The Dan Patrick Show – Hour 3: Sleeper Teams, CFP Player Bonuses

Date: August 28, 2025
Podcast: The Dan Patrick Show
Host(s): Dan Patrick, The Danettes (Paulie, Seaton, Marvin, Fritzy)
Theme: Exploring the potential of NFL “sleeper” teams, the idea of College Football Playoff bonuses, and the usual mix of sports insight, banter, and audience interaction.

Episode Overview

The final hour of the show blends Dan and the Danettes’ signature mix of sports talk, light-hearted personal anecdotes, and listener calls. The central topics: sleeper teams that could boom or bust in the NFL, spirited debates around college football player compensation, and pop culture-laden segments like “In or Out.” The team’s chemistry drives the episode, creating an entertaining, informative ride through current sports issues.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. College Football Opening Night and “Brisket Parade” ([03:20])

• Dan highlights the night’s college football slate, musing on quirky early-season matchups (Wyoming at Akron, Stony Brook at San Diego State) and the mysterious mechanics of scheduling small schools against bigger ones.
• Recaps the studio’s “ceremonial brisket parade” – an annual start-of-season tradition involving their in-house grill chef, Dylan, who will pull an all-nighter for the brisket. Anecdotes about overnight studio shenanigans revive:
  • Funny moment: Fritzy recounts mistaking Robocop movie audio for mysterious voices through couch speakers after the Sports Emmys ([05:44]):
    • “I was freaked out for a period of hours because I was in and out of consciousness sleeping. So you’re hearing voices and there’s nobody around. He’s laying in the dark. What are you supposed to think?” – Fritzy & Dan ([07:05])
  • Onion bagel “trauma” anniversary: Fritzy recalls berating a drive-through worker over bagels and tuna fish, now self-critical about his behavior ([08:45]).

2. "In or Out" – Rapid-Fire Hot Takes Segment ([13:16])

Premise: Each panelist votes "in" or "out" on a topic – no fence-sitting.

Notable In or Out Topics and Moments

• When does fall start?
  • Most cast votes “in” but Fritzy is a “September 1st truther” ([14:24]):
    • “I’m out. It’s more September 1st for me. Sorry. I feel like they’re starting college football early.”
• Arch Manning staying for senior year at Texas?
  • All “in,” with discussion on media mock drafts pushing narratives for clicks.
• Wearing gear of teams you don’t root for?
  • Most are “in” (OK if not a rival), but with strong caveats on rivals:
    • “But as a UConn guy, I would never wear a Syracuse...I wouldn’t be caught dead wearing [it].” – Marvin ([16:33])
• NFL opening matchup: Cowboys vs Eagles: right choice?
  • Unanimous “in” for this big-brand rivalry; Dan relishes the spectacle even if it turns into a blowout ([18:00]).
• Be a great position player or starting pitcher in baseball?
  • Consensus: Prefer being an everyday position player.
    • “Pitchers aren’t pitchers anymore...there’s no marquee pitchers where you go, ‘that guy’s a workhorse.’” – Dan ([20:15])
• Pumpkin products and uniform options: Split opinions, with humorous asides about early pumpkin spice season ([23:46]).

3. NFL: Sleeper Teams – Boom/Bust Potential ([32:05])

Dan poses: Name teams who could reach a championship or bust entirely.

Panel Picks and Rationale

• Green Bay Packers—Marvin’s pick (“good call,” says Dan).
• San Francisco 49ers—Fritzy: “I don’t know what to make of them. They could be a lot better or...horrible.”
• Patriots—Seaton: Could surprise, or completely flop.
• Atlanta Falcons—Paulie:
  • “Every year the Atlanta Falcons...I think, 'Oh, they’re going to get it together this year.'...They could be completely a mess.”
• Arizona Cardinals—Dan:
  • “Given what’s happened with my relationship with Kyler Murray...I still think that talent-wise, he’s a top 5 talented quarterback in the NFL...He’s a right-handed Michael Vick.”
• Seattle Seahawks—Paulie highlights roster changes: Losses of DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett are significant.
• Denver Broncos—Marvin: “They’re overrated, but...a couple of good games, [they’re] in the AFC Championship. If they end up with seven wins, I won’t be surprised.”
• Washington Commanders—Mentioned for overachieving last year, but concern for regression in close games.
• Buffalo, Detroit Point Differentials: Panel chats about last year’s point diff stats. Detroit outscored opponents by 222 points (“By far!” – Paulie, [38:40]).

4. Listener Calls: Debates, Fun, and Conspiracies

• Brock Purdy Talk ([25:33]): A Niners caller defends Purdy and points out that field goal kicking, not QB play, cost them key games.
• Michael Vick College Game Oversight ([29:54]): Caller disappointed that Norfolk State–Towson and new coach Michael Vick got skipped in Dan’s preview (wasn’t listed in DraftKings FCS odds).
• Donna Kelce/Biltmore Estate Wedding Rumor ([34:47]): Listener Jeff speculates Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift could wed at Biltmore; Paulie calls it “a classic decoy.”
  • “If I’m Taylor Swift, I send somebody that nobody knows...Why would I send Travis Kelce’s mom?” – Dan

5. College Football Playoff Player Bonuses – Deion Sanders’ Idea ([57:32])

Dan, Seaton, and the group discuss Deion Sanders’ recent proposal: Institute monetary bonuses for players who make or win the College Football Playoff, akin to NFL postseason bonuses.

• Dan’s Take: Supports sharing wealth, but predicts complications dividing the pot (role vs. pay, stars vs. backups):
  • “If I’m the quarterback, I’m making the same as the third-string? I’ve never met somebody who didn’t want to make more money.” ([59:30])
• Seaton’s Rebuttal: The environment would turn toxic if QBs griped about equal pay for benchwarmers; the NIL “already stratifies income.”
  • “...pretty horrible team environment if the guy who had $2 million was like, yeah, but I should have got 75 and he gets 25, even though he already has no money.”
• Listener call: Suggests basing bonuses on minutes played.

6. Pop Culture, Banter, and Show Lore

• Jerry Jones, Cowboys, and Micah Parsons Trade Rumors ([48:39]):
  • A caller theorizes Jerry “wants another Herschel Walker trade,” uses the recent Jones doc as evidence. Dan likes the conspiracy theory but is skeptical.
  • “The documentary was...Jerry Jones gets to pat himself on the back, look at what I did.”
• Dan’s Wedding “Daniversary” ([51:34]): Andy from Rhode Island offers on-air congrats for 38 years; Dan shares his story of renewing vows at the Vegas Elvis Chapel (“E is for everlasting LOVE!”).
• Listener roasts Fritzy:
  • Calls Fritzy a “neuroticon”—“not eroticon”—reminding the crew that “sometimes he just definitely goes off the rails.” ([65:04])
• Dawn Staley’s Knicks interview ([66:43]):
  • Coverage of Dawn Staley's real interview with the Knicks and her acknowledgment that she “may have talked them out of offering her” the job.
  • Panel agrees: Women like Staley, Becky Hammon, and the late Pat Summitt all capable of coaching NBA teams.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• On sports apparel loyalty:
  • “As a UConn guy, I would never wear a Syracuse...I wouldn’t be caught dead wearing [it].”
    — Marvin ([16:33])
• On Kyler Murray and untapped potential:
  • “He’s like Michael Vick. He’s a right-handed Michael Vick. If they only would have applied themselves…”
    — Dan ([35:44])
• On Deion Sanders’ CFP bonus proposal:
  • “If I’m the quarterback, I’m making the same amount of money as the third-string? I’ve never met somebody who didn’t want to make more money.”
    — Dan ([59:30])
• Dan recounts vow renewal with Elvis impersonator:
  • “He starts the ceremony: E is for everlasting love… L is for love… spelling out ‘Elvis’ with words for a relationship.” ([52:20])
• Caller labels Fritzy:
  • “If I had to think of Todd (Fritzy) and give him a name, being a Transformer, it’d have to be Neuroticon, not Eroticon… sometimes he just goes off the rails.” ([65:04])

Segment Timestamps

• [03:20] – College Football Slate, “Brisket Parade,” Onion Bagel lore
• [13:16] – “In or Out” Hot Take Segment
• [25:33] – Listener: Brock Purdy & Niners debate
• [29:54] – Michael Vick as new college coach; Towson-Norfolk call
• [32:05] – NFL Sleeper Teams: Discussion & Analysis
• [34:47] – Donna Kelce/Biltmore Wedding Speculation
• [48:39] – Jerry Jones/Micah Parsons Trade Theories
• [51:34] – Dan’s “Daniversary” and Vow Renewal Story
• [57:32] – Deion Sanders’ College Football Playoff Bonus Proposal
• [66:43] – Dawn Staley Knicks Interview; Women in NBA Coaching

Summary Takeaways

This episode stands out for:

• Lively, genuine banter and deep NFL/college football insight.
• Honest, sometimes self-deprecating show lore (onion bagel, brisket parade, vow renewal).
• Spirited, listener-fueled discussions about what makes parity and fairness in sports—on and off the field.
• The Danettes’ chemistry and humor, coupled with nuanced takes on actual sports business, make it valuable for any sports fan—even those brand new to the show.