The Best of The Dan Patrick Show

Summary

The Dan Patrick Show: The Best of The Dan Patrick Show
Release Date: March 4, 2025
Host: Dan Patrick
Network: iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network
Description: Dan Patrick brings exclusive insights from the world of sports and entertainment, blending his perspectives on pop culture and sports with his signature humor.

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Overview

In the episode titled "The Best of The Dan Patrick Show," Dan Patrick engages in a compelling discussion with sports analysts Mark Seale and Trevor Sikma, focusing primarily on the NFL draft prospects of quarterbacks Shador Sanders and Cam Ward. The conversation delves into the intricacies of quarterback evaluations, team strategies, and the broader implications for the upcoming NFL season.

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Section 1: Evaluating Shador Sanders vs. Cam Ward

Dan Patrick initiates the discussion by expressing skepticism about the NFL's enthusiasm for Shador Sanders as a first-round quarterback pick. He references an article he published ranking quarterbacks over the past five years, positioning Sanders second to last, just above Kenny Pickett.

Dan Patrick [16:34]: "I think all of us have, especially coming out of the combine, we're all kind of hearing the same stuff. But I would agree with that. I think it's hard to find a team right now that says, yeah, that's our guy. You're crazy."

Mark Seale adds context by recalling past interactions with prominent athletes like Cam Newton, highlighting the challenges teams face when quarterbacks express desires beyond just excelling in football.

Mark Seale [08:38]: "I remember interviewing Newton, and he said he wanted to be not just a great quarterback, but an entertainer... teams are not going to like a quarterback saying I want to be an icon and an entertainer."

Trevor Sikma explores the potential reasons behind Sanders' perceived arrogance, suggesting that personal agendas and team-benefit scenarios might influence his draft status.

Trevor Sikma [08:38]: "Maybe he's like, hey, I can be arrogant because I don't want you to draft me... Who benefits from Shador Sanders falling out of the first round?"

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Section 2: Team Strategies and Quarterback Selection

The trio examines how NFL teams prioritize quarterback selections based on a player's potential to lead a franchise to success. Dan Patrick emphasizes the need for quarterbacks who can make timely decisions, drawing parallels to legends like Dan Marino.

Dan Patrick [08:38]: "Is Shador Sanders just trying to control his own narrative? And is Cam Ward being elevated because he might not have much competition?"

Trevor Sikma discusses the implications of coaching decisions, such as the New York Giants opting for established names like Aaron Rodgers over younger prospects like Cam Ward.

Trevor Sikma [19:34]: "The Giants play it safe from the coaching perspective, trying to keep your job and you take Aaron Rodgers instead of Cam Ward."

Mark Seale critiques the unorthodox playing style of Cam Ward, questioning his consistency and decision-making in high-pressure situations.

Mark Seale [37:59]: "His style... how he releases the football, the decisions of when to push the ball down the field... it's a little bit boom or bust."

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Section 3: The Running Back Conversation

Shifting focus slightly, Dan Patrick and Trevor Sikma touch upon the future of running backs in the NFL draft. They discuss the possibility of teams no longer fearing backlash for drafting running backs in the first round, citing the strength of the current running back class.

Dan Patrick [25:32]: "I think you won't be afraid and you also won't get the public backlash... We could see three in the top 30 picks."

Trevor Sikma speculates on the versatility required of players like Travis Hunter, who aim to excel in multiple positions, and compares his ambitions to those of Shohei Ohtani in baseball.

Trevor Sikma [26:44]: "He said that it's tougher to do what he's trying to do than what Shohei Ohtani does by hitting and pitching. Your thoughts?"

Dan Patrick [28:30]: "Hitting a baseball is the hardest thing in sports... I think what Shohei does is unprecedented."

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Section 4: Final Insights and Future Prospects

As the discussion wraps up, the analysts share their final thoughts on emerging talents and the broader landscape of quarterback prospects. Dan Patrick highlights Nick Iman-Wolf’s surge in draft stock, positioning him as a top defender to watch.

Dan Patrick [29:12]: "Nick Iman-Wolf from South Carolina went from being a late first-rounder to maybe a top 15 pick... he's the biggest riser coming out of it all."

Trevor Sikma underscores the importance of confidence and adaptability for quarterbacks transitioning from college to the NFL, emphasizing Sam Darnold's growth under different coaching systems.

Trevor Sikma [39:50]: "It's about confidence. For Sam, that wasn't the case early on, but sometimes it takes development from these guys."

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Notable Quotes

• Mark Seale [08:38]: "Teams are not going to like a quarterback saying I want to be an icon and an entertainer."
• Dan Patrick [16:34]: "It's hard to find a team right now that says, yeah, that's our guy."
• Trevor Sikma [26:44]: "He could try. My statement has been it is very hard to be great at one position in the NFL."

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Conclusion

In this episode, Dan Patrick, alongside Mark Seale and Trevor Sikma, provides an in-depth analysis of the current quarterback landscape in the NFL draft. They critically assess the prospects of players like Shador Sanders and Cam Ward, considering factors such as team needs, player versatility, and the evolving dynamics of player positions. The conversation offers valuable insights for fans and analysts alike, shedding light on the complexities teams navigate in selecting their future quarterbacks.

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Listen to The Best of The Dan Patrick Show on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Transcript

[Dan Patrick]

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[Nathan King]

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[Dan Patrick]

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[Nathan King]

Card has no cash access and expires in six months.

[Julie Stewart-Banks]

What's up everyone? Julie Swearbinks here along with former NHL player Nate Thompson.

[Nate Thompson]

We're doing a new podcast together. Here we go.

[Julie Stewart-Banks]

The name Energy Line with Nate and jsb.

[Nate Thompson]

Each week we'll get together and talk about hockey life. All topics are fair game, right?

[Julie Stewart-Banks]

Exactly, and you'll never know who will drop by to join us.

[Nate Thompson]

Julie is pretty well connected. She has text threads going that you wouldn't believe.

[Julie Stewart-Banks]

Listen to Energyline with Nate and jsb on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Mary Kay McBrayer]

I'm Mary Kay McBrayer, host of the podcast the Greatest True Crime Stories Ever Told. This season explores women from the 19th century to now. Women who were murderers and scammers, but also women who were photojournalists, lawyers, writers and more. This podcast tells more than just the brutal, gory details of horrific acts. I delve into the good, the bad, the difficult, and all the nuance I can find because these are the stories that we need to know to understand the intersection of society, justice and the fascinating workings of the human psyche. Join me every week as I tell some of the most enthralling true crime stories about women who are not just victims, but heroes or villains, or often somewhere in between. Listen to the greatest true crime stories ever told on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Mark Seale]

I'm Mark Seale.

[Nathan King]

And I'm Nathan King.

[Trevor Sikma]

This is Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli.

[Dan Patrick]

The five families did not want us.

[Mark Seale]

To shoot that picture.

[Nathan King]

This podcast is based on my co host Mark Seals bestselling book of the same title. Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli features new and archival interviews with Francis Ford Coppola, Robert Evans, James Caan, Talia Shire, and many others.

[Dan Patrick]

Yes, that was a real horse's head.

[Nathan King]

Listen and subscribe to Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Minnie Driver]

What if you asked two different people the same set of questions? Even if the questions are the same, our experiences can lead us to drastically different answers. I'm Minnie Driver and I set out to explore this idea in my podcast. And now Mini Questions is returning for another season. We've asked an entire new set of guests our seven questions, including Jane Lynch, Delaney Rowe, and Cord Jefferson. Listen to many questions on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Seven questions, limitless answers.

[Dan Patrick]

You are listening to the Dan Patrick.

[Trevor Sikma]

Show on Fox Sports Radio, Peter King, formerly with NBC Sports, and the Monday morning quarterback, and, well, retirement. And now look at him, a contributor to the Dan Patrick show here, not scheduled, but great seeing you, Pete. What riled you up, Dan?

[Mark Seale]

I was just walking the dog. I was just walking Chuck here in Brooklyn and I was listening to your show with all of the folderol around Shador Sanders. And I don't know, I just, I just wanted to address a few things and I'm, I, you know, I said to Todd, so they're happy to talk to Dan off the air, but I mean, there's just a few things, like, for instance, wearing the hat backwards. The coach of the year in the NFL this year was Dan Quinn. He wears his hat backwards. I think it looks a little bit 21ish, but that's the way Dan Quinn likes to wear his hat. Who cares? That's one. Number two, Deion Sanders. I remember this specifically in 1989 when he was in the draft and he came out like gangbusters, prime time, cover of si, you know, being very, very counter NFL culture. And over the years, one of the things that I grew to respect incredibly about Deion Sanders is that he knew that a cornerback in the NFL was not going to make Troy Aikman, Barry Sanders money unless he wasn't just your average everyday great player in, in the draft. And so he made himself into something that he knew would make him more money and he was smart. And look, I have no idea. I didn't go to the combine. I don't cover the NFL right now. So I don't know anything. Okay? I just know this, that the shadower Sanders who met with teams at the combine, he probably, probably can basically play the game the way he and his dad think is best for him. Like, let's just say that Dion and Shador believe that, oh, don't go to Cleveland, man. It is a graveyard. And so when you go into Cleveland, when you go into your meeting with Cleveland, you don't have to say, oh man, I'd love to go to Cleveland. Here's what I'll do. I'm going to help you change your culture, all that. Suppose he's just a little bit passive and. Or you seem like he, he does, he seems like he doesn't care. And again, look, I come from the stance that I know nothing other than what I've read a little bit on social media, and I don't. So I don't have any firsthand knowledge of this. And Dan, I think the one last thing I would say is that, you know, you talk about guys who are arrogant, maybe, and you talk about, you know, like a Marine or Brady. You know, you can be any way you want when you win. Yeah, any way you want. And there's something about the fire from Dan Marino. You know, the day I covered in 91 or 92, maybe 95, I forget when it was. Dan Marino broke Fran Tarkenton's all time record for passing yards in his career and they lost the game. Harvey Green, the PR guy, goes up to Dan Marino after the game and says here, hands him a stat sheet from the game, figuring that he said, you know, I figure you might want to have this keepsake. And Marino looks at, he goes, you know, and he wasn't being a jerk to Harvey Green. He just said, we just lost the effing football game. I don't give two blanks about stats and about records, you know, and so those things are okay, but all I'm saying is that. And is that the narrative? You know, I think the player has a chance to control before the draft. And has anybody thought that maybe Shedeur Sanders is just trying to control his own narrative?

[Trevor Sikma]

Yeah, I mentioned that maybe he doesn't want to go to Cleveland. If that's the team, we don't know the team. And maybe he's like, hey, I can be arrogant because I don't want you to draft me. You know, there's agendas. We understand that. And you know, as reporters, I'm sure you're fed information sometimes by somebody who has an agenda and whether you see through it or not. But you know, who benefits from Shador Sanders falling out of the first round? Couple other quarterbacks could benefit from that. Or a team may want to get him at a cheaper price. You know how this works, Pete. You did it for over 40 years where people have agendas and maybe that's what it is. But you know, to be called arrogant is that that's, that's, we're okay with cocky, confident, brash, arrogant. Arrogant probably you know, sounds some alarms for, for people teams.

[Mark Seale]

Dan, you know what I remember before the 20, I guess it was 2010 draft, that was the Cam Newton draft, right? Or was it 2011? Whatever it was. But I remember I interviewed Newton, who was on a little bit of a press tour, and at one point during the interview, he said to me, I want to be not just a great quarterback, but, you know, I want to be an entertainer. And he used some other words that, that you, you say, well, you know, boy, imagine a guy who wants to be drafted very high in the draft saying the other word was icon. I just remembered it. I want to be an icon and an entertainer. Yeah, well, you know, and again, I'm not, I'm not saying that that should be the death knell and certainly was it. He was the first overall pick in the draft. But I put out on Twitter and I wrote some teams are not going to like a quarterback saying I want to be an icon and an entertainer. They're just not. So some of the stuff that, you know, you have to ask yourself if you were in an interview, a 15 minute interview with Deion Sanders and he is either passive or looking at his watch or it seems like he doesn't care, a lot of people would say, don't pay any attention to that. Just look at his body of work. Well, hang on a minute. Are you the one who's going to stake the future of your franchise on a guy you're just really not too sure about? And I'm not suggesting that people should or they shouldn't. I'm just simply saying you'd be, you'd be naive to think that that doesn't go into the pot of what you consider doing with that pick and that it shouldn't go in to it. Because I think all things should go in into the mixing bowl. When you consider what you do.

[Trevor Sikma]

Anytime you get riled up, Pete, you can always call in. Okay, I'll give you an outlet.

[Mark Seale]

All right, Dan, that sounds like fun. Thanks.

[Trevor Sikma]

Thank you, Peter. That's the hall of Famer Peter King joining us.

[Dan Patrick]

Fox Sports Radio has the best sports.

[Trevor Sikma]

Talk lineup in the nation.

[Dan Patrick]

Catch all of our [e-mail] and within the iHeartRadio app. Search FSR to listen live.

[Mark Seale]

Hey, it's Steve Covino and I'm Rich.

[Nathan King]

Davis and together we're Covino and Rich on Fox Sports Radio.

[Mark Seale]

You can catch us weekdays from 5 to 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific, on Fox Sports Radio and of course, the iHeartRadio app. Why should you listen to Covino and Rich? We talk about everything. Life, sports, relationships, what's going on in the world.

[Trevor Sikma]

We have a lot of fun talking.

[Mark Seale]

About the stories behind the stories in.

[Trevor Sikma]

The world of sports and pop culture.

[Mark Seale]

Stories that, well, other shows don't seem.

[Nate Thompson]

To have the time to discuss.

[Mark Seale]

And the fact that we've been friends for the last 20 years and still work together, I mean, that says something, right? So check us out. We like to get you involved, too. Take your phone calls, chop it up, as they say. I'd say the most interactive show on Fox Sports Radio, maybe the most interactive show on planet Earth. Be sure to check out Covino and Rich live on Fox Sports radio and the iHeartradio app from 5 to 7pm.

[Nathan King]

Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific. And if you miss any of the.

[Mark Seale]

Live show, just search Covino and Rich wherever you get your podcast. And of course, on social media, that's Covino and Rich.

[Julie Stewart-Banks]

It's Julie Stewart Banks. I'm doing a new podcast from iHeart Podcasts and the National Hockey League, and I'm paired up with one of my favorite players, the always quotable Nate Thompson.

[Nate Thompson]

I wore nine NHL sweaters, and I have story after story to share. And believe it or not, I have plenty to say, and not just about hockey.

[Julie Stewart-Banks]

Believe me, he does. Energy Line with Nate and JSB is the name of the podcast and it's gonna be, well, it's gonna be quite the ride. We're officially linemates, Nate. We're the Energy Line.

[Nate Thompson]

We'll have plenty of folks join us. Current players, some of my former teammates, hall of Famers, and wait till you see some of the connections that Julie has. She has quite the Rolodex.

[Julie Stewart-Banks]

Okay. We'll lean into Nate's playing experience and tap into our interests away from hockey and try to do what energy lines are supposed to do, provide an emotional boost. How do you feel about all that, Nate?

[Nate Thompson]

I'm vibing. Julie. I'm ready to roll.

[Julie Stewart-Banks]

Listen to Energy Line with Nate and jsb on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Trevor Sikma]

Welcome to my legacy. I'm Martin Luther King iii, and together.

[Dan Patrick]

With my wife, Andrea Waters King, and our dear friends Mark and Craig K, we explore the personal journeys that shape extraordinary lives.

[Nathan King]

Each week, we'll sit down with inspiring figures like David Oyelo, Mel Robbins, Martin Sheen, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, and Billy Porter. And their plus one, their ride or die as they share stories never heard before about their remarkable journey.

[Tisha Allen]

Listen to my legacy on the iHeartRadio.

[Dan Patrick]

App, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Mark Seale]

This is my legacy.

[Mary Kay McBrayer]

I'm Mary Kay McBrayer, host of the podcast the Greatest True Crime Stories Ever Told. Join me every week as I tell some of the most enthralling true crime stories about women who are not just victims, but heroes or villains, or often somewhere in between. Listen to the greatest true crime stories ever told on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Trevor Sikma]

Everyone's forgotten who runs this valley.

[Dan Patrick]

Time to remind them.

[Trevor Sikma]

Yellowstone fans, step into the Yellowstone universe.

[Dan Patrick]

Dark family legacy is this ranch and our protector of my life.

[Trevor Sikma]

Hosted by Bobby Bones, the official Yellowstone Podcast takes you deeper into the franchise that's captivated millions worldwide.

[Minnie Driver]

Action.

[Trevor Sikma]

Explore untold behind the scenes stories, exclusive cast interviews and in depth discussions about the themes and legacy of Yellowstone.

[Dan Patrick]

You know, the first students to settle this valley fighting was all they knew.

[Trevor Sikma]

Whether you're a longtime fan or new.

[Mark Seale]

To the ranch, welcome to the Yellowstone.

[Trevor Sikma]

Bobby Bones has everything you need to stay connected to the Yellowstone phenomenon.

[Dan Patrick]

I look forward to it.

[Trevor Sikma]

Listen to the Official Yellowstone Podcast now on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Dan Patrick]

Let's go to work.

[Tisha Allen]

I'm Tisha Allen, former golf professional and the host of welcome to the Party. Your newest obsession about the wonderful world that is women's golf. Featuring interviews with top players on tour like LPGA superstar Angel Yin.

[Julie Stewart-Banks]

I really just sat myself down at.

[Dan Patrick]

The end of 2022 and I was.

[Julie Stewart-Banks]

Like, look, either we make it or we quit.

[Tisha Allen]

Expert tips to help improve your swing and the craziest stories to come out of your friendly neighborhood country club.

[Dan Patrick]

The drinks were flowing, twerking all over the place, vaping.

[Mark Seale]

They're shotgunning.

[Tisha Allen]

Women's golf is a wild ride full of big personalities, remarkable athleticism, fierce competition and a generation of women hell bent on shaking that glass ceiling. Welcome to the Party with Tisha Allen is an I heart women's sports production partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. Listen to welcome to the Party that's P A R T E e on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast or wherever you get your podcast.

[Dan Patrick]

Presented by Capital One, founding partner of iHeart Women's Sports.

[Trevor Sikma]

We had some comments that Trevor Sikima, he is the lead draft analyst at Pro Football Focus and he sent Fritzi some talking points saying that he has not heard anyone talk with conviction about Shador Sanders being a QB one in the top 10 or even as a first rounder. We attributed that to Matt Miller, ESPN NFL Draft Analyst. So, Matt, I don't know. Why don't you tell us how you feel about Shador Sanders? Do you think he'll be a first round quarterback?

[Dan Patrick]

You can attribute that to me. I've heard all the same things. I think all of us have, especially coming out of the combine, Dan, where you all kind of. Everybody goes to the same three restaurants in Indianapolis and talks late at night. We're all kind of hearing the same stuff. But I would agree with that. I think it's hard to find a team right now that says, yeah, that's our guy. You're crazy. And I just put an article out last week before the combine or during the combine actually, and it was ranking the quarterbacks from the past five years. Fedor Sanders was second to last. Kenny Pickett was the only quarterback with a lower grade than him coming into the NFL. So that is, that is in line with what I've seen watching the tape over the last two years. It's what I hear talking to as many scouts and coaches and general managers as I do this time of year. A lot of people want to like Shador Sanders. I don't get the feeling that teams love him, not the way that they do Cam Ward. There's a sizable gap right now to where like it's. I think you could easily say this year there is a consensus number one quarterback, which is rare. That doesn't often happen. Even last year with all the Caleb Williams love, there are teams that like Jaden Daniels. There were teams that like Drake. May we have a true consensus number one quarterback this year, and it's Cam Ward from Miami.

[Trevor Sikma]

Okay, is this just football that we're talking about with Shador Sanders now, Cam Ward, we can get to him in a moment. Moment. But is there a smear campaign with Shador Sanders or are people just being honest with the talent or, you know, performance that they saw?

[Dan Patrick]

So I think it's both. I do think that it's. It's about football. He is 6 foot 1. He put on some weight for the combine. He got up to £212. He played closer to £200. He doesn't have the biggest arm. He's not the greatest athlete I know for folks who didn't watch Colorado play, he might be Deion Sanders son, but he got his mom's feet right. He's not. He's not a 4:3 athlete. And but he is incredibly tough and he's incredibly accurate and he's, he's willing to stand in the pocket and make some plays. I do think on the other side of that is there are going to be people that are going to see players differently. I've talked to young scouts who loved their interviews with Shador Sanders. I've talked to older scouts and general managers who were put off by him. And I think that's going to be the case for a lot of the new era of athlete coming into the NFL where guys are making millions of dollars in college football now. It has prepared them for life a little differently. And so I think you are going to get a disconnect. I tend to not put a ton of stock into those quotes from Scouts and GMs of, oh, we, we didn't like this interview. It's different if everyone tells you the same thing. I remember asking about Will Levis and everyone I talked to said the same thing, was like, this guy is just like pent up. Like he's trying to be a perfectionist. He's not smooth, he's not fluid. The conversations feel like he's going to have a heart attack. Well, guess what? He plays the same way on the football field. So that's when I think it matters, is when those interviews match with a playstyle. Shador is a hell of a player. There's just, there's not that love for him out there right now in the NFL.

[Trevor Sikma]

Is Cam Ward being elevated? Because there is no competition, so he might.

[Dan Patrick]

Absolutely.

[Trevor Sikma]

Okay. Yeah.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah, absolutely. If we were talking about last year's drafts, Cam Ward would have been the sixth or seventh guy drafted, probably at quarterback, not overall at quarterback. And that might still make you a top 10 pick. Right. Because those guys flew off the board last year. But I do think he's being elevated. It is interesting, both quarterbacks, Sanders and Ward, they have some bad habits that are going to need coached out of them. Pam Ward's kind of get dismissed because he has a strong arm. It's like, well, you know, he stands in the pocket way too long. He takes a lot of sacks. He doesn't need to. He very often waits for the open man, but he's got a strong arm. So you kind of like, you make those excuses for it. Whereas I think both guys are going to need coached pretty hard when they get to the NFL just to learn to play on time. Both guys have a little bit of that Caleb Williams mentality where they think they can stand back there and drift and drift and Drift and wait for somebody to pop open and then they'll throw it. We saw last year for Caleb, who I still love, like, that doesn't work in the NFL. And guys who can play on time are going to have a lot more success early. Both these quarterbacks have to figure that out.

[Trevor Sikma]

Yeah, in college, you can wait, wait, wait, wait, and then throw. In the NFL, you can wait, wait, and then you better throw. So, I mean, it's. It's just so much quicker. You have to throw guys open. And Caleb, you know, was doing all this at usc, and I remember talking to a friend of mine who's a scout, and he goes, that won't last long in the NFL. He won't last long in the NFL if you think you can escape and, you know, improvise. And this scout said that he always goes back to Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. When the. When the play was over, it was over. They went down in a fetal position, you know, live to play another day. But these college quarterbacks are so, you know, Johnny Manziel, he was always going to get out of something. Yeah, you know, it helped to having a great receiver there. But I think, you know, is Tennessee going to take Cam Ward?

[Dan Patrick]

I don't think so. I didn't get that sense. And I think it's very telling that they are having these guys in for private workouts this week. This is the earliest I've ever heard of a team bringing players in after the combine. And I think they're doing that because they want. They want a day with these guys so they can trade this pick, but they want to. They want to have that meeting first so they can say, just in case, just in case we miss something, let's bring in Cam Ward. They're bringing in Shudur Sanders. They're going to have an Abdul Carter. And I think you make that decision probably very soon after this week of, okay, Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, whoever it is, we're now open for business. And not only ribbon for business, we're far enough along in the process that we can make kind of an educated decision. But I don't. I don't get the sense right now that the Titans feel like Cam Ward is going to turn this football team around.

[Trevor Sikma]

He's Matt Miller, ESPN NFL draft analyst. I always look at teams where coaching staffs that they split the season like it's the first eight or nine games because they may not survive after eight or nine games. The Giant situation, they have to win in those first eight or nine games, and that's the tricky part. Aaron Rodgers gives you a better chance than Cam Ward will or should or Sanders. There's probably a few other coaching staffs that have. If you're in your second or third year as a head coach, you know, not your first year like Aaron Glenn. But that's where, I don't know, do the Giants play it safe from the coaching perspective, trying to keep your job and you take Aaron Rodgers instead of Cam Ward?

[Dan Patrick]

I think so. I think that's why they were so all in on Matthew Stafford, and it was no surprise. I expect they'll be in on Sam Darnold to some degree, as long as he's not franchise tag today, which sounds like he won't be. And I don't know if Sam wants to go back to New York.

[Nathan King]

Right.

[Dan Patrick]

There's that whole other element of it. But I think what, you know, in most years, you would say, you know, what, draft the young quarterback, and if he shows promise, you keep your job. Because then you have the. The hope of, well, we got to develop this quarterback. I don't know that the quarterbacks this year are to that level that if you're Brian Dable or even Kevin Stefanski necessarily where you say, I'm gonna put my job on this guy who.

[Nathan King]

Yeah.

[Dan Patrick]

Did you feel at any point during the college football season that Cam Ward or Shador Sanders were the best quarterback in college? I know they led college in touchdowns, but I never watched on a Saturday and thought, God, this guy's the best quarterback in college football, like I did Jaden Daniels or like I did Joe Burrow. You know, you don't get that level of conviction with these guys. So I do feel like that's where we're getting teams that are saying, Cleveland's different. They have to draft a quarterback because of Deshaun Watson. But with the Titans, the Giants, it's, yeah, maybe we just bring in some competition here. Maybe we try the bridge quarterback situation for another season, and then if we keep our jobs, then we'll worry about what 20, 26 might look like.

[Trevor Sikma]

The big reason why we wanted to have you on is obviously hand size. Jalen Milrose, hand size. He. His hands got bigger since the Senior Bowl. How does that happen?

[Dan Patrick]

Almost an inch bigger. Not like an incremental. He grew out his fingernails an inch bigger. I've talked to hand surgeons this week. How quickly could you do a finger extension? I don't know what's going on. The honest answer is I think what happened at the Senior bowl is they measured his left hand for example, and at the combine they measured his right hand. That will happen. That's the only thing I can come up with. You see measurement disparities and there's some gamesmanship to this. I think it was. Was it Brandon Allen coming out of Arkansas like 10 years ago that was doing the hand stretches to, to get his hands bigger and it actually worked. So I, I want to talk to Cam Ward. I want to find this out. I, I have a message into his dad, Calvin, to find out the answer to this because I. Excuse me. To Jaylen Milro. I have a agent to find this out. I got to find out because it's. I've never, I've never heard of an inch. That's. That's a lot. That's a, that's a big time hand growth.

[Trevor Sikma]

And I'm wondering about NFL teams who fell in love with the running game. If other teams will follow suit in the draft, will we see an uptick in that? You won't be afraid to draft a running back or two in the first round.

[Dan Patrick]

I think you won't be afraid and you also won't get the public backlash, except for from Mel Kuiper who says you should never address the running back in the first round. Otherwise, you know, you're not going to get your beat reporters in there saying, oh my God, I can't believe we took Ashton Genty in the top 10 or we took Omarion Hampton in the top 30. I think you can point to Bijan Robinson and Jameer Gibbs even as examples of drafting a guy in the first round, they can come in and be the backbone of your offense. I think more importantly, if you have your quarterback, if you're a team that has that figured out, that's the time to draft a running back. Now, because you have that position solved and you can go back to being a balanced team. But this is one of the best running back classes, if not the best running back class I've ever seen. I've been doing this for 15 years. So I think we've got a shot to have a record for the modern era, which would be 30 running backs drafted. The last time that happened was 2017, which was, you know, Leonard Fournette, Christian McCaffrey, players like that. So I don't know that we see three fly off the board in the top 15 necessarily, but still pretty confidently we can see three in the top 30 picks.

[Trevor Sikma]

I don't know if Travis Hunter or his agent has said anything, but is there going to be any blowback if he doesn't want to go to a team because of how he thinks they would use him or not use him.

[Dan Patrick]

I haven't heard anything about that. That would be fascinating. I think the sense that I've got is that Travis just loves football so much. He just, he does want to go somewhere where he can play both ways. And it truly is like his belief that he will make that team better by doing both. But I think that is an important part of the next 45 days is him having those conversations with teams. And I, I said before the combine, my number one question of him to him, if I was a general manager, would be, what if we said you can only play one way? Which, which side is that? What do you prefer? I personally think that he would be better as a wide receiver. I have friends in the league who think he would be better at corners. So there is kind of this polarization about which side would he be better at. But I think ultimately it comes down to which side. Do you have a love for one side more than the other or do you care that wide receivers make double what corners do? Has that factored into your decision making process or the longevity? You know, he's, he's £188, 6 foot, £188. I don't personally want him tackling A.J. brown 15 times a game. I, I would rather him be trying to evade those guys than go out and initiate contact. So there is a lot to that. I know he says he could play both ways. I think he can try. My statement has been it is very hard to be great at one position in the NFL. Just mentally, it's so hard. So now we're going to divide that time to a rookie and say, hey, not only welcome to the NFL, bud, but now you got to learn two very, very hard positions to transition to the NFL, where we don't see guys as rookies, oftentimes have great years as corners, sometimes at receiver. But we're asking him to learn two very hard positions at the same time. I don't know how feasible that is.

[Trevor Sikma]

He said that it's tougher to do what he's trying to do than what Shohei Ohtani does by hitting and pitching. Your thoughts?

[Dan Patrick]

I think hitting a baseball is the hardest thing in sports. So I'm going to respectfully disagree as someone who could do neither. Right. It's easy to sit here in my quarter zip and say one's easier than the other. But I think hitting a baseball when it's 100 miles an hour is the hardest thing in sports and then to turn around and be a dominant pitcher. Not to Travis's point. He said Shohei only pitches once every five games. That's five days, by the way. Travis only have to play football once every seven days. So if we're being honest about the statements, they're both getting some breaks in there. But I think what Shohei does is unprecedented.

[Trevor Sikma]

Great to talk to you. Is there anybody that we should keep an eye on that you would consider, given what happened at the combine that really affected their draft status?

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah, I think Nick Iman worry the safety from South Carolina went from being a late first rounder to maybe a top 15 pick to be 6 3, 2, 20 to run a 4 3. He looks like Derwin James out there. He has ball skills. He had four picks, five pass breakups this year. He's a great tackler as well. So I still think as we try to figure out how to handle mobile quarterbacks, defenders like him are the answer. So he's, I think he's the biggest riser coming out of it all.

[Trevor Sikma]

Great to talk to you. We'll talk to you again. Thank you, Matt.

[Dan Patrick]

Thanks, Dan.

[Trevor Sikma]

That's Matt Miller.

[Dan Patrick]

Be sure to catch the live edition of the Dan Patrick show, weekdays at 9am Eastern, 6am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio. IHeartRadio app it's Julie Stewart Banks.

[Julie Stewart-Banks]

I'm doing a new podcast from iHeart Podcasts and the National Hockey League, and I'm paired up with one of my favorite players, the always quotable Nate Thompson.

[Nate Thompson]

I wore nine NHL sweaters and I have story after story to share. And believe it or not, I have plenty to say and not just about hockey.

[Julie Stewart-Banks]

Believe me, he does. Energy Line with Nate and JSB is the name of the podcast and it's going to be, well, it's going to be quite the ride. We're officially linemates, Nate. We're the energy line.

[Nate Thompson]

We'll have plenty of folks join us, current players, some of my former teammates, hall of Famers, and wait to see some of the connections that Julie has. She has quite the Rolodex.

[Julie Stewart-Banks]

Okay. We'll lean into Nate's playing experience and tap into our interests away from hockey and try to do what energy lines are supposed to do, provide an emotional boost. How do you feel about all that, Nate?

[Nate Thompson]

I'm vibing Julie. I'm ready to roll.

[Julie Stewart-Banks]

Listen to Energyline with Nate and jsb on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Trevor Sikma]

Welcome to my legacy. I'm Martin Luther King. Iii and together with my wife, Andrea.

[Dan Patrick]

Waters King, and our dear friends Mark and Craig Kilburger, we explore the personal journeys that shape extraordinary lives.

[Nathan King]

Each week we'll sit down with inspiring figures like David Oyelowo, Mel Robbins, Martin Sheen, Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Billy Porter and their plus one, their ride or die as they share stories never heard before about their remarkable journey.

[Tisha Allen]

Listen to my legacy on the iHeartRadio.

[Dan Patrick]

App, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Mark Seale]

This is my legacy.

[Mary Kay McBrayer]

I'm Mary Kay McBrayer, host of the podcast the Greatest True Crime Stories Ever Told. Join me every week as I tell some of the most enthralling true crime stories about women who are not just victims, but heroes or villains, or often somewhere in between. Listen to the greatest true crime stories ever told on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Tisha Allen]

I'm Tisha Allen, former golf professional and the host of welcome to the Party, your newest obsession about the wonderful world that is Women's Go. Featuring interviews with top players on tour like LPGA superstar Angel Yin.

[Julie Stewart-Banks]

I really just sat myself down at.

[Dan Patrick]

The end of 2022 and I was.

[Julie Stewart-Banks]

Like, look, either we make it or we quit.

[Tisha Allen]

Expert tips to help improve your swing and the craziest stories to come out of your friendly neighborhood country club.

[Mark Seale]

The drinks were flowing, twerking all over.

[Dan Patrick]

The place, vaping, they're shotgunning.

[Tisha Allen]

Women's golf is a wild ride full of big personalities, remarkable athleticism, fierce competition and a generation of women hell bent on shanking that glass ceiling. Welcome to the Party with Tisha Allen is an iHeart women's sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. Listen to welcome to the Party that's P A R T E e on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Dan Patrick]

Presented by Capital One, founding partner of iHeart Women's Sports.

[Trevor Sikma]

Everyone's forgotten who runs this valley.

[Dan Patrick]

Time to remind them.

[Trevor Sikma]

Yellowstone fans, step into the Yellowstone universe.

[Dan Patrick]

Our family legacy is this ranch. My Protector of my life.

[Trevor Sikma]

Hosted by Bobby Bones, the official Yellowstone Podcast takes you deeper into the franchise that's captivated millions worldwide. Action Explore, untold behind the scenes stories, exclusive cast interviews and in depth discussions about the themes and legacy of Yellowstone.

[Nathan King]

You know, the first stunts, the first.

[Dan Patrick]

Settle this valley fighting was all they knew.

[Trevor Sikma]

Whether you're a longtime fan or new.

[Mark Seale]

To the ranch, welcome to the Yellowstone.

[Trevor Sikma]

Bobby Bones has everything you need to stay connected to the Yellowstone phenomenon.

[Dan Patrick]

I look forward to it.

[Trevor Sikma]

Listen to the Official Yellowstone podcast Now on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Dan Patrick]

Let's go to work.

[Trevor Sikma]

Trevor Sikma, he is the lead analyst for Pro Football Focus and you have a strong opinion on Shador Sanders as well. Trevor, good to have you back. Where do you stand on Shador Sanders?

[Nathan King]

Yeah, appreciate it dan. First off, 511, 178 and 7.8inch hand size. Although that is with no hand massaging going on. So I feel like if we get a couple of weeks with that technique I can hit that Joe Burrow 9 inch threshold. So I just want to say that first and foremost, you know with Shador Sanders, the fact of the matter is is I had him slipping out of my post combine mock draft that I did [e-mail] and the reason why is because I could not find anybody that spoke with conviction with Shador Sanders being QB1 taken in the top 10 or even as a first round quarterback. So to me when I hear that and I line that up with a lot of people were talking about Cam Ward is somebody that you take that chance on. I feel like it's a one quarterback race at this point. Now when I watch Shador, he plays a very clean brand of football. He understands the position very very well. You could tell that he's been raised around the game. He understands how to read defenses, go through progressions, all of that, operate the pocket, make protection calls. He knows how to play quarterback. The reason why I'm a little bit lower on him, I gave him a late second early third round grade is simply because I don't know if he's got that crazy arm talent to be able to compete against the Lamar Jacksons, the Josh Allens, the Patrick Mahomes, guys like that, that the reason why you would draft the quarterback isn't in the top 10 isn't just because hey let's take one just because we need one. It's because you want to win a Super Bowl. You're taking a guy that high because you believe he can be win a Super Bowl. Does she door have the overall arm talent to match up against those guys? I don't think so. And I think as we are getting you know more into draft season and the combine is a really good barometer for this. You get sort of caught up on what the league might have been thinking about these players really all along and I think that we Talked about a 2QB race because there's so many quarterback needy teams in the top 10. But it just Feels like teams are much more gravitating towards Cam Ward worthy of a top selection and Shador, maybe something more on day two or the late first round.

[Trevor Sikma]

But how much of this is the last name that if this is just, you know, Shador Smith and not Shador Sanders, you know, does his draft status stock change at all in your mind?

[Nathan King]

I would say that it would probably be the other way around. You know, when you look at Shador and I understand how well he played over the last couple of years and everything that he was able to do at Jackson State and then also at Colorado, I think again, he plays a very clean brand of football. But does he have those NFL level traits that you want as a franchise caliber quarterback? Because he lacks the overall mobility and again, I think that he's got a mid tier NFL level arm strength, but it's, it's nothing that's really special. So I wonder if it's the opposite DP and I wonder if it's the fact that, hey, we've been talking about Shador in the top 10, in the top five because of sort of who he is and the notoriety that he has instead of the other way around like we're seeing now where it's like, oh, well, does the NFL not like him, you know, because of his last name? And some people call it baggage. I agree with Shador when he said at the Shrine bowl, he's like, I didn't know that having a supportive parent was all of a sudden a bad thing. You know, like, I totally agree with him when he says that. And so I think it's much more of maybe the notoriety and him being in the public eye and us saying like, hey, if you need a quarterback, he's a quarterback in this class. And now we're just sort of catching up to it. Feels like the NFL saying, eh, maybe not quite in the top 10, maybe something a little bit further down the line.

[Trevor Sikma]

And he's going to get a lot of attention because he's Deion's son. And then there's Cam Ward, who is appears to be by far and away the number one quarterback in the draft. Let's nitpick because that's what we start to do this time of the year. Trevor Nitpick, Cam Ward.

[Nathan King]

Well, I think that, you know, Joe Shane, the general manager of the new, the New York Giants, who they very much need a quarterback as well. You know, he was asked specifically about Cam Moore when he was at his podium session at the combine. And you know, he said, you know, hey, you watch that Cal game and that Virginia Tech game. Those are two games where at the end of it, when the clock hits zero, Cam Ward, what a hero. Incredible comeback. But then he goes. The reason why they needed to come back is also because of him a little bit. So it is a little bit of that hot and cold there. And so there's no doubt. I mean, like, you don't need to even necessarily call it nitpicking to talk about what is the total product of Cam Ward. He's somebody who is just very unorthodox. And how he looks back there in the pocket. I mean, there are times when the feet just stop moving completely and you go, did you freeze? Like, do we need to, you know, unplug and reset you here before you get rid of the ball? And, like, that's just sometimes what it looks like for Cam Ward. And so his style, you know, how he releases the football, the decisions of when to push the ball down the field, all of that, it's a little bit boom or bust. You know, it's a little bit of like, can you stomach this? But the reason why I do and the reason why he's my QB one is because I firmly believe that in a game where the margins are so small, every quarterback in the NFL has about two to four throws that they have to make every single week to win in this league. Cam Nodon not only, in my opinion, has the arm talent to do so, but he has the mentality to do so. He will willingly attack those throws and take those chances. So it's a lot of that. Hey, there's a lot of good, a lot of bad. You want to try to raise the floor with them. But, yeah, I mean, we don't even necessarily have to call it nitpicking. This is sort of a risky quarterback class here, including with Ward, Trevor Sikma.

[Trevor Sikma]

The Pro Football Focus lead draft analyst, joining us on the program. If you looked at Sam Darnold's profile now, compared to when he was coming into the NFL, how much has it changed with pro football focus looking at him?

[Nathan King]

No, it's a lot. It's a lot of dealing with pressure, honestly. You know, what he was able to do at usc, I think that that short sort of shows that, you know, when you're in a really good college environment sometimes and mask things. Right. We saw that with Zach Wilson as. As well, where at byu he was playing behind one of the best offensive lines in the country. And then he gets to the New York Jets. Both of those guys, ironically and it's just a different story. You're playing with a lot of pressure. You know, there's the phrase that everybody likes to, you know, continue to bring up with Sam Darnold where he felt like he was seeing ghosts. And it just, it took him a while to get to this point where he's now confident enough to not see ghosts anymore, to really be able to play under pressure the way that he needs to. Now, I know those last two games of the sort of brought back some of those doubts from him, but, you know, pff. It was really that passing grade under pressure that was, that was such a, a sticking point with him when he was with the jets and how different it was under Kevin O'Connell and in that system. Now, did O'Connell do a nice job of making it maybe easier for him? Of course. But that manifests itself in confidence. And that's the most important thing for every player making the jump from college to the NFL. When can you expect that confidence? And I think that's a big part of when teams do these player interviews and when they get these guys in for these private workouts, it's simply determining because they've watched the tape, they know the scouting reports, it's simply determining, are you a confident football player? Can you hit the ground running and still bring all of your talent to the floor here when you get here in the NFL? And for Sam, that wasn't the case early on, but sometimes it takes a little bit of development from these guys.

[Trevor Sikma]

How many running backs have first round greats at Pro Football Focus?

[Nathan King]

So I would say two of them have first round grades in Ash and Genti and Omari and Hampton. But I could see after the combine that Queenshawn Judkins had from Ohio State, I think he is in that category. You know, Caleb Johnson, I know a lot of people love him from Iowa. I think that he is in that category. The running back that I am the most confused with is did we just forget what Cam Scatterbo did at Arizona State over this past year? Like, I understand he's not going to run the, the fastest 40 yard dash, but even at the combine, the one thing he did was the vertical jump and it was 39 and a half inches. That is well above expectation and showcases that explosiveness. I mean, we even saw in the College Football Playoff, he's rushing for touchdowns, he's catching touchdowns, he's throwing for touchdowns. This is a football player, man. And from the running back position, I think that we just, we sometimes focus on the wrong things. How often do you really have the chance to be a quote unquote home run hitter at the running back position? How many times do you get the chance to run a 40, 50, 60 yard gain to the house? Doesn't happen at the NFL level. Give me the guys that will turn a three yard carry into a four and a half yard carry on a regular basis with that yards after contact in that style. So I don't think the Cam Scatterbo is going to go in round one, but that's another player that we're going to get. A lot of these running backs that go on the fringe early parts of round two. I mentioned Caleb Johnson, Scatterboo, I think that Travion Henderson is in there as well. A couple of guys who had good combines and D.J. giddens and R.J. harvey might get there in the back of the second round. So I would tell you we're getting at least two. You get at least Ash and Genti. You know, Mario and Hampton are getting in the first round, but could very well have that third if it's quinch on Judkins.

[Trevor Sikma]

Great to talk to you as always, Trevor. Thanks for joining us.

[Nathan King]

Appreciate it. DP Anytime.

[Trevor Sikma]

That's Trevor Sikoman.

[Julie Stewart-Banks]

What's up everyone? Julie Swearbinks here along with former NHL player Nate Thompson.

[Nate Thompson]

We're doing a new podcast together. Here we go.

[Julie Stewart-Banks]

The name Energy Line with Nate and jsb.

[Nate Thompson]

Each week we'll get together and talk about hockey life. All topics are fair game, right?

[Julie Stewart-Banks]

Exactly. And you'll never know who will drop by to join us.

[Nate Thompson]

Julius Prick Dwell Connected. She has text threads going that you wouldn't believe.

[Julie Stewart-Banks]

Listen to Energy Line with Nate and jsb on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Mary Kay McBrayer]

I'm Mary Kay McBrayer, host of the podcast the Greatest True Crime Stories Ever Told. This season explores women from the 19th century to now. Women who were murderers and scammers, but also women who were photojournalists, lawyers, writers and more. This podcast tells more than just the brutal, gory details of horrific acts. I delve into the good, the bad, the difficult, and all the nuance I can find because these are the stories that we need to know to understand the intersection of society, justice, and the fascinating workings of the human psyche. Join me every week as I tell some of the most enthralling truth crime stories about women who are not just victims, but heroes or villains, or often somewhere in between. Listen to the greatest true crime stories ever told on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Minnie Driver]

What if you ask two different people the same set of questions? Even if the questions are the same, our experiences can lead us to drastically different answers. I'm Minnie Driver and I set out to explore this idea in my podcast and now Mini Questions is returning for another season. We've asked an entirely new set of guests our seven questions, including Jane Lynch, Delaney Rowe, and Cord Jefferson. Listen to Mini questions on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 7 Questions Limitless Answers Mar I'm Mark Seale.

[Nathan King]

And I'm Nathan King.

[Mark Seale]

This is Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli.

[Dan Patrick]

The five families did not want us.

[Mark Seale]

To shoot that picture.

[Nathan King]

This podcast is based on my co host Mark Seals best selling book of the same title. Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli features new and archival interviews with Francis Ford Coppola, Robert Evans, James Caan, Talia Shire, and many others.

[Dan Patrick]

Yes, that was a real horse's head.

[Nathan King]

Listen and subscribe to Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Mark Seale]

Hey, it's Alec Baldwin. This past season on my podcast, here's the thing. I spoke with more actors, musicians, policymakers, and so many other fascinating people like.

[Trevor Sikma]

Writer and actor Dan Aykroyd.

[Nathan King]

I love writing more than anything.

[Dan Patrick]

You're left alone, you know, you do three hours in the morning, you write.

[Nathan King]

Three hours in the afternoon.

[Dan Patrick]

Go pick up a kid from school.

[Trevor Sikma]

And write at night. And after nine hours you come out with seven pages and then you're moving on.

[Mark Seale]

Listen to here's the thing on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.