The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 03/04/2021 - HOUR 1 - Cowboys, Seahawks, Jets

Episode Date: March 4, 2021

QB Dak Prescott may leave the Cowboys after this seasonThe Seahawks are willing to trade QB Russell WilsonThe Jets are looking into trading Sam Darnold instead of their pickGuest: Peter Schrager 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. 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. 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, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfilled conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeard 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. 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.

Now let's get this party started. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Ah, here we go in a busy Thursday. Yes, it is live in Los Angeles. This is The Hurd. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening, Fox Sports Radio, Iheart Radio and SFS1, Alex Curry is as always more than capably filling in today for Joy Taylor,

who's on speak for yourself. Alex, also a resident of Manhattan Beach, much longer than me. How are you? doing fabulous. Happy to be back with you today. It's great to have you back. I know. We love having you on the show. Baseball season, Alex, for years and years, has done so much great baseball work. Baseball seasons around the corner. I'm reading that stuff on Twitter today. It's here. I mean, spring training is underway. It's different, but it's happening. Yep. That's all that matters.

I heard yesterday. Dodgers is going to have 10 to 14,000 people at games, according to our governor pretty quick. So that's exciting for all you baseball fans out there. And I agree there needs to be fans at games. So I am going to play a character today. I'm going to be Dak Prescott's agent. I'm going to be Dak Prescott's agent. And I'm going to sit down with Dak Prescott. And we're going to have a discussion. So here you go.

All right, Dak, I know you want long-term security, but just hear me out. When I was a little kid, my mom and dad used to yell and scream. They fought a lot. And the design of our house, I heard almost all of it. Even one time, my mom threw a ring at my dad, and it bounced down the stairs. So when they got a divorce, initially I was scared. But then I realized my stepdad and my mom never yelled. He became my little league coach.

And the house was quiet again, and it wasn't as scary. Divorces are often seen as a bad thing. But sometimes it's a more comfortable. landing. Dak, I want you to think about this. What's the recipe for Super Bowls? An A coach and a top general manager. It's what Brady had this last year in Tampa.

What Brady had for years in New England. It's what Peyton Manning had. Ben Rothersberger in his prime. Dak, if you sign a long-term deal, your coach is Mike McCarthy, and your general manager is your 77-year old owner. But, Dak, I want to take it a step further. I know you view the franchise tag as a bad thing. And I know you think to yourself, what if I go to market, it'll probably be to these awful teams? Because that's the way it is every year, right, Dak? The teams that need

quarterbacks, it's always like Jacksonville and Detroit, Cincinnati. But, DAC in one year from today, something strange is happening. These three teams have not resolved their quarterback issue and likely won't buy next year. The Saints, the Patriots, and the 49ers, Sean Peyton, Bill Belichick, and Kyle Shanahan. Unless Carapolo gets traded in the next few weeks, they'll be looking for a quarterback in a year. Cam's probably coming back to New England. There's a story today. The Patriots don't like the free agent options, and they're too deep in the draft to get one of the top three quarterbacks,

and the Saints, we all know they've got no cap space. And, Dak, not only those three, but there's another four to five teams with great rosters that they may need a quarterback in 2022, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Denver, Miami, Chicago. Miami doesn't have a great roster. It's good with one more draft, it'll be great. And let me throw this at you, Dak. You made three 31.4 last year of the franchise, you'd make 37.1 this year with it. That would be $69 million. Then you'd hit the market. And, Dak, never forget, the highest paid quarterback in the NFL the last six years, guaranteed cash money.

It's not Brady. It's not Rogers, not Russell Wilson. It's Kirk Cousins, $192 million. That's a lot of lettuce. he played tag and won. In fact, he played it twice. So, Dak, think about that.

What's a Super Bowl recipe? And what and who needs a quarterback in one year? For the first time as an agent in my life, it's not the bad teams. The bad teams over the last two years have all gotten quarterbacks in an emerging quarterback college market. Also remember, Dak as your agent.

This year's a great crop of quarterbacks out of college. Next year is predicted to be the weakest in a decade. More leverage for you. And Kirk Cousins talked to Dak, not that long ago, about being franchise

tagged. Well, the only piece I've said to him in crossing his path, going back maybe a couple off seasons, was just to make the point that the franchise tag can be your friend. You know, it can be, help to you if that's the route you choose to go. He played on the franchise tag this past year.

I think he's in a great spot now. Everybody knows he can play, that he's an elite quarterback. And, you know, really, the ball is more in the court of the Cowboys and what they want to do going forward. But I think it's a no-brainer that Dax's the real deal and is going to have a great career moving forward. And, you know, he's in a really good spot. As your agent, Dax strongly consider. a one-year deal and going to market next year. All right, this is interesting.

It continues to be a drama that won't go away, but it's a new drama, unlike Dax's contract. It's Russell Wilson. Mike Silver, who comes on this show, very good NFL reporter says, The Seahawks are willing to listen to trade offers for Russell Wilson. It would be a massive cap hit. I don't think it would happen.

But the Seahawks, according to Silver, are upset that, Russell Wilson has taken it public. Yes, I can understand why after nine years of always saying go hawks, Russell Wilson finally has an opinion and Seattle doesn't like it. It's funny for years the Packers put up with Favre and for years the Steelers have put up with a drama induced by Ben Rathesberger. For a month, Russell Wilson's been a pain in the butt. I think it's time for Pete Carroll to get thicker skin.

Be that as it may. I thought about this this morning. By the way, I love millennials. Love young peeps. Love them. And I've been in the business 30 years. But I do see, and I think there's more talent than ever in my business. But I do see something occasionally from millennials.

So if I can, let me offer this. Sometimes nobody's going to apologize to you. He's got to deal with crap. Sometimes there's no resolution for problems. I know your mom told you people are nice, but sometimes they're not. And sometimes you've got to work with them. And you can rush to Twitter and Instagram and demand an apology, but mostly it's false. If they really care, they would have apologized earlier and it's a false apology.

They're playing you. Deal with it. There is not always resolution for all your little problems. If I own the Seahawks, I'd say, just play. Who cares if you don't like each other? Kobe and Phil had moments they hated each other. Belichick and Brady had tension for 10 years. Didn't they?

You know, I mean, correct me if I'm wrong, but Bill Parcells and Phil Sims, that was never comfortable. Who says you have to be best friends? Bruce Ariens and Brady squabbled until Thanksgiving last year. There's this sense in America that everything has to be resolved. And you're owed an apology. And you cannot have tension in a relationship. My wife and I have tension all the time. Then we get over it.

She goes, hangs out with her friends. I go hang out with mine. We avoid each other for a day. It's life. Who says there's any guarantee when you get married? You don't have a bad weekend or a bad month? We're going to break up every time you fight? This idea that Russell Wilson and Pete Carroll have to live in harmony, that is so 2021.

It's not the way the world works. It's never been the way the world works. Michael Jordan didn't get along for his entire career in Chicago with his general manager. he often fought with Pippin. Rodman drove him crazy. So, Kobe and Shaq didn't know his get along. Not to be best friends. Brady acknowledged, I thought this was kind of amazing.

Do you know Brady and Belichick, in 20 years, never went to dinner once? Isn't that crazy? Crazy. So what? They won like seven Super Bowl, six Super Bowls. Who cares? Russell and Pete, we're going to have tension for a year. If I on the Seahawks, I'd say, listen, I love you both.

Let it play out. Sometimes, by the way, problems sort of disappear. You go on a six-game winning streak? Suddenly you like each other again. You get a raise, she gets a raise at work. She comes home and buys you a gift. Suddenly you like each other again. You have a great night out, cocktails, music, go to a lounge. Oh, you're over it. Tension's okay. You're not always going to get an apology. Life's not always simple. There's tension all the time in your life and my life. Sometimes work your way. through it. I'm not trading Russell Wilson. I also don't want to fire Pete Carroll. You kids go work it out on the side. Get ready for the season. All right. Coming up next, the New York Jets said yesterday that they are going, basically, said they're going to take calls for Sam Darnold. They're going to trade Sam Darnel. And there's a lot of, this is a very good quarterback class. There's a lot of really talented quarterback. I like Trevor Lawrence. I like Justin Fields. I like Trey Lance. Zach Wilson, I think is an NFL quarterback. I'm not, I think he's a tad overstated, but whatever.

But here is the frightening part, and history tells you, if the Jets move off Darnold, they're in for more misery. I'll explain that 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 IHeard Radio app. Hey, what's up, everybody? It's me, three-time Pro Bowl of LaVoy. and I couldn't be more excited to announce a new podcast called Up On Game. What is Up on Game, you ask? Along with my fellow Pro Bowler, T.J. Hushmanzada and Super Bowl champion.

Yep, that's right. Plexico Burris. You can only name a show with that type of talent on it. Up on Game. We're going to be sharing our real-life experiences loaded with teachable moments. Listen to Up on Game with me, LaVar Arrington, T.J. Hushman Zada and Plexico Burris on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast from.

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 which I'll say. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football,

or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, the Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators,

and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast, it's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told,

and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me, or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok.

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

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.

Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests.

I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan, Ryan, Korn, and I'm talking. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth. Are you a good person because you're afraid?

Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way.

Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. Enjoy endless hot water for spa-like comfort with Navian, tankless water heaters. Save hundreds now, energy-efficient, Navian tankless water heaters with local rebates. Tankless-madesimple.com. Tankless Maidsimple.com Navion.

Peter Schreger this hour. By the way, top of next hour, Kevin Durant and LeBron are drafting their All-Star teams tonight. And so top of next hour, I will be drafting with Chris Broussard, my All-Star teams. All right. The Jets general manager, Joe Douglas, said yesterday, I'm taking calls on Sam Darnold. So they put the house up for sale, and we know which house.

Not the pick, but Sam. that's good news for Sam because three or four teams that need a quarterback are New England, San Francisco is interested, Washington and Chicago were playoff teams. So sometimes you get lucky. The bad teams are going to draft a quarterback and some good teams, playoff teams, or close to it, are probably in the Darnold sweepstakes. So that's good for Sam Darnold. This is going to be a win for Sam Darnold.

I mean, there are years when it's only bad teams that need quarterbacks. The bad teams, you know, Jets are now going to take a quarterback. Jags are going to take a quarterback. Carolina is probably going to move up and take a quarterback. Philadelphia, which now classifies as a bad team, they may take a quarterback. But the Niners, Washington, Chicago, those are good rosters. New England's going to be very good next year, at least offensively. If they could add like a free agent-wide receiver, you've got a team.

So here's the scary part if you're the Jets drafting Zach Wilson. Regardless of what you think of him. I'm not a scout. I think he's a little overstated, little skinny for me, couldn't beat good teams in college. regardless. If you go back the last 10 to 15 years, there's a pattern. The first two quarterbacks taken, one of them doesn't work. Almost always. Last year, Burrow and Tua. Burrow is going to be really good. Miami's already got issues with Tua.

Kyler Murray and Daniel Jones. Kyler's a star. Daniel Jones on the fence. They could bail on him by Thanksgiving this year. Baker and Darnold. Baker's won a playoff game. Darnold is a reclamation project. Trubisky Mahomes, Nuff said. Gough and Wence, neither is a bust, but you're paying both a lot and neither one probably right now is worth the lettuce. James Winston Marioata, neither a star. James really did in the end, felt like a bust.

Bortles Mansell, Bortles got to a playoff. Johnny was out of the league in a couple. E.J. Manuel, only quarterback drafted in 2013 bust. Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin, star bust. Cam Jake Locker Starbust, Bradford Tebow, successful bust, Stafford Sanchez, pretty good, not very good. This is the reality of the NFL. And in every instance that I can recall, this is what happens. Because I believe Trevor Lawrence is a prodigy.

I believe Zach Wilson is a project. I believe you get child prodigies, Bryce Harper. You get him in music. You get them in entertainment. When I say child, I'm talking 15 to 19 years old. You're just different than everybody. Trevor Lawrence as a freshman, Nick Saban had six weeks to prepare and could not stop him. As a freshman.

Zach Wilson didn't play well until this past year. He wasn't very good as a freshman and sophomore. One is a quarterback prospect. One's a prodigy. LeBron was a prodigy. Bryce Harper's a prodigy. You see him in music entertainment all the time. Not all the time, but you see him.

and what you see, and this happens a lot and I'm starting to hear it, a month or two before the draft, people start saying stuff like this. RG3 is actually better than Andrew Luck. Zach Wilson is actually better than Trevor Lawrence. Of course, this is not true. But what you do, all of a sudden people, because they've nitpicked the price. or the star, and with Zach Wilson, it's more about, well, he's better than we thought. People start claiming the two is better than the one. I saw that with Andrew Luckin RG3.

I am seeing that now with Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson. So history tells you, Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson are going to go one, too. One of them ain't going to work. And by the way, you tell me the last time a Jet's quarterback truly worked. Joe Namath. Alex Curry with the news. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news.

Well, the Browns have no doubt that Baker Mayfield will be their quarterback next season. They have until May 3rd to pick up his fifth year option. And while GM Andrew Barry wouldn't reveal the team's plan, he did express that they do have faith in Baker as their starter. The quarterback position is, in my mind, the most important position in professionals. We've been pretty consistent with our messaging around Baker that we think he had a really strong season for us. We like the maturation and the growth both on and off the field. And we're looking forward to him continuing to take streps his second year in the offense. All right, there you go.

That's right. Okay. I don't have any negative thoughts on Baker this morning. I don't like to be marginalized as a hater. So let's just take those steps, Baker, and get better. And I've got no opinion. I'm a big Baker fan here. He figured out a way to win.

He's had four different coaches in three years. And then obviously this past season, he got the Browns of the postseason for the first time in 18 years and their first playoff win in 26 years. And you have to remember leading into that playoff game, they were a COVID mess. They weren't able to practice that week. They didn't have their head coach.

And he somehow, everything was against them. And they were playing back-to-back sealers Big Ben this time. And he figured out a way to win and he got it done. I predicted they were going to make the playoffs. I am not anti-Baker. I'm trying to end that. I don't think they'll make the playoffs this year, and I think Baker will be fine.

I just think the AFC is getting much, much better. I'll tip you on that one. But yes, Baker fan over here. Let's move on to the Raiders, because the Raiders have been mentioned in quarterback trade rumors this off season, but GM Mike Mayock is standing by Derek Carr and singing the praises of his quarterback.

Take a listen. I think Derek Carr has earned a lot of respect around this league from an awful lot of people. I think Derrick Carr had his best year yet under John Gruden. I think he's one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL, and we couldn't be happier with him. John and I would both stand shoulder to shoulder and pound the table for Derek Carr. I know people are cynical, but I do believe, if you look at the last two years, I do believe John Gruden's come to terms with Derek Carr.

Now, I don't think he loves that Mahomes and Justin Herbert are probably more naturally gifted, bigger, stronger guys with better arms. But again, we never thought Brady had the best arm or Montana had the best arm. If you're a Raider fan today and Derek Carr in your world is the issue, then I think you don't really understand the Raiders problems. Derek Carr is not, he is the life preserver the last two years. He's not sinking the boat. He's saving it.

And with all the quarterback roulette that's going on right now, I think this is important for Derek Carr to hear this and have the support and know that the team is backing him and behind him. Because, again, when you have the support and that you know that you have that and mentally you're going into a season, feeling comfortable, it completely changes your game. Right. I agree. Yeah.

All right. James Hardin returned to Houston last night for the first time since being traded to the Nets. He led the way with another triple double, scoring 29 points with 10 rebounds and 14 assists. In the 132 to 114 win over his former teen, Hardin drew a mixed reaction of both cheers and booze during his pregame introduction, and after a tribute video played,

and after the game, he said, I just want to give them a show. Now, we knew this was going to be kind of a mixed, mixed reaction with Hardin coming home. He had a messy way of leaving the team, but he still gives so much to that community. And he returned to Houston just weeks after the winter storm devastation. So it was a very, I think, interesting time to go back because he was still giving back to the community. He was building homes. He was helping with plumbing.

He was supplying food. And he even said, a big part of him in his heart. is still in Houston, but when you leave the way that he left, I think that scars a lot of fans. And so it was interesting to see that kind of reaction. Yeah, I mean, like, I'm not a fan, you know, by design. We're not necessarily fans. I said this yesterday to Joy, if you give me eight to ten years of great, I'm okay with it. I grew up a Seattle Mariner fan and everybody left.

A-Rod left and Griffey left and Randy Johnson left. But when I was a diehard fan, I was like, they were great when they were here. And so not every relationship lasts forever. Sometimes you date. Sometimes it's five years, six years. So, I mean, I think if I look at Houston, listen, Houston's bad now,

and I don't love the way he forced the team to do what they did. But in the end, the Houston Rockets were one of the three or four most interesting NBA teams. They were on television. They, you know, they just, they, it was fun for seven to eight years. It didn't last forever.

even the Lakers and the Warrior dynasties, you get about three years out of them and they break up. So the NBA has always been, in the NFL, your dynasties feel like they last a little longer. But in the NBA, they've always been fairly short because you generally need three stars, and at some point, one will get sick of the others. So I think you just have to understand in the NBA. When you're winning, love it, embrace it. But it's not, even if it's great, Shaq and Kobe, it's not going to last that long. No. What I did think was important, though, was after the game, the love that he got from his former teammates and the coaches and the hugs that we saw on the court. Because that's what matters.

And nobody ever thought Hardin was a bad guy. It was never a villain. That's the difference. I don't like the way he left, but I never viewed Hardin as a villain or a bad guy. I viewed him as a guy with a style that needs a whistle and you don't get it in the postseason. So I don't think his game translates as well regular season of playoffs. But I never thought he was a bad guy. It was kind of a quirky personality. Yeah. Yeah.

Alex for the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Hurd-Ly News. So it's an interesting time. The Jets have officially said we will take calls for Sam Darnold. So they put the for sale sign up, make your best offer. And that stuff doesn't come out unless they want teams to make offers.

And that's okay. I think it's a very unique year in that the teams that need a quarterback, Chicago and Washington. Let's just stand on those two. Those are championship defenses. Matt Nagy, I think, is a very clever offensive coach. Ron Revere is obviously an excellent defensive coach. So those teams were playoff teams.

They have championship defenses, and they've got some momentum. So this could be a win-win, right? The Jets get a new quarterback they want. And Sam Darnel actually gets a reboot, potentially with two teams. He doesn't have to win shootouts. The Bears and Washington, you don't have to be in shootouts everywhere. week. You can win 2017, 2420, and that may be better for Darnold's style. And Peter Schrager now, brought to you by Mercedes-Benz, the best or nothing. So let's, I mean, listen, Joe Douglas,

who had a very first, very good first draft. He had a very good first draft. So if you go look at what he did and what it landed, you know, I trust him. He likes Zach Wilson, apparently. He put it out there. I appreciate him putting it out there. So let's just talk Jets before we talk Sam Darnold. here would be my devil's advocate. You're going to bring in a Mountain West quarterback in a division with Belichick, Brian Flores, and Sean McDermott, who may be three of the top four defensive coaches in the NFL, and you're going to throw a rookie at him.

That is a tough ask of the kid. But it does appear, Shraggs. That's where Joe Douglas is headed, right? Well, the counter to that would be, where did Josh Allen go to school? And he was going up against some of those great defenses also, and he was out of Wyoming and it's been lights out in Buffalo. It made sense.

Zach Wilson, the hype is out of control right now, Colin. And it's not just by mock drafts. And it's not just us trying to create a narrative here in the NFL to make the draft interesting, which I've been accused of saying, hey, you're just trying to make something out of nothing because it's a Lawrence draft and that's it. People around the league really like this kid. Now look, there's not the same body of work as the Clemson quarterback, but the accuracy is off the charts.

He's six foot three and he has swapsed. Whether you like the swagger or not, he is the alpha, he's the Pied Piper, and he would be a hit in New York. Now, nothing against Sam Darnold. Sam Darnold isn't that guy. Sam Darnold is a gentleman. He's all class, and he is tough as nails, and his teammates have and do love Sam Darnold. This is a different personality.

If you're looking to really sell something as far as the Joe Namath prototype, Wilson might have a little more of that than Darnold. I'll say this as far as what they're doing. it couldn't be going better for the Jets right now because to your point, the Wilson thing, the stock is through the roof. So now suddenly you might have a bunch of teams trading up. But for Darnold, the list goes even further. I look at the Patriots.

Could they be interested in Sam Darnold? I look at the Carolina Panthers. Could they be interested in Sam Donald? And then, of course, you've got teams like the Washington in Chicago and San Francisco. I mean, this list could be 7, 8, 9, 10 long. So as long as the Zach Wilson buzz is building. and building and building. Jets have that in their back pocket.

They could always take him, or they could trade back and collect picks, or you can trade Darnold, get a whole boatload of things in the end of the first round or early second round and then be able to reset the clock because Colin, if you're a Jets fan,

yeah, we like Donald and everything. Next year you're in the same predicament that all these teams are in the Mahomes-Watson era where are we paying him the big contract extension? Because quite honestly, the Jets go 8 and 8, and Sam Donald has a good season. You still have to wonder, are we paying him $30 million next year?

If you draft Wilson, you get four years at a rookie contract rate. You can reset the clock and he might have a bigger upside than Donald, even though Donald's only 23 years old. I was surprised this week. I have predicted I think Donald ends up at Washington. It's just a gut feeling. Not sure if I'm right, but I think he's sort of, he's got a little, he's a tough kid. Revere likes his quarterback's to be tough guys.

And that feels right to me. Chicago's interesting. So their GM comes out and says everything's on the table. And then there's a story about Nick Foles and I think timeout. That is such a downer. To make fans sit with that for seven months when you're in the division with Aaron Rogers. Explain the Chicago situation to me because it was very vague. And I just think they're not that.

I think behind the scene, Chicago's doing something, aren't they? Let's go back in time a little bit. So Tribisky is not brought back. He's a free agent, right? So let's move him up. Foles is under contract, but they brought back Ryan Pace, a general manager. A lot of people thought he was on the hot seat. They brought him back and it almost felt like the McCaskey family was like, all right, Ryan,

you got one more year, figured out. It wasn't said explicitly like that, but that is the feeling around this team. Now, put yourself in Ryan Pace's shoes. You already did once trade up to get Trubisky and draft him before Watson and Mahomes. You already give Nick Foles this big contract. I feel like this is kind of the year. that they have to swing big. And something like going back to foals is not enough.

And so as much as we want to look at what makes sense and what is logical, you have to think about this league from a business standpoint, too. And if Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy are trying to hit a home run, they might sell the farm and then some to get a Watson or a Wilson. And I don't think that's crazy. As much as Watson keeps pushing this thing down and saying, I'm not going to Houston, you might have to give up Roquan Smith. Oh, okay.

You might have to also give up Khalil Mack. You might also have to give up every good player on your roster and the next three drafts. If that's what it takes to get a quarterback, they might be in a corner right now, Chicago, where anything short of a big splash is a letdown. I mean, Bears fans have been told, we got something up our sleeve, we're going to be aggressive. Like, we've been hearing about it for months. Cam Newton isn't enough, you know, and Alex Smith is not going to really get you out of bed in the morning and say, okay, we did it. I think they've got to go big.

and anything short of Watson, Wilson, or a trade for another big starting quarterback, I don't know if it's going to be as a view it as a failure, whether or not it works or not, just because of the expectation that the bears have to go hard or go home in this one. Well, you know, it's funny about this, Shrek. We know Jacksonville is going to draft a quarterback, and I think we know Carolina would like to. Philadelphia, Jalen Hertz, is no guarantee. This is where the Patriots could get a break because they draft 15th,

and the sense is they're not going to get one of the top four games. guys. But I was thinking about this this morning. Atlanta could be the key to this. If I run Atlanta, Matt Ryan's only 35. He's never been hurt. Arthur Smith comes in. He gets a really smart offensive coach. It's very realistic to think Matt's going to have a couple good years here. Sure. He's owed a fortune. You can't move off him. If Atlanta decides, listen, we're going to stay, we're not replacing Matt Ryan. Okay. Then all of us, sudden, Trevor Lawrence may be gone, Zach Wilson gone, but you

may be just battling, perhaps, just battling if Houston gets Deshawn to stay, Carolina for the third quarterback. And so I was just thinking about this this morning. I wouldn't move off Matt Ryan if I was Atlanta. There's a story that

New England's into all these college guys. Your gut this morning. Cam, Mariotta, or a college guy with New England. Or option D. Belichick's not getting any younger. This team is a veteran team. You're talking about bringing back Dante High Tower and the Recurdy Brothers.

Is there another option? Like, Cam Newton in a bridged off season, was serviceable, looked injured, wants to get another shot at this. They actually really liked him in New England. I just don't see them necessarily having him as option one. Do you go trade back for Garapolo? Do you call the Jets who are a hated rival and say, what's it going to cost for Darnold?

to go to a rookie at this stage in Belichick's career with this roster, which is not full of young, budding talent, it seems like a long-term move when this team still probably feels like their window could be now. I'd be really surprised if the Patriots didn't make some sort of move and get a quarterback. And is it Marioita? Maybe does that do much for you? I don't know. But I got to think that the Patriots have something up their sleeves.

They did last year and that ended up being Cam Newton, but for a really discounted price, and that's what they got. I feel like now they've had a full experience with another quarterback other than Brady. Are they going to be the ones who swing big? Are they going to be the ones who make a big move? I just would be shocked if we end up on week one, and it's like Mack Jones, Alabama quarterback, Trey Lance, week one for the Patriots, and then Belichick's starting from scratch again. It just doesn't seem in line with what their roster is or with what the Patriots have

been building towards the last few years. That's good stuff, Shre. It's really, I think it's Cam, and you may have just talked me out of it. Peter Schreger, bestselling New York Times book, by the way, out of the blue on the Giants. Good seeing you, buddy. You sound great, you look great. I'm so happy to have you 100%, Kyle. Thanks, Shreggs.

Appreciate it, buddy. Yeah, I mean, it is really rare. You have some really good franchises, the Saints and New England. You just don't know what they're going to do at quarterback. And San Francisco doesn't like theirs. It's very rare. Usually the good teams have the quarterback thing figured out. It's the bad teams that don't.

This year it looks like the bad teams kind of going to get stuff solved, and it's going to be the good teams that are going to have to make a big move. Speaking of that, Mike Lombardi, very respected former NFL general manager, good friend of Belichick, had a thought yesterday on the 49ers in Garoppel. It's fascinating. I want to talk about that coming up. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays at noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. Hey, what's up, everybody? It's me, three-time Pro Bowl of LaVore Arrington, and I couldn't be more excited to announce. a new podcast called Up On Game.

What is Up On Game, you ask? Along with my fellow Pro Bowler, T.J. Hushman Zata and Super Bowl champion. Yep, that's right. Plexico Burris. You can only name a show with that type of talent on it. Up On Game. We're going to be sharing our real-life experiences loaded with teachable moments. Listen to Up On Game with me, LaVar Arrington, T.J.

Hushman Zada, and Plexico Burris on the IHeart Radio app. Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast from. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year.

Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media.

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

So, if you've ever supported me, or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs?

Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick 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 for 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,

or are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, 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 iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now.

Great to have you in today, Alex Curry, joining Joy Taylor's on Speak for Yourself after our show. And at the top of next hour, Chris Brousard and I will draft our All-Star teams. I'm LeBron. He's KD. Yeah, of course, Bruce Sard and Katie are hurt. So anyway, we'll do that top of next hour. So we know this to be true. It's self-evident in the NFL.

There are coaches, Andy Reid, Kyle Shanahan, Sean Payton have a history of taking quarterbacks and making them better. Bill Belichick has a history, his entire career, of creating pass rushes in New England, without star pass rushers. he gave up on Chandler Jones. They still had a great pass rush. So Belichick's never felt the need to pay big money for a pass rusher because he believes schematically he can create the pass rush without paying for big money.

I'll spend it elsewhere. Kyle Shanahan similarly never pays for running backs because in his career he's taken C guys and made him be guys and be running backs and made him made running backs. He doesn't need it. his zone offense, his run game, he doesn't need to spend the money there. And we have a history in the NFL. We know certain coaches elevate certain positions. So Mike Lombardi is a former general manager in the NFL.

He's a friend of Belichick. And he's very connected. Known Mike for a long time. He said, the 49ers in a column today are interested in Sam Darnold. They're interested in two quarterbacks, Deshawn Watson and Sam Darnold. Darnold, according to Lombardi, can move. Shanahan likes his quarterbacks that can move. He's athletic and tough.

Shanahan likes that. And he's got the arm strength to cover the field. But they like Deshawn Watson more. And the concern is we get Darnold and then Deshawn Watson becomes available. And I would ask this. If Jimmy Garoppolo didn't have injuries at all, they wouldn't be moving off him. He showed he's good enough to get to the Super Bowl. He's a B quarterback talent that for a year when he was held,

played like an A-minus quarterback under Shanahan. Well, Darnold, if you ask any scout, is more athletic than Jimmy Garoppolo. He's got better raw tools. He's a little bigger, huskier, more athletic, better arm than Garapolo. So if Garoppolo can get to a Super Bowl, why can't Donald? Why would Shanahan, who has a history of elevating quarterbacks and running backs, need an A quarterback that's going to cost you three or four first round picks and maybe a starter to get. So this is why Belichick has moved off so many pass rushers.

He's moved off really good defensive linemen. He'll spend his money elsewhere. He'll spend it on the O line historically. He'll spend it on the secondary. But Belichick pass rushers, I can generate that stuff. Shanahan's history is he made Matt Ryan the MVP of the league. Half you want Matt Ryan out of the league. half of you think Atlanta at 35 off a good year should move off Matt Ryan.

He made him MVP. So to me, I look at it and I think if Garoppolo could get to a Super Bowl, Darnold's got better raw tools than Garoppolo. Just go with Darnold and don't give up four first round picks. Here's another thing. Darren Waller is a great tight end for the Las Vegas, formerly Oakland, formerly L.A. Raiders. And he was saying, no excuses.

We've got to make the playoffs. And, you know, I find this to be true about politics. People's opinions about a politician are overwhelmingly based on how they think about the Democrats or conservatives before you introduce the politician. A Republican will be cynical of a Democrat, regardless of the Democrats' qualifications. And a Democrat will be cynical of a Republican, regardless of a Republican. Republicans qualifications. They're cynical going in. And I was cynical going in with John Gruden's offer a decade's going to come back and goach against Andy Reid, Bill Belichick, Pete Carroll. I'm cynical. So, you know, I was thinking about the Raiders. There's two ways to look at the Raiders.

Here's the cynical way to look at Gruden and the Raiders. You know how we play the blind resume game for quarterbacks? Let's play the blind resume game. for John Gruden. For our radio audience, we're going to consider a couple things. So John Gruden on the left has won 51% of his games. The person who is unidentified on the right has won 51% of his games. Playoff winning percentages, Gruden 55, guy on the right 50. Who is it?

Anthony Lynn just got fired. All right, let's do it again. Blind resume. John Gruden against question mark. So this next coach has a better winning percentage. in his career than Gruden, a better playoff winning percentage than Gruden substantially. And he also has a Super Bowl.

Who's that coach? Doug Peterson just got fired. Let's keep playing the blind resume game with Gruden. Oh, this coach has a better win percentage in his career than Gruden slightly. Now, he doesn't have nearly as good as a playoff winning percentage,

but he's got four division titles to Gruden's five. Who's this coach? Oh, you all think he's a goofball, Bill O'Brien. That's one way to look at Gruden. Last nine years, no playoff wins. His resume lines up with guys. We're firing. Or there's the second way to look at Gruden.

And because I was cynical going into it, I have to temper my opinions because I'm probably cynical now. But here's the good, more positive spin to look at Gruden. His first year he won four games. His second year, he won seven games. And this year he won eight. But it's not just that he won eight. He beat the Chiefs in Kansas City. He beat playoff Cleveland and Cleveland.

And they beat the Saints. And if you look at their schedule. Now we know this. Gruden is also built a top 10-0 line, Derek Carr's best two years. Superstar tight end, excellent running back. In an offensive league, their offensive personnel is outstanding. Nobody can deny that. Here's the other thing.

Last year, they had a much tougher schedule. This year, they faced the AFC North and the NFC East, which is awful. So their home games this year, out of division, the Bengals at home, and cruddy Philadelphia at home, and Washington doesn't have a quarterback at home, and the dolphins don't love two at home. You start looking at that schedule, and today, if I made a prediction for the Raiders,

it would be 9 and 7. So with politics and sometimes with football teams, if you're cynical going in, you're going to be cynical even if there is growth. The Raiders have gotten better every year. You've got to give Gruden credit. They've got really good offensive personnel. They've gone four wins seven to eight, and this year, it's a pretty workable schedule.

It really is. They get some teams that aren't great at quarterback at home. They could get two at home, Taylor Henneke at home, Joe Burrow in Cincinnati. Let's face it, Cincinnati doesn't win a lot of huge road games. So there you go. I'm trying to be optimistic with Gruden. I think it's reasonable to think next year. I fill in my little predictions throughout the course of the offseason.

I think the Raiders are a 9-and-7 team. I think that's reasonable. Black Rifle Coffee Company, veteran-owned, serving premium coffee to people who love America. Purchase at blackriflecoffee.com slash herd. Please use the code, H-E-R-D at checkout, for 20% off your first coffee club order.

I drink single-serve. They also have that cold espresso drink. It's fantastic. Hour two with Alex. Chris Bruce Sarger on the corner. We're drafting the All-Star game next. Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite on Humor Me with Robert Smygill 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. on the Look Back at it podcast For 1979 That was a big moment for me 84 was big to me

I'm Sam Jay 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 I mean It was a wild year I don't think

There's a more important year for black people Listen to look back at it On the Iheart radio app Apple Podcasts Or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're 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 Cliford Show. This is a place for raw, unfilled conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. This is an IHeart podcast, guaranteed human.