The Best of The Dan Patrick Show

Summary

The Best of The Dan Patrick Show – Detailed Summary

Release Date: August 6, 2025

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Overview

In this special compilation episode of "The Dan Patrick Show," host Dan Patrick teams up with co-host Mike Florio and guest Andy Staples to deliver expert analyses and insightful discussions on the latest developments in college football and the NFL. This episode encapsulates heated debates, strategic evaluations, and significant industry news that shape the current sports landscape.

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1. Notre Dame's Path to an Undefeated Season (03:12 - 04:48)

The episode kicks off with an engaging conversation about Notre Dame’s ambitious goal to remain undefeated and clinch the national championship. A caller proposes a lighthearted pie-to-the-face bet if Notre Dame fails to achieve this feat.

Key Points:

• Notre Dame’s Schedule: Andy Staples outlines Notre Dame's challenging lineup, including matchups against Miami, Texas A&M, Purdue, and Arkansas.
• Team Dynamics: Despite a new starting quarterback, Notre Dame boasts one of the best offensive lines and standout players like Jeremiah Love and Jaden Greathouse, promising a more dynamic offense.

Notable Quote:

“I do think you're going to see a more dynamic version of the Notre Dame offense.” – Andy Staples (04:28)

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2. Impact of New Quarterbacks on Top Contenders (04:48 - 08:14)

Devin delves into how the introduction of new quarterbacks across several top-tier teams adds unpredictability to the season. The discussion highlights Texas’ Arch Manning and Ohio State’s Julian Sayin as pivotal players.

Key Points:

• Arch Manning at Texas: Arch’s dual-threat capabilities transform Texas’s offensive strategy, making them a formidable opponent.
• Ohio State’s Julian Sayin: Originally from Alabama, Sayin steps in as Ohio State’s quarterback, potentially enhancing their offensive plays.
• Variability in Rankings: The influx of new quarterbacks introduces significant variability, making the race for the national title more competitive.

Notable Quote:

“Arch is a dual threat quarterback. His threat to run makes Texas a very different team.” – Devin (06:25)

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3. Overachieving Teams and Coaching Pressures (08:14 - 11:58)

The panel examines teams like Indiana and Utah that may exceed expectations, alongside the mounting pressures on coaches in the SEC and Big Ten.

Key Points:

• Indiana's Potential: With key player acquisitions like Fernando Mendoza from Cal, Indiana could replicate last year's success despite a tougher schedule.
• Utah’s Offensive Strategy: Utah’s new running quarterback, Devin Dampier, complemented by a strong offensive line, positions them as a dark horse contender.
• Coaches Under Scrutiny: Coaches such as Billy Napier (Florida), Hugh Freeze (Auburn), and Brent Venables (Oklahoma) face immense pressure to deliver successful seasons amidst high expectations.

Notable Quote:

“If they get even average quarterback play, that's a team that competes for a playoff berth.” – Devin (09:34)

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4. NFL Updates: Smelling Salts Ban and Player Injuries (17:13 - 31:20)

Shifting focus to the NFL, Noah de Barrasso discusses the league’s decision to discontinue supplying smelling salts, addressing the implications for player safety and concussion management.

Key Points:

• Smelling Salts Ban: The NFL recognizes that smelling salts can mask concussion symptoms, potentially endangering players’ health.
• Matthew Stafford’s Recovery: Insights into Stafford’s back issues and his anticipated return, highlighting the team’s cautious approach to his health.
• Deshaun Watson’s Contract Situation: An in-depth look at Watson’s recovery and the contractual dilemmas faced by the Browns, including potential cap implications.

Notable Quotes:

“It's been a strange thing for the NFL.” – Noah de Barrasso (24:34)

“He's had injuries we know about, he's had injuries we don't know about.” – Noah de Barrasso (26:31)

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5. Contract Negotiations: Jerry Jones and Micah Parsons (22:27 - 24:10)

A contentious segment addresses Jerry Jones' direct negotiations with Micah Parsons, bypassing standard agent-mediated discussions, and the potential violations of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

Key Points:

• Direct Negotiations: Jerry Jones attempts to negotiate directly with Micah Parsons, which goes against CBA regulations that require all contract discussions to be handled through agents.
• Union’s Role: Noah emphasizes the importance of the union intervening to uphold the CBA and protect player rights.
• Potential Grievances: The lack of union action could set a concerning precedent for player-team negotiations.

Notable Quote:

“Under the CBA, you can't negotiate directly with the players.” – Noah de Barrasso (23:45)

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6. ESPN's Acquisition of NFL Network: Implications and Future Outlook (36:56 - 42:52)

Dan Patrick and Mike Florio explore ESPN’s strategic purchase of NFL Network, analyzing its impact on broadcasting rights, media partnerships, and future sports programming.

Key Points:

• Strategic Benefits for ESPN: The acquisition secures ESPN’s position in NFL broadcasting, ensuring continued dominance amidst emerging streaming platforms.
• Impact on Broadcasting Rights: ESPN gains enhanced influence over NFL content, potentially fostering preferential treatment in scheduling and coverage.
• Future of Red Zone: With ESPN owning the Red Zone brand, there’s potential expansion into other leagues like the NBA and NHL, broadening their sports portfolio.

Notable Quotes:

“ESPN is going to get favored nation treatment.” – Dan Patrick (37:45)

“They will be able to do future red zones for other league partners.” – Dan Patrick (42:52)

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7. Additional NFL Insights and Player Updates (31:20 - 36:56)

The discussion continues with updates on other NFL-related topics, including Justin Tucker’s suspension and the Browns' strategic decisions regarding player health and contracts.

Key Points:

• Justin Tucker’s Suspension: Analyzing the implications of Tucker’s performance dip and the challenges teams face in deciding his future role.
• Browns’ Strategic Moves: Examining the Browns’ decisions on player contracts and the long-term impact on team performance and fan sentiment.

Notable Quote:

“This is going to be a disaster for the Browns.” – Noah de Barrasso (27:34)

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Conclusion

This episode of "The Best of The Dan Patrick Show" offers a comprehensive examination of pivotal moments and decisions in college football and the NFL. From team strategies and player health to significant media acquisitions, the discussion provides listeners with a nuanced understanding of the current sports environment. The inclusion of expert opinions, strategic analyses, and notable quotes enriches the narrative, making it a valuable resource for sports enthusiasts seeking in-depth coverage.

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Key Takeaways:

• Notre Dame remains a strong contender with strategic player strengths despite quarterback changes.
• New quarterbacks across top teams introduce significant variability in the competitive landscape.
• Coaches in high-pressure roles must deliver results amidst evolving team dynamics.
• NFL’s regulatory changes aim to enhance player safety, though contractual negotiations present challenges.
• ESPN’s acquisition of NFL Network signifies a major shift in sports broadcasting alliances.

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Notable Quotes:

• “I do think you're going to see a more dynamic version of the Notre Dame offense.” – Andy Staples (04:28)
• “Arch is a dual threat quarterback. His threat to run makes Texas a very different team.” – Devin (06:25)
• “Under the CBA, you can't negotiate directly with the players.” – Noah de Barrasso (23:45)
• “They will be able to do future red zones for other league partners.” – Dan Patrick (42:52)
• “This is going to be a disaster for the Browns.” – Noah de Barrasso (27:34)

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Listeners are encouraged to tune into "The Dan Patrick Show" for ongoing expert analyses, spirited debates, and comprehensive coverage of the ever-evolving world of sports.

Transcript

[Noah de Barrasso]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Manny]

Why are TSA rules so confusing?

[Devin]

You got a hoodie on. Take it all.

[Manny]

I'm Manny. I'm Noah. This is Devin, and we're best friends and journalists with a new podcast called no Such Thing, where we get to the bottom of questions like that.

[Noah de Barrasso]

Why are you screaming?

[Manny]

Well, I can't expect what to do now if the rule was the same, go off on me. I deserve it, you know?

[Devin]

Lock him up.

[Manny]

Listen to no Such thing on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. No Such Thing.

[Lizzie Logan]

Have you ever looked at a piece of abstract art or music or poetry and thought that's just a bunch of pretentious nonsense? That's exactly what two bored Australian soldiers set out to prove during World War II when they tricked the literary world with their intentionally bad poetry, setting off a major scandal. We break down the truth, the lies, and the poetry in between on Hoax, a new podcast hosted by me, Lizzie Logan, and me, Dana Schwartz. Every episode, Hoax explores an audacious fraud or ruse from history. Listen to Hoax on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Freddie Prinze Jr.]

We're breaking down SummerSlam, the biggest party of the summer on Wrestling With Freddie. From our bold picks to storyline breakdowns, we will discuss who walks out with gold, who shocks the night, and which matches steal the show we call the winners, the upsets and the chaos to expect, plus whatever swerves nobody saw coming. Listen to Wrestling with Freddie as part of the Michael Tura Podcast Network, available on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Mike Florio]

Check out behind the Flow, a podcast documentary series following the launch of San Diego Football Club.

[Manny]

San Diego. Coming to MLS is going to be a game changer because this region has.

[Noah de Barrasso]

Been hungry for a men's professional soccer team.

[Devin]

We need to embrace this community.

[Mike Florio]

Listen to San Diego FC behind the flow on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Noah de Barrasso]

I'm Noah and I'm 13, and I started this podcast because, honestly, adults don't ask the right questions. Now, you know, with Noah de Barrasso is a show about influence. Who's got it, how they use it.

[Jason McIntyre]

And what it means.

[Noah de Barrasso]

For the rest of you, it's not the news. It's what the news should be if.

[Devin]

Someone Gen Z or Gen Alpha made it.

[Manny]

Politics is wild, and I'm definitely not.

[Noah de Barrasso]

Here to tame it, but I'm here to make sense of it. Listen to now youw know with Noah de arrasto on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.

[Dan Patrick]

You are listening to the Dan Patrick show on Fox Sports Radio.

[Mike Florio]

We had a caller who wanted to have a pie to the face bet with any of the Danets. He said that Notre Dame is going undefeated and winning the national championship. Well, all four Danets held up their hand. They're going to go against that bet that Notre Dame will not go undefeated and win the national championship. We start there with Andy Staples, one of the great college football reporters in America. He works for on three sports. Let's look at Notre Dame schedule. Paulie, give me the schedule here with Notre Dame.

[Noah de Barrasso]

It's a saucy Miami. They are at, for Notre Dame. They're at Miami, host Texas A M, host Purdue at Arkansas to start.

[Mike Florio]

Okay. Do you think Notre Dame can go undefeated? Andy?

[Devin]

Holly strikes me as a, as a blueberry guy. Maybe one of those lattice work apple pie guys. I mean I really. You guys do need to start thinking about the pie that you would like to get in the face.

[Mike Florio]

Wow.

[Devin]

I think, yeah.

[Mike Florio]

Okay.

[Devin]

This is possible. It, this is possible. They can go 12, 0. Winning the national title is a bit harder because you got to get through that entire tournament. But hell, it got to the national title game last year.

[Mike Florio]

Wait, Andy, are you willing to take a pie to the face if Notre Dame doesn't go undefeated?

[Devin]

Yeah, I'll take a pie to the face.

[Noah de Barrasso]

There we go.

[Devin]

You let me know when I need to do it. Look, a Northern Illinois game can happen to you and they could go to Miami and lose week one, but this is one of those seasons that just feels like we don't know anything. But Notre Dame feels like one of the surer things, which is interesting because they are breaking in a new starting quarterback and we don't really know how that's going to look, but we do know they're going to have one of the best offensive lines in college football. Jeremiah Love is probably the best back in college football and I think the receivers you're going to see them in. Yeah, Jaden Greathouse you saw toward the end of the playoff like really step up. So I do think you're going to see a more dynamic version of the Notre Dame offense. Even though you got a new quarterback, probably C.J.

[Noah de Barrasso]

Carr.

[Mike Florio]

You point out that six of the eight betting favorites to win the national championship are going to break in new starting quarterbacks. Texas is technically breaking in a new quarterback, but it's a well known quarterback Handicap, you know, these teams who are, you know, and the new quarterbacks we should be aware of.

[Devin]

So the, the new, of the new guys, Arch Manning is the one probably who has the most experience. So of those six teams, so that's, that's Texas, Ohio State, Georgia, Notre Dame, Oregon, Alabama. Arch has quite a bit of experience. Oregon starting quarterback Dante Moore had some experience as UCLA started a couple of years ago, but architecture probably has been the most ready for this. And it's interesting because if Arch comes in and they're significantly more dynamic offensively than they were last year, you're going to get those retroactive questions of C. Sarkeesian. Why didn't you start Arch over Quin yours earlier? But I'm fascinated to see what he looks like because I think people who just see the last name, they're thinking, oh, this guy is going to look like Peyton or Eli. He is not. Arch is a dual threat quarterback. His dad Cooper was a wide receiver who would have been a good wide receiver at Ole Miss had he not had a neck injury. So this is a, this is an athlete who actually has a very good arm. And so Arch's threat to run makes Texas a very different team to defend than Quinn Ewers Texas from last year. And we'll get a good, good look at it. Week one against Ohio State because Ohio State's gonna be breaking in nine new defensive starters.

[Mike Florio]

The other quarterbacks though, Ohio State minor. Do do they know who their quarterback is?

[Devin]

It's probably Julian Saying, who is a guy who originally signed with Alabama. He's from California. When Nick Saban retired, Julian Saying hopped in the transfer portal and wound up at Ohio State. He was the understudy last year to Will Howard. So the thought is that, that it's going to be him. And really if you're throwing to Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate, Brandon Ennis, it's probably going to go pretty well. And Jeremiah Smith is just a freak of nature. He's, he's the best player in college football this year. I don't know if he's going to win the Heisman Trophy, but he is the best player he could enter the. If there was a supplemental draft tomorrow, every team in the NFL would give up everything it could get him.

[Mike Florio]

If I gave you the top three teams in the initial rankings or everybody else to win the national championship.

[Devin]

Everybody else.

[Mike Florio]

Yeah.

[Devin]

There's more variability this year. I feel like the quarterback thing's a big reason for it. I look at the coaches poll and I've noticed this so the coaches poll came out this week. We had my colleague Brett McMurphy on who has an AP vote and he, he revealed his AP poll ballot. I've done some way too early, top 25, everybody's top eight feels like it's the same. And everybody says, well, I think any of these teams can win the national title. And I would agree. I like Texas, Ohio State, Penn State, Georgia, Notre Dame, Clemson, Oregon, Alabama, in whatever order you want. You could make a very compelling case to me right now that those could be the national champs. I have a hard time with anybody else, but I also know we saw Indiana last year. I don't know that anybody predicted Notre Dame going as far as they did last year. There's going to be a couple others that pop up.

[Mike Florio]

Talking to Andy Staples covers college football for on three sports. Is there an smu, Arizona State, Indiana? Maybe we would consider overachiever who could be in the national title picture or the playoffs.

[Devin]

Well, the Indiana thing's interesting because usually when a team has a big turnaround, has a huge season and they're not typically a successful program, they just sort of go back. Indiana didn't lose anybody but the quarterback, Curtis Rourke. And then they went out and got Fernando Mendoza from Cal, who's a guy that Georgia wanted and a bunch of other, you know, big time programs wanted to get as a transfer. So Indiana could still be just as good as it was last year. Now the schedule is probably going to be harder than it was last year, but you've also got Illinois. They won 10 games last year, brought a ton of ton of guys back in the Big 12, Arizona State, you know, we predicted last, last year they went, they won the thing, they've got Sam Levitt back at qb. So everybody's expecting big things from them. But I say watch Utah in the Big 12. They had a terrible season last year because of quarterback issues. They went out and got a guy named Devin Dampier from, from New Mexico who's a more of a runner than a thrower. But when you have an offensive line like Utah's, that's, that's just fine.

[Mike Florio]

Give me the coaches that are under more pressure than anybody else.

[Devin]

It's a crazy situation in the SEC because you have Billy Napier at Florida, Hugh Freeze at Auburn, Brent Venables at Oklahoma. All of them should have better teams than they had last year. All of them probably have rosters capable of competing for playoff births. But there's the Oklahoma and Florida situations. The schedules are so hard that if things go wrong they could wind up 6 and 6 and you could see the whole staff get fired.

[Noah de Barrasso]

For Auburn.

[Devin]

They have the roster. They just didn't have the quarterback play last year. Like they were bad last year because they had essentially this Groundhog Day thing where they'd have a crippling interception late in the game. And Hugh Freeze didn't manage his quarterbacks very well. He's throwing them under the bus publicly. If they get even average quarterback play. That's a team that compete for a playoff berth. But if this roster goes six and six, you're making a change probably.

[Mike Florio]

What about usc?

[Devin]

It's a great question, Dan. When you hear Lincoln Riley talk, it sounds like he is pointing toward 2026. They have this massive recruiting class coming in in 2026 and I think if you ask USC fans when Lincoln Riley got hired if in year four they'd be pointing toward the following year, that's not what they wanted. But that they, they don't seem particularly excited about their chances in the Big Ten this year. I do think they're very excited about Husson Longstreet, their freshman quarterback, but I don't know that Lincoln Riley's ready to throw him into the fire yet. It sounds like they're going to still go with Jade Mava. So this is a team that, you know, it just, it's not been built up in the trenches the way it should have been since Lincoln Riley got there. It seems like in recruiting they are trying to do that now, but I just don't know that that's it's not ready for this season yet. And so I think they're probably looking at a, you know, average to above average season in the Big Ten, which is not what you're paying 10 million bucks a year for.

[Mike Florio]

Yeah, man, they're patient. Far more patient.

[Devin]

Patient.

[Mike Florio]

But, but it's because of that contract. I'm guessing that's a big reason.

[Devin]

There's a lot of too, too expensive to fire coaches right now. You know, that that under pressure list could have been longer, but Luke Fickle at Wisconsin, Mark Stoops at Kentucky, Lincoln Riley at usc, like you're not firing them. You are not raising that much money and firing them. It's just not worth it.

[Mike Florio]

Great to talk to you as always, Andy. Thank you for joining us.

[Devin]

Thank you, Dan. Appreciate it.

[Mike Florio]

Andy Staples covers college football for On3Sports.

[Dan Patrick]

Be sure to catch the live edition of the Dan Patrick show, weekdays at 9am Eastern, 6am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio in the iHeartRadio app.

[Jason McIntyre]

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[Mike Florio]

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[Manny]

Imagine that you're on an airplane and all of a sudden you hear this.

[Lizzie Logan]

Attention passengers. The pilot is having an emergency and we need someone, anyone to land this plane.

[Manny]

Think you could do it? It turns out that nearly 50% of men think that they could land the plane with the help of air traffic control.

[Devin]

And they're saying like okay, pull this.

[Manny]

Until this, pull that, turn this. It's just I can do my eyes closed. I'm Manny.

[Devin]

I'm Noah, this is Devin and on.

[Manny]

Our new show, no Such Thing, we get to the bottom of questions. Like these Join us as we talk to the leading expert on overconfidence.

[Dan Patrick]

Those who lack expertise lack the expertise. They need to recognize that they lack expertise.

[Manny]

And then as we try the whole thing out for real. Wait, what? Oh, that's the run, right? I'm looking at this thing.

[Devin]

See?

[Manny]

Listen to no such thing on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Lizzie Logan]

In 1920, a magazine article announced something incredible. Two young girls had photographed real fairies. But even more extraordinary than the magazine articles claim was the identity of the man who wrote the article. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The man who wrote Sherlock Holmes? Yes. The man who invented literature's most brilliant detective was fooled by two girls into thinking fairies were real. How did they do it? And why does it seem like so many smart people keep falling for outlandish tricks? These are the questions we explore in Hoax, a new podcast from me, Dana Schwartz, the host of Noble Blood, and me, Lizzie Logan. Every episode we'll explore one of the most audacious and ambitious tricks in history, from the fake Shakespeare's to balloon boys, and try to answer the question of why we believe what we believe. Listen to Hoax on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Freddie Prinze Jr.]

It's the biggest party of the summer. WWE SummerSlam is here and Wrestling with Freddie is all over it. We're talking wild matches, big surprises, and our boldest predictions yet. From celebrity showdowns to the chaos inside a steel cage, we're breaking down every match and calling who we think walks out on top. This card is loaded from Cody Rhodes, John Cena, Rhea Ripley and Tiffy, just to name a few. This lineup is ready to tear down the house. We'll give you our unfiltered takes, honest debates, and, you already know, a ton of laughs along the way. We're covering the upsets, the wild returns, and the championship moments. Nobody expects we'll get into the matches that steal the show, the storylines that explode, and the and those oh my God, did that just happen moments that make SummerSlam legendary. Don't miss it. Listen to Wrestling with Freddie as part of the Mike Kultura Podcast Network. Find us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Mike Florio]

Spring in Mike Florio, Pro Football Talk Live co host. His new book, Big Shield, comes out August 19th. It's about the intersection of gambling, the mob, and pro football. You can pre order the ebook for just 99 cents on Amazon. What does this deal mean? Let's start with the why would they care about this, this merger?

[Noah de Barrasso]

Well, I don't know that the consumer was at the front of the mind for either of the parties involved in this, frankly. The NFL has had essentially a struggling media property in NFL Network. It's never become what they thought it was going to be. They created Thursday Night Football as a way to prop up NFL Network. It debuted in 2006 as a back half of the season Thursday night package to give NFL Network something that would make cable providers want it. It still never really took off and they've been trying for years to unload it, Dan. I mean, like 10 years they've been trying to get rid of this and they've tied it to different things. NBC was in the conversation at one point and now they get 10% equity in ESPN for these failing properties. And yeah, I don't know that the consumer was the main reason for this. And now the question becomes, how do we make this seamless for the consumer? You know, for example, ESPN did a deal as part of this to continue to televise the draft for the next five years. Well, when you turn on NFL Network for the draft, are you going to see Rich Eisen now? Are you going to see Mike Greenberg? Who's it going to be? And I think it's important for them to keep things normal from the perspective of the consumer because I think most people are afraid, number one, things are going to change and number two, we're going to get screwed. I just think that's the natural reaction to this news that these two behemoths have come together.

[Mike Florio]

One of the first things that came to mind is, what if Fox has a problem with their deal? Or the NFL says to Fox, here, take it. Take it or leave it. We'll have something like, I don't know if there's going to be. Well, the NFL is in bed with espn. And what's that mean for the other TV partners?

[Noah de Barrasso]

We will see. And look, you Give the league 10% equity in your company and maybe the value isn't there to support it. But you know what's not going to happen? You're not going to lose Monday Night Football. You're not going to lose your spot in the super bowl rotation. You are now a permanent partner of the NFL at a time when all the tech companies are hovering and the TV deals are up after 2029, technically 2033. But the league has the ability to pull the plug and obviously it will. ESPN doesn't have to worry about being left out in the cold. And Dan, the other thing this does, and this really needs to be fleshed out by the union. Instead of taking money for these properties, taking equity, that may screw the players because the players don't share equity with the league. The players share money with the league. So you're offloading more games to ESPN and they're not paying X hundred million for them. They're giving you equity.

[Mike Florio]

Oh.

[Noah de Barrasso]

Under the cba, that equity may be exclusive to ownership. And until equity turns into money, players don't get a penny. That's something the new interim executive director of the union had better put at the top of his to do list to figure out, how are we possibly getting screwed by.

[Mike Florio]

You might be the first person, maybe the only person who pointed this out, but Jerry Jones talking to Micah Parsons without representation in there is not allowable. But Jerry wants the conversation to be allowable and that they had a deal back in March. So what is the rule of an owner talking directly to a player about a contract?

[Noah de Barrasso]

You know, you really couldn't make this up. The Jerry Jones and Chris Sims made this point earlier today on PFT Live. Certain owners will invoke any and all rules that help them. Well, that's the rule. Hey, the rules of the rules. Contracts, contracts. CBA says we can do this. But as to the stuff that gets in the way of what we're trying to do, forget about the rules. And it's clear in the CBA, if there is a verbal agreement that is reached between a player and a team, it must be reduced to writing as soon as practical. The idea that they did a handshake deal back in March, and I think, you know, if there was a flowchart, Dan, step one would be, will Micah accept the deal that he supposedly agreed to in March, which surely is far less than whatever he wants now. And if he won't, I think what Jerry's trying to do is get Micah to play for 24 million this year and they're kick it all to next year. But you're right, under the cba, you can't do this. You can't negotiate directly with the players. The agent is the exclusive representative certified by the union to act as the union in the dealings between player and team. And the NFL hasn't done anything about it. The union hasn't done anything about it. So, hey, if I'm Jerry Jones and they're not going to tell me I can't do it, what the hell, I'll keep doing it.

[Mike Florio]

How's this play out?

[Noah de Barrasso]

I really do think that Jerry Wants Micah to either take the deal that they had a handshake on in March or play for 24 million this year and kick it to next year. Because the key is this, Dan. The longer the team can keep the injury risk on the player, the more the team is protected against something happening to the player that would keep him from ever playing again or playing as well as he used to, career ending or career limiting, the risk is on the player, not on us. And for the team that's dealing with a bunch of different players, the more times you can keep that risk on the players, the better off you are over the long haul. And we've seen that they kick the can with Dak Prescott. You know, they kick the can until somebody says enough. That's why I still think he should have held out. If he'd have held out, they would eventually have caved like they did for CD Lamb last year, like they did for Ezekiel Elliott in 2019. They're going to try to. I think if he won't take the deal that he supposedly agreed to in March, they're going to try to kick this to next year. And I know 24 million sounds like a lot of money, but when the market's 41 and Micah should be getting 45. Yeah, you don't want to play this year for 24.

[Mike Florio]

Why doesn't somebody say to Jerry Jones, you know, Jerry, you can't negotiate a contract with a player? And.

[Noah de Barrasso]

Well, because for whatever reason, nobody is willing to tell Jerry Jones he can't do it. And the union hasn't filed a grievance. It would be very easy to do if this new interim executive director wants to make a splash. What he could do, what David White could do. Immediately file a grievance against the Cowboys and Jerry Jones for dealing directly with players when they should be dealing with the agent. You want. You want to try to balance out the relationship a little bit? Stand up and fight for your players.

[Mike Florio]

Talking to Mike Florio, Pro Football Talk Live co host. The show that precedes ours on Peacock in his next book, Big Shield, comes out Aug. 19. It's the intersection of gambling, the mob, and pro football. You can pre order the ebook for just 99 cents on Amazon. Out of nowhere, the NFL comes out with no more smelling salts. Where's this been? Or what happened?

[Noah de Barrasso]

You know, what took so long? It's been 16 years since they had their concussion epiphany. The first time I ever became aware of smelling salts, it was in a movie or a TV show where a boxer Got knocked senseless, and they stuck it under his nose to wake him up. And now they're finally like, oh, it could mask the symptoms of a concussion. Yeah, of course it can. That's why they use them. And how many years have we seen, like, the images of a guy on the sidelines, just not. Not because he's taken a. A blow to the head, but just. It kind of gets them going? Like, it's always been a weird look for the NFL, and now all of a sudden, they realize probably not a good idea to supply these and they haven't banned them, that you can bring your own, I assume bring your own smelling salts, stick them in your sock, and if you need a little kick before the game, so be it. But it's always been a strange thing to me, the huffing of ammonia at a time when they're ultra sensitive to concussions, where the smelling salts are always the thing that they use to wake a guy up who's taking a blow to the head.

[Mike Florio]

Okay, but. So they're taking the liability away from the teams. Now it's on you. If you want to use smelling salts, you can. We just. We're not taking any ownership.

[Noah de Barrasso]

We're not supplying them now. They'd have to negotiate with the union. See, that's the thing. And this gets back to collective bargaining. The league never wants to have to give anything up because currently the players are allowed to bring their own smelling salts. They're not banned from using them. So they'd have to sit down and give up a little of this, give up a little of that, maybe do a handshake, deal with Jerry Jones in the room, and the next thing you know, the players are banned from using them at all. But, yes, this is a liability thing, Dan. We can't get sued. We can't get in trouble for supplying these to somebody who has a concussion. And they take the hit of it and they go back in and play and they get a second concussion and they have a serious injury as a result of it.

[Mike Florio]

If I'm a Rams fan, and I'm listening, watching, concerned about Matthew Stafford, what would you tell the Rams fan today about this situation?

[Noah de Barrasso]

I would say that for now, you should not be concerned. I believe, and I'm told he'll be back on the field later this week. Now, I don't know whether that means he's going to be fully participating in practice, but be working out on the field of a month to get ready for week one. And Matthew Stafford, I said this earlier today. If he wrote an autobiography. The chapter on all the injuries that he's had in his career would be the longest chapter in any book that's ever been written. He's had injuries we know about, he's had injuries we don't know about. He just sucks it up and he keeps going. I think they have deliberately given him time to let the back settle down. Anybody that's ever had a back problem knows it operates on its own timetable and it needs a certain period of time to get back to normal. And they wanted to, I believe, let it get to normal and give it even more time before they put him out there because they don't want this to keep coming up. Throughout the course of the season, Troy Aikman has said, hey, people think I retired because of concussions. I retired because of back problems. And you think of the way that quarterbacks move and the twisting of the torquing. They're just giving him extra time. I think he'll be good to go.

[Mike Florio]

Are the Browns trying to win this year?

[Noah de Barrasso]

I think that they're trying to do, Dan. It's a twist on the plot of Major League Their fans are upset that they're moving out of downtown Cleveland, right? So if they are really, really bad, the fans won't be as upset that they're moving to suburban Brook park when they build their new stadium. It really is ridiculous to me. And this what happens when you prioritize strategizing and analytics over building a football team. You don't draft Shador Sanders in round five. When you've taken Dylan Gabriel in round three, you don't obviously give up three first round picks plus and a $230 million fully guaranteed contract to Sean Watson. It's like every decision point the Browns have in front of them over the past 10 years, they've gone the wrong way and here's where they are. So yeah, this, this is going to be. It just feels like it's going to be a disaster for the Browns. And I feel bad for Browns fans. They deserve so much better than what they've gotten. And it all goes back to ownership. It all starts there. And what they've gotten under Jimmy Haslam has been unacceptable.

[Mike Florio]

What does desean Watson do every day?

[Noah de Barrasso]

Well, he is working his way back, Dan, to full health. And that is where this messy quarterback situation gets even worse. When he shows up with the piece of paper that says you're good to go, they got a decision to make. They either got to put him on the 53 man roster with however many other quarterbacks they're going to carry into the season or they have to release him. And Dan, if they release him, they take a $130 million cap charge next year for his contract. If they release him right now. So he may be on the roster. We may have a fight under the CBA where the player says, I'm healthy and the team says, no, you're not. And they have a grievance where the doctors fight it out to prove whether or not Deshaun Watson's healthy. And if he wins, they've either got to put him on the roster or they have to cut him. That's it. And they're not going to cut him because they're not going to take that $131 million cap charge next year.

[Mike Florio]

Does Deshaun Watson want to play football again?

[Noah de Barrasso]

I think he looked, you know, I think where the worm may have turned for him because, you know, between the rustiness and the injuries and the off field issues, I think it really did affect him as a human being. How could it not? All those different things and, and look, I'm not excusing it. Direct result of his own alleged misbehavior, but when the owner of the team comes out and says, in March, man, we really took a swing and a miss on that one, that's kind of a middle finger to Deshaun Watson. So now he's got a purpose, he's got a reason. He's got. He's got an Apollo Creed for his Rocky Balboa to try to make this a comeback story. And I'm sure he'd love to stick it to Jimmy Haslam and put the Browns in a position where they've got to activate him and put him back on the roster. I think the guy fully intends to get healthy and, and come back and try to be the guy that he was that made the Browns give up all that stuff to get him.

[Mike Florio]

Can Justin Tucker play again?

[Noah de Barrasso]

Well, he's going to have to serve the 10 game suspension, but you know, Dan, the reality is this. He dipped last year from a performance standpoint. Now, if he can convince a team that he can show up and kick like he used to, then you get into the question of the do we want to take and this. Look, I hate to be the cynical about it, but this is the way it works. What's the PR hit? What kind of criticism are we going to take if we bring in Justin Tucker? How much better is he going to make us? Are we better off just getting a guy no one knows to be our kicker. That's the analysis a team's going to have to make.

[Mike Florio]

Good to talk to you. Thank you again, Mike.

[Noah de Barrasso]

Thank you, Dan. See you, buddy.

[Mike Florio]

That's Mike Florio.

[Dan Patrick]

Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch all of our shows@fox sportsradio.com and within the iHeartRadio app. Search FSR to listen live hey, this is Jason McEntire.

[Noah de Barrasso]

Join me every weekday morning on my podcast, Straight fire with Jason McIntyre. This isn't your typical sports pod, pushing the same tired narratives down your throat every day. Straight Fire gives you honest opinions on.

[Devin]

All the biggest sports headlines, accurate stats.

[Dan Patrick]

To help you win big at the.

[Noah de Barrasso]

Sports book, and all the best guesses. Do yourself a favor and listen to Straight fire with Jason McEntire on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Jason McIntyre]

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[Mike Florio]

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[Manny]

Imagine that you're on an airplane and all of a sudden you hear this.

[Lizzie Logan]

Attention passengers. The pilot is having an emergency and we need someone, anyone, to land this plane.

[Manny]

Think you could do it? It turns out that nearly 50% of men think that they could land the plane with the help of air traffic control.

[Devin]

And they're saying like, okay, pull this.

[Manny]

Until this, pull that, turn this. It's just I can do my eyes closed. I'm Manny.

[Noah de Barrasso]

I'm Noah.

[Devin]

This is Devin.

[Manny]

And on our new show, no Such Thing, we get to the bottom of questions like these. Join us as we talk to the leading expert on over confidence.

[Dan Patrick]

Those who lack expertise lack the expertise they need to recognize that they lack expertise.

[Manny]

And then as we try the whole thing out for real. Wait, what? Oh, that's the Runway. I'm looking at this thing.

[Devin]

See?

[Manny]

Listen to no Such thing on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Lizzie Logan]

Have you ever looked at a piece of abstract art or music or poetry and thought that's just a bunch of pretentious nonsense? Well, that's exactly what two bored Australian soldiers set out to prove during World War II when they pulled off what was either a bold literary hoax or a grand poetic experiment, publishing over a dozen intentionally bad but highly acclaimed works of expressionist poetry under the name Ern Malley. In an incident that caused a media firestorm and even a criminal trial, the Ern Malley episode made fools of believers and critics alike and still fascinates poetry lovers to this day. We break down the truth, the lies, and the poetry in between on Hoax, a new podcast hosted by me, Lizzie Logan, and me, Dana Schwartz. Every episode, Hoax explores an audacious fraud or ruse from history, from forged artworks to the original fake news. To try and answer why we believe, listen to Hoax on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Devin]

Foreign.

[Freddie Prinze Jr.]

Of the summer, WWE SummerSlam is here and wrestling with Freddie is all over it. We're talking wild matches, big surprises, and our boldest predictions yet. From celebrity showdowns to the chaos inside a steel cage, we're breaking down every match and calling who we think walks out on top. This card is loaded from Cody Rhodes, John Cena, Rhea Ripley and Tiffy. Just to name A few. This lineup is ready to tear down the house. We'll give you our unfiltered takes, honest debates, and you already know, a ton of laughs along the way. We're covering the upsets, the wild returns and the championship moments. Nobody expects we'll get into the matches that steal the show, the storylines that explode and those oh my God, did that just happen moments that make SummerSlam legendary. Don't miss it. Listen to Wrestling with Freddy as part of the My Cultura Podcast network. Find us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.

[Mike Florio]

Mike McCarthy, front office sports senior media reporter and tuned in columnist joining us on the program. Mike, thanks for joining us. What did ESPN buy from NFL Network?

[Dan Patrick]

I think they bought themselves an insurance policy, Dan. I think when you look at the future and you see streamers like Apple coming in, it's going to be a lot harder for NFL to get rid of ESPN or take away their Monday night package if they're actual equity partners together. So I think that's one thing. I think number two, they bought a huge selling point for their new direct to consumer platform, Red Zone NFL Network NFL programming. This is the beachfront property that we all want. So I think those are the two big things.

[Mike Florio]

Anybody else consider this move buying NFL Network?

[Dan Patrick]

Yeah, they talked to a lot of people and only ESPN came up and stepped up to the table and, and I think there's going to be a lot of grousing. Dan, amongst the other media partners, is ESPN going to get favored nation treatment? Are they going to get a better game schedule? Are they going to get more Super Bowls? But you know, I think the NFL's answer to that will be tough. You had your chance. And just like the the NFL TV partners passed on Thursday Night Football and it ended up on Amazon, they had the chance and they didn't go for it.

[Mike Florio]

Does Fox have a gripe about this? Does NBC have a gripe? Will they, as you said, it feels like the NFL is going to give preferential treatment to ESPN and you know, as a result of this deal, I.

[Dan Patrick]

Think they will have a gripe. I think there's going to be grumbling. I think there's going to be some, you know, working of the referees, as it were, Dan, you know, to try to make sure everybody gets favored nation status. But in the end, the NFL doesn't care. The NFL makes up the rules. They play by their own rules and you know, if they don't like it, they can go pound sand.

[Mike Florio]

So in three Years from now, Stephen A. Smith is handing out the Lombardi Trophy.

[Dan Patrick]

Well, actually, I was hoping you would do it, Dan.

[Mike Florio]

I'm not going back to the Mothership, but, you know, maybe Rich Eisen can, because it would be awesome if Chris Berman got to hand out a Super bowl trophy in his.

[Dan Patrick]

Well, that was one of my favorite stories recently was ESPN extending boomer through his 50th year at the Mothership and making sure he's part of the Super Bowl. You know, as you know, Dan, you know, ESPN has wanted the super bowl since its founding. They've got a countdown clock there on Bristol, you know, taking away the time until 2027. So it's going to be big for them.

[Mike Florio]

I remember when I was up there, what Was that? The 45th anniversary, and I was talking to Jimmy Potaro, and I said, don't let Chris Berman disappear. Don't let him disappear. He, the network owes him. Make sure you keep him on prime time. And you know what he did, he said, you know, I really appreciate you telling me that. I said, this is what Chris lives for. This is important to him. And I truly mean that. You know what he's meant. He's the most important person in the history of ESPN because of what he's done for that place and continues to do it. So if he got a chance to hand out the super bowl trophy, the only problem is they would have to tell Chris, you got to speed up, though. You can't be spending a lot of time at Time is money. Get the trophy, do your interviews, and then send it back up to the booth.

[Dan Patrick]

That's right. That's right. He's got to get it. He's got to get it together and do it fast. But I mean, you're right. I mean, NFL primetime was so influential back in the day, you know, for the Internet and all the rest of it. That's how we got our highlights. You know, that's how we checked out our fantasy football players. And we lived and died by that show.

[Mike Florio]

Talking to Mike McCarthy, it's front office sports, Senior media reporter, I brought up the conflict of interest with the Mothership and the NFL. I don't know if it matters. You know, they own 10% of ESPN now. You know, ESPN has been a partner with NFL forever. Anyway, I mean, this now it just becomes official. Is there any thought to that from ESPN side of this, of the optics of how this looks?

[Dan Patrick]

You know, I was asking them about it today, and they don't see it as a problem. I mean, ESPN is already paying $2.7 billion a year for Monday Night Football rights, which is far more than any other media reporter. You know, as a journalist, does it concern me? Yes. But I think these issues come under the heading of the horses out of the barn. You know, we're not going back to the days where ESPN is going to do playmakers or do something that's going to tick off Paul Tagliabu or Roger Goodell. They know that the NFL is where it's at, and they want to stay on the good side of the NFL.

[Mike Florio]

The future of Red Zone is.

[Dan Patrick]

Future of Red Zone is not going to change. Thank you. Scott Hansen will continue to host the Red Zone. They will continue to produce the show NFL Network. However, here's the real wrinkle in this, Dan, is ESPN gets the rights to the Red Zone brand, so they will in the future be able to do future red zones for other league partners. Now, if I'm espn, I'm going to the NBA right now and saying I want to do a red zone for the NBA, especially with Amazon and NBC breathing down my neck this fall.

[Mike Florio]

Hmm. Well, they. They would have the licensing for Red Zone, you're saying, right?

[Dan Patrick]

That's right. And they would be able to create a red zone for the NBA, a red zone for the NHL, possibly a red zone for college football, and ESPN would own those new rights going forward.

[Mike Florio]

Great work. Keep it up. Mike, great to talk to you again. Thank you for joining us.

[Dan Patrick]

Thank you, dan.

[Mike Florio]

That's Michael McCarthy.

[Jason McIntyre]

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[Manny]

Terms and [e-mail] why are TSA rules so confusing?

[Devin]

You got a hoodie on. Take it all.

[Manny]

I'm Manny. I'm Noah.

[Devin]

This is Devin.

[Manny]

And we're best friends and journalists with a new podcast called no Such Thing, where we get to the bottom of questions like that. Why are you screaming at me? I can't expect. What to do now if the rule was the same, go off on me.

[Mike Florio]

I deserve it, you know, Lock him up.

[Manny]

Listen to no such thing on the iHeartRadio app. Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. No such thing.

[Lizzie Logan]

Have you ever looked at a piece of abstract art or music or poetry and thought that's just a bunch of pretentious nonsense? That's exactly what two bored Australian soldiers set out to prove during World War II when they tricked the literary world with their intentionally bad poetry, setting off a major scandal. We break down the truth, the lies, and the poetry in between on Hoax, a new podcast hosted by me, Lizzie Logan and me, Dana Schwartz. Every episode, Hoax explores an audacious fraud or ruse from history. Listen to Hoax on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Freddie Prinze Jr.]

Breaking down SummerSlam the biggest party of the summer on Wrestling With Freddy. From our bold picks to storyline breakdowns, we will discuss who walks out with gold, who shocks the night, and which matches steal the show we call the winners, the upsets and the chaos to expect. Plus whatever swerves nobody saw coming. Listen to Wrestling with Freddy as part of the Michael Tura Podcast Network, available on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Mike Florio]

Check out behind the Flow, a podcast documentary series following the launch of San.

[Devin]

Diego Football Club San Diego.

[Manny]

Coming to MLS is going to be a game changer because this region has.

[Noah de Barrasso]

Been hungry for a men's professional soccer team.

[Devin]

We need to embrace this community.

[Mike Florio]

Listen to San Diego FC behind the Flow on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Noah de Barrasso]

This is an iHeart podcast.