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Dan Patrick
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Melissa Stark
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Dan Patrick
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Dan Patrick
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Dan Patrick
You are listening to the Dan Patrick show on Fox Sports Radio. Oh, we did it. We made it to a Friday. It's a meat Friday at that. And once again, this might be the best crowd that we've had today, Todd, so far. Yeah.
Todd
Got three hours strong.
Dan Patrick
Yeah. But let's see what they can do compared to the other four days here. But thank you to the San Francisco Giants once again for the hospitality. They let us set up shop here across the McCovey Cove from Oracle Park. Fritzi and some of the backroom guys got to take a tour of the baseball stadium yesterday.
Todd
Fantastic. It took us on the field in the locker room dugouts, pretend that we were a player, the entertainment room with bowling alleys and video games. All the things that guys do to relax after a game.
Dan Patrick
So cool. But it was weird that you said, can we shower? And I thought that that was.
Todd
I did ask for a brief shower just to say that I showered the giant slack when they said we don't really do that on the tour.
Dan Patrick
Stat of the day brought to you by Panini America. The official trading cards of the program. First hour brought to you by Penske Truck Rental. They helped us immeasurably drive cross country. The big German and his brother able to bring the gear to here in San Francisco. You can gain ground with Penske. They are reliable, fuel efficient vehicles when you need them the most. Play of the day, poll question, stat of the day, all of that forthcoming. They'll be on the sidelines for Super Bowl 60 for NBC. Melissa Stark and Kaylee Har will join us. Malcolm Butler, I think he provided the greatest play in super bowl history. And the former Patriot defensive back will join us a little later on CD Lamb of the Cowboys. Seaton is going to be excited about CD Lamb.
Seaton
That's my guy.
Dan Patrick
Yes, my guy. Mike Tirico and Chris Collinsworth, they'll be calling Super Bowl 60. They will stop by a little later on. And Booger McFarland from the mothership, he kept threatening to come by to the man cave back home for a meat Friday. And we said we'll bring meat Friday to you. So Booger is going to join us a little bit later on. It is a meat Friday. We have tomahawk steaks, we have rib eyes, we have avocado toast on sourdough. Who has it better than we do?
Todd
Nobody.
Dan Patrick
Thank you. Dylan is going to be whipping up the stakes today for our meat Friday, courtesy of Heartland Steak Company. All right, so we have a poll question, player today, stat of the day, all of that forthcoming. A great guest list. The NBA trade deadline kind of came and went. Not much happened as Giannis, as I predicted, would not be moved prior to the trade deadline. There is more flexibility coming up in the summer. Luka Doncic got injured last night in the Lakers win. It's a hamstring. I don't know the severity of that. Last night was about the football awards. Matthew Stafford won the mvp, but it was a whole lot closer than we thought. It was one vote over Drake May. Justin Herbert got a first place vote. Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Roger Craig make the hall of Fame. Miles Garrett, your defensive player of the Year. Jackson Smith Jigba wins the offensive player of the year. Why is it okay, how is Matthew Stafford not the offensive player of the year if he's the mvp? I mean, I like handing out a lot of awards here, but this felt like, hey, we need more categories here. How about an offensive player of the year? But he won't be the mvp. Yes.
Seaton
How can you be, how can you not be the offensive player of the Year if you're the most valuable player.
Dan Patrick
I'm not sure.
Seaton
I don't understand.
Dan Patrick
I'm not sure. Christian McCaffrey got the comeback player of the year award. Yes.
Paulie
Paul the O poy lately has been the best wide receiver or running back. Jackson, JSN Barkley, Christian McCaffrey, Justin Jefferson, Cooper Cup, Derrick Henry, Michael Thomas, remember him from the Saints Mahomes won it in 18. He's the last quarterback to win the.
Dan Patrick
O Poi Breeze and Fitzgerald. I had mentioned that. I had somebody tell me earlier when we were dealing with the Belichick and the situation. I said, you know, Breeze and Fitzgerald are going in. I don't think that's, you know, a big surprise. And I thought Roger Craig and I, I'm glad he's in, but we are in San Francisco and he played for the 49ers and maybe it's convenient to be able to do that. And the game here, you know, you know, on the outskirts of San Francisco for the 49ers and Roger Craig goes into the hall of Fame, which means Kenny Anderson, Elsie Greenwood did not make it. And we've already talked ad nauseam about Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft who are some of the candidates for next year. Oh, Luke Keakley also got into the hall of Fame and rightfully so. He had a seven year window where Luke Keakley was a bad man. And Adam Vinateri, I don't know if we're going to get a field goal kicker in in a long, long, long time because Justin Tucker, given his troubled past here or recent past, probably not getting into the hall of Fame or not getting in anytime soon. But you know Vinitari, I mean, has there been a more valuable kicker in the history of the game? He won Super Bowls like he can say Brady can. Brady can take credit for being the quarterback on super bowl winning teams. Adam Vinitari, and don't forget about the tuck rule with the Raiders in the snow. He kicked the field goal to send them to the Super Bowl. But Venatori, I can't imagine another kicker going in in the next 10, 15 years. He played 24 years, 24 years. And I thought that was a foregone conclusion. You know, maybe they don't want to give a kicker like easy entrance here and put him in first ballot. But Adam Vinitari, great, great clutch kicker and rightfully so. Now a Hall of Famer.
Paulie
Yeah, Paul, Here are some of the first time eligibles for the hall of fame class of 27. Gronkowski, Ben Rothsberger.
Dan Patrick
Yeah.
Paulie
Adrian Peterson missed a lot of games for various reasons.
Dan Patrick
Does he get in before Frank Gore?
Paulie
Yeah.
Marvin
Yes.
Dan Patrick
You think so?
Paulie
More, more better. If that's a phrase.
Dan Patrick
Yeah, he was. Yes.
Seaton
He's way more better.
Marvin
Yes. Way more better.
Dan Patrick
For sure.
Paulie
First team more better.
Dan Patrick
Frank Gore has this third most yards or second most yards in the history of the NFL with running back, but.
Paulie
A lot of like 1150 yard seasons.
Dan Patrick
Yes.
Marvin
Todd.
Todd
Yeah. One, one of those running backs, you say they had some dominant years. The other was more of a compiler, not to take away from that accomplishment, but when you hear Frank Gore's name, that does come up. You play long enough and you have a whole bunch of seasons, you're going.
Dan Patrick
To get a lot of money. Yeah. But at that position, nobody plays that many years. That's remarkable. And he's already on the ballot. But you know, Adrian Peterson will get in. I'm just wondering. There was, there was a. The last few years, five or six years weren't great. Yes.
Seaton
Plus you have to consider it might be Frank Gore's turn next year.
Dan Patrick
All of a sudden it's his turn.
Seaton
He has to get in.
Dan Patrick
Got to have a turn. Yeah. Yes, good point. Yeah. Paul.
Paulie
Okay, so the first three are Gronk, Rothsberger and Adrian Peterson. Likely in or inish at this point. The next three are going to be controversial. Richard Sherman and next one after that is Cam Newton first year eligibility. That's gonna be a lot of discussion.
Seaton
That's a lot of discussion.
Paulie
Tons of discussion.
Dan Patrick
It's gonna be a lot of discussion on. Get up.
Paulie
Here's one more. Yeah, that's gonna be a lot of discussion. Antonio Brown from the Steelers.
Seaton
Yeah, 100%. No doubt about it. Hall of Famer.
Marvin
No question.
Seaton
He was. It was either him or Julio Jones was the best wide receiver for a very, very, very, very, very long time.
Dan Patrick
He was money. He was like you game planned for.
Seaton
Him and still couldn't stop him.
Dan Patrick
Yes, yes, yes.
Paulie
There was a five year run where Antonio Brown 110 catches, 129, 136, 106, 101 and then a 104. He was first team all pro four straight seasons. Then he fell off a cliff. I will bet anybody he does not get in first ballot.
Dan Patrick
Oh no, he's not a first ballot. No.
Paulie
I think he's gonna wait a while. A while while.
Dan Patrick
Okay. Tori Holt's not in. Now you can say was Tori hold a guy you game plan for? I would say probably not. Just because there were so many weapons on that team. But Tori Holt's got crazy numbers. Yes, Marv, you're right.
Marvin
But Tory Holt was never considered the best receiver in the game. Antonio Brown and Julio Jones, it was. Who's the best receiver in the game? That would be something that would be talked about on debate shows.
Dan Patrick
Is Cam Newton getting in?
Marvin
No.
Dan Patrick
No. I'm not talking first ballot. Is he getting into the hall of Fame?
Marvin
No.
Dan Patrick
Okay, that's pretty quick.
Marvin
I just don't think it was long enough.
Dan Patrick
Okay, well, didn't Josh Allen just surpass him in rushing touchdowns? Like that was the big thing for Cam that, you know, he had a crazy number of rushing touchdowns. Yes, Todd, If Cam got in and.
Todd
He requested a big hat on top of the bust, would they accommodate that or everyone has to kind of look the same.
Dan Patrick
Thank you, Todd. Yes, Paulie.
Paulie
In Cam Newton's first six seasons, three All Pros, first team All Pro, MVP, three Pro Bowls, and then after age 27, he never made another Pro Bowl.
Dan Patrick
Yeah. Yeah, I. I don't think so. And Matthew Stafford solidified being a Hall of Famer last night, winning the mvp. Right. And then he said he was going to come back next year, which I know Sean pay or Sean McVeigh was like, I. I'm hoping he's coming back. I'm planning on him coming back. Yes.
Todd
Todd, you mentioned Tori Holt. When I think of those, the greatest show on turf and everything, to me, like, Isaac Bruce and Tori Holt kind of canceled each other out. They're both very good. Not one was so much greater than the other. Where one is, like, would get into hall of Fame.
Dan Patrick
I agree. I agree. And then you had Marshall Falk.
Seaton
You know, he kind of takes the.
Marvin
The.
Seaton
That first billing out of all those guys. Marshall Falk, you think of him first?
Dan Patrick
Yeah. Then Kurt Warner. Yeah. Yes, Marvin.
Marvin
That's what happened to Reggie Wayne. Also, like, if he was the number one guy on another team, he'd probably be a Hall of Famer. No doubt. But since he was, what, Marvin Harrison, Peyton Manning, Adrian James, Dallas Clark. He kind of got lost in sauce.
Dan Patrick
A poll question today. Seaton, by the way, a little bit later on, Todd has been hinting about this rhyme time, and it's a special rhyme time.
Todd
Like the hourly emails that I sent you. Is that your way of saying I.
Dan Patrick
Should stop bothering you? Yes. Todd nudges me today, and he goes, just want to remind you, rhyme time. I go, I know, Todd.
Todd
The last show, then we're on a plane.
Dan Patrick
No, no, no, no.
Todd
Today it's not gonna happen.
Dan Patrick
No, I And it's a special rhyme time. Explain what rhyme time is and why. It's even more special that we're out here.
Todd
Sure. I give you two clues and the answer are two words that rhyme with one another and it has a San Francisco theme.
Dan Patrick
Well, give us it like just a little taste because I want to keep the audience the entire show and do it.
Todd
You think so?
Dan Patrick
Yeah. Yeah.
Todd
Sounds like you being a wise guy a little bit.
Marvin
Okay.
Todd
Microwave something, Brandon. Microwave something, Brandon. These are all San Francisco related rhyme times when you microwave something.
Seaton
You can see how excited the crowd is there about this. They're really pumped.
Todd
No one's trying to guess. Looking for nuke and Iuk. Microwave something and Brandon. Nuke auk. Let me give it one more so people really understand.
Dan Patrick
Yeah, good one now.
Todd
Okay, good one. Other word for movie. Old stadium. Other word for a movie. Old stadium.
Dan Patrick
Oh, flick.
Paulie
Candlestick.
Seaton
There you go. I got it.
Dan Patrick
And the audience is so pumped up.
Todd
Nuke Ayuk.
Dan Patrick
Yeah. There they are. Look at what you're.
Todd
They're leaving.
Dan Patrick
No, they're not leaving.
Todd
It looks like they're sitting in a library waiting to watch a movie about 18th century.
Dan Patrick
I think they're in a waiting room ready to, you know.
Todd
When's the fun stuff coming?
Dan Patrick
Hey, joke boy. Yes.
Seaton
If they know the show, they know it's not coming.
Dan Patrick
So sitting here in the cold, in the dark, make me laugh, Joke boy.
Paulie
I thought that was a photo. I didn't. There was no movement.
Todd
They were blinking. I don't know what was going on there.
Dan Patrick
Seaton poll question today.
Seaton
Well, I'm not trying to pick on anybody, but do we do a. How many first place votes should Justin Herbert have gotten? Zero, one or two plus?
Dan Patrick
No, it's zero. He's not an MVP, it turns out. No, no, no. He got one MVP vote. I mean, his numbers are what, 26 and 13. Yeah, they won 11 games. Come on. Yeah, come on. Not MVP. I mean, Josh Allen, you could say you can give him a couple of first place votes because he was well cooked too there. That was their offense and I thought they overachieved this year, but Stafford had a crazy, crazy year. I thought it was going to be a runaway over Drake May. Yeah, Paul.
Paulie
The reporter who voted for Justin Herbert is named Sam Monson. I think he's been on this show before when he's at pff. He is an Irish NFL reporter. He actually posted why he voted for him. He said the guy had the worst offensive line in the season. Despite that he was working Miracles. Every single game his running backs were hurt. He says Stafford has so much more around him. It was easier for Stafford to do. And that's why he voted for the true. He used the word most valuable player almost literally. Like if you remove him from the team, it's over, Johnny. And that's was his rationale.
Dan Patrick
Okay, wait a minute. Is he trying to say he's more valuable to his team than Drake May was to his team this year?
Paulie
Yeah, he said also about that, like the defense helped a lot more than the offense with New England.
Dan Patrick
How great was the, the Chargers defense?
Paulie
Top five in the league.
Dan Patrick
Come on.
Paulie
I appreciate him giving his opinion and telling why he did it.
Dan Patrick
No, no, I, I know, but I can still, I can carve it up a little bit here.
Paulie
It's a hard one to justify.
Dan Patrick
Drake May might have been the most valuable. Matthew Stafford had the most unbelievable year.
Seaton
But do we know who, like if that person didn't vote for Justin Herbert though? We don't know if they would have voted. It might have put Stafford first.
Paulie
Yeah.
Dan Patrick
Or it could have.
Seaton
We don't know if it would have gone to Drake May necessarily.
Dan Patrick
No, but I think, I think he was the most valuable player to his team. Considering the turnaround, we knew the Rams would be great. Stafford took it even a step further. His. His years. Year was remarkable. And considering we didn't even know how healthy he was going to be. And you can have weapons. And by the way, the vote happens before the playoffs. You can have weapons. You have to make sure you utilize those weapons. And Matthew Stafford did what?
Seaton
This is funny to me. All the hall of Fame voting. I'm surprised Vinitari didn't get dinged a little bit. It seems like people forgot him for a while.
Dan Patrick
Wait, why is he getting dinged?
Seaton
Because all the Patriots are getting dinged.
Dan Patrick
Yeah, but he didn't do anything.
Seaton
I understand that.
Dan Patrick
I understand he didn't create the Tuck rule.
Seaton
It seems like over the years people have forgotten that he was really great.
Dan Patrick
Yes.
Seaton
He's sort of like, well, Justin Tucker is the greatest kicker of all time. So he. Whatever. People forget that before Justin Tucker there was Adam Vinitari.
Dan Patrick
Yes. Yeah. But he had been waiting a couple of years.
Seaton
Yeah. Second year.
Dan Patrick
Oh, was it.
Seaton
Oh, I think second year.
Dan Patrick
Second, third year. Okay. Yeah.
Paulie
Paulie, Going back to Sam Monson, this reporter, and why he voted for Herbert, do you guys look at the MVP as most valuable player or best player, Best team? Because it feels like the most votes these days. The rationale is best player, best team.
Dan Patrick
I don't know what kind of parameters they give you, but it, you know, it's open to your interpretation. And having voted on these postseason awards in the NBA, I understand it, but I always felt like if I was voting for somebody or not voting for somebody, then I should be able to explain why or why not. And if Sam says, hey, look at the offensive line, great, it was a bad offensive line. But don't tell me that Drake may had the benefit of a great defense without at least acknowledging the Chargers defense was top five. Why am I raising my voice? Todd? It's early here.
Todd
Get a little riled up, right On a Friday.
Dan Patrick
Oh, the lights are on there over at Oracle. That's nice. My backdrop here is gorgeous here, McCovey Cove. I just wanted to run the bases yesterday. That was it.
Todd
They wouldn't let you do that.
Dan Patrick
I know, I know. But I was taking a nap when they said, hey, we're gonna go take a tour. I go, I'm gonna take a tour of my bed.
Seaton
We had some grounds crew guys here earlier in the week.
Dan Patrick
I saw them.
Seaton
Yeah, they probably could have hooked that up.
Dan Patrick
They had dirt all over them, though. Came over, they said, hey, we're part of the grounds crew. I go, I know. I can tell.
Seaton
They ran in carrying, dragging that net behind them and the other guy was raking right in front.
Dan Patrick
All right, when we come back, Melissa Stark and Kaylee Harton. They'll be on the sidelines for Super Bowl 60. They'll join us here on set. Just getting started. It's a meet Friday. Glad you're part of the program. Dan and the Danette's Dan Patrick Show. 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.
Stugots
Stigatz here. I have a podcast empire. It continues to grow and I have brought it here to iHeart. I'm also doing a live radio show from 3 to 5pm Eastern because my wife wanted to kick me out of the house. It's called Stagots and company Live, which is available in podcast form right when the show finishes every single day. Some of the biggest names in sports, a lot of phone calls.
Dan Patrick
I love you guys show. It's one of my favorites.
Stugots
A lot of interaction, guys not taking themselves too seriously. Those are just some of the things that you can expect from Stugots Co. And Stugots Co. Live. So listen to Stegotson Co. Live and our original podcast. Please subscribe rate and review stuff. Godson Co. And God bless football. Taylor's livelihood depends on it. Do it today and you can check all of those out on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.
Todd
This month, iHeartRadio is celebrating the stars of the 2026 Winter Games. Gaylord, Michigan's Winter Vanecki was born to compete in the cold. A powerhouse in aerial skiing, she launches herself 40ft into the air, performing triple backflips with pinpoint precision. Known for her high degree of difficulty and perfect landings, she enters Milano Cortina as a top contender for the podium. Vanecki combines aerobatic grace with daredevil courage, looking to stick the landing of a lifetime and secure Olympic glory for Team USA. For more Winter Games gold, search Olympics on the iHeartRadio app.
Dan Patrick
It was on this date in 2005, the Patriots beat the Eagles. Dion Branch was named MVP. Boy, remember that. And then he went to Seattle after that, after he became the MVP. Also, 2011, the packers beat the Steelers. That was Aaron Rodgers lone Super bowl when he was the mvp. Yes, Marvin.
Marvin
I thought that was a coronation with Aaron Rodgers. Yes, for sure.
Dan Patrick
He was young. Yeah. Oh, by the way, There have been three coaches to win the Super bowl before turning 40. Mike McDonald's trying to be the fourth. Who are those coaches, Marvin?
Marvin
Mike Tomlin.
Dan Patrick
Yes.
Paulie
Paul Sean McVeigh.
Dan Patrick
Yes. And back row. Back row.
Seaton
I had McVeigh.
Dan Patrick
Okay. We forget about this guy still in the media, maybe coming back to the NFL one day.
Seaton
Dot, dot, dot.
Dan Patrick
Jon Gruden, 39.
Seaton
That guy. That's not really his super bowl, though.
Dan Patrick
Wow. What you say into his face.
Seaton
I might.
Dan Patrick
Yeah, this guy. Melissa Stark and Kaylee Hartung, they will be on the sidelines for Super Bowl 60, working for NBC, of course. Kaylee is working her first Super Bowl. This will be Melissa's second. She last worked the super bowl. That was 23 years ago when the Bucs played the Raiders in San Diego. We got a chance to sit down with them a couple of days ago, and I asked them about trying to treat the super bowl like it's just another game, starting with the question to.
Melissa Stark
Melissa, because I think we treat every game at the same level. I don't care if it's a preseason game or it's the Super Bowl. We attack it and research and do all of the work as if it is. But, you know, I mean, already I think it's fun. I mean, the Kaylee's here, you know, bringing in another sideline reporter. It is. It Feels bigger. It is bigger. It's the biggest stage, but it's your first, so I'll have you answer that.
Dan Patrick
It is.
Kaylee Hartung
So I think what's fun about this for us is to share this responsibility of covering the sidelines and getting to focus on our respective teams. Melissa will be on the Patriots sideline. I'll be with the Seahawks. But for as much as we both, I think, enjoy the preparation process for a regular season game, it's a different type of challenge to focus on one, but also have the awareness of the other that you need. So I think my fear in a lot of games is that no matter how much you prepare, sometimes you just can't be at the right place at the right time. You know, quarterback gets hurt, he's exiting the field on the opposite sideline from where you are, you're running, trying to get to where you need to be. In this case, I think for us, it sort of takes some of that pressure off. We got it covered where we can.
Dan Patrick
How do you decide? Was there a coin toss of who gets the Patriots?
Melissa Stark
Kelly, do you want to answer?
Kaylee Hartung
Well, Melissa, being that this is her Sunday Night Football crew, that is so wonderfully allowing me. She got first dibs.
Melissa Stark
I'm speaking about myself in the third person.
Dan Patrick
Yes, exactly.
Kaylee Hartung
So. But we were in constant conversation about it. I think that was one of the most fun things for me about championship Sunday and watching those games was that Melissa and I were texting throughout.
Melissa Stark
She kept saying, what are you thinking? Who are you taking?
Kaylee Hartung
Because I want to know where I'm going to land.
Melissa Stark
So it's funny because, you know, I thought it was. It really wasn't, you know, a definite decision one way or the other, but I just felt like I'd had more games with the Patriots this year. Sideline observations come into play and then stories, and you think of, you know, Drake May and his wife and Michael and the storylines there. And so it just. It was slightly outweighed the Seahawks.
Kaylee Hartung
And for me, I had two regular season Seahawks games, so it worked out perfectly for us.
Melissa Stark
Yeah.
Dan Patrick
Yeah. As far as interviews this week, do you then have Seattle players that. And coaches that you have responsibilities for? Same with you, Melissa.
Melissa Stark
Yeah, so we do. So we're both going to both team practices, production meetings and all that. And then on the. On the side of that, we're each talking to all the individual players for our teams. But we went to media night, and, yeah, I was just with.
Kaylee Hartung
What a circus.
Melissa Stark
Yeah, that was. That was wild. Were you there? No, no, it was too Late for you.
Dan Patrick
Yes, yes. Plus, you don't really learn anything there.
Melissa Stark
Well, we got. We were behind the scenes down in the hallways, you know, with the players that we wanted to talk to.
Kaylee Hartung
So typically, during a regular game week, we would each be getting on the phone with a couple of players that we request in the teams. In this case, we got to do it face to face. We got to do it between all their different responsibilities on opening night and get more players than we would typically have for a regular game, which just sort of adds to that information that we need to go through, distill and make sure we've got all of our bases covered.
Melissa Stark
And it's interesting because, you know, the job of the sideline reporter is to be the eyes and the ears down the field and get you the access. Right. And to interview the coaches and. And injuries, of course, but observations while you're down there, and it's. And then do you storytell? And it's. It's almost. You know, we didn't do a ton of storytelling this season where you, you know, you really personalize a player because it does, in a way, it can take you out of the game at that moment. But this is such a big audience, so it'll be interesting to me to see how it plays out for us because we have some incredible stories on some of these players. You know, I talked to Marcus Jones last night about his son who has autism, and he's four years old, and Marcus Jones is learning sign language and things like that. So how does that get into a football game? You know, that's. That's the hard part. But the audience is so big that stories like that will appeal and. And touch someone and make you root for that player.
Dan Patrick
But you could also have these stories told in the pregame since it's.
Melissa Stark
Well, we're not in the pregame.
Dan Patrick
I know, but can't you do a story for the pregame?
Melissa Stark
Oh, I see what you're saying. Yes. I don't know. Wait, you don't think all the time.
Dan Patrick
You don't lower yourself to the pregame.
Melissa Stark
We want to be in the pregame.
Dan Patrick
I got it.
Kaylee Hartung
Hey, we are in the pregame show. We do. We will each be at the team hotels.
Melissa Stark
Yes.
Kaylee Hartung
The morning of the super bowl and be able to.
Melissa Stark
Logistics. You know, when they're leaving. What's going on? I know.
Dan Patrick
We want.
Melissa Stark
We want to be in the pregame.
Kaylee Hartung
We'd be glad to.
Dan Patrick
The arrangement for the coaches at halftime. Yes. You got two questions for each.
Kaylee Hartung
Oh, this is actually an interesting this.
Melissa Stark
Is the first time ever they both want to be interviewed going in. So we have them back to back, so live. I hope. I hope Kelly doesn't go really long with hers and go over to me and I get one question.
Kaylee Hartung
Because the Patriots for the home team during the regular season, the home team coach gets to choose does he want to be going in or coming out. In this case, Mike Rabel wants to be going in, but Mike McDonald also wants to be going in. So we had to have that conversation with their staffs to be like. And I had this conversation face to face with Mike McDonald last night saying, do you understand Melissa is going to get Mike Brable first? And you might have to wait a beat with me, which is a lot.
Melissa Stark
You know, feels like a lifetime when you're out there and you're holding a coach and you're waiting.
Dan Patrick
Oh, yeah.
Melissa Stark
And you're saying, okay, but he.
Kaylee Hartung
He knows the position, putting himself in.
Dan Patrick
And you're trying to make small talk with a guy who might be down, you know, 13 points. You're gone.
Melissa Stark
Now you're just holding. At that point, you're just holding his arm. Like, don't. Please don't leave. No small talk.
Dan Patrick
Who's the toughest, though, to get information out of?
Melissa Stark
You mean coach wise? What's interesting, we talk about that because some coaches, I just always say in our production meetings, just say something. Give us something. Like, not coach.
Dan Patrick
You say this to the coaches? Yes.
Melissa Stark
Oh, yeah. Yes. I say make it memorable, you know.
Dan Patrick
You didn't say this to Belichick, did you?
Melissa Stark
Well, I mean, I would kind of.
Kaylee Hartung
I would say.
Melissa Stark
I would say, well, would you give me more off camera or. I would say, all right. If I don't interview you on camera, which I know you don't want to do, please just give me like, a little bit something off camera. You know, you just do these little negotiations, right?
Dan Patrick
But why can't you just say, can I get something from Josh McDaniels like, Can I get something from an assistant so I don't bother you?
Kaylee Hartung
That's like, Coach K used to do that at Duke. You would go to an assistant instead of doing the halftime interview with Coach.
Melissa Stark
K. I mean, both of these coaches are pretty good. Sometimes I feel like I hear. Sometimes the viewers say, you know, the coach is never going to say anything. Why do we want that? But it's access, right? It's access. There is the debate of certain coaches that give so much coach speak. Do you just talk to them off camera and then you report you Know the best of what they said.
Dan Patrick
Yeah.
Melissa Stark
But, you know, I think you see their face, you see their emotion, and.
Kaylee Hartung
That can go a real long way.
Dan Patrick
Yeah.
Melissa Stark
Are you a fan of. I think you're over there not being a fan of those.
Dan Patrick
Of what?
Melissa Stark
Of the coach interviews.
Dan Patrick
No, I, I feel bad sometimes.
Melissa Stark
For them or for us?
Dan Patrick
For you. For you guys.
Melissa Stark
I know.
Dan Patrick
It's just sometimes you can have a great question.
Melissa Stark
Yes.
Dan Patrick
And it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter because you need somebody to play. You need somebody. Now you're going to say, hey, what adjustments you can make in the second half. As if they're going to tell you, you know, so there's so many. They're sort of like open ended questions. I hope you're going to take a bite of this. Chances are they're not going to say too much. And if they're up, they don't want to share anything. If they're down the obvious, you know, they're going to share the obvious. So that would be the only thing that I cringe sometimes because I know you have to ask a question, but I know they're not going to answer the question.
Melissa Stark
We just have to make sure our job is to ask the right question. Yeah.
Kaylee Hartung
And that's it.
Dan Patrick
Yeah.
Melissa Stark
And that's. We can't. I go over this all the time with my, our producer and I just say, well, what I want him to say is this.
Kaylee Hartung
Engineer.
Dan Patrick
Yeah.
Kaylee Hartung
But I think Melissa and I share the feeling that in that moment we just want to help the viewer learn something. So it's give that coach Runway. Right. Ask that open, neutral lean question where they can say whatever it is that they want to say. But hopefully it is illuminating in some way.
Melissa Stark
Hopefully you're not cringing. Okay. This is.
Dan Patrick
But I know the feeling for you because I've seen this happen so often and you're rooting for just a smooth transaction.
Melissa Stark
Yes.
Dan Patrick
That's it.
Melissa Stark
For it to not go badly.
Dan Patrick
Yes.
Melissa Stark
Yes.
Dan Patrick
But if it does, I want it to really go bad. Thank you. But not this Sunday. Of course. But when you have the coach who won't stop and you gotta run after that drives me crazy.
Melissa Stark
Yeah. And you really have to.
Kaylee Hartung
Have you ever had to chase somebody?
Melissa Stark
Yes.
Kaylee Hartung
Who'd you have to chase?
Melissa Stark
Kyle Shanahan.
Dan Patrick
Oh, I believe that.
Melissa Stark
Yeah.
Todd
Always.
Melissa Stark
Yes.
Kaylee Hartung
Oh, I get in his way. I mean, I.
Melissa Stark
Or they. They. Yeah, they've made it where you run up. Now you run up to him.
Paulie
Yeah.
Melissa Stark
So you're, you're blocking where he goes through the tunnel. And he runs to you, and you.
Kaylee Hartung
Run to him because usually the 49ers, when they're on their home sideline, he has to run across the end zone to get to their tunnel.
Melissa Stark
Yeah.
Kaylee Hartung
So you come at the opposite angle. But these are the things that we think about. I mean, we have meetings to talk about the logistics. That's why you are staff. To say, this is where we're meeting for this interview. Yeah. It's all free kicker. I mean, yeah, this is. We're flying by the seat of our pants on a lot, but we plan where we can.
Dan Patrick
They are the sideline reporters, Melissa Stark and Kaylee Hartung. And your first Super Bowl, Melissa's second. You have to dress appropriately to be able to run across a football field.
Melissa Stark
Well, it's funny. We've also talked about that. You know, we don't want one of us to look like we're, you know.
Kaylee Hartung
We want to go into the same party. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. Coordinating, but.
Melissa Stark
Yes.
Dan Patrick
But I say shoes. Shoes.
Kaylee Hartung
Starts there.
Dan Patrick
Well, shoes.
Melissa Stark
I am.
Dan Patrick
Normally.
Melissa Stark
I always wear sneakers, but it's the super bowl, so I'm going to elevate a little bit.
Marvin
Yeah.
Kaylee Hartung
Oh, I'm wearing these shoes. Yeah, I'm wearing. These are actually shoes I'm wearing.
Melissa Stark
Yeah.
Kaylee Hartung
A nice block block heel, you know, but, like, not too hot.
Melissa Stark
Doesn't sink in.
Kaylee Hartung
Yeah.
Melissa Stark
We have to think about these things. Yeah.
Dan Patrick
Yeah. No, no. I'm curious about these things.
Marvin
Yeah.
Melissa Stark
We could have a wardrobe change. Yeah.
Dan Patrick
What if there's rain?
Melissa Stark
Well, she just said, did you buy a rain jacket?
Kaylee Hartung
I ordered a rain jacket yesterday because I was like, you know what? There is a small.
Dan Patrick
I know. I saw that.
Kaylee Hartung
And if I don't have a rain jacket, I guarantee it will rain.
Melissa Stark
I refuse to buy a rain jacket.
Kaylee Hartung
But if I have it, I'm thinking I'm helping our chances that it won't.
Dan Patrick
Yeah. You got to be careful what kind of colors you wear on the sidelines.
Melissa Stark
Well, that's what I said.
Kaylee Hartung
Yeah. A conversation. It's one thing when you're the only sideline reporter on the game. You're not touching colors of either team. In this case, we each have our own sideline. Navy blue just happens to be a color for both teams. I think of navy blue as kind of a neutral.
Melissa Stark
Yeah. She's wearing navy blue.
Kaylee Hartung
I am wearing navy blue.
Seaton
Yeah.
Kaylee Hartung
Sue me. I like the suit. And here we go.
Dan Patrick
I think there's a prop bet on what color. So now it's navy blue. So to be able to put some money down on that. There you go. Do you care who wins?
Kaylee Hartung
We want a great game. We want a lot of emotion. I mean, post game interviews, despite.
Melissa Stark
Oh, I was going to ask you this. You know what? It's so funny because it's. It if. If my team, if the Patriots lose, I have to do a losing interview with Vrabel.
Kaylee Hartung
And same for me with this.
Melissa Stark
And I was actually thinking about you because I feel like you've done. You've had to do a lot of those in those big moments and sort of how I've. I've never had to do that in my career.
Dan Patrick
I think you have to do the library voice. Okay.
Melissa Stark
So you get very quiet and very somber. Yes, I know.
Dan Patrick
But.
Melissa Stark
But the questioning, is it just. What was the message to the team in the line?
Dan Patrick
Yeah, I. I think you'll get a sense of it, you know, as nosy as you are. Yeah, you'll be great.
Melissa Stark
Thank you. No, no, you mean that in the best possible way.
Dan Patrick
Absolutely.
Melissa Stark
Yeah.
Dan Patrick
You're very curious. So you'll. But getting a sense of emotion is what we want because if that was your team and your coach and you lost and then you want to empathize, even if your Seattle and New England loses, you're still, you know, you feel bad, somebody's going to have to lose, but you can't say, like, man, Mike, you blew it, you know?
Melissa Stark
Yes.
Dan Patrick
Don't. No leading questions like that.
Melissa Stark
Right.
Dan Patrick
Yeah.
Melissa Stark
Thank you for that.
Dan Patrick
You should.
Melissa Stark
I asked you, you should have run.
Dan Patrick
The ball at the goal line and not thrown the ball at the goal.
Kaylee Hartung
What were you thinking?
Dan Patrick
Yeah. Yeah. That's always a good one. Thanks for joining us.
Melissa Stark
Thanks for having me.
Marvin
Thank you.
Dan Patrick
Yeah.
Melissa Stark
So fun.
Dan Patrick
Melissa Stark, Kaylee Hartongue, they joined us a couple of days ago. They will be on the sidelines. So there's a lot of things going on for everybody broadcasting this game. And Melissa brings up something that every. It's not every reporter's nightmare. It's. You've got to get into a mood when you're going to talk to somebody who just lost the biggest game of their life. How do you do it? And of course, I always say you got to start with the voice. Coach, quite disappointing loss. What was your message to your team? How does that sound?
Paulie
Yeah, you sound pretty good. Not like you care.
Dan Patrick
Yeah.
Seaton
You sound kind of amused, actually, what you did.
Dan Patrick
Yeah. Yeah.
Seaton
You sound kind of amused. I think you have to take it down even further.
Dan Patrick
Okay. All right, Coach, thanks for joining us. I know, difficult time. What was the message to your Team.
Seaton
There you go.
Paulie
That was more of a death in the family tone.
Seaton
I think your hopes and dreams just died. Yeah.
Dan Patrick
Oh. Have been worse than a death in the family.
Paulie
Depending like a cousin.
Seaton
Like there's a couple depending on family members.
Paulie
That's fair.
Dan Patrick
There's a couple I could lose and. No. What?
Paulie
We're still on.
Dan Patrick
Okay. Yes.
Todd
Ton, can't you just say, tough loss, but great season. Look how close you came. Just make it positive. Go the other way.
Dan Patrick
Oh, you are, Mr. Positivity.
Todd
Goes with the depressing, you know, funeral type thing. That was a great season. I know you wanted to get this last w, but let's get over it.
Dan Patrick
And think about all the positive things. So could you imagine? Melissa Stark says to Mike Vrabel. Yeah. Tough loss, but, hey, you got here.
Todd
Melissa, I can't. I can understand what you're trying to do, but I'm just a little upset and disappointed right now. But thank you. Thank you for trying to cheer me up.
Dan Patrick
Yes, Marvin.
Marvin
I'm not sure if that'll work with Mike Vrabel.
Dan Patrick
Probably not.
Marvin
Hey, great season. What'd you just say to me? Yeah, because you're not thinking about what happened in October and November, but you.
Dan Patrick
Got to use the library voice. You got to be very quiet. A funeral voice like your. I'm. I'm so sorry for your loss.
Paulie
We're all so sorry.
Dan Patrick
I'm so sorry for your loss. Yes, Marvin.
Marvin
Damn. Tough loss at the Emmys. Something like that.
Dan Patrick
Oh, no. Why do you do that? Oh, Mark, why do you do that?
Marvin
It was honored to be nominated.
Dan Patrick
It is. But I feel sorry, like, I'm. I say to you guys, I'm so sorry for your loss because it's on us. Yes. Yeah, I didn't. It's not on me. I didn't lose the sports Emmy. Yes.
Paulie
What if Sam Darnold did that? Like, he has four touchdowns and they lose. Hey, it wasn't on me.
Dan Patrick
I did my job. Yeah. I had a hell of a game. Yeah. Can't call me a bust anymore. All right, let me come back. Play of the day. Update our poll results. Malcolm Butler will join us at the top of next hour. Booger McFarland, Chris Collinsworth, Mike Tirico, and CD Lamb. One of Seaton's favorite players will stop by. We're back after this Dan Patrick show. Fox sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch all of our shows@foxsportsradio.com and within the iHeartRadio app. Search FSR to listen live oh, my God. The play of the day. This is the play of the day. Check this out.
Todd
Guilt for Kulibali left the circle.
Dan Patrick
Kula volley shot clock about to go off. Bank, it's there. Oh, my goodness. At the buzzer. Bank, it's there. Koulibali's first three.
Marvin
Everybody that has played tonight for the.
Dan Patrick
Wizards has a three. The. The Wizards. We are desperate for play of the day, aren't we?
Marvin
It was the hardest part of my week.
Dan Patrick
The wizards have won four their last six, and they're no longer the NBA's worst record. They are now the fifth worst record, ahead of the Nets, Pacers, Pelicans, and Kings. How about a round of applause for the Wizards?
Seaton
Yeah.
Dan Patrick
Anthony. Dave is coming soon.
Marvin
Tear your hamstrings.
Dan Patrick
Street clothes coming your way. For over 40 years, Tire Rack's been helping you find the right tires for how and what and where you drive ship fast and free. Backed by free road hazard protection with convenient installation options like mobile tire installation. Tirerack.com the way tire buying should be. Seaton poll question today for the first 48 minutes.
Seaton
If you're a neutral, who are you rooting for right now? 80% of the audience rooting for the Seahawks. Very early results, though.
Dan Patrick
That's not surprising at all. It's. No, you might not be rooting for Seattle. You're just not rooting for the Patriots. It's kind of like the hall of Fame voters. Yes, Paul.
Paulie
It's funny because the Patriots feel like a feel good story, but their history, you root against the their history.
Dan Patrick
Yeah. I mean, it is a great story. An underdog story here. Yes. Marvin.
Marvin
So is Spygate the reason why they're not a national brand? Maybe like the Steelers or the 49ers or the Cowboys? Because winning six Super Bowls over 20 years should give you fan base, you know, should give you a larger fan base like the Cowboys do and the 49ers do, but they don't.
Dan Patrick
Well, they own New England. It's just they're not, you know, universal with, like, the Cowboys are and the Steelers are, you know, your fan base is. Is all over America. Right.
Marvin
But why not?
Dan Patrick
I don't know what was likable about them. Even though Brady is a great story, and it just feels like Belichick was the. That guy's a buzzkill and he's doing something nefarious. So I. I mean, the Cowboys thing is still amazing that you raised another generation and they haven't won anything. But, you know, you're kind of like, attached to Your parents or your grandparents, like, they did this to you. Like, damn you. I have a friend who has kids, and he says his kids don't want to be Cleveland Browns fans, but they grew up being Cleveland Browns fans, and they want to know. He goes, what? What should I do? I said, let him find another team if they want to. It's okay. Yeah.
Paulie
Paulie, as of last week, if you're 30 years old, you've never seen the Cowboys in a Super Bowl.
Dan Patrick
Yeah. Get used to that feeling. Damn.
Marvin
Was CD Coming?
Dan Patrick
I'm gonna. Okay.
Paulie
Okay.
Dan Patrick
Yeah. CD Lamb's not joining us for an hour, so he won't know I said this. Malcolm Butler will join us at the top of the hour as we revisit greatest play in super bowl history. Also, he played one play in the super bowl against the Eagles. The kickoff, and then he was benched, and we still don't know why. So we'll talk to Malcolm Butler and our good buddy booger McFarlane. Coming over for a meet Friday, Peter in Albany. Hi, Peter. What's on your mind today?
Caller
First time, long time. Six ones stopped. 215 soft. I got a stat of the day, Cooper. Flag scoring. 49, 34, 36, and then 32 last night. Youngest player ever to score 30 and four straight. As well as the first rookie to do it in four straight and lose every game.
Dan Patrick
Start of the day. Start of the day. We love your day. Start of the day. Thank you, Pandora. Stat of the day, brought to you by Panini. America. My wife doesn't even talk to me that way. Yes. Yes, Paulie.
Paulie
You know Cooper Flagg. I'm looking at the numbers. If he keeps going like this, his rookie year could be better statistically than LeBron James rookie year.
Dan Patrick
Well, that's four consecutive games. He's put up at least 30. And imagine being the man on a team at age 19 in the NBA. Remarkable red in Georgia. Hi, Red. What's on your mind?
Caller
Hey, Dan. Thanks for taking a call. I got a couple things here, Dan, man, I like yesterday. I don't know if you do this personally. When you interview someone, you know how to ask the right questions and get out they way. And a lot of interviewers, they. They get the guy talking and they'll jump right back in and mess it up. And so salute dad for doing that. But then this is what we need for you as a nation before you retire. We need the Monday after Super bowl to be a national holiday. I don't think people know how important that is for Americans because football Is what we are this much as American as Abraham Lincoln to me. This is real to me. So we need Mondays off, and maybe you, the people you. You know how to shake and bake out there, Dan. When y' all talk, everyone listen. So, Dan, if you would, please try to get Monday off for a national holiday, Super Bowl.
Dan Patrick
And I know, Red, all. I'll see what I can do. See what I can do. Gonna. I got other things to do. I got to get people into hall of Fames, but if I can get the Super Bowl. And then we have a national holiday. But I think we're headed that way. We've talked about this, you know, not with the commissioner, but we've talked about that President's Day and make it, you know, it's Monday. And so after the Super Bowl. Yes, Paul?
Paulie
Yeah, I don't think it's going to happen because that national holiday, only about 10% of the people have work off. 27% of the people on a national holiday.
Dan Patrick
Well, we just make it a national holiday.
Paulie
Oh, like everyone's off work.
Dan Patrick
Yeah. Yeah, we can do it.
Seaton
All right.
Paulie
Make some calls.
Dan Patrick
President Trump could make that happen. He'd just say it's a holiday right after the Super Bowl. But thank you, Red. Thank you for the compliment. By the way, the Bo Jackson interview yesterday, a lot of reaction to that. Not only the football stuff, but announcing that he had had successful prostate cancer surgery. One hour in the books on this meet Friday. Two more to go. Fritzi, Seaton, Marv, Paulie, yours truly in the back room, guys. We're back after this from San Francisco. This is an I heart podcast. Guaranteed human.
Episode Theme:
A lively exploration of sports’ hottest topics, focusing on the NFL MVP voting controversy, Hall of Fame selections, Super Bowl media duties, and humorous banter among Dan and the Danettes. Sideline reporters Melissa Stark and Kaylee Hartung join to preview their roles for Super Bowl 60.
Confusing Results:
“How can you not be the offensive player of the year if you’re the most valuable player?” — Seaton
Award Winners:
Hall of Fame Quips: Dan notes Roger Craig’s SF induction is “convenient” during a Bay Area-based Super Bowl (05:36).
Debate:
2027 First-Time Eligibles Discussion:
Antonio Brown’s Credentials:
Tori Holt and Reggie Wayne:
Rhyme Time—San Francisco Edition:
Poll Question Debate:
The MVP’s Meaning:
[22:15–34:03]
Pressure of the Super Bowl:
Division of Duties:
Challenges:
Storytelling:
Coach Interviews at Halftime:
Toughest Coaches:
Chasing Coaches:
Interviewing losing coach:
On Question Quality:
Rooting For / Against Teams:
Cowboys as a Generational Phenomenon:
Listener: Super Bowl Monday National Holiday?
Stat of the Day:
On Awards Inconsistency:
“How can you not be the offensive player of the year if you’re the most valuable player?”
— Seaton (05:07)
On Compilers:
“One…had some dominant years. The other was more of a compiler…”
— Todd, on Frank Gore (08:10)
On the MVP Voter Rationale:
“He actually posted why he voted for [Herbert]… almost literally. Like if you remove him, it’s over.”
— Paulie, about Sam Monson (14:33)
Sideline Storytelling Challenge:
“How does [a human story] get into a football game? That’s the hard part. But the audience is so big…”
— Melissa Stark (25:20)
Coach Interview Logistics:
“This is the first time ever they both want to be interviewed going in. So we have them back to back, so live. I hope Kaylee doesn’t go long…”
— Melissa Stark (26:47)
Chasing Coaches:
“You really have to…have you ever had to chase somebody?…Kyle Shanahan.”
— Dan & Melissa Stark (30:44)
Super Bowl Loser Interviews:
“You gotta use the library voice. A funeral voice, like ‘I’m so sorry for your loss.’”
— Dan Patrick (36:01)
On Patriots’ Lack of Universal Popularity:
“I don’t know what was likable about them. Even though Brady is a great story, it just feels like Belichick… doing something nefarious…”
— Dan Patrick (39:14)
On Generational Cowboys Fandom:
“If you’re 30 years old, you’ve never seen the Cowboys in a Super Bowl.”
— Paulie (40:03)
This episode captures all the flavor of the Dan Patrick Show: sharp debate on NFL awards and Hall of Fame selection, comical group dynamics, and insightful, relatable interviews as two top sideline reporters prepare for the biggest broadcast of the year. Whether lighthearted or sincere, Dan and his crew manage to keep even the most diehard sports fans engaged right through the final meat Friday toast.