Tag: Rich Eisen

Why Dan Quinn has yet to name Jayden Daniels the Commanders QB1

What are the Commanders waiting for?

“Caleb (Williams) is the starter; Jayden Daniels is likely the starter but not yet.”

That’s how Albert Breer was attempting to explain things to Rich Eisen, Tuesday on the “Rich Eisen Show.”

Eisen: “Why? What’s going on there? I don’t understand. Why aren’t the Commanders just treating him like Caleb? What’s with the fig leaf here on the altar of ‘we compete’?”

Breer: “If there is one word that always describes Peter Carroll’s program, it is always ‘compete.’ I know people see these as artificial sometimes, but it is hard for a new coach to come in and sell that to a guy who has been in the league for five years. And then he sees a rookie quarterback being handed a job.”

Eisen: “Come on, I mean, it is not just any rookie quarterback here. It’s the second overall pick.”

Breer: “What it comes down to, though, for DQ is he wants the veterans to see it. We need the veterans to see that he won the job. Once it becomes obvious, which I think it will, because he had a good spring.”

Breer: “The Chicago situation is fascinating. They started installing before they drafted him. You are allowed three one-hour zoom calls? They were installing the offense with them.”

In the corporate world there are different leadership styles with their corresponding advantages and disadvantages. Whether a leader’s style is to delegate, transformational, or autocratic, a key component will be the leader’s desire and ability to communicate the vision and be consistent on a day-to-day basis.

So, too, Dan Quinn has shown himself to be one who wants to see everyone competing and who himself just this week said that not only do the players have something to prove, but their coach does as well.

Consequently, Jayden Daniels needs to prove to the veterans he is ready to be the leader at the quarterback position. As soon as Quinn is confident Daniels has displayed enough to his teammates, he will officially be named the starter.

Rich Eisen believes the Commanders will be one of the NFL’s top sleepers in 2024

Playoffs? Eisen thinks it’s a possibility for the Commanders in 2024.

The Washington Commanders aren’t expected to be a playoff team in 2024. Considering Washington went 4-13 last season, that’s not a surprise. However, there is a lot of goodwill and excitement surrounding the Commanders after the franchise underwent massive changes this offseason.

One person who thinks the Commanders have a chance to be good is Rich Eisen. On a recent edition of the “Rich Eisen Show,” Eisen named his top five sleeper teams for 2024. The Commanders came in at No. 2.

“I like the Washington Commanders to really wake up, guys,” Eisen said. Jayden Daniels, despite what the coach is saying that we need to see something before we name him the starter, he’s going to be your starting quarterback. Terry McLaurin is as good as they come in the National Football League. And I love Austin Ekeler with Brian Robinson Jr., and you know how DQ, Dan Quinn, can rile some people up. This team is going to be good this year, folks. I think they can make the playoffs.”

It’s difficult to go from four wins to the playoffs in one offseason. It’s been done before. Remember how bad the Houston Texans were in 2022? Like Washington, Houston selected a quarterback with the second overall pick in the draft and went from worst to first.

While the Texans remain more of an outlier right now, that can’t be ruled out. With many questions surrounding the Dallas Cowboys, there’s a chance the NFC East will take a step back this year.

Can the Commanders make the playoffs? The defense will be much better. That’s a guarantee. Two things that will help determine Washington’s season are rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels and the offensive line. If both things go in the Commanders’ favor, watch out.

Bucs RB Rachaad White has a bold request for fantasy football managers

If you’re looking for a first-round strategy in your fantasy football draft, Rachaad White has you covered

Last year, Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White was one of the best in the league when it came to racking up fantasy football points, tallying more than 1,500 yards of total offense and nine touchdowns while playing more offensive snaps than any other running back in the league.

That should have fantasy managers lining up to take him early in this year’s drafts, and White himself thinks he should be a first-round selection.

During a recent appearance on “The Rich Eisen Show,” White told everyone to make sure they select him in the first round of their respective drafts this season:

Even with the addition of rookie fourth-round pick Bucky Irving, White should still have an even better season in 2024, thanks to multiple additions along the interior of the offensive line.

[lawrence-related id=87846]

Bucs RB Rachaad White talks Baker Mayfield, new offense and more

Hear what Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White had to say during his recent appearance on “The Rich Eisen Show”

For the second year in a row, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be breaking in a new offensive coordinator, as Liam Coen replaces Dave Canales, who left to be the head coach of the division-rival Carolina Panthers.

One thing that won’t be changing is the QB-RB battery of Baker Mayfield and Rachaad White, who are back and primed for even bigger things after solid performances in 2023.

White recently appeared on “The Rich Eisen Show” to give his take on Mayfield, Coen’s new offense, and more.

Watch the video above to see what White had to say.

[lawrence-related id=87709]

Commanders head coach Dan Quinn or the Chargers Jim Harbaugh?

Which head coach is most likely to help his team the most in 2024?

Which head coach in a new spot is most likely to prop up their new team?

That was the question Rich Eisen asked on the “Rich Eisen Show” a couple of days ago. His two choices were Jim Harbaugh (L.A. Chargers) and Dan Quinn (Washington Commanders).

Eisen: “How dare you? How dare you even give me a question like that.”

Co-host T.J. Jefferson, in the background, was heard to say, “I know what Rich is going to say. He’s going to say, ‘Dan Quinn’.”

Eisen: “No, I am not. Come on, one guy has a history of plus and up. I don’t know what the Falcons were in Dan Quinn’s first year. I doubt it was plus seven.”

Co-host Chris Brockman chided in, “I mean, they were up 28-3 in the Super Bowl.”

Eisen: “Whatever. One guy has Justin Herbert, and the other guy has a rookie quarterback. Just that alone (pause). He’s got a rookie quarterback. And you (Brockman) already said they (Commanders) are only 31 in your power rankings. Jim Harbaugh, please. What else?”

Now, on the surface, Commanders fans may view our relaying this to you as a negative dumping of Dan Quinn.

Not at all. Commanders Wire notices that Dan Quinn has already been mentioned in this type of conversation this offseason.

You see, doesn’t this convey that seeing how bad the Commanders were in 2023, losing their last eight straight, losing 13 of their last 15, while getting absolutely blown out and embarrassed several times, NFL media is thinking much higher for 2024?

Doesn’t this reveal another example of NFL media realizing that with Dan Snyder and the Ron Rivera era now in the rearview mirror, Josh Harris, Adam Peters, Dan Quinn, and Jayden Daniels are being believed in to turn things around in 2024?

Outsiders are looking at the Commanders much more positively for 2024.

 

Former NFL player says Chargers Jim Harbaugh could ‘punch Chiefs in the mouth’

Former NFL player says #Chargers Jim Harbaugh could ‘punch #Chiefs in the mouth’ | @EdEastonJr

The target is firmly on the Kansas City Chiefs as they enter the 2024 season. The possibility that they can make NFL history has added an extra layer of excitement, with training camp only weeks away.

Former Raiders defensive end Akbar Gbajabiamila recently appeared on ‘The Rich Eisen Show’ to discuss the NFL and the Chiefs’ chances of a third consecutive Super Bowl victory.

“I’m gonna go three-peat. It’s very likely that these guys got it; they just drafted speed again. We didn’t see that a lot last season with, you know, with what they had going now that they got this deep threat, of course, he’s a rookie. We’ll see what that looks like down the road, but Patrick Mahomes just makes me excited.” said Gbajabiamila. “I’m not trying to be weird, but think about what he’s done in just a short span in the NFL. I mean, we’re witnessing greatness. And then, of course, Andy Reid as well. They’re going to go for a three-peat.”

Gbajabiamila is currently a host on NBC’s America Ninja Warrior, and he shared his pick of which team could dethrone Kansas City.

“Okay, I will tell you, though, there’s one team that has the ability to maybe punch them (Chiefs) in the mouth and stop them from a three-peat,” said Gbajabiamila. “I like (Jim) Harbaugh, man. I really do…I mean, he wins everywhere.”

The Chargers are seemingly in a rebuild around quarterback Justin Herbert and Jim Harbaugh taking over as head coach. The upcoming season could be a preview of big games to come, but many critics like Gbajabiamila still believe the Chiefs are in the driver’s seat for a three-peat.

NFL analyst rips former Steelers QB Kenny Pickett for forcing his way out of Pittsburgh

Kenny Pickett made himself a hostage according to Rich Eisen.

When the Pittsburgh Steelers spent a first-round pick on quarterback Kenny Pickett, we were all cautiously optimistic that the Steelers saw something we didn’t. But fast forward to the 2024 offseason and Pittsburgh has moved on after just two years, trading Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles.

But the trade was not to make room for new quarterback Russell Wilson. Not at all. The Steelers were willing to keep Pickett as Wilson’s backup and give him an opportunity to learn behind a future Hall of Famer. Something he never got in his previous two seasons.

But that didn’t work out as it was reported that Pickett didn’t handle the news well and wanted to be traded. Rich Eisen talked about the situation Pickett put himself in and didn’t hold back about what he thought was a mistake by Pickett.

“You are going to get a first crack at a starter job and then the kid who was there, Kenny Pickett, made himself a hostage,” Eisen said. “They then volunteered to send him to Philly.”

Pickett’s situation only went from bad to worse if he was looking for a chance to start. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is entrenched as the franchise quarterback and isn’t going anywhere. Had Pickett stayed with the Steelers, he could have been looking at another chance to start as early as 2025. Once Pickett was traded away, the Steelers made another move to trade for former Justin Fields quarterback Justin Fields.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Adam Thielen: Panthers players were cut for not being in shape this offseason

Panthers WR Adam Thielen had some intriguing insight on offseason workout programs.

Welcome to the new standard.

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen was a guest on Wednesday’s episode of The Rich Eisen Show, where host Rich Eisen brought up the prospect of restructured offseason workout programs. The 33-year-old veteran said he’d probably be in favor of a tighter schedule, with the idea of the earlier phases being closer to training camp.

He told Eisen that players have gotten to the point where they’re already working out during their time away from the team, something that may have factored into a few departures from Carolina this spring.

“The NFL has gotten so competitive that you can’t not work out,” Thielen stated. “Even right now. When guys come back to OTAs and they’re out of shape, they haven’t done anything—they’re getting cut. Like, there was a few guys that aren’t on the Panthers anymore that came back, they were out of shape, you can tell they hadn’t done anything and they’re not there anymore. That’s just the reality.”

Eisen also asked Thielen about first-year head coach Dave Canales, whom the former All-Pro has already praised for his steady vision. He’d go further on Canales’ focused approach.

“I think one of his strengths is just his confidence and his intentionality,” he replied. “He’s very intentional in everything he does. Everything has a purpose, a plan, a reason and he’s gonna explain the why. He’s not just gonna say, ‘Do this, and do it well.’ He’s gonna say, ‘This is why we need to do this and this is why we need to do it well because this is what it looks like when you do that.'”

Well, we certainly know they need to be in shape—even now.

[lawrence-related id=698457,698133,698099]

Kevin O’Connell confirms J.J. McCarthy has had first-team reps

The Vikings head coach confirmed J.J. McCarthy has had first-team reps this summer. O’Connell shares how McCarthy has looked for Minnesota.

The general belief around the Vikings right now is that veteran Sam Darnold will begin the season as the starting quarterback and potentially hold that for the entire season. There is also some belief that Nick Mullens will be the backup to Darnold, which would result in the tenth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft being the third quarterback on the roster.

Kevin O’Connell recently appeared on the Rich Eisen Show. Eisen, being a big Michigan fan, asked about where J.J. McCarthy stands and how he’s been doing for Minnesota. O’Connell shared that McCarthy has had good command of the Vikings’ offense and has, in fact, had some first-team reps with Minnesota.

“He’s had a great spring,” said O’Connell. “He’s off to a really good start. You know transitioning into a new offense, a bunch of new teammates, new players, he gets a ton of work throughout routes on air and even in 7-on-7, you know where we were going full speed on all that stuff with some of the first group throughout the spring”

Minnesota drafted McCarthy to be its franchise quarterback for years to come. While the Vikings might not just hand him the keys to the car on day one, McCarthy will be handed those keys when he’s ready. Whether that’s in 2023 or if he has to wait his turn.

Rich Eisen: What is the best case scenario for the 2024 Commanders?

What is the best-case scenario for the Commanders in 2024?

If you had to guess what would be the best-case scenario for the 2024 Commanders, what would it be?

What is possible as the best the Commanders could perform this upcoming season?

Well, Rich Eisen, on his “Rich Eisen Show” on Monday continued his best-case-scenario for each division. Monday, it was the NFC East.

For the Commanders fans who are only interested in what Eisen sees as the best possible success the Commanders could have in 2024, here is what Eisen foresees as the four best cases for the Commanders:

  • “Jayden Daniels is offensive rookie of the year”

“He shows up and he shows out, and he shows that everybody who said he had the best ability of anybody coming out of the draft at the quarterback position to perform and succeed in the NFL, right now out of the box at college, they were right and he is showing the way.” [That was quite the run-on sentence by Eisen, but that is what he said]

  • “Dan Quinn is coach of the year”

“That guy shows up and he brings his positivity and he shows up and the Washington Commanders perform well. And I will even say this, I think the Texans are a perfect template. No. 2 overall pick in the draft wins Offensive Rookie of the Year and has even some MVP conversation. And the coach that is new to the team has Coach of the Year conversation.”

  • “They make the divisional playoffs round”

“I think the Texans are a perfect best-case scenario for this year’s Washington Commanders. And I’ll even throw another one in.

  • “They change the damn team name”

“That’s a best-case scenario for this franchise,” Eisen concluded.

Keep in mind, this was NOT Eisen’s prediction for the NFC East. This was Eisen asking, ‘If all goes well, what is the best possible thing each team could accomplish this season.