College football broadcaster Joel Klatt drops by to preview this weekend’s upcoming action. NFL Network host Rich Eisen stops by to react to last night’s win by the Kansas City Chiefs. Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer, Nancy Lieberman joins the show and weighs in on Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and the evolution of women’s hoops and the WNBA. Plus, Host of the “Throwbacks” podcast, former NFL QB Matt Leinart and actor Jerry Ferrara talk about their new show and chop it up about life as a celebrity in Los Angeles.
You are listening to the Dan Patrick Show on Fox Sports Radio.
Joel Klatt, Fox Sports lead college football analyst. He'll be on the call with Gus big newon Kickoff in ann Arbor, Texas in Michigan. Let me ask you about Lamar Jackson in that style, like, how would you just if somebody didn't see Lamar, how would you describe his style? Oh, gosh, that's a great question.
I would probably I would describe his style as conflict. He's constantly putting the defense in conflict because of his ability to impact with his legs. Now, I've been a big believer and I talk a lot with Daniel Jeremiah about this when we lead up to the draft, you know, because listen, I'm in the college game, so that style in college is probably profable, to be honest with you, But as you go on, DJ and I like to play this like confetti tests in the draft, and we take a look at all the quarterbacks leading up into the draft, and we're like, Okay, close your eyes and picture of the confetti reigning down. Can you picture him winning a Super Bowl? His style of play, his personality, all of the things that we try to evaluate in the draft, process, and with Lamar there's one thing. There's one thing that sticks out at times, which is, at some point in the playoffs, and this goes for any player, you're going to have to as a quarterback, control the game from the pocket. Now that doesn't mean that you can't impact the game outside of the pocket, but at some point you will have to control the game from the pocket. And I think that to your point, regular season versus postseason, there are times when when maybe that's lacking, you know, But to be fair, it's like I don't study the tape of those NFL playoff games. That's from afar, you know, sitting there as a fan watching some of those games.
All Right, So you have the big game at noon, it's going to be Texas in Michigan. Texas is favored by seven. Does that point spread say more about Texas or more about Michigan?
Probably a little of both. To write both sides of that fence. I think Texas looked really efficient and in control and physical, and they looked like a team that resembled what Alabama has been in the past, you know, And that's kind of what Sark wants to do and build a team that's versatile, can do a lot of things, play physical, play fast, all of the things that you would need to go win a national championship. Meanwhile, I think that we looked at what Michigan was as fifteen to zero national champion with guys that could take them above their style and philosophy like Corum and McCarthy and these guys, and then we watched them against Fresno State and Dan. To me, it resembled a lot of the twenty fifteen sixteen early Harbaugh Michigan teams. Journeyman quarterback Jake Rudoch remember him, He was a transfer from Iowa. Wilton Spate was a quarterback back in sixteen. Those teams were good and philosophically really sound, but they lacked some of the pieces that could take them above their philosophy and their ex'es and o's. That's what it looked like kind of on on Saturday night against Fresno State, and I think that's why you're seeing the line where it's at.
Let's do the confetti test with quinn Ewers close eyes. Can you see quinn Ewers with confetti raining down upon him this season?
Whoa wait, wait, wait, which confetti are we talking about the many Lombardi Trophy confetti's that somebody cuts out, which is incredible. Or are we talking about like the square college football confetti that's.
Cheap, Yeah, the cheaper version. Okay, championship.
Can you see?
I can, I can't. I think that this Texas team is very versatile. I think that they are very there deep. They've got probably I would say that, well, the most experienced offensive line in the country. Certainly, they got four guys that have started for the better part of three years up front in front of him, and their most talented guy might be the fifth that that isn't one of those experienced guys. I think that the only thing that is concerning for Michigan is that they're having a place Byron Murphy and Trevandre Sweat. They're two defensive tackles, and you might be thinking yourself, like, well, what do you mean in our game? In the college game, it's not necessarily about your quarterback, although that's important. The national champion always as an elite defensive interior defensive line that can control the game. We saw that last year with Michigan. We saw the two previous years with Georgia and so Texas is going to have to overcome losing those two guys might not be all about quinn Ewers as much as it is that defense, which is what I'm excited about for Saturday then, because that's exactly where Michigan is going to probe and they're going to try to soften up. That's their entire mo is to try to control the game at the line of scrimmage, so that aspect of Texas's team is going to be tested.
I said after well the Monday, after watching USC play, they won the perception, like the perception victory of the weekend was USC because we saw that be tough, we saw them play defense we as opposed to the last couple of years. I don't know how much of perception victory counts. You know, it's still one win, but it did feel like USC addressed a lot of the issues that we've been waiting for them to address.
Are they doing more?
Yeah, I think so. And I think to your point on two different fronts, Dan, I think that there's you know, now, all of a sudden, the Big Ten is really a five team race, not a four team race. So all of a sudden, the top end of the Big Ten looks much more difficult for teams like Pennsys State, Ohio State, Oregon in Michigan. And then you have this this this narrative that starts and remember, you know, our sport is still subjective and we're still going to put teams into this playoff even though it's expanded through subjective measurements. And when you beat a team like LSU from that conference the SEC, that's huge not only for your program, but also for the conference because those two teams coming into the season, USC and LSU were largely thought of very in a very similar spot within their conference, maybe four, five, six, right in that range. So if you can win those games, it becomes really important from a narrative standpoint to see how many teams your conference can get into the playoff at the end of the season. So twofold on that, and I thought that the defense played tremendous, didn't We kind of forget in a very we are so man, our brains move so fast. It's a quick pay society. Everyone's like, oh, man, Lincoln Riley can't coach just like hold on time out. Yes he can, and he has for the entirety of his career. And now all of a sudden, if he gets a defense that can play that tough, then I think the rest of the Big Ten certainly was put on notice.
What would what would be a successful season for Colorado.
Oh gosh, that's a great question. Before last Thursday, I would have said they could win eight or nine games. After last Thursday, I'm less confident. And the reason is is, while they have elite players, I think they have two players that might get selected in the top five in the NFL draft, Travis Hunter and Shadior Sanders. Outside of that, they tend to make the exact same mistakes and play the exact same style that we saw even early last year, and that growth hasn't really occurred. They mismanaged the clock. They don't have a creative run game, so they throw the ball constantly when they have to rather than when they want to. If you wanted to give them some kudos, you would say their run defense was a lot better this year, in particular against the team even though they were FCS. But North Kota State is I think all of us know that are sports fans. They're a tough minded, run oriented program that's highly successful. But those things about the clock management, the undisciplined play at times, in particular, like a few of those penalties on third down. If they do that against Nebraska, they're going to get beat, maybe handily, because Matt Rules built something pretty special at least I think in Lincoln, in particular, with a freshman quarterback, if Shodoor Sanders and Travis Hunter play elite football, they can beat almost anybody on their schedule, but everything else has to get better. So I think that a successful season for Colorado right now is probably.
A bowl game. Feels like this twelve team playoff is meant for Notre Dame to be in there. Every single year. It was almost I mean, this is TV, It's a TV show, and you want Notre Dame to host a playoff game. It just feels like Notre Dame is I mean, are you okay with that? You get the same feeling that, hey, SEC is going to be represented, Big Ten's going to be represented, Notre Dame's going to be in there. Get a couple of outliers, you.
Know most likely they are. I'm really interested to see what happens. Let me just like peer into the future before I answer your question specifically, I peer into the future. I just sense and feel within the next four or five years, Notre Dame will have more of a scheduling arrangement with a conference that will make their schedule more difficult.
So there's that.
Because this is what's the it's not necessarily the problem of Notre Dame. I think Notre Dame's really good. Marcus Freeman is a heck of a coach obviously, and that defense looked elite, and so I have no problem with Notre Dame being in the playoff, and quite frankly, they probably will be ranked higher than what their seed is. I think they're probably going to be ranked in the top four because I don't know who's going to beat them on their schedule. The issue is their schedule. Their toughest game, at least before the season was probably this road game at Texas A and M. Now it looks like it's the road game at the end of the year at USC. But between those two bookend games DAN with Floria State losing twice, I mean, it's like ten straight scrimmages. I know that that sounds harsh, but like that schedule, it's totally in their court. If they want to play and hold their own standard, they'll be on defeated facing USC and they're going to be in.
The playoff.
Appalation State at Clemson tomorrow night. If Clemson loses tomorrow night, could.
You repeat that real quick?
You cut out for a moment, Appalachian State Clemson. If Clemson loses tomorrow night.
Oh my gosh, Oh my gosh, don't do that to me. I can't do I can't even I can't comprehend. You know what Clemson reminds me of Dan, They remind me a lot, a lot of twenty ten Texas. Texas had that six year run with elite level quarterback play Vince Young, Dacolte McCoy. But what ended up happening is is over those six years, the program's roster started to deteriorate. But we didn't know it because Colt carried them, and he carried them to that National championship game. He gets hurt, they lose to Alabama, and we thought that Garrett Gilbert was going to be like, well, he'll be fine because he's a five star and you know, he's Texas's quarterback. And they fell off the face of the planet, you know, And it took him until last year really to kind of like right the ship. The key was is that Texas missed on recruiting a quarterback, and I think Clemson has done the same now, Caid Klubnick, I'm hoping that this turns around. But this is what happened with Deshaun Watson to Trevor Trevor Lawrence and at the end of Trevor's tenure, yes, they made the National Championship game, but he carried them past that Ohio State team. He carried them to that point. And you look at the draft picks since he's left, and it's fallen off the face of the planet, just like Texas. Texas went like ten years without an offensive player draft until last year, and we're starting to see that with Clemson. So to me, it's not about dabbling the transfer portal or he's unwilling to do this that it's that they've missed at quarterback. We didn't see the deterioration of the roster like we didn't see it at Texas, and I think that's the issue. And I tell you what, this is not the game I would want to play if I was Clemson after losing to Georgia app State, like app State's going to be ready to play. Wouldn't shock me if they if they beat Clemson. But at the same time, I think that the Tigers at least I hope the Tigers write the ship for their sake.
Tell Gus we said hello, have fun tomorrow we'll be watching. Thank you, great appearance, Joel.
I appreciate it. Dan, have a good one vote.
That's Joe Klan. Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch all of our shows at Foxsports Radio dot Com and within the iHeartRadio app. Search FSR to listen live.
He's Mike Krmen, I'm Dan Byern. We have a fantasy football podcast called I Want Your Flexed.
That's right, Dan.
Every week we're gonna scour the waiver wire to find the pickups to turbo boost your fantasy lineup, sit starts, fantasy football players rankings to get you ready to dominate the competition.
Listen I Want Your flex with Mike Carmon and me Dan Byer on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts.
Rich Eisen joining us from Kansas City, the NFL Network host and host of The Rich Eisen Show on Roku. Richie Rich great to see you. I was worried about you. The weather last night, lightning, like I was a little concerned. No, I just I just you know, I'm a grounded man. Dan usually just twenty four to seven, So I grounded myself. I held onto Kevin Harlan and Kurt Warner in the Westwood one booth for dear life and just got through it. You just took it one rain drop at a time, and I like fat and I like that. And then the rainbow came out.
Oh look at us. Yeah, a rainbow called the season kickoff.
That was a fun game.
That was good.
Okay, what do you take away if I say, the one thing you take away from Kansas City is what.
That there one viable three peat opportunity in front of them, and they have the horses to go get it, and they didn't even they weren't even full compliment last night. Hollywood Brown is is at some point going to come back. And and I understand he hasn't had a career that is lit it up with the numbers, but he definitely can take the top of a defense off and create more problems that that Mahomes can take advantage of and so and and their defense looks just as good as last year. Chris Chris Jones is the Hall of Famer that's on their team that nobody really talks about. So you could take that away from the Chiefs last night for sure.
And the one takeaway with the Ravens is.
Is that they're just as good as last year, and that may just be one toe shy of being good enough, you know. I mean that that a couple of times. I was just wondering why they just went away from from Derrick Henry last night, and especially since their first drive of the game. They had six runs from a running back in the AFC Championship game lost and that was definitely one of those moments that you're going to be scratching your head about for the rest of your football lives. And they handed the ball to Henry five times in the first drive, and I thought, Okay, you know, let's check this box. They saw their problem from last year, they fixed it with one of the all time best and he did not have many carries the rest of the game. But that said, the Ravens can absolutely on any given AFC Championship Sunday beat the Chiefs. They just didn't do it last night.
And I think lost in the did he get in? Did he get was he out? Was harball was going for two?
Yeah? Which yay?
I how do you what do you read into that that he's going for I know, on the road, you go for the win, but this fell playoff like.
Yeah. And you know with Belichick gone, he's the second most tenured coach in the NFL, so he's you know, he's not looking over his shoulder to think what Steve Bischott he's gonna think. And clearly, you know, when you have one shot from me, let me just check my notes here, two yard line to win the game. Because we're in America. We're in America, you know, the parts of North America to a two point conversion from the two that they they you do it, You take your shots. You don't leave mahomes with the ball last. That's why the Niners aren't champions in many ways right now. That's why we didn't open up in Santa Clara last night. So I'm not surprised by it. It's the sort of thing that he's constantly done in his career. And man, that was just the whole place went from loud and buzzing with excitement. We're just being one play away for the home team to win. To completely silence, to Sean Hockily making everyone delighted with the announcement, it was just great to be there last night.
Give me the other game you're gonna look at and go, that's maybe not the best game. Like the most important game this weekend, including tonight, is which game I'm looking at?
Steelers Falcons. Man. I just love the whole intrigue of how the Steelers and Mike Tomlin, who is the most tenured coach in the NFL, now that Belichick is working for six other media outlets right now, and Tomlin has switched up the approach on offense that Steelers fans have been full throated about, which is, let's find an offensive coordinator from outside the building, and he brings in Arthur Smith and then totally revamps the quarterback room, brings in Russell Wilson. The minute that Kenny Pickett, to use the Tomlin phrase, acts like a hostage instead of a volunteer, they send him across the Straight States to Philadelphia, and then bring in Justin Fields for a fifth round pick in next year's draft, totally remake the room and it's going to be Russell Wilson now going out there for Arthur Smith. I have no idea how that's going to look and anything that you'd take a look at in the last couple of years, you're going to think that Russ is going to be less than again, but you never know. And to have that play out in Atlanta where they have completely revamped everything, new general manager, new quarterbacks, plural and the criticism that the Falcons received, including you know, I think you and I were kind of vocal on drafting Michael Pennix instead of the top defender on the draft board. Well they kind of made up for that by getting Matthew Judeon and Justin Simmons in the final weeks of August. I'm very excited to see how how both teams handle there for business and it's against each other.
We're talking to Rich Eisen NFL Network Hoast the Rich Iison Show. You can see that on Roku. He joins us from Kansas City. Points of emphasis for referees this year. We saw that last night with offensive tackles lined up or where they're lined up. Do you think we can get to a point Rich where offensive tackles are looking at the side judge and going to my am I okay, like like receivers do that, like am I good? Am I good?
Here?
Because that seems to be a point of emphasis again, I.
Think what we should do is just tell the offensive lineman that if you're lined up in a way where you could see one of your.
Fellow lineman's cheeks, you know, like you could see if you could see one of the cheeks or the the opposite cheek from where you're lining up, you're you're not on side.
I think maybe that could be a point.
I'm good, I'm good with Did you make your Super Bowl vision?
Dan?
Your Super Bowl picker?
Uh?
Yeah, I said the Chiefs with three p It's about time. Just it's the last major North American sport where we haven't seen a champion three years in a row, and it's time. And they really can do it. They really do have the roster to do it. They didn't get their coaching staff rated. Everybody is still in their prime or on the top end of their prime. And why not, I mean truly, why not? Because at some point, you know, Mahomes now that you're going to have to beat Patrick Mahomes in a winner go home game, and Mahomes, I think now has this aura that we've seen from you know, Michael and Kobe and Tiger truly, and you have to wonder and look around and say to when you see someone like Lamar, is he just having his prime moments in the wrong years, in the same way we looked at Malone and and Ewing in that respect back in the nineties, et cetera, et cetera. I do believe we're entering that realm, and the Chiefs have what it takes to cash that in.
We had a topic yesterday the biggest legacy boost by winning the Super Bowl? Which player would have the biggest boost to his legacy? Okay, now I picked Aaron Rodgers. Do you win with the Jets winning in New York? You know we brought up Jared Goff Mahomes obviously with the three pet dak uh. You know where that would place him, you know, in the pantheon of cowboy quarterbacks. So do you have a legacy boost? Pick who.
I might return to? Russ here? Right? I mean at this Russell kind of had a Hall of Fame.
Path Is he still a Hall of Famer right now?
I don't think so.
Has he played himself out of the Hall of Fame.
I don't think you can argue anything else.
Yes, personally nine Pro Bowls, though nine Pro Bowls, two Super Bowls one to one.
He does have the resume. It's just the last several years. You just have to wonder what's happened. And if he goes to Pittsburgh for Pittsburgh and wins it all for the Steelers, then that is one of the biggest legacy boosts you can talk about. And I know what you're saying with Rogers, but Rogers still has He's a first ballot Hall of Famer regardless of whether he wins with the Jets this year. You just don't put him in the in the category of having one month multiple Super Bowls, and you know he doesn't. He doesn't get maybe a mount Rushmore conversation, but I don't think he particularly cares about that. Clearly, I think he would like it. But he's still a first ballot Hall of Famer. When he stops playing five years after he's he stops playing, he's in. I don't think you could say that about Russ I don't.
I don't you know, success though with Ben and Terry, whereas the Jets have had one year and that's what go name it.
Yes, I was a three month old embryo when the Jets won their Super Bowl, Dan, So I was you know, that was minus three months.
You know, you didn't know what you were being berthed into as far as.
Yes, And and the Jets playoff, playoff seasonless streak has now been bar mitzvad, So it's thirteen years. It's now a man in the eyes of the football lord. So yeah, I know what you're saying in that regard, but it's still yes, he would, he would be, he'd have a legacy in New York's sports lore, but he still goes into Canton. And so I'm looking at people who might be on that edge of the true legacy position. Are you in the Hall of Fame or not? And you know, Dak, you could make that case where he does shut everyone up. And by the way, I mean, would be able to show up at Jerry Jones's desk and say that's a sixty million dollars a year back if I've ever seen one. You know, if if he doesn't sign in the next forty eight hours, which is kind of crazy.
What's the interest though that he's losing out on with this new deal, Like how much how much interest would be on a five year, three hundred three hundred million?
Dan, I was more verbal on the SAT. Oh yeah, yeah, you know, I mean.
Was math today, Dan, I My bad. It just came to me of how much interest do you is he missing out on by not getting that contract the guarantee like as it goes on months? You know?
Yeah, yeah, five million?
Was like, is he missing out on five I don't.
Know Dak's retirement plans taking it.
Hit He's going to get seventy million dollars a year.
I don't know about it.
One of those Well in one of the years, Yes, I see, like he's going to be I'm waiting to see like Shay Gilgess Alexander is going to get. He might be the first to get to eighty million dollars in the NBA.
So if Dak signs first this year, like he signs for sixty million in the next forty eight hours, Yeah, does brock Purdy become the highest paid player in the Bay Area on an annual basis? Now that's sixty two and a half. I believe Steph Curry just signed for for a one year extension. Does Purty beat Steph Dan Patrick?
Probably so, Rich Eisen, I think so too.
And you never thought that you How about this? The race of the first sixty million dollars a year quarterback is Dak Prescott and Brock Purty and they you know, and they're going to play each other again in week six and seven, and it's going to be, you know, a metric as to whether each team is going to win the Super Bowl this year. I'm so psyched Football's back.
Dan Michigan in your alma mater, seven point underdog against Texas tomorrow.
Yes, yeah, yeah. Your question is, what's your question?
How do you feel?
Well, Dan, We've won sixteen games in a row, and I'm very excited about those sixteen games in a row. We're taking a one game at a time. This one does genuinely concern me, and but it has been an incredible run if it Let's just put it this way. I don't want to see arch Manning on Saturday. I don't want to see him because if he comes in the game, that means he might be handed a mop and I'm not really interested in at the in the stadium, in the big house.
But you know, you never know, would you have been willing to take a pay cut at NFL Network to keep Jim Harball at Oh no.
No, Dan, he did what he wanted to do. He hung the banner. He's now you know, going and he's in the NFL. Thank goodness for that too. You know, I mean if he wasn't in the NFL, Dan, you have to sit here and just wonder would Brandon Staley have been able to nail the ability to raise his quarterback up by praising his prowess inside a stuck elevator quite like Jim Harmony.
Of all the coaches who have had their quarterbacks stuck in an elevator, Harble stands out with his compliments.
Absolutely, it was a courageous act. It will stand there and be a leader in a stuck elevator and.
Have planner of fascia while standing in the elevator, which maybe exacerbated that injury.
That's next level, Dan, that is that's next level.
He's a hero. He's a patriot, he's a hero. He's an American. He's rich Ice. Good to talk to you, buddy, same here, DP, Well that's rich Ice.
Be sure to catch the live edition of The Dan Patrick Show week days at nine am Eastern six am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the iHeartRadio WAP.
Is Nancy Lieberman there?
Tom Sure?
Alrighty Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. I'm gonna say this. This is gonna sound like I'm, you know, kind of catering to Nance. Better passer than Caitlyn Clark. Okay, better passer. I've seen it firsthand, and I'm sure Nancy would you agree? Are you a better passer than Caitlyn Clark?
We both did our.
Thing on the basketball court. I admire how she pushes the ball up the floor.
Her head's up, she's seeing her teammates.
Dan, There's been great passers in the history of women's basketball.
I'm glad to be one of them.
That's a humble Yes, is what that was. Do you know that we played a pickup game in Dallas and Dion was in the game Ken Norton junior. So Nance is running the point and grown men were getting hit in the side of the head because they didn't have their head on the swivel. And if you ever have played a game with Nance, you have to have your head on the swivel because she will find the open person. And I remember, Don's out there, Ken Norton Junior, and you're running the point.
It was fun. We had a lot of fun.
You know.
People don't realize that for those seventeen years before the WNBA started, I had to play against guys like you. You know, I had to play for the Lakers, I had to play for the Jazz, I had to play in the usbl My daily routine was going to the downtown YMCA in Dallas and playing against NBA guys. So you know, my skills were sharpened, right, iron sharpens iron, and you guys, I would have loved to have those seventeen years to play against the Tarassies and the Kelsey Plumbs, right yeah.
And your nickname, your nickname's Lady Magic. So you know you were doing things that probably a lot of a lot of players weren't going back in the day. And then what was it like? You met Muhammad Ali?
Right?
Oh?
He was my friend and my hero for thirty seven years. He changed my life. He taught me all the really the soft skills and the tough skills that I have today. He taught me to respect everybody, to fear nobody. He taught me to be an everyday champion. He taught me about racism, he taught me about philanthropy, taught me about being an entrepreneur and how how to lift your sport. And I'm grateful that this man was in my life for all those years and Dan like those last ten or twelve years for me to be with him in his home in Phoenix and feed him and put his bib on and hold his hand and just tell him how grateful I was for everything that he instilled into my life. And supportive even when I was hired, you know, the second female hired in the NBA with the Sacramento Kings. Second phone call was to the Alis. He came to my first game in Phoenix. I mean, he was so supportive of me.
That's great.
And one more thing, Nan used to play pickup games. You went to Rutgers Rucker Park.
Didn't you practically lived in Rutger Park. I love it there. I would take the A train from Far Rock Away. It was about forty minutes into Manhattan. Switched trains. I believe it was the E get off at one hundred and fifty fifth walk into Rutger You know, have the T shirts in my jacket, so I look menacing and the guys would look at me like little girl. You know, I was just a little skinny, redheaded kiddo, and they go, little girl, you lost and I'm like, no, are you? And they're like do you know this is Rucker Park And I'm like, yeah, I know, like great people play.
Here is your name, Rutger And they would say no.
I said good, it ain't your part.
And I have lifelong friends, guys who protected me, rode the train with me. Actually, those experiences taught me my mother not to be racist or judgmental, because it was his love and kindness and bond with people that didn't look like me.
It was amazing.
Nancy Lieberman Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, You've called a few WNBA games before I get to Caitlin Clark watching her. How would you sum up this WNBA season?
It's historic, It's amazing, I'm sure, Commissioner. You know, Kathy Engelbert and Adam Silver and Mark Tatum, everybody are looking at this and saying, we had hoped that this would happen. We the players of my generation, had hoped this would happen. And to see Jesse enormous ratings. I think we're up like three hundred and forty six percent. Ratings were on all platforms. Social media has been a part of it. The players that came out of college really brought a lot of their cachet to the WNBA. And there's a healthy respect for the legends of the game that are you know, currently playing, like the Tarasses and you know, just you know, like the Tamika Catchings and the Sue Birds and some of the really great players that were a part of you know, the last you know, twenty five plus years.
All right, you've done a couple of capelin How many games have you done? Caitlyn Clark a couple.
I went to see her in college. We got to be friends.
Who won my award, and I promised I'd go see her play, And I did her last game in Iowa.
I recently did the game in Dallas, the WNBA game. She's just exceptional, I mean.
But being treated differently on the court as a rookie, Well.
When you say being treated differently, is the physicality there, well, yes, of course, if the physicality is there, you know, she has to earn her stripes. You know, seventeen percent of all flagrant fouls this year in the w there's been thirty two as of the other day, and five of them have been against Caitlyn Clark.
But let me say this, she has taken.
Everything that's come her way and she's Look what the Indiana Fever have done since the All Star Break. I think they're seven and one, they've clinched. They're eighteen and sixteen. They had not made the playoffs in eight years. And she you know, Boston and Mitchell are just crushing it right now. They've got a lot going on. I give Christy Sides a lot of credit their coach.
Okay, but why is she I don't want to say she's polarizing, but it feels like Caitlyn Clark is controversial for some reason. Like how did we get to this point?
You know what?
We got to this point because this point has happened before. You know well enough that in nineteen eighty four when Michael Jordan came into the NBA, the ratings in the NBA were not great.
Chicago Stadium was, you know, a third full.
And he comes in from college winning the championship at North Carolina, and you know, the Jordan rules are in effect.
They're knocking, you know, the heck out of them.
He's getting the lions here of the attention, the games are now getting put all of his games are on TV, and he just was a polarizing figure and Tiger Woods was like that when he went to the PGA as well. He changed the total economics of golf the same way Michael Jordan changed the financial economics of the NBA. And I think with that there's going to be it's human nature sometimes to have some envy or some jealousy, and it's happening now to Caiton Clark, and there's nothing wrong with wanting.
To be a part of that. But everybody in this league's are part of the success right now.
Angel Is you know, we haven't had a chance to see Cameron brink Christ she hurt herself. Rikia Jackson from Tennessee's Amazing Angel Reese ha just broke the record, the WNB record as for rebounding in a single season as a rookie.
She's been enormous in what she's done. And Camella Cardozo.
I mean, there's some great young talent along with Caitlin Clark, and you know, other.
Players wanted to see what you got, right, can you take the next level? You know, Diana Trossi said it right early.
She says, you know, these players, including Kaitlin and come to the W and they're playing against you know, grown women who have been at.
This for a long time. It's okay. It's called competitiveness. It's called you know, a will to win. And if you have the skill set, if you're if you're a great player, you're going to be great. No matter what. She's a great player.
She's not just breaking Caitlin rookie records anymore. She's breaking W records. Angel Reese isn't just breaking rookie records. They're breaking W records and you have to respect that. But there's also gonna be players that are gonna be tough on you.
That's just the nature of the beast, I know.
But they're trying to make this a Rookie of the Year race with Angel Reese. And I said, just stop. And I likened Angel Reese the way she rebounds to Moses Malone and just offense and defense. She was just she's relentless. Caitlin Clark is just different. This is a different stratosphere. Caitlin Clark should be runner up to Asia Wilson for MVP this season, league value, team value playoffs, and doing things that we have not seen before by a rookie. Any any problems with any of those comments, No, I don't.
I think she is definitely first.
Let me let me just state this, Asia Wilson is the best basketball player in the world. She's unbelievable and as great as she is Asia on the court and the MVP of the Olympics. Her motor and her leadership. I mean, people want to be around her, kids just adore her. She's got mega endorsements, her own shoe, a great book that I believe you know, is a bestseller.
She's the top.
Of whatever list you have, and then you have a list of other people who are having superior years. I mean, Ifisa Collier is just having a killer season right now with Minnesota, they're one of the top teams in the league that are gonna buy for a championship.
Cheryl Reives.
Reeves is a great coach or Olympic coach. You know, I look at what Sabrina has done. You know, this season is her best season, you know, getting to the rim more not just being you know, labeled a three point shooter. Caitlin Clark is in that next grouping under Asier Wilson of players who should be considered. And look, I know there's people that love Lebron James, don't like Lebron James, love Michael Jordan, don't like you know, the competitive who is better, what generation is better?
You know, you're going to have that. That's just what sports is.
But we shouldn't hate on somebody who's actually doing her job and she's doing it really well an exceeding expectation.
And a lot of these young players in the league.
That's why the w is so appealing right now, and people all it's one of the most rated leagues in the world, and you know, I'm proud to be a part of it. I'm proud to see what's happening with the game. And you know, I hope that the great players in the league right now, whether it's Breonna Stewart or Collier or you know, Tarasi, Britney Griner, I want them to continue to shine with Asia and some of the other players. But these rookies, they don't want to be labeled rookies. They're ballers. They're coming after you. They're coming for your job. They want guaranteed contracts. They want to have long term success and make a lot of money.
Great to catch up with you again, Nance, Thank you, Dan. I think I could still take you on the court.
You couldn't go left.
Uh, we know what happened when I was on the court.
Nance.
Hey, you know what, You're bigger and stronger and better when we played than I had ever thought. And I did tell you that you are a legit basketball player at a high level.
And I think you said handsome too at the time.
Absolutely always handsome.
Just don't want to misquote you. Thank you, Nan, It's always great to see you. Thank you all right, Nancy Lieberman.
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch all of our shows at foxsports Radio dot com and within the iHeartRadio app. Search FSR to listen live.
He's Mike Carmen, I'm Dan Bayern. We have a fantasy football podcast called I Want Your Flex.
That's right, Dan.
Ever, we're gonna scour the waiver wire to find the pickups to turbo boost your fantasy lineup, sit starts, fantasy football players rankings to get you ready to dominate the competition.
Listen to I Want Your Flex with Mike Carmon and me Dan Byer on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast at wherever you get your podcasts.
Matt Lioner Jerry Ferrara co hosts of the new podcast. It's called Throwbacks. It's a weekly podcast from Sinclair and they are sharing stories about well leading up to how one became a star in TV, one became a star in football. They talk about family life. It's available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, all the podcast platforms. All right, guys, let me ask you the poll question. Here, seat and give Matt and Jerry the pole question. Yeah, the pole question is who enjoys Los Angeles more, the starting quarterback for USC or an actor on a hit TV show. Okay, Matt, I'll start with you.
I saw this poll question guys on X and I started laughing. Thought it was fantastic. Listen. I gotta be honest with you. Being a quarterback in LA when USC was the only real football team definitely had its perks.
Guys.
It definitely had its perks. It did, it did. And I will say this before Jerry answers, I did act a little bit back in the day.
I did I was.
My first acting role was on Judging Amy as an extra. Okay, judging Amy as an extra. I didn't get paid money, so it wasn't illegal back then. Okay, so I kind of had the best of both words. Now. I don't know if Jerry's ever thrown a football in a real football game, but I'll let him answer. I think I win. I'm gonna say that though.
Okay, but but Jerry, you were in Entourage, and I think I think you guys might have overlapped. Was Entourage just starting when you were leaving USC? I think round four five was your last year. Matt, does that sound right?
Oh?
Okay, yeah?
Five?
Uh so, Jerry, how big was Entourage you guys when you went out in Los Angele? Did you own Los Angeles when you were filming?
Look, this question made me theuriss for some reason. I don't know why. I feel like I'm gonna screw it up.
Statute of limitations is over, so don't worry about that.
All that being said, Look, it is hard not to say you want to be the quarterback on one of the most iconic college football teams of all time. I'm gonna go with that as my answer. However, I had no injury risks. I never had to travel outside of LA. I was over twenty one. Not that Matt probably had any problems getting into clubs back then, but you know, I could go out have some pops, you know. So it was a pretty great run. And that's why I think makes Matt and I such a fun pairing is we could have easily been running around together back then. And now you cut to twenty years later as some fathers and basically in a whole new chapter, here we are.
Well, what was the interaction prior to starting this podcast? How well did you guys know each other?
Yeah?
I had never met Obviously, I know a lot about Matt, but I never met the guy before. But you know, the minute his name came up for me, I said, oh, there's so much fun Overlapp. I'm New York, he's LA. We both lived in LA. We both have kids that are very young at this point. So and the minute we talked, it was, you know, we went on like a podcast blind date. We hit it off. You know, he wanted to see me again, and here we are. We're now one episode in.
What made you want to do a podcast?
Man?
You know, it's it's a good question, Dan. I've always you know, there's the world of podcasting, right, I feel like everybody has one, and I just I really wanted to wait until the opportunity, just like the perfect opportunity. And for me, it was always like I really want to do it with somebody, and I didn't know who that was. And then when Jerry's name kind of came up, I was like, dude, Turtle from Entourage, he's and to Jerry's point, like I hung with Connolly a little bit, one of Jerry's boys, Like I was that was the only guy from that show that I had an acquaintance with. But when they said Jerry, I was like, dude, I know he's a he's a diehard sports fan. Great, just a great dude, kind of like a guys guy. And then in the similar situation me with just little kids and married and just like going through the chaos of life, but like, okay, this could really work, and we talked on the phone. Our bromance started right away. I think we talked for like an hour on the phone, just like trying to get to know each other. But it was super normal and super easy and it's just been like that ever since, and it's We're just gonna have a lot of fun. You know. I think it's gonna be very relatable. I'm kind of come from the athlete perspective. He comes from the fan perspective, but he's probably more knowledgeable about sports than a lot of athletes are obviously, just just with his love for sports in general. So it's a really fun I think gonna be a fun listen, have a great guests on and just talking man like we're and we're in the trenches in everyday life. The reason why, Jerry, you were nervous about this is because you know your wife is listening and if you say anything stupid, it could it's gonna come back to get you. And by the way, I'm the same way. I'm married to a Cuban lawyer. We have to be very very careful what we say on this podcast.
True, but you're bringing that New York fan Jerry, and you guys can be annoying, obnonscious. Uh been tough times for New York sports fans here recently.
Yes, but we have the Knicks, which is all I really care about at this point. I can't get too mad at the Giants. Even though it might be a long year, but they've given me so much joy beating the Pats and the Yankees obviously all those years. Yeah, I'm so locked in on the Knicks.
Joe.
Matt mentioned, I can't throw football. He's right, but Dan, I can call Hope. You remember so Matt, Matt when we do the show has his heisman right near him. I brought this out for you, Dan, my Beach Bowl MVP award.
Matt.
Dan presented me with this because Dan was calling the game eleven. He presented me with my only athletic achievement on camera.
Ever.
He was Matt. He was so competitive. He was now there no understand he's going against the supermodels that there were there were? Uh Megan Markle was playing defensive back against her. Yes you did. You did light her up. Uh, but you were like a Julian Edelman type and oh my god. When the game ended, he you would have thought he won the Super Bowl. You would have thought he won an Academy award.
He's like, is that the is that the proudest thing on your resume?
Jerry?
That it's up getting this at court side at the nixt game is number one and this might be number two, and Dan, who I know for a long time and love Gate. I think I teared up when I walked away. I think I had like a lone tier right down my face.
Yes, yeah, I think you said I feel like Vince Young beating USC. I think that's what you said. Was that a direct quote?
That is not a direct crow? Ye? No, I would not say that. And I'm already getting defensive of my boy here.
I mean yeah, I mean, gosh, I was at Texas. I mean, we have Michigan Texas this weekend and I was at Texas a couple of weeks ago, sat down with quin yours and I tell you what, guys, like, it's what almost twenty years removed incredible game, you know, it's obviously I think one of the best games of all time in college football, not the best, and I just still just still I can't escape Vince Young, like the nightmare.
So Dan, I.
Appreciate you, you know.
Bringing that up, because I will deal with it.
Tomorrow.
There'll be a fan on set and they'll be like, yeah, I was on Vince Young really got his knee was down. Huh wait. I'm like, oh my gosh, guys, can we just stop at this game.
The podcast is called Throwbacks. It's a weekly new podcast with Matt Leonard and Jerry Ferrara. Now you guys dealt with high highs here Matt, you know national championship and a Heisman, then your football career. Jerry, you had entourage, then entourage ends. Now you've had other acting gigs, but dealing with that high But then you go to that phone's not ringing as much. People aren't as interested in have you guys? Is that something that would be explored on the podcast of everybody talks about the highs, it's the lows where you really find out about yourself.
For me, yeah, it's actually something I have queued up for next week's episode. I want to because I do want to tell this story. And uh yeah, it does involve going back, even if you go back like right before COVID and then what that did to the business for me, and then I turned down a job, which at the time I was getting job offers, I didn't think, I'm like, ah, it, just didn't want to do this show. Cut to they did ninety eight episode, so basically I'd be retired at this point. Was the show the ball I'm gonna save it.
I'm a holder for us DP.
Oh okay, that's good hosting.
But all I'll say is I would have to move to Hawaii, which sounds like a bad thing or a great thing. I looked at it like I don't want to be in Hawaii for seven years. So yeah, I'm going to talk about all that stuff. I always say with La too. La is an amazing place to live, and when you're high, it's it's increasing like it's just the best place ever. I've experienced it when the phone does stop bringing and maybe you're not invited to the coolest party in the world, that it could be a very lonely place. And this is before family and stuff, so I've experienced. I'm going to talk about everything.
And speaking of high, I do have Jerry's bong from Onto It right, that's right, Like Show used Game used bong that I have back here that he signed and signed it as Turtle, And you said I never sign anything as Turtle, but you signed the bong as Turtle, So.
Well, I figure you've done more movies than I have, so I figured, like I owed it to you. This A Dan's IMDb page is longer than mine.
So Matt.
When the phone stops ringing when you're no longer or quarterback, how did you process that?
Well?
The last time this is a funny story. The last time the phone rang for me, Dan, I was on an elliptical and twenty four hour fitness and Buffalo Bills called me and I had that terrible last game. I was already checked out, but that was the last time the phone rang. And you know, for me, I was already done. You know, I didn't have the luxury of retiring on my own or like this is gonna be my last year, Like it just it just ended, and I was there was a big sense of relief, I think because I was just injuries mental like I was just ready to move on. But then time passes and you're like, well, like who am I? Especially as an athlete, I think we always go through like your identity right when you're done, It's like am I a football player?
Am I this?
Who am I? What's the next what's the next step? Fortunately I was able to get into Fox right away and do the job and grow into what we are in Big New Kickoff, which is the best and I love my job. But it was challenging and I think this pad is going to cover just everything, like Jared and I is. I think our number one goal is, like we just want to be like authentic to ourselves, authentic to who's listening, relatable, Like just because I was an NFL player doesn't mean like I had this luxurious life. So I went through a lot of hell personal things, like you know, just a lot of stuff that I dealt with that was really really challenging. And so I think to your point, nothing's off limits, you know, like we just we're just kind of like two guys going through life with kids, and we love sports, and we've had we've had, like you said, the ups were great, but then there's also a lot of downs and how do you kind of go through that? So we'll cover all of that. I think we'll cover all that. We'll have We'll have a lot of guests on too that will probably be able to tell their story as well, which is really cool.
Closer to winning a championship USC Football or the Knicks.
I know my answer, but I'll let you I know I know my answer.
Who did the Knicks pick up this offseason? Did you guys get anybody?
Michael Bridges Nova Knicks Strong and they rest, Yes, we're running it back with bridges.
I would I would probably say the Knicks look look, my Trojans looked good last week. They looked good last week. But we are a long ways away from winning the national championship. I think we're a couple of years away. But I have faith removing the right Joah the Knicks. The Knicks had and really quick. And I watched the Knicks playoff game with Jerry last year and by the way, I almost had a heart attack watching him watch his next play. By the way they were up, I like, I don't even know they were up by say fifteen at some point or ten. I'm like, oh, this game is in the back. He's like, it's not over. I've seen this many times. I'm like, I'm like, bro, you are psychotic, dude, Like it's OK. Like literally he was. He was watching like this the whole time, like didn't move. I'm like, that's a true story. I was like, you were insane, dude. I don't know how you guys do this.
So, Jerry one, you'd concur the Knicks are closer to a championship obviously.
I think, so, I do you know the expanded playoff systemedge. Who knows, maybe you get Cinderella stories, which I think is going to be really cool this year. No longer do you lose like a game or two in your season's kind of over. But yeah, I just look, I think the Knicks are close. It's it's not great that they're, you know, in the East with the Celtics.
Who or a beast?
But I am I'm I'm ready for some football. But man, am i ready for some basketball too, Matt.
We were in a movie together.
Was a House Bunny?
Yeah, yeah, right now. Now, I wasn't in a scene with you. I was an officer who arrests and a Ferris. Uh Sandler always put me in a police uniform. He thought that was so funny that I'd have a mustache on his police officer. But you played you. I played a police officer.
And finally, some of our best work, man, some of our best work.
That's that's they're still talking about that, they're still I was.
With Sean Salisbury. I was in the team with Sean Salisbury and uh Anna was in it and Jackson. This is a true story. So that day we shot at the mansion and everyone was like, oh, they mansion. I'm like, no, We were like shooting a scene, you know whatever in the pool is a pool party scene, and I brought my soundbab I brought my young Cole, who was seventeen. My mom came and Cole was probably two. I don't know. That was like two thousand and seven or six or I was right out of college. And Demi Moore was was Demi Moore's I think was a rumor who was in it? One of her daughters was in it. And Demi Moore was sitting with my mom on like the front lawn babysitting Cole while we were shooting the scene. It's a true story. It was awesome. I'm like, what is my life right now? I'm in a Sandler movie, by the way, shirtless. I'm like, dude, I do not want to be shirtless in this movie. And I actually, I actually still randomly get texts because the movie. The movie is good, like it still plays and I still still get texts every once in a while from it. So I'm proud of that work.
But did you go to the Playboy Mansion when you were at USC?
I never, and that never, not even close. Never even stepped foot in it outside of that, So did Jerry ask me?
That did Jerry Jared, I've been an amazing question.
It's not gonna lie.
I still have some I still have some pajamas that I just don't have the heart to throw away because I have some good memories going yes, uh, and we shot an episode of Answer.
I was there as well.
But shooting there is a little different than going to old school half party, that's for sure. I've been a handful of time.
You know.
It's weird to say this, but I it was depressing when I went to the Playboy Mansion because the interior is stuck in the seventies, true, and like it was. I remember I had, uh, Drew Carey and Ron Jeremy talking to me. I mean, how many times do you start a story like that? So I got Drew Carrey and Ron Jeremy asking me sports questions. They had all of the waitresses were playmates with paint they didn't have they had paint on their body. And then hef came down with three playmates and they were trying to prop him up and have him dance a little bit, and I don't know, it didn't have what I thought it was going to have. I guess I think.
You gotta been around going there in like the seventies. I think if you wanted to really get the full experience, you know.
I was a nobody in the seventies. I couldn't have gotten in unless I.
Just I'm just picturing you and Ron Jeremy talking sports.
Then sorry, we were going to do a podcast together. Yeah, but just let you know Throwbacks. Hey, good luck with the podcast and h So it comes out weekly. It's available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Sinclair is the one putting this out. Throwbacks. Matt Lioner, Jerry Frar, Thank you guys, always great to talk to you. Appreciate it. Have fun up there in Michigan. Matt, thanks Dan, thanks for having us man appreciate it.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Good to see y about it.