The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 08/02/2021 - HOUR 1 - Carson Wentz, Lakers

Episode Date: August 2, 2021

Carson Wentz will be out 5-12 weeksHow Russell Westbrook will fit in for the LakersChampionship windows can end faster than you thinkGuest: Chris Broussard Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque.

Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hard Way with your favorite therapist and host, Kear Games.

This space is about black men's experiences, 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're not to be played with. And just because you have the capability that does not mean that you need to. Listen and learn the hard way on the AHA radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. 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, 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, unfiltered conversation. 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 IHeard 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.

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 Heard at Fox Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeart Radio app by searching heard. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Ah, it is a Monday and a suddenly very hectic Monday live in Los Angeles. It's the hurt. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening, we're on IHeart Radio, Fox Sports

Radio, and FS1. One hour from now, I think it's my biggest Colin Wright, Colin wrong ever. I didn't do one last Monday. I was off. So that is stacked today. Breaking NFL news. Alex Curry is joining me this week. I believe Joy's in Italy.

She is. Enjoying the splendors of global travel. I gave her the most incredible list to go enjoy the places on the Amalfi Coast. I studied abroad and lived in Italy for six months. It's one of my favorite places in the world. So when I found out she was going, I was like, please just go to all my favorite places. This is so amazing. Well, good for joy, and that's great.

That's what a good friend does. Here's some really sobering news to start us on a Monday. The Indianapolis Colts, a very well-run football operation. They got a smart GM and a smart head coach in the league's best offensive line, and it's virtually impossible to not get to the playoffs. When you have the best offensive line or the second best, maybe to the Browns in football, Carson Wentz, their quarterback, he is now elected to have, surgery on a foot injury, reportedly a high school injury, and he is out somewhere between,

what, five and six and 12 weeks, one month to three. Now, they're in such a wobbly division. They still have a fighting chance to scratch and claw their way to a nine and eight record. That could win the division. Houston's a mess. Jacksonville rebuilding. I don't trust Tennessee. But this is an interesting story. You can do. everything right in the National Football League. Everything right. The Colts have done everything right. They built a pass rush, a great O-line, a great GM, an excellent coach, super roster, smart with their money, don't overpay anybody. Yeah, they can't get the quarterback right. And when Andrew Luck retired right before the season, everybody in the media said he has a right to retire whenever

he wants, I said it to. But this is what it is since then. They have been bailing water at the number one most important position. They could call Philip Rivers. He's coaching high school football and beg him to come back. They could go sign Nick Foles. What a psychological mess. That would be like it was in Philadelphia. But when Andrew Luck retired before a season, and I love him, this franchise has been playing catch-up at the single most important position since. For them, the good news is they're in arguably the most dysfunctional division in football. A lot of rebuilding, a lot of tire fires.

And that really helps. Here's the really bad break. They have a brutal early schedule. The first five games is as tough as anybody in the NFL, four playoff teams. They open with the Seahawks and the Rams. And then they have to go on the road for Tennessee, Miami, and Baltimore. Four of them made the playoffs. brutal. So Carson Wentz had an option. He could have not chosen surgery and just played limping

around, see if you can get through it. I didn't buy that option. He has an injury history. He runs around. He needs his athleticism. I think this is the right option. I think you get surgery. You cross your fingers. You're in a bad division. You know, they also don't have a legitimate quarterback ready to play. Jacob Beeson, it just so happens. He played at the University of Washington. I grew up in the Pacific Northwest, was a season ticket holder. I watched 15 or 20 of his college starts. Big arm, not much elf, not really ready to be a franchise quarterback. I don't think he's a franchise quarterback, period. I don't think he's ready to play. He struggled first few days in camp. So they're in a real bind here. But you know, this was the same thing for Andy Reid when he got to Kansas

City. He averaged 10-11 wins a year. One playoff went in five years. They beat Brian Hoyer. He got Patrick Mahomes, and he's now favored for the third straight year to be in the Super Bowl. That's why teams have to go for it. That's why the Colts went for it. These windows are opened very briefly. Go ask the Seahawks how long that Super Bowl window stays open. Guys get to a Super Bowl. They get close. Everybody wants to get paid. all of a sudden you can't afford your number one corner. You can't afford that second really good pass rusher. You can't afford to keep your center like the Packers.

He's off to the Chargers. So good news, bad news. Most of it bad for the Colts. The glimmering, the little glimpse of light is this division's so bad. In half the divisions in football, the season would be over. If they were in the AFC North with the Steelers and the Ravens and the Browns, it'd be over. season over. If they were in the NFC West with the Seahawks and the Niners and the Rams and Arizona,

season over. In their division with the Jags and Houston and Tennessee, they may be able to just win ugly 1917, 2017, field goal at play defense, good coaching, ball control. They may be able to be a couple games under 500, get hot late in the year with Carson Wentz, but I'll defend the Colts going for it with Wents. Even though I look wrong today, you have got to go for it at quarterback. This franchise has done everything right for three years. I mean, everything, blueprint. It's a little Patriots, you know, it's a little warriors.

They drafted, they developed, they didn't overpay, and they're bailing water again at quarterback. I mean, I hope they kept Phillip Rivers phone number. Maybe you can talk about a coach in high school football. Thank God they play in the AFC South. That's all I can say. Bad break for a really, really strong organization that just since Andrew Luck retired, they have just been chasing things.

And by the way, he had a right to retire. Not saying he didn't. I defended him. But it's hard. You get about three quarterbacks out of college a year that can really play. And even they need to develop. All right, there was a story late last week. Many of you were surprised by my opinion on it.

Russell Westbrook is now going to play for the Lakers. And I get it. Now, I don't like Westbrook's game. It drives me nuts. It's not built for the playoffs. In the playoffs, NBA basketball slows down. You don't get all those freebie transitional baskets that Russell Westbrook lives off of. once you play a team four, five, six, seven times, they can marginalize you,

force Westbrook to do what he doesn't want, which is shoot threes and shoot long twos, and he's a very inefficient playoff performer. But in the regular season, he has value. And we live now in a specialized world. Take DoorDash. I don't need it to shop for me. I don't need it to make my dinner. But about once a week, I want chicken.

parm, pasta, and broccoli, and I don't want to cook it, and I don't want to shop for it, and I've got things I'm doing at home with the kids, can somebody just bring me in 30 minutes what I want to eat? And I call DoorDash. It just fits a role in my life about once a week. And that's what Westbrook does. LeBron is old. You've got to reduce his minutes. Anthony Davis sometimes plays hard. Sometimes he's available. Westbrook and the regular season is available. Plays is arse off, plays with passion. Unlike AD is totally 100% committed all the time.

Westbrook's a little like if you live in Chicago and you have a convertible. You can drive it about three months and it's the coolest thing in the world. But it is Chicago. You're on the lake. And nine months, little chilly. Time to get in the SUV or the family van and take the kids to school. everything now in America is about specializing and fitting and filling a need. There are very few players in this league that can do everything.

Even LeBron now has certain limitations. Janus is the finals MVP. You wince, you cringe at the free throw line. He can't shoot outside of 10 feet. And he's the finals MVP. The regular season MVP has got a bad. body doesn't get up and down the floor very quickly. There is no perfect player.

What you do, if you're LeBron James and you have Anthony Davis, who sometimes is there and sometimes isn't, apparently these guys met weeks ago at LeBron's house, he probably laid it out, and for the role they need him, which I think Lakers aren't done adding pieces, will primarily be a regular season role. You'll get to the playoffs. You'll minimize some of his outside shooting. LeBron will play more minutes in the playoffs. He'll control more of the offense.

But it's like baseball. Sometimes Alex has been covering it forever. Sometimes you need innings eaters. You just need a number four starter. You bounce around baseball for 15 years. You got a lively arm. I'm not starting you in game seven of a postseason series. I'd prefer to only pitch you

a postseason series if I have a lead in the series and don't need you. But you know what? On a Tuesday night in Oakland against the A's, you give me seven innings, you give my bullpen rest, you're exactly what I need. There's a role for Westbrook at this point in his career playing with somebody that will ultimately have his respect and have the basketball primarily in his hands. LeBron. I don't have to love somebody all the time.

I don't have to use any product or have to play any player 24-7. We're in a specialized world now. Go look at the finals. Who did everything well? Devin Booker's not going to play much on the defensive end. You don't want Janice at the free throw line. PJ Tucker could just not score and be incredibly valuable. Drew Holiday had 19.

He couldn't throw a ball in the ocean, but he was valuable because he could muck up and ugly the game to Chris Paul. It's okay. Not everybody's everything. In Westbrook to the Lakers, I like it. I get it at this point in Russell's career. A lot of stuff today. More on Carson Wentz has chosen surgery,

so he'll be out five to 12 weeks. Let's cut it in the middle. Let's say it's 8 to 9. He's back November 1st. If you can be, and I'm serious here, if you're three and five, and you're not going to win many in September, If you're three and five in that division, you're fine.

Because I think Carson Wentz healthy was going to win the division, as I predicted two weeks ago, going away. Can you be three and five through eight games? Can you hang in – because Jacksonville's not going to have more than three wins. Houston probably has fewer than three wins. Tennessee maybe gets to four and four. I think they've regressed. Can you be three and five through week eight? Cross your fingers.

Is Andy Dalton available? That's where we are today with the Colts. What a bummer. 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, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win.

I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined, And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show.

This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment. And the next, we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music.

The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim?

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

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

For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking. 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. 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 intention. mentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Keer Gaines, is we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open your free Our Heart Radio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. By the way, I had no idea DoorDash was sponsoring our show. Swear to God, DoorDash, get more from your neighborhood. It's a summer of Dash pass. Members, get $10 off groceries, alcohol, pet food because of summer. Try Dash pass for free. Get year-round savings.

Stay cool out there. Terms and conditions apply. I had no idea. They were sponsoring the show. Way to go, DoorDash. That was great. So, okay, I want to go back. Before I go to the Clipper stuff,

Carson Wentz is out. He's going to choose surgery, which I think is the right move. When the story happened this weekend, he got hurt. He could choose play through pain. This guy's got an injury history. Get surgery. clean it up, miss some weeks. Again, you're in a bad division. I think it's the worst division in football.

I know the NFC East would give it a run for its money, but I think Washington and Dallas at least are exceptional on one side of the football. Washington's defense is amazing. They have the best young defensive line in football. The Cowboys have all sorts of offensive weapons. They're receiving course great. This division's a mess. Outside of the Colts offensive line, there's not a single unit in that division that's really noteworthy. I mean, it's the Colts O line and not much else. And so Wence decides, let's get surgery. And I think this is part of it.

I think the Colts realize he can miss eight weeks and they can go three and five. They're good enough coach, good enough roster. They have really nice weapons. Jonathan Taylor emerged as a star running back. Can they go three and five and hold on for dear life? I think that's part of it. And so Carson Wence has decided, let's just get surgery, clean this thing up. It's a high school injury, blah, blah, blah, be ready.

Some people are floating the idea that Chris Ballard, the GM, should go out perfect time to get Jimmy Garapolo. But remember, Wend's history is one with injuries. Garopolo's history is one with injuries. So you would be asking Chris Ballard, one of the smart GMs, I consider him a friend in the sport, to say, hey, you know that injured guy that's really expensive? Why don't you go out and get another injured guy that's really expensive? Now, Trey Lance has reportedly been excellent in camp and is battling Jimmy Garoppolo for the starting job. So I do believe the Niners, there's a strong likelihood. They will move Garapolo and get something for him before the trade deadline eight weeks into the season.

I think if it's even, they'll just go with Trey Lance. He's looked terrific. He's a big, strong athlete. the scarcity of games played is the only concern. They'll play them in all the preseason games. And if it's a tie, they're going to go with a kid over Garoppolo. Then you can move him. So I do think Garoppolo, there's a likelihood.

Trey Lance is better than many thought he would be, would get moved this year. Folks, we haven't had a game yet, and we already have a team that's desperate at quarterback. I just don't think the Colts are the team to do it. but I do think you're going to have a very good roster somewhere in this league and they start the season 5 and one quarterback gets hurt and they look around and go what are we doing here this is a playoff team let's get to the playoffs so there's a lot of things here

I do not believe Garapolo is the right economic fit or injury fit risk for the Colts they did it once I defended the Carson Wentz move you can't do it again you don't don't have 50 million bucks tied into two quarterbacks who can't stay healthy. That's just economically, aesthetically, the optics, that's bad. And I think the cults are one of the smartest teams in football. Alex for the news. No, no, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. Well, Aaron Rogers is back with the Packers getting ready for the 2021 season. And it was a long off season of tension

between Rogers and Green Bay. But he confirmed his commitment to the team and he is happy to be back. It's the best feeling. It was a little strange, I think, day one, just because I was gone for the entire off season and contemplated my own future and the possibility of playing somewhere else as well. But when I'm back here, I'm 100% all in. Now, he got his message across,

and maybe that's all he wanted was to be heard. He obviously made it clear it wasn't about the money, and he just wanted the public to know what was going on between him and the front office and through what he did, now we all know. Well, you got Randall Cobb, who's an aging and not nearly as productive wide receiver. But in the end, if you're really honest about it, he didn't get a lot. The Packers still control his rights for the next two years.

He still doesn't have a say where he gets traded. He'll get Devonte Adams for a year, not necessarily too. So he is definitely more polarizing in the state of Wisconsin. I do think he turned off some fans. With that, it's a risk. He got Randall Cobb. But if you're honest about what he got for it, not a lot. I mean, I've said this before.

The franchise tag is a disaster for everybody except quarterback. No, it's a disaster for quarterbacks. It's fine for everybody else. For a guard, franchise tag's fine. You get a lot of money. If you're a star quarterback, it traps you. And so I don't think this morning Aaron got much. Well, he shaved the year off his contract.

Well, he's 38. Yeah. He still wouldn't be available. to move in free agency until he's 40. So, you know, I don't think anything more of Green Bay from a year ago. They've been noisy, I think slightly less of them, but they'll probably still win, you know, a very mediocre division, not terrible, but mediocre. And which is why what you said, what he got, maybe he just wanted his voice to be heard.

Maybe that's all he wanted. Well, moving on, USA Gymnastics has announced that Simone Biles will be competing in the balance beam final in Tokyo. the news comes after she withdrew from all of her other events at the Olympics to focus on her mental health. Biles won bronze on the beam during the 2016 Rio Olympics and is a three-time world champion in the event. Now, this is going to be a gift not only for her fans, but for Simone. She put herself and her mental health first in the biggest moment of her life. And because of that, she sparked one of the most important conversations I think we have all had about mental health

and how important it is to put yourself and your mental health first, even in the biggest moments of your life, competing for your dream in the Olympics. So my heart goes out to Simone and so happy that she's going to be able to compete. Michael Phelps and Simone Biles are two of the most decorated Olympic athletes of our time. And they've both struggled with the mental health side of it. It's not a coincidence. No.

This is when you're representing the country. You know, I talked about this this weekend. is that what we don't understand about Olympic athletes that just simply different. If you're a baseball player, you get 500 at bats. So you know, you bake in 75 strikeouts. Like you know every at bat is not the end of the world. When you're an Olympic athlete, you get a 90-second routine. And by the way, one.

Yeah. The other thing to remember, in team sports, Dan Marino is a legend in football. In Olympic sports, he'd be a loser because he didn't meddle. but in team sports there's value the compensation in being a really good player for a long time there are guys in Hall of Fame that never won anything Charles Barkley's a legend never want anything Dan Marino's a legend as Olympic athletes they'd be losers they didn't even get a bronze and so the intensity what we ask of Olympians which is it's America now yeah this is not you know this is not a small this is not Canada even there's more people in

California than Canada. In America, the standard's been set. You get golds or we don't care. And so you just keep heaping the pressure on our American athletes to prepare for four to eight years for a 90-second routine. It is not a coincidence that our two greatest Olympians in the last 15 years, Michael and Simone have struggled with the pressure. Don't compare this to a shortstopper LeBron. No. LeBron James can go 11 for 20. and nobody mentions it because he's got a game in two nights. If I, as a broadcaster, I know doing a three-hour show, I have like 12 segments. Yeah.

I can say, uh, I can make a mistake. I never feel any pressure doing this show. It's just a treadmill and I'm just putting one foot after the other. If I was allowed one segment a week and my bosses were watching because they expected to be perfect since I got one a week and they pay me a lot, right? Do you think it would be more pressurized? Of course it would be. So don't compare gymnasts and swimmers and skiers.

Don't compare these people to short stops and basketball players. You're also representing America. Okay, you're not representing Cleveland or Tampa. You're representing America. God, Tom Brady has won multiple games with multiple interceptions. You can't even twist wrong in Olympics or you're a loser. So, of course, these young athletes struggle with the Mendel's side. Many of them, probably a lot more than are willing to publicize it because the scorn and the stigma of mental health in this country.

So I bet you there's dozens and dozens of Olympic athletes that have watched the pushback for Simone Biles. They're struggling with it. They just don't want to deal with it. So they won't even mention it coming in. She felt like she had the weight of the world on her shoulders going into Tokyo. Of course. I know. So now even more so.

that's why it's just, I'm so excited to see her get to a place to be able to get back to continue. Listen, if you're Dame Lillard and you play for Team USA and you have a bad night, well, so what? Bradley B.L. P.O. plays on the team. So does Kevin Durant. So does Drew Holliday. Is a basketball player, I don't even have to be, I can go into a game and kind of be like, hey, man, I'm just going to play my game, whatever happened happens. As a gymnast, I have to be great. Of course it ratchets up the intensity of the moment. I'm going to be excited for that one. Well, sticking with the Olympics, Team USA advanced to

the quarterfinals with a big 119 to 84 victory over the Czech Republic this weekend. And it was Kevin Durant who led the way. He scored 23 points with eight rebounds and six assists in the win. And he also became the United States all-time leading score in the Olympics passing Carmelo Anthony who previously held the record. So how great is that for Katie? Yeah. I was actually surprised when I read that. Listen, they should win. I looked at all the teams in front of them and they lost their first game. It's a wake up call. But I will say this. these guys have played a lot of basketball. This is a veteran-laden team.

And as we watch the Milwaukee Bucks do, it's okay to lose the first game of a series. You're okay. These are guys that have played a lot of basketball. If you look at the accumulation of years for the starting five on this team, these are grown-ups. Oh, yeah.

Okay, so these guys have lost games and had pressure. They've gotten better every game. And what a way for Katie, after struggling the first two games, only scoring 10 points in each of those games, to come back and now have an Olympic record. So good job. Good stuff.

Alex Curry with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Hurd-Ly News. A lot of stuff today. We'll get you updated on the Colts and training camp. I sat and watched an hour of training camp videos on Saturday and Sunday. Also, congrats to the United States men's national team beat Mexico last night, which is fascinating.

So that's the second time now they've beaten Mexico. It was not our number one squad. It was some members of that. It was young. It was in Vegas. It was an electric atmosphere. I sat there for three hours. It was utter tension.

One of the most enjoyable. Even though we didn't have Christian Pulisic and some of our top young players, they're resting for World Cup qualifications coming up. So we played a lot of younger players. Mexico is our biggest rival and they're very good. They didn't have all their best players, but it was an intense three hours. So congrats to the U.S. men's national soccer team. Let's bring in Chris Broussard, Mercedes-Benz, the best or nothing.

So before I get to the Clipper situation, which is fascinating, I know I'm not a Westbrook guy, but I saw the move this weekend and I thought, it works. What he brings, passion, minutes, effort, the energizer bunny of the league, it actually works with old LeBron, question mark, AD. I look at this roster and I'm like, he's a person. playmaker. He's been in a lot of playoff series. LeBron likes him and trusts him. And I'm like, I actually get it. It actually makes sense. Your takeaway on the Westbrook Lakers move. Wow. I know. That makes me think you got a late night text or call from Rich Paul or something

like that. No, but look, I'm not in love with it. I've said that I'm not in love with it. The pieces don't fit. But I will give them a puncher's chance and then some for several reasons. One, the talent on the top of the roster is ridiculous, right? A.D., LeBron, and Westbrook. You're talking about three superstars, three icons and Hall of Famers in the future. LeBron is one of the smartest players we've ever seen. So I think he maybe can figure this out. Westbrook, to your point, does take the physical toll,

some of it off of LeBron and AD during the regular season. season, right? They won't have to carry as much of a load and the burden. So maybe that helps them be healthy in the playoffs. And the West doesn't have a juggernaut, right? The Clippers, I don't think Kauai is going to be back the rest of the next season. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe he'll come back in April or whatever.

But I'd be surprised if we see him play next year. So the Clippers aren't going to be that great. Golden State, okay, yeah, they'll be better. Golden State, Phoenix, Denver, Utah, they're good, right? They're contenders. None of them scare you. All right, Portland obviously doesn't. I do think Dallas will take a step up with Luca, but, you know, they're not frightening

anybody. So with that being the case, I think the Lakers have, you know, a chance in the West. I still like Brooklyn better overall. But the Lakers, Colin, the challenges is that they're thinking. three top players can't shoot that well. LeBron's a good shooter. He's not a great shooter. He's good and he's streaky.

AD is not a very good shooter from three. 30% for his career. Westbrook, we know can't shoot. 31%, 30% for his career, something like that. So what I like, Colin, I know they talked about, oh, I'll go to power forward, says LeBron. I'll go to center, says AD. I think LeBron should be the point guard.

Yeah. I think LeBron should look at this like, I'm Magic Johnson, right? I'm the third option. I'm going to make sure AD gets his, Russ gets his, Russ can push it in transition, Rush can push it when I'm on the bench.

But when we're all on the floor, LeBron should be the primary decision maker in the half court. He's going to get 20 points just by being on the floor. That's how good he is. He has to set up the other two guys, and of course,

they better put shooting around those three. Yeah, and there are rumors they are going to add some shooting pieces. So this is fascinating. The clippers without Kauai in two years are 19 and 16. They beat the Utah Jazz, the number one seed without Kauai. They've got an excellent coach. They've got a very good roster, a smart front office.

But it's fascinating to me. They're being held hostage by Kauai Leonard. So they're going to pay him $36 million this year to not play. And I don't think he'll play this year. He's a guy that, I mean, listen, we know he's not playing to the All-Star break, and we know what happened in San Antonio when he had a real injury. They're paying him $36 million to not play, but to just keep him happy for the right after next year to sign him to a contract. And I look at that and I think, okay, time out. He's nonverbal.

I mean, good God, we just found out yesterday he had a torn ACL. Everything's a mystery. He shouldn't wear a number. He should wear a question mark. He doesn't communicate. You never know his health. he going to play? And I look at it and I think Clippers, this is a good franchise now. This is not an embarrassment. It feels, I'll be honest, Chris, it feels desperate. I don't know if I would pay

somebody $36 million for the right, the right to negotiate a long-term deal. I mean, I don't know. I know Kauai's great, but man, I've watched it for two years. He does not build chemistry and he's played 48% of the, if he misses next year, Chris, I mean, I don't know. I know. I know Kauai's great. But man, he does not build chemistry. He does not build chemistry. If he misses next year, Chris, he will have played 48% of the games in three years. I can't pay you $36 million not to play. I hear you, and you didn't even throw in really the physical component. You talked about, you know, he doesn't bring the verbal leadership and things like that. Also, he's an old 29.

Yes. Right? I mean, he's already, was low managing at what? I don't know, 27, 26, 27 years old. and I was told even in San Antonio early in his career, he did not want to get on the court unless he was 100%. He's just that overly cautious type of guy with his body. So that's why I'm with you.

I don't think he's playing this year at all. And if you're him, why would you even risk coming back in April or May and looking pretty good, right? Not looking like the real Kauai Leonard when you're expecting to get this deal. So all of that says, Colin and I've said, I'd be, I'd be Leary because we saw Amari Stad Amar, and I don't have to go into Penny Hardaway and all these other greats,

Derek Rose, where injuries derailed their career. All that said, I think I'd sign him. And the thing is, I think most teams in the league, if not all, would sign him. And I think, Colin, what Kauai is going to do is he's going to do a one-in-one. He's going to do probably a two-year deal with a player. option for the second year so he can get his money this year. Like you said, he won't play. And then he can, I think he'll go ahead and say, give me the five years, 235 million. That's on top of this year, 36 million. So he can lock it up for six years. Now, maybe he'll

sign a four-year, $176 million deal. But if you look at the numbers, right, it makes sense to do what I just said. 36 this year, five years. 235 after next summer. And I think Steve Bomber will do it because Colin, I got to say this, look at the Clippers without Kauai. Let's look at them next year. Without Kauai, they're going to struggle to make the playoffs because I don't know that they'll be able to bring back Reggie Jackson and, you know, that Paul George played well.

We saw them win, you know, some games in the postseason without Kauai. But I think over the course of 82 games, it's going to. going to be tough on them. And so I think they'll do it to be relevant. And to have a shot to win a championship, we know he's got deep pocket Steve Balmer. And this has been a franchise that's been irrelevant for so long. They're so hungry and desperate to use your words that I think they'll do it.

Oh, my gosh. I just, and then, and by the way, pay him 36 minutes. They can regret it, right. Halfway through that, halfway through that next deal. you made the next last two, three years of that deal may be a disaster. Maybe. I don't know. Maybe it'll stay healthy, but it's risky for sure.

Well, and also, it just, I like people who communicate. You know, I mean, that's the key to relationships. And when you're in a relationship with Kauai, you're just not getting that. Finally, Dame Lillard was, we predicted on this show. He would say the trade rumors are mostly outrageous, but keep the door open. Because he doesn't want to, you know, he doesn't want to take. the glimmer of the glamour off the Olympic moment. Like he just wants to live in this moment.

He doesn't want to take it away from the team. So he said, let's not talk about that. But there's real belief that Portland is trapped in NBA quicksand. They're about the 12th best team in the league, and they didn't have any draft picks. Your gut feeling on what Dame does when the Olympics end, demand a trade or stay put.

I think, Colin, what he'll do is I think he'll give Chauncey Billups one season. I think they'll be able to convince him. Look, like I said, there's no juggernaut in the West. They can say, hey, we're close to Denver. We beat them a few years ago. We played them tough this year. I know they didn't have Jamal Murray, but still, I think they'll try to convince him

to go one year, give it one year in Portland. Maybe Chauncee can turn that defense around. That's really been their problem. Offensively, they've been able to score. Nerkich is. one more year there. So I think you'll give it one more year. If they don't go deeper in the playoffs,

then I think next season is when he'll make his move. If I were him, Colin, I would go to them now and be like, look, work something out with Philadelphia. And I don't think he loves the Philadelphia situation. But if I were in his shoes, I would

say work it out with Philadelphia, he and Joelle Mb would be able to give, and you got Tobias Harris there still. You know, do it around. Ben Simmons, they could challenge Brooklyn. And so, look, Kevin Garnett, Colin, wanted to be loyal to Minnesota, right? He didn't want to go to Boston initially. Finally, he relented, he went, and then a few years later, he saying, man, I wish I had done

this earlier in my career. Playing for championships is huge. And if you're a great player, and that's what Dame is. So I think he and a Bradley bill, for that matter, are wasting time not making a decision to ask for a trade, but I think that they'll both waste this time. Yeah. Chris Broussard, great stuff as always. Westbrook, Kauai, dame, all good topics.

Thanks, bud. Appreciate it. All right, man. You bet. Colin right, Colin wrong, top of next hour. But next, the go-for-it teams in the NFL and the NBA are almost always rewarded, except perhaps the Colts. That's next.

Be sure to catch live editions of the herd. days in noon eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. Hey, this is Jason McIntyre. Join me every weekday morning on my podcast, Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre. This isn't your typical sports pod pushing the same tired narratives down your throat every day. Straight Fire gives you honest opinions on all the biggest sports headlines, accurate stats to help you win big at the sports book and all the best guests. Do yourself a favor and listen to Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre on the IHeart Radio app.

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds.

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

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

I'm down to talk about crack 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. Thank you for finishing that sentence. Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really?

Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tript Fantine, 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 iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. Good to have you in today.

You know, there's an old saying financially, you cannot save your way to wealth. You can save your way to content, a nice retirement, comfortable, but to get wealthy, you've got to push the chips in the middle of the table. Go for it. Create your own company, a big idea. That's how you get wealthy.

Even if you make a good living, you can save yourself to a country club membership and a nice life and a second car. But wealthy, you got to go for it. It's very similar in the NFL. Andy Reid's as good a coach as the sport has, he and Belichick. And when he got to Kansas City with Alex Smith, they won 10 to 11 games. a year for five years. One playoff win. And the division, by the way, was mostly a mess.

One playoff win. Just a team. Trade it up Mahomes and now they're favored to reach a third straight Super Bowl. Andy Reid. That's with Brett Veach, top five GM. Andy Reid, top two coach. Great ownership. They were a great team.

They were a very good team for years. They were a trusted mutual fund. 9% returns. You want to win the Super Bowl, you got to have an 18-year return. You got to go big. Okay? And they did. And they went big on Mahomes.

And it paid off. They got a Super Bowl, two trips, possibly a third. And so the Colts with Carson Wentz, we're going to go for it. These Super Bowl windows do not last forever. Okay? Ask the Seahawks. Last year, Colts had a Super Bowl roster. This year, I think it's better.

It's a Super Bowl roster. Going to have to start paying some of these guys. No, Darius Leonard, you know, is he going to be healthy? He's had some injuries. Like when you get that Super Bowl window, you've got to go for it. Look what the Rams did. Aaron Donald admitted this week, I feel my age. Jalen Ramsey, really expensive.

When the corners peak. How many more great years left? Andrew Whitworth, left tackle. Pry last year. The Rams said, we got to go for it. I had to give a bunch of picks to get Matt Stafford. I mean, Jared Goff got him to a Super Bowl.

Jared Goff gets you to playoffs. Got him to playoffs last year. Go for it. Well, well, Stafford's better than Went. Stafford's never won a playoff game. You don't think there's risk there with Matt Stafford? Tampa Bay. Tom Brady was 43.

You saw him the previous year. He didn't look very good, did he? Oh, didn't look very good. Now, oh, of course you go get Tom Brady. It's 43. but Tampa Jason Light the GM had built a great roster and they knew we're going to have to start paying some of these Shack Barrett's we're going to have to start paying these guys we got about two three years

this is a Super Bowl roster they went for it now everybody today is a genius everybody today is I told you so hey I picked them to be a wild card team and I'm Mr. Brady when Arizona went and got Kyler Murray they just bailed on Josh Rosen and I defended them. I said, after two games, I'm like, they went for it. In that division, Pete Carroll twice a year, Russell Wilson twice a year, Sean McVeigh, Kyle Shanahan, they're like, Josh Rosen's not good enough. We got to go for it. We have to admit, we butchered last year's pick. I'm going to defend the go-for-it crowd. And I think the Colts with Carson Wentz, Philip Rivers, they played great last year. They couldn't beat Buffalo. It's like, all right. Young Josh Allen's only getting better.

Buffalo's roster was last year you had a chance to beat him. Didn't have much of a pass rush. Josh Allen's still a baby. They had no running game. That was the year to beat the Buffalo bills. I don't think this year anybody but Kansas City can beat him in the AFC. And they couldn't beat him then. So they said, how do we get to the next level?

Big strong athletic, big arm Carson wins. He needs to be rebuilt a little bit. Psychologically, there's something that's not working. But I'll defend him. Now, I will say this. The news today, he's going to have a surgery and be out probably eight to ten weeks. I've got to downgrade him. I had him in 11 wins this morning.

I would go nine. I took a win away from the Rams with Cam Acres leaving. I took a win away from the Saints with Michael Thomas out for six weeks. Even though they're in a horrible division, the AFC South, Vegas and I agree on something. I had him on 11 wins. They're down to nine. I'm not sure they can get to nine. If he's out 12 weeks, they're not getting to nine.

If he's out eight weeks, I think they get to nine and potentially win the division. Colin Wright, Colin Wrong, hour two next. 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's Streeter Side. help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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

Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hard Way with your favorite therapist and host, Kear Games. This space is about black men's experiences, having honest conversations that's really not safe to have anywhere, but you're having them with a license,

professional who knows what he's doing. How many men carry a suit are armored. 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, listen to learn the hard way on the AHA radio app, Apple podcast, or wherever 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, 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, unfilled conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to The Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple 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.