The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 01/20/2021 - HOUR 1 - Rivers, Watson, Kyrie

Episode Date: January 20, 2021

Philip Rivers' career show us that where you land mattersDeshaun Watson is doing the right thingKyrie Irving isn't going to changeGuest: Nick Wright Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 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, 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 I Heart 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. Hey, what's good, y'all?

You're listening to Learn the Hard Way with your favorite therapist and host, Kear Games. This space is about black men's experiences, having honest conversations that it'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 not to be played with.

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Just had a small earthquake. This is The Hurd, wherever you may be and however you may be listening. IHeart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, FS1, Joy Taylor, I don't know if you noticed that. I was in my dressing room, and I felt I thought the custodial service people bumped into my door. Hit a small earthquake. I must have missed that. I was busy just enjoying this beautiful. morning. Beautiful. I don't know what it is. I just feel new and renewed and different. I know. Same here. Like a

fresh start. You know, I got my Madam Vice President Blazer on. I'm ready to go. Yeah, a nice little celebration. Now, get to work. Let's get to work. There's a lot to be done. So I want to start the show this morning. You know, we talk about New Year's resolutions and I've never had this as a New Year's resolution. I probably should have and it's something I fail at quite regularly. I fail at this, being grateful. You know, I look at my life and I look at my parents. And I think as I age, as I get older, I'm more grateful for what I had and I didn't realize it. It wasn't a perfect life.

But I think, for me, I fail at that. Just understand it could have been far bumpier with far more turbulence. And if Philip Rivers announced he's retiring. Chargers forever, one-year Colts. And I don't think there's anything in American sports that signifies grateful more than, or certainly in that class, where you land in the NFL is about 80% of it. A high school quarterback in America has more power than an NFL quarterback.

He gets to decide where he goes to college. A college quarterback has more power. than an NFL quarterback. If he makes his decision, he could transfer. But in the NFL, you get drafted, it will be years, because they can franchise tag you, before you can leave. Philip Rivers was drafted the same year as Eli Manning. Eli's got two rings.

Has Big Ben. Big Ben's got two rings. They'll be first ballot hall of famers. Philip Rivers has one conference championship. He did have five coaches, though. one of them fired after he went 14 and 2. Consider that Philip Rivers has more yards passing than Big Ben and Eli. More touchdown passes than Big Ben and Eli.

More completions than Big Ben and Eli. A higher quarterback rating than Big Ben or Eli. He's got more wins than Eli. His winning percentage, 134 and 106. Eli won 117 games, lost the same number. The only knock on Philip River. He wasn't very effective in the playoffs. He had five head coaches.

His franchise moved and a coach that was 14 and 2 was fired. You have more power in football as a high school and college quarterback. This is why I question whether Joe Burrow will be a big success. It's not on Joe Burrow. It's on the Bengals. Go look at Matt Stafford's career and Carson Palmer. And consider what happens if they're drafted by the Steelers or the well-run Packers or the well-run Saints. Matt Stafford may finish his career in Detroit without a single playoff win.

It's why I said if I was Joe Burrell, I would have pushed back on being drafted by the Bengals. It's why if I was Trevor Lawrence and the Jags would have hired Dan Campbell as a head coach and not Urban, I would have pushed back on going there. Philip Rivers should get into the Hall of Fame. Look at his numbers. Look what he had to overcome. It's remarkable. When I said he has more touchdown passes than Eli and Big Ben,

your first reaction was what? He does? Five coaches, franchise moved, 14 and 2 coach, Marty Schottenheimer fired. Sometimes, instead of, complaining. You got to look around and go, my parents weren't that bad. My sister annoyed me, but she wasn't bad. The reality is Philip Rivers' career, had he had elite from day one coaching, offensive lines, ownership and stability, he would be the Hall of Famer. And Eli and Ben

would probably be on the outside looking in. By the way, the herd brought to you by Jersey Mike subs, be a sub above. We're getting free ones today in one hour. Deshawn Watson yesterday on social media, quarterback for the Houston Texans, said, listen, I've got to show more patience. And I thought to myself, actually, considering he's like young, I mean, I'm older and lack patience. He's showing incredible restraint, and I'll prove it to you. Because he has not yet come out and said, trade me. That's kind of the line that once you cross that, you can't go back, right?

Trade me. So he hasn't gone there yet. Pro football focus grades every snap of the season, every single one for every player. They grade everyone. I rely on them for offensive line discussions because I don't watch guards play, quarterbacks, receivers, backs. Here are the highest graded quarterbacks in the league. Aaron Rogers, Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Deshawn Watson.

So four of them are in the conference championships. Deshawn Watson's team went four and 12. Ask yourself this. How bad do you have to be around Deshawn Watson to go four and 12? Consider this. The Bengals had a better record than the Texans using Joe Burrow, Ryan Finley, and Brandon Allen. The Broncos went 5 and 11, better than Deshawn Watson with Drew Locke, Jeff Driscoll, Brett Rippin, and Kendall Hinton. How poorly is it?

Houston run. Well, at least they've got some good draft picks. No, they don't have a first round pick or a second round pick this year. Well, at least, hey, they can go buy some good players. They've got cap space. No, they're $18 million over the cap. Okay, okay, okay. They've got a good coach. No, by the end of the day, they'll be the only NFL team that doesn't have a coach. but they do have a pastor running their football franchise. Folks, it's incredibly difficult to be really talented and have to work with stiffs. That's his life.

And you get one shot at this thing. We all get one shot. I'm not into reincarnation. You get one shot. I think he's showing incredible restraint. I'm going to give you a stat. And you're not going to believe it. because I didn't when my team gave it to me this morning.

Richard Sherman of the Niners was quoted this week saying, if I was him, I'd get out of there as quickly as possible. I'd head to New York. In Houston's losses this year, not their games. In their 12 losses, Deshawn Watson's passer rating was 108.9. That's second in the NFL to Aaron Rogers. for the people saying, and I'm not a big fan of guys demanding trades.

In Houston, James Harden, I believe, was given really solid support. They tried to make stuff work. James was the issue. With Deshawn Watson, battle line, instability, trading away players. DeAndre Hopkins is gone in his losses. His quarterback rating was second in the NFL to Aaron Rogers.

I think he's showing absolutely incredible restraint. All right. Kyrie Irving comes back tonight. It is a special day in America. Okay, whatever you think politically, it's feel like some of the anxiety. How about I say that? That's not a partisan. Just feel like just a summarily the country's many.

That's fair, right? I just feel like that wasn't an earthquake. It was the country exhaling. And it just moved everything just a little bit. So I will say this on the Indianapolis Colts. You know, generally if you have like a coaching opening, you're taking over a bad team. It's very rare when, oh, the Packers have a coaching opening.

Matt LaFleur gets it and he's done very, very well because it was a really good team. The Indianapolis Colts now are looking for a quarterback. Just think about this now that Philip Burr's retired. GM great. Coach very good. O-line great. Running back Jonathan Taylor great. Young receiver Michael Pittman, very good.

GM, excellent. Division winnable. They don't have a quarterback. I mean, if I was Matt Staffer or Carson Wentz or Sam Darnold, I'm not saying you work for free, but if I'm Carson Wentz, I'd be like, okay, let's work on my contract. Let's start this thing over. That quarterback opening for the Colts, that is as good as Green Bay. That's as good as Green Bay's coaching opening a year ago.

You get Aaron Rogers, Devonte Adams, Aaron Jones, top five offensive line. That was an unbelievable coaching opening that Matt LaFleur got. This quarterback opening is the quarterback version of it. My God. I mean, Philip Rivers is the most unathletic quarterback in the league. Against the bills, he had 480 yards. I mean, didn't get touched.

He had all day to throw. I think, at fact, I think I, at one point, he may have gotten into bills territory on every single drive. And he moves about as well as that chair. Coming up next, Kyrie Irving returns. Thoughts on that coming up. Plus Nick Wright joins me today. He lost the bet, the big payoff.

The big payoff coming up. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeart 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 which I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from Batsy, 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 a little kill? 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 it 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's big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so y'all know.

I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed cracks. 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 Hard Way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear 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. 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, Keir Gaines, is we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose.

On my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open your free, our heart radio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. After what he called a pause, Kyrie Irving is returning for Brooklyn tonight. I do think it is substantial because I believe Kevin Durant and James Hardin would get to the finals if they traded Kyrie for just some top defenders. That's how highly I think of Hardin and KD as offensive players. A couple nights ago, they played Milwaukee who's got all the coaching and it's got all the culture and they've been together for years. And at the end of the game, their stars couldn't hit shots.

KD and Hardin did. They won the game. That's probably who they'd meet in the Eastern Conference finals. So Kyrie talked about returning his absence and so forth yesterday. My commitment has always been to bring it something special to Brooklyn. It wasn't just the championship. It was unity, equality, it was just bigger things than just the game itself. For me, I'm just taking every day, you know, just being grateful.

But for the casual or the fanatic, you know, it's part of our culture. And, you know, I'm back. I'm happy to be back. We got some great pieces and we just move on. If I'm going to make a big decision in life, I tend to like examples, right? Big decision. Has this ever worked before? And if you say, yeah, here's four or five examples.

I'm like, okay, I'll make the big decision. In the history of the NBA, I'll give you the history of it. You can Google it if you weren't around. Give me one example of a star player who was injury prone, hard to coach, and needy slash difficult, who suddenly at the midway point became a joy to coach, a mature team leader, and I never got hurt again. I'm not asking for eight examples. Throw me a bone.

One I'll take. Kyrie couldn't mesh with LeBron. It's funny, Wade, Bosch, Kevin Love, Anthony Davis, Rondo, all did. J.R. Smith did. He couldn't mesh with LeBron. He couldn't mess with LeBron. He couldn't mesh with Brad Stevens. Six games in, he needed a pause from Kevin Durant.

Smaia Angelo said, people show you who they are. Believe them the first time. Kevin Durant is actually telling you a lot in the last five games without Kyrie. Have you watched? I have. They're 4-1, 34 a game, 57% from the field, 52 from threes. I believe Hardin and KD win the east. they beat a Milwaukee because they make shots with two and a half minutes to go in the game like the other night.

I believe you can move Kyrie, get solid pieces, a bench guy, some defenders, that's what you need. I don't think defensively Harden KD can win. They need help there. But just give me one example of where somebody with Kyrie's resume, injuries, hard to coach, difficult, has turned it around. I couldn't think of any. Joy with the news. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news.

This is the herd line news. Well, Colin, it's official. What? The Lions have announced Dan Campbell as their next head coach. Something else is official. Lions hire ever. Yeah, this is not one of those I would get behind. I would say most of the hires, at least you could argue Arthur Blank, Arthur Smith to Atlanta.

I could, whether it works or not. You could make the argument for it. This one, I can't. Well, they're committing to him for a very long time because they gave him a six-year deal in Detroit. Oh, boy. That's longer than our deal. It's much longer. So the lions like Dan Campbell more than our bosses like us, something is wrong.

He went five and seven as a Dolphins interim head coach. The highest position he's held in the NFL besides interim head coach is assistant head coach and tight ends coach with the Saints. He's never been a coordinator. Not a huge fan of this move, Joy. I don't think my, I wouldn't say it's dismay. Now that Cleveland has righted the ship. Yes. And I think they have. Cleveland, this is what we looked at and saw with you for 20 years when you would get defensive. All you Brown fans would get defensive. This is what you were hiring Freddie Kitchens. We were like, Freddie Kitchens was actually the first person that came to my mind when this fire was made official. Like that's not a head coach.

It's not a head coach. Um, and listen, it's not, I was in Miami when that happens. I, and listen, the rah, rah, like running through walls and like leader of men, like, that's all great. And that works until you lose three straight games. And it's like, all right, why don't you just get in the lab and figure out what's actually going on here? That's right. Like, yes, you do need a certain level. of presence and leadership. That like should go without saying though. Like that should just be who you are. It's interesting though.

Now he is now, I don't want to say this sounds so harsh. He's kind of fooled two people. Like two organizations have given him the nod. So there must be something he does in the interview process. I mean, he's a big physical guy. I mean, look, like we've seen this happen before. Six years is a really long time to commit to someone who's never even been a coordinator. And I think the difference between Detroit fans and Browns fans is the Detroit fans,

the Lions fans I know have just submitted to this lifestyle. I love Detroit. So I would love to see the Lions actually be in the conversation. But if you look around that division, I mean, what about this hire inspires you to think that the next step is you're going to win the division? Look, we could be wrong, but I just feel like this is an incredible reach. And I didn't like what I was hearing from the organization to begin with. They want a motivator. They want a culture creator. Like, go get someone who's done that before then. It doesn't make any sense to me. So Patrick Mahomes is still in concussion protocol, but making positive steps ahead of Sunday's a FC championship game. He will reportedly have a very light practice today. And his workload is

expected to ramp up during the week. He will do some tolerance tests, but currently has no symptoms. So that's good news. I've had a lot of pushback on my zany. hypothesis that if he wasn't available until Monday, I would move the game. And everybody said that's crazy. Forget the fact the NBA changed their playoffs for Zion. But does the NFL ever move games to like Thursday night because it's good for television, though it's not good for the players? Yeah. What about this one? I'm doubling down. Let's say, I'll throw this out there, the protocol in the NFL said, Patrick come play instead of 530 Kansas City time, it's 7.30. That's the protocol. Would you move the game back two hours? Yes. What if there was a

traffic disturbance before the game with Aaron Rogers in Green Bay? There was a massive traffic accident. None of the players were hurt, but six or seven packers could not get to the stadium. And the fans couldn't get in the stadium in Lambo because of a traffic disturbance. But they could, if you delay the game 45 minutes. Would you delay the game? Yes. Oh, so there's a precedent. You would push the game back for circumstances. Maybe my idea was genius. Well, I think moving it to a whole other day would possibly open some doors for debate moving forward if other team stars needed an extra day.

Yes, I guess you could see the world that way. I think you and I, we agree on a lot of things. And one thing we agree on is that the NFL is a business. It's a television show. And it's a television show. That's why you flex your schedule to Sunday night where good teams get punished. Kansas City will get punished for the next 10 years.

They'll force them to play Thursdays, And Sunday nights, that's a disadvantage for preparation. It's not a health and safety measure. Why? Because they're great. So, I mean, like, the league's moved games to punish. It eventually punishes great, exciting teams. It kind of takes away the authenticity of competition.

That's right. But it's a television show. It's a great television show. I was getting criticized. I didn't hear it. I do think he's going to play, though. Listening to Jay Glazer yesterday, because we were all kind of confused when he got hurt. Like, where is the head impact?

Like where did he hit his head? Right. And it looks like, and we are not doctors, we don't know, but Jay gave a really good explanation yesterday that maybe, perhaps, he just got choked out for a second. And that's why he was so wobbly. And if that's the case, that may bode better for him playing because it wasn't an actual concussion. Listen, all I know is this, Patrick Mahomes is good. I'm good.

I'm going to watch the game now. Chips, quok, I'm watching the games. Totally. Notchos. So Antonio Brown escaped a major injury after tweaking his knee and the Bucks went over the Saints on Sunday. He got an MRI that reportedly revealed no serious structural damage. He's considered day to day as the Bucks prepare for the Packers in the NFC Championship. He's not participating in the media access portion of today's practice. He had one catch for 10 yards in the game

this past weekend, but he did lead the Bucks with 33 targets in the last four regular season games. So he has become a favorite target of Tom Brady, who spread it around a lot. He did. Cameron Bray. Yeah, yes, Cameron Brate, Leonard Furnett, actually led with receptions, five receptions. Chris Gobwin had four, and pretty much everyone else just got one reception. So he is able to spread it around and distribute it, not rely on Antonio Brown, but obviously you'd feel more comfortable having what's become basically his favorite target out there. So he's day-to-day and we'll keep an eye on it.

Good stuff. Joy with the News. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Hurd-Lie News. Nick Wright and I made a huge bet. We made a huge bet, and he said Buffalo wasn't going to win a playoff game. And I said they're going to end up in the AFC championship. And he doesn't think they're any good.

And now they're in the AFC championship. And they may not beat Kansas City. Kansas City looked pretty good. Mahomes will play. Who knows? But he lost the bet, and he put it out there. He would do a Buffalo Bill celebration, mustard, catch up. So he lost the bet, and I won the bet.

So he's going to do that today. But before that, let's get to sports. Brought to you by Mercedes Ben's the best or nothing. I'm feeling very good about myself and very dry, frankly. It is nice to win, bets. It is great. You know, it's great. It validates some of the genius that just I keep in the shelf,

and then sometimes I unlock the shelf and it comes right out. Let's start with this one. It's just unbelievable. Hi, Colin. Hello, Nick. Let me start with this. I love to Sean Watson. I said, how bad do you have to be run to go 4 and 12

with like an Aaron Rogers or Deshaun Watson. And if you look at the numbers this year, they were the same quarterback. How bad do you have to be? So I think he's showing restraint. Your takeaway on he has not said, trade me, that's the line, but he is inched right up to it.

You covered him in Houston. You know, that's your background. Your thoughts on Deshaun where he's going. Well, I think the scariest team in the league, the only team that could go into next year as the favorites to win the Super Bowl, other than the Chiefs, when the Chiefs will obviously be two-time

defending Super Bowl champions at that point, would be the San Francisco 49ers if they got Deshawn. Could you imagine Kyle Shanahan's offense? You get Bosa back, you get a lot of the players back from injury, George Kittle, and if you could have that type of quarterback in that offense,

I think it would be the best team in the league by a decent margin. But I want to run something by you, Colin. Try to be an innovator here. I want to create a marketplace that does not currently exist in the NFL, trade stipulation that doesn't currently exist. Would you do this to get to Sean Watson

if you were the Colts or the Niners or a team that is ready to win? Here's what I'll trade you, Houston. You can have my first round pick every year he's on my roster. So until we trade or cut him, if he's on my roster on draft day, you get my first round pick.

You want to put a sunset on it of 2030 fine, so it maxes out at 10, whatever. But you mentioned Rogers. Let's say the Bears 10 years ago had traded the Packers that. Hey, we'll give you our first round pick every year we have Aaron Rogers. You give us Aaron Rogers.

It would be worthwhile. I think that's the only way the Texans could approach getting fair value for Deshawn because if Laramie Tunsell's worth two first-round picks, Deshawn's worth eight. So I just, I would seriously offer that if I'm a team that can win the Super Bowl and needs a quarterback. I honestly would. Well, the Colts aren't paying anybody. Ty Hilton's a free agent.

So DeForest Buckner, they actually could do something like that and give up four or five picks. And if I was Chris battled, I would do that. But it is interesting. if Khalil Mack's worth a couple, you know, then what? Well, think about it like this. Let me just quick. Kalee Mc, Jalen Ramsey, Jamal Adams, those three players. Two players.

Would you rather have them or Deshawn? Those three guys or Deshawn. I'd rather have Deshawn. So that means he's worth six because all those guys went for two. So that means he's worth six right there. So I don't know that you can get fair value for him. He's too good. Let me throw this at you.

We were talking about this as a team this morning that my kids should get pretty good grades. They've got stable home. They get a warm breakfast. If I wanted to hire a tutor, there are kids in America sleeping in cars. There are kids in America in apartments in unsafe parts of town. Grades should, we should consider that a four point from a trust fund kid is not as impressive as a 3.5 from a kid in a top. environment, right? And I think about that. Agreed. Right, right.

So Tom Brady's season, he drove to the stadium for 15 to 20 years in New England with the best coach, the best offensive line coach, a top six defense, gronk, one of the best owners. That's fine. This year, he has a non-Hall-of-Fame coach, a coordinator never been a coordinator, offensive line was the weakness, two Hall of Fame quarterbacks in division. That I said this this morning, I said, if he beat Green Bay, I could make the argument, it's a top two to three season, if not the best season. Grading, if you consider what he overcame. That's right.

I agree with that. I agree with that, especially if we grade on the curve, a little bit of a curve because of the age. Listen, I have been predicting the don't. demise of Tom Brady since you've known me. And damn it, I really think, like, people are like, Nick, do you want to take the Tom Brady takes back? And my answer is no, because I think they've been good takes. Two years ago, I said he was done. And he threw a pick to end the AFC title game against my chiefs. And I'm celebrating. And then damn, D. Ford's a quarter inch off sides, and they win. And then they score 13 points in

Super Bowl and they win the Super Bowl. And then last year, I predict the end. And he throws a pick six to lose Wild Card Weekend. And I'm like, victory is mine. Finally. But then somehow he goes to Tampa and he wasn't even great this weekend. I think you would admit he wasn't great this weekend. But I'm watching the other old quarterbacks just evaporate around him. Yeah. Rivers just retired. Big Ben, I think, just through another interception. Drew Breeze. just through another interception. The Manning brothers have been gone for years. And Brady's still there.

He's like Jason. He won't die. And it's so frustrating. And so, yeah, if he goes into Lambo to beat Rogers and makes his 10th Super Bowl, then it'll be one of his most impressive seasons. I can concede that. I just wish he'd go away.

I just really wish he'd go away. You know, I would say this, though, is your takes weren't bad. it's just that there are outliers. There are people that change like the temperature or they change the grading scale. Your take actually that D. Ford's

a half inch offside and he scores 13 and when the Super Bowl is actually hilarious because it's like it did look like the end. It absolutely looked like the end. And then the next year they lost to the Titans. And it was the end. And Belichick said, get out of here. And now he throws 40 touchdowns in Tampa.

I can't deal with it, man. I just can't deal with it. All right. Before we go to the payoff of the bet, I do want to touch on Kyrie. And I just said, listen, you give me examples, and I'm good to go for any big risk. There's not a lot of Kyrie examples where you're hard to coach, injury prone, can be really difficult. Halfway through your career, light comes on, and you're a joy to coach, you're never hurt, and you're a leader. Like, I would move off him, and I wouldn't even need a star in return.

I think Hardin and KD win the East with better defenders around them. I don't need points. You're taking. I mean, you love the NBA. You watch it. You're now, you live close to this situation happening. I would move off him for role players. Your thought on Kyrie returning.

Yeah, I think the Nets have two major issues. One is they are now relying on D'Andre Jordan to be their defensive stopper. There is no template for a team as bad defensive. as this next team is and is going to be over the course of the year to win the title in modern NBA history, aside from the O-1 Lakers and the O'1 Lakers had peak Shaquille and entering his prime Kobe Bryant, this team ain't the O'1 Lakers. So that's my first concern.

My second concern is this. Kyrie's whole utility is ball in his hand. Yes. Ball in his hands. Hardin, most of his utility, ball in his hands, even though he can obviously pass beautifully. Durant is the second best basketball player alive, the clear best player on this team, but because of their styles, he's the guy, I think, is most likely not to take a secondary

role, but to take a tertiary role. I think he's the guy that could be minimized the most. So if Kyrie still had a lot of value, which I doubt that he does, but if he did, would I trade Kyrie Irving for a little rim protection and wing defense in a heartbeat. Because Durant and Hardin are going to provide you all the offensive punch you need. The reason I don't think the Nets are going to get out of the east is they're going to try to win all these games the way they won the other night, 125, 123, and that doesn't tend to work in the postseason. Yeah.

All right, the big payoff, we bet on the bill's success. Oh, I got to go. No, no, no, no, no. We're doing another segment? Yeah. Oh. Another segment. Okay.

And you're going to get ready. Hopefully that mustard and ketchup match your suit. Beautiful suit today. So stick around, Nick Wright. More of Nick Wright, paying off the bet he made quickly and without thought. That's coming up. That's not me. That's not me right there.

But you're going to look like that. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced game. 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. of the fourth. 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, mental health, health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast.

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So Nick Wright again is joining us. Before we get to the big payoff or the bet, I do want to start with this. I thought Kansas City was really, really impressive. Every offensive possession they had with Mahomes, they scored. Except for the missed field goal. And I thought they'd be rusty, and they weren't. and it was effortless and they didn't have a top running back and a top receiver. I acknowledge if I had heard hierarchy this morning, I would go,

I would. I would. I'm always willing to adjust. I would put him above Buffalo. I am concerned Buffalo has not even a poor running game. They don't have a running game. I do not think you can win a Super Bowl with no running game. So this morning, I would, by the way, like your take, I don't think I was wrong in December. But now I watch Kansas City come back and, okay, they flipped a switch. They're the Warriors. Okay. So let me just start with this before we get to the payoff.

One thing. Yesterday, some perceived it as a zany take. I said the NFL moves games all the time. If Mahomes wasn't cleared until Monday, the NFL's a television show. You don't play until Monday. Tom Cruise gets hurt. You delay production of Mission Impossible. That's the game.

Joy once went to a Beyonce concert. there was so much traffic, they delayed the concert three hours because nobody could get into it. That's what we do. Is it a zany take? Was I out of my gourd? It is a zany take, but I endorse the take. I think it does. Listen, I don't like slippery slope arguments, but the only argument against your take is it starts a slippery slope to how far would you delay it.

But if it's not recovery from a traditional injury, if it's simply we know when he's going to be out of concussion protocol. I would feel the same way if it was a COVID protocol situation. Now, the NFL wouldn't do it, and Mahomes is going to be able to play. Just one quick thing on the bills before we pay off this bet, because people think I'm going to be cowed

by the fact that I lost this bet. I will triple and quadruple down on this weekend's game because, Colin, you mentioned you're worried about the bill's running game, and I get it. Hey, last week, they were like, hey, Josh Allen, we're going to rely on you

entirely for the first half. It's all in your hands, and he rewarded them with three points. But more importantly, that Bill's defense that I'm told is playing its best football of the year, the numbers lie a little bit here. In their first two playoff games, the Colts and the Ravens have gotten into the red zone eight times and somehow come away with 16 points. The Chiefs are not going to score two points per red zone possession. So I think the Chiefs roll on Sunday, but Bill's fans, they don't want to hear that.

They just want to whatever is about to happen. So go ahead. Okay. So this is, it was on our show. It was a few weeks ago. And Nick was upset because I had said, I'm watching the games in December. And the bills are a Hail Mary from like a 10-game winning streak. And they're really playing well.

Now, we do know that post seasons change. Baltimore's been great in the regular season, not as good in the post-season. And I do think Buffalo, I've pulled back my love. on Buffalo. They literally have no running game. And by the way, Philip Rivers got into great field position on every possession and he moves like a chair. So I do think this morning, Kansas City, I'd put him ahead of Buffalo. Not sure, I put either ahead of Green Bay, but blah, blah, blah. But this is the bet we made on the air. Nick made about a month ago. Here we go.

Let's bet this. The loser has to do this in homage to the Bill's Mafia on TV. If the bills make the conference championship game or further, I will do that. And if they go one and done in the playoffs, you will do that. That's the wager. Josh and shotgun, the pass. It is caught by Diggs. Touchdown Buffalo. Lamar Jackson back to throw, guns it into the end zone.

Intercept it. He may go all the way. Taryn Johnson goes 102 yards with an in-zone interception. Touchdown. And the Buffalo Bills advance to the end-zone. the AFC championship game next Sunday. Boy, what a moment. That was the moment.

Okay. That pick six was the moment that I knew. Yeah. This was coming. So do you want me to set this up? Yeah, go ahead. You take it away. So I'm a man of my word.

I'm a man of integrity. I've never not paid a bet in my life. When I was 12 years old, I lost $100 to my father playing pool. He made me pay him $4 a week for a year and a half. So I've learned my lesson. That's a true story. He thought it stopped me from gambling and said it turned into me gambling all the time.

So, all right, Bill's Mafia. I looked everywhere for a Josh Allen jersey. I couldn't find one. I had to make a Josh Allen shirt. Just show the video. Just run the video. All right, let's get this over with. Ladies, go ahead, go.

Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Is it over?

There's more? You know, it actually. Oh, God. It actually matches his outfit. Why aren't you holding the hot dog where it can get the condiment on it? Wait, watch and wait. Wow, this is for a radio audience. He appears to be somewhere in New York in an alley.

And a hot dog and mustard and ketchup. We're done. You know what? That is your... I gave him two angles, Colin. I still have mustard in my ear. I gave him two angles on it. I bought that stupid Bill's hat.

I made that jersey that says Bill's 17. By the way, Bill's Mafia, I want to say something to you. I've been here about this Mafia for a long time. I live four hours south of Buffalo. Shouldn't a mafia extend far enough that I could find a Josh Allen jersey anywhere in the tri-state area? I was out shopping for three.

hours yesterday. I don't even know if you're a crime syndicate. I feel like you're more of a bill small corner gang if no one can buy your jerseys outside of Niagara Falls area. So I had to have that thing made yesterday. But there you go. Bet's paid off. I hope you're happy, Colin. I am. I hope you're happy. You did this to me. All right. Nick Wright, first things first. Good seeing you, buddy. Great seeing you. Yeah. I like people. See you guys. I like people who pay off. That's very funny. Aren't you very grateful that even though you wouldn't have had to because you were right that I saved you from that fate. Yeah. You know, it's interesting. You know, fans are funny. So everybody's like, Colin, you're

flipping your take on it. And I've always said this. If you got on a plane with a pilot and the pilot said, there's a storm ahead. Do you want him to have the same course to your city or direct the plane around the storm? If a doctor said, we've got a new therapy that could save your life, would you want the doctor to use it? Yes. sports fans want you hold to hold on to things and predictions, but if I get new information, I'm always willing to adapt. My least favorite sportscasters hold on to stupid theories that are proven wrong.

Buffalo played a certain style and their flaws were not unveiled as sharply in the regular season against inferior teams. When you put them in the playoffs against the Colts O line and the Ravens D line, they look much more vulnerable. And this is why playoffs are so fun. Baltimore is not the same offense in the playoffs. Buffalo, defensively, not the same team. So this morning, I think Green Bay is the best team in the league. But I would put Kansas City above Buffalo

because I thought Kansas City won a playoff game with Patrick Mahomes limping for two quarters and not playing for one and a half. And I was like, okay, God, that's impressive. I just, they did something. I always am willing to move if I get new information. It's called intelligence. Well, that's what I call it.

It literally is. Learning new things and growing, that's intelligence. You need to learn things and update yourself, therefore updating your takes based off of new information. Hour two. I feel so good about myself now. Hour two 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 week might be. guest, S&L's Mikey Day and headwriter, 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, 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 unfilts of 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 Podcast, 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, Keoggins.

games. This space is about black men's experiences, having honest conversations that it'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, listen to learn the hard way on the IHard radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. This is an IHart podcast. Guaranteed human