The Best of The Dan Patrick Show

Summary

The Best of The Dan Patrick Show - January 7, 2025

Host: Dan Patrick
Guests: Paul Pabst, Devin McCourty, Todd Archer
Network: iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network
Duration: 58 minutes

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1. Packers' Injury Woes and Season Outlook

Timestamp: [01:00] Paul Pabst

Paul Pabst opens the discussion by addressing a critical injury to the Green Bay Packers' Christian Watson, emphasizing the impact on the team's playoff aspirations. He states, "The Packers lost Christian Watson for the playoffs." Pabst analyzes the broader implications, noting the Packers' strong defense and the potential void left by Watson's absence. He also touches upon the focus shift from the Packers to teams like the Detroit Lions, citing DraftKings' hypothetical point spreads to illustrate the competitive landscape:

• Packers vs. Lions: Packers favored by 3.5 points
• Vikings vs. Lions: Vikings favored by 3.5 points
• Rams vs. Lions: Rams favored by 6.5 points

Key Insight: Pabst believes the Packers' loss of Watson is a significant, perhaps underappreciated, setback that could influence their postseason performance.

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2. Jalen Hurts' Concussion Protocol and Eagles' Strategy

Timestamp: [03:00] Devin McCourty

Devin McCourty shifts the focus to Jalen Hurts, the Philadelphia Eagles' quarterback, who is currently navigating concussion protocol. He underscores the uncertainty surrounding Hurts' availability and the coaching challenges it presents. McCourty remarks, "Is he going to be available to play? I don't know that, but here's Nick Sirianni being very evasive about the health of his quarterback."

Timestamp: [25:59] Todd Archer

Todd Archer shares his personal experience with concussion protocol, drawing parallels to Hurts' situation. He explains the stringent process players must undergo to safely return to the field, highlighting the importance of prioritizing long-term health over immediate performance.

Key Insight: Both McCourty and Archer emphasize the delicate balance coaches must maintain between player safety and team competitiveness, especially when dealing with high-profile injuries.

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3. Mike McCarthy's Potential Transition to the Chicago Bears

Timestamp: [34:25] Devin McCourty

The conversation turns to the Dallas Cowboys' head coach, Mike McCarthy, and his potential move to the Chicago Bears. McCourty speculates on the timing and implications of such a transition, noting Jerry Jones' reputation for being meticulous and slow-moving in decision-making: "McCarthy's contract expires, Cowboys have exclusive negotiating rights through January 14th. I would think if I'm Mike McCarthy, I want to know by Wednesday because I want to know, should I look into the Chicago thing?"

Timestamp: [42:00] Devin McCourty

Further delving into Cowboys' dynamics, McCourty discusses Jerry Jones' hands-on approach and the challenges it poses for potential coaching hires, including McCarthy's possible motivations to seek opportunities elsewhere.

Key Insight: The uncertainty surrounding McCarthy's future with the Cowboys presents both challenges and opportunities for coaching changes within the NFL, particularly with the Bears showing interest.

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4. Coaching Dynamics: Head Coaches vs. Coordinators

Timestamp: [50:10] Dan Patrick

Dan Patrick engages in a nuanced discussion about the distinction between head coaches and coordinators. He critiques the notion that excellence in one role seamlessly translates to the other, emphasizing leadership qualities over tactical prowess: "If you're not great at the media like most people, most. When Gerard Mayo was coming up as a player, he did plenty of interviews. As a coordinator, he was a position coach for a lot of it. He didn't do a ton of interviews."

Timestamp: [51:52] Paul Pabst

Paul Pabst concurs, highlighting the importance of cultural leadership and authentic communication within a team. He muses, "Find the best leader... The feedback you get comes from your players. That's the ultimate. That's the only feedback you really need."

Key Insight: Effective head coaching transcends tactical knowledge, focusing instead on leadership, cultural cultivation, and authentic team engagement.

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5. North Dakota State's Dominance and Relegation Concepts

Timestamp: [04:00] Paul Pabst

Paul Pabst introduces an innovative idea inspired by European football: implementing a relegation system within American college football. He advocates for rewarding top-performing teams like North Dakota State by allowing them to challenge top-tier teams such as Ohio State in high-stakes matchups: "I think if you have that just like with the Premier League, like sometimes you'll have those last days where you're like, oh, score differential, goal differential... you're relegated."

Key Insight: Pabst's proposal aims to inject competitive excitement and meritocracy into college football, fostering a dynamic ecosystem where excellence is continuously rewarded.

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6. The Cowboys' Organizational Challenges and Future Prospects

Timestamp: [35:39] Devin McCourty

Devin McCourty delves into the historical and current challenges faced by the Dallas Cowboys, particularly under Jerry Jones' ownership. He credits Jerry for maintaining the franchise's high profile but critiques the lack of recent Super Bowl success: "Jerry bought the Cowboys in 1989 to win Super Bowls, and they've not won one since 1995."

Timestamp: [39:31] Paul Pabst

Paul Pabst discusses the infamous Herschel Walker trade, lauding it as possibly the most impactful trade in NFL history due to its long-term benefits for the Cowboys. He contrasts this with other teams like the Vikings, who lack a similar historical milestone.

Key Insight: The Cowboys' rich history combines both monumental successes and ongoing challenges, particularly in achieving recent championship glory despite strategic transactions like the Walker trade.

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7. Team Comparisons: Ravens vs. Steelers and Home Field Advantages

Timestamp: [22:00] Todd Archer

Todd Archer compares the home field advantages of the Detroit Lions' dome to other NFL powerhouses like Kansas City and Buffalo. He emphasizes the unique atmospheric benefits that contribute to team performance: "Detroit's advantage is being in that dome. That dome gets loud and it gets rocking and those people are intense."

Timestamp: [54:40] Dan Patrick

Dan Patrick assesses the Baltimore Ravens' prospects, affirming their strength and potential progression deep into the playoffs. He remains optimistic about their defensive prowess and leadership under head coach John Harbaugh.

Key Insight: Home field advantages significantly influence game outcomes, with teams like the Lions leveraging unique environments to bolster performance. Additionally, strong leadership and defensive strategies are pivotal for teams like the Ravens aiming for playoff success.

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8. Player and Team Performance Analyses

Timestamp: [25:07] Paul Pabst

Paul Pabst highlights the unexpected success of Jaden Daniels with the Washington Commanders compared to Baker Mayfield with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, attributing the Commanders' playoff berth to Daniels' performance: "It's all because of Jaden Daniels is their best player."

Timestamp: [28:02] Todd Archer

Todd Archer predicts potential surprise outcomes in upcoming games, particularly pointing to the Packers' inconsistency and the Ravens' dominant form as factors that could lead to unexpected results: "I think Green Bay could surprise Philadelphia."

Key Insight: Individual player performances can drastically alter team trajectories, leading to surprising playoff qualifications and game outcomes, underscoring the unpredictable nature of the NFL.

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9. Fun and Light-hearted Banter

Timestamp: [55:53] Dan Patrick & Paul Pabst

The show concludes with hosts Dan Patrick and Paul Pabst engaging in a playful exchange about athleticism and personal achievements, showcasing the camaraderie and lighter side of the show:

• Dan Patrick: "I was a college athlete. I was a rower, but still."
• Paul Pabst: "If we were in a wrestling..."

Key Insight: Beyond serious analysis, the show fosters an engaging and personable atmosphere, making it relatable and enjoyable for listeners.

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Conclusion

In this episode of The Best of The Dan Patrick Show, listeners were treated to an in-depth analysis of pivotal NFL developments, including player injuries, coaching changes, and strategic team evaluations. The conversation seamlessly blended serious sports commentary with light-hearted interactions, offering both insightful perspectives and engaging entertainment. Notably, the discussion on the Packers' injury, the intricacies of coaching leadership, and the innovative concept of relegation in college football provided listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the current sports landscape.

Notable Quotes:

• "The Packers lost Christian Watson for the playoffs." — Paul Pabst [01:00]
• "Is he going to be available to play? I don't know that, but here's Nick Sirianni being very evasive about the health of his quarterback." — Devin McCourty [03:04]
• "Find the best leader, let them lead, and then everything else will sort of be fine." — Dan Patrick [50:10]
• "Jerry bought the Cowboys in 1989 to win Super Bowls, and they've not won one since 1995." — Devin McCourty [35:39]

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This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from "The Best of The Dan Patrick Show," providing a valuable resource for both regular listeners and newcomers alike.

Transcript

[Dan Patrick]

Wasn't that delicious?

[Paul Pabst]

So good. Your bill, ladies. I got it. No, I got it. Seriously, I insist. I insisted first. Don't be silly. You don't be silly.

[Devin McCourty]

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[Paul Pabst]

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[Todd Archer]

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[Paul Pabst]

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[Devin McCourty]

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[Paul Pabst]

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[Todd Archer]

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[Devin McCourty]

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[Paul Pabst]

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[Dan Patrick]

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[Devin McCourty]

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[Dan Patrick]

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[Paul Pabst]

You are listening to the Dan Patrick show on Fox Sports Radio. The packers lost Christian Watson for the playoffs. Now, I'm watching this game and I'm watching this in real time. And you can tell when somebody gets hurt and they know they're hurt. And it's not just, hey, I got banged up, it's, this is serious. And you saw his reaction. And then I knew. I said, he probably tore his acl and that's what it turned out to be. This is one of those wow. To me, people aren't talking about the Packers. The packers have a good defense. They can run. You got Jordan Love. Now you lose Watson. That's a big loss. Big loss. And it's probably being underplayed here. But I think everybody's been focused, certainly on the Lions. And I'm looking at point spreads. So DraftKings sent me some point spreads. These are hypothetical matchups. The Vikings would get three and a half against the Lions in a rematch. The Rams would get six and a half against the Lions. The packers would get three and a half against the Lions. The Ravens would get one against the Bills. The Vikings would get four against the Eagles. Chargers four and a half against the Chiefs. Texans get seven against the Chiefs. And the Buccaneers would get six and a half if they face the Eagles. The Eagles situation is also something interesting. This is being undersold as well. And that's Jalen Hurts. He's been in concussion protocol. And that's why I was all for Saquon Barkley not playing in that last game. Would I like to see him break the record? Sure. But you have to have a bigger goal than an individual goal. And you can't say, well, you can get hurt in every game. You can't get hurt in a game you don't play in. I want to make sure my quarterbacks in concussion protocol. Is he going to be available to play? I don't know that, but here's Nick Sirianni being very evasive about the health of his quarterback.

[Devin McCourty]

As you put the game plan together.

[Dan Patrick]

Is it with the intention of Jalen.

[Paul Pabst]

As the starting quarterback this weekend? Yeah. I have no new information for you guys.

[Dan Patrick]

Like, like I said yesterday, I. Progressing through the protocol, are you able to.

[Devin McCourty]

Say if he's in the building today?

[Paul Pabst]

I got no new info for you guys here today.

[Todd Archer]

I'm sorry.

[Paul Pabst]

Wait, you can't confirm he's in the building? Yikes. Where's Shefty when you need him? Somebody outside spying on a grassy knoll to see if that hurts. Is that. Is that him? Yes, he. What is the huge benefit to holding back that bombshell information? Unless he's not in the building and that he's at a hospital or wherever you go for concussion protocol, I think what Nick has done is he's made it worse. I can't even tell you if he's in the building or not. Now, all of a sudden, I'm really curious. But this is Nick Sirianni who doesn't handle the media very well. And in this situation, you know, if he's there, there's nothing wrong with saying that he's not here today. We expect him tomorrow. Like, you can move around these things. Sometimes these coaches try not to tell you something while in the process really telling you something. All right, poll question to start out first hour is going to be what Seon most attractive opening right now. Wow. Bears, Jaguars, Jets, Patriots, Saints. Okay. All right. By the way, I had a source say, hey, keep an eye out on the Colts Monday. They may be blowing this thing up. Well, they didn't. They brought back their coach and gm, but they fired their defensive coordinator, Gus Bradley. I don't know if that's really detonating anything here, but somebody had to pay the price. So Gus Bradley was fired with the Colts, but the Jalen hurts situation that Bears watching here practice coming up tomorrow will certainly get a better indication if Kenny Pickett is going to be the answer. You don't like the question? If you're a Philadelphia Eagle fan, North Dakota State, they won the FCS title. The Bison, they win again. I think that's 10 national championships. And, and we were thinking, if you win the national championship in fcs, can we schedule something where you get to play the team that wins the national championship? Let's say Ohio State wins and week zero you get North Dakota State against Ohio State. Now, it's not going to be on a neutral site because Ohio State wouldn't do that, but you get North Dakota State. Big moment. Now granted, the team that won the national championship won't be the team that takes the field next year. That could be a problem. But that'd be nice because I'm all for relegation. I think that would be awesome if we eventually get to my playoff picture. My landscape for college football, which may be the top 50 schools, maybe 60, split them up in divisions and, and you have an NFL style model. But could you have that last day, that last game, those last games where they mean something, where you better win or you're going to fcs, or if you win, you're going up to fbs, you get to play and the money is going to be a lot more. I think it would be fun to watch that. I don't know how practical it is, but I think if you had that just like with the Premier League, like sometimes you'll have those last days where you're like, oh, score differential, goal differential. Oh my goodness, we're in trouble now. You're going to be relegated. No, not the r word. You're relegated. 877-3DP show email address dpdanpatrick.com Twitter handle @DP show operator Tyler sitting by. Yes, Paul, Based off that, North Dakota.

[Devin McCourty]

State would be promoted to maybe the Big 12.

[Paul Pabst]

And unfortunately this year Kent State would drop down to fcs. Kent State won no game. I think Kent State probably should be relegated even though there's no relegation. Right. They lost every game by, I think, over 30 points. Like, they weren't even close. They've like winning was, was a rumor for them. Maybe not even a rumor for that. All right, let's see a couple other things here. Some facts that you might be interested in. Bo Nix is 24 years, 322 days, and that will be on Sunday. That's how old he will be. The second oldest rookie quarterback to start an NFL playing playoff game. I could give you 100, I give you a thousand guesses. You aren't going to guess the oldest rookie to start a playoff game in NFL history. It did happen in 2022. If that's a hint for you, I'll give you his college, which would probably give it away. I believe he played at Kansas State. Any takers here? Not Michael Bishop. That was Marvin. You were going there, weren't you? I sure was. Skyler Thompson. Paul. Too late.

[Todd Archer]

Yeah, just late.

[Paul Pabst]

Stat of the day. Stat of the day. Stat of the day. Stat of the day.

[Todd Archer]

Here comes that.

[Paul Pabst]

What? Stat of the day. All right, so the best opening west, Devin McCourty. About that, with the openings that we had, you had Robert Kraft. I can't say this was a press conference. It was just. He addressed the media yesterday, and he kind of fell on the sword where he fired Draw Mayo after one year. This whole situation is on me. I feel terrible for Gerard because I put him in an untenable situation. It was very hard because the personal relationship I feel for Gerard and the human being he is. And I felt guilty I put him in that position. Okay, yes, you did. You know, everybody's a genius when you got Belichick and Brady. And then when you only have one, not everybody's a genius, including the genius. And then when you don't have either, then it falls back to who's running this team. And the Crafts have been running this team, not Bill Belichick, the last five years and maybe longer. Okay, you have Gerard Mayo, who is a coach in waiting. Now, Belichick didn't know, apparently, that they had already put this in his contract that he was going to be the coach in waiting. That's the first problem. You have to let Bill know because. And Bill may say, hey, then I don't want to be around. And you may have to. You may have to eat that one. But you can't do that to Belichick. Where you go, we're going to put this in the language in your contract. You're the coach in waiting. And then tell me that after five years of being the coach and waiting, he's not ready to be the coach after waiting five years. See, that's embarrassing. Now, I think what this came down to was not necessarily the performance on the field as much as maybe handling yourself as a head coach. And I think Gerard Mayo failed with those responsibilities because I think he wanted to be the antithesis of Bill Belichick. When he went to a press conference, he was actually going to say something. Maybe he was a little more confrontational with his players, not that far removed from being a player himself. And I don't think he handled himself the way maybe the Crafts wanted him to handle himself. As a head coach, I don't know what they expected because you didn't spend any money. You have a quarterback, you kind of have a running back. You were supposed to have a really good defense. The last part of last season, you were one of the better defenses in the NFL. Now you're going to bring in who, Brian Flores. You're going to bring in Mike Vrabel, Ben Johnson, but I don't know if you make that move unless, you know, like, what if they whiff on variable Ben Johnson, let's say Brian Flores, the defensive coordinator with the Vikings. Now what are you going to bring in another inexperienced head, you know, head coaching candidate? Like, you can't whiff. Like, they have to get their person. They have to get Mike Brable. It feels like Ben Johnson. We don't know. As I've said many, many times, not every coordinator should be a head coach. Ben Johnson has done a wonderful job in Detroit. I don't know. Once again, you can be great at your job, but there are other jobs that go with that. How do you handle press conferences? It's really important. Is Pete Carroll going to get a shot? It feels like there's some momentum, that maybe he gets a shot. I don't know why now. He's been available the last couple of years. It's one of those that. It's like, you know, you find out that some girl's available and you didn't know she was available, and you're like, well, what happened? I didn't know that Pam Anderson's available. Well, maybe Pete Carroll is the Pam Anderson of the NFL. Oh, nice. She, you know, he's available. Okay, and the Patriots got cap room. They have, I think, over $100 million. Why weren't they spending that before if you're not going to spend it now? That'd be my first question. If I'm going to be Mike Brable and I walk in and go, why do we have a hundred million dollars that we didn't spend? Can we. Can we buy a receiver? Can we. Can we buy offensive line? Can we buy a running. Could we have gotten Saquon Barkley? Like, I don't know. You just ask questions. Where. Why are you stockpiling all this money? Are we going to spend this money now? I'm interested in the job. If not, why would you take that job? Yes, you got Drake May, but you need more than Drake May. You're going to win four, five, six games, okay? That's not the Patriot. The Patriot way is done. Okay? The Patriot way was Belichick and Brady. Let's be honest here, it's not the crafts, it's Belichick and Brady because once the emperor has no clothes, it's pretty freakin cold. And that's what you have going on there. How did it get here? And it happened right before our very eyes. Yes, Paulie. That being said, even though it was.

[Devin McCourty]

An awkward day for the Patriots, could.

[Paul Pabst]

It have been the right decision because.

[Devin McCourty]

You have cap space and a quarterback that people like on a rookie deal it's one of the more attractive jobs. Financially, not so much talent wise but.

[Paul Pabst]

Financially you have an open slate. Like if you're a new gm, which.

[Devin McCourty]

I'll actually have a GM or a.

[Paul Pabst]

Coach, it seems like a blank slate but I have to know if they're spending money, how involved are the crafts? That's what I want to know. They got more involved and I think to the detriment of the team. You didn't spend any money. How do you bring in a rookie coach and a rookie quarterback? And don't surround them. This goes back to what happened with Andrew Luck. Every team should be reminded of that. If you're going to bring in a rookie quarterback, get an offensive line, give him, give him a couple of skill position players. If not, then don't use the pick on a quarterback if you're not going to protect him. You know, like Bryce Young. Hey Bryce, go out there and be a savior. That's not the kind of quarterback he is. Hey Bryce, sorry you got to run for your life. Hey Bryce, you suck. Come on over. Andy Dalton's going, it's. You didn't help him, protect him and New England didn't do that with Drake May. And as a result you get rid of Gerard Mayo. And maybe Mayo wasn't the right guy to begin with. Maybe they made a mistake to put in the coach in waiting. But now you got to get Mike Rabel because Rabel gives you a culture. And I know that's one of those weird words but Dan Campbell created a culture in Detroit like certain coaches create a culture. Rex Ryan, you know, for the the good and the bad of all of that. He had a culture with the Jet. He's still trying to bank on that culture saying I'm the best guy for the job. We're not going to let it be a country club atmosphere for Aaron Rodgers. Like okay, yeah, Paul. All right. Any chance of Rabel is the wrong.

[Devin McCourty]

Choice because he reminds everyone of Belichick.

[Paul Pabst]

He'll probably walk in and say I'm.

[Devin McCourty]

Going to do this like it was done five years ago.

[Paul Pabst]

Free agents didn't want to go play there, especially towards the end.

[Devin McCourty]

I don't know if Mike Ray will.

[Paul Pabst]

Be attractive to free agents with all that cap room. Players didn't want to play for Belichick. They wanted to play for Belichick and Brady because that meant you were going to get a chance to play in a Super bowl, plain and simple, like the last four years. Did you hear players go, you know what? Before I retire, I want to play for the greatest coach of all time. No, they said even defensive players, hey, I'll put up with this, but I want to go and play with Brady. I got a chance. Chris Long one year to play for, you know, playing a Super bowl and he won one. They weren't going to play for the greatest coach in history. They wanted to play for the greatest coach with the greatest quarterback. The Patriot Way. Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch all of our [e-mail] and within the iHeartRadio app. Search FSR to listen live. Hey, Steve Covino. And I'm Rich Davis. And together we're Covino and Rich on Fox Sports Radio. 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. What's going on in the world. We have a lot of fun talking about the stories behind the stories in the world of sports and pop culture. Stories that, well, other shows don't seem to have the time to discuss. 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 Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific. And if you miss any of the live show, just search Covino and Rich wherever you get your podcast. And of course, on social media, that's Covino and Rich. Wasn't that delicious? So good.

[Todd Archer]

Your bill, ladies.

[Paul Pabst]

I got it. I got it. No, I got it. Seriously, I insist. I insisted first. Don't be silly. You don't be silly.

[Devin McCourty]

People with the Wells Fargo active cash credit card prefer to pay because they.

[Paul Pabst]

Earn unlimited 2% cash back on purchases. Okay Rock, paper, scissors for it.

[Todd Archer]

Rock, paper, scissors.

[Paul Pabst]

Shoot. No the Wells Fargo Active Cash credit card.

[Devin McCourty]

Visit Wells Fargo.com ActiveCash Terms apply.

[Paul Pabst]

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[Todd Archer]

My freshman year, we lost to Louisville 55 to like 5. We had a safety that was sprinkled in there. It was, it was something like that.

[Paul Pabst]

What's that feel like?

[Todd Archer]

You hear the song that they play on kickoff a lot throughout the game, and I still remember it was a, a Young Jeezy song and they would always play Boom Boom Clap. And we heard that a lot that night. So you get used to hearing that song when you get blown out.

[Paul Pabst]

What was the atmosphere like in Detroit?

[Todd Archer]

Oh, it was awesome. You know, I think even in pregame warm ups of each kind of wave of guys that come out, you know, first the returners come out, the crowd goes nuts, then the skill positions, then ultimately Jared Goff came out and they went nuts. And what I love, though is every time somebody from the Vikings came out, it was just nonstop booze. And I think, like, you could feel it before the game started of the impact the crowd was going to have in the game.

[Paul Pabst]

Well, that's what I was curious about, that they have home field advantage throughout the nfc, but how much of an advantage is it to Detroit? Is there any other place that compares, like Kansas City? That home field advantage?

[Todd Archer]

Yeah, Kansas City. I think Buffalo like those teams that for one, your fan base is intense, they're loud. But I think they get an advantage too of playing in the cold, depending on who comes there. Like we saw last year when Miami had to go to Kansas City and playing that historically cold game. But you don't have a shot. And I think Detroit's advantage is being in that dome. That dome gets loud and it gets rocking and those people are intense. I just talked to Mike Florio on Pro Football Talk on the podcast. They went and did their podcast Monday morning. Him and Chris Sims. They still could smell the beer. Like, those people had a great time in there. So it's a tough place to play.

[Paul Pabst]

What's it like to play in a quiet stadium?

[Todd Archer]

You hear all the checks, you know, you think about, you know, defenses and, you know, honestly, it's fun for defense when you're out there and you can hear what the offense checks and you can hear yourselves usually, like if you're at home and those kind of big time matchups in the crowds going crazy, making it hard for the offense. You have to remember as a defense, you got to get used to making your calls and Stuff with that noise. But when you're out there and it's silent, the energy's tough sometimes, but you. You get the advantage of really hearing everything the offense is trying to check and get to.

[Paul Pabst]

I guess there's usually one surprise firing every. Every cycle. I thought Gerard Mayo was a surprise. I don't know how you felt, but one and done in New England. Your reaction?

[Todd Archer]

Yeah, I got the opportunity to go up to the press conference and I remember being in that moment of how special it was. A guy I got an opportunity to play with, a guy that I think for that franchise as the number 10 pick, came in and did so many things and ultimately was a great leader for the organization. So when he. When he was named head coach, I was so excited. I thought he would get an opportunity to really grow into that role. Not much experience in coaching overall, but I thought he would get the opportunity to grow, and he didn't. And for me, it was a reminder of this league of I don't care how awesome the story is, the personal relationships and all that. When you get in and you're a head coach, they're looking for a certain thing. They're looking for wins, they're looking for the. The alignment and what the vision looks like. And ultimately the crafts felt like it wasn't there and they moved on from Gerard. But, you know, I think down the end it didn't. It wasn't surprising. But if I think back to the beginning, no way I thought that it would even be a thought of him being one and done as a head coach.

[Paul Pabst]

But how can he be the coach in waiting for five years but not be ready for this moment? According to Robert Kraft?

[Todd Archer]

Yeah, I mean, you look at that press conference yesterday and he said, I think he has all the skills to be a great head coach someday. And that to me was why you named him head coaches. You thought somebody else would get to take advantage of that and they only give him one year, I think is really tough, you know, And I think back to Jimmie Johnson. Spoke to our team my rookie year and he said, the NFL is not about fair. You're going to get opportunity, and that's all you can ask for. And you know, honestly, it wasn't fair for Jerod Mayo to think he would have everything buttoned up in year one. But that. That's the reality of the NFL.

[Paul Pabst]

Devin McCourty Football Night in America analyst and wild card Weekend NBC and Peacock will bring you the commanders at the Buccaneers better season turned in by Jaden Daniels or Baker Mayfield Oh, I think.

[Todd Archer]

You got to go Jaden Daniels. Just because a little bit of what Baker's doing was expected. You know, I think Baker in Tampa has been a beautiful fit and he showed that he can be, you know, one of the top quarterbacks in the league. Jaden Daniels took over a Washington team. Now, we thought even with him they would struggle this year. And you look up and they're in the playoffs like they're going to be in the playoffs playing an opportunity advance that just wasn't expected. And the truth is, it's all because of Jaden Daniels is their best player.

[Paul Pabst]

The Eagles situation is interesting, and I think it's being undersold, and that is Jalen hurts in concussion protocol here. Have you ever been in concussion protocol?

[Todd Archer]

Actually, my first time being a concussion protocol, I don't want to say is the same, but it was similar and to what Jalen Hurst is going through of and the process was a little different, but I had passed certain tests, so I was able to practice, but I didn't pass a test yet to be able to have contact. So I had got a concussion, missed the last week of the season. Then we had to play off bye week. So I didn't practice the last week of the season, but the playoff bye week, I was cleared to be able to practice, but still was non contact. And then ultimately to get out of protocol, I had to do get an MRI of my brain to be fully out of the concussion protocol. So it was a whole process and more of a process than normal when we think about concussion protocol. So I felt a little bit of what he's going through now.

[Paul Pabst]

If you were Mike McCarthy and you had an opportunity to leave the Cowboys, let's say the Bears job is legitimate. You know, he's going to be a free agent. And I don't know if there's any rush for Jerry to, you know, sign him. They. They could have done this. He's been a lame duck coach, but it's hard to pass on being the Cowboys head coach. But sometimes you want to get out from underneath Jerry Jones and that. That star, that.

[Todd Archer]

That Cowboys head coaching job is hard to turn down until you've been in it for five years. And I think Mike McCarthy knows exactly what it feels like and what it is to be in that job. So I think it'll be telling if he does want to go on these interviews, that he is seeking to see what it feels like and what it could look like somewhere else. And the Bears, they had to see it firsthand when he was coaching the Green Bay packers, so there might be a little bit of an infatuation of Mike McCarthy and what he was able to do. And he might want some breathing room from being on that kind of soap opera box that the Cowboys give you every year you're in that position.

[Paul Pabst]

We're going to have a road team, at least one road team win this weekend with these. These games. Give me the surprise this weekend.

[Todd Archer]

The surprise, I would say, and I know it's a little harder because of Jordan Love's injury and Christian Watson being done, but I just think the Green Bay packers, they're one of those teams that are a little inconsistent. You don't always know what you're going to get, but if they can get hot and they can get going, they have a. Jeff Havelee, their defensive coordinator, has different kind of looks and disguises that they can give you. They're going to play an Eagles team that comes off a week where they're resting. So they might be a little bit of a slow start getting back into the field of things that. I think Green Bay could surprise Philadelphia. I think Philadelphia is a better team and should win, but I wouldn't be surprised if Green Bay could get it going in Philadelphia.

[Paul Pabst]

Pittsburgh has problems with Baltimore. Why?

[Todd Archer]

I just. Ultimately, I think Baltimore is a better football team. I think. I think we fell in love with what Russ was able to do, took over Pittsburgh, they went on a little winning streak. But think what we saw, what Baltimore is able to do over these last few weeks. That that's the. Their team. And I think they're playing their best ball right now. And I think Pittsburgh, they're just not the. The inabilities of the offense to get the ball down the field consistently, to be able to pick up short gains and drive and have 10 to 12 play drives like that's not what they do well. So when you're relying on the deep ball nonstop and if Pickens doesn't come out and have a big game, then that. That just leaves you so handicapped that I think Baltimore has power, that you can't really play that way. But I will say these two teams, they battle and each time they play, it seems like the game goes a different way. So it's a scary game a little bit for Baltimore playing a divisional opponent in the playoffs.

[Paul Pabst]

What if Bill Belichick called you and said, would you join me on my staff at North Carolina?

[Todd Archer]

I would ultimately think about it and then I would second. I would think about my wife killing me. So I would have to. I would have to say, bill, I love you, respect you so much, but coaching is just not going to be about future.

[Paul Pabst]

Okay, what advice would you give if Bill Belichick said, come down and talk to my players, I'm not going to be in the room, what would you say?

[Todd Archer]

I would tell them, prepare for something that won't be easy, but prepare for a chance to be one thing, a champion in college, but ultimately an opportunity to be the best football player you could be. And for some of them that's going to be in the NFL, you're going to learn things about the game of football that are going to travel with you far after your career. I mean, I'm doing TV primarily because I sat in team meeting rooms for 13 years and heard the most brilliant mind and Bill Belichick talk about the game of football. I know about situations that I've never known offense, special teams, defense, because of all the things he hit about, you know, over my 13 years in football. And for those young guys, like that won't leave you. There's life lessons in there. There's everything. So I think ultimately you want to be a winner and be the best version of yourself. Get an opportunity to play for Bill Belichick. That's going to give you that.

[Paul Pabst]

Did you ever want to punch him?

[Todd Archer]

I mean, how many times would be the question. I remember we went my rookie year, we went nine straight days of full pads in practice, in training camp. Can't do that anymore. But that like that's what we did my rookie year in training camp. Like we were ready to go by season started.

[Paul Pabst]

Good to talk to you again. Have fun in the postseason. Thank you, Devin.

[Todd Archer]

Always fun talking to you, Dan.

[Paul Pabst]

Devin McCourty, football night in America analyst and wild card weekend commanders and the Buccaneers, NBC and Peacock coverage will begin on Sunday night at 7:30 Eastern. Football Football Night in America kicks off at 8. Be sure to catch the live edition of the Dan Patrick show, weekdays at 9am Eastern, 6am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio. And the iHeartRadio app. Wasn't that delicious? So good. Your bill, ladies. I got it. No, I got it. Seriously, I insist. I insisted first. Don't be silly. You don't be silly.

[Devin McCourty]

People with the Wells Fargo Active Cash credit card prefer to pay because they.

[Paul Pabst]

Earn unlimited 2% cash back on purchases. Okay. Rock, paper, scissors for it.

[Todd Archer]

Rock, paper, scissors.

[Paul Pabst]

Shoot. No. The Wells Fargo Active Cash credit card card.

[Devin McCourty]

Visit Wells Fargo.com ActiveCash Terms apply.

[Paul Pabst]

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[Devin McCourty]

It certainly made it interesting for Jerry Jones to have to make it, maybe make a decision sooner than he would want to make. If he grants permission, does that tell us that Mike McCarthy is, is not going to be back? If he doesn't grant permission, does that tell us he is going to be back? There are so many different things you can come up with through this coaching search. I go back, expect anything when it comes to this because I go back to the last time Jerry had a coach with an expiring contract in 2019 when he interviewed Marvin Lewis and Mike McCarthy before making any announcement on Jason Garrett status. So that's kind of where we are right now. Who the heck knows where they're going, how long it's going to take? I would think if it happens, it has to happen here soon.

[Paul Pabst]

But why has Jerry left him dangling here? You either want Mike McCarthy or you don't.

[Devin McCourty]

Right? You could, you should be able to operate on parallel tracks during the course of a season and, and have a hypothetical list available in your desk drawer to say this is where I want to go when the season ends. We've, we've seen other teams already make moves either designed to keep their coaching staff in GM or, or go out and make this call. Jerry Has a Netflix series coming out called the Gambler. Right. That's supposed to come out some point here in 2025. I don't know if he's much of a gambler anymore. This is just not how he operates. He takes his time on things and doesn't make the bold moves that everybody expects him to make. Maybe that will come back here soon and I'll look like a fool for saying that, but I don't know why that this wasn't a decision that could have been made yesterday. Certainly can be made today and hopefully by the end of the week. McCarthy's contract expires, Dan on Wednesday. Cowboys have exclusive negotiating rights through January 14th. I would think if I'm Mike McCarthy, I want to know by Wednesday because I want to know, should I look into the Chicago thing? Should I look into these other jobs that they, that these people who might want me as coach?

[Paul Pabst]

But Todd, you've been around this franchise a long time. How much does Jerry love the. The attention like his. His team stays in the news cycle constantly because he doesn't wrap anything up. Michael Parsons contract won't be wrapped up quickly. Dax wasn't CDs, wasn't your head coach here. Almost feels like I want you to keep talking about my franchise.

[Devin McCourty]

Yeah. And that's how you become $10 billion franchise, I guess, in some respect. Right. Because everybody's talking about it. Everybody, good and bad. Right. It's. The Cowboys fans are going to be Cowboys fans. The people who hate the Cowboys are always going to hate the Cowboys. So you have so many eyeballs on you that you draw attention to you. And I think Jerry, he has said it. He loves that attention that is on his franchise. At some point. It's not conducive to winning football games. Although he'll point out that they are the fifth or sixth most winningest team in the last five, six, seven years. But ultimately, Jerry bought the Cowboys in 1989 to win Super Bowls, and they've not won1 since 1995. So what. What are they in here just to win games or are they in here to win Super Bowls?

[Paul Pabst]

Is it a good job if it's open?

[Devin McCourty]

This is where I might differ with people who say it's. It might not be a good job. I will say it is a good job. The head coach of the Dallas Cowboys has the biggest say in the franchise if they choose to be the loudest voice in the franchise. Now there we can go back to 1998. I think Chan Gailey didn't want Randy Moss. The Cowboys didn't draft Randy Moss. You know, there have always been some little hiccups along the way. Bill Parcells didn't want to. They still signed to what was the corollary move to that. They, they cut Larry Allen. That was a guy that builded one around. So that was one for one right there. But this is a good job beyond because it's one of 32, because it is the Cowboys. And this is a roster that really was hit hard by injury. But you have a quarterback that'll be coming back. You have a number one wide receiver, you have Micah Parsons, you have other pieces in place that can win with you with a quick turnaround. But it's incumbent on Jerry to do more in the off season than he did last year, where their biggest free agent signing was either Zeke or Eric Hendricks. They have to do more than that to, to supplement this roster. They can't just rely on improvement from within. But if the head coach wants the power or I don't want to say power wants to say and put the work in, he can have the say to get what he wants the majority of the time.

[Paul Pabst]

But if you're a Cowboys fan and you hear, hey, this is why I bought the team. I want to be the gm. I want to run the team. Like, would Jerry Jones have fired Jerry Jones?

[Devin McCourty]

Well, he hasn't done it yet. So I would say no, I'll say. And I don't want to come across like I'm defending the way Jerry operates this. But in Jerry's mind, the GM is the guy who cuts the check. So that's why he keeps the title. The GM of the Cowboys is really Will McLay. He's the guy that does the work that of what a general manager does. And if you look at how they've drafted Since Will McClay has been here since 2014, it's been among the best in the NFL. So people, we get hung up on the title, but Jerry is not going into the draft room and saying, who do you want? Who do you want? Who do you want? No, you guys want this guy. No, no, I want this dude. And we're going to take that guy. That's not how it works and it's really not how it's worked here for quite a long time. I'll go on my 20 plus years of covering the team. It truly has been a conglomeration of efforts to get the right, get the guy everybody wants. And we can point to another example of Jerry not getting what he want when they drafted Zach Martin in 2014 and not Johnny Manzo.

[Paul Pabst]

Oh, I know. I remember that because he wanted. He wanted. He likes that shiny object there. And I go back that I think he wanted Connor Cook and Connor Cook was taken and then they took Dak Prescott, right?

[Devin McCourty]

Yeah. Not. And not just Connor Cook. They tried to trade back. Trade back into the first round and take Paxton Lynch.

[Paul Pabst]

Oh, so.

[Devin McCourty]

So those are two, two moves that the Cowboys are glad they didn't make. And they ended up getting Dak Prescott with not only their, their. Their second fourth round pick, a compensatory pick, they took a defensive end out of Oklahoma with their first fourth round pick that year over Dak Prescott.

[Paul Pabst]

You go back to Jimmy Johnson and Jerry Jones. That relationship, could it have worked.

[Devin McCourty]

Longer than it had?

[Paul Pabst]

Yeah.

[Devin McCourty]

No, I don't believe so. I think Jerry wanted out and again, that was before my time here. But I haven't talked to a lot of people have been around and talk to Jimmy about it and talk to Jerry about it. I think Jerry wanted. I think Jimmy wanted to go somewhere else too. I think his time here was done and I think he realized there's only so long of a shelf life a coach can have. Clearly, that he and Jerry had differences of opinion on. On who did what in the separation of powers and things like that. I think it lasted as long as both sides wanted it to last and it was time for them to split up.

[Paul Pabst]

But if you look in the history of the NFL trades that were made, where do you put what Jimmy did? I'm giving Jimmy the credit for Herschel Walker deal. Now I'm sure Jerry gets credit to. But the importance of that trade compared to other trades in NFL history, where does that rank?

[Devin McCourty]

I mean, I don't know how it's not. I'm going to say it's number one because I can't think of another one that would top it. Just because that was the start of everything for the 90s Cowboys. And at the time when they made that trade, nobody, everybody decided was for these players and didn't realize the pick element of it. And then how everything kind of that team was built through that trade for a number of years and the guys that they got out of that so they have a tour at the Star where the people can come in and it's famous. Right. Because everybody wants to take a tour of the Star and, and see the players and things. But there's one segment of the Herschel Walker trademark. So that tells you what the Cowboys think of that trade and what it meant to them in their history. So. But yeah, without that trade there probably is not a Super bowl run of the 1990s.

[Paul Pabst]

The Vikings don't have a tour where they focus on the Herschel Walker deal. Just letting you know their tour involves.

[Devin McCourty]

Randy Moss going to them and not.

[Paul Pabst]

Percentage that Mike McCarthy is back is what if you were going to put a number on this.

[Devin McCourty]

Yeah, I talked to some people in the organization the last couple days and before the game. I think the people that I spoke to said he will be back and it might have been 65, 35 talking to people after the game on Sunday. And just what hasn't come out of the organization or out of the meetings with Jerry? It's probably closer to 50, 50 at this point.

[Paul Pabst]

Oh boy.

[Devin McCourty]

And by the time we end our discussions, it might be back to 70, 30. He's staying because this is such an in the wind as Micah told us yesterday. He's in the wind just like us. So the players really don't know what's going on here either.

[Paul Pabst]

Thank you, Todd. Good to catch up with you again.

[Devin McCourty]

You got it. Thanks, Dan.

[Paul Pabst]

Appreciate it. Todd Archer, ESPN NFL Nation Cowboys reporter. Be sure to catch the live edition of the Dan Patrick show, weekdays at 9am Eastern, 6am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio. And the iHeartRadio app. Wasn't that delicious? So good.

[Todd Archer]

Your bill, ladies.

[Paul Pabst]

I got it. No, I got it. Obviously I insist. I insisted first. Don't be silly. You don't be silly.

[Devin McCourty]

People with the Wells Fargo Active Cash credit card prefer to pay because they.

[Paul Pabst]

Earn unlimited 2% cash back on purchases. Okay. Rock, paper, scissors for it.

[Todd Archer]

Rock, paper, scissors.

[Paul Pabst]

Shoot. No. The Wells Fargo ActiveCash Credit Card. Visit wells fargo.comactivecash Terms apply How's your car looking? Showing its age. Faded paint, dents, dings. Don't worry, Mako is here to help. They're the experts in affordable paint jobs and light collision repairs, helping you keep your car looking its best without breaking the bank. Most cars on the road could use a little bit of love. And keep in mind, with Americans keeping their vehicles longer, protecting your investment has never been more important. At Mako, they make it really easy. You come in free estimate and the expert technicians will handle the rest. With Mako's national reach and community focus, you're not just getting top notch service. You're actually getting a partner you can trust. Don't let those little imperfections add up. You want to keep your car on the road. You want to give it a little bit of love. And you can do so with the great folks at Mako, visit your local Mako today and see how they can refresh your ride. Go in, get the free estimate, and the expert technicians will take care of everything after that. Oh, better get Mako. He's Ian Rapaport, NFL Network insider. You can see him tonight on the Insiders. That's at 7 Eastern on NFL Network. Good to talk to you again, Ian. Give me the surprise coaching move, whether it was keeping a coach or firing a coach.

[Dan Patrick]

Well, I would say I don't know what. It's a surprise now because basically what happens is everything, every different possible outcome gets sort of rumored, right? So it's like people say, can you believe that? It's like the Titans just fired Ran Carth on the general manager after two seasons after giving him an extension last year. You know, it's like, is that a surprise? Like, I don't know that anything's a surprise. That there have been some rumors always, but to me, the one that I was most unsure about was probably the Giants. Now, to me, not that my opinion matters at all, but I felt like if the Giants could just take a deep breath and stick with people who they know are good, who took them to the playoffs, they know Brian Dabel is a good coach, didn't forget how to be a good coach. You know, I think the Daniel Jones quarterback plummet probably hurt them a little bit over the last couple years. If they could just take a deep breath and stick there, I think they will benefit. I just, you know, people so often choose change when there's an option. People want you to do something, just something. And so I was sort of pleasantly surprised, I would say, that they decided to do nothing and stick with the.

[Paul Pabst]

Guys they have of the openings. Now, in your opinion, the most attractive job is where it's all about the.

[Dan Patrick]

Quarterback and it's all about how quickly you can get in there and win. I mean, that's. That's. To me. So it's like, you know, I think the Bears is. Is really, really attractive. You think, you know, if you think Caleb Williams is good and I think everyone thinks he's, you know, it's not like he was taken number one and people like the Bears were crazy. Many, many people would have taken him number one. So to me, I think that's. That's a really, really attractive job. Some of the others might take a little bit of time, but that roster is pretty good. Offensive line needs work, but I think all around, you know, if. If Caleb Williams can throw on time and take Care of the ball like he certainly did this year. I think that's one where you could sort of flip it pretty quickly. The other one I like is the Jaguars, you know, like, is Trevor Lawrence going to be Patrick Mahomes? Like, I don't know at this point? Maybe not. Probably not very good. Viable quarterback locked in for a long time. A lot of weapons, a lot of good young players tied into contracts that have already started. That's another place where it's like, I think you could hop in there and win fairly quickly in a division that has not always been at the top, top tier.

[Paul Pabst]

What are the Cowboys doing now?

[Dan Patrick]

They're dancing. Cowboys are dancing. You know, they're different, man. And you know, we know that Cowboys are different. We know they're a different animal. But situations like this really show us how different. Jerry Jones does not like dead money. And I feels like would rather have this uncertainty for eight days or nine days or however long last rather than deal with the dead money of, let's say, extending Mike McCarthy and then deciding, all right, we do not, we do not want him here. So the sense I get. The sense I get is that they want him back. The sense I get is that he would like to be back under the right circumstances. You have other teams, you know, we're going to have interest. The Bears have put in request. I would expect the Saints to have interest as well. It's just, can they get together and figure out something that works for both of them? And for me, a lot of the biggest questions are like, what about the term of the contract? Like, if you're the Cowboys, you know, maybe you say, all right, well, let's do a two year deal. Cool. If we don't, we want to get out next year, we can just fire them with, you know, limited money. If you're McCarthy, like, why would you do that? Just go somewhere else and get a five year deal. So I think that's some of the issues they need to work out.

[Paul Pabst]

Do the Lions lose both coordinators?

[Dan Patrick]

Pretty good chance? Yeah. I mean, Ben Johnson's a little bit of a different deal because he's been in demand for a couple years. You know, I don't know that he would have gotten the commander's job last year, but at least he would have been one of the final guys they were discussing. Like, that whole situation was kind of weird. But he's in demand enough where I think he's going to have a chance to get a job. And then to me, I mean, Aaron Glenn, we all saw what The Lions defensive coordinator did on Sunday. That was a. That was mean. He made things very, very rough for the Vikings. I have not seen that Sam Darnold in a couple of years. But that's not why I think Aaron Glenn's going to get a job. It's really about, like, culture and leadership. And to me, he's the guy who's sort of like most an extension of Dan Campbell on the staff. Like, I think. I think he's got a really good shot to get one of these jobs as well.

[Paul Pabst]

Talking to Ian Rapoport, NFL Network Insider I've said this for many, many years, Ian. Not every coordinator deserves to be a head coach. That because of what goes along. Like, you know, Gerard Mayo, I don't think he was equipped to go to those press conferences. I think he was trying to be the antithesis of Belichick and. And he just. He didn't handle it well. Now, it doesn't mean he can't learn how to do it. But we've seen a lot of the Patriot coordinators, Romeo Cornell and Charlie Weiss, and they're coordinators. They're just. But it's tough to say that to somebody when somebody says, why doesn't that guy get a shot? Well, you got to be Pete Carroll at a press conference now. Like, you got to be able to handle these things. And you're a CEO. How do you different. Can you differentiate between somebody is just a great coordinator and not a head coach?

[Dan Patrick]

So specifically to the press conferences, I don't care that. That much about like, Gerard Mayo kind of like stepping on his foot or whatever at a press conference, I don't care that much. But just because, like, if you're not great at the media like most people, most. When Gerard May was coming up as a player, he did plenty of interviews. As a coordinator, he was a position coach for a lot of it. He didn't do a ton of interviews. Most of these guys have not. So, like, you'll see. Like, I remember Nick Sirianni, who has proven to be a very good head coach, was a disaster. His first press conference, you and I sort of take it for granted. It's very, very hard. I don't care so much about that. What I care about is a lot of times that press conference face or Persona or whatever is what you put in front of the team. That's more important to me because, like, you know, when you're. It's like, mess up in front of the media. Okay, who cares? But if you mess up in front of the team, they're going to wonder if you're really authentic. Are you acting? Are you trying to be? And I think that's where a lot of the Patriots coordinators under Belichick have run into problems, because they were trying to be something, whether it's him, whether it's. I'm definitely not going to be him. It's like, players can tell when you're not just a leader, right? And so, like, talk about coordinators being ready. Like, Dan Campbell wasn't a coordinator. He was just the best leader that the Saints had. So it's like sometimes coaches, you know, it's like, I, I really don't think that the best play calling head coach, the best play calling coordinator means you're going to be a great head coach. It's like, find the best leader, but that guy in front of the big room, not the small one, but the big room, and let him go.

[Paul Pabst]

Yeah. Because you got to create a culture. And I think that, like, I don't know what Ben Johnson's personality is, but is he going to be able to lead? Dan Campbell came in and we were like, oh, who is this guy? And then all of a sudden we realized that that guy is that guy. And those players bought into that. And really, that's the important part. You know, the Cowboys, they bought into Jimmy Johnson. Like, you have to buy into that. We may see somebody and go, that guy's corny, or, you know, that guy's quiet. But you'll know when you're. The feedback you get comes from your players. That's the ultimate. That's the only feedback you really need.

[Dan Patrick]

Well, yeah, and like, like, for, for me, like, I, you know, I've been doing this for 13 years now, and I get to know a lot of these coordinator candidates, a lot of the young coaches, and it's really been educational for me to, As I talk about it and as I talk to GMs and owners and whoever, you know, whether publicly or privately, about some of these candidates, because it's like, what makes a good head coach or makes a good coordinator is almost, almost has nothing to do with each other. Like, if you do the Venn diagram thing, they may not connect. Like, I remember so specifically. I hate to even say this now, but kind of rolling my eyes at the Lions excitement over Dan Campbell because I'm like, what are they seeing that I am not seeing? He's never been a coordinator. Like, yes, he gave the speeches and the Saints and the. Like, he's not even a coordinator. And now as I'VE learned. It's like, who cares? Like, find the best leader. And it's like, you know, you talked about. I was laughing as you were doing the open, talking about how bad the Lions draft, you know, drafts were. It's like, what is Brad Holmes doing? Don't they care about, you know, positional value? It's like, find good football players, have them play on your team. Have a lot of good football players. You'll have a better team. It's like, same thing with coaches. Find good leaders, let them lead, and then everything else will sort of be fine.

[Paul Pabst]

Finish this sentence. If the Steelers get blown out against the Ravens.

[Dan Patrick]

I will be surprised. If the Steelers get blown out against the Ravens, you're talking specifically about Mike Tomlin. I don't think anything happens to Mike Tomlinson, but I would say if the Steelers get blown out by the Ravens, then I will say they take another look at the quarterback position. Try to figure that out for next year. I have thought, I have believed that their starting quarterback for next year is on the roster. My sense is that it was Russell Wilson. It has been very rough the last month. Very rough. So maybe it's not, but I think we're about to find out.

[Paul Pabst]

Let's flip it if the Ravens lose. Yeah.

[Dan Patrick]

I mean, this is about as talented a Ravens team as. As we could have. You know, I would be surprised if anything happens to Harbaugh, if that's what you mean. To me, he is.

[Paul Pabst]

No, I think it's probably perception with Lamar. Like, this is the ultimate kiss of death with. With him, whether it's fair or not. But here we are. Home field advantage. At home field advantage. Last year, you know, the.

[Dan Patrick]

No, I get it.

[Paul Pabst]

It's there.

[Dan Patrick]

I get. And last year was probably like, you know, I. I would like to see the Ravens in the Super Bowl. It would be very fun. And they're such a good team, and I feel like they, you know, deserve to. So last year was frustrating because it's like, I don't know what else they have to do. And then they got Derek Henry. They sort of form their identity even more. I think they're, you know, good enough on defense. I mean, this looks like a team that should be. Should go deep into the playoffs and reach a Super Bowl. But again, like, I don't think it's a. It's so freaking hard to get there. It's so hard. And, like, you could say whatever you want about Omar or Josh Allen. Same thing. It's like, I get it, but you got to beat Mahomes So it's like sometimes you're just. Mahomes is going to beat you. He's very good.

[Paul Pabst]

Yeah, it's like Jordan, you know, it's. Yeah, the Jordan era that there's no shame in not winning a championship there.

[Dan Patrick]

Look, look, Mahomes is a good pitcher. Like I've seen, I've seen the clips of him throwing. Like, if he wants to go play baseball, he's still got a great arm. If he wants to go play baseball, then I think that really opens things.

[Paul Pabst]

Up in the afc. I think he'd be maybe a better baseball player than Jordan.

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah, I mean, Jordan was not very good. But on the other hand, like you drop someone into, you know, was it dub or's Birmingham? Double A. Double A, Drive someone into double a. Like he had 200. That's pretty good.

[Paul Pabst]

Yeah, he did all right.

[Dan Patrick]

I wouldn't hit 200.

[Paul Pabst]

Yeah, but you're not the.

[Dan Patrick]

I get it.

[Paul Pabst]

You're not one of the greatest athlete you know, in the world.

[Dan Patrick]

It's offensive.

[Paul Pabst]

I don't even know if you're the best athletic insider.

[Dan Patrick]

Wow, that's really offensive. I was a high school baseball player. I was pretty good.

[Paul Pabst]

Are you more athletic than Adam Schefter?

[Dan Patrick]

I think, I mean, I think skill wise, just pure athleticism. Like, I think I have a better arm. You know, I think if you like, you know, having a catch, I think I would probably.

[Paul Pabst]

Let's do the combine. If we were in a wrestling, he.

[Dan Patrick]

Might beat me in a race. And I think he. He is. I'm pretty sure he lifts. I think strength wise, he would probably get me. But hitting a baseball, throwing, Talk about like golf. I feel like I probably got him just so it'd be really depending on the events.

[Paul Pabst]

What if Glazer was in the octagon with you?

[Dan Patrick]

Well, if we're talking octagon, me and Schefter have no chance. But you want to talk like golf, baseball, tennis.

[Paul Pabst]

Okay.

[Dan Patrick]

You know, I did go to a nick voluntary week of tennis camp when I was 11.

[Paul Pabst]

Okay.

[Dan Patrick]

Well, actually, so saying.

[Paul Pabst]

My bad. I did not know that I. Fritzi, will you check his resume next time?

[Devin McCourty]

Yeah.

[Paul Pabst]

That's impressive stuff here that don't even realize that. Unbelievable.

[Dan Patrick]

I was a college athlete. I was a rower, but still.

[Paul Pabst]

Were you a rower or were you crew?

[Dan Patrick]

No, I was. I was a. I was a rower. As a lightweight rower at Columbia. I was very bad, but my team was very good. So there you go.

[Paul Pabst]

Were you were. You weren't the one who is yelling like the.

[Dan Patrick]

No, no. I was actually doing the work.

[Paul Pabst]

Okay.

[Dan Patrick]

I mean, not the coxswains don't do the work. They work very hard. But mental work day.

[Paul Pabst]

All right. He's one of the great athletic insiders in. In the business. He's Ian Rapaport. Thank you, Ian. Thank you.

[Devin McCourty]

Some people just know they could save.

[Paul Pabst]

Hundreds on car insurance by checking Allstate first. Like, you know to check. You have the tickets in your wallet first before you drive two hours to the big game.

[Devin McCourty]

Seriously, you had one job. Now the closest you'll get to the.

[Paul Pabst]

50 yard line is parking lot D.

[Devin McCourty]

Yeah, checking first is smart.

[Paul Pabst]

So check Allstate first for a quote that could save you hundreds. You're in good hands with Allstate Savings. Vary terms apply. Allstate Fire and Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates, Northbrook, Illinois.