The Dan Patrick Show — "Best of" Episode

Date: August 26, 2025
Host: Dan Patrick with the Danettes
Notable Guest: Ben DiNucci (NFL QB), Trevor Sikkema (Pro Football Focus)

Episode Overview

This "Best of" episode of The Dan Patrick Show weaves through critical NFL storylines on cut-down day, the legacy and impact of surprising sports retirements, and in-depth analysis of positional value in football. The show balances humor and insight with engaging guest appearances, including a candid conversation with journeyman NFL QB Ben DiNucci on life on the roster bubble, and a nerd-out segment with PFF's Trevor Sikkema on the analytics behind defensive player value.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. NFL Cut-Down Day Drama & Quarterback Carousel

[02:36–06:46]

• Headline News:

  • Cut-down day coverage with focus on Micah Parsons' contract status, Trey Hendrickson's deal, and Terry McLaurin's extension.
  • Kenny Pickett traded to the Raiders; Dylan Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders move up the Browns’ QB depth chart.

• Dan on Roster Moves:
  “Well, there’s only one left now and it’s Micah Parsons… Whether that happens or not, they’re on the clock and the Philadelphia Eagles are waiting for the Dallas Cowboys.” — Dan Patrick [03:40]

2. Revisiting Andrew Luck’s Shocking Retirement & Its Legacy

[06:46–13:16]

• Retirement Shock:

  • Dan imagines the shock if a player like Josh Allen suddenly retired, drawing a parallel to Andrew Luck’s sudden exit six years prior.
  • Explores the difference between being talented at a sport and truly loving it.
  • Cites other surprising retirements (Barry Sanders, Calvin Johnson) and weighs the personal vs. team/franchise perspective.

• Notable Stats:

  • Luck’s age and accomplishments compared to Allen and Burrow.
  • Touchdown passes in the first six seasons: Dan Marino (196), Mahomes (192), Luck, Allen, Manning, etc.

• Memorable Quote:
  “There are guys who are really good at their sport, but they may not love their sport. … I didn’t know if Andrew Luck loved football as much as he was just really good at football.” — Dan Patrick [08:12]

3. Contracts, Positional Value & Team Building in the NFL

[09:54–17:12]

• Hendrickson & McLaurin Deals:

  • Hendrickson gets a significant pay increase; immediate impacts to the Bengals’ defense discussed.
  • Age perception: “Terry McLaurin apparently wasn’t old at 30 as a wide receiver, but Trey Hendrickson felt older as a 30-year-old defensive end.” — Dan [11:20]

• Edge Rusher vs. Interior Disruptor Value:

  • Dan and the Danettes debate if edge rushers, despite big salaries, might be undervalued compared to disruptive interior linemen.
  • “Aaron Donald is as valuable as any defensive player in the last 25 years… what Aaron Donald did was disrupt everything. And edge rusher… now I can adjust. Aaron Donald would go up the middle, disrupt everything.” — Dan [14:09]
  • Shift in the modern NFL: interior disruption valued due to its direct impact on quarterbacks and game outcomes.

4. Ben DiNucci on The NFL Bubble — A Candid Interview

[24:04–33:33]

• Life as a Journeyman:

  • DiNucci, recently cut by the Falcons (his 7th release), shares what cut-down day feels like and why he’s “numb to it.”
  • “Preseason is your Super Bowl… you get two or three games, maybe a couple quarters, to put on tape what you’re going to do.” — Ben DiNucci [25:24]
  • Details on how players are notified, the aftermath, and coping with the NFL’s uncertainty.

• Future Plans:

  • Will call a Bucknell-Air Force game for CBS Sports Network, but remains open to another NFL call.
  • On being drafted during COVID: “I might be one of the only people in Cowboys history to say I got drafted from Jerry Jones’s yacht.” — Ben DiNucci [27:48]

• Memorable Moment:

  • “To be able to do that and say I started a game for the Dallas Cowboys… that was pretty cool. I’m glad that happened.” — Ben DiNucci [30:16]
  • Admits he’s cried from gratitude, not bitterness: “Teams got to like you enough to sign you in the first place. It’s been an unbelievable career.” — Ben [32:24]

5. Deep Dive: Analytics, Player Value & Hall of Fame Potential with Trevor Sikkema

[38:26–48:55]

• Wins Above Average (WAA) Metric:

  • PFF metrics attempt to individualize value in a team game, weighing “execution of job” vs. play impact (PFF grades plus EPA/play).
  • “It felt like [Aaron Donald] was breaking our wins above average model sometimes with how much he was able to impact the game at his high of a level.” — Trevor Sikkema [40:49]

• Least Valuable Positions:

  • Often linebacker (“replacement or average does a lot of the heavy lifting,” with few elite standouts like Fred Warner making a real difference). [41:41]

• On Trey Hendrickson’s Value:

  • Ranks behind only Myles Garrett in pressures; PFF would advise Bengals to retain him if in win-now mode. [43:10]

• Cornerback vs. Wide Receiver Value:

  • In most years, a top-tier corner is more valuable than even the best wide receiver due to scarcity and direct impact (“you’re on an island”).
  • “If you are a true top-five corner, that is going to be more valuable than even the top wide receivers… our numbers reflect that scarcity.” — Trevor [46:00]

• Russell Wilson’s HOF Case:

  • PFF data supports a Hall of Fame argument for Wilson; “his wins above average numbers…I think would really help him in that case.” — Trevor [48:15]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “How could you walk away — all that money, a chance to be a starting quarterback, a chance to be a Super Bowl-winning quarterback? But that’s why we are truly all different…” — Dan Patrick [08:49]
• (On Ndamukong Suh at Nebraska) “Why does this guy have to play college? Just let him go to the NFL.” — Dan [17:14]
• “When it comes to edge rushers, they still seem to be somehow undervalued… but Aaron Donald, with what he did, was unbelievable.” — Dan [14:09]
• “You just kind of get used to it. I’m kind of numb to it… Not necessarily that it’s a bad thing.” — Ben DiNucci [24:47]

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Start | End | |-------------------------------------|-----------|-----------| | NFL Cut-down Day/Quarterback moves | 02:36 | 06:46 | | Andrew Luck/Retirement discussion | 06:46 | 13:16 | | Contract talk/Edge v. Interior D-line| 13:16 | 18:18 | | Ben DiNucci interview | 24:04 | 33:33 | | PFF’s Trevor Sikkema interview | 38:26 | 48:55 |

Overall Tone & Takeaways

Dan Patrick delivers insight with his signature dry humor and deep NFL knowledge, ably supported by his Danettes. The guest segments are conversational and surprisingly heartfelt (especially DiNucci), offering listeners an authentic peek behind football’s curtain. The analytics discussion brings depth for die-hard fans, while the nostalgia for Andrew Luck’s sudden retirement connects everyone who’s ever been blindsided by a star’s departure.

This episode is a blend of revelatory insider perspective, honest emotion, and the ever-present awareness that in sports — as in life — fortune can turn on a single phone call.

For more, listen to The Dan Patrick Show weekdays on Fox Sports Radio and streaming on Peacock.