The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 08/25/2021 - HOUR 1 - Cowboys, Patriots-Rams, Jackson, Jets

Episode Date: August 25, 2021

The Dallas Cowboys are a soft teamWho won the trade between the Patriots and the Rams?Teams have not figured out Lamar JacksonZach Wilson will struggle this seasonGuest: Nick Wright Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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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. 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.

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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, 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 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 herd 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. Oh, here we go on a Wednesday. What a pleasure it is live in beautiful Los Angeles. It's the herd, wherever you may be, and however you may be listening.

Not only do we have the weather, our baseball team never loses a game. Dodgers keep rolling. My word, Joy Taylor is joining me. Fox Sports Radio, Iheart Radio, FS1. Oh, I, you know, out here, Joy, as you know, you and I have always been sort of middle-class kids. We got a chip on our shoulder. You do, I do. And I think in Los Angeles, whereas a lot of stars, the weather's always good.

You got to keep that chip on your shoulder. Oh, yeah, you got to keep the edge. You can get into a very comfortable lifestyle out here very quickly. Very comfortable. A lot of chia seeds and tofu. out here. My wife is a Midwest girl. When I met her, she liked beef stew. We move out to

L.A. She's a vegan. It happens very quickly. That's right. So I watched Hard knocks last night. They had a three-minute drone shot going through the Cowboys facility. And the wait room

at a hotel. They got practice fields. Oh, I'd never see. It was a palace. I've never seen anything. I've never seen anything like it. And then I thought, yeah, I have. It's called a country club. This is why the Cowboys are a soft

football organization. There's an old saying by the late great Marvin Hagler, one of the all-time great boxers after he got rich. It's hard to get up at five in the morning to do road work when you slept in silk pajamas. Fidelity investments

says 88% of millionaires did not inherit their wealth. They were self-made. I don't have many rich friends, but the ones I do all have this funny thing, all of them. They still live, feel, talk like middle class people or below, and they're all rich. They buy used cars sometimes. They worry about stuff that's ridiculous. I'm like, you've got money. and they've all got this, I didn't grow up with it, the fear of going back.

Dallas Cowboys are a country club. Oh, let's add this, that Jerry Jones regularly overpays for good players. You know who doesn't? New England never does. Baltimore never does. Green Bay never does. You know, those three teams that win a lot of playoff games. Joey and I always joke about this.

New England was a 20-year dynasty. and they always had this, we became a regular joke on the show. Every week it was like, nobody respects us. What the hell are you talking about? They were a 20-year dynasty. And Belichick always made them feel like

we cannot afford anything more than the Marriott. The Dallas Cowboys, they're trust fund kids. They've never stated anything in the last 25 years. That's not a Rich Carlton. When I used to cover Mike Tyson years ago, in Vegas. I never forget this. Remember when Mike Tyson would come out with a ripped shirt? He was the richest boxer on the planet. Black trunks. He used to work out in Vegas. I covered him at

Johnny Toko's ringside gym, a late great trainer. He's passed away. Dark dingy smelled like a house with 40 cats in it. And top rank gym was all shiny across the way. Tyson didn't want to work out there. Tyson wanted to work out at Johnny Toko's ringside gym. Why? Because it felt like a street fight. It got him. It felt like being on a bad street where he grew up and you had to be on edge. He could have worked out at Caesars, at the Mirage. He didn't like to. He wanted to work out at that dark, damp Johnny Toko's gym. And he wore a rip shirt because the psychology for Mike was, I'm going to war. not wearing silk pajamas to bed. I'm going to what he dressed in, the music he listened to, where he trained the psychology of going into the octagon, going into the ring.

Connor McGregor's not nearly as good a fighter since he got rich selling his whiskey company. They didn't put in the time. They don't want to take those punches quite as much. Let me tap out. I'm done. Wasn't like that four years ago. Still good. Not great.

I watched that drone for the Dallas Cowboys, and I'm like, you've got to be kidding me. Shiny and beautiful and wonderful, and they're overpaying all their players. Good players now get great contracts. Since Barry Switzer left in the mid-90s, 25 years ago, they have three playoff wins. Mark Sanchez in the last 15 years has more playoff wins

than the Cowboys have in 25 years. Nick Foles has more playoff wins in 10 years than the Cowboys have in 25. Buffalo had two wins last year. Since 2000, that's 21 years, 12 of 16 teams in the NFC have made the Super Bowl. Four haven't. Dallas is one of them. Detroit's another one.

So when I watched that drone, I thought this is an organization that is Jerry's buying his yacht. Jerry is enjoying his wealth, good for him, but keep it away from the players. That facility is a country club. It's just, folks, it's not the same. You stay at that Rich Carlton for the weekend. It takes the edge off real quick. Heard brought to you by Jersey Mike subs, be a sub above. So I saw this.

The Patriots traded Sony Michelle a running back to the Rams. And we've been talking about this, Joy, for two weeks. They have to get another running back. and both teams got what they wanted. The Rams wanted a Shifty running back for Sean McVeigh's system. And New England, which is not in a Super Bowl window, in my opinion, is accumulating picks. That's what they do. And they are loaded at running back.

We've noted that several times. Fans get paralyzed. This is really funny by who won the trade. Doesn't matter what sport it is. Who won the trade? Well, first of all, did you get what you wanted? New England's already got three running backs, one a rookie they like. They don't need a fourth.

And they need to accumulate picks, cobble a bunch of them together, and try to eventually move up to get more playmakers because that's what they don't have. The Rams need a running back now. And Sony Michelle has fallen out of the rotation he did last year regularly. It can still play. Cam Acres is better, but there's not a huge gap between Sony Michelle and Camer

It really isn't. One's a B back. One's a B plus back. But it is interesting. People are always into, oh, this morning I saw it. Patriots won the trade. Really? Because I'm going to guarantee you something out of this trade.

Between Sean McVeigh, the Rams offensive line, and the need for Sony Michelle, he will be productive this year. How productive, I don't know. Have you watched the Patriots last six drafts? They miss a lot. Two years ago, they took two tight ends in the third round. Neither can play a lick. a lick.

Last year they had five total catches. So you think a fifth and a six round pick are going to be destined to be stars? They can't get tight ends right. And they didn't have tight ends. So they would have played anybody. They drafted two in the third round. Neither can play. So, you know, when the Bears got Khalil Mack,

oh, bears dominated the trade. For a year, it looked like that. But last year, Kalil Mack didn't do much. And by the way, he's so expensive. he's one of the reasons they had to get rid of their best corner, Kyle Fuller. So who won the trade? Did you attain something that works for your current needs or initiatives? The Rams needed a running back.

You cannot win the NFC West to me the most physical division in football without some semblance of an at least solid to good running game. Sony Michelle can provide that. By the way, Cam Acres and Sony Michelle are virtually the same size. Same kind of shifty back. Neither is a power back. Neither has high-end, top-end speed. They're shifting.

They get yards. They run very well. They find the hole quickly. They've got good speed, not great. They're big. They're not going to run you over. Neither is Nick Chubb, but both are good. But don't get too paralyzed about who won the trade.

Bottom line is, if I'm selling a house and you're buying it, I'm done living there and you want to live there. Who cares? I've sold houses in my life. I'm done with them. All right? You, I just sold one six months ago. Somebody, a family wanted a house. I was done with it. Who won the deal? I got what I wanted. You got what you wanted. That's how NFL trades work. Patriots are in the accumulate draft picks, cobble them together, get a bunch of third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh. Can you move up and get one or two playmakers here, maybe three or four? Rams need a back. They got it. All right, great to have you in today. You know, I was thinking about something this morning.

And it's, you know, Joey and I were talking about this in the makeup room performance. Obviously, I don't wear a lot of makeup. You can tell from that. It's funny who society decides to support, the initiatives, the politics, the people we support. I find it fascinating. There is a great player in the NFL. And I swear to God, 75% of you refuse to put your arms around him because he's different. I don't get it.

I'll talk about that coming up. 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 IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. Yep, that's me. Clever Taylor the 4th.

You might have seen the skisks. It's, 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 a little camp?

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 you're just so you're not. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed correct.

So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you finishing that sentence. Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history.

Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite. favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark.

Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it, and we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth,

or 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, is we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now.

DoorDash here, get more from your neighborhood, 10 bucks off. Try Dash pass for free year-round savings. Exclusive menu items. Zero dollar delivery fees now. The DoorDash app. I use it all the time. So it is fascinating to me in every field, politics, sports, who we support and who we don't. It's just incredible.

So last week, a reporter at another network, Jeremy Fowler reported that people around the league have told him this reporter at the other place, hey, this is the year we've figured out Lamar Jackson. Lamar Jackson, when told about this, said, quote, I strongly doubt it. I love Lamar Jackson. I doubt it. Why do all of you struggle to embrace him? You keep defending every time I bring up Baker-Mayfield in the same division. You keep telling me he's a star. Baker started 45 games.

He's won half, 23. Lamar Jackson started 37. He's 1.30. Lamar Jackson's passer rating is 102.6. Bakers is 89. Oh, yeah. Lamar's younger than Baker, has already won MVP, and is the fastest player

at the position ever. One of them, you are just defending at every corner. He's a star. The other one, I can't pass. Well, it's interesting. Well, since I am literally a walking Google up here,

in 2019, do you know who led the NFL in touchdown passes? Oh, it was not Patrick Mahomes. It was not Tom Brady. It's not Russell Wilson. It was Lamar Jackson with 36. Stop telling me he can't pass. Stop it.

He's got the fourth highest pass rating of all time. He throws it differently. So did Philip Rivers. Big Ben, the one-handed pump fake, just because it looks different. He can pass. You have been defending from day one, Cam Newton. Cam can't pass. If you took every quarterback in the league who has played at least three years,

so let's get the rookies and the young kids out. And you said, 25-yard seam pass to win the game. There's not a quarterback in the league I would trust less than Cam Newton. Until the end of last year, his career completion percentage was in the 50s, 59%. His passer rating's at 85. He's a power running quarterback who's had bad mechanics, inefficiency, and never had back-to-back winning seasons, despite Ron Revere and Billi-Belichick as coaches,

pretty good coaches. You just decided at some point maybe he's good looking, it's a flash, it's the commercials. You're going to defend Cam. You have decided, maybe it's all my criticism. You're going to defend Baker. Lamar Jackson's better than both. It's not close. Lamar Jackson is significantly better than Cam Newton.

First three years in the league. Not close. Not even remotely close. He's faster. He's more mature. I trust him throwing the football. It is, I just laugh at the we're going to figure out Lamar Jackson this year.

Oh, folks, you never figure out stars. Nobody ever figured out Reggie White. Nobody figured out Lawrence Taylor. Nobody's figured out Aaron Donald. Nobody will ever, nobody ever figured out Kobe. Nobody, I mean, to be honest with you, the only time stars are figured out is when the star can't figure it out that work and drive and off-season matter. and Lamar Jackson is a dog.

That kid every year comes in looks bigger, stronger, and faster. So this idea you're going to figure Lamar Jackson out is just, it is amazing. Day one, you defended Cam, despite data that shows you, Lamar is significantly better as a quarterback. God, if I say anything about Baker Mayfield, it's 10,000 social media. He's a star. They plan the same division twice a year. One guy started 37 games won 30 of them. Nobody's figuring Lamar Jackson out.

I'm saying he's winning Super Bowls. I mean, good luck beating Patrick Mahomes. And Andy Reid, I'm not saying he's winning Super Bowls. You're not figuring him out. You don't figure out four, three, five speed from a quarterback. There's no figuring out there. You could have him boxed in. He'll run past your guys.

Joy of the News. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the Herdline News. Well, it is official. I think this is our first ending to a quarterback competition. Do we have a music? This is a big story.

This is a giganto story, Joey. Very shocking announcements. But the Jaguars have announced that Trevor Lawrence will be the team's week one starter. It was so close. They just edged out Gardner Minshu. But he had to earn his position. Well, now the key is. and this is why you name it now,

he'll get the rest of the first team snaps for the next two weeks until they play. And that's very valuable. Yeah, I also think that it's valuable to put him in a position of leadership. But the whole conversation about the quarterback competition is a separate conversation. Their offense has struggled to find an identity in two weeks.

And Urban Meyer came in and said, guys, we don't have an identity. And Darrell Bevel said, well, how do we? He's taking half the snaps. So I think at some point, their performance the other night, They just came to terms with, it's going to take a long time to find an identity. We could do it much faster if one guy took all the snaps in practice. Yeah, if one guy is the starter for the team.

Well, you know, I was looking at Jacksonville's schedule, and it's not a horrible schedule to start before they're by. Joy? Like, this is an ideal schedule for a situation that Jacksonville is in. I mean, they're obviously not going to go to Seattle and win. They're not going to beat Buffalo. No, but the games before they're by, I mean, Arizona is legitimate.

Houston's a mess. Denver's probably a third place team. Cincinnati? Yeah. And then you have the dolphins and the Titans who are good teams. They get Houston twice. They can win both those games. Yeah.

It's not horrible. You got the Jets later in the season. You got several rebuilding teams. It gets rough in the middle there. You got Seattle, then Buffalo, then the Colts, then the Niners, Falcons, Rams. Like that's a rough. That's a rough stretch there, but that's not until the middle of the season.

So they do kind of have a soft entry there. Now, look, I'm not expecting them to win a lot of games this year, and we've seen from the preseason that they have a lot going on, which shouldn't really be shocking to anyone, because they have Trevor Lawrence for a reason. They were terrible last year. That's why he's in Jacksonville. But I do like that Urban has come out and said he's the starter,

not that again it was shocking, but I think now you have, you've put your team in a position so you know who the leader is, And also there are some teams, maybe that one that we talked about at the beginning of the show in Texas that might want to back up quarterback. And now you have a legitimate backup quarterback in Gardner Minshue that you could get some pieces for. But that's a whole other conversation of DACS healthy. So Mack Jones is getting all the first team reps at Patriots practice with Cam Newton out. He's gotten praise on his performance from coaches and teammates all throughout OTAs.

training camp and tight-end, Jonu Smith, is the latest to talk about everything he's seen from Jones so far. I think he's been progressing really well, you know, just, you know, taken from everything that's in the meeting rooms, on the fields, and just executing it. And, you know, you can just tell he's getting comfortable. And, you know, he's settling and, you know, everything's, you know, going to work out for him. He's a hard worker, you know, so looking forward to see, you know, him do great things. According to Patriots reporter Jeff Howe, Mac Jones, threw back-to-back touchdowns and 18 consecutive completions against the Giants starting defense in their joint practice today.

It said it was a very impressive morning for the rookie. Very impressive. I tell you, Joey, we said this yesterday. Why did they leak that Cam Newton story that they were unhappy with Cam? The Patriots want everybody to know, we had all the protocols set up. He messed up. Unhappy means we had something for you to do. and you disappointed us with your actions,

they leak that story to just let everybody know, nobody else struggled with this except our quarterback. That's what to me, that's the takeaway on that leaking that story, a day after it happens. They've literally written books about the New England Patriots dynasty. You read the book, Seth Wickersham has it now, and I'm going to get to it.

I just read another one about from Jeff Benedict about a year ago. There's all sorts of stories in here. I'm like, how did we not hear these stories for 20 years? Cam has a COVID issue the next day it's leaked out that they're upset. Stuff gets leaked out when people want it out. So what a shock. Mac looks great. I have this weird feeling.

I mean, I would still start Cam. I would. I would too. And I do think he is still a starter as of right now. But nothing is everything. Everything is something. Say it all the time. Last year, there was nothing Cam could do about the COVID situation. This year, you can. And he's choosing not to.

And look, you're not being there. when you're in a quarterback competition, which while you and I may think he's the starter right now, and it seems like he is, if Mack continues to play like this, it's not about pressure with Bill Belichick. Bill Belichick is not going to give into fan pressure and media pressure.

It's not about that. The more that you're not there, the more opportunity he's going to get. Now, maybe Mac was going to get all these reps anyway, but the fact that this is just a protocol situation, he didn't test negative. It's just simply a protocol misstep. but it wouldn't be a misstep if you weren't in that situation that you've chosen to be in.

So I do think it's something. And also I think it's something because Bill Belichick said it something. Bill Belichick, the ultimate microphone manipulator said it's an opportunity for Mack Jones. Yeah, he said it. So there you go. Like there's nothing to speculate about. He said it. So the Broncos have a quarterback competition between Drew Locke and Teddy Bridgewater this year with a little over two weeks until the first regular season game.

Vic Fangio hasn't picked the starter. I don't get this one. This one, go ahead with your start. I don't get this one. Well, he's pleased with both players. Yeah, it's pretty damn close. I mean, you guys have seen it. I've asked a few of you a few times,

and neither one of you have come up with an answer. So it is close. And I think it's close for a good reason. They both have played well. The good news of this competition is we got two quarterbacks that we feel we can go win with. If you have more than one quarterback, you have no quarterback.

Okay. Here's why. So on all these, I have always kind of argued, like Andy Dalton overfields game one. I have Garoppola over Tray Lance. I tend to be, let's go with the vet. Let's just be patient on this stuff. This one's different. So let's define why it's different. Teddy Bridgewater is now viewed fairly as a bridge quarterback.

Drew Locke is not a rookie. This is his third year. We got all sorts of practices, exhibitions. You know the strength and weakness for both. What you need to do in Denver, because you've got real players here, is not define what Teddy Bridgewater is. We know you can win games. What you have to define is, can we trust Drew Locke?

It's called September. Get him out there. There is no, again, if Justin Fields was in its third year, there's no value in not playing. them. I get the sit like, Tray Lance, I would not play him right now. Justin Fields, I wouldn't play them early. Zach Wilson, I'd prefer if they had somebody he could sit behind. But this one is, you have playmakers all over that offense. If Drew Locke can't move the football with this offense, then he, and you'll know by October 10th, he's not the guy. I'm on the other side of you with not playing rookie

quarterbacks right away, but I get the value in some situations. And I do think each of these quarterback competitions is different and unique. They all. They all. They all have different factors. Each team is in a different situation and position. And this one is not the same thing because he's not a rookie, to your point. Like, you have to find, how are you not going to find out what you have in Drew Locke? And also, I do think there is a bit of a psychology. I think that competition was good for Drew Locke that he needs to earn his position.

But we're at the point in camp now, like similar to Jacksonville, where you've got to decide who you're going with. And also, I think there's a level of it in the locker room where, guys, guys start to form, not alliances, but preferences. Yes, that's a good word. Like, people are, humans. Like, you have guys that you get along with and that you vibe with, and they start to follow. And it can become a split locker room if you don't make a decision and say, this is our guy. It's not like other positions, position battles where it's like, we don't really know who's going to be the number one running back.

And we don't know who's going to be the number one receiver. There's only one quarterback. So you do actually have to know who that guy is going to be. Good stuff, Joy with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Heard Lye News. You know, it's interesting.

I'm going to bring Nick Rydon. First Things First, brought to you by Mercedes-Benz the best or nothing. So I'm going to throw this at you, Nick. As I was building my brand as America's honesty broker back in Vegas, I noticed this a lot with boxing, is that it wasn't often the opponent. you fought. It was yourself. When you came into this massive wealth, it was hard to not go off the, you know, off the rail. You get $60 million for a fight. I mean, athletes have salary caps and

they take pay cuts. And so you became managing yourself. And Marvin Hagler had the great line. Hard to do road work at 5 a.m. when you got silk pajamas, right? And there's always been this talk. I've heard this before about hip hop stars. You talk about the struggle in your first two albums. you have a yacht. So it's not as much of a struggle. And does the music not quite have that feel of the struggle, which is why we all fall in love with you, right? And I look at the Cowboys last night.

I look at the Cowboys facilities, and I'm like, oh my God, it's a Ritz Carlton. They already overpay for average players. It's just New England lived in the world of nobody respects us. I look at the Cowboys, and I'm like, they might as well just pull the, Jerry's yacht into their practice facility. Do you buy any of this stuff? They're a coddled franchise. Yeah, well, I listen, I think it's nice to have nice facilities, but I also think at some point

there needs to be the realization that this century, the Cowboys are one of the two or three least successful teams in their entire conference. You know, in the last 20 years, which NFC teams haven't been to a conference championship game. It's the Lions and Washington. I think, I'm doing it off the top of my head. I think that's the entirety of the list. In fact, I think you only add Minnesota to the list of NFC teams. If you say which teams haven't been to the Super Bowl out of that conference,

except, of course, the Cowboys are also on that list. I mean, it's not just that you're 25 years. removed from a dynasty. You're 25 years removed from being a game away from being a game away. And so I do think there is the element of when you have the nicest facilities and you're talked about the most and you have the loudest owner and you have your America's team and you're on TV the most that maybe lends itself to what you're talking about where the sense of accomplishment almost pervades a team that has not, if we're being honest, accomplished all that much since I was in high school.

Right. So, yeah, I buy into that. It was a hell of a drone shot, though. Good production worked by NFL Network. Good job by them. Yeah, it was great. It was their 15th take I read this morning. It took them a while to get it done.

So it is interesting in all sorts of things, politics, sports, who we embrace and who we don't. And I just find it hysterical that Jeremy Fowler's reporting, that NFL people are now saying, this is the year we figure out Lamar Jackson. And I have watched sports for 40 years. You never figure out stars. If they become non-stars, it's usually they didn't manage themselves. They didn't put in the time.

But if they do, only injuries stop them from being stars. Nobody figured out Damien Lillard. And they never will until he gets old and beat up. So what do you make of this assertion the league is inches from figuring out Lamar Jackson? So I find so much of the Lamar Jackson conversation fascinating because I think so much of it is done without saying what people are really trying to say. Like, I actually do think folks, for the most part, have figured Lamar out. But that doesn't mean they can stop it. Like, I don't think people are shocked by what he's doing.

I think they have a very good idea of what he's going to do. But it doesn't mean you have an effective way to defeat what he's going to. do. I also think that it is very fair to say there's an obvious, you know, where his game is limited at the higher level passing, that has particularly, you know, reared up in the biggest spots in high leverage moments, that is the next step for Lamar to take. But I, it's, the reason I find the conversation so fascinating is the loudest and most vocal Lamar Jackson's and critics. Most intelligent people want nothing to do with them. It's like, wait, who are the people on Twitter saying Lamar stinks? And you go to their Twitter feed. It's like, oh, that's a really

mean tweet that person sent to Joy Taylor. And then you scroll down further. And it's like, oh, are they advocating horse dewormer for COVID? Like, oh, I don't want to be with that guy. That guy's an idiot. And so because of that, many in the media, I think, have almost, what's the word, patronized Lamar. Because the guy won an MVP, the guy's an unbelievable player, and he also much like an MVP in another league who I use the comp a lot

needs his game to grow. I've always said Lamar's like Janus, and I think the Ravens can take a page out of the Bucks playbook. The Bucks this year took a step back in the regular season

to work on things. To be like, listen, we know we can be a dominant regular season team that, but we need to make sure we can be a dominant postseason team. If I'm Baltimore, I am taking more advantage or more time during the regular season to work on some of the multi-level passing so I am more prepared for it. If I am down seven in a playoff game, even if it means I go 11 and 6 instead of 13 and 4, because I think that's the next level for Baltimore. And I think most people watching it can see that. you have always kind of been a

not a fan, more of an advocate of Cam than I am. He was a... I've been a fan, that's fair. I think, I've said this. Cam is a unique all-time prospect. Justin Fields is a great prospect. Justin throws a better football. I think he's more mature.

I think you can win. His way is sitting in the pocket and throwing darts and because the bears have a bad old line, moving well, it deteriorates. Cam, if you take out his running, was a 58% completion percentage guy. That's what he was. I think Justin Field is a much better prospect than Cam Newton. I think Cam's going to be more popular because he was just, I mean, he was so unique. He was big. He looked like a model. He got the perfect smile. He literally ran over defensive players.

So when I look at Chicago and all these questions about Justin Fields, I look at it and I think, I think he's an unbelievable prospect. I think Cam was just a unique prospect. What do you make the Chicago situation and my assertion that we always put our arms around certain people, Cam's been one of them, and that was careers about ready to peter out, and it's been really a bunch of one year and nothing. And listen, Cam's latest situation is all his own doing, and when your career's hanging by a thread, you probably shouldn't put yourself in a position when you're going to be away from the team for nearly a week. And I would start Justin Fields. I can't believe the Bears are really going to start Andy Dalton, week one. It seems unful.

fathomable to me. I know we disagree there. But I also think it's a little revisionist history about Cam the prospect. Cam was so popular because he had one of the greatest college football seasons ever, was a no-brainer number one pick, and took a team from 1 and 15 to within five years, 15 and 1, a unanimous MVP and the Super Bowl, like or a near unanimous MVP. So I don't know that Justin Fields will ever reach the apex cam got to. The problem for Cam is, was he couldn't maintain it, and he actually never really, aside from that MVP year, you didn't see massive growth in his game. So I think you could say Cam's story is one of untapped potential, but as a prospect,

I feel like Cam was one of the best no-doubt prospects we've seen. he just didn't necessarily evolve the way myself and many of us that have always rooted for Cam thought he would and now he seems to be squandering what could have been a really good opportunity. But I don't think Justin Fields the prospect Cam was. Okay, I do, but we'll disagree. Mack Jones, Cam Newton after the second COVID road bump. Who would you start and why? Yeah.

Well, listen, I think Cam's probably still the starter as of, you know, 1240 p.m. this Wednesday, but that could change. And if it is close, about 90% of the league is vaccinated. So if we haven't heard that you're definitively not, I will assume you are because the numbers dictate it. So I'm going to assume Mack Jones is, we know Cam isn't. If I am making, if it's close, part of the math I'm doing if I'm Belichick is, do I think he's likely to have another protocol slip up?

Do I think it's likely that he has to, you know, impromptuely miss time again? The answer to that question is yes. So I, it is baffling to me that Cam while his, I mean, this really is going to be the last shot he gets if this goes sour, if this goes sideways. And last year one could argue was derailed because of COVID, but there's nothing he could do about that. There's plenty he could do about this. and the fact that he hasn't done it is is disappointing as someone that's always supported him

and I'm not a huge I wouldn't a huge Mac Jones guy coming out of Alabama but the Patriots obviously were they spent a first round pick on him and if it is close I think the cams vaccination status just from a pure football pragmatism standpoint could be enough to tip the scales in Mac Jones's favor yeah and Nick Wright at he's really coming together as a young talent he He's got a nice little tan. You've been dressing well lately. You've got really young talent. Really.

You're kids in high school. Can I ask you a question real quick? Sure. Yeah. Just real quick, before I go, I know I'm late. Can you at some point in the remaining two hours of the show explain how you were able to avoid those pitfalls of when you come into opulent wealth still grinding every day? Because you talk about how it happens to people and then you're like, but me, you know, I want to hear that part of the story.

That's all. See if I can sneak it in. I got some baseball segments I got to get to today. All right. Good, seeing you. Nick Wright. See you. First things first.

Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. Hey, it's me, Rob Parker. Check out my weekly MLB podcast inside the Parker for 22 minutes of pipe and hot baseball talk, featuring the biggest names and newsmakers in the sport, whether you believe in analytics or the I-Test, we've got all the bases covered. New episodes drop every Thursday, so do yourself a favor and listen to Inside the Parker with Rob Parker on the IHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcast. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged.

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

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

This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you

need to be. Listen to The Clifford show on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tapped Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to? do a little kill. Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam Jay. 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 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. Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase

that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross. Because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth.

Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, is we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free, our heart radio app. Search, learn the hard way, and listen now.

Tankless made simple.com. Tankless made symbol.com. Check it out and get a Navian tankless water heater. They only heat hot water when you need it, so you never run out with Navian. year limited warranty as well. Phil Sims, two-time a Super Bowl champs going to be joining us, top of next hour. Great to have you in. I hear a lot of this now.

Oh, Colin. Yeah, you are backpedaling on all your Zach Wilson thoughts. Not one-inch, Cowboys. He's going to finish last place. He's going to struggle. All these ooze and awe of Zach Wilson, what did I predict? He will have the toughest first year because of where he's landing. Ask Sam Darnal.

A story yesterday, Mackay Beckton has left tackle who came into camp 40 pounds overweight, got a concussion, threw up yesterday. He's now out for a while. Carl Lawson, their top free agent pass rusher, out for the year. Jared Davis, top free agent linebacker out for six weeks. Vinnie Curry, pass rusher out. Denzel Mims, wide receiver, struggled to stay healthy last year, been banged up a little this year. Oh, yeah, did I mention they have a rookie head coach in a division that may be the best coach division in the NFL.

Despite all the ooze and awe of Zach Wilson, this story yesterday, it's already gotten ugly. By the way, this cannot be minimized. Greg Knapp, their quarterback coach, passed away suddenly. Greg Knapp was a wildly respected, highly acclaimed quarterback coach. A quarterback coach, remember how upset Aaron Rogers got when his quarterback coach was let go? That's your guy. That's your buddy. That's your confidant.

Remember Tom versus Time? Tom was on the phone with his coordinator, not Belichick, was literally on the phone constantly, not with a head coach. All-star quarterbacks. All-corterbacks have an ally in the room. it's not the head coach. Head coach has responsibility to run the team. It's your coordinator or your quarterback coach. And since Zach Wilson's

coordinator's never been a play caller, he probably relied heavily, briefly on Greg Knapp, and he suddenly, sadly passed away. Left tackle. Now, yesterday, out. Best pass rusher, out. So I've said it before. Zach, I said this before the draft.

Zach Wilson's more talented than Mack Jones. But Mac Jones has a much better landing spot, better old line, better, better, better coordinator, better, better defense, better, better, better, better, better, better, better, better. Mac Jones, if he starts week one and Zach Wilson will start week one, Mac will win twice as many games minimum. Tell you right now, he'll win twice as many games. Quarterbacks are not saviors. They're products of their environment. Tom Brady's the goat. His last year in New England, struggle. Next year won the Super Bowl with better teammates in Tampa.

The goat. The goat is a product of his environment. The goat. By the way, well, the comp is he's Aaron Rogers. All right. I'll give you that one. What was Aaron Rogers first year in the league as a starter? Six and ten after sitting three years and inheriting a team that won 13 games the year before. Aaron Rogers was over his skis. That's your comp. And Jack Wilson's not Aaron Rogers. Come on. Give me a break. that Joe Burroughs, Peyton Manning. Come on. Can we stop with all this nonsense? I mean, Joy had a rule. She has one rule in the show.

No more comparing anybody to Brady. Or LeBron. Like, stop. Yeah, I don't have many rules, but I like those two. Yeah, let's just stop with those two. We can start with Anthony Davis. You can comp there. We'll do that com I'm okay with. No more LeBron and Tom Brady comps. And Aaron Rogers.

Not Aaron Rogers. It could be good. Not Aaron Rogers. Phil Sims around the corner. In L.A. It's the herd. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygle

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 podcast network on TikTok.

This is an IHart podcast. Guaranteed human.