Tag: Rich Eisen

Rich Eisen on what’s next for Michigan football amid allegations: ‘Just beat everybody!’

The only way out is through. #GoBlue

Rich Eisen is as dyed and true maize and blue as they come, and like any other Michigan football fan, he’s been watching the Connor Stalions story unfold with great interest.

On Wednesday on his program, “The Rich Eisen Show,” Eisen had a solution to Michigan football’s problems: The only way out is through.

Yes, the Wolverines will continue to be a hot topic of conversation in college football, but with Stalions suspended (with pay) and not available to the team, the maize and blue can silence critics by just beating the teams in front of them, fair and square.

“But maybe I’m naive because this is the way through: beat the crap out of everybody because Connor Stalions isn’t standing on somebody else’s sideline looking like Bobby Valentine in a mustache coming back to the dugout after he got ejected,” Eisen said. “He gone, he not there anymore. And the people who he apparently personally Venmoed to shoot video for these opponents on tickets he’s apparently bought; that’s gone — root and branch.

“Purdue’s next, then Penn State at Penn State, then at Maryland, then home for Ohio State. Tar and feather all of them because there’s no asterisk, no sir! Not this year.

“And you even heard Daniel Jeremiah the other day saying not even the last couple of years either — as Aidan Hutchinson folded the tackle of the Ohio State like a folding chair multiple times. And Daniel said you don’t get that from signs.

“All of the jokes, all the recriminations — totally get it and deserved, quite frankly, if this guy’s doing what he was doing. Just beat everybody, Michigan. Then you wind up (No. 1). To all of my friends out there like, ‘How is Ohio State (No. 1)?’ Because they played people and beat them. But guess what? They gotta play Michigan, without the sign guy, sign-stealing guy as Jim McElwain calls him — how embarrassing! He won’t be there. Just beat everybody.”

Rich Eisen intentionally avoided putting an announcer jinx on Nick Folk’s impressive kicking streak

“Notice I said it AFTER he kicked it.”

It’s not tried and true to the point of a guarantee, but almost no kicker is immune to the dreaded announcer jinx. You can be as lights-out between the uprights as you want — if a commentator says if you’ve been on a remarkable streak, it’s probably ending then and there.

As the Baltimore Ravens took on the Tennessee Titans in London, kudos to play-by-play man Rich Eisen for recognizing his power.

When Titans kicker Nick Folk lined up for a chip shot early in the first quarter, Eisen just let the play breathe. After Folk smashed the ball through, Eisen only then noted that the veteran had made 68 straight kicks under 40 yards.

Shoutout to Eisen for realizing he does indeed “affect” the game, especially kickers who have had ice in their veins lately. That’s self-awareness most football fans should appreciate.

DK Metcalf now using sign language to talk trash

DK Metcalf now using sign language to talk trash

Seattle Seahawks star wide receiver DK Metcalf has developed a reputation of being a hot head. His recurring problem about getting flagged personal fouls continues to rear it’s ugly head, and was most recently on display in Week 1.

However, it seems like Metcalf is finally learning, and has chosen a rather creative outlet for his outbursts. On the Rich Eisen Show, Metcalf explained as follows:

You can see the full interview with Metcalf and Eisen below.

Here’s hoping this new method will work out well for Metcalf… and the Seahawks offense as a whole.

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Commanders Sam Howell praised by Rich Eisen

Eisen also discusses the expectations of Washington fans.

Who were the top five performers of the NFL Week 2 in this 2023 preseason?

NFL Network anchor Rich Eisen presented his top five Tuesday. Although in typical Eisen fashion, he was having fun.

Eisen felt the best performances for this past weekends preseason games were Giants receiver Jalin Hyatt, Packers quarterback Jordan Love, Falcons running back Bijan Robinson, Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell, and Commanders quarterback Sam Howell.

“Holy Cow, Sam Howell, we see you!” began Eisen. “I will say, this is how crazy he has Washington Commander football fans (pause). I’m gonna out him.”

Eisen proceeded to declare he had been texted during Monday’s game by Ryan Hayden, a die-hard Washington football fan. Eisen then read the text, “Everyone will laugh, but this is a franchise-turning game for us. As sad as that is.”

Eisen then commented to his television audience, “I don’t know what is sadder, that you believe it, or that you know it’s sad and you still text it. But this is how it is for Washington football fans.”

Eisen began to wax confidently and humorously as he has often over the years, “Is Sam Howell it? Can he be it?”

Eisen then wondered aloud if previous owner Dan Snyder had played a role in the 2022 NFL draft when the Commanders selected Howell with the first selection of the fifth round.

“We see you, Sam Howell, and we will see you Week 1 against Arizona, a winnable game; everyone thinks the Commanders are going to win. And you came out like that wingin’ it.”

It’s preseason, yes, but it is also good to see the Commanders getting some positive press about something they have actually done on the field.

We can only hope the same will be said for the Commanders and Howell during the regular season.

Why Bruce Feldman thinks Michigan football can win a national championship in 2023

The hype is building! #GoBlue

Coming off a disappointing finish in the 2022 College Football Playoff, Michigan football is starting to get more hype as the 2023 season nears. The usual powerhouses had been sparking the luster in the eyes of those predicting the next year. But as the season approaches, many are asking, ‘Why not Michigan?’

Fox Sports sideline reporter and The Athletic columnist Bruce Feldman went on a very Wolverines-friendly show on Wednesday, sitting down with alumnus Rich Eisen. For Feldman, Michigan’s potential success hinges strongly on the man who will touch the ball every offensive snap: J.J. McCarthy.

“One of those five-star guys that they do have, J.J. McCarthy, didn’t play when they played against Georgia — he wasn’t the starter, Cade McNamara, obviously, was,” Feldman said. “J.J. is really, really gifted. We saw that certainly against Ohio State, when the backfield — there was almost no Blake Corum. He played, but — even though Donovan Edwards had two great runs, he was playing injured in the game, as well — playing hurt. And McCarthy made big plays.”

But will that be enough to get the Wolverines to the promised land?

Even the aforementioned McNamara got the maize and blue to the College Football Playoff after beating Ohio State. McCarthy, essentially, just replicated his success. However, there are several more gears McCarthy has that many quarterbacks do not. For Feldman, he and another player are part of why he believes a championship is possible in Ann Arbor.

“If J.J. McCarthy plays like all the people who are evaluating him think he has that talent, I do think they can win a national title,” Feldman said. “Because they have really good leadership, they obviously have a terrific offensive line, they have dynamic running backs. Some of these guys have blossomed.

“Kris Jenkins, his dad was a former NFL star, he was a three-star guy, he was 240 pounds when he came to Michigan. He’s 302, and Jim Harbaugh told me, ‘I think he’ll be a top 10 pick.’ He is the kind of guy that Georgia and Alabama are playing with. They don’t have eight of him, but they do have a few. And it helps them that this is the year that three of the most talented teams quote-unquote — are (starting) new quarterbacks. And two of them were in the top of the draft and the third guy they’re probably gonna build a statue of him in Athens.”

Beyond that discussion, Feldman and Eisen discuss many different facets of the 2023 Michigan football team. Watch the entire exchange here:

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Austin Ekeler is mad at the idea of backup receivers making more than star running backs

Austin Ekeler didn’t hold back his feelings for how star running backs are valued compared to other positions.

Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler still doesn’t sound too thrilled about the state of how his position group is being valued in the NFL.

While Ekeler’s contract dispute with the Chargers came to a temporary resolution in May, he still told Rich Eisen on the latter’s show on Thursday that star running backs still aren’t properly appreciated for what they bring to the field.

He concedes that there are two sides to the issue to consider, but that the value question is a major sticking point in contract negotiations.

“Let’s compare, let’s see what the real value-add to a team is,” Ekeler said in the interview. “If I’m looking at some of the backup receivers out here that are still making more than me, and that’s going to piss me off. … I’m like, okay, wait a minute. So, you’re telling me… the No. 3 receiver is going to make more than me, and I’m the starter? I get more carries; I touch the ball more. I have more of an impact. It causes us to question, right? We’re going to fight for that. We’re going to fight for, ‘Hey, I’m bringing more value to the team than this person. I think I should be compensated for that.'”

Ekeler also mentioned that other running backs compare their value to others in their position group, specifically mentioning New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley and Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs wanting to be properly paid for their strong 2022 seasons.

To Ekeler, not being compensated according to value is going to make these star running backs want to stand their ground in negotiations.

“When we don’t get that, absolutely, we’re going to fight back,” Ekeler told Eisen. “We have no choice. … It seems like it’s about money, but it’s about principle, right? It’s about the principle of adding value to a team. But then I also get it from the other side. They’re like, ‘Hey, none of these other running backs are getting paid. Let’s just see what happens. Let’s franchise tag these guys, and then let’s wait a year. Let’s see what happens.’ … Both sides are playing this game, and how it turns out, time will tell.”

Ekeler is absolutely right that something’s got to give in the way the NFL values its running backs. He’s also right that this is a copycat league, and that teams are going to mimic their peers to justify not having to pay top-flight rushing talent if they can avoid it.

We haven’t a clue where any of this will go, but until guys like Ekeler, Barkley and Jacobs land major contracts to match their on-field play, don’t expect the running back payment conversation to change anytime soon.

Louis Riddick names Seahawks NFC’s sleeper team: ‘This is their year’

Last year he was far ahead of the curve.

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Perhaps no other NFL analyst is higher on the current version of the Seattle Seahawks than ESPN’s Louis Riddick. Last year he was far ahead of the curve on this group, dubbing Seattle a “sleeping giant” after the Russell Wilson trade at a time when most people were expecting them to tank. That didn’t happen and now Riddick is even more bullish on this team heading into the 2023 season.

Last week Riddick was a guest on the Rich Eisen Show and he named the Seahawks his NFC sleeper team nobody wants to talk about. Riddick credited general manager John Schneider for putting this team together as well as keeping them competitive for a long time. Watch.

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WATCH: Rich Eisen loves that Michigan football starting a ‘Beat Georgia’ period

Rich is the BEST! #GoBlue

Rich Eisen’s love for his alma mater and it’s football team, the Michigan Wolverines, is so deep, that he might was well be the team mascot.

The eponymous podcast host wears his maize and blue fandom on his sleeve and he even traveled to Arizona for the College Football Playoff semifinal — which ended in a loss to TCU — to see his team on the big stage.

On Thursday, Eisen waxed poetic about the revelation that the Wolverines have reportedly implemented a ‘Beat Georgia’ period to go along with the ‘Beat Ohio’ drill that Michigan started in 2021 — which led to two-straight wins over the rival Buckeyes. Here is what he had to say about why he loves the newfound focus on not just winning the Big Ten, but working toward a national championship.

Watch below:

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Panthers RB Miles Sanders: Bryce Young’s height doesn’t matter at all

Panthers RB Miles Sanders isn’t buying into the height concerns for Bryce Young.

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Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young may not be able to control his height. But, by all early accounts, he can control the offense.

The latest testimony for Young’s standout spring came from running back Miles Sanders, who joined The Rich Eisen Show on Wednesday. Sanders said the 5-foot-10 rookie passer already has an impressive grasp of the unit.

“I look at him and he’s very sharp, and on it with everything. He’s there early, he leaves late,” he told Eisen. “His decision making is smart. He doesn’t force anything really. His pocket presence is what really stands out to me. So, again, the height doesn’t matter at all—I hope nobody’s worried about the height. But I like him, and we got a bright future ahead.”

Eisen also asked Sanders if there was an exact moment where he knew the No. 1 overall pick was the real deal. The fifth-year rusher then referenced a particular pass from practice that caught his attention.

“His pocket presence is amazing to me,” he added. “You think he’s gonna get sacked, you think he’s just lookin’, he’s lost in there. But no—he got his eyes downfield and his release is quick, too. He lets it go quick and it’s accurate.”

Well, we can add another amazed veteran to the Bryce Young Fan Club.

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DK Metcalf talks to Rich Eisen about Bobby Wagner returning to Seahawks

Seahawks star DK Metcalf was a guest on the Rich Eisen show recently.

Seahawks star DK Metcalf was a guest on the Rich Eisen show recently. Among the topics they covered was franchise legend Bobby Wagner, who’s returned to Seattle after one season in LA.

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