The Dan Patrick Show – Hour 2 Summary

Date: August 21, 2025
Host: Dan Patrick (with the Danettes)
Guest: Albert Breer (Senior NFL Reporter, Monday Morning Quarterback)
Main Themes: NFL backup quarterback economics, Shedeur Sanders’ NFL draft saga, Jim Harbaugh suspension debate, Super Bowl in London, player holdouts, and comeback player odds.

Episode Overview

This episode dives into several key NFL topics: the surprisingly lucrative world of backup quarterbacks (highlighted by Tyson Bagent’s new contract), the controversy surrounding Shedeur Sanders’ NFL draft slide and conspiracy theories about league interference, whether Jim Harbaugh should be suspended by the NFL after NCAA sanctions, and the possibility of a future Super Bowl in London. Dan is joined by Albert Breer for insider perspective on these stories, and the crew debates comeback player of the year odds.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Backup Quarterback Economics: Tyson Bagent & Beyond

• Dan and the Danettes unpack the financial reality for NFL backup QBs, sparked by Tyson Bagent’s new deal.
  • Notable Stat: Bagent’s two-year, $10 million deal (potentially up to $16 million) with the Bears means he’ll likely surpass the lifetime earnings of Kansas City Chiefs starting RB Isaiah Pacheco—despite Bagent’s Division 2 background and backup status.
  • Broader Context: Backup QBs like Jared Stidham, Marcus Mariota, Tyrod Taylor all make $5-6 million/year, more than many starting NFL running backs.
  • Dan: “It pays to be a backup quarterback if you’re getting five or six million dollars to be a backup. The fan base is hoping you don’t play. The team is probably hoping you don’t play because that means the starter got injured.” (06:32)
  • Highest paid backup? Kirk Cousins ($45 million) is currently listed as a backup, making him the highest-paid "second-string" in the NFL. (08:02)

2. Shedeur Sanders & NFL Draft Conspiracy

• Eric Dickerson’s claim: Sanders was “blackballed” on draft day, alleging the NFL instructed some teams not to draft him.
  • Dan’s Take: Dan doubts the conspiracy, citing first-hand sources that Sanders interviewed poorly, presenting as "entitled" and interviewing teams, not the other way around. Dan questions the viability of suppressing such a big secret among all team owners. (09:00–12:00)
  • “I believe that Eric Dickerson believes this is true. I don’t believe it’s true...I don’t know how it stays a secret this, this amount of time with the number of insiders out there that you would think this would get leaked." – Dan (11:00)
  • Sanders’ draft drop attributed more to personality, poor interviews, and middling physical traits—not coordinated league action.

3. Jim Harbaugh: Should the NFL Suspend Him?

• Urban Meyer suggested the NFL should suspend Jim Harbaugh (now in the pros) just as they did with Jim Tressel after NCAA violations.
  • Albert Breer: Explains that Tressel was punished only after the NFL had suspended Terrell Pryor to maintain parity with NCAA penalties. However, Breer doesn’t see Harbaugh’s move as “fleeing” college punishment—he’d likely have gone to the NFL earlier had the opportunity arisen.
  • “I don’t think [Harbaugh] was escaping Michigan to go to the NFL...In either case, it was a different motivation for leaving college.” – Albert Breer (27:17)

4. Super Bowl in London?

• The U.S. Ambassador to the U.K. has resumed lobbying for a London Super Bowl.
  • Albert: Thinks it’s inevitable but logistically tricky, especially regarding prime TV ratings.
  • “Your kickoff time does matter. If you’re holding the game in London...is that really true that everyone’s still going to sit down and watch it?” – Albert Breer (31:37)
  • Discussion of possibly moving to a Saturday night Super Bowl to accommodate both U.S. and U.K. audiences, but Albert and Dan agree that the NFL is hyper-focused on maximizing U.S. viewership.

5. NFL Streaming & Viewing Fragmentation

• Callers raise concerns about sports becoming increasingly hard to find due to streaming fragmentation (Amazon, Netflix, Peacock).
  • Dan’s Take: “They’re banking on the fact that you need the NFL. Baseball needs you, you need the NFL. And I think that’s the difference.” (16:00)
  • Nostalgia for centralized cable/radio experiences.

6. Player Holdouts: Hendrickson, McLaurin, Micah Parsons

• Trey Hendrickson (Bengals): Future guarantees and pride are main sticking points; trade is unlikely due to high asking price.
• Terry McLaurin (Commanders): Too important to Dan Quinn’s plans and to the franchise; likely to get sorted near season kickoff.
• Micah Parsons (Cowboys): Negotiations are slow by design, with Dallas likely to put their best offer on the table close to the opener; estimated $45 million/year may be required. Parsons’ unique personality may complicate talks (not “wildly popular in the building”). (39:44–41:16)

7. Comeback Player of the Year Odds

• New AP guidance: players “simply returning from poor performance” aren’t eligible; must be returning from injury or illness.
• Favorites: Dak Prescott, Aidan Hutchinson (+275), Christian McCaffrey (+370), Trevor Lawrence (+475).
  • Controversy over inclusion of players like Daniel Jones and J.J. McCarthy (unclear if their injuries/absences truly fit the spirit of the award).
  • Dan’s pick: J.J. McCarthy ("Come on down!") (52:15)
  • Group prediction roundtable, with some comic relief.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On backup QB pay:
  “You’re signing these guys and you hope they don’t play, because if they do play then something happened to your starter.” – Dan (06:32)

• On Shedeur Sanders draft drop:
  "He came in, he’s interviewing teams to see if he wanted to go play for you...he wasn’t viewed as a marquee talent. Now, you’ll put up with that stuff if the talent equates to ‘OK, we can overlook the attitude because the talent’s so great.’” – Dan (11:00)

• On NFL streaming fragmentation:
  “It’s called cable. Just like I’ve seen people calling for...tune into live podcasts as they were happening. Yes. It’s called the radio.” – Dan, poking fun at reinventions of old media (17:20)

• On moving the Super Bowl to London:
  “...that number going from in the playoffs, like 50 million to 120 million, that’s not based on people like me and you, Dan, tuning in...that’s based on people who could take it or leave it.” – Albert Breer (32:07)

• On Anthony Richardson & the Colts:
  “It’s 100% on them that they got this wrong...That hit that Anthony Richardson took, that he got hurt on, I mean, no one wanted to see the result, but that was indicative of everything...his awareness, his ability to process everything in front of him, it’s still not there three years in.” – Albert Breer (35:04)

• On Micah Parsons’ negotiations:
  “Dak Prescott was wildly popular in the building...I don’t know that it’s the same way with Micah, and that may complicate things a little bit.” – Albert Breer (39:44)

Important Timestamps

• [04:02] – Chase Daniel vs Isaiah Pacheco career poll and backup QB earnings breakdown.
• [06:32] – Discussion on Tyson Bagent, backup QBs out-earning running backs.
• [09:00–12:00] – Debunking Shedeur Sanders draft conspiracy, NFL draft interview insights.
• [14:44] – Callers discuss Jim Harbaugh’s NFL punishment question; Albert Breer segment previewed.
• [27:17] – Albert Breer explains the Tressel/Harbaugh situation and NFL precedent on college discipline.
• [31:19] – Albert & Dan debate logistics and likelihood of a Super Bowl in London.
• [35:04] – Colts and Anthony Richardson draft/development issues.
• [39:44] – Holdout updates: Hendrickson, McLaurin, and Micah Parsons.
• [49:12] – Comeback Player of the Year odds and panel predictions.

Episode Tone

Lighthearted, with characteristic Dan Patrick wit and playful banter among the Danettes, but also offering substantive and well-sourced NFL commentary thanks to Albert Breer’s deep reporting and experience.

Summary Table

| Segment | Timestamp | Key Point/Quote | |------------------------------------------|-------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Backup QB Salary Analysis | 04:02–08:16 | “It pays to be a backup quarterback... Bagent... more than Pacheco ever made.” | | Shedeur Sanders’ Draft Controversy | 09:00–12:00 | “I believe Dickerson believes this is true. I don’t believe it’s true...entitled.” | | Jim Harbaugh/NFL Suspension Debate | 27:17–28:13 | “I don’t think Harbaugh was escaping Michigan...Different motivations for leaving.” | | Super Bowl in London | 31:19–34:47 | “Kickoff time does matter...that number [viewership] is all about drive-by viewers.” | | Player Holdouts, Contract Talks | 39:44–41:16 | “Dak wildly popular; with Micah, not the same, may complicate things.” | | Comeback Player Odds & Picks | 49:12–52:15 | Group debates award eligibility, injuries, and makes comic predictions. |

For listeners who missed the episode:
This hour provided a blend of financial insight into NFL contracts, debunked a major draft conspiracy narrative, explained complex league policies on discipline, and offered rare candor on owner/GM mentality straight from an insider—all delivered with humor and the accessible honesty that defines The Dan Patrick Show.