The Dan Patrick Show: Hour 2 – NFL Franchises in Bad Shape with Maurice Jones-Drew Release Date: December 17, 2024

Hosts:

• Dan Patrick (Host)
• Greg Olsen (Co-host)
• Todd Fritz (Co-host)
• Paul Pabst (Co-host)
• Maurice Jones-Drew (Guest, NFL Network Analyst and Former NFL Running Back)

1. Introduction and Poll on Struggling NFL Franchises

Timestamp: [04:07]

The episode kicks off with a poll question aimed at listeners: "Which NFL franchise feels like it is in the worst shape?"
Options: Giants, Browns, Raiders, Bears, Panthers, Jaguars, Titans, or Other.

Poll Results:

• Giants: 27.5%
• Browns: 24%
• Raiders: Following the Giants and Browns in the poll results.

Greg Olsen initiates a discussion on the poll results, expressing skepticism about the Bears being in dire straits compared to other teams due to what he perceives as management instability and questionable decisions in coaching and player acquisitions.

2. Chicago Bears' Struggles and Management Issues

Timestamp: [04:46] - [07:04]

Greg Olsen delves into why he believes the Bears are struggling:

• Coaching Instability: "They’ve had a bad situation with the head coach. You’ve got to have stability."

• Questionable Decisions:
  "This is a franchise that passed on Tom Brady late in Tom's career and they passed on Jim Harbaugh. They don't make good decisions normally."

• Quarterback Conundrum:
  "Now you have the future of Caleb Williams at your fingertips. You’ve got to make sure you make the right decision."

Olsen criticizes the Bears for past decisions like not signing Bill Belichick and questions whether their current acquisitions, such as Ben Johnson from the Lions, are sufficient to change the team’s culture.

3. Recap of Recent Games and Team Performances

Timestamp: [07:12] - [15:00]

Maurice Jones-Drew provides a recap of last night’s games:

• Vikings vs. Bears: "The Bears have lost eight in a row, 30 to 12. The final Vikings now 12 and 2. Bears dropped to 4 and 10."

• Falcons vs. Raiders: "Falcons are 7 and 7. That didn't feel like a win."

• Raiders' Performance:
  "The Raiders dropped to two and 12. If you're the Raiders, if you're Mark Davis, you want to make sure that you get the number one pick in the draft."

Jones-Drew discusses the Raiders’ poor performance, highlighting the need for better quarterback options and questioning the owner’s strategies.

4. Listener Calls and Personal Anecdotes

Timestamp: [13:14] - [37:22]

Listeners share personal stories and interact with the hosts:

• June from Virginia Beach: Celebrates her son Marty’s 43rd birthday and his battle with ALS. She shares Marty’s lifelong passion for sports and his favorite athlete, Barry Sanders.
  Quote: "He learned to read when he was three years old because he wanted to read the sports page and read about his football teams." ([13:14])

• Andrew from Washington: Discusses upcoming shoulder surgery and inquires about the hosts' recovery experiences.
  Quote: "I wanted to see how yours was going, what your recovery is like, what your PT was and how you are today." ([15:07])

• Personal Stories:
  Todd Fritz and Greg Olsen exchange humorous anecdotes about church attendance and childhood experiences, adding a personal and relatable touch to the show.

5. The Bears' Ongoing Challenges and Giants' Mismanagement

Timestamp: [25:32] - [31:35]

Maurice Jones-Drew elaborates on the Bears’ difficulties and critiques the Giants’ management:

• Giants' Free Agency Decisions:
  "You let go of ... players that are playing well for their McKinney and Green Bay, obviously Saquon and Philly. You just can't let talent hit free agency and not bring them back."

• Giants' Organizational Disarray:
  "Now you’re sitting there in disarray trying to figure out what's going on."

Jones-Drew underscores the Giants' mismanagement, particularly their handling of star players like Saquon Barkley, which has led to internal chaos and a tough season.

6. Vikings’ Strength and Sam Darnold’s Role

Timestamp: [26:30] - [35:43]

Jones-Drew shifts focus to the Minnesota Vikings, discussing their strengths and quarterback situation:

• Vikings’ Potential:
  "When Sam Darnold is playing the way he's playing, they can beat anyone, especially in the NFC North now with Detroit going through all those injuries."

• Sam Darnold’s Performance and Future:
  "If Sam can continue to play this way, I think the Vikings have a great chance to continue to build a roster with him and then obviously move on from him in a year, two years, and then put J.J. McCarthy in there."

Jones-Drew expresses support for Darnold, suggesting that the Vikings should secure his role with a 2-3 year deal while developing a younger quarterback as a long-term strategy.

7. Coaching Opportunities for Michael Vick

Timestamp: [37:06] - [52:34]

A discussion ensues about former NFL quarterback Michael Vick potentially taking on coaching roles at college programs like Sacramento State or Norfolk State:

• Potential Impact:
  "Michael Vick was just there just to get people's attention. And then Florida State didn't hire him."

• Coaching Challenges:
  "Can he relate to these players, his personality? How's that going to come across?"

• Vick’s Redemption and Influence:
  "Tony Dungy took him under his wing and said, look, I want to help you."

• Listener Opinion:
  Todd Fritz emphasizes the draw of Michael Vick’s name for recruits:
  "If my kid was 20 and Michael Vick walked in, I'd be super excited." ([51:54])

The hosts debate Vick’s suitability for coaching roles, weighing his charismatic influence against his prior controversies and lack of formal coaching experience.

8. Final Thoughts and Stat of the Day

Timestamp: [37:22] - [44:20]

• Stat of the Day:
  "Over the last three games, the Bears have been outscored 53 to nothing in the first half. Chicago's the first team to have three consecutive scoreless first halves since the 2018 Jacksonville Jaguars."
  Presented by: Panini America.

• Concluding Discussion:
  The hosts reflect on the Bears’ performance and discuss potential strategies for improvement, emphasizing the importance of focusing on the second half of games for a more enjoyable viewing experience.

Key Quotes:

• Greg Olsen on Bears' Management:
  "This is a franchise that passed on Tom Brady late in Tom's career and they passed on Jim Harbaugh. They don't make good decisions normally." ([04:34])

• Maurice Jones-Drew on Sam Darnold:
  "If Sam can continue to play this way, I think the Vikings have a great chance to continue to build a roster with him and then obviously move on from him in a year, two years, and then put J.J. McCarthy in there." ([27:17])

• June on Marty’s Birthday:
  "He just celebrated seven years of battling ALS. It has taken his body, but it's not taken his spirit or his intelligence or his sense of humor." ([13:14])

• Greg Olsen on Coaching Michael Vick:
  "Michael Vick was just there just to get people's attention." ([48:03])

Conclusion

In this episode, The Dan Patrick Show provides an in-depth analysis of struggling NFL franchises, with a particular focus on the Chicago Bears’ management issues and the Minnesota Vikings' promising performance under Sam Darnold. Maurice Jones-Drew offers valuable insights into team dynamics, quarterback strategies, and potential coaching opportunities for former players like Michael Vick. Engaging listener interactions and personal anecdotes add a relatable dimension to the sports discussions, making it a comprehensive and engaging episode for NFL enthusiasts.