The Rich Eisen Show

ESPN Senior NBA Writer Brian Windhorst tells Rich why the Nets have chosen to ban Kyrie Irving from playing until he gets Covid-19 vaccinated and what the enigmatic point guard’s options are ranging from getting vaxxed to actually retiring from basketball, why Ben Simmons caved in on his stance to never play for the 76ers again and if the Sixers will be able to trade the embattled guard.   Rich and the guys recap the Dodgers-Giants NLDS Game 3, and Rich throws some shade Chris Brockman’s way following his Red Sox knocking the AL East champions Rays out of the playoffs which leads to Rich revealing what happened the first (and only) time he used chewing tobacco.   Rich wraps up the hour explaining why Browns QB Baker Mayfield deserves more due respect even though he’s overshadowed in the AFC by the likes of Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes and Bills QB Josh Allen, while Cowboys fan TJ Jefferson makes the case for Dak Prescott as NFL MVP. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rich recaps Lamar Jackson and the Ravens’ 19-point comeback win over the Indianapolis Colts on Monday Night Football and says why Josh Allen now has some stiff competition in the NFL MVP race.   Rich reacts to Jon Gruden’s resignation as Las Vegas Raiders Head Coach after numerous emails surfaced in which Gruden used disparaging comments about gays, women, and used racially charged language.   Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio tells Rich why he thinks “there’s probably more” damaging Gruden emails somewhere and why “there are nervous people” in the NFL whose misdeeds might also come to light, what the Raiders do next in the wake of the controversy, and just how thin the thin ice is that Urban Meyer is on with the Jacksonville Jaguars’ brass.   Rich comments on the Raiders’ next steps and explains why the franchise is in good hands with Mike Mayock, especially if the GM hires former Eagles Head Coach Doug Pederson to replace Gruden. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rich reacts to the emotional, tear-filled postgame press conference of Lions HC Dan Campbell after Detroit lost yet another game on a last-second field goal.   In his NFL Week 5 ‘Overreaction Monday’ segment Rich weighs in on the Chargers-Browns shootout, the much maligned Ben Roethlisberger leading the Steelers to a win over the Broncos, if the Cowboys are the best team in the NFC, if the Chiefs could miss the playoffs this year, if Justin Fields can lead the Bears to the playoffs, and if Crimson Tide fans should press the panic button after #1 Alabama’s loss to unranked Texas A&M.   Chargers RB Austin Ekeler and Rich discuss the team’s huge Week 5 slugfest win over the Browns and how the Bolts are changing their image away from the team that normally chokes in late-game situations, how Justin Herbert has grown as a QB and a leader after just one year in the NFL, what energy and confidence rookie head coach Brandon Staley has infused into the team’s locker room, and shares his unlikely journey to the NFL whi

The Ringer’s Kevin Clark and Rich discuss the latest Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder fight and why boxing’s once moribund heavyweight division is alive and thriving once again, why the 2-3 Chiefs suddenly look mortal after back-to-back Super Bowl appearances, and if the Cowboys have a legitimate show to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. Rich takes a call from Cleveland and wonders if Browns QB Baker Mayfield is getting his due respect for what he’s meant to Cleveland’s growth from laughing stock to title contenders.   With the Jaguars falling to 0-5 Rich breaks down the postgame sound bites from Urban Meyer and Trevor Lawrence and explains why the head coach and the star QB are definitely NOT on the same page. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rich recaps the Bills’ dominant win over the Chiefs on Sunday Night Football and explains why 1) Buffalo is the best team in the NFL, and 2) why Josh Allen is the NFL MVP frontrunner, and weighs in on KC’s reversal of fortune this season that has seen the defending AFC Champions stumble out of the gate to a 2-3 start. Rich and Brockman break down the craziest moments from an absolutely BATS**T crazy sports weekend including Texas A&M’s upset of #1 Alabama, the Oklahoma Sooners’ walk-off touchdown run against the Texas Longhorns in the Red River Showdown, Fury vs Wilder III, the Rays’ controversial ground rule double in their 13-inning loss to the Red Sox, White Sox catcher Yasmani Grandal channeling his inner Reggie Jackson and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Los Angeles Rams All-Pro Offensive Tackle Andrew Whitworth and Rich discuss that crazy double-punt play in their Thursday Night win over the Seattle Seahawks, the “confidence and energy” Matthew Stafford has brought to the team’s offense, and what it’s like to have to face Aaron Donald in practice every day. Actor Phil Dunster and Rich discuss his “Jamie Tartt” character on ‘Ted Lasso’ and reveals he actually made the booming 40-yard free kick in season 2’s episode 6, if he regrets suggesting the producers use “Baby Shark” as his fan chant song, and how many more seasons of the beloved Apple TV+ series fans can expect.   Rich reveals which is his favorite ‘Caddyshack’ scene, and a reluctant Chris Brockman (just 1-11 on his picks this season) offers up his latest “Sneaky Good Games’ for NFL Week 5. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode Rich sits down with Kevin Harlan of CBS Sports and Westwood One's Monday Night Football broadcast. Kevin, who has had a life filled with sports, talks about growing up as the son of Bob Harlan, a former executive with the Green Bay Packers and how a personal recommendation from broadcaster Gary Bender to his dad led Kevin to attend the University of Kansas and its School of Journalism and Mass Communications. Plus, Kevin talks about how a letter to the great John Facenda resulted in an amazing compliment. All that and more in today's episode of Just Getting Started with Rich Eisen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rich lists his top NFL Week 5 ‘Under the Radar’ games including the Eagles vs Panthers, Dolphins vs Buccaneers and Packers vs Bengals, and hatches a plan to troll his NFL Network cohort Michael Irvin who will be getting up extra early in London to call the Falcons-Jets while the rest of the NFL GameDay Morning crew takes the week off. Wrestler CM Punk tells Rich how All Elite Wrestling was able to lure him out of retirement and why he’s all-in on AEW’s bright future, why being a Bears and Cubs fans is one big ball of love and heartbreak (with a dash of frustration sprinkled in), and if he would consider going to Japan to take on Okada.   Rich previews the Jaguars’ big Week 5 game that could determine how much longer Urban Meyer remains the team’s head coach.    TJ Jefferson lists his “Top 5 Least Favorite Sport Moments” including Dwight Clark’s “The Catch,” Carlos Beltran striking out looking for the Mets to end the World Series, Florida State’s infamous “Wide Right II” and more! Learn more about your ad cho

Rich recaps the Los Angeles Rams’ pivotal road win over their NFC West rival Seahawks and explains why 2-3 Seattle is at a crossroads already with the finger injury to All-Pro QB Russell Wilson. Indianapolis Colts QB Carson Wentz tells Rich what it’s like to play in an NFL with not one, but TWO sprained ankles and how he’s dealt with a string of injuries throughout his career, his close connect with head coach Frank Reich, the challenge of facing a tough Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football, and the advice he has for fellow North Dakota State alum Trey Lance before he makes his first career start for the 49ers on Sunday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rich previews tonight’s pivotal NFC West matchup between the Rams and Seahawks and explains why he’s leaning toward a Seattle home win over Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay. In his latest ‘4 Downs’ segment Rich weighs in on how those crazy Week 1 losses by the Bills and Packers look in hindsight, if the Colts still have a shot to win the AFC South, which unexpected receiver has emerged as one of the Falcons' most dangerous weapons, and if the Bengals will be in the playoff hunt at the end of the season. CBS Sports NFL Analyst and former Raiders CEO Amy Trask tells Rich why she would fire Urban Meyer for “a glaring lack of leadership” if she were in the Jaguars’ front office, if there’s any way the embattled head coach can regain the trust of his team, and where the NFL’s crackdown on Taunting originated. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rich explains why Bills Mafia is “feeling it” as their team heads into an AFC Championship game rematch against the Chiefs in Week 5. CBS Sports’ David Samson tells Rich why Gerrit Cole “is no longer an ace,” and why the Yankees should fire manager Aaron Boone and GM Brian Cashman, why the analytics-driven Rays are likely to sweep the Red Sox in their ALDS showdown and go on to face the Brewers in the World Series, and reveals that the Angels likely had an illegal extension agreement with Shohei Ohtani back when they originally signed the 2-way star back in 2018.   Rich previews the NFL’s Week 5 and lists which teams desperately need a win between the Vikings vs Lions, Colts vs Ravens, Steelers vs Broncos, Falcons vs Jets, and the Jaguars vs Titans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rich recaps the Dodgers’ nail-biting walk-off win over the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Wildcard Game, and laments how pervasive analytics have greatly removed the possibility managers will leave their aces on the mound deep into playoff games.  Ravens DE Calais Campbell tells Rich how close he came to retiring after last season and what got him to come back for his 14th NFL season, how Baltimore go past their rash of ACL injuries to key players during training camp, why the team trusts head coach John Harbaugh implicitly, why Justin Tucker might be the best kicker in NFL history, and what challenges await them on Monday Night Football when they face the Colts.   Rich previews the pivotal Week 5 AFC showdown between the 3-1 Chargers and the 3-1 Browns which leads to a debate on whether or not Baker Mayfield would still go #1 overall to Cleveland if we re-drafted the 2018 quarterback class. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Yankees play-by-play announcer Michael Kay and Rich discuss the Pinstripes’ disappointing end to their season in a Wildcard Game loss to their archrival Red Sox and what the aftermath could look like in the Bronx for manager Aaron Boone and GM Brian Cashman, the early exit of $300 Million starter Gerrit Cole after just 2 innings against the Bosox, how the Yankees can take a page from Boston and the Tampa Bay Rays in their use of analytics, and how the Nets could respond to Kyrie Irving’s refusal to get Covid-vaccinated which could result in him having to sit out every home game in Brooklyn in the upcoming NBA season. Rich takes a call from his Boston sports fan brother-in-law who calls in to gloat about the Red Sox win over the Yankees.   Rich reacts to Urban Meyer’s latest comments on why he decided not to fly home with the team after the Jaguars Thursday Night Football loss to the Bengals and explains why his explanation only leads to more questions.    Rich breaks down the comments from Bears Head Coach M

Rich reacts to breaking news out of Chicago where head coach Matt Nagy caved into fans desires (and common sense) to name Justin Fields the team’s permanent QB1 moving forward. Rich hands out this week’s Gorilla Glue Toughest Player on Planet Earth Award to Cincinnati WR Alec Pierce who hauled in 6 catches for 144 yards in the Bearcats’ upset of previously unbeaten Notre Dame.    FOX Sports’ NFL and CFB Rules Analyst Mike Pereira tells Rich how College Football can fix its inconsistent enforcement of its controversial Targeting rule, why the NFL overreacted with its emphasis on flagging players for Taunting, and if we’ll ever see a “Sky Judge” to oversee all penalties in NFL games. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Yankees fan Rich recaps the Pinstripes’ Wild Card Game loss to their archrival Red Sox, and let’s just say he’s not exactly happy with the results. At all. NFL Insider Ian Rapoport and Rich discuss Urban Meyer “being put on notice” by Jaguars owner Shad Khan after the head coach’s embarrassing off-field incident following the Jags dropping to 0-4 on the season, why the Cowboys and Patriots released two very good players in LB Jaylon Smith and Stefon Gilmore (the 2019 NFL Defensive Player of the Year) and where those two could land, and where we stand on the Deshaun Watson trade front.   Rich wraps up the hour explaining why Week 5’s matchup against AFC South rival Titans could be a make-or-break game for the Jaguars HC Urban Meyer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former NFL GM Michael Lombardi tells Rich why Jaguars owner Shad Khan would be better off firing Urban Meyer sooner rather than later following the head coach’s embarrassing off-the-field weekend following the Jags moving to 0-4 on the season, if Ben Roethlsberger is the Steelers’ best option at QB, why the Chargers have the best roster in the NFL, and why the media made more of the Brady-Belichick reunion that necessary.  Actor Morris Chestnut and Rich discuss how he, a Los Angeles native and Lakers and Dodgers die-hard, became a Philadelphia Eagles fan, and his new FOX drama ‘Our Kind of People,’ and what’s accurate and inaccurate about his career and personal life in a round of ‘Celebrity True or False.’     Rich rants against the latest example of the NFL’s crackdown on Taunting when Raiders TE Darren Waller was flagged for spiking the ball on the Chargers’ sideline on Monday Night Football. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

New York Giants QB Daniel Jones and Rich discuss the G-Men’s big Week 4 overtime win over the Saints on the road, what he’s learned from his predecessor Eli Manning and dealing with the criticism of the New York spotlight, facing the Cowboys in a HUGE Week 5 NFC East showdown, and what advice he has for Rich when running a 40-yard-dash. Rich reacts to the burgeoning issues surrounding Urban Meyer and the winless Jaguars following his embarrassing off-the-field incident that has undermined his authority in Jacksonville and could threaten his coaching future there.   Rich comments on what the Raiders’ Monday Night Football loss to the Chargers bodes for the rest of their season and why we’re jonesing for a MNF Manningcast after just one week without Peyton and Eli’s in-game commentary.   Yankees fan Rich and Red Sox fan Chris Brockman preview the American League Wildcard Game between New York and Boston with Rich voicing how much he despises the Tampa Bay Rays' style of baseball…and umpire Angel Hernandez. Lear

Rich breaks down the Chargers’ pivotal Week 4 win over their AFC West rival Las Vegas Raiders in a home game at SoFi Stadium that very much felt like a home game for the Silver and Black, and recaps the latest twist in the Urban Meyer saga that him apologize for a viral video that showed him in a not-so-flattering moment and wonders if the Jaguars Head Coach is already on thin ice with team owner Shad Khan.  NFL Network Analyst and Chargers radio announcer Daniel Jeremiah tells Rich how new head coach Brandon Staley is reshaping the Bolts’ culture from perennial also-rans into possible title contenders, why Matt Nagy and the Bears should bit the bullet and make Justin Fields their permanent starting quarterback, why the Jets and Patriots drafted will in selecting QBs Zach Wilson and Mac Jones in this year’s NFL Draft, and if Kyler Murray and the undefeated Arizona Cardinals are the best team in the NFL right now.   Rich and the guys react to Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin stating that Ben Roethlisberger i

Los Angeles Chargers Pro Bowl Defensive End Joey Bosa tells Rich how he’s matured as a person and as a football player during his 6 years in the NFL, what the Bolts’ Week 3 win over the Chiefs meant to the team’s confidence, how new head coach Brandon Staley earned his not-easily-earned trust, what challenges their AFC West rival Las Vegas Raiders present on Monday Night Football, and how impressed he’s been with 2nd-year QB Justin Herbert.  Rich reacts to his great weekend of sports fandom with big wins from his Jets, Yankees, and Michigan Wolverines, and reacts to Urban Meyer’s comments after he spent an unfortunate weekend trending on Twitter for all the wrong reasons.   Chris Brockman runs through the latest NFL injury news with updates on Bears RB David Montgomery, WFT TE Logan Thomas, Dolphins WR Will Fuller, Bengals RB Joe Mixon, and more.      Rich weighs in on the controversy at the end of the Ravens-Broncos game where Baltimore, instead of taking a knee on the game’s final play, ran the ball instea

Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro TE Travis Kelce and Rich discuss the popularity of the Peyton and Eli Manning Monday Night Football ‘Manningcast’ and if he and his brother, Eagles offensive lineman Jason Kelce, would consider doing their own ‘Kelcecast’ football commentary, KC’s shocking 1-2 start and how Andy Reid kept the ship steady as the Chiefs head into their HUGE Week 5 AFC Championship Game rematch against Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills.    In his Week 4 ‘Overreaction Monday’ segment Rich weighs in on if the Cardinals should be considered Super Bowl favorites, if Mac Jones is the best rookie QB from this year’s draft class, if the Steelers should trade for Deshaun Watson, if the Bills are the best team in the AFC, if Jimmy Garoppolo is likely to lose his starting job to Trey Lance if he misses any time with a calf injury, and if the Chiefs’ porous defense will keep them from reaching the Super Bowl again.   Rich comments on Kyler Murray and the Cardinals impressive thumping of the previously unbeaten Ram