The Dan Patrick Show

Hour 3 – Cleaning Your Plate, Dane Brugler
Date: November 7, 2025
Guest Host: Ross Tucker
Key Guest: Dane Brugler (NFL Draft Analyst, The Athletic)

Episode Overview

In this lively hour, guest host Ross Tucker and the Danettes blend classic Dan Patrick Show humor and camaraderie with insightful discussion on food traditions, etiquette, and a deep dive into the 2026 NFL Draft landscape with Dane Brugler. The episode moves seamlessly from “Meat Friday” banter to substantial football analysis, debates about the merits of cleaning your plate, the oddities of buffet etiquette, and the challenges teams face with a weak incoming quarterback class.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Meat Friday & Food Traditions

[02:45 – 10:00]

• Meat Friday Anticipation: Ross shares his excitement for the Meat Friday menu: baby back and St. Louis ribs, beer brats, jalapeño mac and cheese, and a plethora of mustards.
  • He admits to strategizing his day's eating to maximize enjoyment: “My salivary glands are working overtime right now... I usually eat at like 10, 2, and 6, but I stayed at a hotel and had breakfast at 6:30, knowing I wouldn't eat here till 12. Thank goodness!” (03:36)
• Hunger and Mood: Discussion turns to how hunger (or "hangriness") affects mood. Ross jokes that his family knows not to mess with him when he’s “hangry.”
• Buffet Etiquette: The crew discusses social situational anxieties, like being the first to get food or taking the last serving at a buffet.
  • Paulie: “Do you have any shyness about, like, I'm taking that? I don't care.”
  • Ross: “My wife's family... it's a faux pas to eat the last thing. They’ll cut things in half so nobody finishes it.” (06:20)
  • Ross contrasts with his own upbringing: “If it's on your plate, you finish it. My grandparents would cheer me on as I ate. Go, Rossi, go!” (07:15)
• Leftovers Philosophy: Taking a "to-go plate" is debated; according to Ross, “One of my favorite things about my wife, she’s huge on leftovers. If we have a good weekend eating out, that's lunch at work for the whole week. That's a keeper.” (11:21)
• Buffet Line Rules: If you forget something when first going through the buffet, is it acceptable to cut back in, or do you have to re-enter at the end of the line? This sparks laughter and debate about “buffet protocol.”
  • “No, you cannot go right for the meatballs... You have to start over and deal with your mistake!” (10:36)

2. Quick Sports Recap: Broncos, Raiders & Playoff Talk

[12:30 – 16:45]

• Thursday Night Game Recap:
  • Both teams (Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders) had more penalties than points, a rare and ignominious feat.
  • Danettes rib Fritzi (literally, as he wears a Mark Davis wig after losing a bet) and debate whether the Broncos can win a playoff game.
  • Paulie doubts their path in the playoffs: “I don't like them over the Colts, Patriots, Bills, Chiefs. Chargers is close.” (15:48)
  • Marv connects the current Broncos to last year's “unbelievable record, but you don’t believe in them” Minnesota Vikings.

3. Bucket List Sports Venues

[16:59 – 18:54]

• Callers Share Bucket List Venues:
  • David in Texas: The 16th hole at the Waste Management Open in Phoenix—“It looks like a blast every time they show it.” (17:21)
  • Scott in Vermont: Field of Dreams in Dyersville, Iowa, and Lincoln Financial Field for the Eagles. He and Ross bond over their mutual admiration for Randall Cunningham.
  • Ross: “Randall Cunningham was like all these guys playing now, way before all these guys playing now.” (18:54)

4. NFL Draft 2026: Dane Brugler Segment

[26:42 – 39:33]

Intro & Draft Needs By Team

• Setup: Ross tasks Paulie with listing which teams could seek a first-round QB in 2026.
  • Teams likely in the market: New Orleans Saints, NY Jets, Miami Dolphins (possible), Las Vegas Raiders, Cleveland Browns; others less likely.
  • Ross: “For a bunch of those teams... Tyler Shuck has something to say about this for the Saints... I'm just going by if I had to make the determination right now.” (27:23)

Dane Brugler’s Evaluation (The Athletic)

• Dane's Preseason Top 5 QBs for 2026:

  • Arch Manning, Lenora Sellers, Garrett Nussmeier, Fernando Mendoza, Drew Aller.
  • Brugler (28:19): “Arch Manning…not panned out the way we thought. We’re looking at him at 2027 and beyond.”
  • Mendoza’s stock is rising: “He has only elevated himself with the way he’s played as a first-year starter at Indiana... I think Mendoza is the odds-on favorite to be the first quarterback drafted.” (30:17)

• Current Top QB Prospects:

  • Fernando Mendoza (Indiana): Intelligent, accurate, RPO-heavy system, compared to Jared Goff.
  • Ty Simpson (Alabama): First-year starter—few starts makes evaluation difficult, “but you watch the tape and you see an NFL starter.” (30:50)
  • Dante Moore (Oregon): “He’s 20 years old, still young... I think there's a good chance we see him go back for another year.” (31:30)

• Dilemma For Prospects: Staying in school (and cashing in on NIL) vs. declaring for the draft early despite risk.

  • Brugler: “Sometimes you come back for that next year you could play worse, you could get hurt... Who’s to say they wouldn’t have the same things happen to them that happened with Nussmeier, Aller, Sellers, Manning?” (32:19)

• Looking Ahead:

  • Brugler: Scouts believe 2027 could be the “golden year” for QBs: “I know it’s very cliché to say ‘wait for next year,’ but that’s kind of true this year.” (33:04)
  • 2025 draft is likely to be talent-light at the top, harder for teams desperate for a new quarterback.

Intrigue: Dane’s Top Overall Prospect

[35:04]

• Dane’s top player right now: Arvell Reese (Edge, Ohio State)

  • “Isn’t that crazy that the number one... I never heard of the guy last year. So he didn’t play last year and now...he’s just getting time.” (35:29)
  • Brugler: “It's rare to find 6'4", 240-pound linebackers and Ohio State has two... Arvell Reese and Sonny Stiles. Both are going to be first round picks.” (35:55)

• Texas Tech vs BYU Preview

  • Texas Tech’s defense is highlighted: “Texas Tech has been ponying up the cash and it's paying out in a big way... David Bailey, coming over from Stanford, will be a first round pick.” (38:18)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Quote | Speaker | | --- | --- | --- | | 03:36 | “My salivary glands are working overtime right now...I had that [hotel breakfast] at 6:30, knowing I wouldn't eat here till 12. Thank goodness.” | Ross Tucker | | 06:20 | “My wife's family... it's a faux pas to eat the last thing. They’ll cut things in half so nobody finishes it… Meanwhile, I grew up military... If it's on your plate, you finish it.” | Ross Tucker | | 07:15 | “My grandparents would cheer me on as I ate. Go, Rossi, go!” | Ross Tucker | | 11:21 | “If we have a good weekend eating out, that's lunch at work for the whole week. That's a keeper.” | Ross Tucker | | 10:36 | “No, you cannot go right for the meatballs... You have to start over and deal with your mistake!” | Danettes | | 28:19 | “Arch Manning…not panned out the way we thought. We’re looking at him at 2027 and beyond.” | Dane Brugler | | 30:17 | “If you’re going to put odds on it right now, I think Mendoza is the odds-on favorite to be the first quarterback drafted.” | Dane Brugler | | 33:04 | “I know it’s very cliché to say ‘wait for next year,’ but that’s kind of true this year.” | Dane Brugler | | 35:29 | “Isn’t that crazy that the number one... I never heard of the guy last year. So he didn’t play last year and now...he’s just getting time.” | Ross Tucker | | 35:55 | “It's rare to find 6'4", 240-pound linebackers and Ohio State has two... Arvell Reese and Sonny Stiles.” | Dane Brugler |

Fun Closing Moments: Ribs, Mustard Philosophy, and “What We Learned”

[44:50 – 52:56]

• On the meat buffet: “I just had my last bite and then ran in here... probably the greatest variety of mustard options I’ve ever seen in one place at one time.” (45:44)

• Mustard debate:

  • Ross: “Spicy mustard, absolutely.”
  • “I feel like I only use honey mustard when I'm dipping a nugget...” (46:55)

• Classic college stories: Ross details fraternity “task night,” including eating hot dogs and “fun dip” with butter and Hawaiian Punch—eliciting laughter from all.

• Wrap-up: “Isn’t it always the case—you think next year’s QB class will be better... for the tenth straight year?” – Paulie (50:21)

Highlighted Timestamps

• Meat Friday/Food Traditions: 02:45 – 11:21
• Broncos/Raiders Recap & Playoff Hopes: 12:30 – 16:45
• Bucket List Sports Venues: 16:59 – 18:54
• NFL Draft Landscape with Dane Brugler: 26:42 – 39:33
• Fun & Food Finales, “What We Learned”: 44:50 – 52:56

Takeaways for New Listeners

• Expect personable, relatable food banter and traditions. This hour’s “Meat Friday” discussions will make you laugh and hungry.
• NFL fans get an honest, thorough overview of a challenging draft year. Dane Brugler’s segment is a must-listen for fans interested in the nitty-gritty of draft evaluation and team needs.
• Classic Dan Patrick/Danette chemistry persists—even with a guest host, the tone remains witty, warm, and entertaining.
• If you’re a sports (or food) traditionalist or draft junkie, this hour is for you.