The Dan Patrick Show – Hour 1

Episode Date: September 15, 2025
Episode Title: Bengals Fail to Protect Joe Burrow, Tush Push, EJ Manuel
Host: Dan Patrick & "The Danettes"
Guest: EJ Manuel (ESPN, former NFL QB)

Overview

In this high-energy first hour, Dan Patrick and his team dive into the sports weekend’s most dramatic stories, led by the Cincinnati Bengals crisis after Joe Burrow’s major injury. The show covers the fallout for the Bengals, NFL storylines (including the infamous Tush Push play and officiating controversy), highlights and upsets in college football, and features an insightful conversation with ESPN’s EJ Manuel. Throughout, Dan maintains the show’s signature blend of analysis, humor, and listener engagement.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Joe Burrow’s Injury & the Bengals’ Failure to Protect Him

[03:25 – 13:16]

• News breaks that Bengals QB Joe Burrow will need toe surgery, missing a minimum of three months—potentially wiping out his season.
• Dan Patrick criticizes the Bengals ownership:

  “You win a game, but you lose your quarterback…Business 101: protect your investment.” (03:39)

• Chronicles Burrow’s run of injuries (ACL in 2020, MCL in 2022, calf strain and wrist in 2023, now turf toe in 2025), emphasizing the expensive contract and persistent offensive line issues.
• Emphasizes how the Bengals, presumed contenders, now tumble to “maybe an afterthought” two weeks into the season.
• Quote:

  “If you’re a Bengals fan, it's not a question of if Joe Burrow gets hurt—it’s which body part.” (04:27)

2. NFL Week 2 Rapid Reactions

[05:25 – 13:16]

• Quick recaps from around the league: Eagles outlast Chiefs, Colts over Broncos, Seahawks upset Steelers, and more.
• Notable focus on the Chiefs' loss and the controversial "Tush Push" play:
  • Dean Blandino (Fox officiating analyst) declares on TV, “I'm done with the tush push. You can't officiate it.” (approx 08:10)
  • Dan interprets this as the out the NFL wanted: “They don’t have the injury data they need, but now they can say: We can’t officiate this play.” (08:20)
  • Discusses rules, potential rule changes, unfairness to the Eagles (who execute the play best), and the broader cycle of NFL overreactions and hot takes.

3. The “Hot Take” Culture & Quarterback Evaluations

[11:10 – 13:16]

• Dan calls out hyperbolic shifts in player/media perception, referencing Arch Manning's hype and recent NFL examples (Russell Wilson, J.J. McCarthy).
• Quote:

  “Can we slow down on saying stupid things? …We don’t have it as figured out as we think we do.” (11:40 – 12:50)

4. The Bengals’ QB Dilemma – Should They Trade for Kirk Cousins?

[13:16 – 16:53]

• Poll question from Paulie:

  “Should the Bengals call the Falcons about Kirk Cousins?” (13:16)

• Dan says if you believe playoffs are possible, maybe—but Cousins is expensive and the Bengals are “thrifty.”
• Suggests Falcons might be more motivated to trade than the Bengals to acquire.
• Bottom line: Bengals likely to stick with Jake Browning, who must step up along with elite receivers.
• Cautions fans on making predictions so early in the season:

  “There’s a market correction every year—some teams surprise, some disappoint.” (14:20)

5. Field Goals Becoming Routine, the Specialists’ Rise

[17:13 – 17:36]

• Brief rant as long field goals (60+ yards) become “routine,” citing Brandon Aubrey’s emergence and growing clutch importance.

6. College Football: Weekend’s Big Winners & Losers

[24:07 – 29:01 (with extended through 29:51)]

• “Worst Weekend” Poll: Clemson, Tennessee, Notre Dame, UCLA (and honorable mention to Virginia Tech)
• Explores Clemson and Notre Dame’s struggles, the heartbreak of Tennessee’s missed field goal, and UCLA’s coaching turmoil after a disastrous loss.

Memorable Moment:

• Tennessee loss called in real time:

  “The kick is no good... What the heck happened there?” (25:28-25:49)

• UCLA’s problems analyzed:

  • Coach fired midseason, the stadium empty, program’s lack of football commitment called out.
  • Dan jokes,

    “How dare you be into education.” (28:33)

7. Conversation with EJ Manuel (ESPN, ex-NFL QB)

[31:32 – 41:41]

• Clemson vs. Notre Dame – Who’s in Worse Shape?
  • EJ argues Notre Dame is worse off due to lack of conference championship as a fallback for playoff qualification.
  • Emphasizes Clemson can “still play for the ACC title.”
• UCLA Discussion:
  • EJ calls the UCLA job “a great spot”—should attract top coaches/players but questions institutional commitment to football.
  • Cites “being out-physicaled, outcoached" as issues.
• On Handling College Pressure (esp. after big losses):
  • EJ, reflecting on his FSU days, describes the campus mood after a bad game:

    “Imagine if there’s a really pretty girl in class…and she doesn’t say anything to you [after a bad game]. That’s what it is.” (35:02-35:29)

• On Miami as a Contender:
  • Cites balance and “great in all three phases.” Names OC Shannon Dawson as a rising star.
• Arch Manning’s Hype:
  • EJ says Manning “doesn’t look comfortable” yet, notes huge expectations due to family, but cautions fans to be patient:

    “He is…on time. Right now for Arch, it's about building confidence.” (36:43-37:58)

• NFL Rookie QB Lessons:
  • EJ wishes he’d advocated for his health and reached out more to veteran QBs.
  • Highlights importance of QB development plans and support for young players.
• On Joe Burrow’s Future:
  • EJ laments Burrow’s season-ending injury, expects the Bengals will struggle with Jake Browning despite having talented receivers.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Dan Patrick [On Joe Burrow/Bengals]:

  "You don't hand out these contracts without protecting those who are making that kind of money." (04:20)

• Dan Patrick [On “Tush Push”]:

  “When Dean Blandino said that, I thought, there is the out. The NFL can say, we can’t officiate this play.” (08:20)

• Dan Patrick [On QB Hype/Hot Takes]:

  “If Arch Manning wasn’t Arch Manning, we wouldn’t even be talking about him.” (11:58)

• EJ Manuel [On campus after a bad game]:

  "It’s one of those just where, you know, you have to wear it for the next six days until you get a chance to play again." (35:02-35:29)

• EJ Manuel [On Development of Young QBs]:

  “For young quarterbacks, there has to be a plan set in place… to show me that you’ve had this amount of growth in this amount of time.” (39:43-40:47)

Key Timestamps & Segments

• 03:25: Dan opens analysis on Bengals’ failure to protect Joe Burrow.
• 08:10: “Tush Push” controversy with Dean Blandino’s comments—potential for NFL rule change.
• 13:16: Discussion of Bengals’ QB options—should they call about Kirk Cousins?
• 17:13: On the new normal of 60+ yard field goals and the growing role of kickers.
• 24:07: Worst weekend poll question, college football edition.
• 25:21-25:49: Live breakdown of Tennessee’s missed field goal from dual broadcasts.
• 31:32: EJ Manuel joins; in-depth college football chat.
• 36:10: Arch Manning hype addressed.
• 38:15: EJ Manuel reflects on rookie QB growing pains; advice for young quarterbacks.
• 41:43: EJ signs off; “best to your father” from Dan Patrick.

Listener Interactions & Polls

• Polls:

  • Worst weekend in college football: Clemson, Tennessee, Notre Dame, UCLA.
  • Worst weekend in NFL: Bears, Dolphins (Bengals omitted due to Burrow injury).

• Fan Calls:

  • Shea and Irving (Cowboys win, but with angst about the team)
  • Al in Atlanta (Georgia win, Falcons worries)
  • Lucas in Texas (A&M’s big win, Giants O-line woes)

Tone, Style, and Show Energy

• Language & Tone: Direct, witty, occasionally self-deprecating. The hosts challenge “hot take” culture but also lean into it humorously.
• Vibe: Lively and spontaneous—banter among friends who are also astute analysts. Guests (like EJ Manuel) are treated affably, conversationally.
• Humor: Flashes throughout (“How dare you be into education”), with a dose of gallows humor for long-suffering sports fans.

Conclusion

This episode captures why The Dan Patrick Show is a cornerstone of sports talk radio: sharp, unsparing football analysis; authentic, relatable interviews (especially with ex-players like EJ Manuel); and an ongoing conversation with its dedicated listeners. The segment on Joe Burrow's injury not only assessed its impact on the Bengals but also wove in broader truths about team management and NFL culture—all with plenty of laughs and memorable moments to keep fans hooked.

Notable Quote to close:

“We got it all figured out. We do NOT have it figured out as much as we think we do. We don’t.” – Dan Patrick (13:05)

End of Hour 1 Summary