Hour 2:  NFL Insider Tom Pelissero, plus Chris Webber Talks Final Four & NBA

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1:00How do you think ABS is being taken in batters challenge in the fence it's entertaining The rich eyes and show from the rich eyes and show studio in Los Angeles earlier on the show 14 year NFL veteran Levante David coming up basketball hall of famer Chris Weber NFL Network insider Tom Pellicero actor Wilson Bethel and now it's Rich eyes All right everybody our number two of the rich eyes and show is on the air Kirk cousins is signed with the Raiders a lot of head scratching going on for That one you gave my two cents at the top of our number one Thinking it's a really smart move don't have to start from and oh Mendoza right off the bat. They might do it anyway Not forced to do it Tom Pellicero is going to be joining us in 20 minutes time to give us some considerable Meet on those bones eight for four two or four rich number to dial phone lines roll it because Raider fans are kind of the same way

2:03But lit with excitement or curiosity not the other way up. It is Vegas anyway all the Joining us right now is a basketball hall of famer and one of my favorite humans on the planet makes me happy every time I see certainly that block M in the middle of this man's Jess Chris Weber back here on the rich eyes This week we spot what's up. See what? Where are you? You know, I don't did you hear a lot of our conversation about DuCaiton and you that come back to you because it certainly came back to me when we talked last week You know I saw so many other Publications taking that kind of that argument. So I didn't even know it was that I didn't know it's out there To you told me so it's out there and you and I chapped it up And were you were where were you watching the end of Duke Yukon? I was sitting on my couch and just screaming and Everyone came out from the other room to see if dad was okay It's crazy. I was with some family of friends and I missed it and

3:04That happens I ran up and every almost tell me what's going you know going on but I was just Man, I was just an incredible play. You know, you got to feel sorry for For boozer after playing so well all year You know, I know he'll fight back through that and have a great career But you know he has to you know just be just be down right now But you think it just not to give it up coming back and you know pressure defense late in the game can cause turnovers And I was a great play by Yukon to get that shot Now no doubt about it, you know and cariban having you know the presence of mine to not force it up himself and get it back to the Freshman to shoot the three And win it like that was a really savvy move in crunch time But that's what happens when you've played in the final four, you know two out of your first three years of your college life Chris, right? Yeah, I love it You just made a great point and I'm trying to make this to young players all the time And I talked to them about hero ball the best player should always always take the shot

4:09But when you're in the game a time winning situation The best shot needs to be taken and that's when you really trusted team We've seen stories from Phil Jackson on Michael Jordan talking about it all the way up to today It's a common theme and passing it back from the best three-point shooter in the conference Because two guys was in his view He would have the right to take it But if he didn't feel that confident and that doesn't mean not trusting himself for being ready for the moment mean And like oh, no, this is not the time passing it back I just thought was a really unselfish and selfless play and just as important as the shot because he had the right to take a bad shot and then now it's you converse is the fighting a line-eye and in that Parts portion of the final four and Chris, you know, I Obviously am over the moon about what our school is doing and that Arizona game is going to be nuts And we'll get to that in a second for many reasons since you will be working it. We'll talk about that in a second

5:13that That you converse is Illinois is just for the right to be the Washington generals to use a phrase that you were using a little bit a couple of Weeks ago on your spot here that that the Arizona Michigan game is the de facto national championship game I kind of think that's ridiculous. I'll give you the floor on that though. Chris. Yeah, you can't you can't buy into that especially if Michigan were to win and go up against Illinois You always know that and the conference play as a different familiarity with that And so you really could never just say, you know, Dave is gonna be alive But when you look at Illinois, I've been preaching. I've been preaching about I feel like I've been preaching about eight cuff Illinois and San Antonio all year no because it was just themes that I thought was coming out and the fact that you know You have if you really think about not only the bloodline Not only the relationship to go kitchen this agent not only The unity of that Illinois team. Why wouldn't they continue?

6:18What why wouldn't they they they're playing better on the defensive end and they have some great scores on their team They have guys that have lineage to the league so they're ready for big moments. They want more. I loved it You know, I look at Stuyaka, which is a De facto nephew and I guess so proud sometimes just from the little things and you know what I was most proud with him is when they made it to the final Before it was an interview in the locker room with him and he expressed our joy for it was but he was like we're not done And I still mentality you have to have and when you have players that truly have that mentality And are in the process and enjoying the moment Um, you know, it's it's always tell I told my brother this the other day. You know, you never want to fight. I do this already crying before you fight That's if if you don't know that that's a rule trust me. You never fight a guy to scryen before the fight and I feel like you Never really want to go up against the team That Believes more in themselves and in the moment. It's not satisfied than one that is just being giddy and happy to be in the process and this team is saying

7:24You know, we we got a lot more work to do so I really trust in the noise We're going up against you, Kyle. That's gonna be a slow first. Yeah, no, it's not a given It's not a given for anyone getting to that championship game. Of course not. I mean anybody could take it now So let's get to the Michigan Arizona game I'm not gonna lie a little nervous Chris. I mean that Arizona team has been a wagon Obviously, we have been as well certainly leading to up to this point. How do you how do you see Arizona and Michigan facing off on Saturday night Chris? I'm like I like the end others. I was nervous for every game I played That doesn't mean I'm scared. It just means you know our juices are falling so I'm with you on that Um, but you know, that's because Arizona's good and you respect sport and you know that anything can happen in sport As I said before I like Arizona a lot because They're tough. They're big. They play defense They don't just rely on the three-pointer because I think that you know Three-pointers can come and go and so they have a steady play. They play inside out. They can get you in a foul trouble

8:30And you know, I think the coach has done a wonderful job and they have some wonderful players over there And that being said You know, I really like what coach may has done. I think that Um, the player or the big I mean Mars started off the game the other day when he dribbled to this right thought he was gonna jump hook came back spent left and dumped it and so once one thing I really like as I see the player development I don't know if he would have been able to do that move earlier in the year and still be great And what I'm saying is that as great as Michigan play they always get better Even if it's coming out of some bad play and that's what I look forward to and this to consist the consistency of yaks So um the great play of our guards. Um, we can't turn it over Um, and we got to play great defense like we've been doing it shoot the heck out of the ball So I'm excited. It's a great game for us and from great teams your best player You know your best player stuff up is so it's gonna be exciting man But I feel good about uh, I feel good about the Wolverines. Mill me too. Uh, the reason why I'm um nervous just uh, you know

9:33I guess turn this into a little bit of a support group Conversation is is Michigan's superpower in many ways this year has been um, it's versatility And we saw that on display in in the rounds of 16 and in the elite eight where they you know beat Alabama and Tennessee Two teams from the SEC that do two different things one in Alabama shooting threes playing as fast as they possibly can They did in fact take Mara out of the game literally literally dusty made removed him from the game because you could see The type of game it was was not a Mara game for his for his um his talents And then here comes Tennessee totally different Totally different and Michigan, you know, punked them to use the phrase and and that's what you need to do to survive in advance Certainly in a tournament where you have to do it in such a quick turnaround Our zone appears to be a team that can play in the same way, right?

10:33And so here we go Here we go. That's my level of concern No, and let me add to you know we're concerned to make it you know to get you you know to to make you think more but Is these are the games were foul trouble and uh Two files early let's say in the first ten minutes and it's gonna sit out a great player for the rest of it for the for the half And affect them during halftime and get them cold and maybe take about two minutes to come back in the second half and You know, we're gonna and we're gonna see uh how players handle, you know, how the refs are gonna call it if they let allow it to be physical Because you have two physical teams and then who takes advantage of the momentum Early and so yeah, man I think they're gonna fill each other out, but again, I'm worried that the fact that you know Arizona gives a lot of body blows and body blows may not show up until the end of the fight So we're gonna have to you know get out in the passing lanes and get some easy ones early But you know, that's that's what I think we can do

11:35Chris Weber here on the rich eyes and show speaking of support groups Speaking of groups speaking of this game Michigan and Arizona Chris, I am so excited that you are here right now So we can talk about what was announced quite literally when we came on the air in this hour and started our conversation Is that you and the rest of the fab five are going to get together and conduct an alt cast coverage of the Saturday night Final four game between Michigan and Arizona you jalen juan jimmy king and ray jackson on the call it is happening Holy crap, man Wow, that's awesome and I'll give you the floor on however you want to talk about it. How you feeling about that? I feel great, you know, we've been excited I'm working on this for some time now You know, it's been great working with jalen back at turnon

12:35You know glad to be doing this with juan and jay and jimmy and ray so excited man You never know what you're going to get with eternal And so I love the turn of family for doing this. So I one thing I would say is going to be fun as Adam left goes I'm going to be hosting these these are cool dudes. So I know it's going to be fun But I don't know what to expect when you work with such great producers and all that but I'm excited I don't even know what to say like you said is announced today I know it been talking everyone is you know made sure that that we could be together. This is the first time You know, I know that you know, I've been with the guys publicly and and quite some time and so All five of us are being together and quite sometimes. So it's going to be fun but Hopefully the fans enjoy it like we do and we're going to be rooting on Michigan But respecting both teams and and all the players that are there, but yeah I'm just gonna keep wrapping it because this is something I mean, what do you say you get to be

13:35And watching the game. I mean, I mean, I mean everybody at home should be able to relate hanging out with your boys watching the game and sharing them with the world. It's pretty cool That is awesome And I was going to ask you that so let me follow up on it See if you can jog your memory one was the last time the father you were together at all period We all worked together a couple years ago When we went to the Michigan game and ate dinner and hung out and we're on a text read We're always talking all of us communicate So it it isn't that I just mean being able to really hang out in front of the world Maybe the Michigan game when we came together. Okay When Jerome was coaching to support him But it's it's been some time but the funny thing is that everybody When we get together everybody's goes back to being 18 so it's Is a lot of fun a lot of a lot of a lot of a lot of a lot of a lot of talking a lot of talking So it'll be fun. So there's a text chain of you Jalen

14:38Jimmy and right that's it. Oh, yeah, everybody's on oh, yeah, that's that's been forever I mean, I think you know kind of to go back You know, I don't think most people remember that when I came out of the NBA and I went to go to the state after That situation there I was in control to choose any team I could go to right and so my bright idea was to go to the worst team in the league Which is the Washington wizards at the time to hang out My boy Chihuahua and play with him. And so our tech chain has been going on since You know since phones, you know since we have cell phones, but if you go back and see the silly stuff We talked about it with players or how this guy you couldn't check this guy This team would have beat you just a kind of you know down came the relationship and just throw something to add to start Some good arguments we have and so man. I love those guys. It's a it's a lot of fun We talk about everything from you know family to

15:40To favor basketball plays where it's sincerely and true friends Jalen. I've been friends since About 12 years old's one. I've been really good friends since about 14 years old and so you know It's all it's all genuine and that's why it's fun to be able to share this moment You know with the world and again, Turner for let us do is that crazy and it's going to be fun It's great. I couldn't be happier. So Polinka's not a lot on the text chain Chris Stealing Luca from teams. Yes, I mean that's what he's doing I was going to mention on so no dougan five and five on this on this you were gonna go do again five and go do again Well, we have our old chain, but I was talking to Freddie Hunter who runs Detroit power the other day We're gonna do something then Texan trying to find Bosco so James Bosco hit me up

16:41But you know, he's an astronaut. So he's probably watching the moon. Yeah, the artist too You know Right exactly. I mean, so yeah, we all have our relationships and now but it's really cool because again, you know It's fun and then we get the broader publicity and you know, we did a lot and we deserve it however, you know, we talk about Banners or anything like that it would be unfair to put a fat five anything because we would not be us without Chip armor and all the players that we play with San Mitchell and other players and so Yeah, we have Texan's with everyone else to get to end the day. We are Michigan and but the fat five is Is it pretty funny Texan and hopefully people can see that come to life This weekend now, you know what but Chris. It's it really is the Dream of you know, anybody fortunate enough to go to college and have experiences with friends and meeting friends and knowing friends And I know you mentioned how you've known Some of the fat five since you know teenage years prior to college

17:45But everybody wants to go back to school at 1.1 day Just go back in time and live like you did and have fun times and and and and connect and reconnect and keep that thing going It's going to be a moment for the five of you at a final four getting miced up getting ready to sit down looking around There's the crowd, you know the Yukon Um and and a line i fans are you know, just saw that game But you're about to sit down and do your job like this for Michigan, Arizona It's going to be awesome and you deserve it you guys deserve it You deserve it Thank you brother and you know, it's funny when coach Hall ball brought me back to Michigan to go to the football game I didn't want to go to the team breakfast and everything else because I didn't want it to be a distraction Right because I knew if I were on the other side I'd be like oh, he's here watch what we do and so we're gonna have fun and was great Is that we have a team that's already aligned and doing their thing and by us having the presence

18:48We're not taking away from them but actually saying how fun it is To honor this team and to come together for this team that we love that we believe in and we're excited for this team And yeah, we're gonna get a lot of the line like we're just going to be cool supporting So looking forward to a brother and definitely be texting you and be laughing all the time No, but Richard Jefferson's jealous bibbies jealous There's only one all cast for this Chris have a blast. We'll chat about it next week. Take care Thanks appreciate The reason why I got into Michigan or I started looking at Michigan is because of the movie The Big Chill Which is again It's an older film But it was about Michigan graduates getting back together after the death of one of their friends By the way played by Kevin Costner who got cut out of the film

19:50He's only in the first scene in the coffin right? You just see his wrist that's it and any rate There's tons of Motown music to it and it was written by Lawrence Caston Who you know went to Michigan and it's all about college friends getting back together and realizing how they've grown apart Still trying to remember about why they were together to begin with and it's it It's a brilliant film and Lawrence Caston spoke at my college graduation inside Uh, Chrysler arena as it was known at the time, which was The home of Michigan basketball still is and his speech was essentially, you know Hey everybody your college relationships that you have made are so important You need to realize later in life if it's for a wedding It's for a bot mitz for a bar mitz for for a confirmation or for whatever Make the time and go and reconnect You know and and it was a beautiful speech that really you know hit me hard And the only thing missing was the Motown soundtrack as he was delivering that speech

20:51And he's been on the show and I've told him this because it's you know He's written a million other things and directed a million other things like every great star wars and Indiana Jones film but um, he gave a message and I'm thinking about that right now. Yeah, that these guys, you know, they got back together for a college friend when he was coaching And now they're all going to get back together I was you know, I'm going to have to peek in on this. Yeah for sure during the game. I mean on a far smaller scale I'm in about three weeks. I'm going to get that guess personified at when we had the Pittsburgh and do the show Yeah for the draft right and thinking about like just my personal story and just like For us to be able to go to Pittsburgh where I you know, I was born and raised in Altoona But obviously I grew up in Pittsburgh is where I learned to become a man, you know how I learned everything You know, my boys are still my boys So when we go back there, man, that's gonna hit me like a ton of bricks for us to be able to come by the set I don't know if you want them at the center of the rowdy

21:53That was a different message than I got on my graduation day from Rudy Giuliani Which was Wait a minute. He spoke it's your graduation. It's circus. Yeah, okay for real Let's take a break Tom Pellicero next turn here in the rich eyes and show The rich eyes and show podcast Tom Pellicero joining us here on the rich eyes and show joining us still in Arizona after the owner's meeting It's good to see you Tom. How are you sir? Good to see you rich doing great. What's up to my boys in the studio? What's up, baby? Tom, you look like you're standing up super. Yeah, you look very tall. Very tall. Yeah, like you're long neck I currently have one tables the two there's two tables the room one is stacked on the other So I could angle it away from the mess to my children have created on this side I think I did a pretty good job. By the way, awesome. It looks like you're already a Disney world, Tom

22:55All right, let's get into it here Where did Kirk cousins to the Raiders come from? Tom The Raiders were pursuing Kirk cousins ever since the Falcons released him The issue that they had to work through was Kirk cousins was due 10 million dollars fully guaranteed in 2026 Even if he was sitting on the couch He was not going to play in his mind for free Which means that he was going to need to make more than that 10 million dollars if he was going to play somewhere The Raiders and cousin's agent Mike McCartney came up with a pretty unique structure to work around that issue And I know there's a lot of numbers the people have seen on social media Let me break it down to you this way that there's really two ways this contract can go the most likely one is for cousins This is a one-year 20 million dollar deal of which the Raiders are paying 11.3 million The 10 million he was all by the Falcons is subject to offsets He took a minimum salary this year from the Raiders so about 1.3 which leads the rest on the Falcons books

23:56But then to increase his compensation for 2026 they put a 10 million dollar roster bonus on the third day of the league year In this coming March in 2027 which differs the cash and cap until March But effectively means he makes 20 million dollars to play this season There is more to the contract though the other version of the deal is this potentially could be a three-year 100 million dollar deal because if cousins is still on the roster on the fifth day of the league year next March Then he is going to have an additional two years and 80 million dollars in the 2027 and 2028 season become fully vested It's basically a team option and as much as it seems unlikely right now that they could pick that up rich I would say this Kirk cousins had one of his best seasons playing with Clint Cubiak as his offensive coordinator In Minnesota. It's where cousins won his first playoff game over the Saints They were in the game the following week against the 49ers before they kind of ran out of gas Cousins has played well in this system. He's 37 he played a lot better once he got his opportunity last year

25:00That he had coming right off the Achilles back in his first season with the Falcons in 2024 So let's say Hypothetically Cousins plays really well. Of course the Raiders have the number one pick. We all expect them the draft Fernando Mendoza But Cubiak is set himself a couple of days ago at the league meeting in a perfect world You'd like the rookie to come in and sit behind this is Clint's words a grown adult and see how he runs things before giving his opportunity Let's say Kirk plays so well. They don't need to go to Mendoza at all in 2026 there is a scenario here where cousins plays really well and all of a sudden now You've got a two year 80 million dollar deal or two for 90 prior to the third day of the league year That maybe could be tradable for the Raiders. They have an exclusive negotiating window to maybe try to work out a Restructure. They also have the option of a tape. You played really well, but it's Fernando's time. Let's move on for me There is a scenario where they could trade Cousins and oh by the way the other thing that I just learned about the way The steel is structured that additional 80 million almost all of it is in

26:042028 he's on the books for minimum salary again in 2027 of course in addition to the 10 million dollar roster bonus So 78.5 or whatever is pushed out into 2028. It really gives the Raiders time here to figure out exactly how they would want to proceed All this presuming that cousins comes in plays really well It does give some optionality really to both sides because they don't pick up the option Which I would say is most likely and cousins is right back in the same spot except this time with no offsets And he's a free agent again next March and obviously agents and front offices need to parse everything now to the final syllable for a Contract and of course again run the traps about how it could all work out in success in the long run Which is what you just laid out for us and that all has to be figured out now get it But let's not put for the the salary cap in the extra years cart before this horse Which is what happens in September what has based on your reporting or knowledge Cousins been told about a week one possibility this year Tom. What's he been told

27:08Everything that Kirk cousins from my understanding was told behind the scenes This was not a recent thing. This was going on for several weeks now Match what Clint said during his breakfast with the media which was in a perfect world You'd prefer that the rookie sets now What does that look like through the course of the offseason? How does cousins perform? How does Fernando Mendoza who by the way is coming from a vastly different system where he hasn't really been under center Hasn't had to turn his back to the line of scrimmage on play action all those things that are fundamental to the system that Clint wants to run Does he accelerate quickly enough where it's like hey? We just he's ready. He's ready to go What this does is this gives them a fallback option? And really I would say it's more than that the preference for clikubiac is that he's not throwing Mendoza out there in week one There's still things to go here in terms of the draft. There could be additional free agent moves There could be trades But if you look at the Raiders office. Yes, they have Ashton genty. They have Brock powers Those are two really good pieces to build around they went out and they got Tyler Linderbaum to play center on a deal

28:10That is almost identical to the three or eighty four million dollar deal that cousin signed back in 2018 Which was the massive deal that shocked everybody and now a center is getting that eight years later Which tells you how the salary cap has gone here But if you look at the way that the Raiders are building this year They know they've got more work to do at wide receiver. They got more work to do on the offensive line Kirk coming in in a way is similar to Tyler Linderbaum coming in which is let's build out as many ways as we can to protect the rookie quarterback again It's possible Mendoza comes out lights it up in the preseason and they just say hey We're going to go with Mendoza out of the gate But unlike the other quarterbacks who granted were or do more guaranteed money rich guys like Tua and Kyler who went in on pure minimum deals The Raiders are paying cousins 11.3 million dollars to play in 2026 Regardless whether or not he's on the field that means I don't envision Kirk cousins getting cut I don't envision them trading him this year. I would say standing here right now And again, we are five months out from this rich I would say the most likely scenario is Kirk cousins is the Raiders quarterback in week one his play and the progression of Fernando Mendoza

29:17We'll determine exactly how long that lasts I'm going to tell Sarah here on the rich eyes and show and the other Aspect of this that I was pointing out in the first hour time I want to hit you on is the Rogers part of it was cousins ever on the Steelers radar screen or they are just all It's Rogers. We're just waiting on on his timing and that timing is eventually going to Result in him saying yep on play for the Steelers in 2026 Tom Kirk cousins was on the Steelers radar just like he was on the Steelers Steelers radar a year ago They did call and check on his availability while waiting for Rogers Which remember didn't resolve itself until June last year They were checking on a bunch of different contingency plans cousins was one of them the Falcons regime at the time Just didn't really make cousins available But they certainly had a level of interest and this time around if Rogers didn't come back My understanding has been that cousins was one of the possibilities that they could go out and pursue You're talking about a really short list at this point of experienced veteran quarterbacks

30:21Who are still available on the market you have Russell Wilson the Steelers have already gone down that road I don't foresee them doing it again Jimmy Garoppolo if he's on a team in 2026 I would think especially with cousins off the board that it ends up being back to the Rams You got Tyrod Taylor is still out there But I don't envision Tyrod at this stage in his career being a you know walk in the door day one starter It's really Aaron Rogers or these Steelers potentially are going to roll with Will Howard and Mason Rudolph And you know sign or draft another one to fill out the depth chart having said all that Aaron Rogers has not Committed to the Steelers. He has not given them a firm answer I know the Mike McCarthy said at the breakfast for the AFC coaches that he talks to him every couple of days He's all the indications rich if not changed from what I've been told of the last two months Which is if I had to lean one way or another I would lean toward Aaron Rogers is the Steelers quarterback In 2026, but at what point does he actually tell them that at what point if at all to the Steelers simply say

31:26We're down the road, you know all those misreps in the spring last year weren't helpful You know when Rogers was getting frustrated with some of his young receivers during the season and it was you know Hey, well if you put in more time in the spring maybe it wouldn't be that you know Maybe it would not be that way they're voluntary even if he's under contract But from a team building perspective even from a free agency perspective and knowing Aaron Rogers the quarterback Might have made it easier for them to pursue some things in free agency But they went on and got Rico Dowdell who I know Mike McCarthy really likes and the fit for him in the backfield They traded for Michael Pittman They have made some moves obviously DK Metcalf coming back It's not as if Aaron Rogers will be walking back into an empty cupboard I know that Art Rooney said that he hoped to know before the draft What the decision is going to be from Rogers that begins three weeks from today I would expect sooner than later. They're going to get an answer And again if I had to guess if I had to lean one where the another I would lean toward Rogers returning But this is Aaron Rogers only he knows, you know, what he ultimately wants to do. I know he's out in California

32:28He has been working and training and staying engaged With Steelers personnel namely his old coach from Green Bay Mike McCarthy Those signs all point toward him playing But he hasn't actually said if or when he's going to do that and so once again we await that news The Signing of Pukinakua is certainly hit a an interesting turn here usually when you're about to try and hit it um You or He's he's in a rehab facility in Malibu right now Tom. What do you know about this and how it affects the Rams plans to To pay him long term Well in the short term the focus is on of course Puka working through the the issues that he has and this was not I know that the news came out yesterday, but this was known by the Rams This had been known frankly within the league for the past couple of months that there were some potential issues there That we're going to have to be addressed I think that it was much as you don't judge anybody off videos and things like that There were signs in terms of just you know behavior and decision-making that you could tell something had been a little bit off

33:32With Puka in terms of his long-term future with the Rams I don't get the sense that they were going to be in any rush Regardless to get a contract extension done unlike Jackson Smith and jibba Puka was not a First round draft pick so he's got one year left at a very low number where Jackson Smith and jibba had two years left With that fifth year option being a pretty big number The math and the way that you spread those numbers out is going to be a little bit different here But I would also say you know a player going to rehab doesn't necessarily mean They're not going to come better back and be better versions of themselves. We see Max Crosby do that For a long time When he first went away to rehab something he revealed years later I mean, I frankly I knew about it other people knew about it These are private matters and guys are going through real life and death types of things At times you know bread far of once upon a time one away to get treatment for a vikin in addiction There's there's all kinds of players and so the the sense that I get is you know the Rams love Puka He's obviously a phenomenal football player

34:33Whatever he might have been dealing with last season It didn't stop him from being one of the best players in the entire NFL The focus right now is get him back Given the support he needs I have no doubt if he comes back in plays well That that monster contract is going to be there. It's just not on the front burner right now right now And again, I don't get the sense that this was really going to be something that was going to get done now Regardless I mean, it's the first week of April JS ended his deal in March. There's not many deals to get done Let's see where we are closer to the start of the regular season. It's exactly how the ramps are to handle this Handful of minutes. I have left Tom the story of the annual meeting was what I would say it's the standoff with officials which is really accelerated from oh well You know the deals coming up at the end of May, but they've always worked it out in the past to you know It's not a five alarm fire right now rich. We've at least got you know Some things a flame at this point namely the flame throwing back and forth Namely from you know the NFL referees association and their executive director Scott green

35:34Who has not been shy about Publicly which he had not really in the past in his time leading the NFL RA You know taking public shots and laying things out there You know the dispute it's multi-layered. There is a financial component to it And that is the argument that Scott Green made in his most recent public statement And it certainly has been made in the negotiations Which is just you guys are all making a lot of money. We deserve a larger chunk of that money They're offering the NFL is offering the largest year over year Salary increases that they've ever offered. It's in the five to six percent range the NFL RA wants 10 percent They also want $2.5 million for marketing rights that the NFL essentially would say what does give you the rights They're not worth anything nobody's putting a referee on a weedies box You can have the rights. They don't they're not of actual value here So that's one part of it the second part of it is a resistance from the official side to anything that would resemble Substitutive change to how they are evaluated and how they are compensated the NFL's pushes

36:39It's a lot of things that we all as media as fans as people around the game can say are common sense Which is extending the probation period as you're coming into the league subjecting under a poor under performing officials to additional work Including having to work UFL games in the spring if you are one of the very small percentage of officials that falls Below the line. It is a rewarding performance For playoff assignments rather than seniority like it is right now if you're a first year official You're not allowed to work in the Super Bowl right now the NFL would say we're not gonna ban a rookie quarterback From going and playing in the Super Bowl. Why would we ban a first year official if he's the best for the job So there's resistance on a lot of those things and for anybody familiar with you know municipal unions One of the one of they you know protect its wages It's working conditions. It's benefits and its job security. This is not a traditional municipal union But they are you know on a fundamental level addressing all those things they want to maintain The status quo just me talking

37:41I would certainly say there is something to be said for if you're one of the 90 plus percentage of the officials Who are above the line? You probably don't like the other 10% of the officials who are falling below the line and giving everybody a bad name So if the financials got to a certain place rich I think that the union potentially would be more meldable to some of these other things that the NFL is asking Right now though. It feels like they're nowhere and the NFL is already Based upon people I talked to at the league meeting Setting in motion some of those things that they're more than a warning shot. They're also a direct Here's what our plan is going to be and we are going to reach a point in no return That includes they're going to start hiring replacement officials on a contingent basis as soon as next month in advance Of the deal expiring these are division one division two division three college officials by hiring them in May Instead of waiting like they did back in 2012 with the fail Mary and all the other things that people remember This are given June and July to put those officials through a battery of trading They will then send them to training camps to get the maximum number of live reps possible throughout the course of training camp

38:46So they're best prepared for September But on top of that you had two rule changes that were approved At the NFL annual meeting one of them was a permanent rule change Which is subtle but significant that allows the league office starting this year To weigh in on Non-football Offenses or things that would be ejectable, you know helmet hits Sweet and helmet hit somebody DK McCaff going after a fan This would allow even if there's not a flag on the field for the NFL to not only say you're out of the game But also we're putting a flag on the field that's the first time that's happened And that opens up a can of worms in terms of the potential expansion in years to come right the second one is on a one-year basis That would grant the league office the power to overrule anything that is clear and obvious and clear and obvious has been a tricky Standard ironically enough. We saw it in the passing experience thing back in 2019 But essentially they're saying we can get by with a lesser caliber or less experience caliber of officials Because if they screw up we're just gonna fix it. We're just gonna weigh in and fix everything

39:50That also rich is gonna be hard to come back from if we go to an environment where the NFL Is able to fix anything and I know for a factor coaches who brought this up at the meeting If we're willing to do this on a one-year basis with replacement officials Why wouldn't we do this with the regular officials part of that it is because those things are collectively bargain But just imagine if we could even a taste of the full-on big brother and somebody at 345 park Holding down flags for passing interference overruling the official what he just called on the field We are into a completely different territory that the competition committee is not gone wanted to go to in the past Substituted one person's judgment for another But it does open up the door to a lot of different possibilities that would fundamentally change how NFL officiating works Tom we got to run thanks to the time enjoy time with your family chat again next week brother Does good risk. Tommy P everybody. Tommy P back on the rich eyes and show in just a moment The rich eyes and show the podcast

40:53You Back on the rich eyes and show No one likes having a choose and this is why With America's best lineup of hybrids from Hyundai you get the best of both worlds like the reliable and efficient Tucson hybrid with America's best warranty or the stylish yet capable son to pay hybrid With the power to navigate the toughest terrain. It's like having your cake and eating it too, but you know better Hybrids from Hyundai. It's the best of both worlds visit Hyundai USA.com right now Or call this number five six two three one four four six oh three for more details Ben and Columbia Missouri has been hanging on since we said hello. What's up Ben? Ben for taking my call I was wondering who you think has the better agent Kurt cousin Sam Bradford or Chase Daniels Who I believe has the highest dollar per snap out there well chase Daniel Paid very well as a backup. We know that Sam Bradford was the last quarterback drafted under the previous collective bargaining agreement Where you paid the first overall pick the most amount of money anybody's ever been paid in the history of the NFL and certainly of your team

41:59So I'll go Kirk cousins 11 straight years Thanks to the call Ben and thanks for hanging on great. I'll go Kirk cousins. Yeah, and just in terms of overall dollars He will have now been paid more in his career than Tom Brady It's not just Tom Brady, but it's it's so well-known. He's saying his boss or you know what I'd love to see I'd love to see him compared to major league baseball pitchers since he's been drafted Paid fully guaranteed like a throw a a thrower of the football paid like a pitcher of the baseball Is there a is there baseball comp off the top of your head Brockman Uh Mac surezer three hundred and forty five million and how much is cousin Kirk's gonna get to three 41 as the number I saw Paid like Mac surezer's been paid Justin Verlander the most pitcher of 409 The fact that an NFL player is in that neighborhood. Yeah, that highly respectable neighborhood to use them at night run phrase You know, that's a pretty respectable neighborhood three twenty eight. It's he's paid like a major league baseball pitcher

43:02A world with no salary caps and everything's guaranteed An NFL quarterback It's it's not small. So yeah, I mean that that answers the question right there You know 100 percent So it's hard to feel sorry for Kirk cousins and then you say to it. Oh, he's doing all right No, I I understand that you know Feel sorry for him. I mean he's he's done really well in his career It's just he hasn't had the results that somebody paid like that which is like just get to a super bowl You know Wilson Bethel the man who plays bullseye in daredevil born again The Ridge Isis show podcast