The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 03/18/2021 - HOUR 1 - Seahawks, Newton, Harden

Episode Date: March 18, 2021

The Seahawks are improving their offensive line to make Russell Wilson happyCam Newton might not end up being the starting QB for the PatriotsJames Harden is the heart and soul of the Nets 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 on Humor 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 which I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifers Show. This is a place for raw, unfilled conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to the Clifford show on the I Heart Radio app,

Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok's podcast network on TikTok. Hey, I'm Deanna Maria Riva, and on my new podcast, How Hard Can It Be? I call on my GenX squad from Ohio to Hollywood as we navigate Midlife's most fantastic BS. Unfiltered conversations from night sweats to futas

to scheduling sacks. Wait, what sex? Is it just me? or does every woman my age want to look at Pinterest instead of having sex sometimes? They say we can't polish a turd, but we're sure going to try. So let's get blunt with laughs, tears, or tears of laughter. Listen to How Hard Can It Be with Gianna Maria Riva 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. every day on the IHeartRadio app by searching herd. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Ah, it's a Thursday. Tournaments getting close. NFL moves happening live in Los Angeles.

It's the herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening. IHeart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, and FS1, Mark Few, coach of the Gonzaga Bulldogs, an overwhelming favorite to win. my buddy for a long time will be joining us today. Always makes fun of the show. He goes, nice you could squeeze a little college basketball into your football show.

So we'll bring Mark on today. They are an overwhelming favorite. Score 90 points regularly. And with Duke out and Louisville out and Kentucky out and a lot of the big dogs kind of rebooting Gonzaga. A lot of people are saying Gonzaga or the field. And most of your betters, most of your sharps are taking Gonzaga. And Joy Taylor is joining me. So the tournament starts tonight.

There's a play-in-game Michigan State, UCLA. Both teams have their issues, and the staff here says they'll take Michigan State, so we'll see UCLA's five feet from where we sit right now. No UCLA love here? No use to. We're right around the corner from UCLA, but how are you, Joy? I spent three hours at the dentist yesterday. Oh, Lord.

Why? I had a drill in my mouth for like an hour. Oh, sorry to hear about that. Moving and dentistry. It's not my great. What a week for joy. They were awesome, but it was a lot going on. You look great and full of energy today.

And so sometimes it's just weird how this works, Joe. You have to complain to get what you want. And Russell Wilson complained, and it looks like Seattle was listening. They went out yesterday and got Gabe Jackson from the Raiders, an absolute upgrade on the offensive line. And they went and got Gerald Everett, who had 41 catches with the Rams at tight end, which is a lot. He got buried in the Rams system.

He's really a good player because they have so many good wide receivers. And McVeigh likes to run the ball. Gerald Everett is a massive upgrade at tight end, and a great target for Russell Wilson and Gabe Jackson is a massive upgrade. And so Pete Carroll and Seattle, the organization took a beating because most people like me with a microphone sided with Russell Wilson having to deal with a shaky O line and an outdated offensive system. And the reality is Seattle listened. Now Seattle still is weak at center. I don't like their center. They're still have an odd draft history.

Pete Carroll would still rather run. the ball, then pass it. And they gave up way too much for the Jamal Adams trade. That's why they have no draft picks this year. They've got three and only two are decent. But Russell felt like he had no choice. When Paul Allen, the owner of the Seahawks died, Pete took control of the organization. The GM almost left because he has no say.

And Russell Wilson thought the only way to go about this was go public with his complaints. He named four teams. None really were going to happen. Dack like Dallas. Saints, there was no money. Chicago couldn't give a quarterback back and the Raiders are kind of a circus. But I will say this. I sided with Russell Wilson on this.

But let's be honest about what happens when you're a great college quarterback and going to the NFL. Here's what happens to 90 to 95%. You either get a lousy coach, a lousy team, a lousy owner, and a lousy GM. Or if you're like Sam Darnold, you've got three of four, actually four of four to start. Like sometimes it's man overboard Sam Darnold. When Russell Wilson came into this league, I know he's not happy. But let's be honest. Patrick Mahomes getting Andy Reid is perfect.

Josh Allen in that situation, boy, that's really good. That's not the way it is. The way it is, there's a lot more Sam Darnold than there is Patrick Mahomes, where you get a brilliant offensive guy. You get unbelievable weapons. You got to sit behind Alex Smith for a year. You got a great GM. The Hunt family has been.

Rock solid forever. Come on. That is your first job out of college. You're a partner in a law firm. It doesn't work that way. Patrick Wilms, and I love him, it doesn't work that way. Let's go back to when Russell Wilson entered the NFL. He got Marshawn Lynch at running back, probably a Hall of Famer. He got the Legion of Boom defense, the last great defense in the NFL. He got a guy that's going to get Hall of Fame vote as a coach, Pete Carroll. He got a capable general manager, and you can make an argument, the best home field advantage in the NFL. I have supported Russ, but that's pretty good living out of college. And there wasn't a lot of pressure on Russ.

He wasn't replacing a legend. They didn't overwhelm him. They let it be a defense run game first. Now, since then, the offensive line has gotten worse. They don't have a Marshawn Lynch. But even today, they have D.K. Metcalfe. Tyler Lockett, now Gerald Everett, solid running backs. They've upgraded the O-line.

So now I believe the pressure Seattle, Pete Carroll, John Snyder said, okay, we heard you. We're going to give you a super athletic tight end. We're going to upgrade the interior of the offensive line. Seattle probably uses their draft picks on defense. They need a corner or two. But now it does shift a little bit. And I'm a Russ guy.

You came into this league and got to two Super Bowls early. play from two Super Bowl wins. They listened, they upgraded, they upgraded, and now it's on Russell. You can't expect perfect. It may never get better for Russell Wilson than those first seven years. You may never get another Marcheon Lynch. You may never get another Legion of Boom. You're probably most guys don't get Pete Carroll and John Snyder.

Certainly don't get the home field advantage, the weather advantage Seattle can have throughout the course of an NFL season. So now Seattle listened. upgraded tight end, upgraded O line. Now, and I think this is smart by Pete Carroll, now it's on Russell to win games. Because if you look at Seattle, a team that won what? 12 games last year, this feels like a playoff team.

Russell doesn't have to run for his life. Okay, now I will say this. I jumped on, I got some heat for this on the interweb. I jumped on Russell Wilson about two weeks ago, these rumors, and that's all I talked about for about two weeks. A is a star, B, I'm from the Northwest, and have good sorts. sources and I was hearing things. So I went all in on the Russell Wilson rumors with Chicago.

I was validated about four days later. It came out. My sources were the sources that told Ian Rappaport, Chicago went big. Players, draft picks, all told. I have stayed away mostly in the morning. What happens is my staff comes out and they pitch ideas to me. And they've been pitching this Deshaun Watson trade stuff for about a week. And I've said, my people say it's nonsense.

I don't buy any of it. that changes today. So three things are happening right now. Number one, John McLean, a very powerful, well-connected, 30-year columnist in Houston, announced today he expects Deshawn Watson to be traded. He is highly connected. Number two is Jeff Howe, very connected on the Patriots, says, New England told Cam Newton, no promises, we don't get another quarterback.

the Patriots have 35 to 40 million in cap space. That could afford Deshawn Watson. So now Jeff Howe connected with the Patriot says, keep your eye on this. Number three, if you look at Cam Newton's contract, it is very much super incentive-based. It's like the Tyrod Taylor contract, is that if Cam Newton starts and plays,

he's going to make about $14 million. If he backs up and plays infrequently, he'll make $5. meaning that contract is 32nd in cap space. That contract protects New England if they go out and land someone else. A star college quarterback or Deshawn Watson. Add this story. We all know this. Houston has said we're not taking calls.

But Nick Casario got his big career break from Bill Belichick. He now runs Houston. He would take Belichick's call. So this feels like something. Two very well-connected people saying, one saying Deshaun Watson's going to get moved. One saying the CAM contract is incentive-based. New England believes they've still got to get better at quarterback.

This is the first time. Listen, when Wentz went to the Colts, we talked about that a week before it happened. Why? There were personal connections. Wents, Frank Reich. There were things that made sense. You're starting to hear things from people, connections that make sense. And, by the way, Cam in New England, I said it earlier this week, it feels 9 and 7 and 10 and 6.

It does not feel like a Super Bowl team. Remember when Belichick went out and got Cam. He had played Cam twice, and Cam gave him fits. The last two times, Belichick and his defense. Now, Belichick unravels all these young quarterbacks. We know that. Darnold, Josh. I think he's won like 27 to 28 games against like Tua and Darnold and Josh Allen,

all these young quarterbacks. The last two times, Belichick has faced Deshaun Watson. Deshaun Watson is the only quarterback without a giveaway against the Patriots over the last two years, 300 passing yards a game, five passing touchdowns, a rushing touchdown, no picks, two and O against Belichick and a 74% completion percent. So Belichick can't stop him. Belichick struggle with Cam. He went and got him. Belichick struggle with Deshaun Watson. Stories coming out. Houston columnist. He's going to get traded. Patriot Beat writer. So this has something. This has a little bit of a feel to it. So keep your eyes out for it.

Coming up next, I get into this thing where I've said this, that there's about three to four guys in the NBA that I think are truly valuable. I think there's dozens of guys that are insanely talented. But there's about four guys in the NBA that are valuable. Kevin Durant is proving by not playing. He's one of the guys that's just talented. 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 IHeart Radio app.

Hey, this is Jason McIntyre. Join me every weekday morning on my podcast. Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre. This isn't your typical sports pod pushing the same tired narratives down your throat every day. Straight Fire gives you honest opinions on all the biggest sports headlines,

accurate stats to help you win big at the sports book and all the best guests. Do yourself a favor and listen to Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games.

Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

A win is a win. A win. 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. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano and our podcast Point Game is about defying the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed. And finding ways to win no matter what. He's the smartest player to ever play the game.

His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before. And he knows without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game. We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs. I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nas Reid. He has to guard Julius Randall. And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night basis on offense. And when IT's friends stop by, like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too. Steve Nass would get that thing. That man, hell get the flying. He running up the court,

licking his fingers why he got the ball. Like, after you go through a training camp with that, Isaiah, you figure it out real quick. Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the ball. a point game on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, I'm Jared Adano. You might know me as that loud guy who yells out, help on the internet. Help! Somebody! Please! But there's so much more to me than me. I'm an actor. I'm a comedian. And recently, I've become quite the helper myself. And on my new podcast, Hope from a Hypocrite,

I'll be changing lives, helping people in need with my sage advice and thoughtful solutions. Psyke, I'm a comedian! I'm not qualified to give good advice. Join me and my comedian friends as we riff, rant, recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to man. If I'm calling you, even if you're on your phone, let it ring twice. One ring is too scary. Cream a chicken suit.

Hey, cream. Cream a chicken suit. This is Help from a Hypocrite, the worst advice from the dumbest people you know. Listen to Help from a Hypocrat as part of the My Cultura podcast. network available on the I-HartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Stop living with uninspired performance. Visit MBUSA.com slash AMG. Find out the Mercedes AMG Coup Sedaner SUV is right for you. Mercedes AMG driving performance. So when Kevin Durant, super talented, left Golden State, the speculation was one of two.

things. He and Draymond had issues, but more importantly than that, he never felt like it was his team, which it wasn't. It was Steph Curry's team. Steph was the heart and soul of a team. And that's why Anthony Davis is a great player. LeBron's the heart and soul of the Lakers, right? Like, we all know that. And so there's four players to me in the NBA, and I've been on this thing, poor joy has to listen to this. I hate the MVP award in the NBA. Nobody knows what valuable means. There's four guys in the NBA to me that are truly valid. They're talented and valuable. LeBron.

AD leaves. Lakers defense is still number one. Chris Paul. Everywhere he goes, they win. Everywhere he leaves, they don't. Steph Curry. I mean, last couple of years, Golden State, when he hasn't played, it's the worst team in the league.

Statistically, record-wise. And number four, Jimmy Butler, you can't deny it. When Jimmy Butler doesn't play, this Miami team doesn't win, that's with a bunch of good shooters, BAM, and Eric's Bolstra, and Pat Riley. They don't win without him. He changes the defense. He changes the attitude.

He changes the locker room. He changes the offense. Those are my four. Butler, Steph, Chris Paul LeBron. Valuable. Great, but valuable. The rest of the league is just talented. AD, KD, Yonis, Kauai.

Toronto was good before Kauai got there. The Lakers can be good before AD gets there. But I'm watching Brooklyn right now without KD. And he's going to be out for more weeks. They've won 13 of 14 without KD. They've won six straight without KD. They won again last night with James Hardin and no KD. They have the best record in the East without KD.

KD is AD. Talented, not that valuable. Talented and brittle. And the truth is, go look at James Hardin since this team was put together. Who's the most, who's the least of the big three emotionally unreliable? Karee. He's gone off the deep end several times. So I can't trust Kyrie emotionally.

I can't trust KD. physically. James Hardin has become the Steph Curry of Brooklyn. He's the heart and soul. He's healthier. He's a baller. He gives you 82 starts. He never gets hurt. I get 35 a night.

He's a little quirky. He's a little quirky. But now he's become a very good distributor as well as a great score. So once again, Kevin Durant is back into the same Golden State. situation. Golden State won without KD. Brooklyn wins without him. It's not saying he's not talented. But when I look at Brooklyn, I can't trust the emotions of Kyrie. I can't trust physically KD. Who can I trust for 34 a night? It's James Hardin. He's the Steph Curry of Golden State. He's the heart and soul of it. And through the years, I've gone back and forth on Hardin.

At first, I didn't like him because he just mailed in defense. And then I've come to terms with, He tries. He's not very good. He's like Steph. He makes an effort. He's not great at it. But you've got to give James Harden credit. Every night shows up, plays hard.

He's almost like Westbrook and that he's a total baller. The difference is he can change his game. He's become a very solid distributor. Russell kind of plays in a tunnel. Hardin doesn't. He's got a wider prism. But when I watch Brooklyn now, they're flourishing without KD. If you're the heart.

soul of a team, you leave, your team struggles. Miami Heat cannot win without Jimmy Butler. OKC now, can't win without Chris Paul. Go look at the Lakers record last two years without LeBron. If you leave and the team is better, it means you just fall into a, you're talented. That's what KD is. About five years ago, half the NBA media thought KD was better than LeBron. And I've been saying this for years. The second chapter on LeBron, the first chapter is, oh my God, he's amazing. The second chapter is, does that dude ever get hurt? I mean, LeBron's had one injury in his entire career.

You can't be brittle and valuable. You can be brittle and talented. Katie's out. Brooklyn's on fire. 13 and 14. Six straight. Best record in the East. He is not, once again, the heart and soul of his team.

Maybe the most talented, he's not the heart and soul. Joy with the news. No. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. Well, the Jets are reportedly considering another addition to their receiving core. Now, this one is intro. I kind of like this one.

I like this one a lot. They are reportedly in talks with former Steelers wide receiver, Juju Smith-Suster. Great slot, great slot player, former friend of Darnold. Yes. So the team already brought in one new receiver for 2021 and signing Corey Davis to a three-year deal this week. Juju had 97 catches 831 yards and nine touchdowns this season. And he does have a relationship with Sam Donald. We're trying to figure out what the Jets are going to do at the quarterback position.

Well, it's very interesting, isn't it now? So they've gone out, if they sign Juju Smith's shoes. Now, you and I have said, is the market for Darnold dried up? Could it be this simple, joy? The Jets are 50-50 on it. And increasingly, as they watch the film, they blame Gase and say, we're going to keep Darnold. So they would go out and get Juju Smith Schuster And they went out and got an edge rusher

But what it tells you is they're going to go heavy offensive line in the draft Because they've solved their edge rushing This solves their receiver issues You go back and get your offensive line help That's been the primary issue Darnold has dealt with coaching in an offensive line So it does make you think Is the market for Darnold dried up

or are the Jets seriously considering bringing Darnel back? This feels like an ally to Sam Darnold. Well, I have to lean towards the Jets are considering bringing him back because more and more teams are ticking off their quarterback woes. What's the market? Yeah, Andy Daltin is now with Chicago. I mean, we don't love it, but Ryan Fitzpatrick is with the Washington football team. Like, there's not that many positions left.

There's not that many teams that are looking for a trade. for a quarterback right now. Ask yourself, you run the Jets. Sam Darnold, you maybe get a second pick. Second round pick. For the number two slot, you could probably get two firsts. So I'm sitting there thinking to myself,

I've already got extra picks because of the Jamal Adams deal. I can get a lot more moving the number two pick than I can Sam Darnold. So it feels like to me the Darnold market may be shrinking because the Jets are controlling it and they haven't made their mind up yet and they're leaning keeping Sam. Well, if I'm the Jets, I'm moving Sam just because I want to reset the clock.

I get it. Totally get it. For the organization. Totally get it. And Sam is not in his rookie or second year. So it's not that they are getting close to paying him, but you know, you do have a very, very high pick. And if Sam Darnold is good, but not great, you might not be in that situation next year to take another quarterback if you don't love what you have with Sam Darnold. All that's a race.

if you take a flyer on one of these other quarterbacks that are available in the draft. So if I'm on the Jets for longevity purposes to reset the clock with the fan base, with the media, and to give Robert Sala a clean slate, because you don't know, you're not sure, and clearly the market isn't sure on Sam Darnold, you want to give him an opportunity.

You have more grace if you take a quarterback that high in the draft. If you don't want to run into, Sam is mediocre, and this is not the same division as it, last year, Patriots are making a lot of moves and they might not be done yet. We don't know what Tua is, but the dolphins are trending upwards and you've already got the bills, so you don't want to be in a situation where you're in the middle of the draft and you can't get your guy. So I'm taking someone else, but you might be right and they're sticking with him. So the Bucks are doing their best to keep their Super Bowl winning team intact.

They signed another one of their free agents, kicker Ryan suckup, to a three-year, $12 million deal. He'll see $8.25 million over the first two years. that leaves Leonard Furnett, Antonio Brown, and Indomacan Su as their notable free agents left to be re-signed. This was a big deal, yet they got him back. You don't want to go into another year with a kicker problem in Tampa Bay, and he made 28 of 31 field goal attempts with a long of 50 yards and made 52 of 57 extra point attempts.

If you look at Tampa's going to draft at the end of round one, the end of round two, and around three. So they got about, and they have a history of drafting well. Jason Light, GM drafts well. I do believe at the end of round one, there's a couple interior linemen they could get. And at the end of round two, there's a couple of running backs. If I had to make choices, I'd probably move off in Domenu and move off Leonard Fernette. It's not a great year for running backs, but they have a history of landing.

I mean, listen, if you, if A, B, if he comes back cheap, you'd keep him, right. but I could see them if it comes down to cap situation cap dollars they have a history of drafting well and at the end of rounds if you start I've looked at enough mock drafts I think they can fill the Sioux and Leonard Fournett

openings pretty easy I don't know what the market is for Antonio Brown again they have leverage there Tampa's got leverage on that so so that one you keep and you do it on your terms if I'm Tampa Bay I would want to bring back Antonio Brown I would priority

brings back Antonio Brown over Indomaconsu and Leonard Furnett for the reasons that you mentioned. Obviously, they want to bring everyone back, but just salary cap. But Antonio Brown, I don't know what the market is for him. I mean, it obviously worked in Tampa Bay, but are other teams assuming that that's going to work for them? Yeah. I just think Leonard Furnett and Domen Sue are good players, and they both have a market. And Domenu is sort of have power, will travel. I mean, he's bounced around.

Yeah. But those are also replaceable guys. I think Godwin and Shaq Barrett and Lovante David. the market doesn't have those. Well, Tampa has also done a very impressive job of figuring all this out so far because it was not looking good. They were saying they wanted to bring everybody back and didn't have room. So the Cardinals continue to make moves in free agency.

They signed veteran wide receiver AJ Green to a one-year deal. They also got some protection for Kyler Murray trading for Raiders Center, Rodney Hudson. He's old to good. They also brought in, obviously, J.J. Watt and kicker Matt Prater. The Raiders have traded away three offensive linemen this offseason. I'll get into my theory on that. Trent round to the Patriots and Gabe Jackson to the Seahawks. So they're making a lot of moves there.

But the Cardinals are... Well, it's an old hill... These are older players. You know what it tells me? We've got to win this year. The GM's got to win and the coach got to win. That's what it feels like to me. It does feel like an all-in-year.

We're not going with young guys. We have to teach how to play football. We're going with old guys who may not be healthy. A little bit to prove. A little bit to prove. A.J. Green's not a 16-game guy anymore. J.J. Watchton can give you 16, 17 games. Rodney Hudson's in his 11th year.

But you don't have to teach him out of play. They're culture builder guys. You bring him in, and the GM and the coach have to win this year, or they're not going to be at the GM of the coach, Arizona Cardinals. I'm not saying to bad move, but that's what it feels like. I actually like it. I like when teams go all in. Veteran, no youth.

We're not going to wait for you to get good. And you have the money to do it because you're not paying Kyler Murray. And I got to win in September. I can't go heavy draft and heavy youth. and then by November we're great. In our division, I'm out of the playoff race and I'm out of work. That's what it feels like to me. Joy with the news.

Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Hurd-Lie News. So Joy brings this up. This is very interesting. So let's first state, John Gruden is going nowhere. So we all know that, right?

John Gruden is seven years left in his contract. Mark Davis is in the Gruden for Life Club. he's got power. The three coaches with the most power in the NFL are Bill Belichick, John Gruden, and probably Pete Carroll. And Pete basically runs their draft. So the Raiders have gotten rid of a starting guard, Gabe Jackson, a very good starting center, Rodney Hudson, and Trent Brown. Now, why would they do that? I'm going to throw my theory out there. So Derek Carr and Matt Ryan are very similar. Give them a good old line. they can be very effective.

But both Matt Ryan and Derek Carr, if they don't have protection, they're not very good. If you look at Derek Carr's numbers over last year, under pressure, he's a bad quarterback. Clean pocket, he's a Pro Bowl level quarterback.

It's very much Matt Ryan. These guys can't make plays with their feet. They need to feel comfortable. So why would John Gruden bail on his offensive line? All the analytics tell you, Derek Carr and a clean pocket's very good. And the Raiders have had a very good offensive line for the last two to three years with Derek Carr. And Derek Carr statistically has played very, very well. He does not under pressure.

Why would they do this? Okay, let's go back to this. Gruden is not getting fired. Gruden can play around a lot. He looks at his division with Patrick Mahalms twice a year and Justin Herbert. not so coincidentally, those are the two highest-rated quarterbacks in the NFL last year under pressure. And Gruden sees that.

But Gruden has spent a lot of money on his offensive line, much to the demise of his defense. They can't afford to have a good defense. They have built a very expensive offensive line. Is John Gruden saying, okay, now I'm taking the training wheels off Derek Carr. Now you're going to have a Justin Herbert O-line. or a Patrick Mahomes O line. Okay, I've spent a lot of money.

I mean, didn't we all go crazy with the Trent Brown contract a couple years ago? We're like, what are the Raiders doing? They're paying a right tackle what they should pay a left tackle for. It was training wheels. It was, let's make him. They went out and got Waller, the tight end. They went and drafted a running back. It's been a very complimentary, very protective offense for Derek Carr.

And he has flourished and deserves credit. But what it tells me is Gruden is now saying, nah, we're not winning enough. Last seven years, Derek, you've had one winning season. And Gruden's not going to blame himself. And he's not going to blame the general manager he hired. And he's got a seven-year remaining contract. So what Gruden is saying is, all right, we gave you this great O line,

this wildly expensive O line. We're bad at the end of the year. And so what he's saying now is training wheels off. Now you're just going to have an average O line. We're going to go spend money on defense. We're going to go spend money on defense. And that's what it feels like to me. And oh, by the way, if Derek Carr struggles,

you know how much of a cap hit he is next year if you move off him? Zero. That's what it feels like to me. Is that, I mean, when Gruden got there, he went big into the O line. He spent a ton on the offensive line. He drafted the offensive line. And what's he going to show for it?

And then the two guys in his division, Mahomes and Justin Herbert, were one and two in the NFL. I forget the order. Passing under pressure. And he looks at the analytics. Gruden does and go, my guy under pressure, not very good. And I've given him great, but I have to spend so much money on the offensive line. What is it getting me? Nothing.

Raiders can't make the playoffs. Raiders aren't viable at the end of the year. So it feels like a little bit of, I'm not going to blame me and I'm not going to blame the guy I hired. I'm taking the training wheels off. just going to have an O line, not an elite expensive O line. That's what it feels like to me. So they've traded away three off. They didn't re-sign Richie Incognito, but he is really old. Really old. Okay. All right. Mark Few. Gonzaga is in, I don't remember the last time we had a team that was this much of an overwhelming

favorite. Because with Kentucky out and Louisville out and Duke out and UCLA down, a lot of the teams that have NBA players and really talented. Syracuse is not great this year. They're just not a lot of NBA guys in this tournament. So Gonzaga's got the best team, one of the best coaches, and they also have the second best player. They have a better NBA prospect than a Duke or a Kentucky this year. And offensively, it is easily the best team in college basketball. Defensively, eh, offensively. So it's the first time in several years, you're hearing blank or the field. And the blank is Gonzagin their coach. My buddy, Mark Few comes up next.

Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. Hey, this is Jason McIntyre. Join me every weekday morning on my podcast, Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre. This isn't your typical sports pod pushing the same tired narratives down your throat every day. Straight Fire gives you honest opinions on all the biggest sports headlines, accurate stats to help you win big at the sports book, and all the best guests. Do yourself a favor and listen to Straight Fire. with Jason McIntyre on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard radio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care 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 IHeard 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. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano,

and our podcast Point Game is about defying the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed. And finding ways to win no matter what. He's the smartest player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before. And he knows without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game. We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs.

I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nas Reid. He has to guard Julius Randall. And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night basis on offense. And when IT's friends stop by, like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too.

Steve Nass would get that thing. That man, hell get the fly. He running up the court, licking his fingers, why he got the ball. Like, you go through a training camp with that, Isaiah, you figure it out real quick. Oh, yeah. Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the ball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, I'm Jared Adano.

You might know me as that loud guy who yells out, help on the internet. Help! Somebody! Please! But there's so much more to me than that. I'm an actor. I'm a comedian. And recently, I've become.

quite the helper myself. And on my new podcast, Hope from a Hippocrat, I'll be changing lives, helping people in need with my sage advice and thoughtful solutions. Sike, I'm a comedian.

I'm not qualified to give good advice. Join me and my comedian friends as we riff, rant, recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to man. If I'm calling you, even if you're on your phone,

let it ring twice. One ring is too scary. Cream of chicken suit. Hey, cream A chicken soup. This is Help from a Hypocrite, the worst advice from the dumbest people you know. Listen to Help from Hypocrite as part of the Mike Coutura Podcast Network

available on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Cremontar, shave cream, close comfortable shave, fights razor burn, major retailers have it. Amazon has it. It is a very interesting year in the end. NCAA tournament. You have one overwhelming favorite. You know, it's funny about you think powerhouse basketball programs. Like Villanova and Gonzaga in the last five years, to me, have been better than Kentucky. Like so, because college basketball has changed, because of this one and done influence, the Dukes and the Kentuckies get those players. It's so impossible to get a kid who's 18,

who's eyeing the NBA, and everybody knows it. And the first 10 games of the year he's lost. The next 10, he kind of gets his groove. And the last 10, he's almost gone looking at the NBA. So I've said this before. I've told John Calipari this. What an exhausting experience to coach that one and done stuff. If I was John Calipari, I would rather do it the Villanova way and the Gonzaga way, which is get like four star guys and three, like guys who could play in the NBA,

but they're not one and done. There may be three and done or two and duns. Mark Few is running a little late. We can do him at the top of the next hour. I got no problem with that. If you guys want to do that and do Mark at the top of the hour, I got no problem with it at all. So I just think college basketball, I think it's just changed. And it's okay.

The business has changed. And if you're John Calipari, it's exhausting. It's just absolutely exhausting to go out and get four and five new guys. And you bring them in and you're trying to create chemistry. then you've got to start over again. So if you look at Villanova the last four or five years, and they get good players. And Gonzaga gets good players.

They get the third best guy to L.A. and the best guy in Washington State. And they always get a transfer somewhere. And they do international. What's interesting with Gonzaga and why they're a power this year, because they've always had good players. And then they got Jalen Suggs. So he's probably the second best NBA prospect in the tournament.

That guy usually is at Kentucky, Duke, or Syracuse. So Gonzaga has this really good program that did, They always depend. And then they insert like a Kentucky level guy. And let's be honest, there's not a, this, the draft next year is better than last year. But there's Cade Cunningham at Oklahoma State. Jalen Suggs at Gonzaga are the two best players. They will mostly in this tournament not be guarded by NBA players.

So Oklahoma State doesn't have the program of Gonzaga. So there's some limitations. I think they'll win two or three games, although Liberty could be a tough out in the first game because they can shoot threes. But Gonzaga, you get all the formidable coaching, the depth, the system, the momentum, and then they insert a Kentucky-level players. Like, okay, this year with Kentucky out, Duke out, Louisville out, they're an absolutely overwhelming favorite. So I think it's interesting.

Oh, I want to talk about the Arizona stuff because Mark Fue is running late, so we've got about five minutes here to fill. So Arizona goes out and gives A.J. Green a one-year contract. Now, AJ Green is a good receiver, but he's, he's. He's old, and he's way past his prime. And they give J.J. Watt a couple years, right? Again, JJ's out of his prime. He's not a 16-game player.

And then they give Rodney Hudson. They go get him at center. And again, this is, Rodney Hudson is an interior NFL lineman. Those are dog years. 11th year in the NFL. Like, he's probably got two years playing really great football left. And to me, this is interesting. To me, it's Steve Kime, the general manager, saying,

listen, if I don't win this year, I'm out and Cliff Kingsbury's out. So we got no interest going with the youth movement. Now, you can say to yourself, that's not in the best interests of the overall program to go get three old dudes who can win now. But if you look at the history of Arizona, winning now would be fine. This is not the Packers. The Packers always build it long term. It's always the tarmac. That's their business culture.

But for Tampa Bay getting Brady, if we just win one Super Bowl, that's good enough for us. That's not the way the Yankees see it or the Dodgers see it. Or if you look at the Celtics and the Packers, they basically run their program always eyeing the future, winning trades, developing players. The Celtics and the Packers have these loyal fan bases that are going nowhere. It's like Michigan football. Generational support. Fans are going nowhere in Green Bay.

They're going nowhere with a Celtics. Celtics, they're going nowhere with the Dodgers. So there's no rush for those franchises to go all in and take a risk. Arizona's not that. It's a transient state with a lot of retirees that are bare fans, Viking fans. They come from the north or down. So in a very competitive sports market where you've got spring training, you've got an NBA team, you've got a major university, you've got a baseball team, you've got the NFL.

Just winning a championship goes a long way for the Bedwell family. just being the hot team for the next 18 to 24 months. So another thing is, Kyler Murray is good, but he's not overly vocal. J.J. Watt is vocal. A.J. Green is a team leader. Rodney Hudson will call all the plays on the offensive line. So they go get kind of vocal, verbal, culture-setting guys

with a super talented quarterback who's not overly verbal and vocal. That's not his game. So when I look at Arizona, it's the opposite of the Packers. it is the opposite of the Celtics. We don't have this absolute live for the franchise season ticket base that will never go away. It's very Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay is just going to go all in with Tom Brady. Go all in.

You win a Super Bowl. And that gets you cover for about eight to ten years. And so a lot of people, it was funny. Yesterday, I was talking to some executives around the league and they were kind of going, Jesus, this is the old man club in Arizona, which has got a bunch of old people in the state anyway. But I get it. I get what they're doing. Win one.

Go big. Quarterback rookie contract. Vocal guys, culture setters. And you know, you start looking at this deal. It's not about always having guys. Like, I think the Lakers look at Anthony Davis and go, he doesn't play 82 games. This is not what he is. I think Brooklyn's come to terms with KD is not an 82 game guy.

Some guys give you that every night. LeBron James Hardin. J.J. Watt and A.J. Green are not going to give you 17 games. It's just not the way it's going to be. But can they change the culture? Can they get you big sacks and big catches in important moments in a brutally tough division? Yep. And that's what Arizona is looking for?

So not every, it all starts with what is your fan base? What are your expectations? What does a championship do? Green Bay will, listen, we've talked about this ad nauseum. Green Bay will never give up the future for the now. It's just not in their blood. And by the way, it drives me nuts. But Green Bay is like, hey, we back to back years.

we got to the Congress championship. That's better than like 29 teams in the NFL. So Green Bay will just never mortgage their future for the now. Won't do it. Boston Celtics won't. Again, it's maddening. They'll never mortgage their future for it because they've got 15 championships or whatever they have. The Arizona's, it's not necessarily a bad deal to do that.

It's not Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Not necessarily a bad deal to do it. A few years ago, like Kansas City Royals were in the World Series. That ain't happening. They got no money there. Kansas City Royals don't have the money to do that. Mortgage your future for the championship. You're bad in Kansas City or Pittsburgh Pirates or Seattle Mariners.

You're bad forever. So you accumulate all these good draft picks. And then they all kind of, by the way, the Padres are doing this. So the Padres have accumulated all these draft picks because they've been so bad for so long. And then all these young players sort of get good. And you're like, screw it. We're going all in now. We're going about four years.

We're going to go all in. And if we have this four to five year run, we win one world series, we get to the playoffs, you get season ticket renewals, NFL team left town, you're good. And so not every team looks at it the same way. Your heritage teams look at it as don't ever, ever sacrifice for the future. A lot of these teams like Arizona, you win one, you're good for a decade in where you play. That's what the Rams did. Rams, okay, and the Rams are a fascinating one.

So they move here in a crowded sports market. The Lakers and the Clippers are on fire. The Dodgers draw $4.5 million a year. USC has a wildly supportive fan base. When Pete Carroll was in L.A., you didn't have two NFL teams, and now you've got a very popular LAAFC soccer team, which sells out every game. The market was wide open.

Pete was the toast of the town. It's not like that anymore. So you get into a RAM situation where... Mountains, Beach, Dodgers, Clippers, Lakers, LACC, USC, they're fighting for relevance in this town. There's no question. The Rams are fighting. By the way, the Chargers are really fighting for it.

I mean, they're the second team that's most popular in that stadium. So for the Rams, they're a little bit like Arizona, which is, we've got to keep up. This is a distracted sports market. And everybody's kind of good. LafC is good. USC is underachieving, but they're kind of good. Lakers good. Clippers good. Dodgers great.

So if you're the Rams, you have a little short, there is some short-term appeal, which is winning now and staying relevant. You know? They made it to the Super Bowl. We were wondering where they were getting all that money from. I don't look at that as a loss. Like, they made it to the Super Bowl.

Well, the Rams also yesterday. So this is the downside. Everybody talks about what teams gain in free agency. But you saw yesterday with the Rams, bills are due. So they had to let go of Gerald Everett, a very good tight end. He gets buried in the Rams system. He's really talented. He'll flourish with Russell Wilson.

They had to let go of Brockers, the defensive tackle. They got, you know, they were a seventh round pick for him. So the Rams have gone all in on this, but yesterday, some of the bills come due, and they got a shave cap. So Brockers, good defensive lineman, got to let him go. Gerald McCoy, really good tight end. He'll get 65 catches in Seattle. He'll be the number one target after D.K. Metcalfe for Russell Wilson. So it's your market matters.

Like in Pittsburgh is very much. Pittsburgh and St. Louis are two American cities. If you go to a party, people say, where'd you go to high school? Nobody says that in a party in Los Angeles. You go to a party in St. Louis or where'd you go to high school? So Pittsburgh's theories always bring, bring the band back. we won last year it means a lot to big

band so Pittsburgh has always been like just bring the popular guys back we made the playoffs we're not losing our fan base that's the sensibility in Pittsburgh Green Bay to their credit despite being a small market has not always been a bring the band back they're a we can never be bad at quarterback

because when they were for 20 years before Favreve Green Bay was irrelevant a lot of you guys forget They were irrelevant for 20 years in the NFL. They never want that to happen again. Mark Fugonzaga head coach joins us. Derek Woolf of the Ravens 2 hour or two live in Los Angeles.

On a Thursday, it's the heard. Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smigel 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 I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win.

I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that experience. excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfilled of conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that

not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to The Clifford Show on the IHeard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Hey, I'm Deanna Maria Riva. And on my new podcast, How Hard Can It Be? I call on my Gen X squad from Ohio to Hollywood as we navigate midlife's most fantastic.

B-S. Unfiltered conversations from night sweats to futas to scheduling sex. Wait, what sex? Is it just me or does every woman my age want to look at Pinterest instead of having sex sometimes? They say we can't polish a turn, but we're sure going to try. So let's get blunt with laughs, tears, or tears of laughter. Listen to How Hard Can It Be with Diana Maria Riva on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Thank you.