The Dan Patrick Show – "Best Of" Episode Summary

Date: August 20, 2025
Host: Dan Patrick (Fox Sports Radio / iHeartPodcasts)
Guests: Greg Olsen (Fox NFL Analyst, Youth Inc. podcast host), Mark Pryor (Dodgers Pitching Coach), Ross Tucker (Host, Ross Tucker Football Podcast)

Episode Overview

This “Best Of” edition showcases Dan Patrick’s signature blend of insightful sports analysis, authentic conversation, and quick wit. With guests from the worlds of football and baseball, the show dives deep into contract negotiations in the NFL, the intricacies of coaching and broadcasting, the mental side of pitching, and what makes certain athletes and teams so fascinating. Notable personalities including Greg Olsen, Mark Pryor, and Ross Tucker all join to share stories, debate hypothetical hall-of-fame careers, and provide behind-the-scenes perspectives.

Key Segments and Insights

1. NFL Contract Negotiations and the Agent Debate

(Greg Olsen Interview: 04:17–19:43)

• Olsen’s Career and Contracts:

  • Greg Olsen shares that late in his career he earned around $7 million per season, while top tight ends now command closer to $16 million (04:31-04:41).
  • Olsen never sat in on his own negotiations:

    “My agent, Drew Rosenhaus...handled all negotiations. I was up to speed… but no, I never participated directly.” (04:48)

• Jerry Jones & Micah Parsons Negotiation:

  • Dan raises the question of Jerry Jones negotiating directly with Micah Parsons, despite CBA rules.
  • Olsen points out that only players representing themselves (without registered agents) should negotiate directly, and stresses the importance of having an agent to avoid personal animosity:

    “Contracts get tough…you pay the money to keep the personal animosity out of the way between you.” (05:25)

• Impact of Player Holdouts:

  • Among current NFL contract disputes, Olsen believes the Trey Hendrickson (Bengals) situation is more impactful than Terry McLaurin’s:

    “You take away the sack leader, your best defensive player…what was already a weakness, now you take away your best player, you have to assume it’s even worse.” (07:11)

2. The Anthony Richardson Project and Accountability in NFL Management

(08:13–10:24)

• Should the bust label go to Anthony Richardson or the Colts’ management?
  • Dan argues Richardson didn’t draft himself; the Colts opted to pick a “project” at #4 overall and started him week one, igniting scrutiny.
  • Olsen responds:

    “The best organizations understand…you know what, this was a miss…if you continue to push it down the road…I can’t admit failure…that blows up the entire organization.” (08:43)

  • Praises Colts GM Chris Ballard for the fortitude to admit mistakes:

    “I do give him a little bit credit. If behind the scenes him and Shane Steichen are saying, ‘You know what we missed, he’s not the guy,’…that’s the more difficult decision.” (08:43)

3. Youth Sports, Parenting & Olsen’s “Youth Inc.” Podcast

(11:18–13:04)

• Genesis of “Youth Inc.”:
  • Olsen, son of a legendary high school coach and dad of three, created the podcast to navigate the new, high-pressure youth sports world:

    “A lot of things we were doing wrong, a lot of things that I didn’t have a great idea of what the right path forward was…I’m learning more than anyone.” (11:18)

4. The Art of Football Broadcasting

(13:04–17:04)

• Learning TV vs. Football:

  • Olsen admits the football part came naturally, but the TV aspect was a learning curve:

    “The TV part is the part I think all of us have to learn… ‘still to this point day, when I want it behind the defense…the fancy TV people call it, you know, I want the pit…’” (13:04)

• The Play Clock and Timing:

  • Dan discusses the challenges of delivering concise analysis and coordinating with play-by-play partners.
  • Olsen gives credit to his play-by-play partners:

    “There’s no such thing as a good color analyst without a good play-by-play guy. They are the heroes of all of this.” (15:29)

  • Explains the unpredictability and “rhythm” of each broadcast.

5. NFL Hall of Fame Debate

(17:04–19:43)

• Stafford vs. Wilson:

  • Dan: “Who feels more Hall of Fame—Stafford or Wilson?” (17:04)
  • Olsen: “Recency bias would be Stafford, but Russell’s a Hall of Famer. They forget just how dominant he was.” (18:05)

• Is Cam Newton a Hall of Famer?

  • Olsen:

    “In my mind he is…When you talk about changing the way the game is played…now there’s almost no pocket passers left…Cam was at the front end of a lot of that.” (18:51)

6. The Pitching Mindset, Ohtani’s Brilliance, and Handling the Bartman Game

(Mark Pryor Interview: 25:36–37:01)

• In-Game Duties as Pitching Coach:

  • A balance of analytics, strategy, and ongoing communication:

    “A lot of it’s just an ongoing conversation as the game evolves…what the game is telling us, what do we need in that moment?” (25:48)

• Being a Therapist:

  • Mental and emotional support is crucial:

    “A lot of this game is mental and emotional…these guys are unbelievable elite athletes. But so much of it comes down to how you can maintain your emotions in the moment.” (27:28)

• On Players Knowing His Resume:

  • Pryor is occasionally surprised by a player Googling his legacy, especially his role in the 2003 "Bartman" NLCS game:

    “That’s always the surprise one where you kind of like, yep, that’s me. That was 20 some years ago.” (29:10)

• Emotions from the Bartman Game:

  • Pryor candidly admits his reaction wasn’t “darn it,” and reflects on the beauty and madness of baseball’s unpredictability:

    “That's the beauty of baseball...that plays like that still happen, and that's why it's great. It’s played by humans…” (30:10)

• Pitching to Ohtani:

  • Describes Ohtani’s dominance and uniqueness:

    “He’s got a little bit of Nolan [Ryan] in him...this dude just out of nowhere is 100, 101, 102.” (31:48)
    “When he’s in a groove, there’s no pitch that he can’t cover.” (33:12)

  • Marvels at Ohtani’s consistent power:

    “It seems like he's averaging .110 off the bat every single time…big league guys are...in awe watching how hard he hits the ball.” (33:12–34:45)

• Other Notable Power Hitters:

  • Discusses the unique “sound” off the bats of hitters like Ronald Acuña, Judge, Stanton, Machado, and Tatis (35:03).

• Potential Ohtani as a Reliever in Postseason:

  • The Dodgers have considered scenarios, but rules about DH/pitcher roles complicate matters:

    “Can I see it? Absolutely. But it would probably be closer to the back end when the game's...on the line and…would be over after he's done.” (36:13)

7. Most Interesting NFL Teams & Quarterback Carousel

(Ross Tucker Interview: 43:12–54:08)

• Most Interesting 2025 NFL Team:

  • Ross picks the Cleveland Browns, suggesting they could set an NFL record by starting four QBs for at least four games each:

    “They become the first team in NFL history to have four different quarterbacks start at least four games.” (43:23)

• Coaches Choosing QBs & Job Security:

  • Dan and Ross discuss how coaching staff job security drives decisions to stick with more reliable, veteran QBs over "upside" prospects (browns with Flacco, Colts with Daniel Jones):

    “Coaches…love guys that they can trust, that are able to execute the concepts…that’s what coaches value.” (46:46–47:46)

  • On Anthony Richardson’s stunted development:

    “Unfortunately, he’s a really gifted, talented, but young, immature kid who has gotten hurt a bunch. Doesn’t really understand what it means to be professional.” (46:46–49:46)

• Would You Rather: NFL QB Careers

  • Joe Flacco or Philip Rivers?
    Tucker chooses Flacco for experiencing, and winning, a Super Bowl:

    “There is nothing an individual accomplishment...can even come close to the shared joy and the shared experience of a team accomplishment. Give me the team accomplishment and winning the Super Bowl and the bond you have with those guys forever over anything individual.” (50:48–53:00)

  • Joe Flacco or Dan Marino’s career?
    Tucker:

    “Joe Flacco’s career, but I’d rather live Dan Marino’s life…Dan Marino had a top five life of any athlete I can even fathom.” (53:05)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the need for agents in the NFL:

  • Greg Olsen: “This is why you pay the money...keeps things from getting personal like we’re seeing here in Dallas.” (05:25)

• On the unpredictability of live TV:

  • Greg Olsen: “...making that fit into a three hour live broadcast...not talking over your play by play...it’s more of a dance. It is a rhythm. It’s ever changing.” (15:29)

• On the “Bartman Game” legacy:

  • Mark Pryor: “That’s always the surprise one where you kind of like, yep, that’s me. That was 20 some years ago.” (29:10)

• On the unique sound of Ohtani’s bat:

  • Mark Pryor: “When you hear him hit, that’s different than everybody else, and he’s one of those guys.” (34:45)

• On the value of team championships:

  • Ross Tucker: “There is nothing an individual accomplishment...can even come close to the shared joy and the shared experience of a team accomplishment.” (53:00)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 04:17 — Greg Olsen joins: NFL contracts, negotiations
• 06:56 — Bengals’ defense and Trey Hendrickson’s holdout
• 08:13 — Anthony Richardson “bust” debate & Colts accountability
• 11:18 — Olsen discusses “Youth Inc.” podcast & youth sports
• 13:04 — Becoming a football broadcaster: TV vs. football skill
• 17:04 — Hall of Fame “Stafford or Wilson?” debate
• 18:49 — Cam Newton’s Hall of Fame credentials
• 25:36 — Mark Pryor on being a pitching coach
• 27:24 — The therapist side of coaching pitchers
• 29:31 — Pryor on the Bartman Game/legacy
• 31:16 — Ohtani’s pitching style and incomparable power
• 33:12 — How to pitch to Ohtani
• 36:07 — Ohtani as a postseason reliever possibility
• 43:12 — Ross Tucker on the Browns’ QB carousel
• 46:05 — Coaches, QB selection, and job security
• 50:48 — Flacco vs. Rivers career debate
• 53:05 — Flacco’s career vs. Marino’s life

Conclusion

This episode features candid, insightful conversations about the business and culture of sports, reflecting Dan Patrick’s ability to get authentic perspectives from guests. From the inner workings of NFL negotiations and quarterback controversies to the dynamics of broadcasting and baseball’s enduring unpredictability, listeners leave with behind-the-scenes understanding and several laughs.

Guests included:

• Greg Olsen on contracts, broadcasting, and his “Youth Inc.” podcast
• Mark Pryor on mental coaching and Shohei Ohtani’s freakish talent
• Ross Tucker on the wild state of NFL quarterbacks and underrated triumphs

For those who missed the episode, this summary distills the highlights, the humor, and the deep-dive insights only Dan and his guests can deliver.