The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 07/05/2021 - HOUR 3 - Rodgers, Cowboys, Best For Last

Episode Date: July 5, 2021

FOX Sports and NFL Network analyst Bucky Brooks joins Colin to examine the Aaron Rodgers-Green Bay Packers standoff, the Dallas Cowboys on Hard Knocks (again) and more. Finally, Colin closes with his... ten sports figures who will shape the industry in "Best For Last."  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Starting point is 00:00:00 This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter.
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Starting point is 00:00:42 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. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hard Way with your favorite therapist and host, Kear Games.
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Starting point is 00:01:40 I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild. It was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people.
Starting point is 00:01:59 Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks for listening to The Heard podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday from 12 to 3 Eastern, 9 to noon Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and FS1. Find your local station for the herd at Fox Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Herd. Fox Sports Radio. Our friend, Bucky Brooks, is a former NFL second round defensive back. He's a former scout. And now he's a Fox Sports and NFL network analyst.
Starting point is 00:02:37 And he is joining us here on July 5th. So, you know, these are interesting times. The NFL is rarely quiet. This is sort of a four to five week spot, maybe four because of late July camps open up. So you get that little respite from news. But we will get news here pretty quick. on Aaron Rogers, July 27th, if he reports to camp. Now, Joy and I were talking about this a couple of weeks ago that as simplistic as it is,
Starting point is 00:03:07 when Tom Brady put his house up for sale, it was a tell. It was like he had made a decision with his wife. We're moving. Now, we all looked at that and thought, oh, big deal, he's got a million homes. When Aaron Rogers joined a country club in Green Bay, I told Joy, I said, well, you only golf in Wisconsin in July, August, and September. He's not holding out of camp. You know, he's going to join and he's going to. And I do feel like today, Bucky, the Packers aren't budging.
Starting point is 00:03:36 They're not taking calls. They're not budging that he's coming back. That's my feeling this morning. Your thoughts. Yeah, I agree with you. I felt like it was always a situation where Aaron Rogers was going to return to the Packers. All of the leverage has always been in the Packers Court. Based on the way the contract was written, the way he is,
Starting point is 00:03:54 I want to say maybe the first or second year into the extension that he recently sign, he would have to give back a tremendous amount of money. And so if the Packers could withstand the public relations nightmare that this has been over the last couple months, at some point, Aaron Rogers is going to have to make a decision whether he either wanted to retire or if he wanted to continue to play football, he'd have to play it in Green Bay. And so on the outside, as media members, we could talk about like, oh, they should let him go because he's unhappy. But the Packers, no. Look, he's 37 years old. He's coming off an MVP season. even though they took Jordan Love because at the time,
Starting point is 00:04:31 it appeared that maybe the end was near for Aaron Rogers. Look, there's no pressure on them. If Jordan Love never plays, but Aaron Rogers continues to play at this level, it was well worth the draft pick and the money that they spent to Jordan Love because Aaron Rogers has played at a high level at a time and at an age where you normally don't see quarterbacks play this well. You know, it's gone, you know, for me, the NFL when they created hard knocks, mostly good teams didn't have to do it.
Starting point is 00:05:00 You know, if you had a rookie coach or you're a good team, you could eliminate yourself for being chosen. But yet the Cowboys now, who wouldn't have to do it, have chosen to be on hard knocks for the third time. And I said earlier, Bucky, they're not a terrible team and they're not a great team. They're a team in the middle where a little distraction could be the difference between 10 and 7 and 9 and 8. They're not the chiefs.
Starting point is 00:05:23 They're not the bills. nor are they, you know, the Jets or maybe the, you know, the Jags. What do you make of the hard knocks? Clearly, Jerry Jones gave it the green light. What do you make of that? I mean, it's an info for the entire month of August. If you're Jerry Jones, why wouldn't you want to have cameras all around training camp to show off one of the most popular brands in the world, the Dallas Cowboys?
Starting point is 00:05:47 It's a little challenging if you're coaches, because now some of those conversations that you normally have in confidence are exposed to the world. And if you don't really represent yourself, well, those things can come back to get you. Just think about the Browns and Hugh Jackson and how people have held some of those conversations against him. I think the guy who has the most pressure in this scenario is Mike McCarthy. Because Mike McCarthy comes to the Cowboys after having a successful running in Green Bay viewed as an elite, almost elite level coach. Well, now last year, we didn't see it go well. and the previous two years Green Bay didn't go so well.
Starting point is 00:06:24 Now you have questions about where he stands, maybe kind of in that stratosphere when it comes to top coaches. He has to show people, or he has an opportunity to show people that he is a really good coach by looking organized, detailed, having real clear leadership qualities that come through the screen. I think this is an opportunity for him to rewrite a narrative that has recently been written about his leadership style and his coaching demeanor. Story out of New England that Mac Jones wowed everybody in the OTAs.
Starting point is 00:06:56 Now, there's certain things you can't do. I mean, you get in trouble if you practice too hard or too much. I saw Urban Meyer got fined a little bit. So should I read anything into this? Is this just leaked information to make Mac Jones look like a smart pick? There's only so much you can do in these camps. What do you make of the, oh, he wowed coaches and players? Well, I mean, look, Mac Jones is always going to wow.
Starting point is 00:07:20 in this setting, right? The best thing that Mac Jones brings to the table would be his football IQ, his smarts, his ability to pick up the playbook and those things. Where Mac Jones has to show us that he really can play at a high level is when we're playing 11 on 11 football against some of the best athletes in the world. The things that he lacks, he doesn't have A-level arm strength and talent.
Starting point is 00:07:42 He doesn't have improvisational ability when it comes to his athleticism when the pocket gets muddied. When we start playing real games, preseason and maybe even regular season games, that's when he'll have a chance to answer those questions. Whatever he does in practice, I won't say that you miss it because it is positive that he understands the play book
Starting point is 00:08:01 and he understands how to get to his second and third reading those things. But we really won't see what happens until they really start strapping up and playing games. Then we will see where he is. Because remember, as much as we talked about Trey Lans and his lack of experience, Mac Jones has the same number of collegiate starts as Trey Lans.
Starting point is 00:08:19 And so we will see what that looks like when we begin to play real, real games when the regular season kicks off. So you have given us a couple of lists, and I tend to have an addictive nature around lists. You rank the top five coach quarterback combos under the most pressure this year. And though I mostly agree with the list, McVeigh-Stafford won, Lamar Harbaugh, 2, Wentz, Rike, Carruden, Dalton, Fields, Nagy. The Lamar Harbaugh one is fascinating to me. Marr's won 80% of his games. He absolutely does one thing better than anybody in the league. And I'm fascinated by this because I look at Lamar Jackson and I'm like, Tom Brady
Starting point is 00:09:02 hasn't won 80% of his games. I don't feel there's a lot of pressure on Lamar. I think he's been established as a guy that can win a division. He can get you to the playoffs. He can win a playoff game. But you sense some pressure on Lamar and where's that come from? What's the pressure? Well, I think the pressure is because, like, look, we are.
Starting point is 00:09:19 a win at all cost league. Like basically we judge people on Super Bowls and rings and titles and those things. And what you're doing in the regular season certainly adds perspective and really makes the native go. But it's about winning games. And so he has been a fantastic player.
Starting point is 00:09:35 He is a fantastic player. I don't think there's anybody better at what he does. He does a great job of making plays happen with his arm and with his legs. He played at an MVP level. But at the end of the day, you have to be able to win and win in the post season. Yes, they got that postseason win against the Tennessee Titans a year ago, but they haven't advanced.
Starting point is 00:09:53 And when you look at the competitors in the division that he has to knock off, Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, you think about Justin Herbert coming, Carson Wentz coming over. Lamar Jackson and the Ravens have pressure to figure out if this formula that they use to be successful in the regular season, will it work in the postseason? And I'm on record saying, I love how they play. but do they have the stubbornness and the arrogance to say we're going to play the way that we play, we're not changing in the postseason,
Starting point is 00:10:24 and eventually we're going to knock the door down? That is a lot of pressure to say, hey, stubbornly, this is how we play, this is who we are, we're not changing, can they do it? And also there's the added pressure of once you pay Lamar Jackson 40 million plus, which I think is what it has to be
Starting point is 00:10:40 to get them done on that contract deal, how does the team change with Lamar Jackson? and making that much money. And if you're the team, do you change the way that you play to justify paying him what you have to pay him? There's a lot of pressure around the organization to figure out how do we do this and get it right and how can we sustain what we've been able to do successfully over the last couple years.
Starting point is 00:11:04 The other quarterback coach combo that made the list is Derek Carr and John Gruden. And I've said this when he got hired, I said he's been a television star for a decade. there are certain industries tech and the NFL, you take a decade off, it feels like 30 years. The league tech's constantly changing. And is the pressure on Carr or is the pressure on Gruden because the last two years they've gone man overboard post Thanksgiving? If this team, and I still think it's a weak roster and Gruden's largely shaped it, if this team is eight and nine this year, nine and eight, why is the pressure on Derek Carr? Why is it not on John Gruden?
Starting point is 00:11:46 Well, I mean, it's on both of them. Now, when we think about John Gruden, certainly it hasn't been what we thought it would be since he's returned to the Raiders. This is a team that is underperformed. And he has rebuilt this team. And three, four years into a run, we should start seeing this team play at a playoff level. They've given us moments, but they haven't gotten over the hump. For Derek Carr, I think the big thing with Derek Carr is, Derek Carr is at one year where he was playing at an MVP level and then he broke his leg. And since then, he's been good, not great.
Starting point is 00:12:17 His deal is about to come up. And when we think of the prices that we're having to expend on quarterbacks, are we confident that Derek Carr is a $40 million quarterback? Is he in the same category when we think about Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson and Russell Wilson and those guys who will command those kind of numbers? Or is he just a guy that's right at the middle of the pack or maybe on the edge of being a top 10 player? at some point when you're the quarterback and an elite quarterback,
Starting point is 00:12:46 you have to be able to put the team on your back, regardless of the circumstances. And so now is an opportunity for Derek Carr to show us that he does have to be able to go from good to great because this is the longest day we've seen John Gruden stick with a quarterback. Right. We haven't not seen John Gruden ever stay with a quarterback four or five years doing his entire time in the National Football League.
Starting point is 00:13:07 So I think there is some pressure on Derek Carr to prove not only to us, on the aisle side, but to prove to John Gruden that he is the guy that can get them to the next level. By the way, you also had your top five Batman and Robin duos in the NFL. I didn't have any problem with any of it.
Starting point is 00:13:23 I think Levanti, David, and Devin White, and maybe it's recency bias. I'd probably have them maybe a spot higher. I never, you know, Marcus Peters, two great coaches have moved off Marcus Peters, Andy Reed and Sean McVe. I'm always a little, I always worry about that. It'd be like a
Starting point is 00:13:40 great employer moving off, a so called great employee. After a couple, two or three times, you're like, maybe it's the employee. It's not the employer. Other than that, yeah, I kind of like it. I do kind of like it. You know, it's interesting. How many touches can you give Kareem Hunt now?
Starting point is 00:13:57 Because Nick Chubb is so great. You know, it's, yeah. Yeah, no, I think with both of those guys, first about the Marcus Feeters thing, going all the way back when Marcus Peters was coming out of University of Washington, I had a DB coach tell me, hey, it takes a wolf to coach a wolf, meaning that it takes someone with a strong personality to be able to deal with another strong personality. And Baltimore, the reason why it works for Marcus Peters is because they're so accustomed to having these different personalities on their team. They don't really blink at him when he barks back or whatever. Like, that's kind of a
Starting point is 00:14:31 part of how they've been built on. In Cleveland, the Nick Chubb, Karim Hunt thing is really interesting to me because you have Baker Mayfield who was playing for a big time extension. But When you look at this team, this team is built around their running game, Nick Chub, Karim Hunt, and then some of the auxiliary pieces that they have on the outside, as long as the Browns are able to control the game with the running game, man, they can be anybody in the league. And one of the reasons why they are legitimate Super Bowl contenders is because they have two number one running that can get it done.
Starting point is 00:15:02 So if you do have a short-term absence with Nick Chub, Kareem Hunt can carry the load. I think this is a team whose magic number is always 35. When they get the 35 rushing attempts, they're going to win games. And I don't care how you div between the two, 35 is the magic number for them to winning recipe that has worked successfully for them. Great seeing you, Bucky Brooks on a Monday. Thanks so much for taking time for us in this holiday weekend and this holiday week. Thanks, man. Hey, appreciate you.
Starting point is 00:15:30 Yeah, the Gruden situations, you know, it's just people forget, man, he left football, like coaching football for a decade. And the game totally changed. I don't like their personnel a ton. I really don't. I just think, you know, I'll give you. I always say you watch Bill Parcells. He went to a one in 15 dolphins team as general manager. He wasn't even the coach.
Starting point is 00:15:51 They won 11 games the next year, 11 and 5. Why? Because Bill basically turned over 35% of the roster. I'm not going to give you, you don't get that much time with me anymore. Everybody's willing to make a trade. The college football players, now that college and pro football look more similar, you don't, you know, these quarterbacks come in now, they can play. I mean, they can play.
Starting point is 00:16:14 So you don't have to sit a guy on the bench. So it's like, it's just I'm not going to give you as much time as I used to give you to rebuild a roster. I'll give you two years, but by the, I always, this is my line always for all sports. The first year, Nick Saban and Alabama lost a Louisiana Monroe in his first year. First year, you're built, not only you're building the roster, you're building a culture. but by the middle of year two in any sport, I've got to watch you and go, oh, they're tightening things up.
Starting point is 00:16:43 Oh, they've gotten faster. Oh, boy, they're really well coached. You have to win games. Even if you lose, do you lose competitively? And you go to Alabama's second year, you were like, okay, it's a real football team. They've gotten really physical. I'm three years into this Gruden thing.
Starting point is 00:16:58 I still don't like the roster. And outside of running the football well, what do they do? Well, got seven years to go. I don't know. It doesn't matter. I mean, that's part of the tradeoff when you sign someone to a contract like that. There is not the same amount of pressure.
Starting point is 00:17:15 You're not going to pay John Gruden not to coach for five years. So far, would you say it's working or not working? I mean, I don't. It's a float, I guess. I mean, I think that they need to take a significant step up this year. I don't love all the roster moves that they've made. but what are the standards? I think each organization has a different standard.
Starting point is 00:17:40 Are they relevance? I'll tell you what. Are they getting better every single year? I'll tell you what. If Aaron Rogers went to Denver and the Broncos pulled the trigger, that's the fourth best team in that division. It's already the fourth best roster. Denver's got a better roster.
Starting point is 00:17:54 So it's the fourth best roster. So to me it's float, leaning, not floating. I think they had a lot of space, a big bumper in the beginning because of the contract and coming back in and the stat organization. I get it. And then last year was maybe again another year of not so much pressure because they weren't in the stadium. I think things kick into a different gear this year. Like to me, this year's got to be, you're going to have fans and stands. I want to see a new stadium. I want to see 10 wins.
Starting point is 00:18:22 10 and 7 is not a great record. I need 10 wins. You got a quarterback that's good enough to win 10 games. That's what I got to see. 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. 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,
Starting point is 00:18:52 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 you're saying.
Starting point is 00:19:12 Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show.
Starting point is 00:19:29 This is a place for Raw, filtered 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 Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.
Starting point is 00:20:04 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 Jek. And I'm Alex English.
Starting point is 00:20:27 Each episode, we pick you 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 was big to me not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack all 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.
Starting point is 00:20:53 Thank you finishing that sentence. Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for Blank. Black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing,
Starting point is 00:21:28 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
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Starting point is 00:22:04 podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. Joy with the news. No, no, no, no, no, turn on the news. This is the herd line news. Stan Van Gundy was fired after just one season as coach of the Pelicans. There were reports that Zion Williamson and his family were unhappy with him, which contributed to the team's decision to fire him. but Van Gundy doesn't believe that the reports that Zion was upset had anything to do with it. He said, I don't know anything about that. In my mind, I like coaching Zion.
Starting point is 00:22:36 I had a good relationship with him. If they were unhappy, I didn't hear about it. Zion was unhappy with us not winning more games, but Zion never expressed any of that to me. That doesn't mean he wasn't unhappy. I know this. Regardless of what happened in that regard, Zion is no coach killer. Yeah, sometimes it just doesn't work. Right.
Starting point is 00:22:55 And reportedly, it wasn't just Zion that was unhappy with Van Gundy's. coaching style. It might not be that relatable to younger players. He's, you know, poorly a little more aggressive and he, they went 31 and 41, but Van Gundy aside, this is why I think while
Starting point is 00:23:12 the Luca situation and the Zion situations have similarities and the amount of pressure that is on the organization, the Pelicans, people being mad about this report about his family, not being happy with Zion being there and all that. Like, this is Zion's third coach, this new hire that they're going to make in three,
Starting point is 00:23:28 years. It's a mess. Yeah. This is... The third coach in three years. Chris Paul wanted out. I don't want to hear anything about Zion at all. If you have had to fire and hire three coaches in three years when you have Zion Williamson on your team, it is on you.
Starting point is 00:23:46 That is not Zion. And I think that's what Van Gundy is saying. Like, Zion's not out here saying, you know, you need to fire and hire these guys. Like, these are your decisions to make. Yeah. And also Anthony Davis and Chris Paul didn't want to be there. So it's the third star that's like... Listen, it's run and owned by the Benson family who are terrific NFL owners,
Starting point is 00:24:05 and they run a very button-down NFL operation. The Saints are, they draft as well as anybody. So when you look at the Saints, you're like, oh, that's well-run. That Russell Wilson puts that in the group. That's real run. When you look at the Pelicans, that's not what you think. So it's very hard to be great at two things. It's the same thing for ownership.
Starting point is 00:24:26 Find me all the owners. Oh, it's a magnificent baseball owner, and he's the best NBA owner. Well, you only have so much time and energy to devote to those things. Now, that's not to say that just because you own one team, you're necessarily a great owner, because we have seen lots of owners who only own one team who are disasters because they're spending too much time
Starting point is 00:24:45 and they're meddling and obsessing over things that they shouldn't even be involved in. So I think balance is important, but consistency is crucial for young players. This is when they develop. This is when they learn how to be pros. This is when they learn how to win. And if you have this constant turnover at what is arguably the most important role in a young player's career, which is their head coach.
Starting point is 00:25:09 What do you expect? Do you expect everyone to just be happy with the situation? I didn't like the pushback on Zion. I understand it came from his family. It didn't come from him. And generally, we associate what families say with the player is unhappy, which is why it's dangerous sometimes for families to get involved. but it's like, dude, he's at three coaches. He didn't make those moves.
Starting point is 00:25:30 What do you expect from him? We're already saying that he has the potential to be the face of the league and he can't even get a consistent message from the front office. So we're going to be paying attention to the Jaguars a lot this year with Trevor Lawrence and Urban Meyer. There's some expectations. I don't think they're unrealistic, but some expectations with Trevor and Urban there. Obviously, they're hoping to do better than they did last year, which is 1 in 15. and my receiver DJ Chark
Starting point is 00:25:56 thinks that Jacksonville is poised for a big jump this year. He said the guys that came in from a lot of winning programs, so we're trying to develop that winning culture and just camaraderie here. I think we're going to shock a lot of people. I'm not one of those people that's huge on setting record goals or anything like that or saying how many wins or losses we're going to have, but I think we're going to be an exciting football team for sure. They'll score points, 6 and 10, 6 and 11.
Starting point is 00:26:19 Well, Foxwood has their over under at 6 and a half. I would probably go under, but I'd, I don't think it's going to be, I think, you know, that division's weird. If they beat Tennessee once and Houston twice and got three wins, which is very, I don't think they can match up with the Colts. But, I mean, again, what you're looking for in year one with Urban, we should be able to watch them and go, okay, there's something. And I think what you'll see with them is, offensively, they're pretty clever. If we just saw that, if they were six and 11, but we were like, you know what, they lose some shootouts. But it's, by the way, Carolina last year.
Starting point is 00:26:52 they're interesting, but they just don't have the defensive person. No, they face a Kansas City. They can't stop. I think 6 and 11, but you see something developing is totally fair for them. Well, they went 1 in 15 last year. So 6 and 11 is a massive improvement in your first year and in Urban's first year coaching in the NFL and Trevor Lawrence's rookie year, which he signed his rookie contract today, actually.
Starting point is 00:27:15 But to your point about the division, that's what's interesting to me. I don't know what to expect in the Texans this year. We know to Sean Watson is great, but. They're not going to be very good. What's happening with that? David Cully is his first year coaching. Obviously, we know what Tennessee is capable of, but could they steal a game in division from Tennessee?
Starting point is 00:27:32 Sure. And, you know, we're interested in what Frank Gregg and Carson Wentz are going to be. And obviously the cults have a great roster, probably the best roster in the division. But it's Carson Wentz in a new situation. How's that going to play out? So there are a lot of question marks in the division still. Jags beat the Colts last year.
Starting point is 00:27:46 So that's a division where, you know, they could go 8 and 9. nine and you look at it and they got, you know, four wins in division. And it's like... Yeah, I'm not saying they're a wildcard team or anything. I'm just saying I could see them taking this big jump that DJ is talking about just with the division only. So the Chargers have Justin Herbert, a new star this season coming back in his second year after winning offensive rookie of the year. And new head coach Brandon Staley is taking full advantage of Herbert's talent saying the offense revolves around Justin Herbert. I wanted our offense to run through Justin Herbert.
Starting point is 00:28:22 I wanted him to make it work. And I think that that's what's been fun to sort of get started. But I think that ultimately those are the most dangerous quarterbacks that you defend where the quarterback becomes the system. It's kind of interesting. They've made a lot of aggressive moves this off season. Offensive line will be massively upgraded. The Brown's secondary and the Chargers O line are the most improved units in the NFL.
Starting point is 00:28:44 And because of that, they feel like playoff teams. I can't wait to watch Justin Herbert in a second year. Now, look, he won offensive rookie the year last year. He was spectacular. It is a new head coach. There are a lot of changes. I do think that to your point, the offensive line is much better. So I don't know what our expectation should be of him.
Starting point is 00:29:03 It's still, you know, tough division. But I'm really excited to see what they do with him, especially because to Brandon's point, they're fully leaning in on him now. God, he's just fun to watch. He's got a huge arm. Big body can run. His highlights, I just don't.
Starting point is 00:29:17 Don't get sick of. And, you know, with a lot of these highlights, what you notice is he's under duress. A second and a half after the ball. He's very cool. He has that kind of that Patrick Mahomes quality where he, a little Russell Wilson is, where it starts to get hectic and he doesn't look like he's panicking. Like some quarterback should just like the legs start going and start going everywhere. Like that's just not how he is under pressure.
Starting point is 00:29:40 Best for good stuff from Joy, Joy with the news. Best for last. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The 10 athletes go. 10 athletes going forward that will reshape America in the herd on a Monday. 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 Murray.
Starting point is 00:30:02 And I have a new sports podcast called The Lights Out Podcast with Sean Murray. This podcast is special to me as I get a chance to talk to some of the best we'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, 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.
Starting point is 00:30:34 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.
Starting point is 00:31:00 A win is a win. I don't care which I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement
Starting point is 00:31:17 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,
Starting point is 00:31:34 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 Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.
Starting point is 00:31:55 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
Starting point is 00:32:17 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
Starting point is 00:32:26 In the 80s To be clear 84 was big to me Not just because of crack I'm down to talk about crack On day but yeah yeah But just so y'all know At this point
Starting point is 00:32:36 Mark this is the second episode Where we've discussed crack So I'm starting to see There's a through line We also have AIDS On the table right now So Thank you for finishing
Starting point is 00:32:44 that sentence. Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history.
Starting point is 00:32:54 Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own
Starting point is 00:33:10 experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests, I'm talking. Trip 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.
Starting point is 00:33:27 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.
Starting point is 00:33:43 Absolutely. And that's two different. 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 Hardway. Open your free, Our Heart Radio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. Yesterday was 4th of July, and we thought we'd give you sort of the 10 going forward for, you know, the next five to 10 years.
Starting point is 00:34:12 the names, these are overwhelmingly with one exception, very, very young athletes. They will be the most endorsed, the most discussed, have the largest followings on social media. They'll have the biggest endorsement deals. They'll win the most. These people will, in my opinion, sort of shape sports going forward. And no particular order, just 10 figures going forward. here a while, and most 10 years will shape. Maybe one exception, but 10 years looks like the number of these are going to be prominent, premier championship level, high endorsement level,
Starting point is 00:34:58 social media stars, and here we go. I would start with Patrick Mahomes, a 25-year-old quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs. He has the highest passer rating ever. He has the highest winning percentage by any quarterback in the Super Bowl era. And he did get a bit of a break. He was coupled with probably the most creative head coach. So Andy Reid's going to let him loose and let him go. He also has a style, which is really fun to watch. And that matters.
Starting point is 00:35:35 He's a likable, kind of relatable, all about winning football. I think he'll be the face of the league for a long time. Fernando Tatis, 22-year-old baseball star out of San Diego. He is a once-a-decade talent. Folks, he leads the National League and everything. Home runs, slugging percentage, stolen bases. He's not a great fielder yet, but he took the Padres last season to their first playoff appearance in 22 years.
Starting point is 00:36:05 And another reason he's so influential. He's fun to watch. He's dynamic in a sport which is starving. for personalities, and he's a big one. How about Katie Ledecki, 24 years old? I know you're thinking yourself, she's only 24. Yeah, I know because she's been in the Olympics since she was 15. She's the greatest, most decorated female swimmer of all time.
Starting point is 00:36:28 At age 15, she made the 2012 U.S. Olympic team. Folks, she's won 28 golds, five silvers and bronze in major international competitions. She should dominate these Olympics at 24. meaning she'll be in another Olympics down the road at, you know, 28. Michael Phelps, Katie Ladecki defined swimming in America and likable, relatable, personable, and outstanding. How about Luca Dantage? We can't deny it.
Starting point is 00:37:02 He's 22 years old. Magic LeBron and Luke are the best players I've ever seen. International basketball players now are influential in the NBA. He averages 33 and a half. points per game in the playoffs. That would be the most ever in league history. And he's fiery. He'll get after it. He's got a little bit of a temper. He'll let you know how he feels. And that matters. How about Christian Pulisic? 22 years old, the greatest American soccer talent of my life. His resume is not as great as Landon Donovan yet. A midfielder played for Chelsea
Starting point is 00:37:35 in the English Premier League, the best player on the U.S. men's national team. And this is important. where our women's team dominates, our men's struggle even to qualify. And with his leadership, this is the most talented USA team in terms of young talent ever, they make the Olympics, they flourish, excuse me, in the World Cup. He has a major potential impact on the number of kids playing tennis. These 13, 14-year-old kids now have a lot of choices. The more that play soccer, the better it is for America. How about Brooks Kefka, 31 years old?
Starting point is 00:38:11 Listen, he'll golf and be in his prime for another 10 years. A four-time major champ, two U.S. Open. I think his game has depth. I think he has depth. I think he's a power golfer in his prime for a decade. I think he's more substantive than a Bryson de Shambot. I think he's more consistent than Dustin Johnson. He won't be Tiger Woods, nobody would be.
Starting point is 00:38:31 But the face, the look, the personality, the alpha, 10 years, I got no problems with him dominating the sport. How about Zion Williamson at 20? First of all, he's so explosive, so dynamic, so likable. The question, and I think there'll be controversy in his career, is he going to stay in New Orleans. It is a chaotic organization. Zion Williamson, youngest player in league history, with consecutive games 30 points, at least 70% shooting percentage.
Starting point is 00:39:01 A Russell Wilson, 32 years old, has to be involved. I know he's 32. Russell's never had an injury. He will play to 42, folks. He's going to be a Tom Brady. he is the only quarterback in league history first nine years in the league winning seasons eight of the nine in the playoffs and that's in the toughest division in football he's not doing this in the afc south josh allen maybe the only thing in the league that compares to patrick
Starting point is 00:39:27 mahomes six five and a half had half their rushing touchdowns has an insane arm melkuyper said he's the 10th most talented prospect in the 40 years he's been doing the draft he is remarkable And how about finally Naomi Osaka, 23 years old? She is the highest paid female athlete in the world. She had a good year last year, 55 million, outspoken with Black Lives Matter and mental health awareness. She appears to be for the next 10 years, and you can't compare anybody to Serena, because that's like the greatest tennis player, arguably, of all time. But she has sort of separated from the sport, number two ranked player in the world.
Starting point is 00:40:09 there you go I'd add Simone Biles gymnast? Yes most decorated gymnast of all time most dominant and she's 24 so she'll be in another Olympics and Sabrina Yonescu from the New York Liberty
Starting point is 00:40:23 she's already in state farm commercials and I'm interested I couldn't put Trevor Lawrence in we got to see what he's going to do first that's what I said give me two years to watch him all right we're done thanks for watching happy holidays see you tomorrow
Starting point is 00:40:39 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.
Starting point is 00:41:02 Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds.
Starting point is 00:41:29 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, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hardway with your favorite therapist and host, Kear Games. This space is about black men's experiences,
Starting point is 00:41:47 having honest conversations that it's really not safe to have anywhere, but you're having them with a licensed professional who knows what he's doing. How many men carry a suit or armor? It signals to the world that you not to be played with. And just because you have the capability that does not mean that you need to.
Starting point is 00:42:04 Listen to learn the hard way on the AHA radio app, Apple Podcast, or whoever ever, you get your podcast. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clivert 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 of conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it.
Starting point is 00:42:35 Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok's podcast network on TikTok. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.

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