On the call of the Week 17 matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and the Arizona Cardinals on NFL Network, Rich Eisen and Kurt Warner got into a humorously awkward debate over Matthew Stafford’s athleticism. But in the end, Eisen found himself on the receiving end of a roast from Warner regarding his own athleticism.
At 36 years of age, you would be hard-pressed to hear too many NFL fans lauding Stafford’s athleticism in comparison to some other players at his position. Stafford himself would likely tell you that he is probably a bit below average at this point in terms of mobility at the quarterback position.
However, in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s matchup, Stafford was able to put the athleticism he does have to use by avoiding the Cardinals’ pass rush and flipping the ball to Kyren Williams for a four-yard gain.
While breaking down the play, Warner praised Stafford’s ability to keep plays alive while not being the most mobile quarterback out there.
“Matthew Stafford has always been really good at those kinds of things,” said Warner. “Doesn’t look overly athletic but has the ability to avoid the pass rush right there. Find a way to get the ball to Williams right there and create a positive play out of something that looks like it could be a negative.”
Usually, this kind of comment wouldn’t warrant much of an argument from a fellow broadcaster. After all, it is largely a compliment to Stafford’s ability to avoid the pass rush and make a play with his legs. Even if it is a bit of a dig at his athleticism at this point in his career.
However, Rich Eisen questioned Kurt Warner’s comment, asking him what he meant by the backhanded compliment.
“What do you mean by that?” asked Eisen. “Doesn’t look overly athletic?”
“I mean, he doesn’t look overly athletic,” replied Warner. “I mean, it just — it is what it is. Some of us are like that. We’re not overly athletic but we still have the ability to make an athletic play here or there. And Matthew Stafford does it pretty well.”
Eisen would then call the play happening on the field before Warner revisited the topic, roasting Eisen by saying that he “Would know better than anyone” what being not overly athletic means.
“You were saying that to me like you don’t know what looking not overly athletic is like,” said Warner. “I figured you would know that as well as anyone.”
After Kurt Warner said that Matthew Stafford doesn’t look “overly athletic,” Rich Eisen had some fun with him.
At least he didn’t say Stafford was “deceptively fast.” pic.twitter.com/hNSzI013Py
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 29, 2024
Eisen, who of course runs the 40-yard-dash each year while covering the NFL Combine for NFL Network, assured Warner that he does indeed know what being not overly athletic is like.
“I appreciate you saying that,” replied Eisen. “I appreciate you saying that. I know how (Trey) McBride feels on the sideline when everybody came over to congratulate him on that touchdown. That’s the way the entire crew came up to me when I broke six seconds for the first time. So I know the feeling Kurt.”
To be fair to Warner, he too fully admitted that he was not an overly-athletic player during his playing days. Much like Stafford, Warner did the majority of his damage throughout his Hall of Fame career from the pocket.
Eisen probably should have just let Warner’s comment go without a response if he wanted to avoid also being informed by Warner that he is also not the most fleet of foot.
Luckily, it seems like Eisen didn’t get his feelings hurt too bad, as he seems to be quite self-aware about his own athletic abilities.
