The Dan Patrick Show – Hour 2

Date: August 19, 2025
Host: Dan Patrick
Guests: Mike Florio (NBC Sports, Pro Football Talk), Maclain Way (Director, "America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys")

Episode Overview

This hour of The Dan Patrick Show dives into football with fresh NFL storylines and behind-the-scenes documentary insights. Dan is joined by Mike Florio, NFL insider and author, to dissect quarterback careers, NFL policies, and league controversies. Later, filmmaker Maclain Way discusses his new Netflix documentary on the Dallas Cowboys’ 1990s dynasty, its wildest stories, and Jerry Jones’s everlasting influence.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

QB Legacies: Flacco vs. Rivers (06:05–06:53)

• Dan Patrick (05:13): “Whose career would you want, Joe Flacco or Philip Rivers?”
• Mike Florio (06:05): Picks Flacco because he won a Super Bowl (team goal) and became the NFL’s highest-paid player—twice. Praises Flacco’s humility for taking backup roles:

  “Could you imagine Peyton Manning holding a clipboard once his starting days ended? … It really is refreshing.”

• Pro Bowl Fact: Current Browns QB room has only one Pro Bowl (Tyler Huntley), despite six QBs.

Mike Florio’s Novel "Big Shield" & NFL Parody (07:05–09:36)

• Book centers on a backup QB entangled with the mob and inside information in a thinly-veiled NFL-like league:

  “For legal reasons, it’s definitely not about the NFL.” (06:53)

• NFL Reaction: Florio doubts the NFL will pursue legal action, saying they’ll likely ignore it to avoid drawing attention (like with the movie "Concussion"):

  “They were scared to death of that movie, and their strategy was to ignore it, and it worked.” (08:52)

NFL Sideline Safety & Policy (09:31–10:56)

• Smelling Salts: Dan queries why they’re permitted despite masking concussions.
• Florio’s Response: Collective bargaining priorities mean little progress on such safety issues unless players unions get value in return:

  “The whole thing’s ridiculous. And the sooner those things are off the sideline, the better off everyone will be.” (10:56)

Shadour Sanders & QB Situations (10:56–12:08)

• Dylan Gabriel Comments: Dan asks if Gabriel’s “competitor vs. entertainer” dig was at now-Browns QB Shadour Sanders.
• Florio: While understandable to think so, he didn’t interpret it that way but understands the context and media reactions.
• Browns’ depth chart complexity and a prediction Kenny Pickett falls off the roster:

  “I think Kenny Pickett’s going to be the odd man out.” (11:18)

Uniform Talk: Commanders, Dolphins & NFL Aesthetics (12:08–13:24)

• Paulie says Commanders have the NFL’s worst uniforms.
• Florio: Disagrees, thinks Dolphins’ current look is the worst, calling for permanent throwbacks:

  “Those uniforms scream soft … You see the throwbacks. The throwbacks are badass.” (12:29)

• Laments the “Nike-fication” of NFL alternates: “I want to be able to turn on an NFL game and know right away who’s playing.” (13:24)

Rams QB Health – The Stafford Dilemma (13:24–16:50)

• Dan and Florio discuss cryptic updates on Matthew Stafford’s health and Sean McVay’s carefully worded non-answers.
• Florio: Rams are worried Stafford’s back isn’t healed; every practice and throw is under scrutiny:

  “For Matthew Stafford, that’s a big deal because this guy’s tough as nails … but this is one. I mean, back issues … once that thing grabs you, it changes you.” (14:11)

• Predicts Garoppolo could see starts due to the fragility of Stafford’s situation.

Hall of Fame Debate: Stafford vs. Russell Wilson (16:50–18:41)

• Dan: “Who’s more Hall of Famey? Stafford or Russell Wilson?”
• Florio: "Without question, Stafford … Wilson has undermined his case the past few years." (16:57)
• Discussion on career arcs, perception, and finishing strong versus fading late.

Documentary Spotlight: "America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys"

Guest: Maclain Way (25:39–38:54)

Documentary Genesis & Jerry Jones (25:39–26:26)

• Maclain explains Jerry Jones, though emotionally invested, didn’t restrict access or demand editing control.
• Says Jones found film both painful and supportive:

  “…when we showed him the documentary, he said that there were very painful reminders for him.” (25:39)

Story Arc: The Cowboys Dynasty & Downfall (26:26–27:19)

• Focuses mainly on the early 1990s:

  Jerry buys the Cowboys after striking oil, fires Tom Landry, hires longtime friend Jimmy Johnson, and the team wins back-to-back Super Bowls before the infamous breakup.

• Fast, dramatic rise and controversies, followed by a decades-long slide.

Wild Stories & Behind-the-Scenes (27:19–28:49)

• The roster of “talking heads” includes Jerry, Jimmy, Michael Irvin, Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, and Deion Sanders.
• Fun anecdote:

  “Michael Irvin and Charles Haley dipped out on Jimmy Johnson’s halftime speech to go watch Michael Jackson do Thriller at the Rose Bowl.” (27:22)

• Confirms myth-like stories, e.g., about wild hotel scenes, though attributes a famous one to Terrell Owens and Mike Tyson, not Deion.

New Angles on Jimmy Johnson's Exit (29:13–31:48)

• Maclain’s team conducted marathon interviews:

  “We got to sit down with Jimmy for a full day … Jerry, we interviewed for about 40 hours.” (29:18)

• Core issue: Ego and credit for success split their partnership, but a deeper emotional need for Jerry to recapture his college glory may have played a role.
• The pair’s different management philosophies led to irreconcilable differences, but “a lot of respect” lingers.

Jerry Jones’s Coaching Hires & “Comfortability” (31:48–34:08)

• Jerry chooses familiarity over risk with hires like Schottenheimer, despite a history of bold moves:

  “He was comfortable with Schottenheimer, … which did strike me as unique.” (32:39)

• Jerry has passed on riskier moves in recent years, citing proximity to what he hopes is a final Super Bowl run.

“This loss hurt us in every way…” – Cowboys’ Worst Playoff Loss (34:08–35:57)

• 2023 playoff loss to the Packers described by Jerry in the doc as his worst ever.
• Maclain: “That family got shell shocked that game. … Jerry was quiet and intense as he was watching what felt like a very good chance … crumble in front of him." (34:31)

Does Jerry Care Too Much? (35:57–37:02)

• Maclain’s impression: Jones and family desperately want another Super Bowl, and their urgency has grown—particularly as Jerry ages:

  “All this family wants is one more Super Bowl for Jerry.” (36:00)

Micah Parsons & Jerry’s Approach (37:02–38:07)

• Jerry’s “comfortability with ambiguity” means contract drama doesn’t rattle him, which may frustrate fans.

Upcoming Projects (38:07–38:54)

• The Ways are taking time off; possible return to Untold series but no new doc confirmed.

Notable Quotes

• Mike Florio on backup QBs:

  “Could you imagine Peyton Manning holding a clipboard once his starting days ended?” (06:05)

• Maclain Way on Jerry Jones:

  “All this family wants is one more Super Bowl for Jerry.” (36:00)

• Mike Florio on NFL alternate uniforms:

  “It’s all Nike’s fault … I want to be able to turn on an NFL game and know right away who’s playing.” (13:24)

• Dan Patrick on Shadour Sanders:

  “Some of that is his own making, holding onto the ball. … But I see a great upside to him. Composure is so important.” (49:09)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 05:13 — Flacco vs. Rivers career debate introduced
• 06:05 — Mike Florio chooses Flacco’s career
• 09:31 — Smelling salts and NFL sideline safety
• 12:08 — Uniforms: Commanders, Dolphins, and NFL identity
• 13:24 — Rams’ Stafford injury realism
• 16:50 — Stafford vs. Russell Wilson for Hall of Fame
• 25:39 — Maclain Way on Cowboys doc: access and Jerry’s reaction
• 27:22 — Cowboys legends skip halftime for Michael Jackson show
• 29:13 — Jimmy Johnson’s departure; new documentary details
• 34:08 — Jerry Jones’ “worst” playoff loss (Cowboys-Packers, 2023)
• 36:00 — Jerry’s unending desire for another Super Bowl
• 37:02 — Micah Parsons contract situation and Jerry’s comfort with “ambiguity”

Memorable Moments

• Michael Irvin and Charles Haley ditch the Super Bowl halftime speech for Michael Jackson (27:22)
• Florio’s tongue-in-cheek legal tightrope with “Big Shield”:

  “If they would want to sue me, if it would help book sales, then … I would deal with that.” (08:52)

• Doc’s unique interview access:

  “Jerry, we interviewed for about 40 hours.” (29:18)

• Dan and Florio rue the chaos of NFL “Nike-fication” uniforms

Tone & Style

The show retains Dan Patrick’s down-to-earth, bemused yet insightful tone—mixing football analysis, light sarcasm, and genuine curiosity with guests who offer candor and behind-the-curtain details.

This summary captures all essential topics, insights, and notable quotes for listeners who missed the episode, following the flow, wit, and style of the original broadcast.