you know, I have to defer to that quarterback for that team if that team is really good. You know, Jared Goff never gets credit, it feels like, but he's a real, he's accomplished. He's been to a Super bowl, an NFC title game. It, it's not an accident. He's a good, he's a really good quarterback. Now, is he a top 10? I don't even know if he's the. Is he the best quarterback in his own division? No. Like Jordan Love, I, I have no idea. I still don't like. He's had moments where you go, man, he is great. You're paying him top five money. I just don't see the consistency yet. And I think they're an enigma when it comes to what I expect from them. I think Caleb Williams figures it out eventually with the help of his coach, J.J. mcCarthy. I have no idea. You got a great, you got a great head coach and helping him and you got a couple of really good. You got maybe the best receiver in football. That'll help him as well. But when it comes to quarterbacks, Jalen hurts. He wins these games. Can't argue with that. All right, more phone calls coming up. Get another poll question in there for hour two. We'll check in with the Knicks. Are they thinking about making a big move here in the off season? Should they make a big move in the off season? Hour two on this Tuesday, right after this, when your company earns unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases with Capital One, that's serious business. So Stephen at Sandcloud got a serious business card, the Spark Cash plus card from Capital One.

[Todd Fritz]

We used our 2% cash back to.

[Dan Patrick]

Help build our retail presence. Savvy Steven.

[Todd Fritz]

And we get big purchasing power so our business can spend more and earn more.

[Dan Patrick]

The SparkCashPlus card from Capital One. What's in your wallet?

[Paul Pabst]

Terms and conditions apply.

[Todd Fritz]

Find out [e-mail] SparkCashPlus this is an iHeart podcast.