The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 03/31/2021 - Best of The Herd

Episode Date: March 31, 2021

Colin discusses Pro Day’s for NFL prospects preparing for the draft and why you shouldn’t overreact to what we’re seeing. He reacts to the NFL expanding the regular season to 17 games and how they continue to dominate the competition around the sports landscape. He also tries to figure out how UCLA went from barely qualifying for the NCAA tournament to a Final Four appearance. Plus, NBA Champion and analyst Antonio Daniels joins the show to call Colin out for trying to get Zion out of New Orleans already. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth.

Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifers Show. This is a place for raw, unfilled conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard,

but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to the Clifford show on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok's podcast network on TikTok. On the Look Back at it podcast. From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84's big to me. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English.

Each episode, we pick a 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 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 Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Heard. This is the best of the herd with Colin Cowher on Fox Sports Radio.

Ah, here we go on a Wednesday. Live in Los Angeles, it's the herd, wherever you may be, and however you may be listening. Iheart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, FS1. We're brought to you by Jersey, Mike Subs, B-A-Sub above. I'm off tomorrow and Friday, so nothing but energy today. I am bringing the A-game today. Joy Taylor is joining me.

Joy, Jersey Mike's update, feel good about that. A lot of stuff. I mean, there's actually a ton of stuff. Some college basketball, more tension in Green Bay, 17-game schedule. We've got a lot today, actually. Congrats to UCLA. Some by Los Angeles these days. It really is.

It feels like they're just being pulled in by the L.A. sports success. Everybody's winning in Los Angeles. I want to start with this, though. I'm not against new. Okay. I consider myself somebody. I'm curious. I like to adapt and evolve on stuff, but not everything new is better. In fact, most new stuff is junk. It really is. Most new stuff is junk. I mean, all the apps they're bringing out now, they're not making our life better. They're just goofy. They're time wasters, which most of social media, we all live without TikTok. We can live without it. It's fun. It's cute. But, you know, let's be honest about it. Google the search engine's really what we all need. And I was seeing here yesterday, Justin Fields had a pro day. And according to one scout who texted Matt Miller, that was the best quarterback pro day I've seen in a long time.

I'm thinking, Zach Wilson's like old news now, 48 hours later? Yeah, Zach Wilson's a typewriter today. He's a rotary phone. Two days ago, Zach Wilson was amazing. But the new hottest latest is Justin Fields. Apparently, he's very fast. Like, I wouldn't know that. This is the addiction to new.

We love new. Anybody notice the least talked about Pro Day so far? It's Trevor Lawrence, easily the best prospect. Anybody remember anything about Andrew Luxe Pro Day? I loved him. I don't. These are five headlines I dug up this morning. These are real headlines.

This is not The Onion. Jamarcus Russell puts on impressive show for scouts. Johnny Mansells at Pro Day. Paxton Lynch flashes arm strength at a windy Pro Day. Experts heat praise on Duane Haskins. Blake Bortle shines at Pro Day. Three are a bust. One looks like a bust, and the other one's not a bust, but not very good.

I understand. New and unproven. more interesting. Easier to root for the underdog not the favorite. The unknown is more intriguing. But Phil Jackson won one coach of the year, same as Sam Mitchell. LeBron's got four MVP's that's it. I mean, come on.

I understand new and shiny and lit. Zach Wilson's Pro Day 2 days ago was the, I mean, swear to God, it was TikTok. And now it's like, oh, Justin Fields. It's like Hollywood red carpet. You see the red carpet for shows, and the cameras just go to all the new, beautiful young people. And then Meryl Streep, who's been the best actor in Hollywood for about 40 years, walks by behind them. Nobody asks a question. Like, Meryl Streep is really the greatest actor of our time.

But hey, there's a 17-year-old who is tearing it up on Instagram. Nobody cares. I understand wealth and success is boring. We don't write articles anymore about Walmart and Microsoft, two of the four biggest countries in the world. And I understand that Trevor Lawrence for three years has been so good that it's all we talk about. But never forget that he is closer to a prodigy. It doesn't matter where he lands. It didn't matter where Andrew Luck landed.

He landed in the worst possible place and still got to an AFC championship. Andrew Luck got to an AFC championship. GM incompetent, coach got fired, O-line worst in the league, awful roster. That's Trevor Lawrence. The other four quarterbacks are just prospects. Where they land will overwhelmingly determine if they succeed or fail. They're going to need the right O line, the right system, a smart young coach, a non-meddling owner who's supportive,

and an organization that has a plan and rarely steps into chaos. The other four are just prospects. and where they land is going to determine how successful they are. They're not good enough. Justin Fields is not good enough. Zach Wilson's not good enough to overcome a lousy offensive line and a horrible coach. Andrew Luck was, Trevor Lawrence was. And he's the least talked about pro day.

Okay? I wish all these guys success. And I understand that Walmart and Microsoft are boring. I get it. And I understand new is easier to root for. But it's just absurd. Like every other day, it's the greatest thing you've ever seen. It's absurd.

All right. Get to college basketball in a second. NFL owners approved a 17 game schedule. And listen, the players, it's an extra game for a running back to hit a yards bonus or a wide receiver to hit a catch touchdown bonus. Players share of revenues going up. You know, more is the name of the game in sports. But here's the one thing about the NFL.

that and Roger Goodell for years took criticism because, again, they're harder to root for from the media because the NFL doesn't need the media very much. And the media likes to be important and likes to be loved and likes to be necessary. And the NFL doesn't really need you. And so there's always these shots at Goodell. He's a great commissioner. He's a great commissioner. And a couple missteps.

Of course. You don't think CEOs have bad weeks if you run a company for 15 years. But the NFL has been stealing real estate from all these other leagues for years. They move free agency. They move the draft into prime time. They started Thursday night games. They moved some more London games for early Sunday windows. And now they've added an extra game.

The NBA is obsessed with making sure all their players are happy. Baseball, obsessed with tradition. The NFL is like, what's a better television show? what creates more revenue, and how can we give our fans more of what they love? Us. It's that simple. The NFL sees openings and attacks them.

It's all real estate. And now they own 11 months of it. College football can't even figure out how to own Labor Day. Think about this. Labor Day is wide open. Three days before the NFL season starts. It is your last weekend to own. And college football has that puppy for a decade.

and they butcher it every year. I would have 20 football games on Labor Day. I would try to steal a little 5% of the NFL's thunder. You want to know the Labor Day college football games this year? On Sunday, one, Notre Dame at Florida State, on Monday, one, Mississippi, Oleville. You've got to be kidding me. If the NFL guys Goodell ran college football, they would have their biggest programs, their biggest stars, their biggest brands on Labor Day.

You're wide open. But by the next weekend, guys like me have to make decisions on college and pro football. I can't tell my wife, I get Saturday and Sunday in front of the television. I have to make decisions. Okay, I'll watch one college game and NFL. That's the decision married guys have to make. And so the NFL is just smart and they're tactical. You know, they slowly allow Amazon.

You get Thursdays now. But we'll still give our big games to the broadcast networks. Cable will give you a couple. The NBA, basically, and everybody loves Adam Silver, sold all their games to cable. All of them. Codd cutting, cable losing audience. The NFL is smart and tactical. They're not burdened by, you know, the past.

They're not burdened by our players. We got to make, their players make a lot of money. Players love the NFL. They work with the NFL. their players. They don't bend over backwards for every player or every issue. It's how you run a business. It's grown-ups. Listen, if I was a running back, I probably wouldn't want to play a 17th game, but I'm going to go to my agent, build an incentives. So if I do play that 17th game, I'm going to hit my bonuses and make more money. In the end, players' revenue share goes up,

hit more incentives and bonuses. You know, people freak out about, oh, there's just two much of it. You've got to have let... Listen, we live in a time of more. More games, more franchises, more sports networks, more shows. That's the reality of what we live in right now. 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 Marion. And I have a new sports podcast called The Lights Out Podcast with Sean. Sean Murrayman.

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 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 what I'll say. Yep, that's me. Cliver Taylor the fourth. 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 Jay. 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's 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 So Thank you finishing that sentence And 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 podcast Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games.

And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses.

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

as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free, our heart radio app. Search learn the hard way and listen now. How in the world did I think Gonzaga would be threatened by USC? And number two, how the hell did UCLA get here?

Let's start with the Zags. Their offense doesn't even look like any other offense in the tournament. Their offense has no identifiable weaknesses. They can score with two bigs both will play in the pros. One this year will be a lottery pick. They really have two clever point guards so you can't press them. they're a brilliant passing team, almost never take a bad shot, rarely pick up the dribble, they're well-coached with a solid bench.

They can score quickly, but they're also patient. They play fast, but are never seemingly out of control. I've never seen a college basketball team, and they're not the most talented. Akeem and Drexler and Larry Mushu for Fye Slamma-Jama were more vertical. But I've never seen a college offense. that looked like it was scrimmaging. It's like a pickup game. It just moves so effortlessly.

And they didn't even play great last night. They missed over 10 layups. And Corey Kispert, their number two player, was kind of off. USC multiple times, well coached, changed defenses. Zone, man, zone, man, trap had no effect. Had absolutely no effect. It's not the most talented offense I've seen, but it's the smoothest.

It's the most well-balanced. It may be the best passing college team. I covered Jerry Tarkhanian's Larry Johnson, Stacey Ogman teams. Those teams were talented, but if Greg Anthony got in foul trouble, the offense stalled. This offense is deep, smooth, well-coached, fast, plays with tempo, can slow it down, big score, guard score, bench scores. There's nothing else like it. USC had handcuffed everybody. They handcuffed Kansas, Oregon, good teams.

This thing was over in six minutes. Now let's talk about UCLA. I don't understand UCLA. They were bad at the end of the year. They lost their last four regular season games. This is the only team in the history of the tournament that's been outshot in four straight games and they're in the final four. They don't shoot particularly well.

They have one player, Johnny Juzang, one player scores a majority of their points. Their best two players this year, this was going to be a disastrous year. Their best two players aren't here. They had a freshman guard. He went to the G League. And then their best big and their best scoring big got hurt. This is a rebuilding year.

This is a retooling year. Their last four games to get into the tournament, like people didn't think they would get into the tournament. They were a playing team. And I pick Michigan State to beat him because I live in Los Angeles and watch them. And maybe it's just a Los Angeles thing. Like everybody now is magically winning the Clippers and the Lakers and the Dodgers. Everybody's winning here. But they are, it is hard to figure out.

You know what's funny is that it's interesting. Mick Cronin was not the first choice for UCLA. And nobody liked the hire. And Pete Carroll got hired at USC and nobody loved that hire. Go back and read the LA Times on the archives. It's interesting how often the coach that's not as appealing, doesn't have the sex appeal. Remember, John Calipari was up for this gig. Where's John Calipari?

Couldn't make the tournament. And Mick Cronin, in a better conference, not only made the tournament, this team, the best asset I can say about UCLA, they play really hard. They play really, really hard. But it's interesting. This was not the coach that people. people want it. And he may just be perfect. UCLA has something that often a flashy program doesn't have. They have grit. They're tough. They play hard. They play like an underdog. They play like a mid-major. And it is just absolutely fascinating to watch. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays

in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. What's up everyone? It's me three-time NFL All-Pro Sean Merrim. And I have a new sports podcast. called The Lights Out Podcast with Sean Murrayman. 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, 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, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined.

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

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

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

Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day But just so y'all know I mean at this point

Mark this is the second episode where we've discussed crack So I'm starting to see that there's a through line We also have AIDS on the table right now So Thank you finishing that sentence I don't think there's a more important year for black people Really?

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

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

or are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose

on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free, our heart radio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. Fox Bet now has the Niners as the favorite. The betting market has changed. In Vegas, Fox Bet, Justin Fields now goes to the Niners. So I follow the betting markets.

When the betting markets change, it's a pretty good idea. They're not building more casinos because they're wrong more than they're right. So I said to myself, okay, so every time new information comes out, let's just do a new top 10 mock draft. It's fun. We can all play along. So you're ready to go? Let's do it.

Number one. All right. So this is the easiest pick on the board. There's only two easy picks on the board. This is one. Jags get Trevor Lawrence. First of all, he fits geographically. Urban Meyer has a history of working with young quarterbacks.

His whole career was Tebow and Alex Smith. He is the prodigy, if there is such a thing in football. Yesterday they were talking about, I was reading a website, talking about the pros and cons. and the pros were just about everything. The cons are occasionally struggles with accuracy, but that's mostly when he plays like, you know, Ohio State's front or LSU's front. Number two.

All right, second easiest pick. It looks like the Jets like Zach Wilson. You know, listen, if you take a quarterback one and two, one of them doesn't work, he's got Robert Sala. Is it going to work? I don't know. I think he's a little slender, didn't beat the best competition. but this is the pick. Everybody likes him. He's got a nice arm. So Zach Wilson goes to the Jets.

49ers now. The betting markets have moved to Justin Fields. Very, very highly coveted prospect. He and Trevor Lawrence for the last three years have been the guys. They've been camps together. He's from Georgia. Now, I thought Atlanta would be have a hard time passing on him, but it's really interesting how I thought this morning. So, at least I think so. So Justin Fields goes to the Niners three. and I'm going to tell you something. I'm going to go, I don't think Atlanta needs a quarterback, but I'm going to go Atlanta drafting Trey Lance 4, and here's why. Trey Lance, like Josh Allen, smaller school, really could use the right staff,

the right coach, and a year to learn. I think Atlanta now looks at him and thinks this kid's great. We know whoever we draft is not going to play in year one. If you draft Justin Fields and Matt Ryan as a two-guyen, game losing streak and Justin Fields is from Georgia, fans are going to want to see Justin Fields. They're going to want to see Zach Wilson. But fans haven't seen Trey Lance play. He is a prospect.

And so you can put Trey Lance on the burner for two years under Arthur Smith. And by the middle of the second year, you've played him in exhibition games. The fans are patient. Matt Ryan's still good. So I think Trey Lance now, that feels right to me goes four to Atlanta. Number five is Cincinnati. They don't take big risks. There's two great offensive tackles.

I'm going to go. They draft the Big Ten tackle. It's in their geographical footprint. It's a very conservative organization. They already have a very good left tackle. They're going to go get Northwesterns Rashon Slater, who can go interior or on the tackle. Match that very well against Chase Young.

And again, it plays well to their Midwestern conservative base. He's a Big Ten player. He could be left tackle, but many people think he's more dominant on the interior and to protect Joe Burrell, who's already hurt. I think it's a solid pick. Number six, what has Miami been doing in the offseason? Getting players to help, Tua. They get Kyle Pitts. Number six, you can line him up anywhere.

It gives coaches great flexibility. Devonte Parker, they added Will Fuller. Many people think they're going to build O-line and go for running backs. So this is a best friend for a young quarterback is a lively athletic tight end. Go ask Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelsey. Carson Wentz and Zach Ertz. Quarterbacks that are young learning the game love to rely on a 75 to 85 to 85 catch tight end Kyle Pitts to Miami.

Detroit 7 needs a lot of defense, but they lost Kenny Gulladay. I think they have to give Jared Gough a weapon and they get Jamar Chase, who I think the most NFL ready wide receiver. That's what my scouts think. He looks like a pro. He acts like a pro. He's at Alpha. He'll demand the ball.

But you can't bring Jared Gough over. Lose Kenny Galday with a weak offensive line. You're going to look so ridiculous as an organization if Jared Gough is struggling and Matt Stafford is flourishing. You're going to get crushed by the Michigan media. You got to get him some weapon. So Gough is at least semi-comfortable. Jamar Chase to the Lions.

Somebody always drops that's gifted. Penae Soule goes to Carolina. I don't think Matt Rule's going to fall in love with Mack Jones. They'll play Teddy Bridgewater or get Sam Darnold. This is the best player who drops. Listen, whoever they have at quarterback, this is a 10 to 15 year left tackle. We see this every year in the draft. There's a great player, and because of needs, he drops four or five spots.

I'm going to guess Penae Soule. Again, last year they went heavy defense. Carolina is going to go offense. I still think they make a move and get Sam Darnold. Number nine, Denver's the toughest pick for me. They've got a million needs on defense. In free agency, they went and got Kyle Fuller a corner. They could go get another corner.

But I'm going to guess here that they're going to go with Micah Parsons, who is easily the best linebacker, super fast, best Big Ten linebacker, best linebacker in America. They are a bad defensive team, and they have a defensive coordinator running the organization. And last year they went big into receivers and big into offense. And all they've done is care about offense. And Vic Van Gio's like, I got a couple of pass rushers and nobody else. So they went and addressed cornering Kyle Fuller.

They go get a, he'll start day one for Denver at linebacker. And number 10, Dallas, this is kind of easy. They get one of the two corners. How about Patrick Certain? Big Brand Alabama to Big Brand the Cowboys. I think this is an easy one. This is a third easiest pick. They got to put some money on the defensive side.

They have one young corner they really like. And then it's a lot of guys. They pay a lot and aren't very productive. So that's my mock draft. I think the first, the second, and the 10th pick feel like the easiest one. The herd brought to you by Jersey, Mike Subs, be a sub above. Of course, I love the draft. A lot of its speculation.

Some of its needs, some of it. Like I think Cincinnati has to get an offensive lineman. Joe Burroughs the franchise. You could go get Kyle Pitts. shouldn't shock me, but Joe Burrow gets hurt one more time. It changes the trajectory of Joe Burroughs career. Kyle Pitts to me is the best athlete in the draft. He's a tight end. And again, I grew up in an era when tight ends mostly blocked. And then you saw Nazi Newsom, then you saw Kellan Winslow, and then it was like game on. Vernon Davis was the last tight end that went to a combine,

and I thought, oh, actually the best athlete is a tight end. And increasingly, we're seeing these 6-5 and 6-6-6 athletes, they're too skilled to put on defense. They may be a little big to put it receiver, but they're taking over the game. One 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.

So this KD Michael Rappaport thing is KD had to apologize. Everybody's always apologizing to KD because they heard his feeling. but he had to apologize for some foul, gross, vile, direct messages. He sent to actor Michael Rappaport. It went from just kind of busting each other up, which you do too ugly. I don't know the rules of the Internet. I thought when people direct message you, you never take it public. I thought that was private, but you can and people do.

And you've got to know, be careful about what you text and what you do on DMs. It goes public. I've always had this theory. Whenever guys act tough, you know, there's a good. guy that in there's 30 and 4 act tough, you're hiding something. You're hiding your anger, your resentment, your insecurity. KD can often be tough guy. But what you find is he's very insecure. Everybody's always having to apologize. A newspaper once called a Mr. Unreliable, they had to apologize because his feelings were hurt. Steve Kerr last week essentially had to

apologize because of something he said on a podcast that could offend KD. I mean, KD is brittle physically and sometimes brittle emotionally. Remember when he was a free agent and everybody knew he was going to leave and people kept asking about him? He got upset about that. Y'all come here every day. Ask me about free agency. I ask my teammates, my coaches.

You rile up the fans about it. Let us play basketball. That's all I'm saying. And now when I don't want to talk to y'all, it's a problem with me. Come on, man. Grow up. Grow up. Maybe KD needs to.

Instead of confronting his issues with Russell Westbrook and the coaches, he just bolted. Instead of confronting Draymond Green and his issues with Steve Kerr, he just bolted. Maybe K. Need needs to grow up. Men confront their problems. Kids don't. They run.

The reality is here, everybody's always walking on eggshells around KD. Don't offend KD. Don't get mad at KD. when I see those missives and those angry vile shoutouts or whatever you want to call him on DM, I see a guy that's his exterior is hiding the interior, which is deeply insecure. He's great basketball player. Nobody would deny that. He's absolutely unreliable.

Amazing. Excuse me. But I want to talk about unreliable about five years ago. And I see this all the time. I am obviously very critical of certain quarterbacks. Baker Mayfield, I was very critical of. Let's just use Baker. Johnny Mansell is another.

And I said, there's a difference between being talented, and I'm going to build the franchise around you. Like, I can build a franchise around Russell Wilson or Tom Brady. Those personalities, Matt Ryan, I can build a franchise around those personalities. But again, a lot of people in broadcasting are talented. I'm not building my company around them. like immature. They get into trouble. They say dumb stuff. They do dumb stuff. They're inappropriate. And when anybody years ago would say Katie's better than LeBron, I'm like, God, you're just

seeing a tiny part of building around. LeBron 20 years has been the face of the league. He carries the ratings. He carries the brand. LeBron doesn't play the ratings going to the tank last week. He carries the entire league. And in 20 years, and LeBron had no. easy life growing up. In 20 years, LeBron's had one, their word not mine misstep, the decision. Yeah, he gave a million dollars to a boys and girls club. Oh, shudder, the shame of it. But a lot of people, including the commissioner, thought it was kind of cruel and mean to Cleveland. Whatevs. That's the knock on LeBron. Can you imagine, and LeBron had a hard childhood. 20 years.

I mean, Justin Bieber unraveled after about seven. Music stars, actors unraveled after about four months in the headlines. LeBron has been front and center of this league carrying it for two decades. No missteps. Now, you may not like his politics, but that's not a misstep. That's just how he believes and how he feels. But it's I've said this. It's remarkable.

I mean, this was a kid who grew up LeBron with chaos in his life. Didn't know where he's going to live. Basically had a surrogate father of coach. No missteps. I don't know Kevin Durant's background. I'm sure he had some wonderful people in it. But Kevin Durant struggled a year into Golden State. He struggled in Oklahoma City.

Struggling now, he's obviously got some anger stuff in Brooklyn. So it's not that Kevin's not a great talent. I could never build around him. I said this before. I said this this week. I had four or five guys I could build my franchise around. I could build it around Steph. Mature, great, gets banged up a little, but I know he's selfless.

I could build it around LeBron. Increasingly, I could build it around Jimmy Butler. I think the guy Yokic in Denver is rock solid. But that's, whenever I criticize quarterbacks, I'm not picking on them. Baker's talented. Do I want to put my $5 billion franchise in his hands? Russell Wilson, Tom Brady, Andrew Luck, they're just built for it. I trust them.

And LeBron has been the emotional and physical rock of the league for 18 years. You can just rely on him. You can make him play a game back to back, put him on TV, go to the bubble. What was the only team in the bubble? The only veteran-laden team that played well, LeBron's team. Kauai Leonard, Paul George, Janice, other veteran teams, Simmons, M.B., all the other teams with veterans, LeBron's team flourished. Why?

Because LeBron had a meeting about eight games in and said, fellas, it stinks. We miss our wives. We miss our kids. But we're in this thing. We're in a pandemic. Let's rule. Let's take this thing over. And they did.

And it's just one of the, oh, you're such a LeBron Homer. it's the burden of having to carry a franchise. The burden of, yeah, Bill Gates has made a lot of money, but he has been the face of Microsoft for 45 years. So when idiots pick on him on Twitter, I'm like, do you understand, 45 years, Bill Gates hasn't had a misstep? Elon Musk tries to go a weekend without one. So it's like the rock of the NBA is LeBron.

And when you compare him in Durant, Durant's not, you can't trust Durant physically. and increasingly on an emotional level, you get this awful stuff. I don't think Kevin's a bad guy. I don't. I really don't. I don't think it's a bad guy. I think he's dealing with stuff personally that, you know, therapy could help.

Social circle could help. Whatever. I don't think he's a bad guy. I think good people say dumb stuff on social media. I think it happened. I've done it. Like, we all have a temper. Somebody pokes us.

You know, we get all riled up. I don't think Katie's a bad dude. And I think he's a remarkable player. But the difference with LeBron and Durant is emotionally and physically, when I saw this story break, the first thing I thought of was LeBron. Like, LeBron would never put himself in this. Would never get involved in this stuff. LeBron pull back, stay out of it. You know, and I'm not taking sides.

Michael Rappaport, it was a DM. I'm not a big fan of taking DMs public. I don't think that's a, some people don't like that. I don't know. What's the rule on that? I mean, I don't know that there's a rule on it, but in general, like, we all know everything that you texts or say on the phone can be screenshotsed. So it's okay. I always thought DMs were private. I wouldn't say it's okay.

Okay. If I know somebody screenshots stuff, I generally don't say much too. Screenshot being you DM me, I take a shot of it. I take a picture of it, yeah. All right. The lexicon is very confusing to me. It's all out. It's all new. I don't know that there's rules. I've told my wife, be careful what you text. In the next 10 years, all our texts will be public. I believe in the next 10 years, all our texts will be public.

Somebody will find your text and put them out there. So my texts are all day, love you, world's great, no enemies, what's for dinner, I like chicken parm. Even my texts are vague now. One 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. And a couple days ago, I suggested that Zion's made so much money in endorsement.

He's so likable, so dynamic as a kid, that he's not going to need to necessarily resign with the first team that drafted him. Now, every player always has because it's the max money. You can make tens of millions of dollars. When I suggested with his injury history, he may just want to go move to a winning team, be a piece, make his money with shoes. Antonio Daniels, a broadcaster for the team, not in love with that comment now joins me live. I don't know. I thought it was a reasonable comment. You did not.

You did not think it was reasonable. Why? Well, here's my question. Why are we even talking about a young man that is yet to play 70 games going to play elsewhere? First and foremost, because he's playing in New Orleans.

That's why we're talking about this. If he was playing somewhere else, if he is playing in L.A. or if he is playing in New York, we would not be having this conversation. And when we talk about him in the future going to play, somewhere else, what we are forgetting is what David Griffin and Trace and Langdon have put together

here now as far as the future is concerned. I'll tell you this, Colin. I just had a one-on-one with Zion about 20 minutes ago. And one of the things he said was the same thing that Lonzo Ball said. So when you talk about Kyra Lewis being 19 years old and Jackson Hayes being 20 and Zion being 20 and Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram, who's an all-star, and Josh Hart, who's, who's, who's 26 years old. So when you talk about that as far as the future is concerned, why are we talking about going to play elsewhere? Like the future for the New Orleans Pelicans right now isn't a bright one.

Well, there's still a game and a half out of a playing game. So I think there's some frustration that they're talented, but veterans win in this league, they're young kids and they're years away. That's, I mean, I look at them and I think they're fun, but they're not a title contender for years. Is that fair? Of course, of course that's fair because again, we're talking about a Zion Williamson that's yet to play 70 games.

And what we're doing is we are throwing expectations on youth and inexperience that they don't deserve yet. This team shouldn't be talking about titles right now. They should be talking about development right now, which is exactly what David Griffin is doing. He is putting together a young team organically with good drafts, drafting to kill Alexander Walker, drafting Kyra Lewis, drafting Jackson Hayes, Zion Williamson, and then getting the Brandon Ingrams, the Josh Harts, and Alonzo Balls, in the AD deal. So no, you shouldn't be talking about a championship right now.

But realistically, how many teams in this league are talking about a championship right now? This is not their championship window. This is a time for them to grow together, to learn together, and to lose to a certain extent. But let's see if we're having this same discussion three or four years down the line when these guys are more experienced. Okay, so let's say they don't make the playoffs this year, and then next year they don't take a big leap, and they're a one and dunner.

When do you, Antonio Daniels, get impatient and go, okay, we got to make a move here, or Zion's going to consider leaving us? Okay, so now here's the thing, Colin. Just as hypothetical as you can say, what if they don't make the playoffs this year, and what if they don't make the leap next year, what if they do make the playoffs this year,

and they do make the playoffs next year? That's the question I'll ask you. Then I think Zion's going to be really happy. But that puts a lot of pressure because he is so great and so well compensated in endorsements that there is the sense that he doesn't, you know, one of these young players is eventually not going to sign with their team that drafted him. Somebody's going to do it because the money is now so great. Don't you think there is a little institutional pressure that by next year,

if they're not winning, to maybe make a deal. to get Ws. Well, I mean, the thing is, you can say that amongst all the young teams in this league. So when we talk about why isn't this guy playing in a bigger market, why didn't you say, well, what about John Morant? We're not talking about him going to play. But I don't think, I don't think John Morant is a face of a league player. I think John Morant's great.

Zion, to me, is the face of the league. Okay. And why can't he be that face of the league here in New Orleans? You just said it. if we look at bigger markets, so to speak, right? If we look at bigger markets, you just said it. He has a 2K sponsorship. He has a Gatorade endorsement.

He has a Brand Jordan endorsement. And this team, meaning the Pelicans, is second as far as national TV games are concerned. One game behind the Lakers. So what is there to offer that he's not getting here right now? It's my question. Well, wins. That's it. Wins. I worry that there's 20. Well, he's 20 years old, Colin, and he's only played in 68 games. If we're talking about winning now, there are a lot of teams out there that you can say, oh, well, you know what, maybe this guy or maybe that guy. We are talking about a young man that is 20 years old and has played in 68 career games in three different stints. So last year, remember, when he first started playing, he was under a minute's restriction, then March 11, came, the season was postponed. Okay, then you go to the bubble. Then he has to leave the bubble

for a family emergency. Then he comes back. Now we start this season of. Remember, it's amazing to me how much the narrative around this young man has changed. Remember last year when everybody's like, oh, you know what, he's overhyped, or why are they playing on national TV all the time? Or maybe he's not all about the hype. And now the narrative has changed to, oh, well, maybe this young man is special. And the moment that people start to figure out what we have talked about from day one to training camp that he is one of one in the history of the sport, now we want to say, oh, let's move into a bigger market. That's not fair to the fan base of New Orleans or Zion Williamson and his teammates. That's why I'm so passionate about this team. What is he like as a kid? What is he like as a person?

Fantastic. Fantastic. And that's the thing. So last year when he was going through all the scrutiny about being injured, and about this and about that, if people understood the young man and the heart that he has, the humbleness that he came into this league with and that he still possesses today, and the interview I had with him earlier today, it was all smiles, it was all laughs, he's incredibly humble, and he is a joyful young man to be around. He's fantastic. Some people say he should be your one and Brandon Ingram should be the two. Do you worry about that dynamic?

I don't. I don't. because the thing is they'll figure it out. There are some nights where B.I. will be forced to close. There are other nights because of Zion's skill set and his ability to dominate in so many facets of the game, he'll be the closer.

Again, it's interesting when you're in this kind of market how narratives are thrown out there to try and splinter this team apart. Oh, well, who's the number one and who's the number two? You know what? They will figure it out without our help. By the way, I did release my list yesterday if my guys have it in graphics. I said, if you asked me the five guys in a five-year window to start a franchise with,

I picked Zion over Luca because I think there's a merchandising angle. I also think he gets your best Biggs in foul trouble. I think Luca may be the better pure score, but I think the efficiency, his physical dynamic, he fouls out your bigs. He's a merchandiser's dream. Luca Zion. I mean, do you worry all about we've got a minute left.

Only thing I worry about is injuries. Do you ever get worried about that? I don't. Right now, I'm not at that point because he hasn't given me a reason to. Earlier last week, he put up 77 points in 72 minutes on back-to-back nights.

And again, so with shooting 65, 67% from the field. So I get the thought process around some of this, But what we're seeing with the startup of this NBA season, there is no minutes restriction. People used to hold that against him. He hasn't been injured. People used to hold that against him.

He's playing him back to backs. People used to hold that against him. What he's doing is he's blowing through everything that everybody used to throw against him. And you know what he's doing? He's doing it quietly. He's doing it humbly without saying a word. He is humbly dominating this league right now. And he is truly a blessing to cover.

I like your passion. You're really good today. I like that. You know, I figured out the key to you is to tick you off. If I tick you off, I'll bring you on. You got a long motor. You know, I was told, Colin, keep bringing your passion. That's how you're going to make your mark.

That's all I know. And I tell you one thing I'm a passionate about. I am passionate about this New Orleans Pelicans basketball team and this awesome fan base. Good seeing you, buddy. Love your work. Antonio Daniels. Appreciate you, brother. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite.

on Humor Me with Robert Smygel and Friends, me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, S&L's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter.

Listen to Humor Me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the 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 you'll say. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Cliford Show. This is a place for raw, unfills of conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it.

Listen to The Cliford 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. Podcast Network on TikTok. 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 year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild year. It was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or where

wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.