The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 08/12/2021 - Best of The Herd

Episode Date: August 12, 2021

Colin explains why Dak Prescott getting another MRI on his throwing shoulder is reason for concern as we get closer to the start of the NFL regular season. He discovers what Tom Brady's real inspiration is to continue playing in the NFL after winning 7 Super Bowls. He is also making a surprising comparison between 2 NFL QBs, one that was drafted number 1 overall and another that was drafted in the 6th round, and how similar their careers have been. Plus, Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin joins the show to talk about his former quarterbacks Jalen Hurts and Mac Jones transitioning to the NFL. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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This is the best of the Hurd. with Colin Cowher on Fox Sports Radio. Here we go on a, what, Thursday today, live in Los Angeles. It's the herd wherever you may be and however you may be listening. Iheart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, FS1, NFL tonight. Mack Jones will be on the field. Cam Newton on the field. The Steelers playing tonight as well.

I will be home with a big bowl of pasta. That's what I'll be doing tonight watching NFL preseason. I think this is one of the best, most interesting NFL preseason weeks ever. Like for me, preseason football to me is, you know, you watch week three, the starters a little bit. But I don't sit and watch games all night. You know, I pick games I think are interesting and matter. A lot of preseason stuff is junk. This weekend's going to be interesting.

I got all these new kids playing, including Mac Jones tonight, and Joy Taylor is here. Joy just gave me a gift from Italy Capri. Very sophisticated. It's mostly for Ann. I don't know how into diffusers you are. Yes. You got a new house, so, you know.

We got a good show today. Good to see you. Yes. She did first things first. That's Joy Taylor again. Let me start with this. So this did not come from an intern. This came from Jerry Jones or probably his long,

time a PR guru, Rich Dalrymple. The Galboys, yes, the Dallas Cowboys on their Twitter account, it's not a setback. It's not a reason to worry, but Dak Prescott is planning on getting another MRI. That didn't come from an intern.

That was carefully carved out. Okay. Translation. Leg injury, long rehab, overcompensates, throwing shoulders sore gets an MRI comes off the field

right a couple days a few days goes back a couple days of throwing and why would you get a second MRI something's not quite right it's not doom it's not gloom but Joe Burrow

had an equally ugly leg injury he hasn't had any MRIs So 32 starting quarterbacks in the NFL. One has had an MRI, DAC. One has had two MRIs, DAC. Fresh of a $40 million contract. Now, Stephen Jones today is saying it's overrated. It's no big deal.

But you watch Hard Knocks first episode, Jerry Jones talking to trainers with the Rangers and the Yankees. Nothing is everything. Everything is something. And I think this is and has become an incredibly DAC-reliant team. That's why this is important. I said this yesterday. What do the Seattle Seahawks do well? Russell Wilson scores touchdowns.

What else do they do well right now? Not a lot. Let me ask you, with the Dallas Cowboys. Increasingly, they're putting DAC front and center because he's the emotional leader. He's the physical leader. He's the production leader. This is not like Kyle Shanahan's offense. This is not the early Brady with the Patriots,

Dilfer Flacco the Ravens, where the defense felt like it led the way. This has become a very quarterback-reliant franchise. I even think the Kansas City Chiefs could win half their games without Mahomes because of the coaching, the O-Line rebuild, the skill people. They wouldn't win the Super Bowl. I think Dallas is totally DAC dependent now. Last year, defense 23rd, rushing 17th, pass rush 20th, coaching,

all be kind, C minus, felt like a D plus. What do they do well? Dax productive. That's it. He goes to the microphone, A plus. Productivity, very good. And I'm not picking on Dallas. I said this about my hometown Seahawks.

What do they do well? Their drafting's weird. Two first rounders and a third and a player for Jamal Adams, who I love, but that's a lot. Now they're kind of trapped. Now guys aren't practicing. They're holding out. This is now a very DAC reliant franchise. And oh, by the way, the Eagles are a tire fire, but Washington and New York are solid and getting better.

Giants played very well. Won five of their last eight last year. Washington, end of the year. played very well, gave the Buccaneers everything they could handle with Taylor Heineke quarterback. So this division is not as bad as it was at the beginning of last year. It's a pretty interesting division. But with Dallas now, this has become a very DAC reliant franchise.

He's the guy you put at the podium. He's the emotional leader. I mean, you saw last year, there were questions about Dallas's defense. When DAC left, it was like, man, they're not playing hard. They're not prepared. And there was no DAC around. It was Andy Dalton. Who do you rely on when things go sideways?

This is still not a very good defense with an anemic pass rush, hit and miss running the football. Coaching his ad. Albert Breer talked about this yesterday. You watch Hard Knocks. It's pretty clear now who runs the franchise. It's not Mike McCarthy. So, Dak Prescott, a second MRI. All right.

So I want to shift gears to tonight. We have some football games tonight. And Cam Newton and Mac Jones reportedly, both Cam and Mac Jones reportedly will play for the New England Patriots tonight at Foxborough. And here's what I think is interesting. So Tom Brady played in New England for about 20 years, right? was it, 2021, 19, something like that, 20 years. And for 15, he was the emotional, physical leader of the franchise. But they always struggled to give him credit as he took pay cuts, right?

There was a moment a couple years ago where they, Belichick gave him the team ball. And it literally, visually, optically looked uncomfortable. They always struggled. It was always about the system, the genius of, of previously fired Bill Belichick, who I still think, you know, the best coach in NFL history. So Brady leaves and immediately, almost bizarrely, the compliment started flowing for Cam Newton. What a leader. He's picked up this offense.

He is sensational. Cam has never had back-to-back winning seasons. They draft Matt Jones. What you've, the Mac Jones comments, despite the fact he wears 50 and looks like a ball boy half the time. Oh, I got. He is whizzing the ball. He is an unbelievable talent. If you work for a company for 20 years and you got him six rings, number one in merchandise sales,

you got them on Sunday night football, CBS game of the week, almost every Sunday, they were the marquee game for a network or the league for 20 years. You doubled the owner's net worth. Belichick had been fired. You helped make him the winning his. coach. You couldn't get compliments. Then you leave. And the next two guys, one that's never had back-to-back winning seasons. And a kid who was the fourth quarterback taken this year, wasn't it? Like fourth quarterback of the five everybody, you know, was one. Oh, he's the fifth. My bad.

He's a fifth. Oh, he's great. You can't believe how good he is. He's so smart. He's like Einstein. Elon Musk with a helmet. It's unbelievable. This is why I believe Tom Brady's not going to play for Tampa. one year, not two years, not three years, not four. Tom Brady, as long as he thinks he can win a Super Bowl, is just going to keep playing. He's going to say, honey, Giselle, just one more year. Tom Brady's got a chip in his shoulder from being drafted in the sixth round. He's still got that. But I think it is really funny.

Put yourself in Brady's shoes. You work at a company for 20 years, and for like 16 to 17 of it, you carry him. your boss is now called a genius, although he was fired in his current job, his previous job. He was fired in his previous job called grumpy, hard to deal with, and was in big trouble. You arrive, and suddenly 17 years later, 18 years later, that boss who had been fired, is the greatest boss of all time. You take pay cuts. They don't compliment you.

You leave. And the next two guys who aren't close to you, oh, they're geniuses. there. Mac Jones and Cam Newton. Folks, that's all this is doing. All this, all these, you don't think Tom Brady's watching that and thinking Mac Jones is brilliant. Cam Newton's a great leader. I mean, just think about this.

What was around Brady? Look at what is left. Belichick, who's great, but was fired in his previous job. Matt Patricia is now an advisor. Disaster is a head coach. The offensive coordinator is John. McDaniels, who was a disaster as a head coach. And the defensive coordinator, there really is none, although I do think Belichick's son

has some role there. All right. And they're not really a winning team now. And they're clearly not close to Buffalo, who was 13 and 3 and clearly got better in the offseason. So you know what? When your old company still can't acknowledge it, struggled for years, you took everybody in that organization from owner to coach to Lyman to a completely different level.

level, and they can't stop talking about the people who have replaced you. That's why Tom's just going to stay in Tampa, and he's just going to keep foot on the gas, and it's just jet fuel. Every time I hear a Mac Jones or a Cam compliment, I know Brady looks at that, and just goes, keep chirping, keep talking. We know he's got a chip on being drafted in the sixth round. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, S-1 and the I-Hard 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 IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano, and our podcast Point Game is about defying the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed. And finding ways to win no matter what. He's the smartest player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before.

And he knows. Without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game. We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs. I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nas Reid. He has to guard Julius Randall. And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night basis on offense.

And when IT's friends stop by, like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too. Steve Nash would get that thing. That man, hell get the flying. He running up the court, licking his fingers while he got the ball. Like, you go through a training camp with that, Isaiah. You figure it out.

real quick. Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the balls. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Will Ferrell's Big Money Players and IHeart Podcasts presents soccer moms. So I'm Leanne. Yeah. This is my best friend Janet.

Hey. And we have been joined at the hips since high school. Absolutely. Now a redacted amount of years later, we're still joined at the hip, just a little bit bigger hips, wider. This is a podcast. We're recording it as we tailgate our youth soccer games in the back of my Honda Odyssey with all the snacks

and drink. Sidebar. Why did you get hard seltzer instead of beer? They had a bogo. Well, then you got it. Do you want a white collar something here? Just a again. What are y'all doing? Microphones? Are you making a rap album? Oh, I would. Come on. Can you move? I would buy it.

Cuts through the defense like a hot knife through sponge cake. That sounds delicious. Oh, you're lucky. I'm not a drug addict. You're lucky I'm not an alcoholic. You are. You're lucky I'm not a killer. I love this team. And I'm really trying to be a figure in their lives that they can rely on. Oh.

Listen to soccer moms on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. American soccer is about to explode. The World Cup is coming. Ramos sending on the only store at the chip. I'm Tab Ramos. I'm Tom Boe. On our podcast, Inside American Soccer, you'll get the real storylines. I'm not worried about Policicic, I'm not worried about Balagan, I'm not worried about McKinney.

My only concern is what happens in the back. The biggest decisions. If you're going to look at stats and numbers, he has no shot at making this World Cup team. And the truth about the U.S. national team. It wouldn't be a huge surprise if our team ends up in the quarterfinals or potentially a great run into the semifinals. The World Cup is almost here. Experience it all with us. Listen, inside American soccer with Tom Bogart and Tab Ramos

on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, wherever you get your podcast. Derek Carr of the Raiders, who I've always liked more than you, who I've been saying for years to me, you can win a Super Bowl if you have a top 12 quarterback in the league. You usually need to get these days because of the offensive lean in the NFL. You're going to get in some shootouts. You've got to have a top 12 quarterback. I think Derek Carr is a top 12 quarterback.

And he was talking about how long he's going to plan. It's a very interesting thing he's right here. I feel like I'm 20. I think I honestly believe this, that like our generation, like the way that we've taken care of our bodies with football, I think like 30 is like the new 20, you know, like I feel like I could play another 15 years, like without a doubt. I honestly feel stronger, faster, better than I did when I first got to the NFL, you know, and that comes with more knowledge on how to train and how to eat and how to take care of your body. And that takes a little bit of money sometimes, but it's definitely worth it.

We're reaching an interesting potential saturation point in the NFL with quarterbacks. And this has happened in the wine industry. For the last 20 to 25 years, there's been movies like Sideways, Romanticizing the Wine Industry. And you'll see that after they made the movie Sideways, the wine consumption spiked in America. Every celebrity, every hedge fund person, you know, they all buy vineyards. And we produce a great amount of wine in America. But now because young people are drinking more seltzers and they're not drinking as much wine as their parents did, we have a saturation point that we've got more wine than we have wine drinkers. So the business is much tougher because it's saturated.

You're seeing this in the NFL is that it's the ABCs of this saturation point. Number one, money is greater in the NFL. So guys want to play longer and get another contract. rich guys like money. Derek Carr's already rich. If you can play into your mid-40s, you go from a $75 million net worth to $140 million net worth. It's a different life, right? Practices are easier. We talk to T.J. Mushman's aughty's like, I've been at camps.

Guys don't hit at practice anymore. Like a little in preseason, you're done. Guys don't even play preseason anymore if you're good quarterbacks. Number three is, as Derek Carr pointed out, nutrition, training is better. We're all living longer, especially people with money. We're living longer. I mean, now they have concierge medical, where if you're a rich guy, you don't even have to go to the same hospital or emergency room. You have your own you go to.

And that's for non-athletes. So you couple that, the ABCs, with the fact that these college quarterbacks are coming in much better, much more refined, much smarter. They can read defenses. The quarterback coaching now in high school is like a cottage industry. Add to the fact you're getting to a point where college schemes are now used in the NFL. There's no reluctance now. A guy comes into the NFL, Matt Nagy's like, I'm just going to use the stuff that mits that in college.

You're seeing that, that's no longer a barrier or a stigma. So it's easier for the college quarterback to come in and be able to play very, very early. I mean, Joe Burrell walked in and could play immediately. Your 300-yard games, Justin Herbert immediately with a terrible offensive line. So, I mean, I criticized Tua now. He went six and three last year. I criticized Daniel Jones. He won five of eight.

These guys aren't terrible. You can win games with two and Daniel Jones. The question is the quarterbacking now is so good. Can you carry a team when it has deficiencies? I mean, think about this. Nick Foles now is a backup. He has a career winning record as a starter. Okay?

He wins more than he loses when he started. He won a Super Bowl out-duled Tom Brady. Third string right now. third string in Chicago. Gardner Minchew was like productive and not even considered a starter. Mitch Trubisky, believe it or not, has a winning record in the NFL, 29 and 21. And we roll our eyes at those guys. So you look around the NFL, like the wine industry, you start looking around the NFL. Now, we're reaching a saturation point.

By the way, next year's NFL draft has two already five-star great quarterbacks and about three others that will get picked in the first round. but a guy from Carolina, a guy from Oklahoma, those two are going to be top four or five picks. Those are seen as big hits. Guys with a lot of talent, and I agree, they're both really good. So there's only three teams in the NFL that I look at, and I feel like, they don't have the guy. And that's Denver, and Drew Locke has talent. I've never disputed that. I said he's a poor man's Jay Cutler.

He's got talent. Washington. Well, Ryan Fitzpatrick is more athletically talented than Tua last year. and the Saints. Well, Taysam Hill is like Tim Tebow, but like way more athletic. And last year he had to start a bunch and he won all the games he started. And James Winston has been wildly productive. So the floor in the NFL now.

The floor in the NFL. We have multiple backups who can really play. Gardner-Minginjew can really play. You Baker-Mayfield fans, go look at his college in the same offense and his NFL numbers. can play. Not going to start over Trevor Lawrence, but he can play. Nick Foles, Mitch Trubisky. So, I mean, it used to be that Derek Carr as a quarterback was absolutely sufficient. You're not making deals or calls. There's no question you, Derek Carr is your quarterback. I mean, every year at some point, we're talking about, well, is Derek Carr good enough? Is Derek Carr good enough?

We are really reaching a point with what Derek Carr is saying here. Not a lot of teams need quarterbacks. Backups are really efficient. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays at noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. Hey, it's Ben, host of The Fifth Hour with Ben Maller, along with my trusty sidekick, David Gascon, would mean a lot to have you join us on our weekly auditory journey. You're asking what in God's name is the fifth hour? I'll tell you, it's a spin-off of the Ben Mather show, a cult hit overnights on FSR. Why should you listen? Picture if you will a world where we chat with captains of industry in media, sports and more every week

explore some amazing facts about human nature and more. Listen to the fifth hour with Ben Mather on the Iheart radio app, Apple podcast, 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 IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano, and our podcast Point Game is about defying the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed. And finding ways to win no matter what. He's the smartest player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before. And he knows without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game.

We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs. I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nas Reid. He has to guard Julius Randall. And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night basis on offense. And when IT's friends stop by, like Quentin Richardson,

we dive into some playoff history too. Steve Nass would get that thing. That man, hell get the fly. He running up the court, licking his fingers why he got the ball, like, after you go through a training camp with that, Isaiah, you figure it out real quick. Get your ass up and down the court,

and you're going to get the ball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Will Ferrell's Big Money Players and IHeart Podcast presents soccer moms. So I'm Leanne. Yeah. This is my best friend, Janet.

Hey. And we have been joined at the Hipsons High School. Absolutely. Now a redacted amount of years later, We're still joined at the hip. Just a little bit bigger hips, wider. This is a podcast. We're recording it as we tailgate our youth soccer games in the back of my Honda Odyssey.

With all the snacks and drink. Sidebar. Why did you get hard seltzer instead of beer? Oh, they had a bogo. Well, then you got it. Do you want a white collar or something here? Just hit it. What are y'all doing?

Microphones? Are you making a rap album? Oh, I would. Come on. Can you move? I would buy it. Cut through the defense like a hot knife through sponge cake. That sounds.

That's delicious. Oh, you're lucky. I'm not a drug addict. You're lucky I'm not an alcoholic. You are. You're lucky I'm not a killer. I love this team, and I'm really trying to be a figure in their lives that they can rely on. Oh.

Oh. Listen to soccer moms on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. American soccer is about to explode. The World Cup is coming. Ramers sending on to Ernie Stewart for Chip. I'm tab. Ramos. I'm Tom Boe. On our podcast, Inside American Soccer, you'll get the real storylines. I'm not worried about Policic. I'm not worried about Balagan. I'm not worried about McKinney.

My only concern is what happens in the back. The biggest decisions. If you're going to look at stats and numbers, he has no shot at making this World Cup team. And the truth about the U.S. national team. It wouldn't be a huge surprise if our team ends up in the quarterfinals or potentially a great run into the semifinals. The World Cup is almost here. Experience it all with us. Listen, inside American Soccer with Tom Bogart and Tabramos on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, wherever you get your podcast. So Lane Kiffin has coached a lot. He's been a coach. When Lane Kiffin got a job with the Raiders, everybody's like, oh, he's way too young. Now the whole league feels like

they look like Lane Kiffin when he coached the Razors. Half these guys aren't shaving. He's the second youngest NFL coach ever at the time was Sean McVeigh. He, in one year, Ole Miss was a little bit of a mess. He figured out the offense. They're the only team in the country that scored 35 a game, but surrendered 35 a game. So he figured out the offense very quickly. They'll get the defense figured out through recruiting. Elaine Kiffin, Ole Miss coach now joining us live.

Watched a couple of your games last year, and they were typical Lane Kiffin. You were fast and clever and smart. And by the way, you've lost a lot of weight. You lost 30 pounds, I'm told. What did you do? I did a lot, Colin. I really, after the season, after the bowl game, you know, just sitting down on players and you have your year-in meetings and we had some linemen that, you know, talked about

their diet and working out and having discipline. I'm sitting there looking at myself going, how am I staying in this? I'm not doing myself. So just change the diet. I'm back to exercising like I used to, and I just kept plugging away. By the way, you have 100% vaccination rate on your football team, which is absolutely remarkable in a state, especially with a lower vaccination rate. What was the cell? We know that some kids, it may be religion, they get misinformation.

You sold your entire team on this, and how did you do it? Well, I am proud of our players and our staff, our entire building. That's 250 people, you know, coming together. And it's hard to get that to happen. And like you said, we're in a state that was dead last in vaccination rate. So we didn't make anybody do anything. We didn't force anybody, but we did educate people. And we brought in not just our own doctors, but outside doctors for information and for support in this decision-making process.

And, you know, really what it came down to is a lot of the kids, a lot of the employees, adults. you know, it really wasn't for sure no. It was really, well, I just, I read one article or I had one person tell me this. So I'm just going to say no. And it's easier to say no than yes because I don't have to go down the road and get the shot or, you know, go to the doctor's office. So I think a lot of it was that versus what people really think it is. Everybody's so educated on this. Ole Miss Football Coach, turned him around offensively in one year.

one of the great recruiters in college football. So I trust your judgment on quarterbacks. Mack Jones had a field day against you guys last year. Tell me what do you like about his game? Any concerns going to the NFL? He's not a quote, great athlete. But when you faced him, what did the film say and what did the game say to you afterwards?

Well, he played great versus us, but everybody played great versus us, Colin. That's a really good thing to go by. But no Macwell, great competitor, phenomenal student of the game. He's going to study. He's going to know everything about it. I think he'll do really well. And, you know, I think he, in the offseason, when we watch cutups of things to learn,

you know, you kind of learn the players even more. And he was extremely accurate, you know, with his deep ball throws. Now, over two years of throwing a four first rounders helps your accuracy too. but he did a great job. Jalen Hertz, who you had. Philadelphia is going to let him roll lane for 16 games. What do you like? What would be your concerns on the Eagles quarterback?

I like how Jalen can get out of trouble. I like that, you know, especially so many plays are not made in rhythm. And he does a great job of doing that. You know, the concern would just be, you know, entire season at that level as a young quarterback at any age, just having the experience and going through everything. And most guys take a while. You know, everybody now wants everybody to play great right away.

And that position most of the time takes a while. You know, Lane, when you went to Oakland, it's well documented. There were a lot of picks that Al Davis muscled through that you weren't a fan of. But you were a young coach, and there were a lot of skeptics. and it always takes time in society for us to just put our arms around cultural changes. Now in the NFL, Zach Taylor, Sean McVeigh, just kids. I mean, we got Nick Seriani, we got all these young guys. And take me back a little bit.

It was such a stigma. Your age was such a big deal. And my takeaway is young people, my kids are smarter than I was. Like young people are just smarter. Do you remember when you were with the Raiders just all the doubt and, and skepticism you had to constantly hear and face? I remember some of it, but, you know, I was young enough. And I think that's, you know, one of the good things about being young.

You know, is you think you can do everything. And you think you got all the answers. So that's bad and good at the same time. So I had no concerns. What I think when you are young, what you need is the right people around you. Just like to be a good quarterback, you need the right piece. is around you of the organization and the other players. And so I think any head coach needs that, but especially when you're young.

You know, you faced Alabama and Nick Saban, and there's always been this feeling from people outside the SEC bubble that, oh, Kiffin and Sabin, oh, boy, I don't know. And I have a, I know both of you. I have a hard time believing. I mean, I don't know. I just think, I think Nick let you run an offense. He just gave it to you. And if you go look at what you did, you didn't have first round quarterbacks.

Do you and Nick, if you walk up to each other, what is it like now today? Very comfortable. It's happened a number of times. And great respect for him, great appreciation for what he did for me and giving me that opportunity. You know, when the USC thing happened, you know, all of a sudden, you know, I didn't know anything about coaching. So, you know, he gave me a great opportunity. And, you know, people want to give me credit for changing the offense there. But as a head coach, especially head coach that is set in his ways for him to want to change on offense.

And it was his idea. I didn't come in saying, this is what you should do. He said, this is what I want you to do. I want to change. You know, I'm tired of people running these plays against us so we don't have an answer for him. So just appreciate him that opportunity. and, you know, it's a good lesson. Sometimes when you just sit and listen, you know,

for three years and learn from somebody, you can learn a lot. And obviously, that helped us last year or the other way playing against him. Because you heard for three years what he didn't like to see. Yeah. Well, you've had Pete Carroll and Nick Saban as mentors, and you're obviously going to be a mentor for some young coaches out there. You know, it's funny. If I have friends, I just met with some friends the other day from the SEC, I had dinner with them, and they just love football.

I'm a West Coast guy. but I always tell my West Coast friends, you just don't want it as badly. As a guy who loves the West, and I know you do, explain Southern football to a West Coast guy who just thinks, the media doesn't like us, and I say, you just don't understand the SEC. Explain it to them. Yeah, you really don't.

And until you get in it, you view it different, you think out there, it's just not a different league. It's like a different sport. You know, and you can utilize it in some really good ways, too. You know, like this vaccination, you know, as head coach of USC, I think if you do that, you're going to have some impact. But you do that as the head coach, Ole Miss, you know, fans now are lining up to, you know, get vaccinations because the football team did it. So it is completely different. And there's good and bad to everything, you know, and you and I've talked before.

You can go to down there in Manhattan Beach and maybe a few people recognize you. You know me the head coach USC, but they just maybe say hi or something. Down here in the south, you ain't going anywhere. I'm quick. It takes an hour to go to the grocery store. 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.

What the NFL does is, and I never like to be a buzzkill, the NFL offers, it's the sport of hope. Like in baseball, you know, we got some. salary, no salary caps. So, I mean, the Dodgers can go out. They're already loaded and just go, oh, we're going to buy Trade Turner and Max Scherzer. I mean, the bottom line is the Dodgers have more talent than virtually every roster in the sport. And they can just keep adding it.

Depends on what the owners, how much they want to win or make this year. In the NBA, we all know that one or two great players, you're in the playoffs. And there's like a third of the league is not even competitive. And half of the league has no chance to win a title, probably more than that. But in the NFL, the floor, there's very few bad, bad teams. Like Houston right now, if Deshaun Watson doesn't play, that's a bad football team. I think Philadelphia is going to be a pretty bad football team. You know, even Detroit, and they're not going to be a good football team,

I mean, they have a quarterback who went to a Super Bowl, and Dan Campbell has coached before and won games. And from his comments yesterday, he's got a good roster of guys that he really likes. And I thought they had a very good draft, by the way. I thought the Lions had a very good draft. So I was critical because there's so much hope in the NFL is that I don't want to be a buzz kill. I like all fan bases to be motivated and happy. It's nobody wants to buzzkill it. But I've said I have real doubts about Zach Wilson.

And it's not just about Zach. Zach's clearly talented. He throws a beautiful football. He's got a nice arm. Looks a little small. You know, in college, I went into the games. He played the best coaches. Chris Peterson, Kyle Whittingham.

He couldn't beat him. beat a lot of bad teams. And it's like, you know, it's not a great conference he played in. They don't play a lot of defense out there. So here are the facts. In the last decade, on average, four quarterbacks are taken in the first round. Don't let those facts get in the way of your feelings. Four.

It's about three and a half. We'll round it up. Make every person whole. It's four. One, on average, is a star. Two, it's bumpy. one's a bust. Well, let's just go to recent history.

Last year's quarterbacks, the first round guys, right? Justin Herbert is the star. Tua and Burrow, it's bumpy. Joe Burroughs got a bad organization. Tua had a bad hip, and there's limitation. And Jordan Love, a report are not encouraging. I'll just leave it at that. True to form, that's kind of where we're at.

So this draft had Trevor Lawrence with a great, now let's just think about this. Trevor Lawrence with a legendary good offensive coach, Urban Meyer. We'll see if he segues, but I believe he's the most talented guy, and that's what scouts say. Trey Lance, Super Bowl roster, great offensive coach. Justin Fields got a very clever offensive coach that got Mitch Trubisky into the playoffs, and Mack Jones has the best coach ever.

And then there's Zach Wilson with a really. with a rookie coach, a first-time play caller, and you tell me who's his best offensive teammate. Corey Davis, wide receiver, who was viewed largely as a bust. A Tevin Campbell, bounce around the league running back, McKay Beckton, a second-year-left tackle. He is entering a really, really tough spot. I mean, even Andrew Luck, when he took over for those bad Colts teams, had T.Y. Hilton, an emerging star at receiver, an old Reggie Wayne, first year had 1,300 yards, and Bruce Ariens, a veteran coach who had had success around the league as a coordinator for multiple

teams. It's a tough spot for Zach Wilson. So it's like, oh, you don't think Zach will. Folks, we know what I'm about to say is true. We know what I'm about to say is true. Where you land will eventually decide your success, with very few exceptions. I mean, it's not a shock Russell Wilson with Pete Carroll and that defense first couple of years. You don't think that helped Russell Wilson, that he didn't have to throw it 45 times his first couple years.

Where you land, Brady doesn't have the same success if he doesn't go to New England. If he goes to Jacksonville, he probably has four different coaches. So it's not anti-Zack Wilson. A little small to me, a little cocky. His background, you know, uncles worth 400 million bucks. that's a little different than the average quarterback. We've said this before with quarterbacks, being kicked around helps. Aaron Rogers Junior College.

Brady 6 round. Russell Wilson, third round, Dack 4th round, Big Ben, Miami of Ohio, Matt Ryan, Boston College. We have a 25, 30-year petri dish of proof. If you struggled and scrapped and had to overcome a lot, not a lot of rich kids, you know, are starting quarterbacks. You need to get pushed around and beat and doubted and junior college. Look around the league now. Patrick Mahomes, losing record in college.

Josh Allen, Wyoming. Look around. Lamar Jackson. Nobody thought he could throw the football at the NFL level. Justin Herbert. I mean, Justin Herbert's great. Literally, Joy and I spent a month on this show saying, we don't understand. I don't understand it.

Everybody's like, mechanical. He doesn't really inconsistent. So I'm just saying, I think Jack Wilson, I think he's the guy I look at and I think that is a tough spot. Fourth best coach in his division and I'll make another

guess. His coordinator is the least experience could be the fourth best offensive coordinator in division, potentially. Not Josh McDaniels. We know that. So you start looking at what Miami has on the outside. Will Fuller. And you start looking at

Jaylen Waddle. Mike Gassicki, the tight end, you start looking at Miami's weapons and Buffalo's weapons, Cole Beasley, Stefan Diggs, now they have Emmanuel Sanders. You start looking at the weapons all these other guys have and it's like the only team where, I mean, he's got the worst weapons in the division and the youngest coach and a first-time play caller. It's not a negative thing that we know in the last decade.

Four quarterbacks first round, star, two bumpy, one bus. It's the way to goes. And it's over. The bust is usually a kid who's a good. good prospect, not a great prospect, a good prospect, and he enters a really bad situation. I love the Jets' GM. I think Joe Douglas has had back-to-back really good drafts, but ownership there, coaching, a lot of question marks. They just don't have a lot of offensive talent. 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. Here is one of the harsh realities of life, and it doesn't seem fair and maybe it isn't, maybe it is. But where you enter a company or a league is going to change how you're initially viewed. If you start in the mail room of a company, you will not have the respect of the big boys star employees up top. You won't. If you start in the vice president's office, you enter the company and you're a vice president immediately, you got a corner office, drive the Mercedes. Whether you're competent or not, you'll get a runway to make mistakes. The company is invested in you. It's the same in professional sports. If you're a first round baseball draft pick, football draft pick, you will be given chances even if it's bumpy. Sam Darnold's been

given another chance. How many coaches for Baker Mayfield? Right? Because you're invested in them economically. This is fascinating. So Gardner Minshue is actually really talented. And this is not a criticism of Baker Mayfield. But Baker entered the league as a number one pick. Gardner Minchew was drafted 178. Gardner Minshu and Baker ran essentially the same offense in college. The difference is Baker was surrounded by Oklahoma Sooners. Gardner Minchew, a transfer was surrounded by Washington State Cougars. Go look at their college numbers.

It is bizarre. They're identical. For our radio audience, they're identical. 71% completion percent. 4,700 yards. Minshoe, 38 TDs, nine picks, Baker 43 touchdown, six picks. Again, Baker playing with NFL wide receivers.

Same size, by the way, same personality. They go to the NFL. Here are their career averages. They're identical. They are, by the way, the same size. They both complete about 62%. Actually, Minshew completes more, better passer rating.

It's virtually identical. The difference, of course, much like college is Baker has the best offensive line, Nick Chubb, Jarvis Landry, and the NFL head coach of the year last year. This is not a criticism of Baker Mayfield. It is a reality in American life that Minshue comes into the league number 178, and Baker comes in number one. And so they play the same, they talk the same, they have been in the same college offense.

They've watched them play. When you watch Gardner Minchew, he plays like Baker. And we have a guy in our staff, Alex, who lives for the NFL. He has been on the Gardner Minchew thing for years. Is that Urban Meyer was asked yesterday, who's your starting quarterback? It's obviously Trevor Lawrence. Here's what Urban Meyer had to say.

Is there really a chance that you guys won't start? Trevor Lawrence against Houston in a month? Is there really a chance? I think we'll answer that as it gets closer. But it's still very much an open competition to see who gets that honor. It's the reality is he really doesn't have a chance to start. I mean, Urban will say that, but because they're bringing in Trevor Lawrence, is that if you just take off the fanboy hat or turn yours around,

they're the same player. And that is not a knock on Baker. Gardner Minchu can play. I don't think Gardner Minchew is a great prospect, but I don't think Baker's a great prospect. But the difference is one comes in one, one comes in 178. They have played the same system, the same numbers. You hate Baker? No, I don't.

But I think Gardner Minshu, and I admit when he came in, I hated the Washington State Cougars as a kid because they beat my Huskies, who are my favorite team as a kid. But I kind of made fun of his bandanas, his mustache, and his goofiness. but I've watched the guy play and I'm like, if Baker's a starter in this league, Gardner Minshu can start in this league. Absolutely. And that shows you how high the floor is in the NFL. Gardner Minchew, I'll tell you right now,

is better than Drew Locke. He's better than Ryan Fitzpatrick. I'll tell you right now, he's better than Tua. I'll put it out there. He's better than Tua. He's more talented than Tua. But he entered the league at 178. Somebody is eventually just going to say,

Remember, they paid Nick Foles a fortune. Nick Foles entered the Jaguars, rich. Couldn't win games. The offense was more lively when they had Gardner Mnichu than Nick Foles. It's interesting. It's the way life works. How you enter a company will dictate how you are viewed and the number of mistakes you can make and chances you will get. This past year has brought a lot of change to our lives.

You know that and I know that. For some of you, it means you change. jobs for others, more people retired last year than is usually the case in America, right? Just said, you know what, COVID, not going to work, think I'll retire. Well, what do you do with your portfolio? How do you track it? Retirement's a huge step. How about Stiefel financial advisors?

Stiefel has helped clients like you manage investments for 130 years. Retirement plans, net worth. Stifle clients have access to their. Steeful award-winning equity research and investment strategy views. Find your Stiefel financial advisor at Stiefel.com. Trust them. S-T-I-F-E-L.com. I do.

Stifel, NICL-E-L.com. Steeful, Nicholas and Company Incorporated. Remember SIPC in New York Stock Exchange? Life's been different. Track your net worth. Get sage advice from steafel.com. Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends.

Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel. Help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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. On The Look Back at it podcast. From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 was big to me. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down,

and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild year. It was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win.

A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifers Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered 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 Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok's podcast network on TikTok. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.