The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 07/26/2021 - HOUR 3 - Rodgers, Deshaun

Episode Date: July 26, 2021

In this hour of The Herd with Colin Cowherd, Doug Gottlieb--in for Colin--explains why Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers has no real leverage in Green Bay because of his contract. Plus, John Middlekauff of the "3 and Out" podcast joins The Herd to chat about quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Deshaun Watson as well as other NFL matters. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

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

Welcome in. This is The Herd, wherever you may be, and however you may be making us part of your day. Thanks so much. I'm Doug Gottlie, filling in for Colin Cowherd. Oh, I love social media. Don't you love social media? Love, love, love. Okay, so in the five minutes in which I had a chance to take a sip of coffee,

hmm, fills, yummy, go to the restroom, take another sip of coffee, and sit down on the old Twitter machine. Doug Gottlieb filling in for Colin. Colin is back tomorrow. Um, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh,

uh, anyway, uh, Mike Silver tweets out one possible solution for the Rogers Packers stalemate. The team could agree to lop off the final two years of his contract and theoretically not franchise him after this season, set up a last-hand scenario, not likely, but maybe the Packers aside one year's better than none. And I tease Mike Silver about being the burner account for Aaron Rogers.

They're obviously very close going back to his days of covering him. He's a cow. now Mike Silver works for the Washington Redskins. It's pretty interesting, though, that like all of these scenarios, again, remember, you're the Packers. What we do is we look at all of these scenarios, all of them. And we're like, what's best for the player? Like, at the end of the day, especially the Packers who,

the only people they answer to are, the fans. Not really, but they have the inner circle and no one really knows how it works about. I understand the money is all printed out there but it's a really weird way of doing business. It's cool because everybody feels like they have a

so let me get this. So I want you to imagine you're in the Packers organization. And Aaron Rogers Camp is like, you know what you could do, you want to make Aaron happy is cut off the last two years of his contract. So he's a free agent unrestricted at the end of this year and then we'll come back and play football.

Okay, wait, what? Huh? Look, I understand that the contract at that point in time doesn't benefit Aaron Rogers as much, you know, that it becomes kind of a pro team deal, but you signed the contract. the next two years. So here's how it worked, okay? He got upfront money. He got $66 million in his first year

to make him the highest paid player in the league. He got paid all up front basically the first three years. So the cap hit was 20.9, $29.6, $21.6. This year, $37 million cap hit. He got $20 million. He's going to get $21 million over the first four years of the country. contract, he will receive $125.298 million.

Okay, let's think about what that is. Okay. And a contract that was signed four years ago, four years ago, he's going to make just less than $40 million guaranteed in the first three years. The next two years, he'll make $25.5 million guaranteed. So what teams do is like, hey, we got to manage the cap, the dead cap. There's only 17.2 if we want to get out of the Aaron Rogers business at the end of this year, if we want to cut him.

You have a guy under contract. Even if he doesn't want to play for you anymore, if he plays this year and he wants to go somewhere else and you get the right offer, you can trade him. Or we can do what the Patriots did, which is, you know, what we should do is let's just cut off the last two years. Why would you do that? You're negotiating against yourself. Aaron Rogers has no leverage other than not playing, and not playing means he has to pay fines or retire.

So he has no leverage. And the only leverage you have is, hey, we don't just own your rights this year. We own it for the next two years after that. And we would love to redo your deal to extend you. You don't want that fine. That's okay. You don't want to, it's okay. We have a contract.

I just, I don't really understand. because you'll get media members who will fight and go like, wow, players don't have guaranteed contracts. Yes, he does. He has a contract. He's guaranteed to make $125.998 million for the first four years. He's going to get every penny of that. And the only thing the Packers get in return is they still own his rights the next two years.

And if he's on the team, it's an $11.5 million signing bonus, $25 million in base salary. and the following year, $25 million in base salary. That's the contract. We started with especially NFL players contracts to treat them like they're the Bible or they're the Constitution. Like we'll only talk about the part that works for us. You're like, well, you know, you got that guaranteed money up front. So cut out the past two years, last two years like, no. No.

No. It doesn't work that way. that is not the way it works. Well, see, I really like this passage from the Bible. Okay, there's other passages in the Bible, which are not as forgiving towards a lot of people. Yeah, I don't pay attention to those. I don't like those. I don't follow those.

Okay. Well, contracts are kind of different because once you sign it, it's sort of ironclad. It goes through legal upon legal. It has to be approved by the NFL and the NFLPA, and that has to be specific wording. and like I just again and this is also the mistake of Aaron Rogers turning it personal. You turn it personal and they're like, you know what?

I was thinking about acquiescing and maybe cutting off a year or two of that contract. But then he basically called me an a hole and said this is about people and he's saying he doesn't like me as people. Like why would I do that? And remember, there's no owner going, hey, hey, hey, hey, you guys. Let's work this thing out. Let's trade away Jordan Lovis. No, no, it's just those guys. guys. And Aaron is turning into me against them.

And now they're being asked to do him a solid. Hey man, do me a solid. Cut off those last two years of contract, which are your only leverage in. Now only getting me here, keep me here, but the potential of trading me from here. No. And I'm not saying this because I'm not, I'm not saying this because I'm not an Aaron Rogers fan. I'm a huge Aaron Rogers fan. But just just a reality to it. Just a reality to it. In our business, I don't know how long Collins under contract, but Colin is the Aaron Rogers of this business. He's, you know, right?

He's the best. I think I'm really good at what I do. Colin's the best. At just this craft, he's great. Imagine him going to Fox and going, first, leaking out to Fox and saying like, yeah, all those guys, all those executives, they're idiots. They don't know what they're doing. And they keep bringing, they're bringing in Gottlieb to replace me or they're bringing in, you know,

Jason McIntyre and the odd couple and, you know, I just, I want to. And they're, they're this, they're that, the other thing. Then he goes, you know, what you could do is at the end of this year, make me a free agent. And then maybe I'll come back like, no. Ah, if you didn't like the terms of the contract, here's something you could have done. Not sign the contract. That's kind of it. But we live in this fantasy society.

Like it's no different. Is college ridiculously expensive? Of course. I have two 15-year-old daughters in a couple of years. Hopefully they'll be getting ready for college. And whatever that money we have saved up, it ain't going to be enough. So do I think something needs to be done to make it more reasonable? Yes.

The idea of wiping off everybody's debt, like, okay, well, what about the people who just finished up paying off their debt? You know? If you didn't like the terms of the deal, you do have an option of not agreeing to the deal. God bless Dak Prescott. I, Doc Prescott, and I understand everything was different with him because he was under a fourth year. He was a fourth round draft pick, and there was a limit to what they could pay him. But, Dak Prescott, Kirk Cousins, they just played out their contracts.

Again, I know that both fourth round picks. It's different. said, you know, I want guaranteed money. I want a short-term deal. Now, the downside to that is for Kirk Cousins. Now, he got a second deal is in whatever the final year of it is, there's a chance that you don't get, you don't have that, you don't get paid walking out the door.

You don't get the cushion of having additional years. But hey, you know what they could do. All of these stories, all of them. You know, Florio tweeted out, well, there's a nuclear option. July 2nd, if he wants to say he doesn't want to play because of COVID, he doesn't have to. Like, then he'd keep his money. Yeah, but you're going to sit out because of COVID, collect money and then try and tell the world it's not about money?

Come on. Plus, when you come back, your contract reinstate says it was previously constructed. There's no nuclear option for it. All of these are somebody in Aaron Rogers Camp floating out things because they know the inevitability of he's going to play. He's still going to be under contract for this and two more seasons. and however they work it out, they'll have to work it out at the end of this year. Okay.

Coming up next. Now that the 2021 season is set for Aaron Rogers, could Deshawn Watson be traded? I'll tell you next in The Hurt. Be sure to catch live editions of the HARD 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 in It's the enhanced games.

Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way,

this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment,

and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast, it's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tapped 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 Jett. 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. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because. of crack.

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

Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your Podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games.

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Open your free, our heart radio app, Search learn the hard way and listen now. Doug Gottlieb in for Colin, this is the herd. You know, it's interesting. There's all this talk now about conferences and realignment. I saw some on social media where Jay Billis is like, hey, the ACC should sit there and go like, hey, we got these natural rivalries. Why don't we merge with the SEC? Huh?

Well? I don't. outside of Clemson and Florida State, where is the value there? And his point is, and it's a good one, it's like basically you're forming your own new NCAA, right? You're the new NFL.

But the ACC, where is, again, it's the old, where is the value there? I love Virginia Tech. That program has fallen. I don't know if it's going to be able in the ACC. to get back where it rightfully belongs. Florida State, again, we'll see.

Not there. But Florida State's still Florida State. I mean, Bobby Bowden, we heard Friday, he has some terminal illness. I mean, people forget, Bobby Bowden, 14 straight years they finished in the top five in one poll or another. Like, that was a dominant football program.

And Clemson's obviously been dominant. And you have Miami as a name. But look, the SEC, the part that those guys like is, yeah, we'll let Oklahoma and Texas in because they'll bring value to it. But where else does, outside of Clemson, no one else brings value. And if we have to add the entire ACC like, yeah, no, why? Because now all those schools can say, hey, if you want to play big time football in the state of Texas, you can only go to one league.

Before you're Texas A&M and Texas A&M could say, hey, we're the only league in the SC, we're the only Texas school in the SEC. The reason Texas A&M is so ticked is now they can't say that. There's literally outside of if your parent went to A&M. Why would you choose A&M over Texas or even over LSU or Arkansas? Because on a yearly basis, you're going to play in Texas. Kids want to play generally closer to home, best level competition, best chance to play right why. So, you know, it's like Florida is the only SEC team in the state of Florida. Do you think

they're going to go, hey, you know what we should do? Let's add Florida State who's floundering right now. Let's add Miami right now and say, hey, you can play in the SEC too? No. Not doing that. I think Georgia's sitting there going, you know what we should do? You know, we can tell all these recruits, we're the only school in the state of Georgia. If you're in Georgia, which is a great high school football state, you can play a Georgia. There are already. already you have to battle Clemson for every kid and Florida. You think they want to battle Georgia Tech? You think you want to let some of these other programs in there?

Clemson even more. Like now at least you can say to Clemson, like, hey, Clemson, they can play whomever they want, but they got to play in that ACC. They got to play Wake Forest and Duke and NC State, right? Or you can come to Georgia where you play Florida, where you play Auburn every year, the oldest rivalry in the South, you know, where you'll play Alabama just to win a SEC championship.

Now you'll play Texas and Oklahoma. You can't do that anywhere else. Again, this is one of those. It sounds like a good idea until the reality of it is, why will it always stay kind of an exclusive club? Hey, we're good at 16. It's a lot of teams. It's a lot to manage. We don't just be more is not always more.

But the value is in what schools can bring eyeballs to a. a TV set or to your phone. And if the answer is not you, I mean, how happy is Mississippi State that they're just kind of clinging on here, that they're just an original SEC? Otherwise, they're gone. It's truth. You know, Vandy gives them some academic repute, but not much in terms of sports. Kentucky gives them basketball, legitimacy in basketball.

All right. We'll get to John Middokoff in a second. what he thinks happens to Sean Watson, what he thinks of the latest Aaron Rogers News. First, here's Ryan Bursinger with News. Turn on the news. This is the Hurdline News. So, Doug, we've got more coming out of the Packers Shareholders Meeting, which of course is being held in Green Bay, where all 84 million owners of the Green Bay Packers are gathered. And listening in to Mark Murphy and Brian Gutakunst addressing the fans.

to kick off the season. So we got some more quotes here from Mark Murphy talking about Aaron Rogers coming back. He's saying, well, first off, on whether or not he knows if Aaron Rogers will report to training camp on time, he very simply says, no, I don't. So we'll have to wait and see on that.

But he acknowledges that both fans are frustrated by the Aaron Rogers situation, then called it, quote, a pox on both houses, us and Aaron. He said he was pleasantly surprised there wasn't more booing either, directed at the team or Rogers is all according to Rob Domopski. So Doug, I have a question for you. Do you feel like Packers fans should kind of be angry at Aaron Rogers over these last couple months

because of everything that's been going on and how it's sent the franchise into such a sort of disarray over the last month or two? Do you think they're just going to kind of just forgive and forget and let go as long as he's playing this season and all over? Yes, as long as he plays and plays well, they will not forget. They will forget. If he doesn't, and play well, they will not forget. See, Aaron Rogers! Had you been there at OTAs? Now that's what to happen. But yeah, they have every right to, like,

look, he didn't play well down the stretch there against the buccaneers. The defense, which has been, again, realigned, reimagined, new coordinator, got rid of some dudes, whatever. Like, the defense actually got three turnovers against Tom Brady in the second half. Now, there was a hole that was dug

by that defense. Okay, but the offense didn't come through. I think people in Green Bay understand on some levels that, you know, who they're running, who they're managed by. And I'm sure there's like, you got to handle these personalities a little bit better. But for the most part, like, they don't care. Hey, we were a playaway from going to the Super Bowl and maybe winning the whole damn thing. Figure it out, Aaron, get back into camp. I would guess they tire on the quarterback retirement thing out of, you know, Brett Farr have warmed out.

Now, the last week of July is one of my favorite times in the sports calendar, and that's because it's MLB trade deadline time. We got the trade deadline coming up on Friday, July 30th. It's typically the 31st, but because that fell on a Saturday, apparently they don't really want to work on a Saturday. So it will be the 30th instead. And, of course, there's only one deadline this year, no waiver trade period in August or anything, just one deadline. So a couple of major rumors coming out. We're starting to get the hot stove going on this Monday. Byron Buxton, its extension talks have ceased with the Minnesota Twins.

He might be moved. The twins have also reportedly shopping Jose Barrios. The Dodgers and Padres are among those that have checked in, according to John Paul Morosi. And we've got some trade odds, according to betonline.com. Now, Max Scher is somebody who probably the biggest fish to acquire at this deadline. the Mets are currently seen as the favorites to Lance Scherzer at 3 to 1. Yeah, yeah, that's why that surprises me to see them as the favorites.

The Mets are also the favorites to land Chris Bryant at 2 to 1. Now, according to a report, apparently the Mets are more interested in just getting rental pieces. And technically, Max Scherzer is a rental, but he's also thrown around the idea. Exactly, Andy, and he would like to get an extension with wherever he lands. Okay, so what's the question? The question is, does Max Scherzer go in the division? Because you have the Dodgers at 7 to 2, Brewers 15 to 4, Yankees 9 to 2, Astros 5 to 1. Starting pitching market is going to be rather intense at this deadline.

Where do you see Max Scherzer running up? I mean, I think the Dodgers are going to add some back into the bullpen, but that's the kind of guy that I see going there, right? Obviously, the U. Darvish didn't work out for them a couple years ago. but I mean look last year's they didn't even have a victory parade for last year's World Series. No. I think Scherzer's the type of guy

ends up with the Dodgers more than the Mets. The problem is the Dodgers are kind of charged the Dodger tax. You know, because everybody knows how financially successful they are, how good their farm system is, that you will ask for one and a half times, one and a half times, which you'd ask for anybody else of the Dodgers.

That said, you'd probably do the same thing with the Mets because they're in the vision. I think it's more likely he becomes a Dodger. Lastly, here, we've been keeping in track with the Olympics with every heard line so far today. History was made in the Olympics yesterday as

Heidi Lynn Diaz of the Philippines became the first person ever from the Philippines to win a gold medal in their 97 year Olympic history. In the 55-kilet weightlifting, 55-kilogram weightlifting has set an Olympic record

with a 220 28 kilograms. So, congratulations to the Philippines, their first ever gold medal in the Olympics. Huh. Do you know how many people live in the Philippines? Oh, geez. It's a huge population, tens of millions, maybe hundreds of millions. Boy, you want to take a guess?

200 million. Let's see. That's kind of big. 108 million, 108.1 million people. Yeah, yeah, that's gigantic. There are 7,640 islands. Wow. Like, you imagine that?

Like, we struggled to remember, like, the names of the states and how they're placed. Like, how many islands do you have to remember if you grow up going to school in the Philippines? And that's Ryan Burshinger with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Herd Lye News. John Middokov joins us. Three and Out is the podcast.

I kind of dig this handball thing. But it does feel like water polo for dudes that don't want to get into the banana hammocks and the pool. I like that. Yeah, I mean, it's not bad. I'm a traditional guy, honestly. Like, I think we've jumped the shark a little bit with adding things. I'm a golf guy, but golf should not be in the Olympics soccer. I'm not really feeling it.

Like, I don't know about you. You know, Summer Olympics swimming, all the track and field. Like, I was good with that. Like that, that, you know, the gymnastics. There's just too much stuff going on. Well, I mean, now we're going to three on three basketball. I'm not trying to be negative Nancy here. No, no, no, no.

We go on three on three basketball. Like, really? How come, why do we have three on three? We don't have one on one. And if we're going to have like archery and all these shooting stuff, like, well, why not have shooting games or a horse? I'm the Olympic horse champion. I don't, yes, I do think we've, the Olympics jumped the shark a whole long,

a long time. ago. They're still, they're still fun. Sport did you find yourself watching that you're like, God, I don't even want to tell anybody I'm watching this. Well, I'll be completely honest. I haven't watched really a second. I watched a little bit of volleyball yesterday. But I mean, if it's

on, you know, whether it's ping pong and stuff like, you know, I'll watch the stupidest sports if there's literally nothing else on. The ping pong's awesome because now you start to, like, I'm texting on my buddies, like, here's the real ping pong rules, okay? You can't be swinging your racket forward, your paddle forward, before you hit the ball.

You have to watch how the real ping pong dudes do it. I mean, really? Could you last multiple hits in a volley against, like, the elite guy, do you think? Multiple hits? Yeah, multiple hits. Not just one. Yeah.

I couldn't win. I mean, I have no chance of winning. No, no, no. Could you last five, five hits? On a rally? Like, one, two, three, four, like, rally on, like ping pong? Ping pong rally on it?

With the gold medal. Rally on. 90 miles an hour. I don't know. No, but they don't hit it 90 miles an hour every time. They just, when they're going to finish you off, that's what they do.

It's not like Forrest Gump where they're back there. It's not like Forrest Gump where they're just wailing away at each other. It is, it is. John Minnokov joining us here. I was, I like watching ping pong. I do.

I don't. There are some of these rules with games, sports, which I don't really know the rules to, too is all. What I'm like, I seem like a foul. Seemed like a foul.

Okay, let's start with Aaron Rogers. Their Ian Rappaport says Rogers indicated to people close to him that he plans to play for Green Bay this season. Many factors of play, but GM Brian Gunnick says he's hopeful for a positive outcome. That was Ian Rappaport. David Bactiari then, quote, retweets it, wow, guess we aren't close people at Aaron Rogers 12. What happens with Aaron Rogers in the next week? Well, I think it's just, it's a money game.

I mean, makes $37 million this year. there are 17 games and he's still making over $2 million a game. In the history of America, no one's ever turned down $37 million for six months' work. So there was no chance he was ever retiring. And I think it's pretty clear that, I mean, not that we all did know, his leverage, he was somewhat stuck this year. You know, and it was a little bizarre and you and I had talked about it. Maybe he could have got something done if he would have really like pedal to the metal right after the season ended. but he kind of came out of left field right around the draft, right?

You could argue if he would have started like April 1st and gave four weeks. Who knows? Probably still not traded, but you never know. But it was too late and you're not going to trade him now. So he's going to play. It kind of makes sense. Like those guys tweeting pictures of the last dance, like this is their last dance. But I saw you, you know, going back with like Mike Silver on Twitter.

The backers, you know, I mean, in theory this could be his last year, but what if they're good again? You know? Well, that's where Silver's like, well, you know what they could do. Lop off the two years. Like, hey, you know, we should do? We have leverage and we have the ability to own his rights for two more years or trade him or whatever. You know what we're going to do since he made it personal and all, basically called us all jerks and idiots. Let's take off those last two years of contract just because, like, why would they do that?

We're paying you $37 million. I don't see them doing that. I think some stuff with the NFL kind of takes on a life. its own on social media like Devante Adams last week. You know, it came out that he had turned down the contract. And it made sense, right? He's comparing himself, I'm the best wide receiver in the league. Hopkins did this weird contract that was short term, but they basically gave him $25 million a year for two straight years guaranteed.

Like, that's the number I want to go off of. And then everyone's like, oh, he's going to hit free agency. When does the guy like Devante Adams ever hit free agency? He never does. So if they did, quote, unquote, choose to get rid of those two guys, can you imagine the hall they would get for Devante Adams and Aaron Rogers. That would happen next year. They would franchise and tag and trade Devante and trade Aaron Rogers.

But still, like, I think we are a long way away from all that happening, especially because if these guys show up, they're two of, I mean, Aaron was the reigning MVP. Devante's clearly one of the best non-quarterbacks in the league. They're going to be really good. Who's to say, like, if a couple things go right, they could beat the bucks and they're in the Super Bowl and they win a Super Bowl. You know, we've seen crazier. So I think everything's on the table right now

besides him not playing for the Packers, which clearly he's going to do. Okay, help me out with this. Tom Brady, he basically called other teams idiots for a couple of teams for passing on him. And he likened himself to Wayne Gretzky and Michael Jordan. This is a new Tom Brady, right? And you and I know, it's like what people don't know,

Bill Belichick has a great personality with players. Otherwise, he, forget him. what he does the media. None of that matters. What you do with the players, they wouldn't buy in unless they bought into him as a guy. And Tom Brady's odd, gee, shucks thing, this is the real Tom Brady. That said, like, how did we get to Tom Brady becoming like a diva wide receiver talking about himself this much? Well, I think for the first time last year, right, he'd never hit free agency in his

entire life. I mean, he'd spent 20 plus years on the one team. And finally, he is available, and he's the most accomplished player in the first. history probably of, you know, maybe there's been some NBA players, but in football, for sure, that's ever been available and still playing pretty well, even though he's coming off, listen, I don't quite blame the Patriots. Like I might have shortered him too. But in his mind, like he could still really play. And let's face it, a lot of teams did not want them.

The Niners who just were coming off the Super Bowl said, we're going to stick with Jimmy Garoppel, right? The Raiders were, I've heard, were kind of lukewarm on them. Like they chose Derek Carr over him. Clearly the Tennessee Titans, and listen, Tanyhill had a good year, but like they chose Ryan Tanyhill over Tom Brady. And then Tom Brady goes and he wins a Super Bowl. Like, you know, I kind of understand it. You're right that we never hear him talk like it. Though, you know, this is the way normal, I would say in any walk of life, competitive people talk.

They just don't always do it publicly. So, but he kind of validated it. Like these guys legitimately told me, no, we're not that interested. No, we're going to stick with our guy. Like that happened. It legitimately happened. And then he won the Super Bowl for a team that hadn't made the playoffs in 12 years. Like, it really is pretty crazy the way it all worked out, right?

I mean, they got him. And they didn't even pay him that much. We talk about Dak Prescott. He's making $40 million a year. Tom's making $25. They got Tom Brady for $25 million. Okay, Deshawn Watson. Now he's showing up.

So he's basically doing the Marshawn Lynch. I'm just here so I don't get fined. I mean, the first thing, though, when I hear trade rumors and at least an outrageous price tag being asked and he's there, it does signify to me. And I don't know. Okay. I don't profess to know at all what happened with all the masseuses. But I don't think it would be this public that he's out there and now at new trade demands unless there was a feeling that these lawsuits weren't going to make. I talked to someone, I wouldn't say in the no, but he's part of a team that would be very interested.

And they obviously, you know, they have done a ton of due diligence as much as humanly possible. There's only, you get to a point where, you know, the cops aren't going to tell you everything. But they are feeling more and more comfortable if it ever does. Again, these have to go away. I could not, and I have a hard time seeing general managers with this stuff up in the air. once it becomes whatever. If there's a settlement, if it goes away, then it'd be free game. But right now, when we see the rumors of all the picks he would go for,

like, I'm sorry. When this is hanging over his head, it's like you buy in a house in a seller's market. And usually quarterbacks, you've got to waive contingencies. You've got to overpay. It's part of the deal. But when you have a legal situation like this, even if you feel pretty comfortable that it's going to go away, until it goes away, how could you possibly pay three ones and a two for just something that all of a sudden he's on your team? And then it turns out, well, there was the one issue that might have been a little more shady than we thought, but the others are not as crazy.

Like that would be a disaster. Like if I was the Texans right now, I would want to rid my hands of it and get, you know, 100% value. But if I was the other team, if I was going to trade for him now, which I still think a lot of owners would probably be a little like, can't we just wait a little bit? unless you could get them for 50 cents on the dollar, but what's the incentive for the Texans to do that? So I just think we're at a stalemate until it gets finality. And then he's just too talented of a player for there not to be multiple teams bidding, which will just naturally drive up the price.

How much different do we look at the Rams losing their starting running back before the season ever began? Yeah, I mean, it's not ideal because he is a really, talented player, but he was banged up. When he got hurt, I went and looked. I was like, you know, this guy had a good rookie season. Well, he had multiple injuries last year. So to just assume that he was going to be some Bell Cow 17 games, we do that.

And I did it when I was in the NFL. We do it, you know, talking about football. But like, I still think that was a pretty big stretch. Now, they drafted him in the second round. It's, you know, it's an injury that who knows, maybe he'll never be the same. You hope he comes back, but you never know. It is the one position, though, especially in that offense, right, the Shanahan zone running offense, that you should be able to replace them, right? Like if that was Jalen Ramsey or Cooper Cup or one of their stalwarts, right, it'd be a massive blow.

While it feels like a big blow on paper, to me it's just a position where, I mean, didn't they remember the year they made a Super Bowl and Todd Gurley kind of fell off a cliff at the end of the season? Like CJ Anderson off the scrap heap and boom, he was starting running back in the playoffs. You know? So it's, it is the one. Yes, but that was a different offensive line. But yes, they're trying to rebuild this offense and build it through him. You can patchwork it with several guys, I guess is my point. Last thing, Cowboys, Dax back.

Oh, he looks great. Tyron Smith, 308. Like you can see ab muscles on your starting left tackle. Here we are again with the, okay, I'm kind of in on the Cowboys thing. But the defense was completely made over. the Cowboys haven't really beaten a good team in two seasons. Where are you on the Cowboys

as of, where are we, July, whatever day today is, July 26th? Yeah, I mean, on paper, their offense should be elite. I mean, you just see some of the clips of C.D. Lamb. I think there's a chance in like five or six years we'll go, like, C.D. Lamb lasted to pick 17. He should have gone like top seven. And

obviously Amari's solid, even though he's hurt right now. Gallup's a good player. You know, you you hope Zeke can just show some signs of life. Let's face it, he's been a little shell of himself, but, you know, Pollard was really good. I mean, Dax's a solid player. Their offense is going to be fine.

It's just defensively. And, okay, they get rid of Mike Nolan. You know, easy move. He was terrible. Dan Quinn has not exactly been, you know, buddy Ryan the last couple years. So just to assume, I know he's a name, and people like the guy,

but he has not been some schematic genius, right? I would say Atlanta, definitely over the last, you know, since Kyle left, it felt like they were a joke on defense, right? And he is a defensive guy. When they hired him, he was Pete's defensive coordinator. So to assume that he's just going to come and fix everything. Now, the kid they drafted from Penn State, that guy's a baller. So that guy can really play. But the other guys, the Lawrence, who they signed a couple years ago to a big deal, is underachieved.

You know, they lost a corner last year in free agency to the Miami Dolphins. So it's just like, are they even that, you know, Van Derresh gets hurt all the time? Jalen Smith, who Jerry was so proud of signing because of what he overcame, but does have some deficiencies. Yeah, Cameron. You could argue are just, but their offense is talented. Is their defense really that talented? Like even if Dan Quinn does a good job, you know, do they really have the horses over there? Especially in that division.

Because that division with the, with the Giants and definitely the football team, they have good defenses. So maybe you can neutralize the Cowboys a little bit and you can score on them. But the Cowboys, I don't think it's crazy to say they should compete to win that division if Dak play 17 games. John Middilkoff, three now is the podcast. I encourage you to download it as he will be getting ready to, I'm sure, tape another one here in the very near future. Thanks so much for joining us, John. Later, bro. Have a good day.

All right. Coming up next. Best for last, including the best events to watch in the Olympics. That's next in The Hurt. Be sure to catch live editions of The HARD weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. Hey, it's me, Rob Parker. Check out my weekly MLB podcast inside the Parker for 22 minutes of piping hot baseball talk, featuring the biggest names and newsmakers in the sport.

Whether you believe in analytics or the I-Test, we've got all the bases covered. New episodes drop every Thursday, so do yourself a favor. and listen to Inside the Parker with Rob Parker on the IHeart Radio app or wherever you get your podcast. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque.

Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win.

A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined.

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

stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me, or you're just chasing down a dream, This is right where you need to be. Listen to The Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs?

Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam Jek. And I'm Alex English. We pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s.

To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack all day, but just so you all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you finishing that sentence. Yes. I don't think there's a more.

important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough

because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth? Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, 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. Doug Ghaly been for Colin. This is The Herd, wherever you may be. However, maybe you listen to the show. Thanks so much. Colin's back tomorrow.

And you know, we'll see if he can top because there's just no way he'll be able to top. I've been watching and enjoying some of the Olympics. And with that, we got our best for last. It's almost the end of the show. But that doesn't mean we're phoning it in. Nope. We grind to the very last segment. It's time for best for last.

Here's what I did. I put together a list of the sports in which the U.S. should clearly dominate. We don't always dominate. And I want explanations as to why. Okay? All right, let's get to number 10. Number 10. Surfing.

I have no idea yet if we are going to dominate the quarterfinals and the men's shortboard is today at 3 o'clock. But we literally invented surfing, right? We did invent it. I know Portugal has those gigantic thousand meter high waves or whatever. But in terms of the actual sport, we invented it. We should dominate it. Number nine.

Shooting. Shooting. The mixed air pistol team competition is tonight. How to Smith and Wesson. That's an American product. Right. And we have more gun guys. We have more guns in this country than anywhere else in the world.

How can we be not better with our aim? Number eight. For sport. Go do it for sport. You ever been to a gun range? I saw, do you see we won a woman who won the first she won a Taekwondo medal?

That's pretty awesome. I was going to do, I was going to do Taekwondo. Fencing. We should be better at fencing. How many people put it down on their, on their resume to try and get into a better school? Plus, I mean, if you grew up watching Princess Pride,

you know what they do not know, which is you are not left-handed. I understand we don't have as much attention to the fencing detail, but plenty of kids need to get into schools, and fencing should be a way how. Number seven. Number seven, beach volleyball. Again, we invented the sport.

And we're like, eh, volleyball is cool, but what are we doing there in summer? Plus, you've got all these good-looking people, like, let's put them out on the beach. We can't invent things that can get passed by them, can we? Number six. Oh, number six is a good one. is a really, really good one.

Right? Really, really good one that I think we should be awesome at. We should be better at, uh, at weightlifting. I mean, believe me, outside of the only people that tell you more about what they like to do than crossfitters are vegans. So why can't all you crossfitters, why can't you become Olympians? You guys make your, make your workout of the day. More than just Olympic lifts and running down a mile to the stop sign and back.

Get yourself ready for the actual Olympic game. Number five. I hope people understand that there's tongue planted firmly in cheek, right? Sailing. Are we good at sailing? Sailing is an Olympic sport. I mean, at some point in time, all these different adventures sailed here, right? Ponch de Leon.

He came here looking for the fountain of youth. Christopher Columbus may or may not have discovered America, which didn't really need to be discovered. I mean, we have to find a way to be better at sailing, since sailing was initially part of what launched us as a country. Number four. Archery. All you, I mean, I have so many friends in the Midwest and the South,

and they are hunters, and they go bow hunting. You mean to tell me that we can't get a couple of bow hunters that can knock a deer off from a thousand feet out, thousand yards out, they can't go win the gold medal? Of course we can. We're just not recruiting the right people. Number three. Synchronized diving.

I'm fascinated by this sport. I mean, the perfection by which they, but I think what we need is we have so many cheerleaders that are incredible athletes, right? Especially the flyers as cheerleaders. But the movements and the holding of pauses, it's very gymnastics like I think we should turn cheerleaders

into divers. What do you guys think? Discuss amongst yourself. Number two. Team handball. I love team. I'm a team handball guy. I just saw Spain win on a

I guess it's like a penalty throw from seven meters out. I didn't know these. I have no idea the rules. I think there's a three point line. I'm not sure. It appears to be very physical. It's like water polo only you don't have to tread water.

That fits me perfectly. we need to be better team handball. This needs to be like a countrywide. We need Joe Biden to go like, hey, I've been watching the Olympics and I want to start a committee to find the best team handballers. Number one.

Race walking. I don't know why they walk. I guess you always have to have one foot on the ground or whatever. Kaiser Soze would have been an incredible race walker. Wouldn't he? Just dragging that foot? Until he stopped dragging the foot. How do we?

We've all been walking for a year, right? Remember during COVID we couldn't do anything else? You go for a nightly walk? We got to be better at race walking. I don't know if we're not teaching form or fitness or function well enough, but the number one sport we should be better at as a country is race walking. That's the best for lives. All right.

Well, Colin will be back tomorrow. It appears that Aaron Rogers at some point is going to show up, although will he, won't he? I just don't see him having any leverage. It doesn't have any leverage. And it's not like Deshawn Watson where the team's not going to be good with him, not going to be good without him. Aaron Rogers is a great team.

We'll see if he shows up tomorrow. Colin to be back then. I'm Doug Gottlieb. This is The Herd. One more Herd. The Herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the IHeart Radio app. Search Herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy,

not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smigel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Oden Kirk 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. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all,

embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. On the Look Back at a Podcast. From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 was big to me.

I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it, with our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild year. I mean, it was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people.

Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me. Clifford Taylor the Fourth. 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 Clifford Show.

This is a place for raw, unfills of conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to The Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok podcast network on TikTok. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.