There’s no doubt of my affections for the Rich Eisen Podcast (REP). I listen to it every week and over the years it’s easily become my favorite NFL related iPod listens. It’s the perfect combination of everything NFL and pop culture so if that’s right up your alley then this is the podcast for you.

So it was a very pleasant surprise when I saw that this week’s episode had NFL Network’s Rich Eisen’s sit down with St. Louis Rams head coach and NFL Competition Committee member Jeff Fisher for the REP’s Combine Special.

They chat about Coach Fisher’s first year in St. Louis, the NFL scouting combine, and a few other important Rams topics.

St. Louis Rams Head Coach Jeff Fisher on The Rich Eisen Podcast.

Rich Eisen: How do you rank your first year in St. Louis?

» Continue reading “St. Louis Rams Head Coach Jeff Fisher On The Rich Eisen Podcast”

Jeff Fisher (Courtesy STLouisRams.com)

Isn’t it fitting that Jeff Fisher is walking on by in this picture.  Just like he’s expected to do to the Rams.  ”Hasta luego,” as he takes the head coaching job in Miami.

NFL Network’s insider Michael Lombardi talks about factors that give Miami the edge during his appearance on the Rich Eisen Podcast this week.

I think Jeff Fisher’s plan is to go to the Miami Dolphins because it’s a structure in place that he knows, he feels comfortable that the team isn’t going to move, there’s no relocation problems, there’s not an issue with the lease.

I think he feels very comfortable with Steven Ross‘ committment to making the team the best it could possibly be.

Okay, I can understand most of his reasonings.  Fisher wants to roll right into something with a solid framework, one that he’s familiar with.  But doesn’t he crave to leave his own mark on an organization?  No one has yet to do that in Rams recent history.

Jeff Fisher has the opportunity to come into St. Louis and build his own network of people from the ground up.  He would have a big say in who the general manager would be and what the vision is for the future of this franchise.  Especially if he is double duties as Executive Vice President, a title he also held during his tenure in Tennessee.

» Continue reading “What’s Eating Jeff Fisher?”

It was long, frustrating, and in the words of Chazz Michael Michaels, “mind-bottling.” In the end, during the early hours of July 25, the deal got done. But do you know why? Here are my Top 10 reasons why the CBA got done and the lockout was lifted.

#10 – Because both sides ran out of money to pay the attorneys.

#9 -   Because Albert Haynesworth needed to do more planking on the field.

#8 -  Because their wives called and told them to finally get it done.

#7  -  Because a desperate Rich Eisen resorted to talking about “the Sanchini” to fill air time.

#6 -  Because the entertainer and icon thing wasn’t working out for Cam Newton.

#5  -  Because the Commissioner Goodell missed fining James Harrison $50K.

#4  -  Because Josh McDaniels was running out of things to secretly video tape.

#3 -  Because the seats in Jerry’s World finally passed safety inspections.

#2 – Because Ed Werder got new camping gear for his annual Hattiesburg stake out.

and the number one reason the lockout was lifted and the CBA was ratified was

#1 - Because Ed Hoculi, Gene Steratore, and Bill Leavy are bulging to flex their biceps.

Apparently, things went on in the NFL world without me.  While I was on the road for two days and elevating my blood cholesterol count the NFL owners had a full group meeting in Chicago. Wish they had postponed any new developments until I came back from my two week vacation.  But, alas, life goes on and from what I’ve read so did some serious talks.

Representing St. Louis were VP of Football Operations and COO, Kevin Demoff and Rams owner, Stan Kroenke.  I wonder where Billy Devaney was…

1) Here, Albert Breer keeps you up to date on the talks.  I’m working on my own CBA proposal for both sides and will try and present it to you next week.  Talk about a headache…

2) More collateral damage as the lockout continues: As training camp dates near teams are having to make tough decisions about where and when to have them.  This week the Baltimore Ravens announced they will not be returning to their usual camp site, McDaniel College, and will be holding camp in their training facilities at Owings Mills.

Lost are the local revenues that would have accompanied the Ravens training camp.  Hotels, restaurants, other local businesses will now lose part of their regular summer income as well.

I haven’t read or heard any recent news about where the Rams will have their training camp.  I would have to think they will keep it at Rams Park now that we’re heading into the July.

3) A voice of reason from Denver regarding the swirling rumors about a franchise swap between Broncos Pat Bowlen and Stan Kroenke.  Read this, learn a bit of history, and calm your anxieties.

And this week’s #Follow Friday goes to host of NFL Network Total Access and all around funny guy: @richeisen.

Follow Friday: @TheEisenPodcast

Today also just happens to be his birthday – how perfect!

Did you know he has a podcast download-able on iTunes?  It’s what I listen to on my long training runs Friday mornings.

Tons of laughs and behind the scenes stories from his guests are a priceless combination for any football fan.

He recently celebrated his milestone 1 millionth download and the higher powers that be thought they should take it to the next level – a tv broadcast of the podcast.  Hence, @TheEisenPodcast was born.

Thursday nights at 8:00pm ET on where else but NFL Network.

Last night’s podcast with @QBkilla (Warren Sapp) and @michaelstrahan (Michael Strahan) was an instant must see classic.  The two “guests” took over the show.  I don’t think Mr. Eisen got more than 10 words in between them.

And no, I don’t get paid for any of these endorsements, just in case you were wondering.  I just do it out of the goodness of my heart.  lol!

So make his day and mine by following his personal account as well as his newly minted podcast Twitter handle. @TheEisenPodcast

The 2011-2012 NFL regular season schedules were announced with much fanfare and drama on Tuesday.  We were all so starving for any positive news that just ate it all up licking the very last drop of football sweetness we could get.  After all these are bitter times, right?

It’s been a few days now and the big brains of football and stat geeks have figured out something very interesting.  I think ESPN’s NFL insider Adam Schefter said it best in his tweet this morning:

 @AdamSchefter ESPN researcher David Bearman noticed none of NFL’s week 4 matchups are divisional matchups, another sign this schedule was well conceived.

According to Adam Schefter adjustments have been made to be able to accommodate possible loss of games at the beginning of the season. 

“While the uncertainty remains, it is impossible to plan for every eventuality in terms of the playing schedule,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said. “If and when it becomes clear that we cannot play the schedule as it was announced, we will make the appropriate adjustments with an eye toward minimizing changes.”

McCarthy said the flexibility built into the schedule includes bye weeks, flexible scheduling for the Sunday night games late in the season, moving games from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and the two-week break between the conference championship games and the Super Bowl. The NFL, he said, also asked clubs not to book their stadiums during their bye weeks.

But McCarthy added: “Our goal is to play this schedule as it is announced. We are working as hard as possible to eliminate the labor uncertainty and proceed with the 2011 season as scheduled.”

Is this careful planning by the league purely cautionary or was it more than that?  It can be interpreted either way but the conspiracy theorist in me says it was pre-meditated.

First, as stated above, clubs were asked not to book anything during their bye weeks.  Why is the league asking clubs to give up potential stadium revenue unless they have good reason to?  Second, the league has already reserved hotel rooms for the week following the February 5th, 2012 Super Bowl giving them the option of pushing it back one week. 

These two actions in themselves don’t lend proof to a conspiracy but coupled with the previously telling moves (TV revenue deal, withholding financials, a push for an 18 game season as a bargaining chip, etc.) by the NFL and the owners convince me that they had a long term plan in place. 

The Indianapolis Colts center Jeff Saturday brought up a great point in Rich Eisen’s March 29th weekly podcast (a great podcast to listen to if you want more information).  The public may have only really seen a few months of this back and forth between both sides but in reality these negotiations have been going on for over two years – and the players fed up.  Quite frankly, so am I.