The Dan Patrick Show — Hour 1: "Robert Kraft Gets the Bill Belichick Treatment"

Date: February 3, 2026
Podcast: The Dan Patrick Show (iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network)

Overview

In this lively episode, Dan Patrick and the Danettes broadcast from San Francisco during Super Bowl week, bringing their typical mix of sports analysis, humor, and banter. The show zeroes in on controversy over the recent Pro Football Hall of Fame voting snubs of Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick, explores anti-Patriots bias, dives into the quirks and politics of sports honors, and features candid reflections from guest Ross Tucker. Other topics include Barry Bonds' Hall of Fame case, unique football player styles, life on the road, the global ambitions of the NFL, and plenty of classic Dan Patrick Show comedic exchanges.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Super Bowl Week Broadcast Vibes

• The crew jokes about the haze in the studio:
  • “[01:14] Dan Patrick: Secondhand smoke is on tap today… a double dose of whatever somebody’s waking and baking in here. Aroma. You alright, Todd?”
  • The show is being taped at a location near McCovey Cove, beside the Giants’ ballpark, and the atmosphere is loose and jovial.

2. The Barry Bonds Statue Debate

• Discussion on where the Giants should put a Barry Bonds statue:
  • [04:10] Paulie suggests a water-based statue: “Can you build a water-based statue that pops up like a fountain during home games? The Barry Bonds statue would be in McCovey Cove.”
  • [04:47] Dan jokes: “It would come up and there’d be all kinds of algae on it and seaweed because it hadn’t been up there in a while.”
  • The CEO of the Giants stated a Hall of Fame induction is the precondition for statues.

3. Interactive Fan Statues (Joke Segment)

• The Danettes brainstorms on interactive statues, recalling JT Snow saving Dusty Baker’s son during the 2002 World Series ([06:00]):
  • Marvin: “What about interactive activity out front where you could scoop up Dusty Baker's kid? AI-based, not the actual child.”
  • Dan: “Okay, we’ll work on that… Workshop.”

4. Patriots Hall of Fame Snubs: Conspiracy or Process?

• Main discussion revolves around Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick missing Hall of Fame induction due to the 80% vote threshold.
  • Dan challenges the logic of intentionally voting for less controversial candidates this year ([06:23] – [07:26]):
    • “If the goal was to get these other candidates in… you got Belichick and Kraft out of the way. Now Kenny Anderson, LC Greenwood, or Roger Craig should get into the hall of Fame. Adam Schefter reported Robert Kraft did not get the 80% total… My only issue is if everybody had this altruistic motive… you still have to get 80% of the vote.”
  • Paulie raises the possibility of a backroom deal ([07:26]):
    • “I don’t like to use the word conspiracy, but for Kraft and Belichick to both not get in feels like maybe a group of guys got together and had a chat before they walked in the room to vote.”
  • Seaton, in his “media voter” voice, mimics rationalization ([08:07]):
    • “It’s not so much that I didn’t vote for him, it’s that I did vote for someone else.”
  • Dan expresses frustration at process gamesmanship:
    • “This is your job. Your job is, ‘Hey, Hall of Famer, yay or nay,’ not… ‘He cheated, I’ll get back to you next year on this.’” ([08:23])
  • They compare the Kraft/Belichick snub to how Barry Bonds is treated regarding steroids, voters using process as cover for personal stances.
    • “If you’re not voting for Robert Kraft for cheating… then continue to vote that way, what would change?” ([09:28])
    • Seaton: “People are using the rules of Hall of Fame voting to hide behind not wanting to vote for these people.” ([09:50])

5. Barry Bonds and Hall of Fame Voters’ Inconsistency

• Marvin recalls how Bonds’ MVP performance was rewarded by writers even as suspicions grew ([11:00]):
  • “They voted him MVP four straight years when his arms were popping out of his jersey… But now the Hall of Fame comes up and now I don’t want to [vote] because I guess I’m on some moral high ground.”
• Dan shares a player’s blunt reflection:
  • “He goes, steroids work, man.” ([12:00])
• Paulie runs through Bonds’ crazy stats at 39:
  • “45 homers… walked 232 times, by far the most in history. They took his bat away one third of the time and he still hit 45 homers.” ([12:21])

6. Jokes and Banter: From Ointment Balls to John Mayer Faces

• Todd jokes that pitchers should be able to cheat too ([13:55]):
  • “Every time Bonds got up, they should have allowed the pitcher to scuff the ball, put any kind of ointment … salve… everything goes.”
• Dan reminisces about scuffed balls in the 1980s ([14:28]):
  • “I remember the Mets called him ‘Mike Scuff’ … I remember seeing one of those because they collect them, and I was like, damn, how are they letting this happen?”

7. Poll Questions and Guest Lineup

• Polls posed: Is there/should there be anti-Patriots bias in Hall of Fame voting? Who’s the best dinner guest among today’s guests?
• Frank Caliendo, Steve Young, ‘Mad Dog’ Russo, and Ross Tucker will join the show.

8. Ross Tucker Interview (23:00–36:57)

• Ross’s “branding” as the ‘Princeton guy’ and memories as a Dallas Cowboy ([23:06]–[25:23]).
• On the Hall voting:
  • “If you’re someone that’s been part of the hall of fame for 20 years, 30 years, you have fought so hard to get guys like Kenny Anderson and L.C. Greenwood from the 70s on the ballot… These players, this is the only chance these players have.” ([26:42])
• On unique running styles:
  • “Is it not weird … no other player has tried to run the ball like Roger Craig did?” ([28:16])
• On his commentary duties for Super Bowl 60 broadcast back to the UK, the UK’s fascination with the Super Bowl, British measurements: stones, kilos, etc.
  • “[29:40] …it was the number one sick day in the UK [after the Super Bowl]. They’re learning.”
• Banter about British accents for UK broadcasts and the size of co-commentators.
• Drake May’s injury/shoulder: Ross observes his interview body language (33:00).
• On Sam Darnold and changing sports narratives: “I like people in life that overcome adversity, and I like people that just…” ([34:15])
  • Dan (teasing): “Oh, you do? You don’t like people who can’t overcome it? …That sounds like something Todd would do.”
• Ross quips about refusing to praise teams that cut him (“I don’t feel that way about some of the teams that let me go…” [34:39])

9. NFL Globalization & the Future Super Bowl

• Talk of expanding the NFL season to 18 (or 19) games and the leverage this gives players ([38:48]–[42:21]).
• Speculation on a future Super Bowl in London and obstacles (US public resistance, time zone issues, "Super Bowl Saturday") ([42:47]–[44:09]):
  • “You could take away the, like, ‘we’re American, you can’t do that’ thing… what people are really going to be upset about is why are you making me watch this at 4:00?” (Seaton, 43:12)
  • Suggestion that the biggest impact is changing fans' routines, not nationalism.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Hall of Fame voting:

  • Dan: “This is your job. Your job is, ‘Hall of Famer, yay or nay,’ not… ‘He cheated, I’ll get back to you next year on this.’” ([08:23])

• On Bonds & the double standard:

  • Marvin: “They voted him MVP four straight years when his arms were popping out of his jersey… But now the Hall of Fame comes up and now I don’t want to [vote]…” ([11:00])

• On global NFL expansion:

  • Dan: “They’ve gotten everything they could get out of America. Now it’s about taking over the world.” ([44:22])

• Playful banter on broadcast high jinks:

  • Dan: “You still got to turn your microphone on.”
    Paulie: “It’s the smoke.”
    Marvin: “It’s messing with him.”
    Dan: “Hey, great news. Todd’s microphone doesn’t work.”
    Seaton: “Yay.”
    Dan: “And we’re high.” ([01:14]–[01:46])

Segment Timestamps

• [01:14]–[03:32] – Broadcast atmosphere, crowd, McCovey Cove/Bonds statue talk
• [06:15]–[10:25] – Patriots Hall snubs, voting mechanics, process critique
• [11:00]–[13:48] – Barry Bonds, media hypocrisy, steroid era, eye-popping stats
• [13:55]–[15:23] – Ball doctoring, humorous hypotheticals
• [23:06]–[36:57] – Ross Tucker guest segment (player perspective, Hall process, unique NFL styles, UK Super Bowl coverage, Darnold narrative)
• [38:27]–[44:22] – NFL growth, rumors on the season expansion, Super Bowl in London, American fan traditions

Tone and Language

The show maintains its signature blend of sharp sports analysis, irreverence, and freewheeling banter among the Danettes. There’s a mix of sincere argument, laugh-out-loud moments, and inside sports knowledge, making the conversation engaging and entertaining for any sports fan.

For New Listeners

This episode spotlights the intersecting lines between sports accomplishment, public perception, and legacy—whether in how we honor Hall of Famers, discuss all-time greats like Barry Bonds, or imagine football’s future as a global phenomenon. It’s the Dan Patrick Show at its best: honest, funny, and deeply in touch with both the serious and the absurd sides of sports culture.

Guests this hour (coming up or mentioned):

• Ross Tucker (CBS Sports/Westwood One NFL)
• Steve Young (Niners legend — coming later)
• Christopher "Mad Dog" Russo (Sirius XM — coming later)
• Frank Caliendo (comedian — coming later)

Notable Poll Questions:

• Is there an anti-Patriots bias in this year’s Hall of Fame voting?
• Should there be?

End of Hour 1 Summary