The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 01/18/2021 - HOUR 2 - Right & Wrong, Trent Dilfer, Taron Johnson

Episode Date: January 18, 2021

Colin tells you where he was right and where he was wrong over the weekendTrent DIlfer breaks down the NFL Divisional Playoff WeekendBills DB Taron Johnson talks about his pick 6Guests: Trent Dilfer, Taron Johnson Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. 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,

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And we're live in Los Angeles for our chargers having football coach. This is the herd wherever you may be and however you may be listening. IHeart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, and FS1. I had so much fun this weekend. I got to tell you, it's so much fun. I love watching football. I just love it. It was a, it was really nice to have those.

teams. I'll say that. There were so many good stories all season long with each of those teams. And now to have the championship game set with, like you said earlier, just the quarterbacks that were most consistently great all season long. Hopefully we'll get Mahan was back. I think we will. I think we're going to have a crazy off season because what are the Colts going to do at quarterback? What are the Eagles going to do at quarterback? Like there's four or five teams. Where's Jimmy G. going to go? Where's San Francisco? Steelers. New England. Forget the draft. and all the great young quarterbacks, which will be a story among itself.

But there's like four or five veteran guys out there, Stafford, Jimmy Garapolo. I wouldn't call Carson Wentz a veteran. But there's a lot of guys hanging out there that Big Ben, we think Breeze is done. Philip Rivers is a coin flip. I think if Philadelphia, if Indianapolis couldn't land somebody, they'd bring Philip back. I mean, he was very effective against Buffalo a week ago. Very effective. Yeah.

I know. Same thing. It's like, yeah. But he was effective. I mean, he's effective. Do you want effective? No, listen. Listen, I've been called effective.

It's not. I'm very effective, billing space. I can't get too offended on that. All right. Where Colin was right, where Colin was wrong, brought to you by Jersey Mike's. App is short for appetizing. Save 25% in your order with the code Mike's 25. That's Mike's 25.

Jersey Mike's subs. Be a sub above. They're fantastic. They bring them for lunch every week. Here we go. Colin right, Colin wrong. Where Colin was wrong. Where Colin was right?

We've been a huge fan of Andy Reed for years. The Eagles were a bigger mess every year he's not there. He is now the only coach in NFL history to host three straight AFC championship, and he's done it in both conferences. The adapter, one of the most likable guys, I thought yesterday it wasn't irony or a coincidence. His best play call of the year is when Patrick Mahomes got hurt. that Chad Hennie play is the call of the year in the NFL, and only Andy Reed would say, yeah, I'm going to get Chad Hennie,

and I'm going to roll the dice. By the way, that wasn't the only play. Like, they threw the ball probably more than 99% of the coaches would with Mahomes out. A lot of guys would have killed the clock and run the ball. They were having some marginal success running the ball. But the easiest guy in the league to root for, maybe Andy Reed. Love him.

where Colin was wrong. Baker Mayfield, I always thought he could play. My question, day one, college was maturity. Last year he was calling out the medical staff. Last year he was getting in arguments with, like, me in the media on Twitter and Instagram. But actually, he grew up this year. He was poised. He was calm.

He was a grown-up. You know, now he's like Aaron Rogers. He kind of winks at the media as he pokes him in the ribs. But I really thought he came a long way as an adult. Mature, runs the offense. And that's hard. By the way,

that may be harder than the physical stuff is owning up to, hey, I got to grow up a little bit. I thought he did. He finally has a legitimate coach. And believe it or not, folks, I root for Baker.

I don't root against any of these guys. Bad quarterback play is the gates of hell to me. There's nothing worse than watching a football game with bad quarterback play. I want all these guys to work. All of them.

Where Colin was right? Yeah, Brady won the divorce, which we thought. but it is now like embarrassing. Tom Brady has 44 touchdown passes. The Patriot quarterbacks have 10. I thought he was sensational yesterday. Gronk wasn't big.

Mike Evans got mostly covered except that catch. Chris Godwin struggled. I thought didn't have a just wasn't tight. Antonio Brown got hurt. Cameron Brate was a leading receiver. By the way, all these leading. in the media. We could have won with multiple quarterbacks here in New England if I had to read that again. Yeah,

maybe Aaron Rogers, that's about it. Where Colin was wrong. Well, Lamar Jackson did unravel yesterday. He struggled 14 for 24 and just wasn't a good afternoon for him. Listen, four playoff games, they've averaged 13 points. Three points in a playoff game, pick six, seam rattle, couldn't beat Buffalo with his arm. Now, again, Buffalo got good players. But, you know, I think the is let's upgrade his wide receiving

core. He did get to the playoffs and win a playoff game and he beat the Browns twice this year. This is a guy that can play. He beat the Colts this year. He's won a lot of games in the NFL. But I did think he unraveled this weekend. Got a little ahead of himself. It felt like all weekend long he was throwing on third and nine.

It just felt like, and you cannot go on the road in the NFL in the playoffs with an average receiving core and be third and 12 and third and 11 and third and You're just not going to win that game. You're just not... You know, one of the things Brady got yesterday was actually, you got a good running game.

He actually support from his running back. It's amazing how good quarterbacks look on third in three, and not third and 11. Where Colin was right? We've been on the Buffalo train for about seven, eight weeks. They're a Hail Mary away from a 12-game winning streak. We were also on the Sean McDermott train to start the year. I think McDermott, he's like the Kyle Shanahan defense.

Nobody talks about Buffalo. We talk about the 49ers more. this is a flawed team. They can't run the ball. The Colts ran on them. They got a young quarterback. They got to upgrade the defensive line. They don't get much of a pass rush.

This is not a perfect football team. It is not. Before Stefan Diggs, they didn't throw the ball deep. This is a really well-coached team that has elevated a spectacular young quarterback, acquired a gifted wide receiver and has a couple of dbs I really like. But don't, don't, if all the rosters remaining, I could make the argument, this is the weakest one. Sean McDermott's a great coach.

Where Colin was right. Three Miami Dolphin players told anonymously the Miami Herald, they weren't in on Tua and they didn't like benching Ryan Fitzpatrick. And they think Fitzpatrick's the better player. Again, my question, the weekend, I think the Friday before two has started, I said, I know he's accurate. I know he's a good kid. I know he's coachable. Where's the juice?

Where's the special? I'm seeing it with Burrell. I'm seeing it with Josh Allen. I see it with Mahalms. I see it with Lamar. See it with Herbert. I don't see it with him. And Miami players now telling the Miami Herald, they're seeing what we're questioning.

Where's the special? Where Colin was wrong. I thought Patrick Mahomes was going to be rusty, at least early in the game. Good Lord, he came out. He was 8 to 9, passing touchdown, rushing touchdown. He just made it look so easy. And again, they got Miles Garrett. It's not like there's not some pass rush.

I thought he made it look so effortless. He was so comfortable. He was so poised. I didn't think, I thought, really, had I bet this game and I didn't? I would have bet Cleveland first quarter. I thought he was going to come out and. Really? I mean, he did last year. Took week 17 off, didn't play well in December,

and that was Thanksgiving football with the relatives. I thought he just made it look. Football without a sweat. Where Colin was right? I have predicted Kyrie Irving is drama. Yes, he's talented, but six games in, he disappeared and didn't tell anybody where he was, including his coach. Now, he also forced the Brooklyn Nets to trade for an insurance policy. So you've already got drama.

They've already traded for an insurance policy. I think Hardin and Kevin Durant will win a bunch of games. They had a really good game this week. I didn't watch it, but I read about it. That I don't worry about. But in the end, there was a lot of stories out of Boston that weren't reported. There was a lot of issues there. He is really, really hard to coach.

And that has always been the one thing that punctures elite talent. Where Colin was right? My insipid quarterback face bracket went four for four. I'm now eight and two overall. where I simply choose the games based on who's the better quarterback. Not your coach, not your defense, not your special teams, not where the game is. I choose who's playing better quarterback now. So I have chosen Josh Allen over Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rogers over Tom Brady,

eight and two overall, four for four this weekend. And I made a mistake. Baker was playing better than Big Ben. And I gave it to Big Ben. I should be 9 and 1. I don't even know why I did that. That was dumb. That was almost as dumb as the quarterback face bracket itself.

We'll give you updates on some of these jobs. They happen fast. I was talking to Jason Garrett, the former cowboy coach yesterday. What a pleasant guy. And he's out there and he's looking. And I told him, I said, you need a better PR agent. I said your career in Dallas, people have a view of it and what it really was. So there's a lot of stuff out there right now.

now, Brandon Staley for the Chargers, little bit of a curveball. He feels like, to me, the anecdote, he's the Sean McVeigh hire for the Rams. A guy kind of comes from nowhere, little younger than history tells you you should hire. McVeigh's a home run. Maybe Brandon Staley is.

Trent Dilfer's around the corner. Remember the Buffalo Bills. We'll be joining us before the end of our two. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays at noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the IHard 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 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 you're saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford 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, 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 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack all day, but just so you 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. Thank you finishing that sentence. 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, 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.

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Open your free iHeartRadio app, search Learn the Hardway, and listen now. The NFL playoffs continue Sunday with the NFC championship presented by TurboTax Live, as Tom Brady and the Buccaneers take on Aaron Rogers and the Packers. Pre-game coverage starts at 1 p.m. Eastern on Fox and the Fox Sports app. Yeah, that's going to get a good TV rating. I'm going to go Creskin here. I'm going to go, I'm going to try to guess how that does. I'm going to guess that gets a. Super Bowls get 50s, right?

That'll get a 30. That's going to have some eyeballs, yeah. If it's a competitive game and the weather's really dicey in the country and people are forced inside, that could get a 30. Well, I just think we, not only is it Aaron Rogers and Tom Brady. Like, we're still in this space where we're like really, I mean, at least I am like really. grateful to have sports. Yeah, no, I feel that too. Like it's called basketball, I'm watching

NBA, anything it's on. I'm like, I'll never forget. I'll never forget those five months. He was five and one in his six career playoff games, 15 years in the league and has a Super Bowl trophy. Trent Dillford now joining us live. Listen, I watched Drew Breeze yesterday and I said, you know, that's how you age if you don't eat avocado ice cream nine times a day like Brady. You look like Breeze. You look like you just the ball on the out, it doesn't quite get there. You know, you had a last game or two. Like, I looked at Drew

and I thought, it's time. It kind of feels like it's time. Did you see that? Well, I think all year long, we've kind of noticed that. And a lot of it's reflected in Sean Payton's play calling. You know, that was an offense that kind of felt like they were stuck in a hotel bedroom bed where the sheets are tied down underneath the bed and you kind of feel all tight in there until you bust out the sheets. You know, that's kind of what the offense looked like. nothing was spread out, nothing was fluid, nothing was vertical, and everything they were doing is kind of playing in this tight little box. And Tampa had a lot to do with that, how they played defense. But it just seemed like he didn't have a lot of confidence in calling kind of a wide

open offense and getting all his playmakers involved. So, yeah, I think it's time. And it's not a knock on Drew Bree, is one of the greatest that's ever put on cleats at any position to get this team this far at this age, I think is quite the accomplishment. But yeah, yesterday with all the eyeballs, watching it with a defense that said, hey, we're not scared of you. We're going to make you play in this hotel bed with the sheets tied on you. You could really see how his skills have diminished over the years. I was kind of blown away by Brady. Antonio Brown hurt.

Mike Evans minimized. I didn't think Chris Godwin was all buttoned up. Gronk was not terribly effective. I honest, you know, it wasn't a weapons thing. Many would believe he had the second best coach going into that game. I was kind of blown away by his resourcefulness yesterday. Your thoughts? That's a good word.

I'd use patience too, wisdom, discernment, all the things and art world glamorous parts while playing the position. I can't think of a ball he forced. When he missed, he missed away from the defense. You think of those couple throws down the sideline are corner shots to Grunkowski. He misses away. He misses low in the middle of the field when Godwin runs the bad crossing route.

like his misses were really good. He wasn't forcing the issue. He played the long game. He never panicked. And obviously he got some great help from a defense that played phenomenal and got the ball back for him. But yeah, there was never. And I think Chris mentioned it during the game. Like, don't expect Tom Brady to force the issue and try to make more of it than there is.

Like, he's going to take what the defense gave him. And I thought he was, were they a one for five on vertical attempts? Yeah. But again, the misses were educated misses. So he played like a champion in a tough game. I would say this. He's the master of knowing what the game calls for. We say framing the game. Every game has its own frame. It's its own picture. It's different. And he can adjust to that early in the game and not play outside of the temperament of the game. That's what he did last night. I think Mahomes, I woke up this morning and I thought, Kansas City won. Mahomes didn't play for the last quarter and he was, you've played on a bad foot. He couldn't push off.

And I'm like, I thought he was going to come out a little rusty. He was, his first six, seven drives, touchdown, touchdown, field goal, miss field goal, touchdown. I thought Mahomes, I mean, maybe he didn't have the dazzlers, but I was kind of a little blown away by him. I thought he was incredibly effective bouncing around in a bad foot. I did too. And I mean, it goes back to what we said a couple weeks ago, I think.

Like, their floor is so much higher than everybody else's. They don't have to play great. They don't even have to play great in a series. Like, you'll see them score in a series where they'll have two, three, four stinker plays. But they can overcome them. Like, they're so explosive. They're so diverse in what they do offensively. They have so many ways of coming at you that they can kind of sputter around.

and lolly gag around and mess up, and then boom, they get 14 yards. Ah, they get 18. Oh, minus three plus one plus 12th. And it doesn't even look right, but their floor is just so much higher than everybody else's. It's almost an unfair fight. I thought the Browns were impressive, earned my respect. I know they're in your respect. They played hard.

They did a lot of good things. And they never really had a chance. I mean, people talk about the brilliant fourth down call. Who's to say the Browns are going to score if they punt there? I mean, we're assuming the Browns are going to go on this miraculous drive when they hadn't done anything to two previous drives and score. Kansas City, they don't even have to play well, and they still beat good teams. Yeah, not only not play well, but have their star quarterback out for a quarter and a half.

You know, Andy Reid, I tell you, I thought he had a lot of guts. A lot of guys would go to their backup, and they would just run the ball. And it was like, listen, there were a couple times they were throwing, I mean, Tony Romo was a riot. Tony's like, look at the body language. They're not running a play here. And they did it. Tony was like aghast like the rest of us were, the Henney call.

I was like, that takes a lot of guts, Trent. That most coaches won't do that. I think this is where Andy Reid, his staff, you got to give his whole staff a lot of credit because I know he delegates a lot to be enemy and the other offensive coaches on that staff. I think they beat people Monday through Saturday. Yeah, I remember as a player,

I now know as a coach, how hard it is to prepare, how many rabbit holes you can go down, how much extra thinking you can do to give your team an advantage on game day. And they do all of that better than anybody else. The fact that they're going to run sprint ride option in the most critical moment, it's probably in bold letters and read outline on the call sheet. And they did it against Miami a few weeks ago. But this week, they're going to say, okay, if we're going to run this play,

what's the most creative way we could run it in a must-have situation, game in the line situation. Oh, we can empty the backfield to get the man's own declaration. And then we can kind of get the offensive lineman to sit up a little bit higher and have bad body language by the three receivers. So it looks like we're going to triple count this and try to get him to jump. And then we'll notice the back when he comes back in from empty formation backfield. He's kind of lazy and standing up straight. Yes.

But they plan this Monday through Saturday. So it's no surprise that on Sunday evening when it has to. to work in the biggest moment of their season, they've gone through all the mental gymnastics. They've crossed, they've crossed every tee, dotted every eye on the whys and the howls of the play to create an advantage. And yes, they have a freak athlete that the number three receiver is going to run the jab step out. And yeah, they're going to get protected right.

But it's all the thought that goes into it. Like I said, Monday through Saturday, that's where they're beating people. Yeah, I thought it's a really good point. And that's what fooled Romo and it fooled me, which is they practice the body. language. They literally look like they weren't doing it. And you're like, oh, it's a tell, like a poker player. That's a tell. And they went on the play. And Romo

got full. I got fooled. I listened to Tony. I'm like, no, Tony's right. They're not running a play. Boom, they ran it. Now, go ahead. I'll give you another example of teams that are good at this. Like, I saw this a couple times over the last couple weekends. Everybody runs quarterback sneak and short yard situations, right? Yep. So what do the defense do? They get those two, two

eye techniques deep down. They reduce everybody. Those linebackers run up tight, and sometimes you get it, sometimes you don't. But Now you're seeing teams shift, motion, lookout, hand signal, the receiver, like do all this window dressing, just a quarterback sneak. So to create an intent different than what you're actually going to do to get one yard. To get one yard, that's the NFL, and that's where Andy Reid and the staff just do a better job than anybody else. When you need that one yard, what intent do you show the defense? And then what do you do outside of the intent?

You know, I think it's interesting. 71% of the plays for the Packers had motion. And I said, I watched that game, and I reflected back to Mike McCarthy, who runs a much more static offense. But I'm watching Green Bay. It's multiple sets. Everybody's in motion. They had all these offensive guys two years ago. They had all these pieces.

It's almost like Lefleur came in, and they probably had some uncomfortable moments. He's like, no, no, no, we're going to make your brain work overtime here. and I watch them and they're hard to defend, Trent. They're making corners, make snap decisions, fast motions. I don't know if there's a defense. They tore the Rams apart. I'm not sure how you stop Green Bay. How do you do it?

It's going to be tough. You know, so much what they do is based off their action game under the floor. I think number one, you've got to stop the run. You can't let them run the football because once they start running the football and the whole entire menu is open for the Packers. And that menu is pretty robust with the shifts and motions and window dressing. And a lot of what they do is they're creating leverage with their motion. So you can't do a lot of that stuff if you're in the dropback pass mode.

You almost want to reduce Green Bay back to what they once were. And that's four wide receivers, shotgun, quick passing game. And I know people go, oh, you're crazy. That means Aaron's going to throw up more. but they're not nearly as effective when they're in the drop back pass mode. They are so dangerous in the action mode. They're so dangerous when they can condense those splits, get those receivers up on safeties and linebackers,

and then activate them in the past game and action. That's where they get their home run shots. They're so dangerous when they can change the launch point and get those receivers crossing from condensed splits. But if you stop their run game and you say, you know what, you're going to have to throw it 55 times there. I think you have a fighting chance, but you can't stop them if they're balanced. You know, I love the bills all year, but I will be honest about this.

The last two weeks I've seen a lot of flaws, they don't have a run game. I mean, it's not existing. And then against the Colts, I'm like, they don't really have a pass rush if you have a decent offensive line. And here we are. They're in the AFC championship and a field goal game with Kansas City. And I think to myself, are they too reliant on Josh Allen? Am I nitpicking because I'm seeing so much of them. But the more I see of them, I'm like, wow, that is a flawed team that keeps winning games.

What do you see with the bills? You know, they're one of the four best teams in the NFL. I think most of our eyeballs saw that, especially the second half of the season. But now it's these four trying to be the very best. I don't think with this formula they can be the very best. I don't think they can finish the race depending so, much on one player, one formula offensively. And that's not saying anything bad about them. It's just they're not quite there. The Packers, the Chiefs, I would say even the Bucks now after they kind

of reformatted who they were after that shalacking in week nine against the Saints, these teams have everything you need offensively to finish the race. Buffalo, you're going to have to run the football. You can't put so much on the quarterback. I agree. Now, I will say it's defensively. They're so creative defensively that they, they're huge and critical downs. But yeah, you sit back and you're like, huh, I don't think there's ever been a team that's won a Super Bowl being this so dependent on one phase of their offense. Yeah, no, that's just kind of the way I feel like this morning, I feel like the most flawless team is Green Bay. And boy, Kansas City is the scariest, but their run defense is a little shaky. Tampa Bay Special teams

are cross your finger. Everybody's got a little something. In Buffalo, it may be a roster issue where they're just a pass rusher away. It kind of feels like chalk to me. I mean, everybody kind of thought Green Bay, Kansas City going back what, six, seven, eight weeks ago?

Yeah. Right? I mean, that's kind of when you're kind of looking to be a contrarine. If you're pulling somebody else, well, they could, they might. But this kind of feels like chalk. Like this is going to be Kansas City, Green Bay. They're the two most complete teams, all three phases. Matt LaFour is an incredible job coaching like a veteran coach or Andy Reeves, the ultimate veteran coach. This kind of feels like Green Bay, Kansas City.

Great stuff. Good seeing you again. Lipscomb Academy High School Football Coach and beautiful Nashville, Tennessee. Trent, appreciate it. Thanks, brother. You bet. By the way, there's a lot. I'm just looking at some of the stuff coming down on these coaches. It is a last three years, Joy, Stefansky, Zach Taylor, Joe Judge, Matt Lafleur, Cliff Kingsbury, Arthur Smith, Robert Sala, Brandon Staley. We're going young. It's that Sean McVeigh thing. Brian Flores is young.

We're going young. So I don't know who's going to get these jobs, but reality is, like, it used to be, like you wouldn't even consider somebody in the early 30s. That's a position coach. You wouldn't even give him a coordinator job.

Like, if you have a good interview now, like Sean McVey walked in, the Rams were like, we can't let him out of the building. And that's what the Chargers did. They had this day, Staley, they had another interview. They're like, he's going to get a job. We've got to get this guy. Good stuff, Joy with the news.

No, no, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. Well, many people in and around the Texans reportedly believe that Sean Watson has taken his last snaps in Houston. He is reportedly not returning calls from anyone in the organization due to his unhappiness with the direction of the team. And there is said to be an incredible. increasing belief that the Texans will be forced to trade him and that they have had internal conversations about potential trade partners and what the future of the quarterback position would

be for them without Watson there. You know, it's interesting. They were so bad this year. I think I told you this. I didn't watch a lot of their games the last four weeks because they were so bad and uninteresting. If you go to Deshaun's stats, it's his best year. But they were so ineffective and I did not watch. I think two times in the last three weeks, I'm like, I just, I don't know.

have the time to watch the Houston Texans. They're mind-numbing. Well, I mean, once they fired Bill O'Brien, it's essentially, you know the season is over. Otherwise, why are you firing your head coach mid-season? So we knew this wasn't going to be a great season for them, but this has been a pretty consistent drumbeat with the Texans, and we know some of the trades that were made, and he's unhappy with how they've handled the hiring process, which is on them. I'm 100% on Deshaun Watson's side. Don't say you're going to do things, and then you don't do them. They just, you You don't have to promise him that he's going to be involved in the process, but you did. And then you didn't involve him.

And now you're trying to make up for it. So what do you get? Listen, I will say this for Houston. They need picks. They're salary choked. They need picks. You could get. I mean, let's be honest.

Does he not make the Chicago Bears a Super Bowl contender tomorrow? Of course. With that defense? Of course. So, I mean, to me, does he not make the Indianapolis Colts a Super Bowl contend? tender tomorrow. So, I mean, the bottom line is I would give up a lot of picks. If I'm Indianapolis, which just needs a between Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman, Deshawn Watson, and that offensive line. So you've got to think, I mean, I would give up. I have no problem to say I'd give up three first

round picks. I'd have no problem. I don't believe in picks. The draft. Well, you believe in that. Yes, but not hoard. I need more picks. Like, make trades. Get known commodities. But you believe in the draft. Of course you should have a, you should have some draft. capital, of course. But it gets to a point where it's like, what is the trade value? Like, Deshawn Watson is worth three first round picks

in, you know, move it around. Obviously, it's not in the same draft. If you have everything else in place. Like, that makes sense. What are you going to get in the draft that's worth Deshawn Watson? If you're the cults or if you're Miami. Well, they don't, their roster's fine.

They really don't. So people that have all of these picks, like What is it that you need? Are you a quarterback away? Give them the picks. You have the quarterback. You know what Deshawn Watson is. Deshawn Watson's been carrying this organization.

It's just a dysfunctional situation there. The owner said Friday that they want Watson to be in the loop and part of the process of hiring a new coach. And he also said the scrutiny, the owner said the scrutiny of Jack Easterby is really unjustified. Nick Casario is in charge of roster and personnel as the GM. And Easterby will oversee other football operations. so he's going nowhere. The fans were planning to hold a march today in support of Watson.

He said he was humbled by it, but don't do that because COVID. But the fans are obviously upset about this, as they should be. So the Chargers announced that they have hired Rams defensive coordinator, Brandon Staley, as their new head coach. In his one season with the Rams, the defense was first and points allowed per game and record the second most sacks. Before joining the Rams, he spent a combined three years with the Bears and Broncos. As the linebackers coach, he'll be the third youngest,

head coach behind Sean McVeigh and Zach Taylor. He must have had a heck of an interview. And that happens by the way. McVeigh literally blew the Rams away. Well, the Rams have now seen three head coaches from their organization in the last three years, Zach Taylor, Brandon Saly, and Matt LaFleurr, via the Titans. Yeah, you're right. So, well done well. It's some tree there. Yeah. To your point about hiring young coaches, though, I think one thing

that we're seeing in the NFL is if you have one, you need to be able to relate to the players. It's a different time, even though the NFL is still very much the shield and it's still much the organization. It is a different time. There is a little bit more catering to the stars. Well, you're seeing the Houston situation when you don't at least

acknowledge them. Yeah. I mean, you have to be able to have what happened with the Eagles? I mean, was that on Carson Wentz? Was it on Doug Peterson? I don't know, but you didn't make it work. Like, you have to be able to work with people. You have to be able to relate to them. And we've obviously, I mean, Andy Reid, like we just got done

talking about him. He's an older coach. But everyone that works with Andy Reed loves Andy Reed, players, coaches, media, everyone. Because he relates to people. Young people have that ability. You're on the same wavelength. If you bring in really strong coordinators, like I think that Robert Stahlia should do, get a great offensive coordinator. We know he can build a defense. Then you can have success. That's what Sean McVay did. It's a big part of why he's had the success that he's had. I mean, he's brilliant, obviously, but put the right pieces around you. So James Hardin made his next debut on Saturday and put on a show. He had 32 points,

12 rebounds, and 14 assists in the 122-1-15 win over the magic. How did they lose all that weight? I don't know, you know, maybe some shakes. Who knows? All I know is that the internet was going crazy how skinny he looked compared to like four

days ago. He just cut off the salt or something. He made a history with that stat line becoming the first NBA player to record a 30-point triple double on his debut with a team. Kevin Durant added 42 points, so they're combined 74. It was the most that duo has ever scored as teammates. And it seems like it's working on at least the launch. Wode just to be that Kyrie Irving continues to ramp up his conditioning and will miss tonight's game against Milwaukee. They are

currently fifth in the east, are the Nets. Look, we knew they weren't going to have a problem scoring. Yeah, that's not the issue. Durant and Harden have won the last seven of 11 scoring titles in the That's not going to be the issue. I would trade, if it was up to me, if I could get a couple of guys who would defend and score 11 a game, and I get KD. Hardin and defenders. I don't think a third score works, but if, because to me, Kevin Durant and James Hardin is at least a second round playoff team, at least. I think that it would work with Kyrie, but it's going to take Kyrie completely buying in. Hardin and Durant have played together before. We both know they're going to score.

We know what Kevin Durant is capable of. If Kyrieva is in, it could work. But to me, when I look at the Nets, it's a giant puzzle. How do you put all these roles together? How do you get everyone to buy in and build a new culture? Because the culture that was there is no more. Joy with the news. Well, that's the news.

And thanks for stopping by. The Herd Line News. He made the play of the game for the Bills to beat Baltimore. And he joins us next. The Herd. Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. Imagine an Olympics. 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. I don't care what you're 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

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growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free, our heart radio app, Search learn the hard way and listen now. Well, he's the pride of Weber State. And if you're a West Coast person, you know where it is. Ogden, Utah.

His name is Terran Johnson. He had the play of the weekend for the Buffalo Bills. He is now joining us live in Buffalo. All right. So let's just talk about, first of all, let's talk about Taryn the play. What coverage were you in? Talk about the play, the interception.

We were just in a simple cover, I've seen where Andrews was at the three. And I know that's Lamar's favorite target, especially in the red zone. Yeah. So me just reading his eyes, I saw where he was going with the ball and made the play. Now, even in high school, have you ever had a touchdown that long? No. No, I have not, actually.

So when you're running, here's what I always think about. When you make this interception and you're running, do you look up on the scoreboard? Can you see yourself? What are you thinking when you're doing that? I actually am looking up at the Megatron. And I just want to see who's around me, how close they are to me. So what I need to do to get in the end zone. So the Lamar experience, he's very difficult to play.

What was Sean McDermott's game plan? What was he preaching before the game against Lamar Jackson? Really that there shouldn't be any solo tackles. he's very lusive, so just having one guy on him is not good enough. Just made sure we gang tackled him. And if one guy missed, there was another guy right there to clean it up. And obviously, one in the physical battle, our main focus was for our defense to be better than their defense. Yeah.

So you played the Chiefs earlier this year. It was a weird game. First of all, you didn't know who you were going to play right before it. You lose 26-17. There was the COVID stuff going on where teams, you didn't know. if you're playing them, you're not playing them. And then the game was kind of bizarrely low scoring, considering Mahomes and Josh Allen 2617.

What do you remember about that game, Taryn? Really that they ran the ball more than they usually did. And we were kind of focused on the past, and they had a lot of success running the ball. So we're just going to make our adjustments coming towards this game. And honestly, I think we're a lot better team now than we were in the past. Why do you think the bills are better? What's the secret sauce?

Because I believe something happened in about week eight or nine. And I don't know what it was, but about eight or nine, the team was just more confident. What is the reason for the improvement in your opinion? I feel like, I mean, our offense has played at a high level the whole season. I think our defense has really come into its own towards the end of the season and even in the playoffs. Just having that defense play like we did. the last two years is just something that could bring a whole team together. So when you face Patrick Mahomes, Taryn, a cornerback never wants to get, you know,

embarrassed by a great wide receiver. Do you have to, do you think differently with Mahomes because of his arm strength? Does it change a little bit the way you cover, the way you play? I'd say in zones for sure, because you have to plaster just based off the fact that he gets out the pocket, he likes to run around, make plays with his feet. And if you're in zone

and a guy's uncovered, he could make a 40-yard pass down the field for a touchdown. So just making sure we're on our peas and cues with that and just containing Patrick Mahomes the best way we can. Yeah. So, but by the way, it's not like you don't have a great quarterback in

Buffalo at practice. You have Stefan Diggs at practice. So when you're, when you're covering Stefan Diggs in practice, and now you could go up against the Tyreek Hill. Tell me the similarities. I mean, do you think actually having to guard Stefan Diggs at practice helps you facing other receivers? Definitely.

Not just him, but Cole Beasley, John Brown. We have a bunch of guys that are big playmakers very similar to the Chiefs. So just having that at practice definitely prepares you on another. level at the game. Sean McDermott to me is as good a young football coach as the National Football League has. You've had high school coaches. You've had college coaches. You've had position coaches.

If I said to you, I'd never, if somebody was going to get traded to the bills and they said, what's Sean McDermott like? What is it about him that makes him special? He's a blue-collar guy, you know, old-school guy. Like, once you get in the trenches, wants guys that. that are going to fight and we guys, not me guys. So he's built a great program over there with the bills with us, and it's just a great leader.

Okay, you're one win from the Super Bowl. You played college football at Weber State, and you are a win from the Super Bowl. I would imagine your extended family is freaking out. I mean, if you put the game in perspective, this is the biggest football game of your life. thoughts a week out from it? Oh, well, I ain't thinking too much about it because I know who we got to play this Sunday.

We got to win this game this Sunday. So that's what I'm focused on in this game right now coming up will be the biggest game of my life. And then the Super Bowl after that. So this one right here with Kansas City Chiefs is all I'm focused on right now. Are you already looking at tape of the first time you met? Are you already digging into the tape? Oh, most definitely, most definitely. Yeah.

Well, good luck to you. Taryn Johnson, third season, second long. longest interception return for a touchdown in NFL playoff history from Weber State, Ogden, Utah. Taryn, thanks for coming on the show. Thank you for having me, Kong. You bet. By the way, this entire weekend, we're down to the four best quarterbacks.

You know, I've been really struck by, before the season started, I remember saying to Joy, I'm like, you know, we only about five teams left need quarterbacks. What is happening now? And it's going to really exacerbate itself even more. So everybody's looking around the NFL, and the general managers, are saying the exact same thing we are. They're saying, oh, the four best quarterbacks made it. That's what the coaches are saying.

That's what the owners are saying. Oh, Brady, Rogers, Josh Alma Holmes. What does that mean? Somebody's going to pay a lot of money for Deshawn Watson. You do not have to be a perfect football team. Tampa Special teams, Buffalo's run game, Kansas City's run defense. You do not have to be a perfect football team. With a salary cap, Green Bay looks about as strong as you can be

in 2021 with a salary cat, where they, barring injuries, they can kind of do, you know, they can kind of do everything. They got five pro bowlers on offense. They went in the free agent market, short up their linebackers, good corners, Adrian Amos, good guy in the back, Kenny Clark, good up front. But I think what's going to happen is you're going to see that the four best quarterback, and we all know quarterbacks are valuable. I'm not telling you anything you don't know.

But when the four best end up making it, and there's no exceptions, you don't have a case Keenham. Baker played well, but you don't have the Baker. It's just the four best. That tells you that Jets pick at number two, it's going to get a lot of picks if the Jets want to. It tells you Deshawn Houston can totally rebuild because you're going to get a lot of picks because it confirms, it confirms everything you think. Just get the quarterback right. If you get it right, everything else works. These are not perfect football teams. The more I watch Buffalo, it's weird. The less I like. I'm like, they can't run the football.

You know, you're like, they don't have much of a pass rush. They have Josh Allen sort of solves everything else. So here we are. We're so lucky. And you know, I was telling a friend, I said, he goes, you're going to take a bunch of time off once the football season ends. And I'm like, I'll take a three-day weekend. But I'm like, I got free agency.

I got the combine. I got the draft. We got court. We're going to have so many quarterback moves in free agency. It's going to be crazy hour three next. in the herd. One more herd? The herd streams 24 hours a day,

seven days a week, within the IHeart radio app. Search herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like. 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 acapella 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 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 I'm saying. 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 Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered 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 Podcast Network on TikTok. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hardway with your favorite therapist and host, Kear Games. This space is about black men's experiences, having honest conversations that's really not safe to have anywhere, but you're having them with a licensed professional who knows what he's doing. How many men carry a suit or armor. It signals to the world that you're not to be played with. And just because you have the capability that does not mean that you need to,

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