The Dan Patrick Show – Hour 3
Date: December 9, 2025
Guests: Albert Breer (Senior NFL Reporter, The Monday Morning Quarterback), Reggie Miller (Hall of Famer, NBA Analyst)
Episode Overview
In this final hour of The Dan Patrick Show, Dan and the Danettes dive into major NFL and NBA storylines with their high-profile guests. Albert Breer breaks down the Colts’ quarterback crisis, the resurgence of long field goals, and looming NFL coaching changes, while Reggie Miller offers insight on the NBA season’s top stories—highlighting OKC's surprising brilliance, the Lakers’ performance, Luka Doncic’s evolution, the rise of Austin Reaves, and the future of Giannis Antetokounmpo. There’s also the usual banter about stats, roles, and historic three-point records.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Indianapolis Colts’ Quarterback Dilemma
- Topic Intro: Colts rumored to work out 44-year-old Philip Rivers as potential answer to injury-plagued quarterback room.
- Dan Patrick: “If Philip Rivers is the answer, I don’t want to know the question…” (06:39)
- Albert Breer: Working out Rivers is a testament to how dire the Colts’ QB issue is.
- Other Options: Brett Rypien likely next in line; team looking for any hope after losing three straight and facing tough schedule (Seattle, San Francisco).
- Breer: “Really sort of a… perfect storm of quarterback crap… I’m not making light of it…” (07:01)
- Challenges with Rivers:
- Arm strength wasn’t the issue before, but mobility and absorbing hits after a long layoff are huge question marks.
- Breer: “I don’t think anybody can project… what’s going to happen if he were out there on Sunday and… gets buried—is he going to be able to get up from that?” (09:29)
- Raises comparison to Drew Henson, noting the difficulty of recapturing NFL timing after years away.
Notable Quote
“If nothing else, this shows the Colts’ locker room that Steichen and Ballard are doing everything they possibly can to create some modicum of hope…”
— Albert Breer (11:30)
2. NFL Trade Deadline: Why So Early?
- Rationale: NFL’s early deadline prevents late-season talent dumps, maintains competitive balance.
- Breer: “The NFL wants to avoid a situation where you have teams… dumping all these players [late in the year], can affect attendance… and the competitiveness…” (12:06, 12:40)
- There’s been discussion about moving it back to align more with MLB/NBA.
3. Rise of Long Field Goals
- Dan Patrick: Queries if the crossbar should be raised to temper the wave of long-distance kicks (13:26).
- Breer:
- Prepared Kicking Balls (“K-balls”): Kickers now able to prepare balls like quarterbacks.
- Athleticism: Better athletes drawn to the position, more competition for scholarships and jobs.
- Breer (via Nick Folk): “You have these guys who are really good high school… college players at a baseline and now they’re learning how to kick. So you have these guys who are more explosive, have better legs…” (14:29)
- Personal training & specialization also improve kicking.
4. NFL Head Coaching Vacancies
- Predicted Number: About 7–8 openings expected (17:08).
- Potential Openings: Giants, Titans, possibly Atlanta, Arizona, maybe even “curveballs” like Pittsburgh (mutually parting with Tomlin).
- This Year’s Landscape: Few obvious “hot names” compared to the past.
- Breer: “If you asked me on December 9th, 2024, I’d have told you Ben Johnson and Mike Vrabel… are going to be head coaches next year… Who is that this year? I don’t know if there’s a hot guy and that’s it.” (18:34)
- Teams on the Fence: Might retain their coach if replacement upside isn’t clear.
Notable Quote
“Sometimes teams say, if he’s going to be such a great hire for someone else, why aren’t we trying harder to make the first time around work?”
— Albert Breer (19:41), on Miami’s decision with Mike McDaniel
5. NBA Stories with Reggie Miller
A. Top Early-Season Storylines (25:34)
- OKC Thunder: Surpassing expectations, fans wonder if they can beat the 73-win mark and win it all.
- Miller: “People need to remember… [Golden State] lost in the final [after the record].”
- Lakers’ Unexpected Performance: LeBron as a “third wheel,” Austin Reaves’ emergence as an All-Star-level producer in a contract year.
- Miller: “No one thought LeBron would be the third wheel… That’s a heck of a third wheel to have.” (26:22)
B. Luka Doncic’s Transformation (Referenced as with Lakers, likely a hypothetical)
- Regret and Impact: Miller stands by earlier critical comments about Luka’s conditioning—which Doncic himself acknowledged.
- Miller: “Whenever I say things, it comes from a place of truth and love… I think he respected what we were saying.” (27:16)
- Luka responded by getting into shape, dominated Eurobasket, and is now the NBA’s leading scorer.
C. Austin Reaves’ Rapid Rise (29:10)
- No One Saw This Coming: Undrafted, gambled by signing with Lakers, now commands respect as either a future #1 on a bad team or “Robin to Batman” in LA.
- Miller: “He is a legitimate number one on a bad team if he goes somewhere else…” (29:20)
- $50 million/year contract predicted.
D. Notable NBA Role Models/Advice for Young Players
- Don’t focus on rankings—be a late bloomer, find the right fit, and work hard.
- Miller: “Rankings really don’t mean anything… It’s what’s in your heart and it’s how you develop.” (31:59)
E. Future for Giannis Antetokounmpo & Trade Scenarios (33:05)
- Miller: Bucks need to decide soon if they’re “wasting [Giannis’] prime”; he’s earned the right to ask for a trade but must handle it quietly.
- Suggests possible trade could include Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, and two first-round picks as a starting point for the Bucks.
- Dan Patrick: “You got to look at both sides of the deal…”
F. Three-Point Explosion & Rookie Records
- Con Knipple’s Run: On pace to shatter Keegan Murray’s rookie 3-point record (263 projected, current record 206).
- Miller: “Khan will have the numbers on Steph’s first three years… Question is, will he ever be a go-to guy?” (36:34)
- Banter about Miller's own rookie numbers versus modern shooters; defending his era and role.
G. Role & Defense Banter
- Dan & Miller Discuss: Roles, defense, and assist numbers from their playing days.
- Miller: “I forced them into the help.” (42:44, on his defense)
- Laughter and playful self-deprecation throughout.
6. College Football Playoff & Notre Dame Debate (47:36)
- Caller Jason: Critiques Notre Dame's independence, schedule, and ACC relationship after playoff snub.
- Dan Patrick: “I’m not defending Notre Dame. It’s about the rankings, that’s all… Nothing changed [when ND dropped in the rankings], something happened in the room, that’s all.” (48:10)
- Dan: Notes the polarizing nature of Notre Dame (“No one’s casual about Notre Dame—you either are a fan for life or really, really don’t like them." (49:55))
Notable Quotes & Moments
-
On Colts’ Desperation
“Perfect storm of quarterback crap… not making light of it…”
— Albert Breer, 07:01 -
On Endurance of NFL Quarterbacks
“Joe Flacco earlier this year… I think I'm going to be able to throw at an NFL level until I'm 50.”
— Albert Breer, 08:50 -
On Changing Kicking Game
“You have these guys who are really good athletes… and now they're learning how to kick.”
— Breer, referencing Nick Folk, 14:29 -
On Lakers’ Surprising Success
“No one thought LeBron would be the third wheel… That’s a heck of a third wheel.”
— Reggie Miller, 26:22 -
On Giannis’ Future
“He doesn't want to be the a-hole. He doesn't want to come out and be demonstrative and say, I want to be traded. But to me, he has earned the right.”
— Reggie Miller, 33:35 -
On Young NBA Players and Development
“Rankings really don’t mean anything. They don’t. It's what's in your heart and… how you develop.”
— Reggie Miller, 31:59 -
On Defensive Roles in the NBA
“I forced them into the help.”
— Reggie Miller, 42:44
Segment Timestamps
- Colts’ QB Dilemma & Philip Rivers Workout: 03:26–13:26
- NFL Trade Deadline Discussion: 11:59–13:26
- Rise of NFL Kicking Distances: 13:26–17:05
- Coaching Carousel/Hot Names: 17:05–20:36
- Transition to Reggie Miller/OKC/Lakers/LeBron/Luka: 25:34–28:49
- Austin Reaves' Breakout and Contract Future: 28:49–31:06
- Giannis and NBA Trade Scenarios: 33:05–35:52
- Three-Point Record Banter (Con Knipple, Keegan Murray, Reggie’s own rookie year): 35:52–41:54
- NBA Roles & Defense (Miller/DP Banter): 41:54–43:04
- Notre Dame Playoff/ACC Rant: 47:36–50:48
Memorable Moments / Tone
- Mixture of humor, insight, and candid self-reflection from both Breer and Miller.
- Miller’s playful—and honest—takes on his own stats and role cements the show’s friendly, lightly irreverent tone.
- Engaged, knowledgeable banter between Dan Patrick and his guests makes for a fast-paced, thorough rundown of the day’s big sports stories.
Useful for Listeners Who Missed the Episode
This episode delivers insider insight on one of the NFL’s weirdest possible QB moves, explores why the long field goal is here to stay, and gives NBA fans a fun, honest assessment of the season’s biggest surprises and debates. Whether you care most about the Colts, Lakers, OKC, or Notre Dame, you’ll find clear opinions, real analysis, and a few laughs along the way.