His national show, which is heard in 230 markets, has been airing overnights on tape delay on WSCR-AM/670. Hardly ideal. That's also the case in other big markets.

So Mr. Patrick felt like he needed to pull an end run. He's going to put his radio show on television in Chicago.

Beginning next Monday, "The Dan Patrick Show" will air as a simulcast on Comcast SportsNet Monday through Friday from 8-11 a.m. CSN also will have Chicago updates during the show.

The simulcasts, which currently air on DirecTV, will be expanded to 20 markets, making it available in 85 million homes. The show also can be heard on his site and at SI.com.

"I'm trying to beat the system," Mr. Patrick said. "If a radio station wants to be all local, I'm not going to be on WSCR. We said, 'Let's see if we can do it on TV to get into those markets.' "

Mr. Patrick also wants the show to air live in Chicago and in other markets.

"I'm dealing in live programming," he said. "If something happens, we're going 'Let's get the guest on now.' "

Mr. Patrick said his radio show on TV is different from other simulcasts, namely "The Mike & Mike Show," which airs mornings on ESPN2. He bought a studio about a mile from his house in Connecticut and filled it with eight flat-screen televisions, a basketball net, a golf simulator and other toys.

"It looks like a great first apartment," he said.

Perhaps the first apartment of a No. 1 NFL pick. Anyway, Mr. Patrick said the show will have a lot of moving parts for television.

"When I'm doing an interview, I'm going to be seated," he said. "But during breaks and other times, we're going to be shooting hoops, playing golf. Everything is going to be in play."

However, the core of the show is Mr. Patrick and his ability to snare the best guests in the business. In the last two weeks, his guests have included Glen "Doc" Rivers, Joey Votto, Sam Bradford, Tony Dungy, Matt Ryan, Les Miles and Don Mattingly, among others.

It's not just getting the guests; Mr. Patrick has a knack of drawing special and unique answers out of them. His questions are short, probing and too the point. That's not easy to pull off, as I rambled on while trying to ask him a question about his interview style.

"See, I'm showing how difficult it is," I told him.

Mr. Patrick laughed and then said, "I have no problem letting John Elway be John Elway, or Larry Bird be Larry Bird. If we're promoting that Don Mattingly is coming on, let him talk. Some (hosts) like to talk a lot to show how important they are. I learned the way to get good answers is to just shut up. I'll still get credit for the interview."

It's been just over three years since he left his radio show at ESPN. He had been one of the biggest stars at what he calls "the mothership." It's not exactly the kind of job you walk away from.

Mr. Patrick, though, said he wasn't feeling inspired and decided he needed a change. He went out on his own, starting a syndicated radio show. Along the way, he also picked up plums such as writing a regular column for Sports Illustrated and serving as a co-host for NBC's "Football Night in America."

"I didn't want to be governed by one person," he said. "I wanted to be a free agent. That way I can control what I want to do. The great thing is I'm home every night."

Coming next Monday, he will be available in your home on CSN.