The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 02/15/2021 - Hour 2 - Colin Right Colin Wrong, Trent Dilfer, Ric Bucher

Episode Date: February 15, 2021

In this hour of The Herd with Colin Cowherd, we start with Where Colin Was Right, Where Colin Was Wrong. Also, Super Bowl champion and NFL analyst Trent Dilfer drops by The Herd to discuss the NFL's current events. Finally, radio host and NBA analyst Ric Bucher catches up on NBA storylines with Colin.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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We're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Ah, here we go. It is our two. We are live in Los Angeles. This is The Herd, wherever you may be. However you may be listening, Fox Sports Radio, IHart Radio, FS1, I am back. After a little health scare, I'm fine. Paying for about 24 hours after that, all good, just trying to get my energy back.

I will say this. And this is often repeated. This is not a revelation of any kind. But I've got to tell you something. About once every 18 months, I bonk my head on something or hurt my wrist. or do something stupid, and I end up in, you know, some hospital or something. And this has been happening my whole life, by the way. You know, you work hard, you play hard, you end up in a hospital.

American health care workers are unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable. I'm not sure there's a standard in America, at least I'm not aware of it, in any industry where the floor is that high. Everybody's great. Everybody's great. Everybody's caring. They're on it.

They ask questions. I'm just sitting there annoying, just pushing buttons, trying to get more hot coffee and stay up for the Super Bowl and just people flying in and flying out and giving me pain killers and all that stuff. It is, you know, listen, I'm not saying I want to hang out there regularly. But about every 18 months I end up in a hospital and I'm blown away by the quality of the care.

You've got to be built the right way to be in a hospital and you've got to care about things way beyond yourself. people do. So tip of the cap to men and women young and old that work in hospitals from specialist nurses, emergency room texture unbelievable. Joy Taylor is joining me today. I am back for the first time. Now, Joey, you don't end up in a hospital often as I do, but I've bonged my head in the last year. I had that goofy injury. And then there was a couple weeks ago this thing I dealt with. And then I ended up there a couple times playing softball. And listen, I am always one clumsy step away from ending up.

in a blue robe. But I will say this. I'm back. I feel great. And how are you? I'm great. By the grace of God, I haven't been in the hospital much other than for surgery, which was a long time ago.

But, yeah, I completely forgot about your head. That was a whole different situation, obviously. We got to get you in a bubble. Boy, sportscaster in a bubble is something I need. Okay, Colin Wright, Colin Wrong, brought to you by Jersey Mike. be a sub above. Jersey Mike's app is short for appetizing. Save 25% in your order with the code J. Mike's 25, J. Mike's 25 through the 18th only. Jersey mics be a sub above. By the way, they delivered last week to my home. Free lunch on Wednesday. How great is that? Here we go.

Colin right, Colin wrong. Where Colin was right? Well, when JJ Watt a couple of weeks ago said it didn't know about his future in Houston, I said he's a perfect packer. And the story this morning, second-best Las Vegas odds, the Green Bay Packers to land J.J. Watt. He's from Wisconsin. He's got his money. He's a first ballot lock Hall of Famer. Question

is, JJ, do you want to win games? This is where you should go. He's got a Packer personality. It's a perfect fit. The Packers only really pay Big Boy money to Aaron Rogers and David Bakhtiari. And from what I read this morning, they are restructuring

or have restructured Bactiari's contract. So there's a place to get him in. We felt this was the landing spot and what do you know a week later? That's the reports. Where Colin was wrong. Bruce Ariens won a Super Bowl

and I said I thought he had a very so-so regular season with Brady. I thought they stuck to that pass over the top offense too long and I also said I felt in the playoffs he was the coach on the hot seat. It was just a year in which I didn't feel He had it all buttoned up, but I'll give him a lot of credit. In four total playoff games, they averaged only four penalties a game.

And some of the biggest mistakes, like Brady Interceptions at Lambo, are things he could not control. I thought they out-coach Kansas City in the Super Bowl. I thought it was a win not just for personnel in the front office in Brady, but a win for coaching, and Bruce Ariens deserves that credit. Where Colin was right. Josh Allen finished. ahead of Patrick Mahomes a week ago in MVP votes. Now, he didn't win it, but I was on this all year.

If you go to the last five games of the regular season, a third of the season, the last five weeks, Josh Allen wasn't just sort of better than Patrick Mahomes, it wasn't close. He had 15 TDs, two picks, 70% completion percentage, and 117.5 passer rating. He was a dominant quarterback over the last five weeks of the regular season, and Mahomes, frankly, struggled down the stretch often. Where Colin was wrong. I never thought Russell Wilson would be one of the most outspoken quarterbacks in the league,

but last week when I was off, he did inmate to Dan Patrick. He would like to have some personnel say he was outspoken. It was not status quo. For the record, I was critical of Andrew Luck, two of all. Often taking the company road. I do think it's important from time to time for the star quarterback to say, hey, let's go get this guy. And as Albert Breer just pointed out in the Super Bowl,

it was all those Brady guys scoring the touchdown. So it surprised me. I'm glad to be wrong. I think Russell Wilson has earned the right to a strong voice. Where Colin was right? We're going to take one final credit for Tom Brady. There were a lot of people that thought he was a shot fighter. A lot of people thought he would struggle.

We made two big predictions. We said New England is going to be a non-factor and irrelevant. They were sub-500. And we said Brady's going to get to the playoffs and win a playoff game one minimum, and he did. Now, I didn't think they'd win the Super Bowl. But there were a lot of critics on Brady, and I always went back to the same thing. When I watched him throw the football, I still think he has a top seven, eight arm in the NFL. In fact, I think he has one of the better bad weather arms.

It's his torque. It's his hips. but yeah listen there are things with age he clearly doesn't want to get hit as much he throws more balls up for grabs he doesn't he needs to be

on platform he needs better protection now that he probably needed seven or eight years ago but I never bought into a shot fighter I still think he throws a beautiful accurate football sometimes in fact with too much zip where Colin was wrong lamello ball

is not only surviving, he's the best rookie so far by a mile. Since Charlotte named him a starter, he's averaging 21 a game. And there actually right now would be a playoff team. When I saw him, I thought his game was a lot of flash and not a ton of substance. But I will say this, of the ball brothers, he can actually shoot. He brings much needed energy and juice to the franchise. And listen, he's averaging over 20 a game.

as a starter. He plays with a ton of confidence. He's obviously great off the dribble. He's a great ball handler and passer, but I was wrong. Where Colin was right? Justin Herbert won rookie of the year. I didn't get all the critics. I understood people who thought, you know, at Oregon, you know, he can be a little mechanical, but after he won the Rose Bowl and was easily the best player on the field against an excellent Wisconsin defense, I said, folks, what are we doubting? He's big, strong, four-point students, smart and mobile with a huge arm. I don't get all the critics. I don't get it. Plus,

I had two people at the Senior Bowl tell me he was head and shoulders better than anybody else on the field. He set a rookie touchdown pass record and he finished the season strongly. And this is one of the things I like about him. You know, one of the criticisms of Lamar Jackson is he's kind of fresh and new

and you haven't defended him, but you can figure Lamar out. Fair or not, that's a criticism. You can kind of figure him out. Justin Herbert got better. with a coach that got fired, he was 4-0 down the stretch, eight touchdowns, one pick. Every week he got better, finished stronger than he started. Where Colin was wrong.

New rule, I hate backward hats, but apparently now you're allowed to wear one if you win your seventh Lombardi trophy. Listen, I think it's the worst look for a professional athlete. It really looks like a frat boy, but Brady wore it. Now, in fairness, Brady was a couple of beers in and appeared to be drunk, so his judgment was completely lapsed. This was not a great moment of judgment and clarity for Tom Brady.

But new rule, if you win a seventh Lombardi trophy, I'm not going to call you out. Where Colin was right? You know who suddenly is red hot in the NBA? Let me think. Oh, the team Chris Paul is on. The sons of one six straight, nine of ten, and it's the same team as last year that was mostly lousy before the bubble. It's Chris Paul and a bunch of kids. He is the most underrated point guard ever.

He's the most underrated NBA player in a decade. He's the anti-Westbrook. He wins everywhere. He's got no flash. There's no sizzle. His best friend isn't the basketball. He actually communicates at a level that's about as high as NBA stars do. He holds people accountable.

But for some reason, because he shoots too many mid-range jumper, and he's not flashy. There's something about Chris Paul that just people can't get their arms around. We like our point guards to be magic and flashy, but he and John Stockton win games, make everybody better, and it's amazing. Remember, Oklahoma City was tanking.

He got him to the playoffs. Phoenix has been lousy for eight years with all these same guys. Now suddenly they've won nine of ten in the West. Chris Paul. I don't care if you buy his shoes or not. This guy is what point guard should be. Tough, verbal, intense, elevates others

and shoots a great mid-range jumper. Where Colin was right? Been saying this now for three years. Trevor Bauer chose the Dodgers over a New York team. Matt Stafford said, Give me Los Angeles over the Patriots. Something is happening in sports over the last three years where players are choosing this high,

taxed maven, this high-taxed zip code, Los Angeles County, and they're choosing it over winning franchise and other big cities. Trevor Bauer could have chosen a lot of teams and he chose the Dodgers, a stacked pitching staff where he'll be good, but they've also got Walker Bueller, Rio, Clayton Kershaw, David Price. They've already got arms everywhere. They've got stars everywhere. Matt Stafford, I'll take the Rams. Multiple teams were offered. So there is a migration to Los Angeles right now. We know that sports and entertainment have converged. I think a lot of this goes back to.

People saw LeBron James move to Los Angeles and get movie deals and TV deals and production setups and other athletes think, hey, I can pay more in taxes, but I'll make four times the money eventually because I can build things here post-retirement. I think there's a LeBron effect here. The Bron has set up so many ancillary businesses,

it's highly attractive to high-profile star athletes. Trevor Bowers and Dodger. The Dodgers right now pitching staff is an all-star pitching staff. Forget their lineup. It has to have a chance to be the best baseball team in 10, 15 years. All right. Trent Dilfer is around the corner. Rick Buechers, some NBA stuff as well.

Jordan Palmer last hour. It is good to be back. 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 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, 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,

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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. American soccer is about to explode. The World Cup is coming.

Ramos sending on to Ernie Stewart the chip. I'm Tad Ramos. I'm Tom Boat. On our podcast, Inside American Soccer, you'll get the real storylines. I'm not worried about Policicic, I'm not worried about Balligan, I'm not worried about McKinney. My only concern is what happens in the back. The biggest decisions. If you're going to look at stats and numbers, he has no shot at making this World Cup team.

And the truth about the U.S. national team. It wouldn't be a huge surprise if our team ends up in the quarterfinals or potentially a great run into the semifinals. The World Cup is almost here. Experience it all with us. Listen, Inside American Soccer with Tom Bogart and Tab Ramos on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, wherever you get your podcast. Will Ferrell's Big Money Players and IHart Podcasts presents soccer moms. So I'm Leanne.

Yeah. This is my best friend, Janet. Hey. And we have been joined at the hips since high school. Absolutely. Now a redacted amount of years later, we're still joined at the hip. Just a little bit bigger hips, wider. This is a podcast.

We're recording it as we tailgate our youth soccer games in the back of my Honda. with all the snacks and drinks. Sidebar. Why did you get hard seltzer instead of beer? They had a bogo. Well, then you got it. Do you want a white color or something here? Just take it.

What are y'all doing? Microphones? Are you making a rap album? Oh, I would. Come on. I would buy it. Cuts through the defense like a hot knife through sponge cake. That sounds delicious.

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Oh. Listen to Soccer Moms on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. By the way, it's very interesting stories today that Chicago leads the Colts in pursuit for Carson Went. And it's very interesting because Chicago's in a division with a big brother, Green Bay. and because of that, it always feels like the bears are chasing the Packers. And I think that puts some institutional pressure on the Bears' front office. The Colts, by the way, have often been the big brother in their division. So it doesn't feel like they're chasing anybody,

and I think they'll be more measured and patient in terms of what they would give up for Carson Went. So the Bears are in a weird situation. They got a GM and a head coach on the hot seat. eat. The GM, Ryan Pace, what does he care about draft picks? I was like Bill O'Brien's last couple of years in Houston. What did he care about draft picks? He had to win games where he was going to get fired. He got fired anyway. So in Chicago, ICE in an organization that would go for it regardless of what they would have to give up for Carson Wentz because they want to win games. Trubisky's a free agent. He's not coming back. Nick Foles isn't much of a cap hit.

They're going to be in go-for-it phase to keep their seven-figure jobs. The Colts are different. the Colts feel like, hey, Sam Darnold, we got Jonathan Taylor, we got the best offensive line, there's no alpha in our division we're chasing. My guess is Chicago gets it based on some of the things that aren't just football things, they're the reality of chasing a big brother in a division. And the bears always feel like they're chasing the Green Bay Packers. And with that Trent Dilfer, decade and a half in the NFL was in six playoff games in his life, five and one in those playoff games.

You know, it is interesting because when you were in Tampa, Tampa was a little, you know, I covered it. It was kind of a mess as an organization. And sometimes when an organization doesn't have great history or people's jobs are on the line, they're much more willing to go for it. And where the Packers or the Colts, as you know, Trent, they've had success. It can drive you nuts as a player, but they're not chasing anything, right? So I kind of feel like Chicago's going to go all in on this thing.

Do you think Carson Wentz is worth. two first round picks and spending that. Do you think he is? I don't. I agree with you 100% the psychology of this situation. In fact, all this quarterback carousel is fascinating. I think you're right. I think Chicago has to panic. They have to knee-jerk react to this. They will probably offer more than they need to to get Carson wins, where you nailed it perfectly with Indy. There's some other good

quarterbacks out there that they probably feel just as good about. You mentioned Sam Darnel, when you have the infrastructure that the Colts have, the offensive line, the runner, the skill position guys, the offensive staff, you're not going to panic. You're not going to make a knee-jerk reaction and give up too much for a player that does have a high ceiling. I'm with you. I think the bears have to. They're the little brother in the division. They have to make this type of splash hire for two reasons.

One, they've got to be relevant again. And you said it. They've got to save their jobs and draft picks for Orion Pace aren't as important because he knows he's got to win right now or he's out the door. You know, I said this about J.J. Watt. I do believe symbolism matters and momentum matters. And it's the old crowded bar theory. Nobody wants to walk down the street in New York with your wife and go into a bar where there's nobody in it.

Right? You want some juice. You want some energy. You want fun, right? You want to be part of the cheers bar. Everybody's got a good joke. And so I look at Green Bay and I think they can use a little momentum. Tampa feels right like right now. Oh, my God, I'd take a pay cut and go play in Tampa.

I got no state tax. The weather's good. Breaddy's rolling. Look how good for that did. And I don't like people reacting to other teams, but I do feel like Trent. Green Bay needs to create a little inertia here, right? I hate agreeing with you on everything you bring up, but I'm on board with you here as well. I think Green Bay has to overspend, make a splash-free agent acquisition.

I think with all the stuff that came out at the end of the season with Aaron being disgruntled with certain things. I think you need to add momentum. You need to be part of the offseason conversation. You're not going to be part of this offseason conversation as it relates to quarterbacks, and that's going to dominate now to the draft and post draft. So interject yourself in the conversation with a JJ Watt signing, with another splash free agent signing. Go outside your comfort zone. The Packers haven't done this typically. Why can't you do it now?

I don't think you're this close from getting to a Super Bowl. You know you've got to beat Tampa. You're going to need some difference makers. And I think JJ Watt can be that difference maker. Were you surprised last week that Mr. Gohawks, Russell Wilson, was actually outspoken on personnel offensive line? It's not his personality type. I can theorize why he did it. But were you surprised Trent he did it?

I was because yesterday. There's a great relationship with the organization and you kind of don't air your dirty laundry out to the public after the season. He must be really, really upset. And I think he's justified to be upset. I was surprised that he went public with it. I mean, think about if you're Russ. You know, he went from cooking and the first four or five weeks of the season, he's the clear

favorite for MVP. He's putting up numbers that are, you know, making our jaw drop. Defense is struggling. And then all of a sudden, they kind of transition back to bully ball, try to get to the defense to play better. All of a sudden, he goes from cooking to being putting in the freezer drawer, turn around, hand the ball off on first and second down all the time, having to play on third down without a great offensive line. He's watching what's going on around the league when Tom Brady has more weapons as his disposal. He knows what to do with a great young

offensive line. And you got to be sitting there going, wait a second, why isn't my team doing this for me? So I can understand why Russell's upset. Now, I love Pete's formula. I don't think he's wrong for doing this, but the quarterback isn't going to be the lead dog all the time. And that happened. We saw that happen mid-season where they made a definitive shift from being quarterback-driven, offensive-driven, to going back to being defensive-driven and run the ball more and really take the ball to Russell's hand. It's interesting. I was talking to a friend the other day, and he said, listen, he goes, you media guys are getting all fired up on Matt Stafford. He says, but he's not an overly mobile quarterback. He is a pocket guy.

That's what Goff was. He's been banged up. Forget about the insinuation was, we've always sort of understood until Brady, it takes two years. You get into a system, you get comfortable in a system, it becomes roat. You don't have to think about it. This idea that Matt Stafford solves a dilemma, my friend pushed back and said, well, show me the wins.

Why are you guys all into this? What's your takeaway on that? Yeah, I think it's both. I think both things are. I mean, one we just saw a unit. We just saw a total aberration and Tom Brady going in year one with no OTAs with no summer football with a bunch of new people, take them to a championship. That's not going to happen with anybody else. However, I do, Matt, I do think Stafford brings an element that your friend isn't recognizing.

That's his ability to play in conflict. Jared really struggled in conflict. When it wasn't right, when it wasn't on rhythm, when the pocket wasn't right, he struggled. Stafford's made a career out of putting up big numbers under conflict. And you don't have to be mobile, you just have to be comfortable in conflict. And I bet you that is what McVeigh and the rest of the personnel department saw with Stafford. The upgrade theirs, they don't have to be right all the time, and Stafford can make them right. I love Jared Goppe.

I think he's going to do really well over time in Detroit. But I do think if you're the Rams, you're trying to get in this mix right now, right? You're looking at Green Bay. You're looking at Tampa. You're saying those are the teams. then I do think Matthew Stafford gives you a little edge in trying to compete with those two teams because of how he deals with conflict.

So the Super Bowl's done. It's in the books. I was surprised. I didn't think they'd win at Lambo. I thought it was a win for coaching. I want to talk specifically about the offensive line because I said, when you look, as you well know, from the days you were there, Tampa Special teams have been a wreck and they've never had a great O line. This offensive line was kind of a bunch of guys.

Jensen's a good season. center. Worf's was a rookie. It was just guys. A year ago, eight months ago, we were like, is the offensive line good enough for Tom? And then I watch them in the playoffs and I'm like, oh my God, it feels like a dominating unit. What does Brady do, either pre-snap situationally? What did he do to elevate this unit? Because I thought their last three games, they were a dominant offensive line and they were not in September and they were not last year. I think there's a couple elements to it. Number one, anybody that devalues the X's knows and the NFL doesn't know what they're talking about. Yes, Willys and Joe's are important,

but X's nose going along with those Willys and Joe's is what makes them reach their potential. And I think there was a definitive change for the Bucks of what they did up front. They went from trying to do everything to only a few things really well. It started with the run game. They really said, simplified the run game. They ran a lot of inside zone, a lot of duo, and then versions off of that. So the offensive line got to do the same things over and over and over. And then they added a really, really robust play action pass game off of those base runs to keep the protection assignment simple. And then the pass game, you ask me what Brady does, he makes subtle little changes to make sure they have help. So when you call a pass protection, and so you say we're sliding left, well, you can slide left or you can slide.

semi-left and give your guard center a little more help if you know the edge defender isn't coming. So how he manipulates the protections at the line of scrimmage so that they have help. They also added some tight ends and backs inserting on their way out for some help, thumbs and chips and things like that to help out the tackles and inside players. So there was a definite plan from the coaching staff and Tom Brady to make sure that the offensive line was going to go from struggling to thriving late in the year. it through X and O simplifying some things and all getting on the same page. And it's really the way great offensive lines roll. When great offense lines get on the same page, you maximize each

player on that offensive line. They start playing better together because they're practicing the same stuff day in and day out. Now by midseason, end of season, you're rolling and they're thinking each other's thoughts. And you talk to any great offensive line when they start thinking each other's thoughts. They have their own little offensive line language when they start speaking their offensive line language to one another and reading each other's minds.

They become a great unit and that's what happened with the bucks. Good stuff, Trent Delfour. You know, the next six weeks for us are slower in terms of sports. The NFL ends. We get about six weeks before free agency. And you know it's funny, Trent. I wrap a bow on the NFL

season because I didn't talk last week and I look at it and it's always been copycat league, but I do like the increased power of the quarterbacks, voicing their opinions, the ability to move from franchise to franchise. You didn't grow up in this. I hate the franchise tag. I think it's awful for quarterbacks to get trapped. And I got to tell you, I look at this year, the year of quarterback empowerment. That's how I kind of see it, that you know what, they get a voice, they get an opinion. Maybe it was Tommy led, but that's kind of, when I look at the season, That kind of sticks to me.

Is there anything wrap a bone at you that sticks out to you this year? I'm shocked the quality of football without the off-season programs, and I'll parlay what you just said right there. I don't think you have to be done talking about the NFL. Park Avenue is still going to win up until the draft, because all we're going to be doing is talking about quarterbacks. You'd rather talk about quarterbacks than the NBA or hockey. I'm pretty confident of that.

You have Watson, you got Darnold, you got Carr, you have Wilson now. Then you have four guys in college football. They're going to be really good pros in Lawrence, Fields, Wilson, and Lance. So we're going to be talking quarterbacks and nauseam here for the next six weeks. It's not going away and everybody's going to listen because everybody wants to know about the quarterback. And I agree with you, they're more empowered now than they've ever been. Yeah, good stuff. Trent, good seeing you. We'll talk soon.

See you, brother. Lipscomb Academy head football coach in Nashville, Tennessee. Here is Joy Taylor with the news. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. Well, Matthew Stafford reportedly told the Lions he did not want to be traded to the Patriots before he got dealt to the Rams.

Stafford wouldn't confirm or deny that he names New England specifically, but he did clarify that he wanted to be moved to a team that had a chance to win a Super Bowl, which is obviously not New England this season. He said, I asked to go to a team that was ready to win a championship, and there were a few teams on that list.

There were a few teams that were not on that list. And the Lions were respectful of that and understood completely. I had thoughts and reasons for each one of them. But he did say New England. So it's a little vague, but obviously, yeah, we know New England is not on that list. Which, look, that's not a shot at New England. We all know what the state of New England is. I think the only people that didn't know the state that New England was in

was Patriots fans before this season started. I think now we're all on the same page. Now, I still maintain that Bill Belichick has to have some sort of dramatic. plan that we don't know about. I don't think they're going to turn it around this year, but I don't think that Bill Belichick is just going to ride off into the sunset with the situation that he has now. That said, Matthew Stafford, to Trent's point, is an upgrade over Jared golf with the Rams because of the fact that he has had to play in Detroit, where he's had to be on the run and make fast decisions in playing conflict, like Trent said. I do think that that is the

difference. We talk all the time about what Jared Goff can do when he's comfortable. I would prefer to have a quarterback who can do things when you're uncomfortable because at some point or another, you're going to be uncomfortable. Even the greatest teams have injuries and mountdowns. Look what happened to Kansas City in the Super Bowl. Now, obviously, Kansas City was a great team and, you know, we've talked about what has happened in the Super Bowl, but, and Patrick Mahomes can obviously do anything. I mean, he's flying sideways and throwing the ball and smacking receivers in the head under conflict. But Matthew Stafford is an upgrade for the Rams. I love how the Rams do business. I love that they're aggressive. I don't know if

enough. I still think they need a few more pieces, but I still trust John McVeigh, and I think that they, you never know what's going to happen in the season. There's always huge injuries. There's always things that happen that we don't predict. So I think that the Rams are in a great position now. I think that they're more interesting, certainly. I feel like we plateaued on the interesting part. Well, you and I hadn't gotten really a chance to talk about what happened in the Super Bowl. Tom Brady's only a week removed from winning his seven title, and he's already looking towards next season. The TV 12 sports account tweeted a picture of Brady

preparing to work out with his trainer, Alex Guerrero, with the comment, back to work. Hashtag Eyes on 8. We played the clip from Scotty Miller talking to Nick Wright last week about the work ethic that Tom Brady has. I mean, obviously, Tom Brady is an outlier, but I think what I took away from that Super Bowl, really, is that he brings, and you mentioned this earlier,

he just brings an element of excellence wherever he goes. LeBron is poo and that he can do this as well. It elevates everyone. Now, the story of the Super Bowl, really to me, it's not as sexy, but the defense, the Tampa Bay is about the defense was the story of the Super Bowl. Totally shut down. I mean, literally totally discombobulated.

If I'd have told you, Mahomes won't throw for a touchdown. I mean, Kansas City was completely, by the way, we did say this, Joy, in fairness, to you. and I. We said, we both like Kansas City. Well, I like Kansas City, but I did say, you will be able to tell two or three series in. If they can't block Tampa's defensive front, it's going to look a lot like that Giants upset of the Patriots. And I remember that 2007, Super Bowl, 2007, 2008, you were two, three series in and you're like, they can't block Strahan. They can't. Well, it was Justin Tuck and Strayhand. They couldn't block them. And you're

like, if you can't block somebody in the second series, it generally doesn't get easier. in the 8th and 12th series. So as the game was going on and I'm sitting there in my hospital bed, I'm like, oh, that's a problem. This is a non-correctable personnel issue. Tampa's defensive front are better players because of injuries than the Casey offensive front. So the game started looking like the longer it went, the uglier it got mismatches in the trenches.

And just because it went that way didn't mean I lost any faith in Kansas City. I don't really feel like I let go until like the third quarter. I'm like, all right, like, they're clearly not going to be able to adjust or do anything with what Tampa Bay is doing. Like, it's just excellence we're watching right now. But we've seen Kansas City come back from so much before. The only difference was it wasn't Tom Brady and Todd Bold's defense on the other side. So Lamello Ball has been playing really well this season, and he's the favorite to win rookie of the year. He's such a draw that the NBA is looking to get him involved in the All-Star festivities.

The league reportedly hopes he'll participate in the skills competition this year. He leads all rookies and points, rebounds, assists, and steals per game. He's third amongst all rookies in minutes per game. And I would like to see this as well. The All-Star game is set for March 7th in Atlanta. The league is reported looking into holding three-point contests in the skills competition during the game and the slam dunk competition at halftime. I'm sorry, during the pregame and the slam dunk competition at halftime.

So limiting, you know, the days and everything that normally goes on at the All-Star weekend. And obviously we're still in a pandemic, so they're making it all work. But I'm, again, I love Lamello coming into the draft. I love that he had international experience. I've seen him play from a very young age. I just felt like he was going to have a bigger, stronger NBA body, having played against grown men for those couple of years when he was overseas playing. I know everyone was very skeptical because of how things have gone with Lanzo,

but I mean, obviously I'm impressed, but I can't say I'm terribly surprised. I really liked Lamello coming into this job. Well, both Ball Brothers have long angular frames. They're both very good rebounders, and they can be good team defenders. So the difference is this kid can shoot. I mean, listen, the NBA is a shooters league, and Lamello can shoot. And Lonso struggles with it. So like Ben Simmons, I love Ben Simmons, but he can't shoot.

And it'll always be an issue. And if you can shoot in this league, it's almost like there are certain things in sports everybody wants. a pass rusher in football. Nobody is saying, we got that. Everybody would take one. If you go to any NBA team, including the Lakers, and say, hey, we got this kid, he can really shoot threes. Everybody wants it. You cannot, you cannot have enough three-point shooters. This kid walks in, he can hit jumpers. He's a very confident shooter. Boom. He averages 21 a game as a starter. Good stuff. Joy with the news. And he's such an excellent, sorry, good.

That's okay. Are we done, by the way? I think we are. Yeah, we are. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The herd lie news. I want to continue that on. Rick Buecker is around the corner. Anthony Davis, this was the baton year, handed off to Anthony Davis.

Once again, he's missed five games, he's heard again, and LeBron leads the West in minutes. It never changes Rick Buecker next. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd. Weekdays at noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. 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. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show.

This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast, it's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me, or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind

the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Hey, I'm Deanna Maria Riva, actress, mother, lover, and a Gen X woman walking through life one hot flash and hormonal crying jag at a time. You ladies know what I mean. I'll bet you a perimenopausal chin here you do. So let's talk about it. Join me on my new podcast. How hard can it be with Deanna Maria Riva, where I call on my Gen X squads from Ohio to Hollywood as we navigate midlife's most fantastic BS. All of a sudden, I'd had hanginess happening on my own.

I was like, what the hell is that? I was married when I had her, so I didn't even consider how empty that Ness was going to be. Mood swings, night sweats, fupas, sex drive. Wait, what sex? Dating at 45. How hard can it be getting naked at 50 with the new guy? That one's kind of hard, you know? Well, that's lighting.

They say we can't polish a turd, but we're sure going to try. So let's get blunt with laughs, tears, or tears of laughter, and dive into it unfiltered and unbothered and ask, how hard can it be? I cannot believe I'm about to say this out loud in public. Listen to How Hard Can It Be with Diana Maria Riva as part of My Cultura Podcast Network available on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. American soccer is about to explode. The World Cup is coming. Ramers sending on the Army store at the chip. I'm Tab Ramos.

I'm Tom Boe. On our podcast, inside American soccer, you'll get the real storylines. I'm not worried about Policic. I'm not worried about Balagan. I'm not worried about McKinney. My only concern is what happens in the back. The biggest decisions. If you're going to look at stats and numbers,

he has no shot at making this World Cup team. And the truth about the U.S. national team. It wouldn't be a huge surprise if our team ends up in the quarterfinals or potentially a great run into the semifinals. The World Cup is almost here. Experience it all with us. Listen, Inside American Soccer with Tom Bogart and Tab Ramos on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast,

wherever you get your podcast. Rick Buecher's a senior writer, podcast Bueker and Friends covering the NBA for about 30 years. Fox Sports NBA analyst. We got about seven minutes with him. I haven't talked to Bucke in a while. And Rick Buecker is now joining us live. All right. So I thought this was the year.

This was the pass the baton from LeBron to AD. He was great in the finals. And then all of a sudden, he's heard a game. He's missed five games. LeBron leads the West in minutes. And I'm like, this is kind of LeBron's career. just about the time he wants to pass the baton a little, it gets passed right back to him.

What is your takeaway on 80s injury? Do you think there's frustration inside LeBron's camp or the Lakers camp? Yeah, I wouldn't say that there's frustration there. And by the way, never I've been so happy to see someone on TV and working as I am to see you, Colin. Your fill and hosts are smart enough to have me on a regular basis, actually more than you do. But nonetheless, I'm very happy.

overjoyed, exactly, to see you back. AD, as far as the impact on LeBron, I actually think that this is an opportunity for LeBron when it comes to his MVP chances. One of the biggest reasons he was in MVP last year it's because everybody looked at Janus and said, well, he doesn't really have that number two. There's people who thought that AD was actually the number one

with the Lakers. And it points up, though, how lucky they were that they had the shutdown for three months and then had a sprint to the finish because this is who AD is. He simply has difficulty staying healthy through the course of an entire season and you don't know how much you're going to have him.

Now the downside, ultimately, is that over the next two weeks, they play three of the most efficient top six teams in the league and defense is where they miss AD the most. most. But if LeBron wants to put his, plant his flag and say, I'm in this MVP race, then he has an opportunity to do that over the next couple of weeks. And I'm in the big picture not buying that this is a long-term issue with Anthony Davis because he just appears to be one of those guys. Vince Carter was one. Chris Weber's another. Who when they have some sort of injury, it looks as if they've been

shot. And then whether it's a quarter later or a couple games later, they're dunking on guys again. So everything that I know about this injury with him in particular says to me, he's going to take some time off, much as he did at the shutdown last year, but that he will be there when they need him at the end. And that's going to be enough for them still to get the job done. And meanwhile, LeBron gets to bolster his MVP run. Kyrie tells James Harden, officially dude, you're the point guard, I'm not. Your takeaway is what? Kyrie pointing out the obvious. Rather than the unusual, like the earth is flat, he's pointing out the obvious. The truth of the matter is, Kyrie Irving has never really been a point guard,

wherever he played. I know that's the position that may be listed on the roster, but the reality is he is a shooting guard. He's not a set up guy per se. And so I appreciate the fact that he is recognizing reality and that he understands what his role is on this team. But it still is a matter of when push comes to shove. Is he happy being the shooting guard and the third option behind Hardin and KD? And then the other aspect is if you're a shooting guard, there's some pretty good guys that you're going to have to be matched up with defensively. and are you willing to put the effort in there?

But overall, you know, it's a positive sign, but it's it's kind of obvious. Yes, you're not the point guard and you never really have been. A couple minutes left. Chris Paul to me is he'll never, he's the anti-Westbrook. There's no flash and he elevates everybody and he wins everywhere. But he doesn't get a lot of love, maybe inside the league he does. But even then, a lot of pushback from Clipper fans, Blake Griffin. and now I look at Phoenix, they've won nine of ten. Of course they have because Chris Paul's there.

Why doesn't he get love and are you surprised by how good Phoenix is suddenly? Well, one of the reasons that he doesn't get love is that he can be a difficult teammate. You have to do it Chris Paul's way. And much the same way you have to do it LeBron's way. The difference is LeBron has delivered the payoff of if I do it his way, I'm going to wind up with a ring. Chris Paul has not been able to deliver on that. That said, his demeanor and his approach are exactly what the Phoenix Suns needed because they had an established superstar slash star in Devin Booker. And they didn't have anybody who was

willing to say, I'll make the decisions, Devin. I'm not going to concede to you. Rubio was good as a floor general last year and it improved them. But he doesn't have. the same personality that Chris Paul has in that we're going to do it this way and I'm going to make the decisions. And that, I believe, is why he's had such a positive impact on the sons and why most, I don't know how many people are considering them for MVP. But right now, with a ballot of five, Chris Paul would be one of the five names on my MVP ballot. That's interesting. All right, Bukes, good seeing you, buddy. Fox Sports. Excellent seeing you, Colin.

Thanks. Appreciate that. Rick Buecker, I'll bring him on more regularly. That was a hint. I took that hint. By the way, of course LeBron can carry the Lakers from this point forward. That's not the issue. But this year, you don't get two things you got last year. Last year, we had the bubble. What did that mean? An older LeBron wasn't on a jet every night.

So you could stay in your room and rest. We don't have that. So now LeBron doesn't get the advantage of the bubble. The second thing is that the pandemic shut down the league for several months. Again, massive rest for LeBron. We kept saying that last year in the bubble. God, LeBron's never played with this energy because he had two advantages. He wasn't on a plane.

And he got three months off. So, yeah, at the end of last year, LeBron had this hyper energy that he hadn't had in years. We talked about it all the time. He was chasing guys down and blocking. in the ball. So now you've got to put all these minutes in and you're traveling every other night. You're flying across the country and you're not getting a three-week respite right in the middle of the season. So I think it's a lot to ask of LeBron in his 18th year. Hour three next. 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 Smok. and friends, me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, S&L's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the

enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Joey Dardano, and on my new podcast, Hope from a Hypocrite, I'll be changing lives. helping people in need with thoughtful solutions. Sike, I'm a comedian. I'm not qualified to give good advice.

Join me and my comedian friends as we riff, rant, recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to me. This is Help from a Hypocrite, the worst advice from the dumbest people you know. Listen to Help from a Hypocrite Wednesdays on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

The story I've told myself can then shape my behavior and that can lead me to sabotage the possibility of connection. This Mental Health Awareness Month, tune into the podcast Deeply Well with Debbie Brown. If you've been searching for a soft place to land while doing the work to become whole, this podcast is for you to hear more. Listen to Deeply Well with Debbie Brown

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