The Dan Patrick Show – Hour 1: "Joe Burrow Needs an Ice Cream Cone, Knicks Won’t Raise Banner"

Date: December 18, 2025
Host: Dan Patrick, with Marvin, Paulie, Seaton, Fritzy, and callers
Podcast Network: iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network

Overview

This episode dives into hot NFL storylines, focusing on quarterback controversies (Sam Darnold, Tua Tagovailoa, Joe Burrow), team futures, and the cultural/PR oddities around the NBA’s In-Season Tournament. The show delivers signature irreverence and insider banter with memorable analogies, audience questions, and debate over what really counts as "banner-worthy" in sports arenas.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Preview: Rams at Seahawks – "A Game Too Big for Thursday Night"

• Dan Patrick opens by hyping the Thursday Night Football matchup between the Rams and Seahawks.
• Spotlight on Sam Darnold: Debate over whether Darnold, now with Seattle after a successful run with Minnesota, can overcome his big-game struggles.
  • “You got gaudy numbers last season...But then his biggest moments brought out his worst football. He’s 0-3 in big games, high-stakes games.” (Dan, 09:30)
• Importance for Playoff Race: Both teams are seen as legitimate January threats; question marks remain about ability to perform under pressure.
• Stat Notes: Rams +1.5; Over/Under 42.5.

2. Quarterback Carousel & Team Drama

• Tua Tagovailoa Benched:
  • News breaks that Miami has not only benched Tua but made him emergency third-string for the next game—Quinn Ewers and Zach Wilson to play.
  • Mike McDaniel Quote:
    • “Playing quarterback and being a starting quarterback... these are all things that are very complex... I couldn’t responsibly play this next game...” (McDaniel, via Dan, 13:50)
  • Dan suggests parallels to the Broncos' benching of Russell Wilson—a signal Miami doubts Tua’s long-term fit.
  • Questions Tua’s ceiling: “I don’t think his arm is threatening... Can you throw to the numbers? I don’t think Tua can do that and be threatening.” (Dan, 16:50)
• Joe Burrow Looking Despondent:
  • Cincinnati’s offense is flailing, and Burrow appears “miserable” and honest to a fault at his pressers.
  • Burrow’s own words:
    • “Feels like everybody's trying to do everything in their power to make me not play football... I just want to play ball. That’s all I want to do.” (Burrow, 22:55)
  • Dan doubts the Bengals’ Super Bowl window remains open: “The Bengals aren’t going back to the Super Bowl. Not anytime soon. And maybe not in Joe Burrow’s career.” (Dan, 29:10)
• Front Office & Coaching Issues:
  • Noted that Burrow has been given significant say over personnel, yet the team’s performance is underwhelming.
  • Paulie: “Joe Burrow feels like a guy who was a billionaire and now loses most of his money and has to live like a normal life.” (Paulie, 30:55)
  • Discussion over head coach (Zac Taylor) job security and apathy from the Bengals’ front office.

3. NBA In-Season Tournament & “Banner-Worthy” Debates

• Do the Knicks ‘Cup’ Win Deserve a Banner?
  • Dan and crew discuss the debate over whether the Knicks should hang a banner for winning the NBA’s In-Season Tournament.
  • “Put the banner at my practice facility.” (Dan, 38:15)
  • Marvin points out the Knicks have put up much lesser banners before, for division titles, etc.
  • Discussion of musical acts’ banners at Madison Square Garden and other arenas (Billy Joel, Harry Styles, Fish, Pearl Jam).
• Memorable Quotes:
  • “If we’re going to buy into it, we have to believe the players are buying into it. Like it means something. Now it doesn’t mean anything to us.” (Dan, 39:20)

4. Player Commentary, League Etiquette, and Media Narratives

• Puka Nacua Criticizes NFL Refs (“Want to be on TV”)
  • Nacua’s comments about refs seeking camera time generate debate: will the NFL fine him or just nudge him privately off the record?
  • “I always think there’s a little bit of truth in every bit of kidding.” (Dan, 48:55)
• Travis Kelce’s ‘Chiefs vs. We’ Slip
  • Kelce refers to the Kansas City Chiefs as “the Chiefs” rather than “we” when speaking about Mahomes’ injury, sparking guesswork over his own future.

5. Audience Interaction & “Most Valuable Danette” Discussion

• Callers Weigh in on Burrow, Team Loyalty, Banners
  • Notable: Some callers express frustration with Cincinnati and consider “switching teams.”
  • Ongoing bit about voting for Most (and Least) Valuable Danette around the holidays.

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On Sam Darnold’s Playoff Woes:
  “He’s played well… But then his biggest moments brought out his worst football. He’s 0-3 in big games, high stakes games.”
  — Dan Patrick (09:30)

• Mike McDaniel on Benching Tua:
  “I couldn’t responsibly play this next game when I thought what the team needed was available.”
  — Mike McDaniel (13:50, quoted by Dan)

• Dan on the Dolphins’ Future:
  “It feels like… this is a Russell Wilson, Denver Bronco type situation.”
  — Dan Patrick (15:24)

• Joe Burrow’s Earnestness:
  “Feels like everybody's trying to do everything in their power to make me not play football… I just want to play ball.”
  — Joe Burrow (22:55, audio clip)

• Dan on the Bengals’ Window:
  “The Bengals aren’t going back to the Super Bowl. Not anytime soon. And maybe not in Joe Burrow’s career.”
  — Dan Patrick (29:10)

• Paulie’s Analogy:
  “Joe Burrow feels like a guy who was a billionaire and now loses most of his money and has to live like a normal life.”
  — Paulie (30:55)

• Seaton on Banners:
  “You get a banner for 15 nights at the Garden… That’s a hell of a run. But is that banner-worthy?”
  — Seaton (45:50)

• Dan on the NBA In-Season Tournament:
  “If we’re going to buy into it, we have to believe the players are buying into it. Like it means something. Now, it doesn’t mean anything to us.”
  — Dan Patrick (39:20)

Important Timestamps

• [03:00] – Opening, Thursday Night Football preview, early Sam Darnold questions
• [09:30] – Darnold’s reputation and Seattle discussion
• [13:50] – Dolphins bench Tua; Mike McDaniel soundbite analysis
• [16:50] – What’s wrong with Tua Tagovailoa—Dan’s evaluation
• [22:55] – Joe Burrow’s comments on his happiness and Bengals future
• [29:00] – Dan questions the Bengals’ Super Bowl window
• [30:55] – “Billionaire to civilian” Burrow analogy
• [38:15] – Knicks In-Season Tournament banner debate
• [45:50] – Discussion on what’s truly “banner-worthy” at MSG and similar venues
• [48:55] – Puka Nacua’s comments about NFL refs, media narratives
• [53:00+] – Travis Kelce's language on the Chiefs, “Chiefs vs. We”
• [62:00+] – Phone calls on Burrow, “changing teams," Musicians' banners at sports arenas, Most/Least Valuable Danette voting bit

Style and Tone

• Conversational, irreverent, and quick with sports references and analogies
• Signature Dan Patrick humor and skepticism around sports PR/branding
• Banter seamlessly moves from sincere fan frustration to pop-culture-laced asides

Summary

Hour 1 of this Dan Patrick Show episode covers the high-pressure situations for NFL quarterbacks Sam Darnold (Seahawks), Tua Tagovailoa (Dolphins), and Joe Burrow (Bengals). Dan and the crew break down on-field performance, front office decisions, and media narratives, with plenty of snark and thoughtful insight. The episode then pivots to NBA marketing with a tongue-in-cheek debate over what really deserves a banner in pro arenas, blending sports and pop culture across lively calls and intra-show awards. Key moments include Burrow's candid frustration, a detailed dissection of quarterback "ceiling," spirited banner arguments, and a peek into how media and fan perception shape sports legacies.

Perfect for fans and non-listeners alike, this summary captures the sharpest debates, best zingers, and core sports insights from an hour packed with both NFL and NBA cultural commentary.