The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 02/23/2021 - HOUR 1 - Wilson, LeBron, Steelers, Alabama

Episode Date: February 23, 2021

The Seahawks need to lose their ego and take care of Russell WilsonLeBron James sent a subliminal shot at certain stars in the leagueThe Steelers are playing chicken with Big BenAlabama doesn't produce great NFL QBsGuest: Lavar Arrington 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 the show. celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to the Clifford show on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok's podcast network on TikTok. On the Look Back at it podcast.

From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84's big to me. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it with our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s.

84 was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks for listening to The Heard podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday from 12 to 3 Eastern, 9 to noon Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and FS1. Find your local station for the herd at Fox Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Heard. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Ah, it is a Tuesday. It is great to have you in. We are live in Los Angeles.

This is The Hurt, wherever you may be, and however you may be watching or listening. Fox Sports Radio, IHeart Radio, FS1. I have got so many things to talk about today. So I live now by myself for three weeks. All I do is sit around and come up with conspiracy theories and watch sports. Joy Taylor is joining me today. Joy looks ravishing. How are you, Joie?

Thank you. As long as you're not getting your tinfoil hat out, you're not a big conspiracy. You are a big theory person, but not with so much the conspiracy. I keep the con out of my theories. I'll be on Joy's podcast later today, by the way. Yes, yeah. Go subscribe. who's not going to want to miss it.

Right now. So let me start. I want to talk about ego. I, of course, do not have one, but let's discuss it. Story today, Mike Silver, NFL reporter guy. NFL network reports, one third of the NFL has called to Seattle Seahawks about Russell Wilson. The starting point is three first round picks.

This, of course, would not happen unless teams felt Russell Wilson is available. This is now the fourth story in three weeks leaking about Russell Wilson being unhappy. Isn't the rule in the NFL? When your quarterback is great and in his prime, just make him happy. New England forgot about that. Now they stink in Brady's winning Super Bowls. It's funny. We celebrate ego in every other sport.

Think about this. In the NBA, Russell Westbrook, my best friend's the ball. It kind of makes him quirky and likable. I mean, Kevin Durant, Berndor account, Twitter, kind of makes it more interesting. In the NBA, Michael Jordan's documentary, he mocked people. And we're like, God, I love Michael. I love it more now than ever. We're okay with NBA stars having an ego.

International soccer stars. Ronaldo, Messi, they got tax evasion problems, they got personality issues, they bounce from European team. It's kind of part of their appeal. They're superstars. In baseball, home run hitters, I grew up with Reggie Jackson, Sammy Sosa, Mani Ramirez. It's okay to be quirky. It makes them more appealing, makes them bigger stars.

UFC or boxing, like Connor McGregor. of course he has to build his ego up. Of course, boxers have to be a little out there. But if an NFL quarterback shows just a little ego or a little

want with personnel or play calling, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. I want you to think about this. Aaron Rogers is makes $35 million a year. He's good looking. He dates celebrities. I think he owns like a hedge fund. he's the biggest star in his state.

Aaron doesn't get a little ego? We got to draft Jordan Love to make sure Aaron Rogers fits into our little box. Russell Wilson, have you seen his wife? She's the best-looking human on the planet. He makes $35 million. Biggest star in Seattle. He can't get a say in play calling? He can't have a little saying who you hire is your offensive

coordinator? Why do we celebrate egos everywhere else? Which I'm okay with. The guy's greatness prime. Let him have an ego. Let her have an ego. But if a quarterback doesn't fit into a box and you can't control, I used to work in a company like this. ESPN was just paralyzed by anybody having an ego. You know what happened? All those guys and gals with egos left and it's not the same company. How about just when people are great in their prime, they may be different. Howard Stern's a little different. He sees the world differently. Aaron Rogers is a little different.

It's okay. Soccer stars, UFC stars, home run hitters, NBA stars. We embrace it. We celebrate it. They're quirky. They're out there. But God, the Green Bay Packers can't totally control Aaron Rogers.

And Russell Wilson wants to have a say in the play calling, and the schematics and the play design. And you understand Russell Wilson's not happy, right? Stories get out when somebody wants them out. It is amazing to me that this story is leaking because Seattle's ego is with a coach. These coaches and GMs stop trying to control and manage and box in superstars. Listen, once they get old, get rid of them. But I want my quarterback when he goes into battle.

I want my UFC fighter. I want my home run hitter. I want my NBA star to be a little delusional. A little delusional. I remember one time talking to somebody who was friends with Derek Jeter. And one night I was in Tampa, this was years and years ago, and Derek Jeter walked into a steakhouse with about six guys. And I told my friend about this, and he had covered Jeter for years in Tampa in spring training

where the Yankees hosted. And he said, Jeter's whole theory is he doesn't want anybody giving him negative thoughts during the season because it's such a thinking sport. And he hangs around guys that make him feel good about himself. And they're kind of yes, man, and they're really positive. He doesn't want cynical friends. He doesn't want critical friends. He wants a good vibe during the season because baseball is such a mental sport.

And I'm like, I'm down with that. I get it. I don't want Derek Jeter doing, you know, oh, my God, can I hit the hurt? Oh, my God, yesterday I went 0 for 4. I want Derek Jeter confident at the plate with two runners on seventh inning tie game against the Red Sox at Fenway. NFL GMs, coaches, owners, Bruce. Aryans embraced Brady. He let Brady have a say.

He let Brady dial up a play. He took some of Brady's leadership and said, I'm going to let go of myself a little and give Tom more of the offense. Result, Super Bowl. God, Seattle, lighten up. You're never going to get anybody as good as Russell. Like, that's it, right? Best player franchise history. And they've had good players.

He's the best ever. Take care of him. Make him happy. Suppress your ego. Let him have one. All right. LeBron James. I love this. I love when people do, what do they call it on Twitter, Joy, when you, you, it's like covert shots at people. It's like, you take a little shot at somebody, but it's not really a shot, but it really

Subtweet. Subtweet. Love it. People are scared to tag you. Yeah, like it's sub tweet. LeBron sub tweeted, but it was verbal yesterday. He was talking about his workload. Anthony Davis is hurt.

Dennis Schrooter's out. And LeBron now leads the NBA. I'm not joking here. He leads the NBA. in minutes in February. He's 80 years old. He leads the NBA in minutes. So he was talking about the workload, blah, blah, blah,

here we go. This whole narrative of, you know, LeBron needs more rest, so I should take more rest, so I should take time here. It's become a lot bigger than what it actually really is. I've never talked about it.

I don't talk about it. I don't believe in it. You know, we all need more. I love that. A fast turnaround from last season. And we all wish we could have more rest. But, you know, I'm here to work. And I'm here to punch my clock in and be available to my teammates.

That was a shot at Kauai. It was a shot at Karee. It was a shot at Embed. It was a sub-tweet. It was a shot at load management guys. It was a shot at minute restriction, Paul George, who gets six months off, but he can only play this many minutes. It was a shot at all of them.

We spent all this time. Talking about the differences with LeBron and MJ. Here's where they're totally similar. They both play sick. They play tired. They play hurt. They play cranky. They play when they're, they got a cold.

They play when they're sore. Kevin Durant's played 19 to 32 games. Kevin Durant, because his hamstrings are sore. So are LeBron's. It's called the NBA season being 38. You know how many games? Damian Lillard, LeBron James, Chris Paul and Steph Curry have missed.

Veterans who are sore getting that. They're on Ibu, pro for the minute they wake up. They miss three combined. Michael Jordan literally demanded to play with the broken toe, second year in the league. So he broke his toe and the organization freaked out because medical people said if he re-breaks it, it will never be the same. He had a broken toe. I can't go to work if I have an ice cream headache.

He had a broken toe. Jordan demanded to. play. Screamed at his coaches. It was against Atlanta. He screamed at his general manager with a broken toe. LeBron James leads the NBA in minutes at 38. I don't care what happened last night. They don't have AD. They don't have Dennis Schrooter. LeBron's in a shooting slump. Yeah, maybe he's tired. I mean, give me a break. This whole thing I love that LeBron said that last night. It's very relatable. Hey, man, I'm punching the clock. That's what they do in Akron Ohio. Not a lot of coastal jobs there. In Akron, Ohio, you punch the clock. You go to work.

It doesn't matter if you're tired. Doesn't matter if you're hungover. It doesn't matter if you're sick. You go to work in Akron, Ohio. Soar hamstrings. You break. Give me a brain. And like Anthony Davis, he's a terrific player. Man, you've got to learn to play hurt. You got to learn. Patrick Mahomes played on one foot. And if he didn't get choked out, he was yelling at the coaches to get back in the game. He literally passed out on the field. He was playing on a foot.

And he was screaming at Andy Reed, let me back in. They're like, no, dude, we're going to protect you from you. That's my kind of player. I don't feel great. Today, I woke up at 11.30 last night. Never went back to bed.

Where am I today? Entertaining America. Entertaining America is where I'm at with about nine Red Bulls like. up. All right, coming up next, there are people that I will, way past their usefulness, I will let stay in the building because I think they're culture centers. And then there's people that are even more talented, but the minute they're past their prime, I want them out of the building. And you should hear what's happening with the Steelers. That's 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 IHard Radio app. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year.

Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcast. or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me,

Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement

to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast, it's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger.

So, if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or we're you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick 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 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack all day, but just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you 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 IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, 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,

because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth? Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines,

is we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. Got 30 free minutes. Don't worry about a break-in ever again at your home.

Set up a security system. Simplysafecollan.com. Customize your system. Get a free security camera. Good to have you in today. So the Pittsburgh Steelers are essentially playing chicken. They keep dissing Big Ben, and they're daring him to say something back.

So if the Steelers keep Big Ben this year, he's a $41 million cap hit. He's worth less than half of that in my opinion. If they release him, it's $22 million cap hit, dead money cap hit, to which I would say, so what? For one year, go get Sam Darnold. You're not paying Sam Darnold anything. The key is, what are you paying the position? If you bring in Sam Darnold with the dead money from Ben,

it's $30 million. That's under market value. you, right? So the thing about Big Ben, and it's really heightened because of Tom Brady's greatness and tape study, there's a story that came out that Brady basically, the night before the Super Bowl, is sending all his receivers tight ends and backs tape at midnight. And he has been known. We saw Tom versus Time. Tom is a tape addict. And there's a handful of guys in the league. I think Tom's more addicted than most, but he's an addict. The not so secret, secret in Pittsburgh is Ben doesn't like tape study. He doesn't really tape study. That's why the Steelers have

the most remedial, simplest pre-snap audibles in the game. It's like high school football. And so Pittsburgh has a new offensive coordinator and a new quarterback coach. And both of them want to make the offense more sophisticated, more multiple sets, more motions. And Ben really isn't into that smart football thing. And so Ben, like Brett Farve at the end of his career, like this is who I am, love me or hate me, this is who I am. And that was adorable in the 80s and 90s, but it's 2021. And you just can't get away with being old, slow, inaccurate, and not studying tape.

there are guys who are just talented, Farve and Big Ben, but the minute they're out of their prime, their usefulness in the locker room drops significantly. And then there are guys, you'll just keep around forever. Udana's Haslam still plays for the Miami Heat. He's a culture setter.

Drew Breeze, workaholic grinder, culture setter. He was past his prime four years ago. Larry Fitzgerald, you just keep him in the room. He's an example. He's a mentor. He's smart. He offers wisdom. He's a grinder.

And then there are other athletes. The majority of them, once they're out of the prime, get them out of the building. They're not guys. They're just talented. Farr have had a lot of this. Ben's got a lot of this. So what the Steelers are basically doing now is they're playing chicken with them. They're leaking all these stories.

They let it know, be known. We're ready to move. And I think it's the smart move. you cannot afford to pay Big Ben $41 million. Absolutely cannot afford to pay him $41 million. You can't afford $22 million of dead cap money if you go get a Sam Darnold for a year. And by the way, this should not be undersold.

The idea that Pittsburgh will go off the rails without Big Ben, Big Ben has missed 41 games with the Steelers. You know what their record is? 23 and 18. A couple years ago, they went three and three with something called Duck Hodges. And five and three with Mason Rudolph. You think they can't move the football? They can't play without Big Ben?

They're playing chicken with them, and I'm here for it. Joy Taylor with the news. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. Let's talk about Dak Prescott's contract, shall we? Oh, let's please. I love that story. It never gets old. Well, and it never ends. The window to begin applying the franchise or transition tag to NFL players opens today.

Yes, for March 9th, you got about a week, right? Yes. So last year, the Cowboys failed to sign Dak Prescott to a multi-year contract. They're reportedly optimistic that they'll have a different outcome this time around. They are looking to work out a long-term deal before the March 9th deadline to apply the tag. However, another report says that the two sides have talked, but nothing meaningful has come from it. I, like, there's certain things I need to find out in sports. Like, I need to find out all of the inner workings of the Patriots dynasty. Oh, it's fun. How all that unfit.

I love it. This contract, like, I don't know if we'll ever actually get the real story for what's going on here, but it just feels like we've been talking about this for so long, and I don't get it. Dack doesn't want a long deal. He wants a four-year deal. The Cowboys want a five-year deal because of the money. What are you doing? Like, you don't talk about playing chicken.

They're going to pay Dack $37.7 million on the tag this year, and then he's going to hit the open market next year. You know what Dax's going to do on the open market? Whatever he wants. Dack is a winner. Other than this injury, he's always available. What are they without him? They went four and seven without him last year.

Like, you're talking about Dachwark. Duck Hodges and Mason Rudolph, Steelers were kind of still okay. Now, I don't think Mason Rudolph is the answer, and certainly Duck Hodges isn't, but what are the Cowboys going to do? Like, what is your plan? Well, it's interesting because you can franchise one guy, and if you pay him 37 million, you're kind of trapped for a year for an organization that has multiple holes most on defense. So, or you can sign them to a longer deal and largely manipulate the cap. And so I think Dallas has two plays here. If you sign them to a long-term deal, the number comes down, you can manipulate it.

Right. I mean, the bottom line, if you draft well, you're fine at $32 million with a quarterback. You really are. You've got to hit your draft picks. But the Rams, by the way, pay a lot of stars, a lot of money, but they've hit on almost every draft pick of note. So if the Cowboys trust their scouting department, then you sign DAC long term. the biggest issue with this organization, and this $32 million would not be nearly as big a deal, but you're paying DeMarcus Lawrence a solid player huge money, and Amari Cooper, a good receiver, great money.

So Dallas can worry about DAC, but the bigger issue here is you are overpaying multiple players, top five in the league, and they're probably top 20 players. So they're a little jammed up, and Dak's paying the price for it. And you also prioritize signing your running back. over the quarterback. I never liked that. I didn't like it. Pro Football Focus has Prescott ranked as the number one overall free agent.

So if he hits the open market, he's going to have his choice of where he wants to go. So Sam Darnel's future in New York is uncertain. I know. And he probably won't have an answer anytime soon. The Jets have the second pick in the draft, as we know, and they will reportedly evaluate all the top quarterback prospects

before making a decision. And those evaluations include the players' pro-day workouts, individual interviews, and so it will likely be closer to the draft before the Jets know what they're going to do with Darnold. Well, they were out of the playoffs by September 15th, so can't they look at that film? I mean, haven't they evaluated Darnold and most Trevor Lawrence? Don't you have film on him?

I think they're, well, they're not going to get Trevor Lawrence, but I think they are maybe considering throwing that film out since Adam Gase was at the helm. Okay, well, Justin Fields played his last game a month ago. You haven't sat down, and what are you guys doing? But again, I think they want to interview. I think they want to go to the interviews. Oh, God, that's going to do it.

Really, I'm going to sit down. I'm like, I hate his tape. You know, I found him charming. Watch his tape. Interview. What is that? What is it? I can fool anybody at an interview.

I don't know. I think it matters. I think if you're making a decision of this magnitude, there's no need to rush. Maybe you stick with Sam Darnold or maybe it's time to move on. Johnny Mansell is great in his interview. That doesn't mean anything to me. Was he?

I think he just wanted to go with Johnny Johnson. Come on. Jets. You have Darnold Tape, Fields, tape. I mean, I don't understand this. What game are you playing here? I think they're just taking their time to evaluate the situation before they go into the draft.

And maybe they're waiting for other offers. Is it YYU playing games from now until April? Is Ohio State got some more? I don't know. They need more research. And you see what their work ethic is and, you know, with their personality is that their leaders in the locker room. I don't know.

Phone still work. Make calls. Cam New. He's set to become a free agent could be on the market and on his way out of New England's. Although much was made about his relationship with Bill Belichick throughout last season, Cam has nothing but respect and admiration for Belichick. I think Bill Belichick is the most misunderstood person in all of this sport. 100%. A thousand percent.

He dope as shit. Yeah. He dope. Like, he is a cool dude. He understands the game. He's like an historian of the game. And for you to just sit down and chat with him, like it's like, damn, like he's going back. and he's got film, like literally teaching the game.

It's quite an endorsement from Cam Newton there. I don't know what that interview was. I've seen 50 clips on that interview. It must have been a great podcast. I am athlete, Brandon Marshall podcast. I got a lot of play. That's like the 15th story we've done on that podcast. Brandon Marshall, Ojo Cinco.

Yeah, it's a good interview, actually. But that's a great endorsement for Bill Belichick, who's taking a lot of Ls over the past year. Yeah, it's, I got... He's not generally described as dope as bleep. But I get what are you saying. I think that Cam appreciates what Bill is as a coach, what his style is. He talked more about it and talked about like the Patriot Way and what all that really means.

And it's not really much different than what we've heard from everyone. But obviously this experience this year was very unique from the past 20 years where you've had Tom Brady. And he's basically saying like winning is the standard. Like everything that you do there is about. winning. It's not about your personality. It's not about your feelings. You know what? It's not about what you're going through. Like at the end of the day, you've got to do your job. I'm probably as critical of Cam as anybody in the national media. The last year, I like Cam Newton more than I've ever liked. First of all, that brady kid, that braddy kid,

I am out on. All these interview clips have been great. Certain people age better. I think Cam was immature entering the league. I think he's kind of coming to terms with his, football mortality, like his football career. And I think he's starting to appreciate things that he probably had so much talent early. He didn't care about. Just give me the ball. I mean, that's his whole life.

Junior college, high school college, give me the bottom. If you watch Cam at Auburn, he literally just, you couldn't stop it. Yeah, he's always been the best. It was literally like, he looked like Thanos or whatever these games are. And so I think Cam, as he's like becoming less of a player, unlike Big Ben,

Cam's putting in the work and kind of appreciates he's seeing himself and going, I want to end this with some dignity. And I like it. I really do. I mean, sometimes it takes time to evolve and lean into different parts of the game as you haven't had to experience. And there is no experience like the New England Patriot Way.

Good stuff, Joy with the News. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Herd-Ly News. So I saw this story. The Lions head coach, Dan Campbell, said yesterday, I'm okay being known as a meathead. Okay.

So it's one thing to be one. Don't take pride in it. Not good. I want to bring on somebody who played in the NFL at a high level for a long time, Levar Arrington. I want to bring him on. We don't get many in person guests anymore, so we feel honored here to have Lovar Arrington on our show. Let's bring in LeVar brought to you by Mercedes-Benz, the best or nothing. Pro Bowler, half the years he was in.

Okay, so let me ask you this. So I think it's the worst year I ever remember. I thought the candidates were great. hires were putrid. Nick Seriani will not last two years. David Cully in Houston was desperate. And Dan Campbell acknowledges, I'm okay being a meathead. Be honest with me. Did you ever have a head coach or a position coach that LeVar, you felt like going into the week, you would be out coach, that you felt you either had better instincts, you were smarter then, or you knew you didn't have an elite coach. Colin, here's what's interesting about that question is more often than not.

And the answer is yes, all right? The quick answer is yes. But the reasoning behind it is that's more often than not. If you think about the parody of comparison and competition in college and pros, and you wonder why the same teams win over and over and over again, it's probably because they have a great coaching staff. So many times, and I have been held to the highest of highest accountability of being a player that was called uncoachable, undisciplined, a freelancer,

didn't understand the game. if we took a wonder lick test guarantee you I'll score higher than all of them guaranteed if we took a an assessment of intelligence and intellect guaranteed I'll score higher

but more often than not because the loyalties and the focus always seems to fall in on the players really. I would rather say I'm riding with the coach, which is leadership, which is a direct connection to the team, and not hold them as accountable as the players because players are generally more expendable. The next one on the list is the coach, but you're not going to throw coaches under the bus for being inept at being a great coach or not being a high-level sophisticated person.

Listen, it's interesting thinking about some of the position coaches. We talked about this off air. So there's head coaches, coordinators, and position coaches. For the record, most position coaches never even become coordinators. Forget head coaches. Some do. Some get that fast track, right? They get that, what is it called cronyism?

And they get the, what is it when it's the family? What's the word for the family deal? Nepotism. Nepotism. There you go, Joy. I played for plenty of coaches. When I played for Marty, Marty's brother was on the... Marty Schottnheimer.

God bless him. And rest of so, I love Marty. Kurt was the defensive coordinator. Brian was on the staff, right? Probably had grandkids and grandkids on the staff. Same with Joe Gibbs, right? Same with Coach Burier. Same with Belichick.

Same with Belichick. So these guys are bringing... Same with Andy Reed. These guys bring in their people. And when I say they're people, I mean their people. It doesn't necessarily mean that they're good at what they do. They just happen to be born of the right lineage to the right people. And that gives them the opportunity to make their way into the coaching ranks in that industry.

So more often than not, the focal point isn't on those coaches. so you don't find yourself questioning their mental aptitude. So yes, there are a lot of underqualified people that are coaching. And that's why you see the same coaches, Colin. You see the same coaches because you got to keep that close to the vest. If me and you are cool and we can put on the straight face and say, this is how you're supposed to do media. This is how it's supposed to look.

And we keep it together. leaks out, then you can maintain that, right? We can maintain that because we are on the same page. But if you get people coming out saying, oh, the way Colin is doing, oh, look at the way LaVar is doing, oh, joy, what's joy doing? Like, if people start calling it out, then you start to bring the focal point on to it. So what you're doing right now is you're probably having some people sitting in their office who have you on right now on their television screen. And they're like, why did you pick LaVar Arrington to be the one to talk about this topic? Because he doesn't care. he's unconscious about telling people's business,

and I'm going to do it right here in studio live. And I enjoy doing it. I've said this before. I think you're the greater point you said early. I was so random. I was thinking about this driving to work today. But in the history of Nick Saban and the SEC, I think there's two or three times he's met his equal.

I thought Chris Peterson at Washington brought a marginally talented team to the final four and actually gave him a game with no players. Chris Peterson could coach. He retired. Can coach. Urban Meyer could coach. He retired. And Davos Sweeney. Nick almost always. I mean, even Belichick has Sundays where you're like, oh, Andy Reid got him. Pete Carroll got him.

To your point, it's the reason the same guys win every year. It's the reason. It's the reason. Okay, so let me ask you about this. It's about the fourth story on Russell Wilson that gets out today. It's pretty obvious he's unhappy. And I made this argument. We celebrate a UFC boxing legend or star.

having an ego. He needs to. The shield. The motismo. We celebrate home run hitters. Reggie, Sammy Sosa, Ramirez. It's almost adorable. We celebrate NBA stars. Russell Westbrook. My best friends, the ball. Kind of makes it more likable, right? Jordan just wax everybody, 10-part documentary. We're like, I love Michael. He crushes everybody. But if an NFL quarterback's got a little ego and don't want to fit in a box. It's toxic. Russell Wilson, like, all he wants is a say. I mean, do you ever play with a, I mean, quarterbacks have a, oh, I play with quarterbacks. I mean, I played with Jeff George.

Oh, he had an ego. He had an ego, you know, I play, I play with quarterbacks. And you're supposed to be the father figure, the leader, the calming force. You're supposed to be the one that's different from everyone when you have the quarterback's position as your position. You are the anointed leader of the team. I get it. I get it. does that make it right or wrong? You know, people made fun of Jim McMahon for being too animated

and kind of like a loony tune in terms of the type of guy that he was personality-wise. He fit that roster. But we loved him. Well, and he fit that roster. We loved them. We loved them. There shouldn't be anything wrong with that. I mean, you see Tom Brady in the Super Bowl.

I mean, and he's historically, he's always been a fiery dude. You see him go head to head not just with a player. Honey Badger. He goes ahead with Honey Badger don't care, right? He goes ahead to hit with Honey Badger. And we love it. I just think it's selective. We're selective of when we have moments and time

where we don't want to see a quarterback conduct himself or say things a certain type of way. You're seeing it with Deshawn Watson and the fallout. Deshawn hasn't really said anything at all. Aaron Rogers. We got to draft Jordan Love. Everybody's trying to box in these stars quarterbacks. and I'm like, there's a difference between confidence and immaturity.

Baker was immature. Johnny Mansell was immature. James was a little immature. Okay. I'm okay with Russell Wilson, who's married to the most beautiful person on the planet, feeling good about himself. Well, maybe second. I mean, again, you get a little. I'm going to give you a little.

He's aren't the right to have a voice. And he's aren't the right where that voice doesn't have to, shouldn't have to hit media for it to be heard. Thank you. You worked hard today. You did a, you did a, how long is that show before us? I think two and a half. No script. No script.

There's a lot of talking. People think that this is easy what we do. It is ditch digging. This is one of, I mean, outside of literally grabbing a shovel, it's America's hardest job. You know, people will sit there and shun what you just said. I know. But they do not realize how hard it is for you and joy to do what it is. you guys do at the level you do it every single day.

There are days, Joey and I walk out of here with a piano on our back. Indeed. The whole network we're carrying it. I'm glad one guy gets it. Indeed. And I mean, and you should make that known. You have earned the right to let your voice be heard. Maybe I should leak some stories.

I mean, you got the microphone. Levar Arrington, let's hear it for it. It's great seeing you, buddy. Appreciate you guys. Hey, coming up next, there's going to be three to four bus in the first round, at least one quarterback will bust. I'll just throw my name out there. I'll give you the guy.

I don't understand why everybody doesn't see it, and that's coming up. 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 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 basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated.

One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment. And the next, we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be.

Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking.

What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam 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 is 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 crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you finishing that sentence. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really?

Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the 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. Trip Fontaine, Ryan Clark.

Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross.

Because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth? Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions. bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, is we have real

conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way. Open your free, I Heart Radio app. Search, learn the hard way, and listen now. When the weather's crappy outside, want to be able to see clearly Michelin Endurance XD Silicon

Wiper Blades. Walmart last two times longer. They repel bad weather. So, Sometimes in sports, you can say things, and they're always true. But when you say them, people bristle. Like four teams that made the playoffs last year in the NFL will not get in this year, and four new teams will get in. That's happened three decades in a row.

But if I insinuate, your playoff team won't make it. People freak out. There's going to be minimum three absolute busts in the first round of the NFL draft. Minimum. There have been years where they're six to eight. There will be at least one quarterback bust in the first round. Every year. Paxton Lynch, E.J. Manuel, Josh Rosen, Johnny Mansell, Dwayne Haskins,

Brandon Whedon. One's going to be a bust. I do not understand the current momentum behind Mac Jones. There is no proof that Nick Saban develops NFL quarterbacks. Tua was the golden child. Tua, I was assured, was different. Tua, I was told, is one of the great all-time high school quarterbacks.

The Miami Dolphins benched him twice last year, and three of his starts, he completed under 100 yards passing. Also rumors they want Deshaun Watson. That tells you, not only are they disappointed in the games Tua's played, they don't like what they see at practice. Mac Jones gets five things at Alabama. He will not get in the NFL. He throws to wide open receivers.

Look how often the receiver is wide open. He's behind an offensive line that rarely allows him to get even rushed. He always has an elite run game. He always plays with a lead. And because his coach is Nick Sabin, he always goes into a better game with a better scheme, a better game plan, game adjustments.

That is not the way it works in the NFL. You're always rushed. Your receivers are rarely open. Good luck if you have a running game over two or three straight years. Eventually the back wears down or wears himself out. You almost never have the best coach in the league. Playing with a lead? Give me a break.

One quarterback's played with a lead the last 20 years, Brady. That's it. You're playing from behind all the time. in the teeth of a pass rush. I saw Mike Tannenbaum, former GM, came out yesterday. He has Trevor Lawrence number one, Zach Wilson, two, and Mack Jones number three. I can't discuss that.

I don't even want to go there. I don't get it. I don't understand it. I'm not anti-Mac Jones. But there's a reason these Alabama guys don't work in the NFL because you don't face a real world at Alabama. You always have a lead and you always have a great run game

and your receiver. Look at all these videos I'm showing you. Everybody's wide open by 15 yards. DeAndre Hopkins doesn't get that open in the NFL. Randy Moss wasn't that open in the NFL. Calvin Johnson wasn't an open in the NFL. Every Alabama wide receiver is wide open. Yeah, the better coach, the lead, the better O line. You never get rushed. There's a reason where most star quarterbacks in the NFL didn't go to great football powers. Ben Rothlisberger, Miami of Ohio, Aaron Rogers, Cal, Philip Rivers, NC State. Russell Wilson,

NC State, benched, had to transfer. You had to go to Wisconsin because the coach didn't like him. Tom Brady didn't start at Michigan. There's a reason why Matt Ryan, Boston College, Dak Prescott, Mississippi State. There's a reason most NFL quarterbacks don't come from traditional powers. Because you get really comfortable at traditional powers.

It's not an NFL life. It's why trust fund kids have, A lot of issues. They grow BMWs and horses and polo and country clubs. That's not the real world. And when they get a little strain, chaos or pushback in their life, they don't know what to do. Do you know, 92% of millionaires in America are from middle class families or below? Why?

Because they've had to fight for the last piece of food at dinner. They're like kids who have to deal with like life stuff, like getting yelled at and getting grounded and not having lunch money. And they're like 92% used to. Maybe because of tech it's changed. Most millionaires come from humble beginnings because they are ready for the struggle. There's a reason the NFL isn't just filled with Alabama and Ohio State quarterbacks. That's not a real life.

Mack Jones is yesterday I saw where Devante Smith, the star receiver, chose Mack Jones over Tua. People were tanking for Tua. That was a term. You know there's going to be a bust in this first round, right? A quarterback. You know this to be true. I don't get it.

I have heard Charlie Weiss and Mike Tannenbaum and Devante Smith and this guy is great. Athletically, he is a 1978 quarterback. He was a three-star athlete. His arm is good, not special. Where's the it? I mean, God, folks, anybody that's quarterbacking now, Nick Saban mostly has recruited quarterbacks that don't get in the way of his defense in coaching. My buddy Jim Acklewain, who I live next to in college, told me,

Nick said, listen, just don't lose games for us. Lane Kiff, I'll tell you that. Don't get too clever. Don't lose games for us. Coaching and defense will win the SEC. I don't know. I don't see it. All right, you Baker Mayfield fans,

you thought you hated me before the next segment. Mayfield or the field. I know, Joy. Next. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comment. 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, 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. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th.

You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Cliford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to The Cliford Show on the IHeard Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

And for more behind the scenes, follow apps. at Clifford and at TikTok podcast network on TikTok. On The Look Back at it podcast. For 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 was big to me. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it.

With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild year. It was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to Look Back at it on the IHeart Radio app. Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast.

Guaranteed human.