The Dan Patrick Show – Hour 3 – Making Your Name, Short Arms (Feb 26, 2026)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Dan Patrick and the Danettes dive into NFL Draft season, focusing on the NFL Combine and the endless debate about draft measurables—especially hand size and arm length. They analyze how these metrics can make or break a prospect's draft stock, compare notable player histories, and sprinkle in their signature humor and banter. The conversation expands into quarterback evaluations, franchise contexts, memorable NFL “combine misses,” and a segment about the greatest moments in sports—bowling included.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. NFL Combine: The Value (or Not) of Measurables

• Ohio State & Texas A&M at the Combine
  Dan opens by noting the schools with the highest number of invited players—Texas A&M (13) and Ohio State (11), highlighting Mel Kiper’s projection of four Ohio State players in the top seven picks. (02:44)

• How Much Does the Combine Matter?
  Dan questions the real value of the combine compared to actual football tape:

  "You watch tape and tape, you can't lie. It's I'm watching it. I see it with my own eyes instead of I'm watching you at the combine, now I'm imagining you playing football. So it's different." (03:33)

  • He calls out “combine phenoms” and the pitfalls of teams falling for performance in shorts rather than on-field results.
  • Cites historic examples: Steve Largent and Jerry Rice—players whose combine measurables didn’t predict greatness.

• The Origin of the 40-Yard Dash
  Dan explains its roots with coach Paul Brown, who needed to assess punt coverage speed, not universal football ability. He downplays the importance of "track speed" at the combine:

  "The 40 doesn't mean anything to me. How often do you run 40 yards? Not very often." (06:07)

2. Quarterbacks: Hype, Risk, and Franchise Impact

• Scouting the Person, Not Just the Player
  Dan recounts warnings about Ryan Leaf based on character and culture fit, not just arm talent:

  "You gotta know who that person is. And it's a person, it's not just a player." (07:00)

• The ‘Safe’ Pick vs. the Superstar Dream
  • Discussion on Fernando Mendoza, likely number one pick for the Raiders, as "safe, but not great."
  • Comparison to Joe Flacco—competent, won a Super Bowl, but not elite—raises the question: is that enough?
• Draft Position vs. Opportunity
  Paulie brings up Jared Goff and expectations for high-drafted QBs. Sitting and learning (like Mahomes behind Alex Smith, Brady as a backup) can be crucial for development. (13:29)
• Systemic Losing and Franchise Luck
  Marvin points out some teams set QBs up for failure:

  "You get drafted by [the Jets or Browns], you're already behind the eight ball." (11:44) Dan:
  "Losing is systemic and you can't get it out... You can't get rid of the smell by opening the window." (11:57)

3. The Arm Length & Hand Size Obsession

• Ruben Bain Jr. and “Short Arm” Prospects
  Discussion of Reuben Bain Jr. (likely top-3 pick), revealed to have sub-31” arms (30 7/8”), “the third-shortest for an edge rusher since the NFL started tracking in 1999.” (16:00)

  • Jokes fly about being called "The Alligator" or "T-Rex":
    • "He could be T. Rex." – Dan (18:30)

• Does This Stuff Really Matter? Segment highlights players who beat the “short arms” stigma:

  • Trey Hendrickson, Aidan Hutchinson both <33” arms but successful careers.
  • Longest arms: Jason Pierre-Paul (34 3/4”).
  • Dan:

    "There's guys who are great with 33-inch arms, overcame the adversity of being short-armed." (26:01)

• Callers Chime In

  • Mike in Kentucky jokes: "A T. Rex has short arms, but they're still pretty ferocious, right?" Dan: "Well, no, they're gone. They're extinct." (27:35)

4. The Combine “Misses” and Heart Over Measurables

• Tom Brady’s legendary “bad” combine and career success.
  • "He looked like he'd had a few beers. He showed up, you know, disheveled.” – Dan (27:51)
• Callers and Dan bring up Antonio Brown, who tested poorly at the Combine but had a Hall-of-Fame-caliber career before his dramatic exit. (28:02)
• Call-in proposal: Should the Combine measure “heart” the way Secretariat’s was legendary among racehorses? The Danettes riff on "big hearts", medical metaphors, and the futility of such tests. (29:33 – 30:28)

5. The Danettes' Banter: Negativity, Parental Influence, and Big Heads

• Discussion of Fritzy’s negative outlook, traced humorously to his upbringing and mother’s "fear-based" warnings. (31:21)
• Locker room posters: caller reminisces about memorizing Dikembe Mutombo's full name ("Greatest poster ever." – Jared, 32:35).
• Conversation on head sizes as a hypothetical “next combine metric.”
  • Bruce Bochy’s legendary “eight head” referenced as a running inside joke. (34:06)
• The Danettes also reveal their own hat sizes and blood types for laughs, with Todd being humorously dubbed "O very negative." (35:42)

6. Bowling’s Greatest Moment

• Seaton brings up “Who do you think you are? I am!”—Pete Weber’s iconic bowling outburst, replayed and quoted with gusto:
  • "A strike to claim it. A strike to claim it. And he got it. Are you kidding me? That's right. Who do you think you are? I am." (45:06)
• The guys reminisce about classic bowling TV, the obscure fame of Don Johnson from Kokomo, Indiana, and bowling quirks.

7. Finals, What We Learned, and Preview

• The show wraps with banter over arm-measuring technique, funny speculations over St. John’s and Notre Dame basketball failures, more combine-metric jokes, and a tease for tomorrow’s guests: Daniel Jeremiah and Robert "Big Shot Bob" Horry.
  • "Who has the longest arms since they've been tracking since 1999...?" (24:49)
  • "That could end up being the bane of his existence." – Todd on Reuben Bain puns (17:18)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Dan Patrick on Combine Overhype:

  "The three cone drill doesn’t mean anything to me. Really. The 40 doesn’t mean anything to me. How often do you run 40 yards? Not very often." (06:02)

• On Ryan Leaf:

  "The traits were there. Ryan had incredible talent, probably more talent than Peyton. Big guy, mobile guy, strong arm. But... it’s a person, not just a player." (07:00)

• On Franchise Dysfunction:

  "Losing is systemic and you can't get it out... you can't get rid of the smell by opening the window." (11:57)

• On Reuben Bain Jr.’s Arms:

  "Reuben Bain is an overachiever because despite the short arms...he was a beast in college." (16:00)
  “We're gonna call him the alligator.” (16:49)
  “For Reuben's sake, I really hope he's not like a half an inch away from sacking the quarterback... Oh, if his arms were longer, he would have got him. Little T. Rex arms.” – Marvin (18:20)

• On T. Rex Comparisons:

  Mike in Kentucky: "A T. Rex has short arms, but they're still pretty ferocious, right?"
  Dan: "Well, no, they're gone. They're extinct." (27:35)

• Bowling Lore:

  "A strike to claim it. A strike to claim it. And he got it. Are you kidding me? That's right. Who do you think you are? I am." – Pete Weber (45:06, as replayed by Dan and Seaton)

• Blood Type Banter:

  "I'm a positive. I don't know what that means." – Dan
  "You're O very negative." – Dan to Todd (35:42)

Important Timestamps

• NFL Combine & Draft Discussion: 02:44 – 14:32
• Hand Size/Arm Length Segment (Reuben Bain Jr.): 15:15 – 19:00
• Callers (Combine, Short Arms, Brady, ‘Heart’ Metric): 26:10 – 30:28
• Danettes Family Upbringing & Negativity: 31:21 – 32:05
• Head Size as the Next Metric, Blood Type Jokes: 33:26 – 36:24
• Bowling’s Greatest Moment (Pete Weber): 44:36 – 46:49
• Basketball, Notre Dame/St. John's: 41:57 – 42:56
• Show Wrap-up, What We Learned, Tomorrow's Guests Teased: 48:56 – 49:20

Tone and Show Spirit

The hour is a classic Dan Patrick Show blend: incisive sports analysis, skepticism of conventional wisdom, irreverent humor, and lively banter among the crew and callers. Real sports topics—such as combine measurable importance, quarterback scouting, and the unpredictability of NFL success—are tackled with both depth and playfulness. The recurring inside jokes, “dad-level” puns, and pop culture references keep the atmosphere light and engaging, making the football talk accessible and fun for casual and hardcore fans alike.

Guests & Tomorrow's Teaser

• Upcoming Scheduled Guests:
  • Daniel Jeremiah (NFL Draft Analyst)
  • Robert "Big Shot Bob" Horry (NBA Legend)

This episode is a must-listen for anyone who wants to understand the divide between scouting athletic traits and actual football performance, all wrapped in the Dan Patrick Show’s trademark wit and camaraderie.