The Dan Patrick Show: The Best of The Dan Patrick Show
Release Date: March 17, 2025
Host: iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network
Description: Featuring Dan Patrick's daily radio show with exclusive A-list guests from sports and entertainment, offering insights into pop culture, sports, and humor.

Episode Summary

1. NCAA Basketball Tournament Seedings and Team Evaluations

Timestamp: 02:45 – 16:46

The episode kicks off with Seth Greenberg, an ESPN college basketball analyst, welcoming Daniel Jeremiah, a renowned college football analyst, to discuss the ongoing NCAA basketball tournament. The primary focus is on the controversial seeding of North Carolina and the exclusion of teams like West Virginia, Indiana, and Ohio State.

• North Carolina's Unjust Seeding:

  • Daniel Jeremiah argues, “Everyone should be evaluated across the same set of criteria” (04:20), emphasizing that North Carolina’s strong performance against Quad One teams didn’t guarantee their tournament inclusion.
  • He criticizes the committee's decision, stating, “The system is flawed in this way, Dan” (04:23), suggesting a need for a more standardized evaluation process.

• Florida's Dominance:

  • Jeremiah highlights Florida as a significant storyline, describing them as having a "Yankee type run through the NCAA tournament" (06:15).
  • He praises players like Walter Clayton, referring to him as “a lottery pick at the guard position” (06:11).

• Rick Pitino's Coaching Prowess:

  • Discussing coaching strategies, Jeremiah lauds Rick Pitino, stating, “He takes his team and beats you” (09:13).
  • He underscores Pitino's ability to gain total buy-in from his players, attributing his consistent success across various teams to his coaching genius.

• UConn's Underperformance:

  • Jeremiah analyzes UConn's struggles, pointing out their defensive weaknesses and lack of a lockdown defender: “Their inability to defend the ball at the point of attack” (11:12).
  • Despite their beautiful ball movement, he notes, “They don’t have a shot creator offensively, which is a problem” (11:12).

• Evolution of College Basketball Strategy:

  • The discussion shifts to the strategic differences between college basketball and the NBA. Jeremiah mentions, “We've turned into a European game” (13:30), highlighting the shift towards ball and people movement.
  • He debates rule changes, advocating for advancements in the shot clock but opposing the relocation of the three-point line to maintain the unique aspects of college basketball.

• Best College Basketball Team of Jeremiah's Lifetime:

  • Jeremiah reminisces about teams coached by Jerry Darkadian, describing them as “absolutely relentless” and “so hard to play against” (15:13).
  • He praises their defensive intensity and offensive simplicity, recognizing their physical and executional prowess.

Notable Quote:

“You don’t get a free pass to get in the tournament. You earn your way into the tournament” - Daniel Jeremiah (03:12)

2. NFL Offseason Moves and Team Strategies

Timestamp: 22:02 – 48:49

The conversation transitions to the NFL offseason, with Greg Rosenthal and Seth Greenberg discussing recent team signings, financial strategies, and quarterback situations across various franchises. Jerry Dulak, covering the Steelers, joins to provide additional insights.

• Cincinnati Bengals' Signings:

  • Rosenthal highlights the Bengals’ acquisition of Jamar Chase and T. Higgins, mentioning, “They’ve somehow pulled off two of the three” (22:19).
  • He discusses the financial strain these signings place on the team, noting, “they have to pay these guys, which makes it infinitely harder to get Trey Hendrickson done” (22:19).

• Dallas Cowboys' Financial Strategy:

  • The team’s approach to signing veterans is examined, with Rosenthal stating, “They signed like up to seven starters last week” (25:26).
  • He points out the Cowboys’ balance between aggressive signings and maintaining control over their salary cap, emphasizing their strategy to pay their stars without overextending financially.

• Seattle Seahawks' Quarterback Situation:

  • Rosenthal analyzes the Seahawks’ reluctance to offer large contracts to quarterbacks like Geno Smith, explaining, “they just don’t want to pay quarterbacks these crazy numbers” (26:59).
  • He compares this to the Raiders’ potential interest in Sam Darnold, suggesting he represents good value.

• Minnesota Vikings and Aaron Rodgers:

  • The Vikings’ indecision regarding Aaron Rodgers is explored, with Rosenthal indicating minimal likelihood of signing him, “they are convincing of that” (32:48).
  • The discussion also touches on the Vikings’ focus on developing J.J. McCarthy as their franchise quarterback.

• Pittsburgh Steelers' Quarterback Dilemma:

  • Jerry Dulak provides an inside perspective on the Steelers’ quarterback search. He expresses skepticism about signing Aaron Rodgers, pointing out his age and declining performance: “He’s 42 ... he is putting out on the 18th green” (43:28).
  • Dulak discusses the Steelers’ preference for a franchise quarterback and their cautious approach toward short-term solutions like signing Russell Wilson or Justin Fields.

• Cleveland Browns' Strategy:

  • The Browns’ unpredictable moves in the quarterback market are examined. Rosenthal notes their openness to signing veterans like Kirk Cousins and Quarterback Carson Wentz as contingency plans (34:23).
  • The financial constraints and their impact on possible signings are also discussed.

• General NFL Team Strategies:

  • The conversation underscores the financial balancing act teams perform between signing high-profile players and maintaining flexibility for future moves.
  • Emphasis is placed on long-term planning versus short-term gains, with teams like the Eagles and Vikings exemplifying different approaches.

Notable Quotes:

“How big of a deal is this, in your opinion?” - Seth Greenberg (02:57)
“I feel for those guys because, you know, the tournament is a reward for your season” - Daniel Jeremiah (05:00)
“We are not going to be the NBA” - Daniel Jeremiah (13:30)
“You earn your way into the tournament and everyone should be evaluated across the same set of criteria” - Daniel Jeremiah (03:12)
“Aaron Rodgers is the greatest thrower of the football that I have ever seen” - Jerry Dulak (43:28)

3. Guest Segment: Jeremy Fowler on the Steelers

Timestamp: 39:38 – 48:49

In a specialized segment, Jeremy Fowler, senior national NFL writer, joins to delve deeper into the Steelers' quarterback situation and broader division dynamics.

• Steelers' Quarterback Choices:

  • Dulak critiques the Steelers’ potential reliance on Russell Wilson, suggesting it’s not a sustainable solution: “Russell Wilson can be an effective starter, but he’s certainly not a guy who... is going to be your quarterback for the next two or three years” (46:49).
  • He discusses the Steelers’ lack of urgency in finding a long-term quarterback, highlighting satisfaction with Mason Rudolph as a backup (30:27).

• Bengals vs. Steelers Division Outlook:

  • Dulak ranks division teams, placing the Ravens and Bengals above the Steelers and Browns, attributing this to the Ravens’ consistency and the Bengals’ strong roster (44:34).

• Steelers' Coaching and Future:

  • The longevity of Coach Mike Tomlin is debated. Dulak believes that Tomlin could survive another couple of seasons despite mediocre records, given his current contract and consistent team performance (48:45).
  • He emphasizes that performance is key, noting, “It's not like the sky is falling and there are more bun franchise but 10 and seven each of the last two years” (41:26).

Notable Quotes:

“He’s putting out on the 18th green if he isn't already finished with his round, professionally speaking” - Jerry Dulak (43:28)
“Mike Tomlin has now had eight one and done” - Jerry Dulak (41:26)
“You have to have some type of quarterback with starting experience” - Jerry Dulak (46:45)

4. Additional Highlights and Advertisements

Timestamp: 48:49 – End

The latter part of the episode features repeated advertisements and promotions for other iHeartPodcasts, including:

• 40s and Free Agents: A podcast focusing on NFL draft season insights, mock drafts, and free-agent discussions.
• Dope Labs: Featuring relationship expert Young Pueblo discussing the psychology of love.
• Eating While Broke: A podcast offering stories and dishes from notable personalities.
• The Puzzler: AJ Jacobs’ daily puzzle podcast.
• Math and Stories from the Frontiers of Marketing: Conversations with industry leaders about marketing innovations.
• Building One: Insights into product creation and brand strategies from companies like Patagonia, Adobe, Nike, and Pixar.
• This Is Working: LinkedIn’s podcast offering advice from top business leaders.

These segments are interspersed throughout the episode, promoting various content available through the iHeartRadio platform.

Conclusion

The Best of The Dan Patrick Show offers a comprehensive dive into both collegiate and professional sports landscapes. Through insightful discussions with experts like Seth Greenberg and Daniel Jeremiah, listeners gain a nuanced understanding of NCAA tournament dynamics and intricate NFL offseason strategies. The episode balances in-depth analysis with expert opinions, enriched by notable quotes that encapsulate the core themes of team evaluations, financial constraints, and strategic decision-making in sports.

Notable Quotes Compilation:

1. “You don’t get a free pass to get in the tournament. You earn your way into the tournament” - Daniel Jeremiah (03:12)
2. “I feel for those guys because, you know, the tournament is a reward for your season” - Daniel Jeremiah (05:00)
3. “Aaron Rodgers is the greatest thrower of the football that I have ever seen” - Jerry Dulak (43:28)
4. “We are not going to be the NBA” - Daniel Jeremiah (13:30)
5. “He’s putting out on the 18th green if he isn't already finished with his round, professionally speaking” - Jerry Dulak (43:28)

This summary aims to provide an informative overview of the key discussions and insights from The Best of The Dan Patrick Show episode, ensuring clarity and comprehensiveness for those who haven't listened to the full episode.