“I am so glad they came back because it keeps the microphones and cameras right where they are, so they can make a difference.” – Michael Irvin on NBA players deciding to continue the playoffs

 “LeBron James was someone who was really frustrated…His frustration was that it wasn’t thought through.” – Chris Haynes on LeBron James’ frustration with how Bucks players handled Wednesday’s boycott

“I got a call from a very prominent player, and he was really emotional about it and he’s been crying for three days, and said enough is enough… It truly is bigger than football for some of these guys.” – Jim Trotter on reporting that NFL players could sit out games this season to highlight social injustice

STAMFORD, Conn. – August 28, 2020 – Host Rich Eisen was joined on today’s episode of The Rich Eisen Show on Peacock and NBCSN by:

• • Pro Football Hall of Famer and NFL Network analyst Michael Irvin
  • Yahoo Sports Senior NBA Insider Chris Haynes
  • NFL Network reporter Jim Trotter
  • Grammy Award winning artist Tim McGraw
  • Actor Courtney B. Vance

Peacock will become The Rich Eisen Show’s exclusive video home on Oct. 5.

Following are highlights from The Rich Eisen Show on NBCSN:

Michael Irvin on NBA players deciding not to play on Wednesday: “I thought it was an incredibly brave thing to do. Every superstar that comes through, we demand that they have foundation and they give back…That’s what these players are doing. You create foundations because you’re blessed, and you want to help others who are less fortunate…I thought it was inspiring.”

Irvin on the NFL’s potential response to social injustice: “I believe the NFL has an opportunity to get ahead of this…Let’s work together…I was worried if the NBA did not come back. I’m so glad the guys made a stand, but I am so glad they came back because it keeps the microphones and cameras right where they are, so they can make a difference…If I was an owner, I am going to meet with these guys…work together and do something…Does the NFL say, ‘Let’s pick Week 3, Week 4, and sit down a week and push everything a week back, as recognition for what we’re trying to accomplish for social justice.’?”

Chris Haynes on Wednesday in the NBA: “The Milwaukee Bucks actually intended to forfeit that game and take a loss…That was their action, without informing the Magic or anybody else. That left players on other teams to say, ‘There’s no way we can go out and play now.’ There was a lot of frustration, emotion, and tension that was already built up in society with the latest shooting in Wisconsin. Now, everyone is blindsided by what happened with the Bucks. LeBron James was someone who was really frustrated. His reasoning for that was because he felt, ‘We didn’t plan to do this, this wasn’t an organized effort, so what are we doing? If we’re going to boycott, we’ve got to be asking for something in return, demands have to be met in order to return to play.’…His frustration was that it wasn’t thought through.”

Haynes on the bubble atmosphere: “It has its obstacles when you’re here. You’re not around family, you can’t do anything or go anywhere. That has its issues, and then you add the latest shooting. You have to remember, players came here because they wanted to keep the message of social justice alive. When that latest shooting happened, there was a sense of hopelessness, that they’re powerless…There was hurt. Guys dealing with anxiety, depression issues, a lot of guilt.”

Jim Trotter on his report stating that NFL players may sit out games: “I had been hearing some of this yesterday, and particularly after the Lions canceled practice, and even in team buildings and meetings, there have been players bring this up and raise the idea of players sitting out games. I guess what really got me this morning…I got a call from a very prominent player, and he was really emotional about it and he’s been crying for three days, and said enough is enough. He believed that a real statement and call for action could be made by Black players sitting out a game…The call this morning was unsettling, to hear a man that emotional and in pain about what is going on. It truly is bigger than football for some of these guys. That’s why I think the owners would be smart to be proactive on this instead of reactive…If they don’t prepare for this, it potentially could not be pretty.”

Trotter on the NFL’s possible next steps: “It’s about action. It’s not about talk anymore, even demonstrating anymore. It’s about action now. If the NFL is a family, which we’ve seen in slogans and ads on television, then the owners should step with their players. If they believe what they’re fighting for is right, then stand out front with them and make change.  Use that political capital…Use that influence to try and make real change, to make legislative change, systemic change. That, to me, is progress. This won’t be solved in a day or a year, but what you do now lays the foundation for what comes going forward.”

Tim McGraw on performing during 2019 NFL Draft week in Nashville: “It was incredible because it was just a sea of people packed in…We had so much energy and were so proud of our city. We were proud to be part of it. We’re all huge football fans and to be asked to do a show in our hometown, under those circumstances, with that many people to turn out, it was pretty cool.”

Courtney B. Vance on NBA players deciding not to play on Wednesday: “Somebody had to do something. They made a statement. The greatest of all-time (Michael Jordan) got in there with the owners and let them know that they got to let (the players) talk and you have to listen because this is bigger than the game. Life is bigger than the game…I was encouraged it was across the board: baseball, tennis, golf, soccer. Everyone was taking a stand and saying that this is enough.”

–NBC SPORTS–

“I really think everything needs to be a perfect storm and this was the perfect storm for activism because there’s no distractions.” – Chris Webber on how the Orlando bubble impacted NBA player boycotts

“I understand there’s bigger issues and trying to find the bigger picture, which is the most exhausting part of it. Yeah, we sit out one game and the next game we play, so what is the true meaning?… For me, I’m trying to find the bigger picture and just can’t see it.” – Emmanuel Sanders on whether NFL players would boycott games similarly to NBA players if they were playing now

 “I think the conversations will still happen and need to happen. Now to kind of understand for the industry to support it, we need to come together and find solutions.” – Dave Roberts on continuing social injustice conversations after the Dodgers boycotted last night’s game

STAMFORD, Conn. – August 27, 2020 – Host Rich Eisen was joined on today’s episode of The Rich Eisen Show on Peacock and NBCSN by:

• • NBA on TNT analyst Chris Webber
  • New Orleans Saints wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders
  • Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts

Peacock will become The Rich Eisen Show’s exclusive video home on Oct. 5.

Following are highlights from The Rich Eisen Show on NBCSN:

Chris Webber on NBA players boycotting games: “It’s just a lot of emotion…I’m proud that young people had so much passion, pain and love in their hearts that it just didn’t sit right with them and they decided to do something, which meant do nothing yesterday. The point I wanted to make about the players yesterday was I just didn’t want to bash them. I didn’t want everyone to throw away what they did and be like, all these entitled athletes, they never give back and if they do, they take off and boycott, they don’t know what it’s really like… I just wanted to stand with those players in some way and if they did in fact decide to play, I’m very happy that they are going to continue because they started the conversation…I was encouraged and hopefully people can just express their pain, have conversations, and hopefully things can change.”

Webber on how the NBA bubble is impacting players’ actions and conversations on racial injustice: “You can’t hug your friends, can’t see your grandmother. I really think everything needs to be a perfect storm and this was the perfect storm for activism because there’s no distractions. There aren’t that many sports, you don’t have college football ramping up and other things I like. They are but they haven’t been on TV. I think the world has gotten the chance to see what really goes on…Watch the news way too much and see these same instances happen. I think here in the bubble…I think a lot of these guys feel like ‘I’m not using the value that I have. I’m wasting my value and could be doing something.’ And they may feel like it’s frustrating that I’m here and not doing anything while the world is burning. You know, so I do think the bubble has had an effect on guys and their anxiousness, wanting to speak out and do something.”

Webber on the importance of having the conversation surrounding racial injustice: “I believe personally that sports are the first introduction of someone not like you into your family and living room. I suspect that in the ‘50s and ‘60s — ‘40s when Jackie Robinson came into baseball — that there were not many Black people in the homes of White Americans. There weren’t people that you could say, ‘Hey son, I want you to work hard like Jackie (Robinson).’ You know what sports does? It takes all the blinders off and just puts it on the characteristics — hard work, tough, show up. Things that are common denominators and all admire. The fact that my nephew loves (Luka) Doncic as much as he loves LeBron (James) speaks to that.”

Emmanuel Sanders on the video of the Jacob Blake shooting and his own experiences: “I was disgusted and it’s crazy. Here I am, I’m an African-American and I don’t do any bad. I’ve been racially profiled just driving my car…I was out here in New Orleans and an officer pulled me over, said I was doing 75 mph and ran a red light when I know I didn’t run a red light. He told me to get out of my car, and I got out of my car and we talked. He let me go. But then I’m leaving work and I’m driving home down the same road, this was probably about five hours later, I see down the same road I’m driving, and I look to the left and I see an African-American outside of his car and a cop talking to him. And then I drive probably less than a mile down the road and I see another African-American outside of his car talking to a cop. I was just like, wow they are racially profiling down this road right now because it happened to me this morning and it’s not a coincidence.”

Sanders on if NFL players would have done the same as the NBA players did last night, if there were preseason games: “I don’t know. For me, I sit back and look back at the situation and say, ‘Okay, you postpone the game.’ What is the end goal? I don’t know, it’s a sticky situation for me. I support what they are doing, but for me, what’s the bigger picture like? I don’t see the bigger picture, so to cancel a preseason game where guys have the opportunity to showcase their talents to play and make a team, make a living for their family, I don’t know. I understand there’s bigger issues and trying to find the bigger picture, which is the most exhausting part of it. Yeah, we sit out one game and the next game we play, so what is the true meaning? What is it really changing? For me, I’m trying to find the bigger picture and just can’t see it. The only way I can see it is through the government and the President making laws to bring some kind of change.”

Sanders on if he thinks there will be a full NFL season: “I hope. The only thing that scares me about the season is going to be the bye week when players have that time off and when families come into town fresh off a plane to come to a game. That’s the only thing that truly scares me. If we can control that, I think we can possibly finish the season.”

Dave Roberts on the postponement of yesterday’s Dodgers vs. Giants game: “It’s player-driven, it’s individual. Mookie (Betts) and I talked, decided at the heels of what’s going on in our country, we needed to make a stand. He decided he wasn’t going to play. For me as well, I felt the same and decided I wasn’t going to manage. George Lombard, first base coach, felt the same way and we brought it to the players in the clubhouse and kind of told them our thoughts…They were all aligned and playing wasn’t the right thing to do…I know Mookie has been on Zoom calls all morning with the players alliance and those guys trying to figure out what the Black players in baseball should and are going to do. Mookie came to the consensus that he wanted to play both games today and I thought that was amazing and I’m excited about that.”

Roberts on how the postponement of yesterday’s game can help social injustice issues: “[It] promoted a lot of conversation in the last 24 hours. I think the conversations will still happen and need to happen. Now to kind of understand for the industry to support it, we need to come together and find solutions.” 

–NBC SPORTS–

“If they feel this is important as a team to miss because mentally their minds aren’t in the space to play basketball, I think we have to respect that.” – Kenny Smith on Raptors and Celtics players potentially boycotting Thursday’s game as a result of the Jacob Blake shooting

“We are a player-driven league and I think for good reason…Whatever is decided, they are going to have full support.” – Daryl Morey on NBA players potentially boycotting games

 “Now it is about trying to accelerate your learning, accelerate your play during camp without having those previous reps that any other normal previous rookie class would have.” – Jonathan Taylor on getting up to speed in training camp as a rookie

STAMFORD, Conn. – August 26, 2020 – Host Rich Eisen was joined on today’s episode of The Rich Eisen Show on Peacock and NBCSN by:

• • Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor
  • Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey
  • NBA on TNT analyst Kenny Smith
  • Actor Don Cheadle
  • Actor Joe Manganiello

Peacock will become The Rich Eisen Show’s exclusive video home on Oct. 5.

Following are highlights from The Rich Eisen Show on NBCSN:

Kenny Smith on the Celtics and Raptors potentially boycotting Thursday’s game as a result of the Jacob Blake shooting: “I think we all are in a reactionary thought process with what is going on. I know that for the first time last night, even watching Doc Rivers speak, I was like, man, I really (for the) first time felt that being in the bubble, the guys felt helpless. Like I am in the bubble and I can’t even do anything. I can’t join a march, I can’t do anything. And at times if I’m not playing, I’m just sitting in my room and I think that feeling is starting to come out. I don’t know the right answer to that honestly. I think the correct answer is whatever they do, you have to support (them) because somethings are bigger. Guys miss games because of family or the birth of their children and if they feel this is important as a team to miss because mentally their minds aren’t in the space to play basketball, I think we have to respect that because they have also given us time to play in a profession in that bubble that is uncharacteristic of anything that we have ever seen in our lifetime.”

Smith on who the Lakers don’t want to see in the second round: “I don’t think they are fearful of anyone because they walk on the court and LeBron James and AD (Anthony Davis) go, ‘Ok, we have the advantage.’ I don’t think they fear anyone.”

Smith on which team is being overlooked in the NBA Playoffs right now: “The Rockets with (Russell) Westbrook. If he comes back and he is able to play, then all of a sudden you’d be like, wow this could be a mix we haven’t seen…Utah with Donovan Mitchell with the way he is playing and shooting the basketball, and the ability he is playing at…the West is wild and it is wide open.”

Daryl Morey on the Celtics and Raptors potentially boycotting Thursday’s game: “We are a player-driven league and I think for good reason. I think one thing – both the NBA players union and the league and Commissioner Silver have put the players front and center, and I think that led to such a good restart here and I think the players are going to lead again on this. Whatever is decided, they are going to have full support.”

Morey on Russell Westbrook’s health: “This morning we got something positive…He’s still not 100 percent. We don’t know what will happen. He will give it a go in warmups before the game and then it will be a game-time decision with Russell.”

Jonathan Taylor on being a rookie with no offseason activities: “It is really about trying to play catch-up in a sense. You usually go to rookie mini-camp and you have those on-field reps, that on-field coaching. So now it is about trying to accelerate your learning, accelerate your play during camp without having those previous reps that any other normal previous rookie class would have.”

Taylor on Philip Rivers’ leadership: “When you have a guy like that who is able to show that emotion and show that passion and still have a sense of restraint and control himself in certain ways, I think that is the kind of leader that you want.”

Taylor on Jacob Blake and if the Colts have discussed it as a team: “We just did that today. We reemphasized that we are going to be at the forefront, we are going to be the spearhead of this movement going into this season. Definitely won’t be silent, but like I said, we are going to be at the forefront, and we are going to do everything in our power to continue to raise awareness, have these conversations, and promote change.” 

Morey on reports that Indiana would be interested in head coach Mike D’Antoni if he were to become available: “Mike D’Antoni is a hell of a coach so I am not surprised people are interested. We love Mike and he loves being here, so we will work that out…We are going to meet after the season.”

Don Cheadle on watching the Super Bowl as a Chiefs fan: “When it wasn’t looking good, I just walked away. I just went by myself, there was no one on the golf course…because if they are going to lose, I don’t want to know…And if they win, I am taping it, I will just plug my ears, go home and watch it, but I can’t watch them lose.”

Joe Manganiello, a Steelers fan, on Pittsburgh’s outlook this season: “I think after last year’s fixing of the defense, I am excited to see what Big Ben brings back to the offensive side of the ball. I think Big Ben would have been worth at least two more wins last year.”

 –NBC SPORTS–