The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 03/30/2021 - HOUR 2 - Gonzaga, NBA

Episode Date: March 30, 2021

Gonzaga vs USC is going to be closer than you thinkThe top 5 players Colin would build a NBA franchise aroundGuest: Greg Cosell 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.

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

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From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84's big to me. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians,

and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks for listening to The Heard podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday from 12 to 3 Eastern, 9 to noon Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and FS1. Find your local station for the herd at Fox Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day on the IHeartRadio app by searching Heard. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Ah, here we go.

It's hour two. Greg Kosell in a couple of minutes, live in L.A., it's the herd. Wherever you may be in, however, you may be listening. IHeart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, and FS1. Hey, it's very, very big day for me because as of last night, it feels like we finally have the house organized. Oh, that's great. We still don't have furniture in half the room. But we have, because there's the mail issue in America, it's, it's, it,

Mail is slow in America right now. And so we're not getting our normal mail. We had to go to the post office. And we ordered a lot of furniture from other states. And it's taking forever to cut. So half of our house isn't furnished. But we finally last night, I'm sitting there having a glass of Vino. And I like, okay, I feel like we finally, all the big garbage bags are loaded up.

They pick up garbage this morning. They did. It's a good feeling. We crossed a barrier with the house. Yeah. There's levels. I have like one more room. might have to finish organizing, but like all the living spaces are good to go.

It's a good feeling. Yeah, it is. I'm one of those people, I don't know if you're like this because you move so much. I move a lot too, but I have to get unpacked and settled immediately. Yeah, same here. I don't want any boxes. Same. I don't want stuff like not where it's supposed to be.

Yeah. It's got to be where it's supposed to be. Chaos doesn't work for me. Nope. So it's interesting. By and large, I root for young people. I've hired young people. I root for them.

And I think that's a general theme in America. we root for the next generation. We want young people to succeed, not just our own kids, but it's kind of cool to watch young, ambitious, driven, men and women flourish. There is an exception, though, when young people think they're smarter than everybody else in the room. That was Josh McDaniels. He got hired by the Denver Broncos.

And you're like, oh, Belichick lost his like, Wiz kid. But then he drafted Tim Tebow in the first round. and every scout I had said, Tebow's barely draftable. He's like a fifth round guy. So Josh McDaniels went against scouts, because Josh was suddenly on the smartest guy in the room.

Then people rooted against him. That's why people now are rooting against him when Brady leaves. It's Tom, not you. Watch out Kyle Shanahan. My scouts are all saying the same thing on Mac Jones. He's not what wins in the NFL. an unathletic quarterback with no second reaction skills at all. If the play breaks down, it's over.

Kyle Shanahan is not winning games. If he drafts Mack Jones, who half the scouts think is a third round talent, then you're like, all right, Kyle's not winning games, and he's really not a quarterback expert. Narratives flip very quickly in this league. Belichick's the greatest coach ever. How many people did you hear in the last year ago? Brady carried him.

I can't draft players. Bill's rigid. System over talent. Carson Wentz. Guys, unbelievable. Carson Wentz, lost. Bad locker room guy. Like, there is a clear and in arguable hole in Mac Jones's game.

He does not look like 2021 football. Justin Fields, Trey Lance, Zach Wilson, Trevor Lawrence. all do. They run around, they've got arms. When the play breaks down, they have second reaction skills, Mac Jones doesn't. So what you're saying, if you take him third, I'm the smartest guy in the room. Because scouts are like, look, there are my guys, there are some guys that think he's nowhere near a first round pick. And again, I think whoever the Niners draft will succeed at some level. But if, if Zach Wilson, Tray Lance and Justin Fields crush it somewhere and you're sitting there with unathletic guy as the league gets more

and more and more athletic at quarterback. I mean, Justin Fields last year had the lowest graded, not Justin Fields, Justin Herbert, lowest graded offensive line in the NFL broke every record. That is the NFL. Mack Jones would have been devoured last year with the Chargers. Now, maybe he goes to San Francisco, the good offensive line, and he, and he, and he wins. But right now,

Kyle Shanahan is 29 and 35. Okay. He's won more than six games one time in four years. Okay. So the narratives in this league flip very quickly. Belichick 20 years dominates, crushes

people. Ten games in were like, guy can't draft. Jurassic. The offense is brutal. Cam Newton? What? Just be. very careful because I, when you, when you look at Mac Jones, there's just a hole that even people who like Mac Jones are like, yeah, that, that's not great.

And I, and I just, I look at it and then all of a sudden, if Mac Jones, you draft him and he doesn't look great, now it's like you don't win, you really don't know quarterbacks, and you've blown two leads in Super Bowls. There are teams will just cross you off a list. They'll cross you off a list. Greg CoSell is now joining me. I love having Greg CoSel on. Is Greg phoning it or is he on via the Coward Global Satellite Network?

So, you know, this Mack Jones thing, I'm telling you, when I watched Justin Herbert last year and Kyler Murray the year before with those offensive lines, and I think to myself, I'm not saying Mac can't work if you gave him the Coltsill line, right? But I look at Mac Jones, Greg, and I have, he's never trained. in the second half of a game. Do you have doubts? Well, it gets to, I think, one of the central questions now in quarterback evaluation, which has incrementally changed over the years, Colin.

And that is now the value of second reaction movement ability, athletic ability. 10, 15 years ago, no one would have said that that was an essential trait. Now I think more and more coaches say that that's not just. a nice add-on that that's an essential trait. So if you believe it's an essential trait, then Mack Jones is not your guy because he's a below-average athlete. He's not going to make plays when it breaks down. Now, obviously people listening might say, hey, Tom Brady's had great success in this league relatively the same way. He did not make plays outside of structure. But then what you have to believe is that Mack Jones will reach a level.

where he'll be so good mentally as Tom Brady reached that level years ago, where he basically can win downs before the snap of the ball. Because if you don't have movement, you must win downs before the snap of the ball. Because if you don't, the defense is going to win on critical downs, and then you've got nothing to do. You know, listen, a lot of times Collegians' college traits follow him. Bradford got hurt in college. San Bradford struggled with health.

Sam Darnold, high risk, some bad throws playmaker in college. Right now we see a playmaker who makes some really bad throws. Justin Fields is interesting. I thought he was really spectacular, but he was inconsistent half to half in the games I watched him. Right. That leads me to believe he will at times be inconsistent in college. Does that usually play out? Well, I think what you're hoping, if you draft Justin Fields, who clearly has high-level traits,

but I think what you're hoping with Justin Fields is that he learns the game. And as he learns the game, he can use his great athletic ability to camouflage and compensate for some of the concerns that he has. Because right now you're dealing with a guy, and this is purely taped study, and again, none of us know exactly how he's coached. responding to what interpreting, based on my knowledge, the tape, is you're seeing a guy that's a little inconsistent on what he sees, that therefore plays a little deliberately at times, that doesn't seem to have a great feel for isolating what is there, or eliminating what's

not there, and isolating what is there. Think little nuances of the position that, ideally, he can learn over time as he gains more experience, because you're dealing with a kid who has high-level trades both throwing and running. But you don't know that. That becomes a projection. And then there's 10, 12 variables that factor in whether that happens. Is there anything about Trevor Lawrence that you don't like? Oh, for sure.

No one enters the league as a quarterback coming as a finished product. That's just not the way it works in the NFL. So, yeah, I think there's a couple of things. Number one, he's kind of a body thrower. He's not a snap throw. He throws with his body. So what happens when he gets pressure from the inside, interior pressure, which we've seen in the playoffs in each of the last two years,

he has a tendency to rush his mechanics. And that's when he becomes a little scattershot. And his ball placement loses it a little bit. And that's something you have to be aware of because he is going to get interior pressure in the National Football League. And he does tend to lose his accuracy a little bit. That's fair. Yeah.

I always comped him to Justin Herbert. Is Herbert a body thrower or an arm thrower? He's more of an arm thrower. Herbert's a more talented thrower than Trevor Lawrence. Just a more talented, natural thrower. He's an easier thrower with the football. Lordy. I love Justin Herbert.

You know, Justin Herbert likes me. Anyway. That's why you like him, huh? Exactly. Favor of the ones that like me. So it's a terrific. wide receiver class. You got Jamar Chase, who to me just looks the most athletic. He looks like a professional athlete playing college. There's Devonte Smith, who is explosive, but read thin, very thin.

And then there's a kid, Jalen Waddle, who I think is a little undervalued. When, like, when you look at those three, are there any that have a trait or two that you think guarantees success in the league? Like one or two things from one of these players you like, boy, that will work immediately. Well, they're different. I think Jaylen Waddle, to me, in the way in which he can be deployed in the NFL, is very much like Tyree Kill. You're dealing with a highly explosive athlete who has vertical ability. He has tremendous run-in for catch ability. You want to get him the ball on the move. You can use him on jet sweeps, orbiter versus wide receiver screen game. He fits today's NFL, Jalen Waddle. He's an explosive athlete. Jemar Chase, to me, I personally believe based on film study, he's the best wide receiver prospect overall in the class. He's got a type A personality. He's physical. He's competitive.

He's not big, but he's not small. He's put together well. He's just not overly tall. I think that he's another guy that fits well. He runs phenomenal slant routes. He gets off press just with physicality and competitiveness. He does have the ability, even though he's probably not a 435 guy, of getting vertical. He did that in college.

He reminded me when I watched him, the names that popped into my head watching his tape were Steve Smith, DeAndre Hopkins. I think he's a really good prospect. Devante Smith is fascinating. He's an outlier. He's 170 pounds. And there have not been six feet plus receivers at 170 pounds who have played well in this league. Now, he's a long, thin, silky, smooth, linear athlete. He's not a loose-hipped athlete.

He's more straight line. To me, you need to line him up off the ball. He needs to be what we call a Z receiver. The receiver, that is a movement receiver that's off the ball, so you can get him free access, get him cleanly into his routes so he can stride. He's a strider. To me, he's not an X.

The X lines up on the ball, and it's far more susceptible to being pressed and jammed. I don't think you want to put him in that, position very often. Finally, I kind of went crazy yesterday. I'm not into these pro days. Nor am I. Listen,

Carmel O'Anthony can be 50, and you can give him a basketball, and by himself, he could hit jumpers, he could hit 15 of 18 jumpers at 55 years old. Right. I watched the pro day, and I'm like, he's a pro prospect. Of course he can beat air. What do you make of pro days? Very little. I get the piece of the puzzle, but, you know, I don't, look, we didn't have a combine this year.

So everybody gets excited about the pro days. We're now leading up to the draft. You know, you see a quarterback make a throw and people act like no one's ever made that throw before in the history of Western civilization. I mean, I think it gets a little extreme. You know, it certainly seems like the 40-yard dash times have really jumped this year. So I don't know if that's a function of where they're running them, if they be higher at the combine. but I mean you're seeing some guys run 40s that are just ridiculous so I don't really know what to make of that I'm going to stick to watching tape and watching guys play football I am I don't watch as much tape as you or tape you know at all I watch games but I'm going to go with that

all right Greg CoSell 41 years NFL films great seeing you again thanks Colin I appreciate it I got a lot of pushback on that whole Zach Wilson thing I'm not anti Zach Wilson it's just these are These are pro athletes. This is what they do. Like we talked about this yesterday. I talk for a living. We talk. Right.

You could give me any subject. I could go 15 minutes. I stopped taking calls when literally on the easy topics. Eight seconds in, people are bobbling it. And I thought, well, they're not professional talkers. Correct. So I can walk up in front of a crowd and just talk all day. Well, that's what I do.

That's the minimum of what a talker, professional talkers. soccer does. These are pro athletes. Zach Wilson can roll right, throw left, roll left, throw right. And it looks really sweet. He's a pro athlete. That pro days are about comfort. I'm throwing to a college receiver, indoors, no defense, no pads, no helmet. My vision's perfect. The NFL is all about discomfort. But Greg's right. We didn't have a combine this year. Everybody goes crazy to the combine also. It's something. I don't think that it's everything, but it is something. You know, you are on the spotlight.

You have a bunch of people there watching you. Okay, let's do this then. You also have kind of a little bit of responsibility to the guys that you're throwing to because a lot of them are trying to get, you know, noticed as well. So there's a little bit of pressure. Okay, so let's do this. So here's the things that matter. Games.

Of course. Okay, so games is a big percentage. We'll put Pro Day in there. As Pro Day count as Combine. They got rid of the Combine, essentially, which I hate. Well, I mean, it's COVID. I'm sure they'll bring it back. Okay.

So let's put Combin. combine in there. And then interview. Yes, the interview. Okay, so very important. So I wonder like only matters to me with quarterback. I don't wonder like for everybody else I don't care. So I don't care about that.

I'll put that in the combine. So let's, so we say games, pro day, combine, interview. So what are the percentages that are fair to you? I mean, I would say games are 70%. Okay, 70%. That's Joy's rating. And then Uncle Colin will have one. Okay, what's your pro day?

Pro day is like 5%. Okay. What is your combine? This is for quarterbacks, right? Yeah, that's fine. Let's do quarterback. Combine, so what percentage are we at now? Math is not my thing.

75. 75. I would say, I mean, combine's probably 10%. Because you want to see what the presence is at the combine. Okay, so, and then you interview is 15%. Yes, the interview matters. I think that, you know, when you're scouting a quarterback, you're going to talk to a lot of people around him, guys that have worked with him,

his coaches, you're going to, you know, look into a lot of different things. But how he isn't, because interviews are hard to do. It's, you have to be really like an impressive. Okay, so here's Uncle Colin. Games are 80%, pro day's zero, combine is zero, and interviews 20. I think the pro day is zero. But I do think you have to go because your owner, you've got to cover your arse. And so if everybody else is there.

Well, so then you've got to make it some percentage. It's just one percent. Okay, so Pro Day is half of 1%. And Combine is half of 1%. So they're one. They both count for 1%. Yeah, but I think sometimes you have to do things for your billionaire boss. Of course.

And I do think the Combine, I do want to see you against other athletes. Here's why the Combine matters to me, because it's a big stage on television. Right. And I want to see if you gag a little. Exactly. And by the way, so you're- And are you alpha around the other guys in your group? Yeah.

And they talk about that. Guys watch for that. Scouts watch for that. Yeah, I want to see your chest puff a little around. Pro Day, it's with your college-wide receiver. So then you've got to increase the percentage on the combine a little bit. Okay, Combine is a full 1%. Okay.

And then Pro Day Zippo. So that's where I think it's games and interview. Like I can literally sniff out idiots fast. We do this for a living, right? And I was talking to somebody a very prominent sportscaster last night about this. about, you know, they're just, you can sniff people out fast. Like, you know, like somebody comes up and starts talking about Twitter to you. Like three seconds in, I'm just like, I'm not going to talk, talk to the hand, boom, I'm out.

Like you can figure. So in an interview, if I get nine minutes with you, 12 minutes with you, I can sense insecurity. I can sense anxiety. I can sense fear. I can sense cool. And yet still, guys nail their interviews or there's guys that aren't able to tell those things in interviews. I think the interview is very important. Very important.

So you gave it, what, 20%? 19. You did 15, so it's not like, we were pretty close. Yeah, but I gave the combine in Pro Day a little bit more. Yeah, a little bit more. Well, that's the rules now, guys. Gonzaga, USC tonight. Yep.

I am scared to death for this game. Did you put money on it? I bet USC. I'll probably put money on USC plus eight. That's that's the. side. There are no locks. They're just sides. That's a good side for me. Want more herd? The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the IHeart radio app. Search herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like.

What's up, everyone? It's me three-time NFL All-Pro Sean Marion. And I have a new sports podcast called The Lights Out Podcast with Sean Murray. This podcast is special to me as I get a chance to talk to some of the best who've ever done it on the field or the track. So whether it's talking to a Super Bowl champion or a NASCAR Cup Series champion, the Lights Out podcast will bring it to you the only way I know how to. I'm giving you the best insight from the best who's ever

done it. Listen to Lights Out with Sean Merriman on the IHeartRadio app, 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 which I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, This platform became bigger than I ever imagined.

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

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

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

and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but yeah, yeah, literally. But just so you all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line.

We also have AIDS on the table. right now. Thank you for finishing that sentence. Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years

for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience

in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking. Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it.

And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross. Because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth? Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different.

intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, is we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open your free Our Heart Radio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. Saturday, MLB is back as the Braves face Bryce Harper and the Phillies. Then the reigning champion Dodgers take on the Rockies. Coverage begins at 3 p.m. Eastern on FS1 and the Fox I am genuinely excited for baseball season. Genuinely excited. I think the Dodgers have a chance to be one of the most talented baseball teams.

I was talking to Bob Costas last night, who's an encyclopedic baseball guy. And I asked him about the Dodgers. I'm like, is there anything that compares? And he said the A's teams that had like McGuire and Konseko and Dave Stewart. But I mean, you're starting to look at this Dodger team. They added Trevor Bauer to a staff with Walker Bueller, David Price, Clayton Kershaw. I mean, it's a loaded staff, and they got power one through seven, one through eight. I am genuinely excited for this team.

And Dodger Stadium is so great. I love Dodger Stadium. Oh, God, it's so great. I miss the garlic fries. Oh, it's so, they've really figured it out. Like it's not cool. It's not hip. It is you walk into that thing and you, it's like Disneyland.

It's an experience. You walk into Disneyland and it feels. feels like the 70s in America. You're safe. It's fun. Everybody's happy. Now the diet Pepsi is $9. So you know it's not the 70s at Dodger Stadium or Disneyland.

But, oh, by the way, Jersey Mike's Month of Giving, 200 charities across the country. Go to the local store. Is it tomorrow that 100% of all their sales go to their charities? Jersey mics be a sub above. Joy Taylor with the news. No. No. Turn on the news.

This is the herd line news. The Bucks spent their offseason bringing back as many players from their Super Bowl team as they could. Antonio Brown is the only notable free agent yet to re-sign with the team. But Brazarians is still trying to make it work with AB. He said we're just going to take our time. There's offers out there. We'll see how it goes. Now, in general, there's probably not that many teams that are willing to take a risk on Antonio Brown at this point.

We know Russell Wilson's been very vocal about wanting him to join the Seahawks. and I believe that Tampa Bay is the best place for him. Now who knows? Maybe Antonio Brown has grown and changed. People change. But he has quite the reputation before getting to Tampa Bay. So, you know, people aren't not going to forget that. Your body of work does matter.

However, there are a few teams that have some solid cultures that could probably bring him in. I think that the Ravens would benefit from having Antonio Brown. They have a good culture. Need a receiver. a receiver. Well, the top, the bottom, sorry, the bottom five teams in receiving grade in 2020, according to pro football focus, were the Ravens, 28, and the Broncos, Washington, Jets, and Eagles. I don't think the Jets to the Eagles or the Broncos would be a good space for him.

Washington is kind of interesting. They've sort of stabilized things within that organization, Ron Rivera. But to me, I think that if it's not Seattle or Tampa Bay, that the Ravens would be a good landing spot for AB if they don't end up bringing it back. So Justin Fields is, showing off his skills at Ohio State's Pro Day today, and he is expected to be one of the top picks in the draft this year. And Ryan Day is confident that whichever team gets him will be very happy. I think, you know, someone's going to take a shot at him here early in the draft, and they're going to have a franchise quarterback for a long time. When you combine the talent, the size, the arm strength, his competitiveness, his toughness,

intelligence, I mean, it kind of checks all the boxes. And if you were trying to design a quarterback, you know, to me, you know, Justin fits that prototype. Justin is very interesting to me because I think he's falling victim to kind of the over-analization that happens around this time. Yeah. He was 7-1 in 2020. It's 70.2 completion percentage, 2,100 yards, 22 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, and 383 rushing

yards and 5 rushing touchdowns. He clocked a 4-44 in the 40-yard dash he ran earlier today. I mean, he is a playmaking athletic, accurate. quarterback. I think the Northwestern game heard him a lot, and maybe it's the Ohio State thing that's hurting him as well, but I just feel like he's being over-analyzed. I mean, throughout the

entire season, it was Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields. And now we're having like Mac Jones conversations, and obviously Tray Lance has been talked about a lot, but we have more body of work with Justin Fields. I think San Francisco is going to end up taking Justin Fields. Well, I think who I've said this,

Trevor Lawrence is going to work because he falls into that Cam, Andrew Luck, Mahomes, Josh Allen. He is just such a talent. After that, the only other quarterback I'm really confident in working is whoever San Francisco drafts, winning smart. Where you go matters. Oh, it's not, I swear to. Unless you're in Andrew Luck, talent, or in L.A.

Again, there's not many of those. Cam, like you're just literally physically, Cam's, first four years in the league. He was just bowling over linebackers. If you're not one of those guys, it really is all about where you land. What I think is interesting, though, is we know Trevor Lawrence is going to go one to Jacksonville. That's done. We're pretty much assuming Zach Wilson is going to the jets. Boom. So San Francisco is the question mark. If San Francisco takes Trey Lance, I think they are. That's my guess. Atlanta is probably not taking a quarterback. But it may not move out of that space. If they stay there,

And we know Cincinnati's not moving. So Atlanta is fascinating. Atlanta is the key. Because Justin Fields is from there, so there'll be local pressure to take him. But you'll have the fourth pick, and you do not want to not take Justin Fields. And Carolina takes him and in division the Georgia kid eats you for lunch for a decade. I think if Justin Fields falls to Miami, they will take him, though. Miami.

If Justin Fields falls to Miami, they might take him. Boy, Atlanta has a lot of control. I think they're the key to the draft. It's a weird... If Justin Fields were to fall to Miami, would that surprise you if they took him? I know they're saying they're all in on Tua, but they're saying they're all in on Tua, assuming that Justin Fields is not available at 6. By the way, Justin Fields, to me, is the opposite of Tua, which he's a bigger, super athlete.

Tua is a consistent, accurate thrower with time. Fields isn't quite. So, like, Fields is the opposite. So you bring him in, and you just watch as a staff, and you're like, you'd probably wreck Tua manly, but I don't know, well, of course you would, but if you feel that Justin Fields is more talented than Tua? Oh, God, yes.

Yeah, yeah. What do you do if he falls to you? I mean, they could trade back, I guess, if somebody wanted him. What would I do? I know what I would do. Yes, I would as well, but it's just, the key is Atlanta in this draft. Finally, the Yukon women earned their 13th straight trip to the final four

with a very close win over Baylor last night. This was a great game. Yeah, very close at the end. But it did end in controversy when Yukon was not called for a foul at the end of the games. We're showing it here. Baylor, St. Jenae, Carington, tried to put up a jumper with the seconds remaining. That's not a foul.

That's good defense. She did, there was definitely contact. But there was no call and the Huskies held on to win 69-67. Very close. I swallow the whistle there. I do too. Now, I agree that there was contact there. I mean, especially if you, I mean, if you slow it down and you have a screenshot of that

moments. You can clearly see them hitting her. But my thing is you can't rely on the refs in a moment like this. The play can't be drawn up to draw contacts and get a foul in this moment. Maybe it wasn't, but you can't expect the refs to make that foul.

And this game was so physical. The entire game, the rest were letting them play. Now, tell me if I'm out of line, no sport in America over the last 10 years has improved more in quality of athletes than women's basketball. When you watch a top women's basketball game, everybody

can use the left hand. Like, that game last night was like physical. Yes, it's insane. That's why I'm surprised that they relied on a call in that. Well, I mean, basketball in general as a culture is getting much more skilled. Everybody can shoot. Everybody, you know, if you're big or not, have to be able to shoot and handle the ball and pass.

Of women's basketball? It was a great game. Well, a big part of this game, though, also was D.D. Richards getting injured near the end of the third quarter. The bears were up nine, and then Yukon went in on a nine-two run, which cut the lead. that's how it played out. But LeBron felt like it was a foul.

He was watching. Tweeted, come on man, that was a foul. And Gino Ariema responded to LeBron on the no foul call and said, I probably doubt that in his career he's ever won a game and decided to give it back

because he looked at it and went that was a foul. So it is what it is. You want to go back and check every single call throughout the entire game and then add them up. You don't.

Yeah, you can't rely on the breaths in that spot. But it was a great game. And congrats to Yukon. And Arizona also beat Indiana in a close game, 66. Good to see the women's team at Indiana is good. Well, they beat Indiana, but yes. Boy, but they're still good.

Yes. Joy with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Hurd-Ly News. Indiana basketball fans, men's basketball, and Nebraska's fans, it's a tough time because they're having to acknowledge the job's not that great anymore. And it was for the 60s, the 70s, the 80s,

The 90. It's hard. Like Notre Dame went through that real interesting time where like, Notre Dame, are they just a seven-win team? Then Brian Kelly came in and now Notre Dame's the top six program. No question. They go toe-to-to-to-to-to-with Georgia. If you can go toe-to-to-to-with Georgia in Athens, you can play with anybody. So I am so nervous for tonight.

You know what? One of the things I like about being a sportscaster is I don't watch games and my gut hurts. Like when I was a fan, I mean, like, it's a different experience. It's a different experience. It's like, oh, you're just sweating it and yelling at the television and throwing shoes. I don't have that anymore. With few exceptions, Gonzaga, USC tonight for me will be. Well, those are your schools.

It's going to be really tough. You love USC. Well, I'm a Mark Few guy. I literally text him during timeouts. So I'm a Mark Few guy. But Andy Enfield works out where I work out. And I'm a fight on Trojan, right? Like I like USC's athletic department.

I know a lot of people there. Right. But I'm from Washington State. I went to eastern Washington next to Gonzaga. It's very conflicting experience for you. Tonight, regardless of who wins, I will have a pit in my stomach all night. And that's, can you imagine being a sports fan? And it's like that every night?

Yeah, I remember those days. And it's not, people are always like, who do you root for? And I'm like, well, I'm a professional. Like a baker doesn't have to root for a turnover. You can just make a cookie. You don't have to root for a cookie. People say, like, how do you watch sports? You don't root for people.

bakers don't root for peanut butter cookies. They're rooting for the quality of the produce. All I root for is good games. And good games give me good topics. And if a game's great, that means you watch longer, meaning when you turn in. Yeah, we root for no blowouts and no dud teams. Yeah, I mean, I watch Sunday, I sit with a notepad, watch the NFL. I don't have to have like, people are always confounded with that.

Well, who are your teams? I don't have any. I have guys I like LeBron to have success because I'm tired of everybody hating on him. And Brady, I think, is fascinating. But I don't root for teams. I really don't. But tonight is one of those three nights a year that I'm literally going to be just not at all enjoying it. Well, I'm going to put, you know, $2.

Did I tell you what I used to do when I got to Vegas? I learned a trick. No. You know how people buy insurance? So what I would always do when I moved to Vegas out of college, I would bet against my favorite team. So if I lost, I won money. Because what I found is when I bought. bet on my teams and the team lost I was miserable and I lost money.

I was doubly miserable and it ruined my weekend. Yeah. So I thought, I'm going to bet a Hyundai. I was broke. I'm going to bet a Hyundai against my team. And if my team loses, I'm pissed, but I won money. And at that time, $100 was Powerball. So I never had a bad weekend.

It's very smart. Boom. That's why you're in that seat. All the brains. This thing doesn't go off. It doesn't even shut off. Oh, by the way, we talked about, uh, uh, who I would start an NBA franchise with,

and I'll give you my five and why I would give you my five. That's coming up next. 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. What's up, everyone? It's me three-time NFL All-Pro Sean Mariner. And I have a new sports podcast called The Lights Out Podcast with Sean Mariner.

This podcast is special to me as I get a chance to talk to some of the best who've ever done it on the field or the track. So whether it's talking to a podcast, Super Bowl champion or a NASCAR Cup Series champion. The Lights Out podcast will bring it to you the only way I know how to. I'm giving you the best insight from the best who's ever done it. Listen

to Lights Out with Sean Merriman on the IHeart Radio app 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

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

I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack.

I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table. right now. Thank you for finishing that sentence. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really?

Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field. and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking. Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark.

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

Because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth? Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different. intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines is we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. Boucherbox, improve your diet and your protein, high quality meat.

Deliver to your door. Free ground beef in every box for the life of your membership you join today. Butcherbox.com slash H.E.R.D. Gunzag. is the number one points per team, points per game team in the tournament tonight. Offense. USC is the number two defense. In my life, when a great defense faces a great offense, the defense usually prevails. We saw Tampa Bay's defense against Patrick Mahomes. We've seen a lot of great offenses in college football.

They meet Alabama's defense, and they fall apart. If you go look at great defenses, remember that Peyton Manning Denver Bronco offense met the Legion of Boom in Seattle? It was over. great defenses, shut down great offenses, because what they do is they make them uncomfortable. And so Gonzaga is the best offense in the tournament easily. But I've seen Faislamma Jamma, the St. John's team that had four NBA guys in the mid-80s, not won a tournament because they were disrupted by a great defense. And that's what I worry about tonight for Gonzaga is, it's, listen, very few teams,

The only competitive game Gonzaga has played in three months is West Virginia. Why? Because they play defense. West Virginia, Bob Huggins, plays defense. So USC is the second best defensive team left. Baylor plays good defense. So this is not an easy route for Gonzaga tonight. They're favored, but I would take the points in the Trojans.

I think it's a very close basketball game. And I think it's USC's got no pressure, house money at this point. It's a little nervous tonight. It's weird. because I don't get nervous for sporting events anymore. It's funny. Years ago, Tom Brady met Russell Wilson in a Super Bowl. And I worked at the other place.

And people were like, oh, you're rooting for it. And I'm like, I'm happy either way. I lived in Connecticut. I loved the Patriots. And then I grew up in Seattle and I couldn't be happier. But even though I grew up in Seattle, I was across the country. I was into the Patriots. And I was like, it doesn't matter.

I'll be happy either way. And then it came down to the last play. And it was like, everybody else was throwing up. And I was like, yeah, it ends how it ends. I'm fine with it. So I'm not necessarily loyal to the teams I grew up with. I like to see them do well, but I do get into moments like I want to see LeBron win because I'm so tired of people banging on him and I didn't grow up in Akron, Ohio.

So you're nervous tonight, but there's not a team you want to win more than the other. Well, I think I would like to see Mark Few win a chance. I don't think USC is a national championship teams. I think Gonzaga is. But I think they're the teams that have, you know, I said this a couple days ago. We all think offense wins in this tournament. No, it doesn't. If you look at the history of this tournament, the best offense is still around,

but the two best defenses are also still around. Defense wins because these games get close. The favorites get nervous. They get tight. It's a four-point game with three and a half to go. Who makes the stop? Now, Gonzaga played very good defense against Creighton, so they can defend. They're not a great defensive team, but they can defend.

So I think Gonzaga is going to win really close. By the way, I said earlier today I was talking. talking with Chris Broussard, I said if there were five people I could start my franchise with over the next five years. I'm not going to project 10 years, but give me five years, because there's a lot of talented people. There's not a lot of valuable players. There's a lot of great players, but they're old. They're injured. Like I like a Joe L. M. B and KD. But I can't trust AD or KD. They're always hurt. So they wouldn't be in my five. My five would be, here we go. Number five would be Jimmy Butler. He's 31. By the way,

it's pretty simple. He's the third best defensive player in the league behind Rudy Gobert and LeBron. He does it on both ends. He's a culture changer. He got a Miami team with a bunch of kids to the finals last year. Like that's impressive. He got them to play defense and it's not a roster with a ton of great defensive players. He's having a career year in rebounds, assists, field goal percentage. I was out on him for a long time. I thought he was a little bit of a malcontent and a flake and it's like he went to Miami. All he needed was structured. It's like I say about OBJ. Odell Beckham.

He was fine at LSU and the Giants when they had Coughlin. But OBJ needs structure. And Jimmy Butler got structure. He's great. He's number five. Number four. LeBron's my only old guy at 36. But again, when he comes back, if you look at LeBron, it's very simple.

The Lakers are plus 281 when he's on the floor this year and minus 61 when he's off it. So they're basically not a playoff team without him and the best team with him. So he's still the most dominant player in the league. And again, if he's healthy when the playoffs start, who's favored? The Lakers, because of LeBron. Number three. Nicola Yokic, 26-year-old, Denver Center. First of all, dude's getting better.

Career high in points, career high in assists, career high in rebounds. It's the only guy in the league going 25, 10, and 8. He's just, he's the best passing big guy. He can shoot threes. He can pay. Like, Yonis can't shoot. Yonis doesn't pass like this. You can say what you want about.

honest, this guy offensively is a machine. He does everything. He reminds me he is what Arvetus Sabonis would have been if he had come to the NBA at 24 years old. Instead, we got old Arvetus. Yokic is fantastic. Number two. Probably Luca Donzich. He's 22 years old. By the way, his field goal percentage keeps going up. Doesn't play a lick of defense. And who knows the field ever sell merchandise. But in terms of just dude hits three, he hit two, I've said this before. Barring an injury, he'll be a top three score in league history. I mean, he's 22 years old. If he plays to 38 years old, just do the numbers. He will rival Kareem most points in NBA history.

He is an offensive machine can shoot from anywhere. Number one. Number one. It's Zion. Because as an owner, I get the merchandising. As a GM, I get the efficiency. As a coach, I get the relatability and likability. 24 straight games with 20 plus points

longest streak in NBA history for any player under 21. He's only 20 years old. 24 straight games with 20 plus points shooting over 50%. He's the most efficient player in the league. He also in the last month is shooting the most free throws. So he is literally getting your best players in foul trouble, which Luca doesn't do. I mean, he is efficient, he is dominant.

He gets to the free throw line. he gets you into foul trouble. He is going to sell a ton of merchandise. He's a totally transformational marketing player. The smile, the game, the strength, the volume, he's everything. Those are my guys. Nothing against Janus, but Yokic is a better overall. In an offensive league, Yokic is a better offensive player.

That's why I got him now. There's my guys right there. Yeah, people are going to be mad about Yonis. Hey, win a third straight playoff series in the East. I'm with you. Denver got to the Western Conference finals. Yokic. And Yokic is younger and getting better and better offensively.

All right, hour three. Big pro day today. Guys tearing it up at pro day. Throwing spirals. Third. 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, reader Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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

Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. On the Look Back at it podcast. From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 was big to me. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. with our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors.

Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. It was a wild year. It was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win.

I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me. Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfilled conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it.

Listen to The Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. This is an IHeart podcast, guaranteed human.