The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 01/14/2021 - HOUR 2 - Brady, Nets

Episode Date: January 14, 2021

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This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform?

We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth.

Listen to Superhuman on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. On the Look Back at it podcast. For 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 was big to me. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors.

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Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifers Show. This is a place for raw, unfilled conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok podcast network on TikTok.

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Wherever you may be and however you may be listening, Fox Sports Radio, Iheart Radio, FS1. Good to be here. Greg CoSell in a couple minutes. So there are things sometimes I see, and they're so crazy, I must be wrong, because I think I'm pretty good, pretty perceptive, viewing stuff and kind of trying to be a quick read on stuff and figured out. Joy Taylor's joining me. Kansas City is a 10-point favorite over Cleveland,

and the line hasn't moved. So that means the sharps, the wise guys, the people that bet for a living, not Twitter, but people that bet for a living, yep, that's the right line. I don't get it. I don't understand it. So basically Patrick Mahomes is getting the LeBron treatment, which is, we don't really consider the regular season. He'll flip a switch and be great.

So Cleveland's won 11 games. They just destroyed the Steelers. They have the number one offensive line in the NFL. There's seven and two since the by week. One of those losses close to Baltimore, who everybody loves, The line loves Baltimore this week. They beat four playoff teams. They beat the Colts.

There's no real advantage, by the way, being at home in Kansas City, maybe a half a point. This is the round, the divisional round where upsets happen. Two of the last three years, big dogs have upset big favorites. Last year it was Tennessee upset Baltimore. And by the way, Raiders were an 11-point dog this year to Kansas City and beat them in Kansas City. And the line hasn't moved. and Baltimore didn't look good in December. Or not, Kansas City did not look good in December.

And they're a 10-point favorite. I don't understand it. So this happens a couple times a year. It happens about once or twice a year. I'm trying to think the last time it happened. It was, I think I'm wrong on this. I think it was like a Jets Raiders game or something. And the Jets blew the Raiders out.

It was a Jets game a couple years ago. I'm like, I don't understand the line. So I must be wrong. Generally, there are every week. I think there's a line in the league. Like this year, my number, my favorite bet this year was Green Bay went to Houston. Green Bay got humiliated by Tampa. The next week they were going to dysfunctional Houston.

And I said on Twitter, I'm like, that's the bet of the year, Green Bay. Green Bay was like minus four or something. And they won. And they won. I said, that's just a mistake by Vegas. But this is now, I mean, these are, these are talked about discussed teams. You've only got a couple games left. The wise guys aren't moving off this.

So I don't get it. I honestly, it makes me think Kansas City is going to blow out Cleveland. That's what it makes me think. I mean, I understand Andy Reid off a bye. That's like the easiest cliche in the world. They haven't played well in a month. And they're a 10-point favorite. The Raiders were at 11 point.

That's what 10 points is in the NFL. Raiders at Arrowhead earlier in the year. Plus it's a little more than a buy now. A buy. Like, bye-bye. Bye-bye. We haven't seen you in three weeks. I don't get it.

So Greg Kossel, 41 years NFL. We always bring him on in Thursdays. Do you bet NFL? Do you play fantasy football or just love the sport? He is now joining us live. NFL meat sandwich. Before I get to the playoff games, there's four. I want to talk about Tua.

Yeah. So my concern was before he played. I went on the air and I said, listen, Lamar's feet, Josh Allen's size, Herbert's arm, Burroughs escapeability and calm. They've all got an it. Two is accurate. That goes back to the Chris Rock joke. That's the basics in the NFL.

That's like saying I love my kids. Okay. Okay. That's the give me. Right. So after accuracy, where's the it? And I don't see it. And so I look at that and I think, what does the film say about Tua?

Should they move off him? Should they keep him? What does it say? Well, I'm not going to judge his entire career based on seven or eight games or whatever it was. But we have to understand what he is. He's a certain kind of quarterback. He's a timing rhythm player. He needs to hit his back foot.

needs the ball to come out. He has some movement, but he will not be a big-time second reaction player in the league. So now, when you look at those traits, you have to decide what can he be. And it's going to lead to a fascinating discussion as we get to the draft, Colin, as to traits versus production, obviously to a high-level production at the best college program in America. But traits like Justin Herbert, like Josh Allen is now showing in his third year, he does not have those kinds of of traits. So are people going to start looking at traits or will they still look at production? Tua is not at that level when it comes to traits. I mean, some of these throws is like you say, if he's not thrown off the back foot,

it doesn't work. Like he has to throw off the back. He has to be set up and ready to throw. Correct. He's not a late in the down pocket quarterback, meaning he can't go 2.5, 3.1 seconds in the pocket and sit there while the rush gets close. He doesn't have the arm for that. He's not set up for that. He needs to be a timing rhythm throw, which by the way, Chan Galley understood, but it can't happen all the time. And then you need something else to do. And that's where he's not there. Whether he gets there, I'm not going to say he won't, but he's not there now. All right. Let's go to the games. Baltimore at Buffalo, a fascinating matchup with two dynamic quarterbacks. Let's start with this. How will Buffalo try to contain Lamar? Well, let me tell you this.

two teams played last year, week 14, and the Bills did a really, really good job against Lamar Jackson and that offense. Now, obviously, that offense has added a number of elements to it in the run game. This is a run game offense. But what the Bills did last year, which they have not done this year is they played out of their base defense last year. This year, they play 90% of their defensive snaps out of nickel with Theron Johnson, the slot corner, essentially playing linebacker against base personnel. He's very good. at it, by the way. So the Ravens have added a lot of these counter-gap scheme elements to their run game that are very, very effective. And of course, you have the Lamar Jackson factor.

I mean, the play we're looking at right now, Kevin Byard, a very good NFL safety, was in perfect position to make a play and couldn't make it. Yeah. So really, it's all about stopping the run game and how you go about doing that because the past game really is almost secondary. Josh Allen, how'd you think he played against the Colts? How do you think he's playing? I think he's playing at a really high level. He's the most physically gifted quarterback in the league when you look at his arm, his size, his movement. And he's playing extremely well right now.

He's gotten so much better in a number of areas, pace and touch on his throws, patience in the pocket. His ability to just stand there and deliver the football is absolutely remarkable. So he's playing at a really, really high level. he's going to face a ton of pressure in this game. The Ravens are a proactive pressure defense. They will not be scared of this at all. They are going to pressure Josh Allen. The bills do not really have that functional or run game,

and they don't even use it that much. So Alan will be under pressure. So he will move in this game, but I do believe he's going to have to make some throws from the pocket. It can all be just movement throws as good as he is at that. Wow. So it sounds like Josh. Josh Allen will be under duress.

The line's under a field goal and I can't wait. Now, Kansas City, Cleveland, it would seem to me as a novice, the run game for Cleveland dictates their chances. They run well, they got a shot. That's what I'm thinking. Well, it's very interesting you say that because what do you hear all the time in games like this? You have to keep the quarterback off the field.

So on average, there's 12 possessions for a team in an NFL game. So let's say they get 10 possessions instead of 12. But let's say they score five touchdowns on those 10 possessions because Cleveland's defense is not that good, quite honestly, relative to Kansas City's offense. So if you're the Browns, is your goal to run the ball and keep Bahams off the field or is your goal to score points? And that might seem like a ridiculous thing to say, Colin, but you have to be careful, in my view, about getting into that, well, you got to keep them off the field. they're still going to get 10 possessions. You know, the Colts tried that against the bills this past week. They did a really good job of controlling time of possession,

playing the way I'm sure they wanted to play, and they were losing 24-10 in the third quarter. Right. You've got to score points. So what is the best way to score points if you're the Browns? That's what you have to decide, not just say we're going to run the ball. Of course they're going to run the ball.

That's who they are. But you've got to score points. So, I mean, I guess Kansas City, is your guess they can just flip a switch. They haven't played particularly well. No. I mean, do you just think they'll just flip a switch? Well, it's not a matter of flipping a switch. They've also had an extra week of practice. We know that they've got tremendous speed. We know that they have some really good play designs. And Andy Reid always adds something in the playoffs, particularly when he has a week off. So it's not a matter of flipping a switch. They've got high quality talent at the receiver position, obviously, including the tight end Kelsey. and they do a lot of things by design with that talent. So you're going to see a couple of wrinkles to what they do, and that's where they're really, really good.

Yeah. I can't wait for that, by the way. It's, there's just, it is, there's so much drama. If they come out and blow Cleveland out, that'll just change the way I think about the whole playoffs, because I haven't, I haven't, Kansas City for the last month. You know, I said, I said that they remind me a little bit of the Warriors when they had Kevin Durant, Stefan, Clay, that they were so dynamic.

it is hard sometimes to create urgency because they have this ability to score 23 points in six minutes. No, you're exactly right. Yeah. And I think it's, all right. They'd be down by 15 and then Curry would hit five threes in the space of a minute and a half. And then they're up by seven and you go, how did that happen? Right.

Let's talk New Orleans and Tampa. You said last week, and I want to continue on this, that this is the best Brady's played this year. And the ball's coming out quicker it looks like. And he's throwing it with great velocity, good accuracy. These teams played the last time week nine, and that was a game in which the Saints defense dominated both with pass rush and with their man-to-man coverage. The Saints are a man-to-man defensive team.

They play what we call two-man, two deep safeties, man-to-man across the board. Latimore has won the Latimore Evans matchup predominantly. So they're going to have to win against man coverage because they're going to get it. And Brady's going to have to turn it loose because this is a good pass rush as well. So he can't stand there and wait. So Brady's going to have to make some tight window throws, precise ball placement throws. He's more than capable of that, as we know. But they're going to have to beat man coverage in this game.

So the Saints beat him badly both times. Is there anything they did in the first two times that it doesn't look like Tampa can stop? I mean, at some point, they have given Tom troubles and they have scored with relative ease. Is it just a roster mismatch? I don't know if it's a roster mismatch. Obviously, Sean Payton is very good with design. And Breeze is another one of those

timing rhythm throwers. At this point in his career, he has to hit his back foot and deliver the football when he can do that and he was able to do that against the bucks. Then he's very, very efficient. Now, what Todd Bowles will do is he will try to muddy the waters. He'll do a lot of disguise, late movement,

post-snap movement. He'll try to slow down Drew Bree's process. And that's what you have to do. He's a great quarterback and obviously as smart as there is, but you still have to try to slow down his process. If you don't do that, then he'll just hit that back foot and the ball will come out. And finally, Packers and Rams, the secondary is outstanding for Los Angeles. It's young. It's active. They take big risks. They can match up with Devonte Adams. Green Bay against the Rams defense. What do you suspect we'll see? Well, keep in mind that the Rams, they're not a match-up defense in terms of putting, let's say,

Ramsey on Devante Adams. We'll see that for sure, but it won't happen on 60 snaps because what they do is they play a lot of zone. Now, they're a matchup principles to their zone, but Ramsey is not a traveling corner. He doesn't move around with great receivers. He doesn't go into the slot very much recently. So you're going to see them play what I believe will be their normal coverage. They're as good a team in the league in zone concept, as far as carrying players, passing receivers along, they do that better than anybody in the league, oh, certainly over the last month or so. So to me, there's no reason they'll change their approach. And, of course, they've got a pass rush.

So it'll be very interesting to me to see what Green Bay's approach is, because Green Bay can run the ball very effectively as well. Jared Goff probably plays. I saw practice footage yesterday. he's got a banged up hand. It swells. I mean, he's not playing with a lot of confidence right now. That I can see. I can just watch the game and doesn't feel confident. No, I mean, he obviously missed some throws last week when he came in. Tam Acres has really become their foundation in four of the last five games. He's had over 20 carries. They're going to have to run the ball to some degree. But Sean McVeigh is really good with play design. And he'll give Goff some opportunities. Keep one thing in mind.

with the Packers. They're another team. Jari Alexander's not a matchup corner either. He lines up on the left side. Kevin King lines up on the right side. So they're not a matchup team. So they'll be some opportunities. But this team is so good with their design. And that's going to be the play we show. And we can certainly go to it right now. This is from last week in the playoff game. The touchdown he threw to Woods late was so well scheme. And this is what they do. And they're so good at this is what McVeigh does. So what you're going to see here is they've got 11 personnel, meaning three wide receivers on the field. And what they're going to do here is they're going to run play action to Malcolm Brown. And the play action is going to go to the boundary

side, the short side of the field. And there's Shaquille Griffin. He's man to man on woods down below. But what happens with the play action? And this is what happens with players. They just get caught and they lose their discipline. His eyes go where? His eyes are going to go into the backfield because he sees the run action. But he's got Robert Woods man to man. And Woods shows that he's going to block. You're going to see that. He shows he's going to block, which gives Griffin another key that it's a run. But then what happens? Woods releases. Griffin, whose eyes were in the backfield reading run, it's a touchdown. And you can see that clearly right here. And he had a man to man. That's the thing. That was his assignment. These are the kinds of things that Sean McVeigh is

really, really good at. So you have to play with a ton of eye discipline in your secondary. eye discipline. I need more eye discipline in my life. I've got to be honest, sometimes I'm not reading the right scripts. I'm all over the place. Greg Kosel, 41 years, NFL films. Love having you on. Thanks, Greg. Thanks, Colin. Yeah, you know, it is interesting, even with great athletes. Jared Gough was the number one pick, right? And I saw Arod slump in the playoffs, and LeBron lost his confidence in his jumper against the Dallas Mavericks. It is interesting when you watch the Rams. They have all the components. I mean, they got the Star Corner, the great defensive line. defensive line graded number three in pro football focus.

They have excellent skill people. They got a great coach. And they got to a Super Bowl. And then golf, for whatever reason, right before the injury, he had about four-game stretch. He just lost confidence. Just not feeling it. And sometimes I'm always like, is it a personal issue?

A couple years ago, they had the Todd Gurley thing in the locker room. And it just was unsettling, walking on eggshells. Jared Goff's got his money. He's good-looking kid. He's got a great life. He's loved. And he just about six weeks ago just doesn't feel common. confident. The ball doesn't come out right. And he's a beautiful. One of the things about the Rams,

they don't get a lot of cheap touchdowns. They're great play designers, but they do miss Brandon Cooks a little. Occasionally, you need a freebie. That's what Kansas City leads the world in. They just get Sammy Watkins in the playoffs. Oh, it's got a free touchdown. You don't have to have a 12-play drive. New Orleans does not get a lot of freebies. Green Bay does. Devonte Adams and Aaron Jones will pop one. When you get in these big playoff games, you can't score on. on 12 play drives. You got to be able to get an occasional freebie, and the Rams feel like they have good receivers,

but not like a vertical pop receiver. Okay. Coming up next, well, I'm not going to give it away. We got a little bit of an NBA circus going on with Kyrie Hardin, Kevin Durant, among other things. Also, Steve Sarkeesian, Texas Longhorns, new head coach joins us today as well. One more herd?

The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week, within the iHeart radio app search heard to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like imagine an olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged it's the enhanced games some call it grotesque others say it's unleashing human potential either way the podcast's superhuman documented it all embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year within probably 10 days i'd put on 10 pounds i was having trouble stopping the muscle growth listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying.

Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast, it's a space for honest conversations,

stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to The Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim?

Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a here. unpack what went down and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 was big to me not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack all day, but just so y'all know.

I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Then you're finishing that sentence. Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for Black. Black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you

get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Keer Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing and we're still chasing it and we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth or are you a good person because you're afraid?

Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Keel. games is we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open your free I Heart Radio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. Saturday on Fox, the Rams take on the Packers. Coverage begins at 2.30 Eastern. Then on Sunday, Tom Brady and the Buck square off with Drew Breeze and the Saints at 6 Eastern. The NFL Divisional playoffs presented by TurboTax Live on Fox in the Fox Sports app. You know, I think it's all funny is there's never been in our hands.

history of our country, any alignment between Republican or Democrat in the stock market. Stock market went up huge for Clinton. It went out huge for Obama, went up big for Trump. There's never been a connection. But I was warned, oh, Biden's president. The stock market will crash. It's funny. Mine might have gone up for like a week and a half straight. I don't know. We don't get any credit for that. Nobody ever said he did. Never buy political punants on either side of the party that tell you the stock market's tied to a party. It's never been. My whole life, I've been investing for 40 years. It doesn't matter what parties in the White House.

Eventually, that puppy goes up. There's my rant for the day. It could be because there's an election every four years and then we change and then we continue on as a country. It doesn't matter. There's another election and then someone else will win and then we'll continue on doing what we do every single day. Every party likes to put our party.

Stock market goes up. It's at 31,000. It was years ago. It was at six. It'll eventually go up. Are we weird? I have never. No, you and I are not weird.

Okay. I mean, I don't care if I am. I'm weird, but I've just never felt like a deep darkening desire to, like, have to be a part of something that everybody else is doing. You and I are both very, my wife's the same way. We're all very independent thinking. I would never join any club. Maybe I think I'm just like, I'm too arrogant.

Same here. Like, wait, I'm supposed to do what you're telling me to do? I don't think so. You join my party. You're going to follow me. I'm not going to join your... I'll take your suggestions, but that's based off of like a long resume of proven success. Other than that, just do your job.

crazy. I would never want to be part of any political party. How about Colin's new party? Common sense prevails. Independent thinking. I'm the president. Just pick a side that's not loony tunes. Joy with the news. No. No.

Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. All right. Well, Aaron Donald is feeling good. Despite suffering torn rib cartilage in last week's win over the Seahawks, our very own Colin Coward is having some of his own. I went to a physical therapist yesterday.

it was the most painful experience in a long time, but it was also helpful. Yeah, we talk about rehab all the time, very casually. Rehab is the hard part of an injury. The initial injury hurts, obviously. Yeah, yeah. But rehabbing that injury is awful. Yesterday was literally a knife in my ribs all day long. Yeah, you did that.

I can't remember what it's called, but it looks like a knife and they rub it on your skin. It's brutal. I would cry if it wasn't a woman doing it. I didn't want to humiliate myself. I would have just cried for an hour. I did. It hurts. Well, anyway, he says feeling fine. He did not practice on Wednesday and admitted his side was a little sore, but he said he has no pain. He feels healthy and strong, and he's going to be ready to play in Green Bay on on Saturday. Foxbet has the Packers favored by six and a half. That line might change because we're still waiting to find out what's going on with Goff and Wolford. I'm going to go with Goff's going to start. I don't have any insight here, but I'm going to go with Goff's going to start because Wolford's not practice. thing. Sean McVeigh is not going into a game without a quarterback.

Well, it's also a neck injury over a thumb injury, and I'm not a doctor, but, you know, we saw golf play through it. Last week. And he's got to be better seven days later. Well, or worse. I mean, he wasn't supposed to play. Wolver was supposed to play. But they are banged up at that position. John Wolford, obviously is a neck injury. Cooper Cup.

He has a knee injury. He didn't practice. Obviously, Andrew Whitworth is still coming back from that knee injury, but he was limited. And golf was a full participant. So it does look like to your point that Goff is going to get the start. But I think obviously the biggest point on this team, other than Goff, obviously, is Aaron Donald being 100% healthy because their defense is what's going to keep them in this game

and make it competitive if they can. Again, I think that this is an easy win for the Packers. If the Packers don't melt down, that's what's going to happen. I'm not dismissing what the Rams have been able to do so far, but they've just got a lot of injuries to overcome. So, oh my God, the Steelers. Ben Rothesberger, obviously been with the organization for 17 years, huge loss to the Browns, and there's a lot of questions about how much longer he can do this.

Well, he still has one more year in his contract, details I got to in a second, but Mike Tomlin would not give a completely firm answer on whether he's coming back. I don't have a clear assessment of the overall impact of the cap ramifications, so I might not have a direct answer to your question, but I think it's reasonable to assume that there's a chance that he's going to be back, certainly. He is a $41.25 million cap hit in 2021. Well, then he's going to be back. I mean, I think it's over, but it's, you know, you're kind of trapped.

I just, I probably the wrong word, but I feel like you're trapped with Big Ben. He is what he is. He's not going to be in great shape. You're trapped. I don't think you and I, I could be wrong on this. I don't, I mean, when they made that big, Kevin Colbert re-signed him, I think we were both kind of surprised by it. It was a lot of money.

It was post-Lavian Bell era, Antonio Brown drama. they signed him to a big contract. I don't remember my reaction, but it was like three years and he was aging poorly. What surprised me is that they have no backup plan. Mason Rudolph is not a starting quarterback in this league. What are we all watching here? Are I watching a different game? Because Ben's too insecure to handle a backup.

Seriously. Whatever. I don't know. Maybe I'm very callous. This is the way it goes. Like you eventually get replaced. This is the NFL. You're not going to play for us.

forever. This is not how it works. Drew Brees deserves credit for being able to handle James Winston, Taysam Hill. Like, Drew Brees is aging. He's like, even Brady didn't like Gropolo. Like, Drew Brees has been like, all right, bring in whatever. Well, at least to Brady's credit, that was years ago. Like, a lot has happened since then. Like, he was right. He's done a lot of years left. A lot of years left. Drew Brees is clearly like retiring. Like, this is it. So it's a very different situation. He has the highest half hit of any quarterback. If he was. to retire, the Steelers have to carry

22.25 million in dead cap. They also have Juju Smith, Schuster, Bud DePree, James Connor, Mike Hilton as free agents. They have 26 other total free agents, so the team could look completely different next year. They also part of ways with the offensive coordinator, offensive line coach, and defensive backs coach.

I don't know what's making the Steelers moving forward. Well, here's what I know to make out of him. Stefanski looks like a really good coach and Baltimore's humming and Joe Burrell's coming back. So my takeaway with Pittsburgh is, you can you can rest on your laurels, but the rest of the division is not. Is getting better.

Cleveland's getting better. Cleveland got the right coach. Whether you like Baker or not, they got the right coach. I mean, they have Baker too. They're not moving off Baker. Baker just won a playoff game. Seems to me Pittsburgh. It's one 11 games this season.

Brand is way better than the football. You've got to figure out what you're going to do with the quarterback position moving forward. So James Harding got his wish and was traded from the rockets to the Brooklyn Nets. But before the news broke, DeMarcus cousins didn't hold back his feelings on how things went down in Houston. obviously is disrespectful, but, you know, everybody has a word to their opinion. We feel a certain type of way about some of his actions. He can feel however he wants to feel with the organization or whatever his current situation is, but the other 14 guys in the locker room have done nothing to him.

So for us to be on the receiving end and some of the disrespectful comments and antics, it's completely unfair to us. That's one thing about what Hardin did is Like even if I was going to leave Fox I would still give my best effort the last show Like the idea that I'm just going to mail it in I just don't love that I think he just have to

Brady fought his butt off his last day in New England And it sounded like he knew a year out he was leaving But he gave you everything he had to the last play I'm not a big fan of the way Hardin left It's disrespectful He came in out of shape I mean that's what DeMarcette said is not wrong. It's disrespectful. You're on this team. You owe it to, if no one else, your teammates.

Yes. Forget the city and the owner and to your teammates. To your teammates. Everybody in every business goes through situations with their business, with their bosses, with their contract negotiations, whatever, whatever's going on. At the end of the day, you have a responsibility to the person next to you to do your best work. Otherwise, that's a reflection of who you are as a person. Quite frankly, that's what it is. You can be mad at your bosses. You can be mad at everything. But if you're going to come into work and in a situation like this where you actually have physical teammates relying on you

to give your best effort and you're like throwing the ball out of bounds you're coming in out of shape you're not coming up to practice you're not communicating with anybody like literally throwing a fit on the way out of by the way and I'm not defending the organization but they did everything that you asked

which might have been their mistake By the way they did everything you asked three different times They did the- But you controlled every aspect of the organization Practice time when's the Jets leave Like, it's just, like, again, the Texans have some fundamental issues, and I think they've made horrible trades, but there have been good players there. Like, Deshawn has had some support, and he's done the best he can with it. The rocket support's been unbelievable.

Like, like, Deshawn's got some complaints, and they're valid. And, like, some of the trades have been insane with Deshawn Watson. They've been missteps. so I get his anger. But at some point, James Harden has to go, you know, they got me Howard and Chris Paul. By the way, even getting John Wall, well, I mean, he's a player.

He's an all-star level player. I don't think he did any, and maybe he doesn't care, but I don't think he did his legacy any, oh no, it did. Any favors the way that things fell apart in Houston. Because, look, I didn't love what was put together in Houston, but they certainly did everything they could.

Certainly had good players there, and he didn't make it happen. And most of the postseason meltdowns were on you. Yeah, right. Like you're the guy, you're the guy, then you're supposed to make it happen. And now you're in a situation where all the pressures on you've got Katie, yourself, and Kyrie, Steve Nash, you better win. Good stuff, Joy, with the news. Well, that's the news.

And thanks for stopping by. The Heard Lie News. It is funny with, you know, I was thinking about this last night. I was having a conversation with somebody. And Steve Sarkesian, new Texas coach last hour, I was thinking about this. I really am, nothing against Belichick, but I really am rooting for Brady in this divorce. Because we should root for him because we're just employees. Belichick's part of the ownership fabric group, right?

Like that's management. And in the end, you see this a lot where big corporation pays employee, but they think we're fine without him. And that's what the Patriots felt. And Tom's like, no, I think I'm one of those transformational guys that, like Tiger Woods to the PGA, I think you need me more than you believe. And the Patriots didn't. They leak stuff to the media.

They didn't give them the salary. They didn't respect him on some of his personnel needs. Like, all of us should be rooting for Brady over the organization because all of us are just employees. And what Tom basically said is, as his wife said, I just want to be respected. I'm really valuable. I'm good. He went to press conferences for years. I mean, it was almost to the point where it was like political.

He would go to a press conference and golly, gee, it's all about the team and I have the best coach. I love my organization, and for years he was carrying it. So if you're rooting for Brady and the divorce, and I find myself, what you're rooting for is the employee over the corporate entity. That doesn't mean corporate entities are bad. But I think what we're seeing here is sometimes you do get employees, and Tommy's one of them, and LeBron's one of them. They're just as valuable as the corporation, and the corporation unravels the minute he's out of town. And they got no solutions at quarterback. They got no solutions.

they're drafting 15. Matt Stafford, maybe your best solution. And he's a fortune and has never won a big game that you remember in his life. So I was saying about last night, I'm like, why am I not just rooting for Brady to win this thing? He's the employee. Because Brady kind of feels like he wasn't. Like he felt kind of corpority for so long because of how he behaved in New England because that's kind of how they felt.

Like they were the big dynasty and the man and the scandals and stuff. So a lot of people are kind of still. separating him from that. But boy, he went to Tampa and he takes his shirt off and he's got a tan and he gets arrested and he's going into houses and he's got jet skis. He's a new guy. I just kind of find myself rooting for him. Good for Tommy.

I'm definitely rooting for this. Rick Bukers around the corner on the situation in Brooklyn next. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio F.S.1 and the IHeard Radio app. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential.

Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what y'all saying. Yep, that's me, Clivert Taylor the 4th.

You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment. And the next, we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music.

The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok.

Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam Jett. And I'm Alex English.

Each episode, we pick a here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack all day, but just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you for finishing that sentence.

Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist,

Kier Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. and we're still chasing it and we don't know when we've done enough

because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth? Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely.

And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast. Learn the hard way. Open your free iHeartRadio app.

Search Learn the hard way and listen now. Everybody wants to keep their home and family safe. From a break in flooding, a medical emergency, go to SimplySafe.com slash Colin and also get a free security camera. Rick Buecker's covered the NBA since the early 90s. He is now joining us live, Fox Sports NBA analyst. All right, let's first start with this. Harden Kevin Durant,

Kyrie. It sounds entertaining. Do you think it fits? No, I don't think it fits. I don't see how it fits. I'm fascinated to watch this experiment. I mean, look, it's the first thing that has actually caught our interest or attention in this NBA season. I was asked the other day, give somebody a 30-second synopsis of what's happened, what's transpired in the league, this point. This was prior to the trade. I was like, nothing. Nothing has happened. The Lakers are the best team coming out of last season. They're still the best team in the league, and I don't see who is going to oppose them. Now at least we have this potential of the Nets being that team. But Colin, I'll ask you, I've never seen a situation where you take three

unhappy people and you bring them together and they find happiness together. If there's a story out there like that. I've yet to hear it. Do you think Kevin Durant, he would never admit it, but does have a little regret choosing Kyrie over Steph today? I don't believe that he has regret over making the choice between the two. Does he have regret that he hits his wagon to Kyrie? There has to be some thought about this is not going the way that I anticipated it. that it would. But what he was never going to get being with Steph was the recognition of his full capabilities. He was the two-time finals MVP, and yet it was still looked at as Steph's team and always was going to be, and that Steph was the driving force behind those championships.

So KD was seeking that, and that's what makes this hardened addition, interesting because now if they end up accomplishing something, KD still will not have received the recognition that took him to Brooklyn in the first place. It will be, oh, they found out pretty quick that that KD. Kyrie combination wasn't enough. They needed to add a third piece to make it happen. And I believe that KD, look, I agree with him and that he has never been given his just do when it comes to who and what he is as a basketball player. But I don't believe that this circumstance, particularly adding hardened to the equation, is going to accomplish what brought KD there in the first place. What are we to make of Kyrie Irving? What's happened? What is going on?

Do you know how many times, Colin, I've been asked that question over the last 24 hours, 48 hours. And my stock response is, you're asking me to look into the mind of Kyrie the artist. In much the same way, you'd ask me to look in the, and look at a painting by Baskat or Picasso and say, what do you think he was thinking there? What, what's behind that? I don't know. Now, over the course of my career in covering the league, I've had the opportunity to sit down with guys and have those conversations where I find out exactly what they're thinking. And I may not agree with it, but I at least understand it. I have not had that conversation with Kyrie. I've had it with people that are close to him who have tried to have that conversation, and they haven't gotten any

answers. I guess the simplest explanation I can give you is that Kyrie is trying to make himself relevant above and beyond being a basketball player, but he does not know how to do it. And in the meantime, he's undermining his true platform, which is his ability to be a great basketball player. Yeah. It is, how do you think Adam Silver looks at all this? I mean, James Harden basically just throws his teammates under a bus. Do you think the commissioner has any concern?

because we know he didn't like Katie going to the Warriors because he felt it was lobsided. This morning, Adam Silver, what do you think he thinks about this Brooklyn team now? I believe that he has to think that this is a boon to my league. Because, as I said, it wasn't really anything interesting going on. And the reality of the situation is you can look at players, superstar players, dictating where they're going to go and where they're going to play and what that does to the league. and it is a power struggle. There's no doubt that that changes the equation.

And he has to satisfy both small market and big market owners, the small market owners fearful that all of their players are going to end up going to the big markets or the most powerful teams. Look, Yanosanta DiCompo made a great statement opposing that. So the bottom line is this generates interest in the league and it generates hope among all of the franchises out there that don't have superstars that somehow some way they might someday get one of these. I mean, let's face it,

we're talking about three superstars going to the Brooklyn Nets. If that doesn't engender optimism among other franchises that haven't had this opportunity, well, it well should. Whether it's realistic or not among their fan bases, it should. And let's face it, the attraction and the popularity of the league has now shifted to transactions. Yeah. The hope of a player going someplace, as opposed to the idea that, you know, I watch the game and my team winning or losing is what attracts me. It really is. It's the possibilities is what makes the NBA own as much. much of the sports landscape as it does. And whether we like it or not from a competitive standpoint or the actual machinations of the league, the fact of the matter is that's where the NBA's

bread is buttered right now. And this adds to that. Yeah, good stuff. Rick Buecker, good seeing you, but haven't talked in a while. Thanks, man. I know. Same column. Go the extra mile, very own upfitted Mercedes Ben Sprinter van. You could win. It's Fox Sports Radio's ultimate tailgate rig sweepstakes. have until January 24th to sign up. So, I mean, it's funny. I grew up in the Pacific Northwest. The NBA has always been a Players League forever. You could go look up Google Spencer Haywood.

He was a great player for the Sonics. He was one of the first guys that said, hey, I'm going to go where I want to go. So I've never had a player. I've always defended players being mobile. I've always understood it to Players League. I don't like what James Hardin did to his teammates. That part is Bush League to me. But listen, I like player mobility for selfish reasons.

It's interesting. I mean, the NFL didn't even use to do trades before Jimmy Johnson. I cannot wait for March. I care where every weak side defensive end goes. And that's a fun part. So I have no problem with mobility. I just think on your way out, you should give your team everything. You owe your teammates.

I mean, to some degree, you own the fans. The fans pay your salary. on my last show, if I ever work at a network, I'm not going to mail it in. I feel like, well, somebody tuned in to me for three hours. I got to give you my day's work. And I think what James Harden did was not good. But do I think KD. James Hardin and Kyrie is more interesting than KD. Kyrie and James and Houston?

Oh, yes, yes, yes. We have one more fascinating team. So when I asked about Adam Silver, Rick's probably right. Adam's like, I got a rock band. Rock bands trash hotel rooms. They do inappropriate things. But when they tour, they sell a lot of tickets. It's an interesting action movie.

Not going to win an Oscar, but it's interesting. Hour 3 next. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between-songs. banter. Where does your group perform?

We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential.

Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. On the Look Back at it podcast. From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84's big to me.

I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. It was a wild year. It was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people.

Listen to look back at it on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfilled conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated.

So let's get to it. Listen to The Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok's podcast network on TikTok. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.