The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 05/13/2021 - Best of The Herd

Episode Date: May 13, 2021

Colin goes all in on the release of the NFL regular season schedule and why there are 2 teams that clearly benefitted from the structure of their schedule. He explains why all signs are showing you Aaron Rodgers will stay with the Packers despite all the offseason drama. He also tells us which QB in the NFC should already be in the MVP spotlight. Plus, National Champion and former Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops joins the show to talk about joining the Big Noon Kickoff Crew and previewing the college football season.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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We're digging into the biggest surprises of the season. And I'm looking back on some of my greatest playoff moments. If we didn't talk ever again, I was part of you. You just understood. That's how personal it got. Wow. Then after that game seven, Mark keep coming to you. He's like, you know, I love you, dog.

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Radio app by searching Herd. This is the best of the herd with Colin Cowher on Fox Sports Radio. Ah, here we go on a Thursday live in Los Angeles. This is the herd wherever you may be and however you may be listening. IHeart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, and FS1. We got everybody from Bob Stu. on the show today. Michael, Vic, we'll break down the schedules. You know, Joy, 20 years ago, 25 years ago when I started in this business, I was way more into the draft than everybody

else was. I was just obsessed about it to the point where I've had people come up to me years later. And like, I like the draft because you were so into it. Not that I've led people to the draft, but I would talk about it February and March and April 20 years ago. And I also loved the schedule. And I was mocked for years for making a big deal out of the schedule. And now networks give the whole night to the schedule. It absolutely matters who you play when you play them. It absolutely coaches will tell you. They look and where's the buy? Our offensive lines young. Where the worst pass rushes. So last night I sat there. It was candy. It was so much fun for me. Well, you know, you are your America's truth teller. Yeah. You're an

Innovator. Honesty broker. Yeah. Honestly broker. You're ahead of your time. A little bit, yeah. So the schedule matters. Let's get past that.

It of course matters. It absolutely can change everything. And every year, everybody's like, this is the hardest schedule. This is the easiest schedule. And I never understand that based on last year's winning percentage. Teams aren't the same. They get new coaches. They get new coordinators.

They get new players during the draft and free agency. I never understand taking last year. year's winning percentages and then going, okay, the Steelers had the toughest schedule. I looked at the Steelers schedule. It's not the toughest schedule. I don't even think it's top five. I'll give you two examples of what I consider easy schedules. And these are both really talented teams.

These are easy schedules. And both these teams have an over under nine and a half wins. Let's take New England. So what does Bill Belichick feast on? Young quarterbacks. Bill Belichick in his career in New England, 80% wins. wins against quarterbacks in their first or second year. Go look at their schedule. They face six quarterbacks in their first or second year. Tua in the opener. Then Zach Wilson.

A few weeks later, Zach Wilson, Justin Herbert. End of the year, Trevor Lawrence, Tua. You can put down six and oh or five and one there. Also, six other quarterbacks. Belichick's been running the same defensive system forever. He's got it down in stone. Six other quarterbacks who have either a new coach or a new system. The Saints, Houston, Carolina, Atlanta, Tennessee, and the Colts with Wence. So those guys aren't new quarterbacks, although Belichick has owned a few of them. What they are, though, they've got a brand new system. So 12 of the 17 games, edge Belichick. Here's another thing. Belichick's best coach ever. Six games this year. First Time Head Coaches.

Huge edge Belichick. Those are games coaching can win. He's looking at that young quarterbacks, first time head coaches. Folks, that is a favorable schedule for New England. Nine and a half, I'll take the over. What was the other schedule I was really interested in? Cleveland. I thought Cleveland got a scheduling break.

Now, Cleveland has to face Kansas City in Arrowhead week one. That's the worst team to play in the NFL week one. Andy Reid off a buy. Andy Reid in September. They're going to lose that. But if you look at the way, because Cleveland has New England on the schedule, Green Bay on the schedule, a tough division, Kansas City on the schedule. So it could have been brutal.

It's not. It works in Cleveland's favor. So take the Kansas City game out, 0-1-1. I said they need to get, they have eight new defensive starters or nine, right? They need a soft open. to get those guys ready. Well, after Kansas City, dysfunctional Houston and Chicago and Andy Dalton, then Minnesota rebuilding, then a rookie head coach, Brandon Staley.

Then they get Arizona, Denver, at home, and Pittsburgh at home. So after Kansas City, five of their next seven are at home. They don't have to travel, don't have to lose any time there. A lot of these are dysfunctional offenses. At the end of the year, we said they play back-to-back Ravens, but they get a break there. They get at Baltimore by Baltimore. But Baltimore doesn't get a buy in the second game. They face the Steelers before that second Browns game.

Big Edge Cleveland. Also the Raiders. We said the Raiders are much tougher to face in September and early October. They've been a giant killer. They beat the Saints last year. They beat the chain. But they have died because they don't have the depth. They've died post Thanksgiving.

They get the Raiders later in the year. So I look at that and I think to myself, yeah, Kansas City is just everybody, Kansas City would beat everybody, including Tampa Bay in a rematch of the Super Bowl with that rebuilt O line. Kansas City, week one, a narrowhead. You don't want any part of that. After that, it's home games, young coaches. End of the year, they get a break and a buy with Baltimore.

They get the Raiders later than early. And by the way, they also get Big Ben, week 17. Big Ben's an older quarterback. They're not as good late as they are early, especially for a guy who's never manicured his body like Tom Brady. So I thought New England and Cleveland are nine and a half win over under bets. I like the over on both. I thought they both got a scheduling break.

That's how I rate schedules. All right. So here's the other story yesterday that made news. And I think we're kind of, you know, sometimes everybody talks about hot takes. I always say I'm a wet blanket. I always feel like I'm always like, settle down. So let me do a settle down here. Green Bay signs a one-year deal with Blake Bortles.

Settle down. That's an indictment of Jordan Love. That's all that is. That's telling you, Aaron's older, he's 37, he's been hurt more than once. They're just telling you Jordan Love's not ready. That's not telling you Aaron Rogers is leaving. The Packers only carry two quarterbacks right now. They need a third.

Aaron's older. He gets hurt. that doesn't tell you Aaron Rogers is leaving. It's tell you Jordan Love, we don't think right now is as good as Blake Bortles. That's the issue. By the way, yesterday John Coon, former fullback for the Packers, came out and reiterated Aaron Rogers Green Bay is fixable. Why is that noteworthy?

Because John and Aaron are boys. and that is the third close friend slash ally of Aaron Rogers, James Jones, John Coon, A.J. Hawk on this show have all used the word fixable. You think it's a coincidence? They're talking to Aaron. Also, the Packer's schedule came out. Five prime time games and six afternoon games equals 11 total national TV games more than Dallas. leagues always know what's up.

Remember when James Hardin and the Rockets weren't scheduled for Christmas, the league knew he's getting traded. For Tita talks to silver, he's getting traded. The league knows something here. They got a sense that Aaron's not going anywhere. Listen, Aaron is trapped. And I'm more of a ripped-the-band-off guy. If somebody doesn't want to be with me, girl, quarterback, I'm out.

There's a sea of people. But Aaron's trapped. Green Bay owns his rights for three years. where's he going to go? I'm going to retire. All right, go to Jeopardy. You've got to stay out for three years. Also, trading Aaron Rogers would be a wildly splashy move. If I say to you, what's the opposite of Splashy in the NFL?

You would say, Packers. There's no incentive to trade him because you can't get anything in return. What's Denver going to give you Teddy Bridgewater? So the Green Bay roster is a collection of some veteran players who are very expensive. It's not a rebuild. You got contracts, guys, you got to pay. It is not a rebuild. There's no incentive to trade him.

You have his rights. You've been to back-to-back NFC championships. Three of Aaron's friends are all using the exact word. Fixable. It's not a coincidence. Here's what happened. Two weeks ago, the story leaks. He's out of here 100%.

Got two weeks later, all his friends. It's fixable. you know what this is. It's human. Aaron was humiliated on draft night a year ago. Humiliated. They drafted Jordan Love. Aaron was pissed.

So he waited one year. He fired back. And he said, I'm going to hurt you like you hurt me. And it got real hot and everybody talked about it. Two weeks later, Aaron's coming back. It's human. You humiliate me. I'm not going to forget.

I'm going to humiliate you. What do they always say? I'll forgive. I'm not going to forget. Aaron, even his friends have acknowledged. He can be a little petty. A little bit of a grudge holder. It's okay.

A lot of people are. It's okay. No reason not to like him. But the NFL knows something. They got all these 11 games, national TV games. His buddies are all using the same word. The Blake Bortles thing. Come on.

That doesn't mean anything. that's if anything that's that's telling you they don't trust jordan love right now if Aaron got hurt so i i wouldn't make i think everybody jumped to the conclusion he's gone and i think no no no folks where's he going to go i mean you right let's say you run the green bay packers all of us think we're armchair gms you run the packers would you trade him to denver i would too if jordan love could play but the packers said two days ago quote he's a long way off, unquote. The Packers just acquired

Blake Bordels telling you he's a long way off, unquote. Aaron's not going anywhere. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeard Radio app.

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. Hey, I'm Joe Dono. You might know me as that loud guy who yells out, help on the internet. Help! Somebody! Please! But there's so much more to me than me. I'm an actor. I'm a comedian, and recently I've become quite the helper myself. And on my new podcast, Hope from a Hypocrite, I'll be changing lives, helping people in need with my sage advice and thoughtful solutions. Sike, I'm a comedian. I'm not qualified to give good advice.

Join me and my comedian friends as we riff, rant, recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to man. If I'm calling you, even if you're on your phone, let it ring twice. One Ring is too scary. Cream a chicken suit. Hey, cream a chicken suit. This is Help from a Hypocrite, the worst advice from the dumbest people you know. Listen to Help from Hypocrat as part of the Mike Coutura Podcast Network

available on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you're watching the latest season of the Real Housewives of Atlanta, you already know there's a lot to break down. Norsia accusing Kelly of sleeping with a merry man. And they holding Kay Michelle back from fighting Drew. Pinky has financial issues. I like the bougie style of Housewives show.

I think it looks like it's going to be interesting. On the podcast, Reality with the King, I, Carlos King, recap the biggest moments from your favorite reality shows, including the Real Housewives franchise, the drama, the alliances, and the team everybody's talking about. As an executive producer in reality television, I'm not just watching it. I understand the game.

Somebody who creates shows, I'll even say this. At the end of the day, when people are at home, they want entertainment. To hear this and more, listen to Reality with the King on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. The story I've told myself about love or relationships can then shape my behavior, and that can lead me to sabotage the possibility of connection. This Mental Health Awareness Month, tune into the... the podcast deeply well with Debbie Brown and explore the journey of healing, self-discovery, and returning to yourself. We explore higher consciousness, emotional well-being, and the practices

that help you find clarity, peace, and self-mastery in a world that can feel overwhelming. The world is becoming lonelier. We're not becoming more social and connected. We're becoming more individualized, but we actually meet people in connection. If you've been searching for a soft place to land while doing the work to become whole. This podcast is for you to hear more. Listen to deeply well with Debbie Brown from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. 17 for 17, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are favored in every single game.

A lot of them, eight and a half, nine and a half, six, seven and a half, ten, six, five and a half, four and a half, seven. They're favored in every game. They will not go undefeated. First of all, there's some big trap games here. If you look at Tampa's schedule, week three, they're at the Rams. By the way, that's a minus one. That's the least they're favored in any game.

So that's a coin flip game. They also face the Patriots at New England the next week. So they travel all the way to L.A., go back all the way to Boston. And then they come back and play Miami, which feels a little bit. Miami's used to that lousy humidity in September. That feels a little trappy to me. So you've got the Rams on the West Coast.

Then it's Belichick, which you could overlook the Rams. And then after the Rams and the Patriots, you don't think there could be a little letdown for Miami? Absolutely. And Miami, let's be honest, defensively and special teams, you don't blow them out. They're in against everybody. Later in the year, they get the Colts on the road on a short week. They play the Giants Monday night football come back home. travel short week, get the Colts on the road.

That's no day at the beach. Then they get Buffalo at home, but in December, again, that's a coin flip game. I think Buffalo is one of the few teams that can match up toe to toe with Tampa Bay. So the other thing to remember is load management with 17 games, Bruce Arian tends to be very player-friendly. You know, he's not Tom Thibodeau, okay? He's not going to press you every practice. It's very likely that Bruce Ariens They have receiver depth and defensive line depth.

They're going to give tight end depth, linebacker depth. They're going to give some guys off weeks. You're not going to have a full strength Buccaneers team. Now, they're good enough to do that and still win, but they're going to give some people time off. Also, Brady's old, not just quarterback old. He's old.

He just had knee surgery. So, you know, Tom is, there's no Tom talked, oh, I want to go 17 and old. There's a lot of things people say. I can tell you this. You get old fast in life and in sports. Peyton Manning got old fast. Like Peyton Manning went from Super Bowl to, oh hell, Brock Osweiler is now starting

and Peyton's on the bench. LeBron this year has aged very quickly. Not just getting injured, coming back, getting injured again. How many days is he going to tell us he's going to play with a high anchor? sprain. So you age very quickly. Brady just had knee surgery. Brady gets dinged. There's enough good pass rushes on this defense. You got some Khalil Max, the Giants, Washington, Philadelphia, Aaron Donald, Colts now have a very good pass rush. The Saints, there's a lot of pass rushes here. By the way, the Jets defensive lines of strength of their team. Miami. So I just, I don't buy 17 and 0.

I think that Rams, Patriots, Dolphins, three-game stretch, nobody's going three-and-o on that. I just don't see anybody going three-and-o. And remember, a lot of what Tampa was last year, they were trying to find their way until they got lucky at the end of the year and played Atlanta a couple times in Detroit. They got their mojo going, and then Green Bay made a really bad coaching error. Green Bay had them on the ropes in Lambo. And then they got another break because Eric Fisher got hurt and the Chief's offensive line was missing both tackles. I'm not saying this is not the best team in football, but they're not the 75 Steelers. This is not the 95 Nebraska Cornhuskers.

Literally, their backups were better than everybody. This has an old, old quarterback, a coach who would be more than willing to give some guys some Sundays off or Mondays off. I think this is going to be a nice 13, 14 win team. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays at noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. I've been very lucky in my career. I've had mostly really good bosses and I've gotten really good support. And that's really, really important. You know, like all of us, you know, we get some breaks in life.

And I've had mostly good breaks with the companies, the management. I've had a lot of stability. I've had one brief two-year time in Tampa with an organization that was very chaotic newsroom. Nobody's fault. They had changed ownerships. It was just it was a tire fire. And by the way, that was the, that was the, that was. was the two years where I struggled.

And I even said with Odell Beckham, who I like, when Odell didn't have chaos in his life, O'Dell Beckham's been great, but he goes to Cleveland and of New York without Coughlin. At LSU, he didn't have problems. It didn't have problems with Coughlin early. I wasn't a problem. He's somebody that he doesn't like chaos. And so I always try to say, listen, dude, you've been lucky. I've been lucky about that stuff.

And I mean, here's a prime example. Dak Prescott, and I like Dak. he inherited the best offensive line in football, Zeke, the biggest brand, and an offensive coach Jason Garrett who'd quarterbacked in the NFL. Matt Stafford, Matt Stafford inherits the worst franchise, not named the Cleveland Browns, the Lions, got Jim Schwartz, a defensive coach with a terrible offensive line and no running game. I think Matt Stafford's more talented than Dak Prescott. So does every GM. Even Stephen Jones. knows it. I don't resent what Dax done, but he made $107 million last year.

Dac did. He didn't even play much. The Cowboys, the O-Line, Zeke, Jerry, middle of the country, America's brand. That's a break. He got a good break. Matt Stafford, super talented, could not have gotten a worse situation. So Matt Stafford has been invisible for 12 years in Detroit except Thanksgiving. I mean, literally invisible. What's fascinating, what's fascinating, Fascinating is Matt Stafford now. Look at this RAM schedule. Bears, NBC National TV. Two weeks later, Buccaneers, my guess is it's on Fox America's Game of the Week.

Two weeks later, Arizona, Fox, Amazon, 520, Game of the Week. Start looking at this. NBC, Monday Night Football Niners, Green Bay Packers, Fox, at Arizona. That's an ESBM Monday Night Football. Seahawks, Fox. That'll be, that'll end up being America's Game. of the week, I would imagine. At Baltimore, San Francisco. Those are 10 national TV games from Matt Stafford.

This is very Kevin Garnett. Kevin Garnett was great. We didn't talk about him for 10 years in Minnesota. He goes to Boston. He was the most discussed big in the game for five years. Every playoff game, we were all glued on that. Doc Rivers, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen. Kevin had always been great.

But he ended up in Minnesota. And that's where I feel for pro athletes. I know, I know, I know they're all rich, blah, blah, blah. But God, some guys get breaks. I mean, Dak, I love him, but he inherited three Hall of Famers on the offensive line in their prime and Zeke. And a coach who'd been a quarterback. And by the way, an owner who loves offensive players. Jerry loves offense.

I'll get him more weapons. Man Stafford goes to Detroit and they can't, I mean, nothing works. Defensive coach, bad on line, no running game. Listen, Mike Trout is great, but he's invisible with the Angels. What if Mike Trout was with the Yankees and had a Hall of Famer hitting behind him? You couldn't throw him off speed. And by the way, when Mike Trout comes up for the second, third, fourth time, there's runners on base because the Yankees have bought all stars. I mean, if you ever think about Mike Trout's numbers, if he was in New York, and he had Hall of Famers behind him, more guys on base.

I mean, Mike Trout is, I don't think he's won a playoff series. I mean, I, so again, Mike Trout's great. How great could he be? Matt Stafford's talented. But good God, he gets a culture upgrade, a coach upgrade, an O-line upgrade, a receiver upgrade, camakers are running back upgrade. Now, the division's tougher, but you'd take that. I mean, it's, I'm not an MVP guy.

I hate talking about that. But not only will Matt be good, the story's good. Like the Kevin Garnett to the Celtics, that was a great story. It's like this dude deserves Ray Allen, Doc Rivers, Paul Pierce, Ronald. He has earned that. I'm not a big believer in you deserve stuff. You've got to earn it. Kevin Garnett had earned the right to be on a notable franchise.

Matt Stafford's earned the right. He got a nothing sandwich, and I think he's going to have a terrific year. One more herd? The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the IHeart Radio app. Search her to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like. Hey, this is Jason McIntyre. Join me every weekday morning on my podcast, Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre. This isn't your typical sports pod pushing the same tired narratives down your throat every day.

Straight Fire gives you honest opinions on all the biggest sports headlines, accurate stats to help you win big at the sports book, and all the best guests. Do yourself a favor and listen to Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre on the iHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential.

Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, I'm Joe Donno. You might know me as that loud guy who yells out, help on the internet. Help! Somebody! Please! But there's so much more to me than me. I'm an actor. I'm a comedian. And recently, I've become quite the helper myself.

And on my new podcast, Hope from a Hypocrite, I'll be changing lives, helping people in need with my sage advice and thoughtfully. solutions. Sike! I'm a comedian! I'm not qualified to give good advice. Join me and my comedian friends as we riff, rant, recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to man. If I'm calling you, even if you're on your phone, let it ring twice.

One ring is too scary. Oh, cream a chicken suit. A cream. Cream a chicken suit. This is Help from a Hypocrite, the worst advice from the dumbest people you know. Listen to Help from a Hypocrite as part of the Mike Cultura Podcast Network available on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The story I've told myself about love or relationships can then shape my behavior,

and that can lead me to sabotage the possibility of connection. This Mental Health Awareness Month, tune into the podcast deeply well with Debbie Brown and explore the journey of healing, self-discovery, and returning to yourself. We explore higher consciousness, emotional well-being, and the practices that help you find clarity, peace, and self-mastery in a world that can feel overwhelming. The world is becoming lonelier. We're not becoming more social and connected. We're becoming more individualized, but we actually meet people in connection. If you've been searching for a soft place to land while doing the work to become whole, this podcast is for you to hear more.

Listen to deeply well with Debbie Brown from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. If you're watching the latest season of the Real Housewives of Atlanta, you already know there's a lot to break down. Gorsha accusing Kelly of sleeping with a merry man. They holding Kay Michelle back from fighting Drew. Pinky has financial issues. I like the bougie style of Housewives show. I think it looks like to be interesting. On the podcast, Reality with the King, I, Carlos King,

recap the biggest moments from your favorite reality shows, including the Real Housewives franchise, the drama, the alliances, and the team everybody's talking about. As an executive producer in reality television, I'm not just watching it. I understand the game. As somebody who creates shows, I'll even say this. At the end of the day, when people are at home, they want entertainment.

To hear this and more, listen to Reality with the King on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. If you're a good team like Buffalo or Tampa, Kansas City, you're going to win a bunch of games. And then there's the bad teams that aren't going to win any. And then there's those teams that we know are competent. They're absolutely, I'll give you three of them. Miami, the Chargers in Dallas are all, I think, talented enough to be playoff teams. That's where the schedule can subtract a game or.

at a game. And I want to talk Miami Chargers, Cowboys. I all thought they got a little tough break. So let's start with Miami. Brian Flores and is trying to tell everybody, two is the guy. Even though multiple dolphin players leaked to the Miami Herald last year, we don't think he's the guy. Ryan Fitzpatrick looked much more athletic. Look at the first 10 weeks of, you got Tua, six feet tall, not a big arm, not a. specially mobile. You open at Cam 6 to 67 Josh Allen, at Derek Carr, at 65 Carson Wentz, at Tom Brady, at Trevor Lawrence, MVP Matt Ryan, at Josh Allen, Deshawn Watson, Lamar Jackson. They have a whole bunch of special in there. Big, athletic, great, rings, MVPs. And you're

selling that locker room. Well, I mean, two doesn't have a big arm. I mean, not. Not especially mobile, but he is, this is our guy. You can't fool players. That is a, there is no schedule in the NFL that has more superstar talented level. I mean, you've got six guys, six, six, six five, six four, Tom Brady, MVP, Lamar Jackson's a fastest player in the league at his position. Deshawn Watson, it is nothing but special for 10 weeks. In a tougher division now, selling them to as the guy.

I'm just saying you can try to fool the press and a lot of times you'll fool the press. I'm going to fool the players. It's not a great break for Miami schedule. And I like them. The Chargers. I like the Chargers too. A lot of people think they're a underdog, a dark horse Super Bowl team. They have a rookie head coach.

Okay, let's go look. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven. Now, first seven weeks, they face Ron Rivera. been to a Super Bowl. Mike McCarthy, been to a Super Bowl. Andy Reid won a Super Bowl. John Gruden won a Super Bowl.

John Harbaal won a Super Bowl. Bill Belichick won a bunch of them. That is a big ask. Brandon Staley has been in the NFL coaching in total four years. In a tough division, he opens with Belichick, Andy Reed, Gruden, McCarthy, Ron Revere, and John Harbaugh. that ain't a break.

That is a, I mean, that's walking into the octagon and getting, you know, Connor McGregor in his prime. And then look at Dallas's schedule, fascinating. I've said before, Dallas this year spent all their draft capital on defense as they should. Next year, it's pretty easy. They're going to spend it on the O line. It's getting old. O lines that are old are generally fine in September and October.

The question is, are they healthy late? look at Dallas's last six games, six good pass rushes at the Saints, at Washington, at the Giants, Washington, Arizona brought in JJ Watt with Chandler Jones, Philadelphia. Say what you want about Philadelphia. They were a mess last year. The front seven wasn't. And that is six big boy pass rushes. And again, I don't mind that they open at Tampa and at the Chargers. Those are great pass rushes. But Tyron Smith's going to be healthy. He's going to be healthy. be upright. I do worry about Dallas end of the year, old offensive line, which they did not really truly address this year. What's that old line look like? Is Dak running for his life? So it's fun. 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. The Jets and Carolina. So we know this to be true, Joy, is that we know what we do tomorrow's headlines today, kind of predict. predicting what the headlines will be. But, you know, in big cities like, you know, New York, the headline, they got five newspapers, the New York Post, the Times, the Daily News. Very interesting on the Jets and Carolina. So Sam Darnold goes to the Jets and they replace him with the next young star, Zach Wilson, and we ship Sam off.

Well, the NFL puts them right up against each other week one. Very smart. this game may not mean anything be marketable at all in week 8, 5, 9. But they have Sam at home, they're favored by 3.5 over Zach Wilson. So let's say they win. Let's say Sam Darnold has got the more experienced by your head coach. Actually, I will say this, Carolina's got some good offensive weapons. Tuba Hubbard, Christian McCaffrey, running backs.

So let's say they win it. What Carolina then gets, Sam Darnold actually, if they can win that opener, Saints at home, starting a new quarterback. Texans dysfunction, bad cowboy defense, Philadelphia is rebuilding, Minnesota's rebuilding. It's a lot of bad defenses. Daniel Jones, a young quarterback, Jalen Hertz, a young quarterback, Atlanta Falcons are rebuilding. Sam Darnal wins that opener. It is two months of bad defenses rebuilding and young quarterbacks.

Zach Wilson. The new kid, let's say he loses on the road. Look at his schedule. Look at the defensive coaches he faces. He then faces Belichick, into Vic Fangio, into Mike Vrable, into a London game, into Belichick, Sean McDermott, Brian Flores. That is a gauntlet of some of the best defensive coaches in the NFL. So just to give you, you know, the headline we always say, the headline will be a darnall darn good, is going to be the headline by about week seven or eight.

Sam Darnold, if he can win that home opener against him, he gets a huge scheduling break, rebuilding defenses, young quarterbacks, dysfunctional team. Zach Wilson is some of the best defensive coaches, one after another after another with a rookie head coach. So you can see that story by October being like, uh, Jets may have made a little mistake here.

Doesn't mean they did, but you can see a story developing. It really plays into Donald's favor early and does not play into Zach Wilson and the Jets favor early. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays at noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. How lucky are we? 18 years at Oklahoma, a national champion, a 10-time Big 12 coach of the year. One of the great, I mean, really top four or five coaches last 25 years in college football, he'd be embarrassed by that because he's a humble guy, Bob Stoops, who's the new. member of the Big Noon kickoff team. Urban Meyer was here. He'd gone. Big shoes to fill, but that's why we went out and got Bob Stoops. It is great to see you.

When your name came up, I don't know how far the negotiations were. And, you know, they said, well, what do you have to make? And I said, well, I think Stoop should go into coaching still. I think he's got 10 years left to coach. And they said, you know, he may work at Fox. And I thought, we're going to get Bob Stoop. So it's great to have yours part of the team. I appreciate it, Colin.

and I'm really looking forward to Big Noon Saturday, working with the team. Working here at Fox, it's been awesome. What a great team and what great camaraderie already. But I'm a little concerned that they brought me on your show to argue about Brite Baker Mayfield. I don't think I'm the right guy for you to argue Baker Mayfield about. No, he's going to do fine, by the way. He's going to do fine this year. It is interesting.

We'll get into some of the, you know, Oklahoma. homo when you were there, put a lot of guys in the NFL. Similarly, they do it with Lincoln Riley. And a lot of times, a legend leaves almost always, and you never find the replacement. I mean, it's almost a guarantee. You can never replace. I mean, Alabama's going to have their hands full. And then you guys get Lincoln Riley.

And it almost felt like to me, because you were so selfless that you could have kept going, but you thought to yourself, I found the guy. This is perfect. That's what it felt like to me. No, it's truly that way. You know, I've always said I wasn't going to be a lifer. I wasn't going to coach till I was old. I guess I'm old, though.

But in the end, I knew the right guy was there in all the right ways. Just the person, the man that he is, family man that he is, the leadership qualities, the way he connected with players. I just knew this was perfect that I could step out and it would have killed me to have hurt the program. But I knew if I could step out and they could continue on in the same manner and hopefully make improvements that this is the right time. And I knew there was strong structure around them that was still remained in place.

Great AD, President. Everything. So that's why. And I just thought, you know, I don't want to miss the right moment. And it was perfect. And Lincoln's doing a great job. Now, he's terrific. We bring him on all the time. Oklahoma's a top five program all time.

three probably right now. So Urban Myers going college to pro and it's interesting because for years and years a lot of the guys Pete Carroll was in the NFL went to college back to the NFL. Tom Coughlin had even done some NFL position coaching. Urban had told me years ago I don't even watch the NFL. Like Sunday is it's film day. And so I think Urban smart, curious, intellectual, he'll figure it out. You have been offered NFL jobs. You didn't take them. From all the opportunities you've had, what does it take? Because some guys have worked, some haven't. College to pro, what would concern you, what would make you hopeful with Urban?

You know, as much as any, it's hard for me to speak of it since I'm no expert and I haven't coached in the NFL. So that part of it, you know, you just got to take for what it is. But to me, it's the schedule, the length of the season, the length of preseason, keeping players healthy. managing all of that. You're going to surround yourself with great coaches at whatever level. They're going to help you win or not win. So no one does it by their self in our game. So to me, the biggest part would be to handle that length of a schedule,

that many football games and how to manage it. 20 games. That doesn't even count playoffs. You know, Reggie Bush and I were just talking in back here, part of our big noon Saturday team. And I said to me it'd be like maybe basketball. I'd be rotating players, counting how many snaps each guy's had, midway through the year, who's had so many.

You know, almost, you know, again, like basketball does. Just use your entire roster. I know everyone does, but I mean, even in the rotation of your normal downs is making sure we're keeping up with how, you know, how long a guy's been on the field. So I grew up with Oklahoma and Barry Switzer and literally 10 guys in the backfield and one receiver. It was a power program.

And then Bob Stoops come in. And this is one of the things I've always admired about Saban. Saban just acknowledged, we've got to spread it out. The game's changing. You did it before him. You literally were like, I mean, Oklahoma football was the running program in America with Nebraska. And you were like at some point, all right, fellas, run them out. Here we go.

Do you, why were you so willing to adapt and evolve? Did you, did you go to camps? Did you, it was at fear base that I'm going to get overwhelmed here if I don't involve? You know what it was? When I first was hired at Oklahoma, I hired Mike Leach. And the primary reason I hired Mike Leach, he was working as the offensive coordinator with Hal Mummy at Kentucky. I'm the defensive coordinator at Florida. And the team that gave me the most problems and drove me crazy was Kentucky. They had the most first downs in the league.

They had the most points on and on and on. And so I called Hal Mummy because I knew I couldn't hire him. he wasn't going to leave his head coaching position. I said, hey, can Mike Leach be the run the offense and do the things you do at Kentucky? He said, absolutely. I just wanted to know could he be that kind of leader, and Mike is. Mike's a leader. He has his own way of doing things, but anyway.

So I hired Mike, and all he did is show Tim Couch's highlights when we were recruiting. We really didn't have any quality big-time quarterbacks on campus. So when Mike arrives, we get Josh Heppel, runner up in the Heism, trophy went and also a national champion quarterback we get jason white most decorated player in oklahoma history when you look at awards and and brought us to two national championship games and then and nate hibble who won us a big 12 championship and he's a rosebole MVP those three guys came that year that i hired mike leach right off to start isn't that funny the coach who drove you crazy in the cc is the guy you hired at oklahoma because you couldn't stop him and by the way it

He takes guts because Mike is his own guy. He's as, you know, loves pirates. If I had known him, then maybe I wouldn't have. I'm kidding. I love Mike. He's awesome. And he was a great hire for me. So Texas, this is interesting. So Oklahoma and Texas, top three rivalry in the sport. And they hired Steve Sarkesian. And I think he's going to work. And I think Bobby's going to work big. At USC, he had some personal issues that he's overcome. But he can recruit. He's got a good eye for personnel. he's got a good energy about when Sark walks in a room, there's a presence to him. Your thoughts on the task at Texas, because they don't have, I watched that draft.

There's not a ton of Texas guys got drafted this year. Is it a huge rebuild or are they close? Well, I don't know why it would be a huge rebuild. They've had the top recruiting class the last three years in the Big 12. And it's been top 10 nationally. So they have players. Unlike when we walked in Oklahoma, I don't think that was the case. So bottom line, they have players.

players. To me, it's about development. And I do believe, I agree with you. I think Steve Sarkesian's a really great coach. He's got a really good, great track record. And I believe he'll, you know, he'll, he'll do really well. Hopefully just not as well as Oklahoma. So Spencer Rattler, Joy last year is like, you've got to watch this kid. And I watch a lot of Oklahoma game. So Spencer Rattler is the quarterback. And there is a long, there's a big, people are suggesting he'd be the number one pick. Wouldn't surprise me. And it's funny because there's a, I mean, I think he's more naturally gifted than a baker. He's a little bit of a gunslinger.

And it works at Oklahoma. In the Big 12, there's a lot of points. You can throw the occasional pick. It's okay, right? Well, now there's a lot of points in the SEC, too, now that there's some quarterbacks that are throwing the ball around. So you've always poked the SEC in the ribs. Well, I'm just saying, look at LSU when, you know,

and a year ago or two years ago, look at Alabama the last couple of years. when there's great quality quarterback play, it's hard to deal with. So Spencer Rattler, if I'd never seen him play, what makes him special? Great release, great arm. Just got one of those, he has the ability to throw the ball at any angle and got a really quick release and very accurate. How long did you guys recruit him there? I mean, was he good at eighth grade, ninth grade? Well, he committed to OU when I was there.

Holy moly. So he committed young. I want to say as sophomore or junior year. And then I stepped away, but of course, Lincoln had the best relationship with him. Yeah. And, of course, he stayed with us. No one Lincoln was going to be his guy and going to be his quarterback coach and head coach. By the way, your son Drake's a receiver at Oklahoma.

Do you miss the juice of game day? Oh, yeah. You know, nothing in life, you know, compares to that. You know, people you do as a coach. You get addicted to the, you know, the excitement of it. the intensity of it all, and the pressure of it. Oddly, you love it, you know, because you really know you're alive when you're pulling in that stadium or walking down that ramp, getting ready to kick it off, not knowing the

outcome, you know, so sure you miss it. I don't know that you ever get used to it. You know, it's one of the things I always respected about Oklahoma. You played Notre Dame, just thinking of the big games. You played Ohio State. Alabama, Florida State, Miami. No shot at the SEC, but I can only see Citadel so many times on those schedules. You have always said, bring in the big dogs.

By the way, that's not necessarily always great for you because everybody watches it. If it's week one or two and you lose, you've got to build your way back up, voter confidence. So what was Bob Stoop's theory? USC, by the way, has always done that too. USC wants to schedule big games. What was your theory on that? Once we won the national championship in 2000, I said to our athletic director, Joe Cicelyon, look, if we're going to be a big dog, we're going to play other big dogs.

I mean, we're not going to shy away from anybody. And we didn't. I think in 2003 on our out-of-conference schedule, we had Oregon and Alabama. Yep. We were always willing to play big games, you know, home and away, you know, take our turns. And, again, we just felt that way. If you're going to be a ranked top five, 10-ranked team, you're not afraid to go play anywhere anytime.

By the way, it is funny. A lot of college coaches, they, They want to coach until, you know, they're on a golf cart and, you know, they can, you know, they've got to be helped around campus. You left 10 miles early. You, I mean, now you've got a beautiful wife, great family, but it is interesting. You are rare. Most coaches, they stick around forever. What was it?

Do you think in your DNA that you're like, I'm not going to be that guy? Well, I just have always had other interests in life. And as much as anything, I appreciate and enjoy my own time. and with my family, with my friends, doing things I want to do. And in our profession, it's all consuming. And at a certain point, I figured, you know, I've loved what I've done. It couldn't have been better. I mean, I had so much fun.

But it was just time to gab my own time. And in life, I don't think until you open yourself up to other opportunities, you don't know what else is out there. So in the end, I miss it? Heck yeah. But do I regret it? No. You know, so it was just time for me.

I felt, too, you know, after 18 years in one place, that I had run my course there, that it was just a perfect time for me to step away and let the, you know, the program continue with Lincoln. Now, Linerd and Reggie are very nice, but Notre Dame guys, Brady Quinn, you've got to keep your eye on them. These Notre Dame guys, you got to just fire back at Brady. You know, the SC guys, L.A. guys are all laid back. Yeah, they've been easy on me. So, but anyway, it's a great crew, you know, as you said, Brady, Queen. Reggie Bush, Matt Leinart, Rob Stone, keeping everybody in line.

So I'm really excited about it and can't wait for the fall. So lucky to have you. Thank you. Great to see you again. I appreciate it, Colin. Always good to be on with you. Go Baker. Baker's going to have a very – by the way, I picked the Browns to win the division.

You did. Yeah. All right. There we go. As Joey knows, people only hear the bad stuff. What happens when I say nice stuff? It just disappears – It disappears into the ether.

Nobody hears it. All right, Bob. Good stuff. 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 I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your. Podcasts. American soccer is about to explode. The World Cup is coming.

Ramos sending on to Ernie Stewart at the chip. I'm Tab Ramos. I'm Tom Boehner. On our podcast, Inside American Soccer, you'll get the real storylines, the biggest decisions, and the truth about the U.S. national team. It wouldn't be a huge surprise if our team ends up in the quarterfinals or potentially a great run into the semifinals. Listen, Inside American Soccer with Tom Bogart and Tab Ramos on the I-Heart radio app,

podcast wherever you get your podcast. Will Farrell's Big Money Players and I Heart Podcast presents soccer moms. So I'm Leanne. This is my best friend, Janet. And we have been joined at the hips since high school. Absolutely. A redacted

amount of years later, we're still joined at the hip. Just a little bit bigger hips. This is a podcast. We're recording it as we tailgate our youth soccer games in the back of my Honda Odyssey. With all the snacks and drinks. Why did you get hard seltzer instead of beer? They had a bogo. Well, then you got it.

Listen to Soccer Moms on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano. It's our favorite time of the year on our podcast point game, the playoffs. We're digging into the biggest surprises of the season. And I'm looking back on some of my greatest playoff moments. If we didn't talk ever again, I was calling it. You just understood. That's how personal it got. Wow. Then after that game seven, Marquis come in to him, he's like, you know I love you, dog.

You know, it's all love. This was just playoffs. This was just basketball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.