Hour 1: Patriots/Seahawks Reactions, Darnold’s Injury, plus The MMQB’s Albert Breer

0:00I just weak days on Disney Plus from noon to three Eastern. Miss the show, we've got a podcast so you can listen anytime. But here's the best part. Our YouTube channel, subscribe at youtube.com slash for Chisenshow and you'll never miss a moment. Now on with the show. Are you guys starting to bring it up? This is the Rich Eyes and Show. It's an acceptance in the angel. Holy catfish, the third pick of the line. Live from the Rich Eyes and Show studio in Los Angeles. I just stopped being patient. Today's guest, senior writer for the MMQB, Albert Breer, ESPN and a Phelanalyst, Alex Smith, Iowa Head Coach, Kirk Ferrets, and now it's Rich Eyes. All right, welcome to this edition of the Rich Eyes and Show live

1:03on Disney Plus the ESPN, ESPN Radio, Sirius XM channel 80. It's noon in Eastern time zone and Boston, Massachusetts. It's 9 a.m. in Pacific time zone in Seattle, Washington. It is two in the morning, Melbourne time tomorrow. As we are here on a Thursday of the Rich Eyes and show 844204, Rich is the number to dial here on the program Albert Breer first up. Then Alex Smith, then Kirk Ferrets, and then there's you as I mentioned, 844204, Rich number to dial. TJ Jefferson, I'm going to start with you. How are you, sir? Good to see you. Candles not even lit because I didn't think I was coming straight to you. Well, the Lakers are hot route, hot route. Omaha. Here we go. The Lakers over there. DJ Mikey D is in D's nuts. How are you? Football's back, Rich. That's fun. And Celtic season has begun. It's for for my son Cooper. Yep. For Chris Brockman. How are you over there? Guys, I'm excited to watch the game tonight. Really pumped for the season start on the Thursday.

2:03NFL starts week one. I'm ready to go. Red socks, can't you? Or are our guests? Let's go. Let's go. I'm ready to watch the game. Excited. Was he unaware of last night? Oh, what? Was there start to? Good bit. Good bit, everybody. Good night. If you're real quiet, if you're real quiet, you could hear the screaming and yelling from Boston Massachusetts. Or from my house. It did not start that way for the New England Patriots. I'm sitting there watching the game. And I'm watching Sam Darnold run out with a banner being revealed. And that awesome stadium in the jewel of a city in the Pacific Northwest of this great country of ours. And I'm watching Sam Darnold down my. All right. He is one of five quarterback, starting a week one of one. Super Bowl. Okay. Pretty cool. It is pretty cool, right? I can't believe, you know, this guy that the Jets trotted out there on a Monday night football in his first game of his career. He throws a pick six against the Lions and he's just as resilient as ever.

3:05And I'm thinking to myself, you know, end of story. He is now a Super Bowl champion. And it's great. Okay. And who knew the most jet like thing was going to happen to him? Because, you know, the last time a former jet quarterback ran out as a jet, with the flag and it was all very excited. He lasted four snaps before being sacked and what appeared to be just any old normal sack. It's not a big deal. Aaron Rodgers goes down. Wait a minute. He's not getting up. Sam Darnold had five snaps last night. And then he goes down. Jane Dales didn't like that. He goes down. And he gets up and he's limping off. And Tarek goes like, yeah, he's limping off. And then all of a sudden, he's blue tenten. And then he's now going to the locker room. And then it's just like, wait a minute. What's happening? And I'm thinking to myself, is this really happening again? Because as everybody in America knew last year, nobody gets to face their opponents back

4:05up quarterback out of the blue to the benefit of the New England Patriots. Quite like the New England Patriots. That's true. If your backup quarterback doesn't have a head on his swivel when the Patriots are coming to town, you're going to them, that's a problem. I mean, we make our own breaks. Understood. Understood. They did get to Donald, by the way. And that defense showed up that defense watched the banner get raised and then sacked Donald and gets him off the field. And then another hallmark of last year's Patriots team, excellent defense. That seemed to be somewhat of a problem was stopping the run. The Darian price looked really nice. That rhymes. And but at the end of the day, while he was making his well stated case for most valuable player last year and matriculating his way through the playoffs, taking the Patriots on

5:13a super bowl run. Nobody saw coming. Drake may have had turnover problems. And last night, this team in New England had this stadium, certainly going into half time, dead quiet. And they took a 10, 3 lead into the fourth quarter. And what ended up happening after all of this is exactly what we'll be talking about until meets ball in Melbourne between the Niners and the 49ers, the Niners and the Rams. And then throughout the rest of week one will watch more games. But at the end of the day, when the Patriots come back home to start week two against the Steelers. And then when the Patriots after that go on the road to Jacksonville and then Buffalo, this is what we'll be talking about.

6:14And Drake may hold on to the football and who's he going to throw it to that can catch it. Because as soon as AJ Brown went down with an injury of his own, a high ankle sprain that appears to be who knows how long it will keep him out. Their prize edition for their prize quarterback is out and their other prize edition for their wide receiver room Romeo Dobbs dropped a perfectly thrown on the run dotted pass. Perfect touch from Drake, may wide open, had it in his hands, turned up field too soon incomplete. After that, May's second of three interceptions in the third quarter. So you could pin it on Dobbs, you could pin it on May, you could pin it on the protection, you could pin it on the offensive coordinator and Josh McDaniels was getting lit up and Boston today for a game plan that did not look diverse.

7:19You could chalk that up to the dark side defense that Seattle uses as its muscle. You could also chalk it up to the backup quarterback and Drew Locke coming in. And after having first half struggles, wound up with an excellent night, 16 of 22, 187 yards in a touchdown. And wisely of his 187 yards, most of them went to the offensive player of the year in the play of the night when the Patriots turned over May in the fourth quarter handed it back to the 40 out to the pardon the Seattle Seahawks. And I'm trying to keep all my games in my head here. The first interception of May leading to them at midfield and then a fourth down and short

8:19situation, throw it to Jackson Smith and Jaguar who runs away from everybody. First electric play of the season. What a play call. Great play call. Great decision to go for it from McDonald. Great play call from the new offensive coordinator. And then the offensive player of the year runs away from everybody and just shows you why he is a cut above most everyone else electrifies the crowd. Suddenly we have a tie game leading to that drop ball than the other interception which led to a fuel goal after it looked like the Seahawks were about to go up for a touchdown but their bugaboo last night other than coming back from an injury suffered by their Superbow winning quarterback was just the number of penalties that they racked up. But we'll talk about that in a moment. It is all about what happened with Drake May with three interceptions last night, including the mind blowing, gutting, final interception where it's third down, try to be aggressive

9:28and win the game right here. I get it. If it's not there as the play was breaking down, throw the thing into the pujits sound for crying out loud. Exactly. Like, you know, hit hit, you know, hit each a row in the head with it. Hit the each a row statue. Right. Or the J be you know, I mean, and instead he puts it up for grabs and Josh Job makes a great catch gets both feet down. Yeah. By the way, somebody who John Schneider resided with three year, $24 million contract. Awesome. General managing coming home to roost. And at the end of the day, the Seahawks survive. Drew Lock does whatever backup quarterback needs to do. And sure enough, the game is referencing where Rogers goes down on opening night for the jets in front of the whole country.

10:28The jets fell down by 10 points in the backup quarterback wanted against the raining AFC East division champs in the bills. The good news for Seattle is it looks like Donald's coming back unlike Rogers for the jets years ago. And the raining division champs in the New England Patriots by a Drake May has got to figure out how to protect the football. And he knows it as he said after the game. We had the game under control. You know, I thought we had a good plan to try to start chipping away and be patient and you lost patience and cost it us. I think it just, you know, decisions that cost the game, you know, on my part, on my end. And, you know, I've housed myself to be better and realize it's, you know, it's a long season, but at the same time, you can't have those. You can't have those and it's unacceptable. And I know that they're getting back to work because you know, that wasn't, you know, how I play football and how I want to represent, you know, my game and, you know, playing

11:32quarterback for Patriots. Mike Vrables response was predictable as well, which is like, we don't like it. But we know who the meal ticket still is. It's a long season. You know, I mean, like we're going to hold our head up high and we have nothing but the most confidence in him and everybody on this football team. And he's going to make a lot of plays for us. Hey, listen, you know, I was saying this to my highly disbanded 15 year old Cooper, who is going to go off to college one day as a Patriot Celtic Yankee fan and everyone he goes to college with, he can be like, who the hell raised you? He's disbanded. And I know you're not happy either Chris. I get it. What's worse? What's worse? What's worse? Having a game in your hands that you could win in a very tough spot in Seattle, watching a banner get raised and you'll lose it the end because your quarterback has protection, ball protection issues still that can be fixed or you lose to the raiders at home.

12:36Like they did last year and they still made the Super Bowl anyway. Okay. The raiders loss was much better than this. I got I guess this is year three. He's making rookie mistakes. I'm more bummed about the coaching decisions and Josh McDaniel's really being way too conservative. AJ Brown doesn't get a target on the opening drive. And then his first target is like a little five yard out like, come on, what are we doing? First play of the game needs to be needs to be bombs away. This announce our presence with authority. Drake May under throws the flea flicker. AJ Brown could have walled in and he just kind of it was just. Well, you scored a touchdown anyway on that because it was it gave you the pass in the appearance. That was that was right. I was running on Henderson. I either look at me taking the this is like role reversal here or you're playing your role. Which is I shouldn't say that you're not playing a role. You're you're speaking from the heart as every Patriot fan is right now flipping out. It was thoroughly disappointing. If you're asking everyone in doing and I know we got to go. It looks like a six or 11 season incoming right now, unless some major changes are made.

13:38AJ Brown's going to be at at least a month. I believe so. And it's so it's now what now you're looking like man, that K. Sean booty trade looks terrible. And who's going to step up? Romeo dobs. I didn't realize they had given him 87 to wear. You have to be a dog to where 87. That number should be retired to begin with. But if you're going to give that out, come on man. Let's go. Not a great start for him in the New England area where everything gets magnified more than obviously green Bay was constant. He's going to get a lesson in what it's like to to apply your craft in the Northeast. Yeah, this could be Adrian Gonzalez all over again. Mm. Dude, it was a disappointing loss. I totally get it. But it is just one game that said I did say that they could start one and three. You said you'd eat Del Tufo's hat. So I don't really remember that. Okay. Not just a good black. I would court it with my phone, too. But sit back and watch that watch the recriminations come out of the Northeast. And then there's a sigh of relief is Seattle lost, Donald.

14:39They peer haven't to lost him for the season. The defense rules the day. Cooper Cup makes him great place because he's Cooper freaking cup. And J.S.N. says, guess what? I'm the offensive player of the year. I'm going to make the first electric play of the season. And then the defense is going to come up with three takeaways and two sacks in the fourth quarter and wrap it up. And Drew Locke understands what his job is. He even said that. I think he said it to Melissa Stark after the game saying my job is to protect the football. The other kid couldn't get it yet. Or hasn't. We take a break out. We're going to give us the latest on all the injuries we just mentioned. We're often running the season is begun. Brockman's pissed already like it's the post season. The Rich Eyes and Show Podcast. Rich Eyes and Show Sports Illustrated Albert Brear is here on the Rich Eyes and Show on a very busy Thursday. How you doing Albert? Good to see you. It looks like you are in a Boston sports talk radio environment.

15:40Let me hold on. Let me take let me let me take an ear out and hold on a minute so we can. Yeah, I can hear the yelling and screaming from there. Are we stealing it? The ceiling isn't falling in my mouth. Meltdown City. Are we in Meltdown City there in Boston? A little bit different different different tone and tenor of the conversation here than there was 24 hours ago. I say, OK. Yeah. So what what we saw on the fourth quarter. Yep. On Wednesday night is something we talked about at the top of our program here. The Drake may turn over problem. Yeah. And that has been something that actually the Patriots were dealing with while they were making the Super Bowl last year. So is this sort of their concerns behind the scenes being laid bare out front or just a bad quarter? Albert. I think it's. I think it's an acknowledgement that all quarterback development isn't linear. And I think if you talk to people in the organization, Drake's still figuring out how

16:41to play quarterback at the NFL level, you know, he's such a big athletic kid. And I mean, if you want to put it plainly, so many things went according to plan last year because you've got a great offensive coordinator and Josh McDaniels. And nobody has tape of him with a quarterback like Trick May. So they're able to do all these different things and give all these defenses, all these unscattered looks. You know, and then you get to the postseason. Now everybody's got a full, a full year of tape. And now you got Jesse Mentor scheming it up for the chargers and their personnel. And you've got Matt Burke and Demiko Ryan's doing it for the Texans and their personnel. Vince Joseph and the Broncos might meet Donald and the Seahawks. And I think it's just sort of an acknowledgement that Drake does have a ways to go, you know, and Drake does have development to go. And that's something that I think actually like in the long run, Patriot fans can be excited about. But I think, you know, the other piece of it that's so interesting to me, Rich, is that, you know, I think through the four quarterbacks, the four guys who were right there in the

17:42same age group that are centered so quickly, right? So that be my homes, burrow, Alan Jackson. I think they fooled us all into thinking quarterback development. It's just linear, you know what I mean? Like it's just those guys got really good really fast and stayed really good. And there weren't a ton of bumps outside of the injuries, you know, a bunch of those guys have had injuries, but those guys have kind of gotten to and maintain an elite level. And you know, I think we were all sort of spoiled by that, you know, and sometimes they're bumps along the way. And I think, you know, some of Drake's issues in the playoffs, then the issues last night are proof of it. Well, I mean, he's he was also one vote shy of being the most valuable player of the NFL last year. But that was voted on before the playoffs, right? Sure. Exactly. And and truly, you could also say that Seattle's defense is no slouch and to face them and back to back games, very few players are going to look very good to begin with. Even staffers had to play Seattle and back to back games, you know, so you could potentially

18:45hang your hat on that. The issue is moving forward. It looks like AJ Brown's out for a while, correct? Like what's the latest there? So he has a high ankle sprain. They're having tests that these are tricky. I mean, I have to feel like there's a handful of high profile ones every year. It's unfortunately, it's an unfortunate name for that injury. It's kind of like turf toe. You know what I mean? Like where you hear it and it's like, oh, it's an ankle sprain. It's like, well, this is actually like an end damage, you know? So it depends on the grade. It could be a two or three week injury. It could be an eight week injury. You know, you just don't know until you go through the MRI process and he's going through that this morning. You know, we'll see, we'll see what the results show. But obviously not great news for the page. It's all right. What about Sam Darnold's health? What are you hearing about that? Albert? Well, they feel like they dodged a bullet. I are still on the table there, but you know, obviously the way the rules work now that can mean as few as four weeks out, you know? So I, the sense I get and they don't have all the answers on this yet.

19:47He's another one. He had the CT scan of the hospital yesterday, the X-rays of the stadium. He'll have an MRI today. And you know, like going through that, of course, like you'll get a better idea of, of, of where he's at. But they did, they did, they do. And Mike McDonald said this after the game, feel like they dodged a bullet with the fact that it's not a hip fracture. Hip injuries can be, you know, they're another one. It's kind of tricky. So we'll see what the timetable is. But the good news is like that team really responded, you know, I think, you know, over the course of the game. I mean, I don't know if this was your view of it. But to me, like, you know, a defense is like just decimated in the secondary. No, even worry. No tie, O'Cotta, who was Kobe Bryant's replacement. Kobe Bryant's gone to Chicago. He's obviously hurt now, but he's gone to Chicago. Three equal and he's gone to Philly. You know, they have all that attention on defense. They lose their quarterback on offense. And I think this is a real tribute to the staff there. They got better as the game went on, I thought, you know, like they looked a little out of sports early by the third or fourth quarter.

20:48They started to look like the CX game, which is really remarkable when you consider all the guys they were missing. Well, you can't, you know, blame them for, for much of the game they're sitting there thinking, are we going to see Sam Donald under center again at all? Right. You know, and so at least they're getting some good news on that front. And I was sitting there. I was even texting you during the game like, who would even be available? Right? I mean, just let's put that in the minds of all, because they're for the grace of God, go any 30 of the other NFL teams that are still yet to play based on our time that we're having this conversation for week one. Like, who would even be available if the CX had to go look in that direction or anyone else has to. I mean, the one that that's kind of obvious to me would be, I mean, because you know, you could look at Brian Florian, look at San Francisco and like, go go go trade from Hatchell and it's like, I don't think the Niners are going to be trading. Oh, right. Right. I like the one thing that's kind of the obvious one for me is Jimmy Garoppolo.

21:51Brian Florian was with him in San Francisco. So there's some carry over with the, with the system. Jimmy's obviously not with the team right now. So he's available. I just don't know what Jimmy's desire is to go out and play at this point. That's kind of the wild car, but he would be the one name where if you're looking for a guy who does have, you know, experience and background with the coaches on hand. Obviously he's got a ton of experience in the division. You know, he spent the last, well, would it be eight years? I think right? Nine years in the division. If you include first year in San Francisco, you know, he knows the teams inside and out. Like, so he would be an obvious one you would turn to. And I think that would probably be more if this winds up being a longer term absence for San Darnell. Albert Breer here, the M M QB NFL podcast. He's going to be recording that later on today. And obviously the must read every single Monday and sports illustrated the M M QBs. Albert Breer here on the Rich Island show. Where did Brock Bowers' injury come from Albert? It was, yeah, that's a wear and tear injury.

22:53And like having him in this, it's, I don't want to scare anybody here because it was a trim rather than a repair, which gets him back sooner rather than later. But there was some wear and tear stuff on him coming out of Georgia. And so like, like again, no alarm bells here, but, you know, the fact that this is, and that's why you, you don't see with an injury like this, like these sometimes just pop up rather than, like us actually getting to see something happening in a game where something happened in a practice where practice was stopped. Like this is generally one of those things that is something that evolves over time. Ironically enough, it's like the same sort of thing that Max Crosby has. Now again, I'm not starting that alarm because I'm, you know, I'm saying these things that like, you know, probably would make, you know, Raider's fans for coil to some degree. And so I'm not sounding that alarm yet. But you know, this is the sort of wear and tear thing that you want to take care of. And so they take the more aggressive route and getting them back to the field,

23:57onto the field and having the trim rather than the repair. But it does, you know, it does, you know, at least I think, you know, get your attention just as far as the amount of mileage he has just just three years into his career. So trim repair will give folks an idea. What are you hearing? The first one is a missing key or two. But I think that's that I'm a repair would be like potentially season ending. I repair was what like Jay Jay McCarthy is the one that like recently that I think of. If you remember, he was hurt in August of 24. And like there was that question, okay, is it, is he need a trimmer repair? He needed a repair and that wound up taking him out for his entire rookie year. So and now as part of like the whole deal with Max last year too. And you know, he wound up having the repair after the season ended. And that took, you know, took six months out of his off season. So if he didn't wind up having to have it repaired, it probably be a season ending.

25:01It's a relatively simple one to come back from when you have a trim. Okay. Albert Brue here on the Rich Eyes and Show and Max Crosby. You were expecting to see him out there like what's the scoop? Yeah. I'm excited to see what he looks like. I know, you know, having talked to him a little bit this summer. You know, I feel like he really feels like he's got something to prove now and something to go out and show the world about who he is as a player and all of that. And, you know, I give the Raiders credit and like just being careful and like prioritizing him, you know, over the course of the off season to now. Like, is he going to deal with soreness and all that stuff? Yeah. Like I think there'll be there, there'll probably be some things that he'll deal with over the course of the year. But it seems to me like he's, he's in a really good place to go and have a big year. And, and again, it's like one of those things where, um, you know, the truth will come out over the next couple of years on whether or not.

26:01Like, and we've seen these situations before. I mean, I'll give you this one. We were talking about AJ Brown a second ago, like, AJ Brown's knee was seen as degenerative and 20, what would have been 2022. And that was why the Titans didn't sign him to an extension that year. That was why they traded him to the Eagles. And here we are four years later and he's been traded for a first round pick again. So like that one didn't quite work out the way that some of the doctors thought. Um, it's just kind of a moving target and, you know, until we see the way a guy's career plays out, we won't know. And, you know, so I think with Crosby, that's sort of the situation you're dealing with. Um, where the Ravens doctors, right? You know, we'll take a year or two to figure that out. Albert Breer here on the program to getting the start because Penex isn't ready. What's your read of that and how long to has to prove himself or not much at all? So I think it was August 22nd. The Penex was cleared for 11 on 11.

27:01And so at that point, the doctors have basically given the coaches the OK. If you want to dress him for a game, you can dress him for a game. Um, now the problem was that like at that point, you are coming down to the cut down. So a lot of your focus is on that. And you've only got a couple of weeks left until a season. And this is his third, you know, this is his third ACL. You know, now the, the other two were to the other knee, but there's a cumulative effect to all of that. And so, you know, I think for the Falcons, a big piece of this was, how do we get him in a position where he's ready to roll like where we're not just throwing him out there? So this was not to a beating out Michael Penex. I think anybody who's looking at that, at that way probably doesn't have a great idea how the summer went in Atlanta and that it didn't look good with two at several points. I think I've brought this up to you before. But however, like he is the guy who worked the most with the first team.

28:03And so for the time being, he's the best answer. My sense is they're going to try to keep, they're going to keep working on ramping Michael Penex up. They don't want to get into a situation where they're just throwing him out there, which if they made them the backup this week, they would be, they would be one hit away from doing that. That's why Cooper rushes there. You know, he's an experienced backup who can at least, you know, keep his hands at 10 if he's got to go on the game. And then you give Penex the time that he needs to get to a point where, okay, like we're going to be able now to get a full assessment of him during the 2026 season. Because I do think for Matt Ryan, Ian Cunningham and Kevin's to fancy coming in. Like that's really, and you're not going to say this to your team, but that's really a big part of what you want to get coming out of this year. The franchise, and it wasn't you personally, but the franchise itself invested the eighth overall pick. You owe to yourself to figure out whether or not he's the answer before you plan for what you're going to do in 2027 and beyond a quarterback.

29:03All right. Meanwhile, in division, Baker Mayfield says no contract. If I don't have one by start a father training camp. Training camp starts. He plants a flag on the organization. It got a little bit awkward to say the least. And nobody talks about it. Low and behold, there are talks being had. And this is the sound bite of the day on Wednesday, for sure, about secret, double secret negotiations. Check it out. It comes to the deadline. I told my agent, listen, I'm done talking about it unless something really changes. You can bring that to my attention. If you think I actually am willing to agree to it, then bring it to my attention. Apparently, they engaged in talks last week that I did not know about until Monday about 6 p.m. So that was, it caught both of us off guard when we were at dinner. I'm just sitting down to eat and the agent said, hey, I think I need to give you a call. I need to update you on something.

30:04So yeah, when something like that comes about, you listen, this is awesome. This is home for me. It's home for us. And really, really thankful. I assume the we, the us, the dinner mate was his wife, Emily. He's referring to there, Albert. Yeah, I mean, Rich, this is my 22nd year covering the league. I've witnessed many a fake deadline. And this was a fake deadline. So I think the Buccaneer sent the approach. And I think Baker set the deadline for a reason, right? Like so I think Baker genuinely did not want to have to deal with this once he buckled his chin strap at the start of training camp, right? He genuinely wanted to focus on the season ahead. And he is in his agents looked at the box recent history and saw, well, they did Tristan worse during training camp. They designed a column during training camp. They did look to decky during training camp. They have a history of waiting until training camp to do these. They did beat a day this year.

31:05They have a history of waiting until training camp to do these. So let's see if we can get this off the, off the table before we start training camp. That didn't work. But last week amongst themselves, the Bucks revisited it and talked about it again. And this is something I had in my column on Monday. They were looking back at the negotiations. We weren't that far off. Like 55 million was always sort of the sweet spot. And that deadline was there. And so yes, negotiations did stop at the time. But like the Bucks were always open to doing a deal the same way they did the deals with Worse and the decky and McCollum and Vah. And so they make the call. Are you open to talking again? I think it was last. It was probably a week ago or a day, maybe a week ago Wednesday, whatever it was Wednesday, Thursday, somewhere in there. And at that point, it's pretty straightforward. The negotiating leverage on both sides of the franchise tag, two franchise tags.

32:10Over the next two years would be 110 million, 110 million divided by two is $55 million a year. It was always a sweet spot. And that's where they wound up landing. So I do think Baker's also being genuine about wanting to really plan his flag. God, you're going to kill me over that one. That's okay. It's all right. He did it on you. That's all right. I was like, do I let this go out of my mouth? We won't talk about clocks. How about that? I can make a deal with you. You don't talk about flags. I'm happy to talk about clocks. There's one second left and I don't apologize for winning. Anyway, but he's planning to flag in the Tampa area. He's planning to flag in the Tampa area. And, you know, like, and I think that was that was that was evidenced by the fact that like previously he and Emily had been based in Austin, Texas a couple of years ago, they moved their family to Tampa, Florida as kind of this implicit. This is my team. I'm the guy. That's sort of thing and the contract is obviously affirmation of that.

33:12But in all seriousness, Albert, just to show you, I don't mind talking about clocks. Any any aftermath within the NFL that you're hearing about that the league is reaching out to everybody to make sure everybody's buttoned up on end of game clock protocols and how it works and what's plugged into what and what's being seen and what's being used. Has that been sort of? I mean, Richard, you've worked in these broadcasts. So you'd know more about it than me, like, you know, like in your experience, like the amount of work that the engineers do with the league to try to get all that stuff synced up and right. And I think one of the things that came up in conversation that was sort of interesting was the was the gambling aspect of it, you know, and like the importance on making sure that nothing looks like there could be any kind of funny business going on. And you know, I think that's sort of where you come back to. I think it was a prayer that said it. I can't remember. One of the guys said, and it might have been a Joel clap. I think it was per era who said something along the lines of like, well, yeah, like we're taught to go with the TV with what everybody's seeing on TV.

34:14Well, why is that? It's like because you don't want to create any impression that you're looking at something different or that there could be any kind of chicaner that happens in the background. And you know, one of the things that got me about the tape that the big 10 put out was why were we getting a different angle? Like the guy the Western Michigan players back was was was was was blocking our view of when the ball actually hit his hand. I thought NBC actually had a better angle on it, right? Like what we all saw on TV was actually a better angle than what the referees were getting. Why is that? And and I'm not saying that to to to to to to. What but I think but I think but I think the thing with it though is is like you're just creating a problem for yourself when you do that. You know what I mean? Like you're creating a public issue for yourself when you do that. And I think the gambling aspect of it adds another layer where the gambling aspect of it is. Well, we're going to be in bed with all the different, you know, all the the draft Kings, the the fan do isn't all like the Caesars, all that different stuff.

35:15Like we really have to be diligent of making sure that the public trust is in a really good place. I two more for you. Uh, turning the page to the rest of week one. First things first. Why didn't Aaron Donald get on the plane to Australia? I think. All right. Like I'm I'm going to give you my informed speculation on this. Like I personally think it's because in the back of their heads and the back of everybody's head, this is really about getting to the finish line. And this is really about getting to January and February in the best place you possibly can be. And I just think that there's a little bit of a a risk or a ward thing here where do we really want to put them through all of that on the front end of all this when he's 35 years old and he hasn't played in two years. And you know, they've been through this before with him. You know, as I told you a few weeks ago, there's a template in place, right? Like which, you know, Sean McVey and his staff, less need, all those guys went through

36:16it with with with Donald when he was holding out in 2017 and 2018 where, you know, he didn't report to camp one year until the end of August, the other year, until the day before the season opener. And they had to have a detailed plan on how to get him in position to play it as is very best. And they went to the playoffs in the first of those years for the first time in forever and they went to the Super Bowl the year after. So they've got a good idea of what they're doing here. And again, I think this is something they can't say publicly as much, but you do want to get them to January and February because really what are we talking about is not what this is all about. So I think it's about getting him to that finish line at the, at the, at the most full form you possibly can. And lastly, the week one new edition you're looking forward to seeing the most. You already saw AJ Brown on Wednesday night. Unfortunately, injury curtailed, but who are you looking forward to seeing in a week one game and their new spot to see if they are. In fact, the, the difference maker the most. Can I give you two that are along the lines of like long lines of AJ Brown.

37:21I, I, this is two other receivers in the AFC, you know, it's DJ Moore and Buffalo. And it's more than just DJ Moore. I'm excited to see what that looks like globally. You know, I think there's a parallel with Joe Brady and Sean Peyton. Sean Peyton. If you remember, you know, as the offensive coordinator in New York had play calling stripped and then, and Dallas was dubbed Dennis the Manus by Bill Parcells because of all the crazy ideas. Yeah. And we saw Sean, a different Sean Peyton when he was out on his own in New Orleans. Nothing against Jim Fossil. Nothing against Bill Parcells. We just saw a different version of him. And I think nothing against Sean McDermott, who I think is done an unbelievable job there, did an unbelievable job there. But I really look at that like, I think, well, I think we're going to see something different from Joe Brady in the way that the bills are operating. And I'm excited to see that, especially when faced with the Houston defense on Sunday. And then I think Jalen Waddle and Denver, I think he's better than people think. You know, I think he's got a chance to have a, I'm not going to say all pro, but pro

38:26bowl type season for the Broncos. They think really highly of him. And I do wander after what we've seen from two in Atlanta. Is there some element of we're going to see another level of Jalen Waddle now and Sean Tate and Zoffence? And I think in both cases, the cool part is both the Broncos and bills have a lot of like really nice complimentary weapons, you know, Shakir and King Cade and James Cook and Buffalo. And then, you know, in Denver, you know, what you're talking about, you know, Portland, Sutton, Evan Angrum, Pat Bryant, RJ Harvey, with a guy who can dictate some coverage coming in, is probably going to look a little bit different for both teams. And you'll see that right here on the Disney Family of Networks on Monday night football to wrap up week number one. Albert, thanks for the time. We have a good podcast recording. Everybody check out Albert's pod once it's out later on today. And we'll chat again soon. Thanks again, bro. All right. Thanks, Rich. Appreciate it. The one and only Albert Breer, check out his stuff and sports illustrated right here

39:27on the Rich Island show. And we'll take a quick break because we're up against it. If you will, the it is this commercial break. The Rich Island show, the podcast. Back here on the Rich Island show, everybody, our friends at LinkedIn Hiring Pro would like to let you know, hire right the first time with LinkedIn Hiring Pro. Get started by posting a free job at LinkedIn.com slash Eisen. Lots to talk about. Alex Smith coming up top of the next hour. We'll hit on the Seahawks. And there's Josh Jacobs news as well. John in Washington is not only calling in to try to play the Cowboys win lost game, but he's telling our call screeners whoever they are. How many times he's attempted? John, how are you, sir? I'm doing good. Rich and how are you? What number of time is the attempt is this for you right now? Well, ask me, the first time yesterday was 41 calls. Okay. Well, we're up against the time here. So that makes 42 here.

40:28John, we knew. Okay. Here we go. Josh, you too, everybody. Here we go. Let's go fast Sunday night football at the Giants. What happens? Cowboys. Yes. What happens when they welcome in the commanders? Cowboys again. 2-0 in Rio against the Ravens. I think the Ravens will win that one. 2-1 now at Houston. I think the defense would be too much for Dr. Handles. I think Houston will win that one too. It's two and two. The Buccaneers at the Cowboys. I think Dallas will win that one. 3-2 at the Packers. Revenge. Dallas will win that one. 4-2 at the Eagles on Monday night football. I'm going to get that to feeling. That's now three. You're 4-3 home for the Cardinals. Arizona had a slashtree, but this year, Dallas is going to win. 5-3 in Indy. Dallas again. 6-3 home for the Niners.

41:307-3 home for the Titans. 8-3 Thanksgiving against the Eagles. 9-3 at the Seahawks on Monday night. 9-4 coming off the Bay at the Rams. Yeah, I think Garrett and John are going to tear Dallas up. So I'm going to go with the Rams on that one. 9-5 home for the Jaguars. I'm going to go with the Jaguars. I'm sorry. Cowboys. 10-5 home for the Giants. Dallas. 11-5 at Washington. Dallas again. All right. There you go. Thanks for your patience and your fandom, John. I appreciate it. No problem. I'm just glad I made it. I just got the, the, and their mind. I just the goal and ticket.

42:31I just am happy to make it. There you go. Thank you, John and Washington. He says the Cowboys are 12-5. All right, TJ. TJ first crack out. It was 14-3 and then he says second time around 10-7. So 12 wins. And then heart dent in the actor had him 14-3 just like the people Samaritan in Texas and Irv had him 13-4. Sunday night football. John Harballs ready for it. Oh, yeah. He had an interesting exchange with the New York media. We'll play that for you over the next two hours right here on the Rich Eyes and Show everybody. Thanks for listening to the Rich Eyes and Show podcast. You can watch and listen to the Rich Eyes and Show Live weekdays from noon to three Eastern on ESPN radio, Disney Plus and on the ESPN app, The Rich Eyes and Show, The Podcast.