The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 03/19/2021 - Best of The Herd

Episode Date: March 19, 2021

Colin defends Carson Wentz from his critics and explains why the former Eagles quarterback will succeed with the Colts in 2021. He takes a look at the off season moves made by Jon Gruden and the Raiders and questions if they have a long term plan in place. Colin shares his first look at each division in the NFL and where each team will finish the 2021 season. Plus, new Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford joins the show to tell Colin why he chose to leave the Lions for Los Angeles. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter.

Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year.

Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care 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 IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok's podcast network on TikTok.

Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hardway with your favorite therapist and host Kear Games. This space is about black men's experiences, having honest conversations that it's really not safe to have anywhere, but you're having them with a licensed professional who knows what he's doing. How many men carry a suit or armor. It signals to the world that you not to be played with. And just because you have the capability that does not mean that you need to, listen to learn the hard way on the IHard radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

Thanks for listening to the best of 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 SportsRadio.com or stream us live every day on the IHeartRadio app. by searching herd. This is the best of the herd with Colin Cowherd on Fox Sports Radio. Ah, it is a Friday.

The week has flown by. We are live in Los Angeles. The weather's getting nice now. It's the herd, wherever you may be and however you may be listening. I-Heart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, and F-S-1, an hour from now. I'm going to do something I've never done. No, not undress on the show live. I'm going to go, I'm going to take you behind the curtain on how I make my predictions with NFL standing throughout the course of the year.

And you can play along and see last year I was seven for seven on AFC playoff teams did very well. I'm going to take you behind the curtain and we're going to play this game together in one hour. And Joy Taylor is joining me. Joy, how are you? I'm great. It's Friday. Sunny out. Well, you moved this week and went to the dentist for three hours.

I'm not kind of a regrettable week. I'm still eating on one side of my mouth. But yes, I'm happy it's the weekend. Not slobbering on the show. That's good news. I definitely slobbered when I slept for sure. You know, in your face is all down. And you're like, well, I've been there.

So it's good to have you in a Friday. So Carson Wentz is officially a cult, he held a press conference yesterday. So this is one of my many theories in life. And I don't think I knew this in my 20s. In fact, I know I didn't know this in my 20s, but I certainly know it now. Nobody can succeed on an island. Nobody can succeed without really good support, be your family, your wife, your husband, your boss. But when really talented people do get support, they always succeed 100%.

So the key is, if you're ever looking to hire somebody, find people with talent who don't have a good culture, who don't have a good boss, who don't have a good support system. I don't get the cynics on Carson Wentz to the Colts. They're going to win this division, and they're probably going to play on the AFC championship. And just think about this. The entire past calendar year, four of the best quarterbacks in the entire league, four of the top five, have spent the year telling us, I can't do it by myself.

Russell Wilson went public. O-Line's not good enough. I want more say in the offense. Russell Wilson's whole career, go Seahawks. He finally said, I need help. Even I can't do it alone. Tom Brady leaves New England. I can't be the only star on offense.

I need weapons. Does a documentary. I need help. I need more say. Aaron Rogers complains publicly. Did you see us get rolled twice by the 49ers? And you drafted my backup and a running? back.

I need more good players. And then Deshawn Watson saying, organizationally, I went four and 12. I can't be in Houston. I won't play. Coach, front office, owner. So the four of the best five quarterbacks in the world has spent the last calendar year going public. This isn't even a private conversation.

Even Brady goes to a documentary. Russell Wilson goes to the media. Deshawn Watson goes through his agent. Aaron Rogers goes on radio shows. They begged, I can't do it alone. And you don't think talented Carson Wentz is going to improve? He went four for four in upgrades. Offensive line, massive upgrade with a Colts.

Culture? I mean, the culture in Philadelphia is a wreck. The culture in Indies great. Defense, weapons. I mean, I can say five for five. Head coach? Of course it's going to work. Bigley.

He's going to win his division. He's going to get to the AFC championship. He upgraded in everything. Same thing in the NBA. We're even stars. Historically, Kobe's or LeBrons are like, I can't do it alone. I want to be the man.

I don't want to be the only man. So I look at the Carson Went situation. This is a team that won 11 games with a quarterback that was so old, He just retired to go coach high school football. Anytime somebody with talent gets upgrades in four or five different areas, they always succeed. If I said you're talented, you're going to get a better boss, a better workplace culture, better support system, better digital reinforcements and a bigger budget. There would be no chance you would fail. There'd be no chance you wouldn't upgrade.

I mean, Carson went yesterday, even sounded happier, and he's yet to play a game. Anytime there's a trade, obviously, you know, I have no control, so to speak. But, you know, working with Frank first and foremost and what he's been able to do here and what has the culture that had already been established here over the years, you know, gets me excited. Obviously, they'll align the skill players, all of that, what they were able to do last year and, you know, be right on the verge of something special. you know how close they came there's a lot of things that we're super excited about and can't wait to really dive head first here in indianapolis first time i've seen him smile of course this is going to

work in a big way so um a general manager in the NBA told me this years ago coaches fall in love with players my job is to fall in like with players about giving a coach too much power. Bill O'Brien had too much power. He whiffed on the draft, whiffed in trades. John Gruden's got too much power. He's falling in love with players.

So yesterday, they signed Kenyon Drake. Good running back to a big deal. They've already got a star back. And I've been on this for two years now. The Raiders are kind of making it up as they go. It looks like they're run by a high. highly emotional head coach who does what he feels like doing when he wakes up in the morning. Remember the 2019 draft?

We want high character guys. So they reached on a couple guys. The high character, that was after they'd signed Vontes Burfect, Ritchie Incognito, and traded for Antonio Brown. Mixed message. In 2020, I loved Eric Carr. And then they go make Marcus Mariotta the highest paid backup. And I read a story this morning.

They're going to cut Marioita unless he takes a huge pay cut. So now this offseason, they've bailed on the offensive line. And oh, wait, now they're doubling down on running back. What is the messaging here? Character matters, just joking. Mario is amazing. Take a pay cut. Run games essential, bailing on the offensive line.

This is what I've said. Belichick Gruden, formerly Bill O'Brien, and Pete Carroll have too much power and personnel. coaches tend to fall even in Belichette. You fall in love with players. GM's job is to fall in like with players. When you watch the Raiders, doesn't it feel like they're just kind of making it up? The messaging's all over.

I love this guy. Then you pay huge money for a backup. This is what we are. Then you go in the opposite direction. Character matters. Oh, no, it doesn't based on my free agent signings. And I look at the Raiders today. and when Gruden signed that contract, first of all, I'm not a big fan of 10-year contract.

I wouldn't want a 10-year contract. Seriously, I'd get lazy. I don't want to, I like three-year contracts. I sign it, and I know if I don't get my act together, I'm looking for work in two years. So I didn't like the 10-year contract, but I also don't like the fact that Gruden has final say. They almost worship the ground he walks on. Raiders are just, what are you? Like, when I watch the Colts, I guess.

I know exactly what they're doing. I know exactly what they're doing. Rarely go into free agency, draft and develop well, build an O line and a D line. They love linemen. They always feel like they're one shy and skill people. Got some good skill, but they're always about a skill person and shy. But they've always got surplus of talent, O line, D line, and they're very frugal on the market. They will pay, but it is rare.

I feel like I know what the Packers culture is. I've known for years what New England's culture is. It's not hard. If you watch a football team in professional football or college, when you watch Alabama, you can sense what they want to be. When you watch the Raiders, what the hell are they? What do they want to be this morning? I thought it was an offensive juggernaut.

We're bailing on the offensive line. Oh, no, we're not. We're going getting and doubling down at running back. Well, good luck with a bad offensive line. I don't know. It's cautionary tale. You give coach total power. They fall in love with players.

GMs fall in like with players. 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. Of the many reasons you want to have a great quarterback in the NFL, is that you can make a bunch of mistakes, and everybody in this league makes mistakes, you can make a bunch of them. but if you have the star quarterback, he keeps you afloat. Aaron Rogers has had some bad defenses.

He keeps the Packers afloat. Brady, in the end, got the Patriots through a playoffs with the worst skill people in the league. A star quarterback is not going to always winning a Super Bowl. He's not going to always get you to a conference championship. But a star quarterback is, I always said, you know, LeBron's the great eraser. All your GM mistakes. all your trade whiffs. LeBron just sort of washes through all of it.

Doesn't mean he's going to win a title every year. But you'll never be bad with LeBron. You'll never be bad with Bradie. You'll never be bad with Aaron Rogers. You'll never be bad with Russell Wilson. But most teams don't have a superstar quarterback. And what happens is when you make the mistakes that everybody does, you melt fast in this league.

Chicago's got a bad GM and they don't have a star quarterback. And they are melting fast. So Andy Dalton is now the quarterback. He is a downgrade from Mitch Trubisky, who I don't love, but with this limited number of skill people and this offensive line, you need a quarterback who can move. Andy can't. Also, just released a Pro Bowl corner, Kyle Fuller to save $14 million

in a division with Aaron Rogers. Don't think that's great. And the key next, Hicks, the defensive linemen, very good, wants out. The franchise is melting. They're going to be a bottom six team in the first team. the league potentially. So this feels very much like the New York Giants. In that 2016, 2017, 2018, oh, this was a Super Bowl. It's a Blue Blood franchise. And they had Coughlin and Eli and a good defense. And then they made a bad coaching hire, a bad GM hire. The defense eroded.

They had no planet quarterback. And the Giants suddenly stunk. They're still digging out from that. Feels like Philadelphia. I just want a Super Bowl. Unbelievable. Philadelphia is well run. and then Frank Wright leaves. And then Carson Wentzer Rhodes. And they miss in about three straight drafts on skill people. And the offensive line gets old. And suddenly today, I think Joy and I would agree, that's a fourth place team. That's the Bears.

Oh, playoffs last couple years. Everybody wants to blame Matt Nagy. Matt Nagy's got a winning record in two playoffs with Mitch Trubisky. And a general manager that doesn't appear to know what he's doing. This franchise, his franchise in Chicago is melting. And I mean, look at today, Aaron Rogers wakes up. He's going to face Andy Dalton twice a year, Jared Goff with Dan Campbell twice a year, and Kirk Cousins with a hyper conservative head coach and Mike Zimmer, who I think is a really good coach. I mean, Aaron Rogers just pencil it in.

That's going to be first place this year. But the star quarterback, you know, that's why I always laugh when, oh, well, LeBron James, Michael Jordan went six for six. Michael always had Phil Jackson with those titles. He always had elite rebounders and elite teammates. The reality is LeBron doesn't guarantee you in a title, but he guarantees you're always viable. Brady and New England didn't always win a title. You're always viable. Russell Wilson, Aaron Rogers, you're always viable with those guys.

But if you're not special at quarterback, you can get bad so fast in this league. All it takes is one injury, couple guys demand a trade, two draft picks, swift and you stink. And Chicago this morning looks like they are becoming, thank God for the lions, because they feel like they are literally a barrel over a waterfall headed downhill. 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 unleashed. 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. Clipper 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 CJ Toledano, and our podcast Point Game is about Defying the Off.

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

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

They say we can't polish a turd, but we're sure going to try. So let's get blunt with laughs, tears, or tears of laughter, and dive into it, unfiltered and unbothered and ask, how hard can it be? I cannot believe I'm about to say this out loud in public. Listen to How Hard Can It Be with Diana Maria Riva as part of my Cultura podcast network available on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. So there are certain topics. This is what we do, not to bore you, but we spend two hours every morning getting rid of dumb topics and getting topics that we think work for the audience. It connects with you. You're interested in the topic. And I think it's probably been the single biggest part of Joy and I success since we work together is we spent a lot of time. on getting rid of stuff and adding stuff.

My least favorite topic, I'll occasionally ask somebody a question, but I really don't even care when I ask them a question, is who's going to win the MVP in sports, but especially the NBA. NFL is no great shakes either. And yesterday, Kyle Kuzm is talking about LeBron should have way more MVP's. Just think about how absurd MVP is. LeBron's got four and Tom's got three. They have been dominating their sport for 37 years, and they've got seven.

Now think about this. It would be one thing if they were old broken down wheel barrels today. They both are the current title holders. They were both the MVP in the series, and they are favored Tom next year, LeBron this year to win again. Seven MVP's 37 to 38 years of dominance. And you wonder why I roll at this.

The Lakers have the second best record in the NBA without AD. But but but James Hardin. James Hardin's in the east. That alone is less impressive. Right now, the last three playoff spots in the east are all 500 teams.

the Atlanta Hawks for a five seed, they're a game above 500. I don't want to hear about the East. I cannot take any of this MVP talk seriously. Brady and LeBron still dominate their sports. They have dominated it for a combined 37 years. And they've got seven of these things. Either put players into vote on it, change the voting methods, change the timing to include playoffs,

It's just stupid. The NBA MVP is dumb. By the way, what's interesting is I looked it up this morning. The Lakers have now one, think about this, four straight without AD, but they also have the number one defensive rating in the league without AD. And he's an elite defensive player. So the defense isn't getting worse. And LeBron's not the runaway?

Nick Wright was nailed it earlier this week, kind of mocking the process. and he said, here's how the NBA MVP race will play out the rest of the year. He'll be in second place all year, and the person in first is going to rotate. It was in Bede. Here in about a week, you know what it's going to be? You know who the MVP is. Nothing against LeBron. It's James Harden.

And then a few weeks after that, when Kevin Durant comes back and Hardin's numbers go down a bit, you know what people are going to say, guys, we can't hold the playoffs against Janus. It's a regular season award. By the end of the season, you know what the argument's going to be? Guys, Nikola Yokic, look at his numbers. The Joker, he's the MVP. And this whole time, we're going to be like, or it's the best guy on the best team who plays damn near every night.

Yeah, it's absurd. The Lakers, this goes back to Mike. And by the way, I'm not saying Hardin shouldn't be second place. because Kevin Durant got hurt. KD and AD are the same guy. Talented, brittle stars. They can't stay healthy. They're both great.

They're both all time. They're both first battle. I love them both. I'd love to have AD on my team. I'd love to have KD. KD for his offense, AD for his defense. But they're just brittle stars. And Hardin's done an amazing job with KD's absence.

And LeBron's done an amazing job with 80s absence. I'm not disputing. Those are one and two. But when you look at the Lakers defensive rating in a tougher conference, better record, you can't make an argument than I'm willing to listen to.

So that topic, to me, if you wonder why that topic's on a lot of shows and it's not on ours, I can't take it seriously. And it is remarkable. 37 years of dominance and LeBron and Brady are still dominating. They're both title holders, MVP holders, and our favorites again.

One more herd? The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week, within the iHeart radio app. Search heard to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like. Last year I was seven for seven on playoff teams in the AFC. I take a lot of pride in this. And obviously I can't, I have the right to change it. But this is my process for picking the standings.

Now, we've obviously had coordinator changes, coaching moves free agency. Free agency's not done. And we have the draft, though I don't tend to think, I think people overvalue the draft. Like Trevor Lawrence will make an impact. You know, I think a couple offensive linemen for the Bengals could solve their issues. I don't think the draft necessarily makes you better. It makes you deeper. But if you're, depending on the draft to make a good football team, in six months after it happens, good luck. So, little music, here's how I do it. First of all, I start with last place teams. I think there

five, and I think this is the easiest year to pick last place teams. Let's start with Denver. They were five and eleven last year. They have the worst quarterback in their division, and they have to rebuild their defense. I don't think you can have easily the fourth best quarterback in a division and upgrade. Justin Herbert's only getting better. Denver's less. Philadelphia. Feels like they're swimming in chaos.

I think Doug Peterson was a pretty darn good coach. He out-coachuk, arguably, a Super Bowl. He's gone. I think they downgraded heavy at coach. And Carson Wentz is gone. Jalen hurts to me. May have some success, but I think they're a fourth-place team. Jets.

14. Well, they sign big free agents. The Jets always do that. We don't know if Robert Solic can coach, even if he can in a division with Belichick twice a year, Brian Flores twice a year, and Sean McDermott twice a year. It's a fourth place team. Detroit Lions. Jared Goff with a significantly worse offensive line and a significantly worse head coach is a last place team. And Houston, they're a mess. I just, there's nothing about them I like. There is nothing about Houston I like. So those are my last place teams. Then I go to my first place teams.

I feel very secure about four. I think Buffalo's got a great GM. I think they have a great quarterback. I think they keep elevating Josh Allen. And I kind of look at what they did, and they were 13 and 3 last year. They had a complimentary receiver, Emmanuel Sanders. They're going to go and get a pass rush,

a little bit of an elevated pass rush in the draft. That'll be available where they're drafting. They have a history in the last three years of drafting very well. I like them. Tampa Bay. Tom Brady now in his second year, they bring the band back together. Jason Light, the GM, has a history of filling spots. I think they'll move off in Dommick and Sue.

Fill that in the draft. They'll be fine. That'll be a push. And I think if you look at that division, this is not a tough one. Kansas City. They signed Kyle Long on the offensive line and Joe Tunney. It helps. I don't think they'll be as good at tackle,

but I think they are so spectacularly coached and so spectacularly. quarterbacked that if you look at that division, everybody else is just trying to win shootouts. And Green Bay, the division's gotten worse. I do think Minnesota gets slightly better. But I think Aaron Rogers, if you look at, he's going to face Andy Dalton twice a year, Kirk Cousins twice a year, who's not been good in big games, and Jared Gough for the battle in line and worst coach.

It's Green Bay's division. So I've given you my last, there were five. I've given you my first. There's four. Now we move into what I call improved teams. There's seven of them. I thought Cleveland did a great job. They were 11 and 5 last year with a bad secondary.

Well, they get Grant Delpit and Greedy Williams back, and they added John Johnson and Troy Hill. They've had a really good free agency period. Listen, Arizona's old, JJ Watt, A.J. Green, Rodney Hudson. But those are good one, two-year players. And I do think Kyle Murray was improving at the end of last year. So I think they're better.

Chargers went and solved some offensive line issues by getting Corey Lindley, Matt Fowler, and then Jared Cook at Tide End. Derwin James comes back. So I think the Chargers are better in Justin Herbert's second year. Colts got Carson Wentz. They're about one more receiver away.

Maybe it's Paris Campbell who's already there. He's very fast kid. Did a lot of drag routes at Ohio State. I don't know if he's any, I don't know if he's just a college receiver, but he can burn. I think the Colts will be better because they'll be far more athletic at quarterback. Dallas Cowboys.

Well, I think Dan Quinn's an upgrade at defensive coordinator. And I think Dak Prescott's for their season is an upgrade over Andy Dalton. And I may be critical of the Cowboys, but they feel like the chaos has left the building. New England Patriots, listen, it just tied in. Just at Jono Smith and Hunter Henry and at wide receiver with Nelson Aguilar, They feel like they're more explosive. And the L.A. Rams got Matt Stafford. I think that's an upgrade over Jared Goff.

He's a better arm, a little more athletic, throws better in a muddy pocket. So those are my improved teams. Now my teams that I thought regressed, I thought they went a little backwards. The Bears were 8 and 8 last year. I think Trubisky is a better fit with an average offensive line. I do not like their GM. Chuck Pagano is a good, Pagano was a good defensive coordinator. He retired.

Don't love that. Again, for their five offensive linemen, gone. Why that's a problem? Derek Carr, more than any quarterback in the league, regresses with poor protection, more than any quarterback in the league. New Orleans Saints, it feels like a reboot year. A zillion dollars over the cap. Drew Breeze is gone.

They're now just scaling back on players. They had to let go with Jared Cook and Trey Hendrickson and Janoris Jenkins and Emmanuel Sanders. So they'll be viable, but it's a step back. Pittsburgh Steelers. They're not going to start 11 and 9. The division's better. They lost Bud DePri, Marquis Pouncey.

I thought Ben at the end of the year, they lost five a six look tired. They may not be terrible, but I don't think they're going to get off to that 11 and 0 start and go 12 and 4. And finally, the Tennessee Titans, who I generally think are pretty well run. Arthur Smith, the offensive coordinator, is gone. Ryan Tannahill benefited greatly from Arthur Smith. Very interested to see Ryan Tannahill without his kingman. Matt Ryan popped with Kyle Shanahan. Left was not the same immediately. And then I think there's teams, one, two, three, four, five, six. They're kind of the same.

The dolphins are 10 and six. They add Will Fuller, but they lose a couple of defensive guys I like, including Kyle Van Noi, Devon Gossu, to the Patriots. I don't think they're, those are good defensive players. Will Fuller, when he's healthy, he's pretty good. Same team. Atlanta, let's not kid ourselves. It's a question mark. I didn't think Dan Quinn was a terrible coach. North Arthur Smith can coach. They'll be okay to average to below average. Carolina is still rebuilding process. They don't love Teddy Bridgewater below average. Baltimore's good. They're still good. They lost a couple of pass rushers. They lost Matt Judon, a very good linebacker who I like. I still think they don't think they will, they have a history of drafting well. I think they'll just, they didn't get better or worse. Same team. Seattle, they won't be as good offensively,

lost Shaq Griffin and Carlos Dunlap. They won't be as good defensive. But they did get Gerald Everett at Tide End and Gabe Jackson, so I think their offensive line and at Tide End, they're a little more dynamic. It feels kind of like a really, they were good last year, they'll be good this year. In Washington, which I thought was going to be improved, I do like Curtis Samuel, but I talked to two NFL GMs. Nobody gets the Ryan Fitzpatrick thing. I don't get it. So they were 7 and 9 and went to the playoffs. They kind of feel 7 and 9, 8, and 8, unless they make a quarterback move.

So now, now I've given you, I've given you. My bottom is my top, slightly better, slightly worse, the same. I didn't do all the teams here. Because once you do those teams, you don't need to do all the teams. It just fits. And I have a right to change, but right now here's my AFC predictions. Bill's, Patriots, Dolphins, Jets. I know.

Browns, Ravens, Steelers, Bingles. I think Cleveland's had a sensational off-season. AFC Colts, Titans, Jags, Texans. AFC West, according to my groupings, Chiefs, Chargers, Raiders, Broncos. In the NFC, again, I've got the right to change. Washington, Cowboys, Very Close. Giants, Eagles. Packers, Vikings, Bears.

I downgraded the Bears. Called the Lions fourth place. So, Minnesota, obviously, goes right into second. Bucks, Saints, Panthers, Falcons. I just think the Bucks and Saints. Tampa's going to be better. are worse. Panthers Falcons are not viable yet. NFC. West is my hardest. Now, you look at that and you say Rams, I have upgraded the Rams at quarterback a game. I think Seattle is pretty much the

same. I think the Rams Seahawks battle for the conference crown. Arizona is better from eight and eight, probably nine and seven. Now, you look at the Niners and say, how can you have them last? Well, why have the Niners been in all these quarterback discussions? The anxiety of Jimmy Garoppolo's health. history tells me they will not get a full season of Jimmy Garoppolo. That's why every fourth day there's a 49er story on the AP wire or somebody on a blog. So I'm not saying the Niners are 4 and 12. But this morning, history tells me Garoppolo plays for 7 to 8 games. They would be a fourth place team.

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 podcast. 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 you're saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th.

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

The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrate. 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 a TikTok podcast network on TikTok.

Hey, I'm Deanna Maria Riva, actress, mother, lover, and a Gen X woman walking through life one hot flash and hormonal crying jag at a time. You ladies know what I mean. I'll bet you a parameda apostle chin here you do. So let's talk about it. Join me on my new podcast. How hard can it be with Deanna Maria Riva,

where I call on my Gen X squads from Ohio to Hollywood as we navigate midlife's most fantastic BS. All of a sudden, I'd had hanginess happening on my own. I was like, what the hell is that? I was married when I had her, so I didn't even consider how empty that nest was going to be. Mood swings, night sweats, fupas, sex drive. Wait, what sex? Dating at 45.

How high can it be getting naked at 50 with the new guy? That one's kind of hard. Well, that's lighting. They say we can't polish a turd, but we're sure going to try. So let's get blunt with laughs, tears or tears of laughter, and dive into it unfiltered and unbothered and ask, how hard can it be? I cannot believe I'm about to say this out loud in public. Listen to How Hard Can It Be with Diana Maria Riva as part of My Cultura Podcast Network

available on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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. 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. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Matt Stafford, it's fascinating. So I had said when he got traded to the Rams, I said, I think it's an upgrade, and I like Jared Gough. I think he's got a better arm. I think Matt, it's. throws better in a cluttered pocket. But it's fascinating.

So he goes from Detroit, which is a tough city. My wife's from there. It's a great city, but it's a tough city, often overlooked, had to deal with issue. Now he comes to Los Angeles, where it's always sunny. Dodgers win the World Series. Lakers win the World Series. It's optimistic. Every day in California is optimistic.

And it's a real cultural shift. It's a real change of life. And Matt Stafford, who was the number one high school quarterback, out of Southland High School, I think, in Dallas. Then he went to Georgia and he was great as a freshman. He goes to Detroit. He breaks all sorts of records. He has the most passing attempts in his season in NFL history.

He has the most fourth quarter comebacks in a season in NFL history. He has the most game-winning drives in a season in NFL history. But you think Matt Stafford, it's like, oh, this guy's getting clobbered again in Detroit. Now he's a ram. totally different football environment. Matt Stafford is joining us live. It really is, Matt.

First of all, thanks for coming on the show. Congratulations. LA's a good place to live, and we're happy to have you here. So let's start with that. Yeah, I appreciate it. Thanks for having me. We're excited to be out here, you know,

and thanks for having me on. You bet. So it is different, Matt. You go to Detroit and we're a little bit of the savior. It had a losing football culture. My wife's from there. I know Detroit well. I visit Michigan.

And those people are great people and they work hard. And they've had to overcome a lot. Then you go to Los Angeles. It's the city of stars and it's optimism. The economy is flourishing. And it is different for you. You're not looked at as a savior for the franchise. But there is pressure, Matt.

There's a lot of good players here. A lot. Good receivers. Cam Acres is a star. Do you sense now, all right, Matt, you got to get some playoff pelts here. This is a different ballgame culturally than Detroit. Yeah, it's definitely a new opportunity for me. I'm excited about it. That pressure is a positive thing in my mind. It's something that I'm looking forward to. Like you said, we do have a bunch of great players. There's a bunch of

team success in the past, you know, four or five years here that I'm excited to be a part of. I'm going to do everything I can to bring the best version of myself to this team and make sure I blend in and, you know, help lead the way and get these, you know, get these playoff games going, get these playoff wins going. That's obviously the goal every time you play this game. You know, it's interesting. We just saw Juju Smith-Schuster take less money. Aaron Jones, very good back for the Packers,

took less money. Free agency is a lot of different things. Some guys want wins. Some guys want lettuce. Some guys want culture. Some guys don't want to leave because they love their position coach. When you looked around, there's a lot of guys, I talked to three different general managers and they were all interested in you, including less need.

what mattered to you? You know, obviously I wasn't in control of that situation. I was a person that was getting traded. You know, I wasn't on the free agent market, but Detroit was awesome in our talks. And we talked about, you know, trying to give me to a place that was ready to win. That's right. You know, a little bit closer to that than, you know, we currently stood at the Lions. So I'm obviously thrilled to be here.

You know, the Rams have won a bunch of football games in the last four years. And I'm excited to join that group of guys, that coaching staff, that front office, everybody, you know, and try and bring a bunch more in the next four, five, six, seven years. Now, you, Sean McVeigh's system, they've got a lot of good skill people, but it's complex. And they ask you to learn a lot fast. It'll probably feel like your high school to your college years with Mark Rick, and you're going to play fast when you were kind of thrown in from high school to college. And same thing.

asked to be thrown in and play immediately. Do you remember that high school to college transition? And what's that like for you emotionally and mentally? When it hit new playbook, get ready. You're starting soon. Yeah, I do remember those times. You know, obviously that's a huge jump. You know, a whole different, a whole different animal high school to college. You know, but now I've been doing this a little bit of time now in the NFL, but it is a new challenge. A new offense. It's going to be a new language for me. I've got new T. teammates and to do that in the COVID era where, you know, we're going to have a limited, if not zero offseason again, live and in person. So I'll have my work cut out for me. I'm excited about

that challenge and know that, you know, when it comes Sundays in the fall, I'll be ready to go. You had a lot of come from behind wins. You were often asked, listen, we trail late, save the team. There's a really good possibility. You won't trail a lot in the fourth quarter. And they're going to say, Matt, despite that great arm and talent, hand it off a lot. So, I mean, seriously, Matt, you're not, it's going to be a different environment. And you've got one of the best arms in football. They may ask you in the fourth quarter to be safe. How does that land for you?

If they let me, you know, be aggressive in the first three quarters, I'm cool with it. You know, hopefully I'm throwing some touchdowns to help us get that lead late in the game. you know, it's not given to us. We've got to go out there. We've got to earn it every single time. You know, and to be honest with you, I could care less about how the wins come as long as they come, whether that's defense playing great, us running the ball, me throwing it, whatever it takes to be in those games and have the opportunities to win them. I'm all for it.

You know, there were times that you didn't have a great O line, great protection. You got banged around a lot. And Rams, that's not generally a problem. What is interesting in Sean McVeigh's offense, Matt, they like to roll the point. pocket a lot. And you are seen as, you know, you're athletic, obviously. And I went back and looked at some of your college stuff, and you moved around a lot. Detroit, it felt more pocket. McVe likes to move the pocket all over the place. And you're going to be asked to, you know, be nimble. Do you look forward to that? Your thoughts on that? Yeah, I'm cool with that, Colin. I'm not afraid to

move around a little bit. I think it does take a bunch of stress off the guys up front. If you can move the pocket, you know, just a few times a game to let the, you know, not let the defense know exactly where I'm going to be sitting the entire time. So I'm excited to do anything and everything asked to me. If that's moving around, throwing it on the run, I feel like I can do that and be successful. You know, obviously love sitting back in the pocket and doing my thing too, but whatever we need to do to win, I'm ready to do it. Well, you won't get sacked by Aaron Donald anymore. He's a handful. How well do you know? Like what, tell me what your process has been.

You want to figure this offense out in your personnel. Do you go to the film room and just say, I want to watch your games? I want to watch your people. I want to watch your players. What's it like for you now? Yeah, that's a part of it, you know, just trying to get my hands on as much information as I possibly can as quickly as I can. Obviously, I'm reaching out to some of the guys on the team, you know, just trying to get

a feel for how things go and, you know, how I can, you know, assimilate myself into this team and make sure that, you know, we get together live in the locker room and all that kind of stuff, I'm ready to go and lead these guys in the right way. So somebody told me you had a house here in California. And, I mean, the Lions deserve credit because they did. You weren't a free agent, but they had asked you, listen, we're going to give you some teams. You've been very good for us.

You're our all-time best quarterback. We'd like to help you out here. So Detroit deserves some credit. They made it. This was one of the places you wanted to play. And, I mean, what is it about L.A.? you like? Yeah, I mean, first and foremost, you're exactly right.

Detroit was incredible to me and my family really throughout our 12 years there and, to be honest, through this whole trade process as well. So I got to give them a bunch of credit and a big thanks. You know, the thing that really appealed to me the most about the Rams is just the ability to win games. You know, the last four years, they've won a ton of football games. Obviously, you know, Sean is a big draw for me as well. I think he's an outstanding play caller and a great head coach.

Just the culture that he's built there, you know, from the top down, that's the number one thing I hear from people outside of, outside of, you know, the Rams is just how cool their culture is and, you know, how fun it's going to be a big part of. So I'm excited about the opportunity to dive right in and hopefully win a bunch of games. Does it matter at all, Matt, that you have been in the NFC. You know a lot of the defensive coordinators. I mean, does that matter at all? I mean, if you had gone to the AFC, would have felt a little different, like a little bit of a little bit. a little more of a learning experience? Yeah, probably.

But there is so much change in the NFL year to year. I mean, defensive coordinators have taken, you know, head coaching jobs and vice versa. I mean, there's so much change. You never know what you're going to get year in and year out, whether it's in the division or in the conference. So it was going to be a learning curve no matter what. This definitely will be. But I'm excited about it and just happy to be in L.A. Ram.

Now, by the way, this is well told. You and Clayton Kershaw were childhood friends in Dallas. So if I'm not mistaken, you have a great arm. So you had to have played baseball, right? You had to have played baseball. I did. Yep. And he played football.

Yeah, he was my center, freshman year of high school. Your center? Yeah. He's a tall center. Yeah, I mean, you know, we've changed since freshman year. We'll just say that. Now, you were obviously a very good baseball pitcher. Be honest, you threw a no hitter.

I mean, how good were you as a baseball pitcher? I was actually, I played like short, stop and catcher. Wow. I pitched a little bit, but I was more out in the field. I used to catch Clayton a bunch when he was throwing early on in our youth. And then I played a bunch of shortstop through high school. So to be honest, when Clayton Kershaw, you were, Matt Stafford was a catcher. When you were catching his stuff and he was what, 16 years old, was it unbelievable? Like, did you know, oh my God, he's unbelievable? Yeah, I mean, honestly, I've been catching him for for a long time. And, you know, he had always had the 12-6 curveball that just, you know,

froze all lefties and crushed the righties too. So, and really the thing that I see now that has been there since he was a kid was his competitiveness on the mound. I mean, there's very few guys. I feel like when I watch baseball that, when they're pitching, that, that are out there just competing almost like a, like a football player. And he brings that attitude to the mound, you know, each and every time. And, and it's, it's fun to watch. Was he a very good blocking center? Be honest. Yeah, I mean, I can't really remember too much about freshman football, to be honest with you.

But he got kicked out of a game once for sticking up for me once. Yeah, a guy hit me late and then he retaliated. So I appreciate the love. He always had my back. Clayton Kershaw kicked out of a freshman football game. He's my kind of guy, my kind of player. Hey, Matt, good luck to you and your fam out here in L.A. and the Rams. It's a great organization.

A lot of really good people inside those rooms. And I appreciate you stopping by our show. Appreciate it, Colin. Thanks for having me on. 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 acapella 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, Cliver Taylor the 4th.

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

And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok's podcast network on TikTok. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hardway with your favorite therapist and host, Kear Games. This space is about black men's experiences, having honest conversations that it's really not safe to have anywhere, but you're having them with a licensed professional who knows what he's doing. how many men carry a suit or armor. It signals to the world that you not to be played with. And just because you have the capability that does not mean that you need to, listen to learn the hard way on the IHard radio app, Apple Podcast,

or wherever you get your podcast. This is an IHart podcast. Guaranteed human.