The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 08/27/2021 - HOUR 3 - Geoff Schwartz

Episode Date: August 27, 2021

In this hour of The Herd with Colin Cowherd, Doug Gottlieb--in for Colin--welcomes FOX Sports football analyst and former NFL offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz to the program to share his season outlook on a handful of intriguing NFL teams. Plus, Doug lays out his five picks for college football's Week 0 in "Best For Last." Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

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

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

creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to the Clifford show on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok's podcast network on TikTok. On the Look Back at it podcast.

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

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

Welcome in. This is the herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be making it as part of your day. Thanks so much. I'm Doug Gottlie. In for Colin Cowherd. And we have football games this weekend. That's right.

College football week. Zero. Should be awesome. I'll give you my picks on those games upcoming this hour. Just feels so weird to have football back. Plus, Jeff Schwartz will join us. The Schwartz will be with us. We'll ask him about one of his former teams, actually two of his former teams.

The New York Football Giants and the Carolina Panthers, two teams that do exist, even if they're not often discussed. Let's start with this, though. News of the day in the NFL. James Winston is your starting quarterback. with the New Orleans Saints. And I think it's important to point out moments like this so that we can kind of go about our day

and just get back to being sports fans. You know, when I was, I have my own show. It's called the Doug Gottlieb show on many of these Fox Sports Radio stations. It follows this show. It does. And one of the things I said at the time, you know, there was there have been discussions about

well why did the Bears pass on to Sean Watson? Well I happen to know people in the Bears organization and I know their logic behind it and in hindsight was it a mistake like yeah okay mistake but they did think he was going to tear his ACL again that's what their medical said and they didn't like some of his decision making especially in the red zone that was their

that was their thing they went and saw him in person. Instead, they drive to Mitch Trubisky and no one would argue that Trubisky has been, even with the injuries to Deshaun Watson, nobody's going to argue with the idea that Sean Watson is an incredible talent in comparison to Mitch Trubisky. He is now a backup in Buffalo. All that being said, there have been people who will say that race played some sort of factor in it. We have this thing that we're trying to do in our country eradicate racism, which is great. I would tell you that it's my belief and maybe it's a, maybe it's the sunny side, maybe it's the fact that I'm an optimist.

I kind of feel like racism doesn't really exist in, in sports. And it makes people look even more foolish when you don't make the phone call to ask why a decision was made. I thought Jalen Rose stepped in it when he said, you know, Kevin Love, You know, he's basically the token white guy. Like, okay, did you call Jerry Kalanjo? Did you call anybody with USA basketball? Do you know how USA basketball works?

They clearly needed big guys. There aren't that many to choose from who are American-born. There are less to choose from who wanted to go. And even fewer to choose from who had international basketball experience. And Jerry Kalangelo's told us to her, like, we needed a big. We didn't think he'd be in shape. he called us, he wanted a shot. We took a look.

He wasn't good enough shape and we moved on. But we had played for us before. Like since he's 14 years old, he's played USA basketball. So sweat equity has something to do with it. Nothing to do. Zero to do with USA basketball, not one in all black basketball team. We've had all black basketball teams. So let me point out another moment.

We all know the James Winston story at Florida State. and I feel like I might be the only one who's like, I've heard, I've heard Marcellus Wiley talk about, dude walked in to get crab legs and walked out knowing that he wasn't going to get charged for those crab legs. Everyone knows a place if you're a football or a basketball player where if you want,

you can get free stuff. If you want, you can get free stuff. It did feel like it's a place where he had been told, you can get what you want. Just not everybody was. in on exactly whoever told him this was the deal. It's still not a good look. And yelling out expletives and things and memes, not a good look.

And if you want to bring up the incident with the young woman, he was alleged to have done something which he wasn't even tried in a court of law. He wasn't found guilty in a Title IX investigation of violating her rights. so if you're not found guilty, you are in fact innocent and it never actually went to trial. We're holding that against him, even though I don't know what we have to hold against him.

Still, his decision making has been bad. Can't do what you did in Arizona and got himself suspended. His decision making on the football field has been bad. I'm not going to defend any of that nonsense. None of it. But, but can we point out of it?

out the fact that he went into New Orleans, sat for a year, and now he's going to get the keys to an offense which is designed by one of the offensive savants in the history of the NFL. And oh yeah, by the way, he beat out a white quarterback who was under contract, who had previously started for them last year at quarterback when James did not. And he beat him out, fair and square. Do you know why? Because in the words, the great American philosopher, Tony Romo, football, is a meritocracy. whoever gives your team the greatest chance to win and people will lead and will lead you as a quarterback that's generally what it takes you know there's a leadership component of course there's a decision

making component there's also a skill component and a football IQ component so i i just point out to you that while you're told by some people that football operates in some arcane philosophy of hey you got to be really careful with like that's not accurate football people like being football people you know the best way to be a football people the rest of your life win games win a super bowl you do that you get to stay you don't have to move your family you don't have to find a new job you probably get more money and you get a bonus so why would you let race decide who you want to play the most important position in sports you wouldn't you just try and get the best guy and you're not always going to make the right selection and what's interesting

about James coming out of Tampa is we've actually seen this before. From Doug Williams later in his career, Vinnie Testifurdy was awful with the Buccaneers. Vinnie Testifery was the number one overall pick. 35 interceptions, his first full year as a starter. Led the league in picks two years in a row. And then later on in life had an unbelievable run with the New York Jets. We've seen this before with, with Steve Young.

Steve Young started for them. Steve Young was the first round pick, number 12 pick of the draft, I believe. Maybe number 11. He flamed out, went to the USFL, came back as a backup with the San Francisco 49ers, and eventually replaced Joe Montana and won a Super Bowl. We've seen this before,

and guys do get better. You know, it's interesting. Kurt Warner was a guy the opposite in terms of not selected, playing in F oil Europe, famously stocking shell, gets an opportunity only because of injury. Wins the MVP, wins the Super Bowl, goes to another Super Bowl,

but then fell out of favor in St. Louis, was injured and eventually replaced by Eli Manning in New York, and he was a backup in Arizona. So we've seen guys fall from being the MVP of the league, being a backup, and then making it back, taking the Cardinals to a Super Bowl. We've seen superstar draft picks, The Vinny Test of Verdi, played in a national championship game,

drafted by Tampa, flames out, eventually rebuilds his career. It's there for James. It's there for James. But it's not there for James for any other reasons then. He's got a high football IQ. He can really throw a football. Guys generally like him and he's a leader and he seems to have a pretty good handle on having a good time.

He can make plays. the narrative that you have pounded in your head by some is so far from the truth. Football people like being football people. And the best way to be a football person is to get an organization and win games. And when you win games, everybody's happy, everybody gets paid.

James is breaking that narrative and maybe becomes yet another Tampa Buccaneer quarterback to prove valuable outside of Tampa. Trent Delfare won a Super Bowl after leaving Tampa. Come to him next. Jeff Schwartz, joins the show.

Giants might or might not have Sequin. Nobody knows how good Daniel Jones is. This feels like a year in which how long are they going to be rebuilding before we expect them to win? Who's the real favorite in the NFC East? We'll ask Jeff Schwartz. He joins us next in The Herd.

Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays at noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeart Radio app. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential.

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

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

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

stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at Tickford. Talk 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 Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s. Clearly, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack.

I'm down to talk about crack all day, but just so you all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you finishing that sentence. 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 Podcast. or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Keer Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month,

I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it,

and we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth? Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro.

Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free.

iHeartRadio app search learn the hard way and listen now. Jeff Schwartz will join us momentarily. He's former offensive lineman, Oregon, NFL. Brother obviously stud in the national football league coming back from injury. You can hear Jeff Schwartz on the Jeff Schwartz's Smarter Than You podcast or on Fox Sports Radio or on Fox Sports.com making picks. Maybe we'll ask him some of his college football picks. Week zero is upon us.

My picks are upcoming. You know what we'll do? Let's do this. Let's get to Rhine music with the news. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. All right, Doug, got a few stories here for you. Let's go with the NFL, starting off with former number one overall picturedavian clownie. A player who's obviously shown tons of talent over the years has had trouble staying healthy.

They've had people question his work ethic and just how often he may be playing his with 100% effort the entire time. Well, he's now gone from the Texans to the Titans. This will be his first year with the Browns. He was talking about some of the matchups that he may be facing now that he's going to be moved into a different position with the Browns and also playing alongside the likes of Miles Garrett and potentially playing a little bit of the interior offensive line at times, he said, we love that matchup.

We feel like going up against guards, they're unathletic guides. That guard position, they're not real athletes down there. So they're just physical and mallers. So when we try and get down there and create those matchups for certain guys, hopefully we'll be getting some wins. So you have Chedavian Clowny, specifically calling out guards on the offensive line. Look, he's not wrong.

I don't think all guards are not great athletes, but yes, there is a level of athleticism that it takes to play tackle, that it doesn't take to play guard. That said, they are mallers. They get their hands on you, and they're going to smash you. I'm not really sure what the win is for Gidevian Clowny.

I guess he's saying, hey, look, you know, I move inside and now I get a guy who's less athletic than me. Clowny's been an athletic freak his entire career. He's been up and down his entire career. He completely misjudged the market last year. That's why he ended up waiting and taking a deal with Tennessee and only playing half the year. So he's not wrong, but he's also wrong in terms of what it takes to be a great football player. It's not always pure athleticism.

Yeah, I think with Clowny, I mean, it's interesting because I feel like he was almost destined to never totally live up to like the expectation. of that hit that he had in the bowl game. And then when he ran, I don't remember, he ran a ridiculous 40-yard dash, and it was just like, this guy's a physical freak. He's going to be like the greatest thing ever. And he's one of those players where it's the, we get fixated on stats and sacks a lot of times with defensive linemen.

And he's one of those really impactful players that doesn't always have the sack numbers to back it up. But he's still a really effective. player most of the time, although there have been questions if he really truly plays hard always. So it'll be interesting to see what he's able to do in Cleveland because they have a very good defensive line. And another update here, Doug, with Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer. So he hasn't played since late June was his last start with the Dodgers.

He's been dealing with a couple of the different potential domestic violence. sexual assault issues from a legal standpoint, although there have been no criminal charges yet. But today's news is he had his paid administrative leave extended again, and this time it goes through September 3rd. Now, why is that important? Well, specifically, due to the postseason roster rules in Major League Baseball, he needed to return to action to be on the active roster by August 31st in order to be eligible for the playoffs. So this is essentially ending, we could assume, technically I guess he could return for a portion of the end of the season. But basically this latest extension removes him from being on the postseason roster for the Dodgers this year.

This is not a hot take. This is a reality take. I severely doubt Trevor Bauer ever plays Major League Baseball again. Even if he's not criminally charged, you know, you look at some of these, the text messages of and you can say hey like they're just a limit there how do you put a guy in the mound who is admitted to punching a woman in the face while she was unconscious how do you how do that how do you how do you how do that I don't think you do and I think that's what the that's what baseball is slowly doing as legally and smartly as possible like you point out like oh no he can get back

September 3rd like yeah didn't you need to come back August 31st we weren't looking at that timeline. Of course they were. They know exactly what they're doing. He ain't playing for the Dodgers again. I think there's a better chance than I he never plays baseball again. We're going to wrap it up with this, Doug.

One of the biggest stars in the world has had a wild 24 to 48 hours here. Cristiano Ronaldo, his status with Juventus was very much tenuous and he had made it clear that he didn't really want to be playing. for the Italian club much longer.

And it was announced at one point that he was very close to landing with Manchester City, but now it's official. He is going back to Manchester United. Wow. Yeah. It was basically almost reported as a done deal that he was going to Man City.

And at the last minute, they pulled out of the deal and Man United went Ryan in. So Christiana Ronaldo returning to Man. United. Now, but he's like in his mid-30s. Is he still like an elite? And it's 30 million, you know, for one year. Is he still an elite-level guy?

I will not profess to be a soccer expert, but in some of the research that I've done, I would equate it to LeBron James in the sense that you can argue over whether or not he's still like the best in the world, but there is no doubting that he's still a very effective player. Fair enough. That's Rhymed Music with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by.

The Herd Lye News. Jeff Schwartz is a former offensive lineman. He works for Fox Sports.com. And of course, you can hear the Jeff Schwartz's Smarter Than You Podcast. He joins us in The Herd on Fox Sports Radio in a moment. Like, look, there's lots of interesting teams in the NFL. Hey? Lots of interesting teams in the NFL.

Maybe none as interesting and as little discussed nationally? as the Giants, right? They have gone through a massive rebuild, a reorg, if you will. And, you know, Dave Gettleman continues to insist he would have taken, he'd still still take Sequin Barclay when he drafted Sequin Barclay. Sequin Barclay still not playing in the preseason, might not play in week one of the season. You know, Daniel Jones was a draft pick that felt like a bit of a reach.

and then he played very well in the preseason, but it was preseason. He's had a turnover marred run as a starting quarterback previously. So we bring in Jeff Schwartz. He joins us on Fox Sports Radio. Jeff, what are your expectations for the Giants? It feels like Cowboys, Washington football team, maybe even Eagles get discussed more nationally. What about the Giants?

Well, I think a lot of people are just out on Daniel Jones until we've seen different. I mean, that's part of this equation. When you look at the NFC East and you say, Where do you rank the quarterbacks? Dak is healthy. He's by far the better quarterback. I have my reservations about fits as far as just, you know, can he be good fits? I know we all talk about fits imagine.

What about just regular fits? You know, we don't really know what that's going to be, but they're very talented defense, especially have some pieces of offense that are good. And then, you know, the Eagles are kind of a wreck. So, I mean, the Giants are kind of probably third division, I imagine. Okay. But, I mean, like, are they good? where they are in the division, you know?

I mean, it was a bad, last year was a terrible division. If they're third in a terrible division, but the division's pretty good this year in their third division, that's different, right? Yeah, I mean, look, I think that that... I just, I don't know if Daniel Jones is going to be the guy. That's part of my concern is, like, you have Joe Judge, who everyone loves up there, but I have my reservations about, you know,

the way he's handled things so far. The offensively, they could be good. comes down to Jones, can he stop turning the ball over? All right, let's get to it. What are you doing? I messed up the time today. I don't ever do that, but I thought it was on your show today, not on the hurt. So I'm on, though.

I'm here. No, no, no, but what are you actually physically doing? I do this for a living. My ears are really, really good. I'm interested in it. It feels like a cassette tape is being put into something in the background. No, I was just signing some paperwork. I'm doing something where he does.

sign over papers or something. But I'm actually done now, so we're good. All right. And I saw your, I think your daughter, first day of kindergarten today, or is that yesterday? Yes. Yeah, it was a big day. Yeah. She's so excited to ride the bus with her brother. Oh, riding the bus is a big thing. Big, big, big thing.

Kindergarten is more front of the bus, right? Whereas once you're like third and fourth grade, now you're going back at the bus. Yeah. So they take the bus home, and it's the JCC, like, after-school program. So it's a smaller bus. I'm not sure there's a front or her back, but she just demanded that she's next to her brother.

Well, you haven't been an after-school program, and you don't really work? I don't understand this. So, I mean, I do do some work, believe or not, but no, all their friends go to it, and it just gives us an option, especially if I'm out of town for my wife to pick him up after work. All right, fair enough.

Jeff Schwartz, doing that, doing the daddy daycare thing. Let somebody else do the daycare. I'll do the daddy thing. Okay. Another former team. Carolina Panthers. Is Sam Donald that much of an upgrade? I know they hope he is, but I did my podcast the other day, and we talked about the NFC South,

and their team, I don't really know. I mean, look, defensively, I think they're going to be good. They drafted seven guys on defense last year. Jeremy Chin, had a great-looking season. They can rush the passer a little bit. But, I mean, here's a good thing about quarterback. right is we saw what happened with Josh Allen last year he went from pretty bad to really good we kind of get you know narrow with like that's how it works and normally doesn't work that way right if you're pretty bad you kind of become average in that first year you're not bad anymore right and then the next year you take a jump so to your point if garner is just average this year the panthers are going to be average like that's kind of what their team is they're not as talented as other teams that have issues at left tackle right now you know McCaffrey's off an injury like so they're going to be going to be eight or nine wins of Donald's good.

If he's bad, they're going to be drafting a quarterback next year. It's really that simple. And the question is, obviously, with Donald is if he gets away from Gase, like we saw with Ryan Tannenhill, will he be that good? But the numbers and the history just aren't with him. There have not been quarterbacks who have started as poorly as him outside of Josh Allen, maybe Alex Smith, who became kind of an upper echelon quarterback in the NFL. It's hard to win games with a team that's not as talented.

as let's say Buffalo Bills or whatever else, if you're just an average quarterback. Yeah. I mean, I actually, I mean, like, look, James had some success, but eventually they got rid of them in Tampa. We've seen other Tampa Bay quarterbacks. We've seen other Adam Gase quarterbacks. We've seen guys resurrect their careers.

But you're right. He also, you didn't have guys to work with. Here's the big question, okay? Because, I mean, how many people do you know in a fantasy draft that are asking you this question? Chris McCaffrey. last year he was hurt year before over 100 catches arguably the most dynamic back in the league how will he be used in this offense

I think there's a lot of options for him you know we know we know Joe Brady if you call we're called back now to Joe Burrow a lot of empty formations I think they're going to use that again this year because he's such a mismatch if you go empty who who's on him you put a lineback on him like you can you can isolate formations and isolate personnel when you go to those formations. I just think there's a lot of ways to use him in that offense. We know he had a lot of of catches, obviously, a couple years ago.

I would expect a lot from him. Obviously, come off an injury, you know, might start slow, but I think they find unique ways to use him because you want to help out Darno. That's a great way to help him out. Throw it short, let McCaffley do a lot of the work. I would expect him to have a big year. Are you going to draft him in your fantasy draft? I'm not, I'm playing fantasy, but I'm not like, I do too much

gamble. I don't have time to fantasy. why not? I just don't care enough, honestly. Well, you don't care enough, that's fine. You're just a gambling fiend, that's fine. You don't, like, you don't care. I don't care enough to do fantasy, but when your son gets a little older,

I think that's the best part about it, is having a fantasy team. Either being the same league with your son and playing against your son or being, having, sharing a team with your son, I think it's a pretty cool way to do it. I'm definitely not gambling with him, so that's a better option.

Why not? I mean, you've got to teach him these things. These are things he needs to learn. Right? First, I want him to watch a full game with me. Then we'll go from there. These are things he needs to learn. I hear you on the full game thing.

I ever tell you this? This is a Doug Gottliebun for calling. This is the hurt. My son, he's playing tackle this year, and he was at camp, so he came back a little late. He's struggling to get run. He played a ton when they played tackle two years ago. But his first year of playing flag football, he was like five. and his first game

like he got the ball I think he scored a touchdown but it was like almost rugby style the guys were coaching the team were like rugby guys didn't know what they're doing plus they're only five

so he gets in the car and he's crying I was like what's the matter dude you guys won you got the ball there were no spectacular plays it's like what there's no spectacular plays oh okay

there's football supposed to I was like bro you've only watched football on YouTube like that's not football football is three hours in a cloud of dust. And then every once in a while, that's why it's a spectacular play. Because they live on YouTube, that's really their only, you know,

understanding of the sport, of sports in general. I mean, like that's, and my son loves watching YouTube. We watch highlights of games on YouTube. And, yeah, I mean, to get him to sit and watch a full game, it's funny because he likes to go to baseball games. But that's, I think, more because he likes to eat everything that he can shove in his face and baseball games. But he likes coming to football games.

I take him to a Panthers game. He stayed the whole game, an Oregon game. He loves the games and just getting him to sit. Tomorrow, the Bruins are playing at 3.30 Eastern. I told him like, hey, UCLA's playing that we are going to, you know, we're going to watch that game. You're fired up at UCLA, Hawaii at the Rose Bowl tomorrow? It's a big game. I'm fired up the football's back, like for real, yes.

That's really what it's about, right? Like football, like tomorrow, real football, games that count with fans that. the stands on television. How does it get? How does it get? And like having Brett Beelma over on one sideline, that just feels like Big Ten football. Like, yeah, Brett Beelma, he's going to go crush some ribs after this game, too. Cush some wings after this game.

Agreed. Definitely. Cannot wait. Can't out wait. Jeff Schwartz joining us. Okay. What do you think of James in New Orleans? I like it because, look, if you look at his career so far, obviously the 30 interception

year was not like any year he's had. I think the highest he had before that was 18. And I think that you can get him in this offense with a great offensive line. With Sean Payne who wants a ball quickly, precisely on time. I think he could be doing this office. Is he Drew Brees? Is he going to a Super Bowl there? I don't think so.

But I think we've doubted him too much because of one bad season. He's got to stop following the ball as well. That's the issue he had. But he's not going to get hit. This is the best office on the football. He's not getting hit. Best offensive line of football? Okay.

Yes. Okay. What about the Cowboys? They have a repute. their line has a great reputation, is it really still all that good? If they're healthy, yes, but health is obviously concerned, especially left tackle. Center, you know, young, and left guard just hasn't kind of pounded out yet, but they have the pieces there. Aaron Rogers said, not Super Bowl or Bus, but Super Bowl or disappointment.

Are they better this year? They're better because their defensive coordinator is much improved, and the defensive skis they're running this year. are kind of what we're seeing the NFL, this too high quarters hybrid stuff. I actually really love their chances to be better on defense. Okay. Do you think the Niners should turn it over to Trey Lance or stick with Garapolo? Good question.

I mean, Jimmy G's won a lot of games, but you've traded away those old assets. You've got to play Trey Lans sooner or later. I think field should start right now. It's my thing with the Bears. But for the Niners, I understand if they start with Jimmy G, but I would not be surprised if that changes fast.

Do you think the Rams are that much better with Stafford as opposed to Jerga? Yes, but I don't know if they're as good as people want them to be. But they're better with Stafford. He's a better quarterback, but I just kind of don't buy this, all the big hype they're getting. Okay. What about the Chargers? There is some Charger hype. Justin Herbert, did you know, like you're an Oregon, you're an Oregon duck.

Did you know he was this good? I told everyone that I wanted to see him in a more efficient style offense. I thought his offense in college was very efficient. The passing game was pretty brutal to watch, and they didn't ask him to do very much. And all I said was I want to see him in a forward offense, like an offense where he is like he's the guy. Go be the guys. You know, working it was run the football, see him on third down. Here it's like he's the guy.

So I always thought he could do this. I didn't think it happened this quickly. Obviously, it's been great to watch. And so, you know, they play in division with Palma Holmes. I mean, you know, they're fighting for a wild card spot. It's that simple. I'm excited to see Staley and the job as a young coach, not very proven. They can stay healthy.

They have a lot of talent, but they don't win that division. Why aren't they win that division? Because the chiefs are going 15 and 2. Who's being the chiefs this year with their offensive line intact? Okay, well, so the offensive line is that much better. What about their defense? What about their ability to run the football? You know, I mean, look, I'm with you.

The Chiefs look amazing at times on paper. But last year was not easy, and some of it was, some of it was injuries. But I'd also point out that, like, if you actually look, personnel-wise, chargers aren't far behind. Might even be better at many spots. Yeah. And it was three years ago, but they did win 12 games three years ago. You have Pamah Holmes, who kind of makes that all right.

And I really just, I think their offense line with Creed Humphleys and Trace Smith is a huge addition. at guard inside, big physical guys. Look, Chris Jones playing defense to end this year is kind of unique. I'm kind of curious to see if that works. But look, they develop some talent at cornerback and safety. They have some young linebackers of defense, I think can run with tight ends, which has been their problem for a long time on defense. Now offensively, they're trying to throw more screens.

They're going to run the football. I think Pam Holmes is really trying to stay in the pocket, throw some quick passes, and just kind of get back to more of the staples of the West Coast offense. So again, like last year, I mean, they were up big in a lot of games, just kind of got bored in the second half. I mean, if you recall, they were up, they were up pretty big. No, they were. They were.

And even the, you know, but I mean, they opened Browns. They open Ravens. Speaking of the Ravens, there's talk of Lamar Jackson, the league figuring him out. Do you think the league will figure him out? I do not, I do not expect him to be figured out just because he is, in the railroad season. is unstoppable. Like, he hasn't been stopped yet.

He's not to be figured out. So this piece of paper very important. Jeff, you got to go sign these papers. It's very,

very important. We appreciate you joining us. That was an all-timer, right? That was an all-timer. Do you guys see your sports team multitasking there? He must be signing

some really important documents. Like, look, he's in Carolina. It's 2.37. It's not like the bank is about to close. But the guy in the background was like,

this is very important. That one has never happened before. He didn't get pulled over. He wasn't in jail, but it was some sort of documents. He just put in a pool so he's not buying a new house.

You think he's refying? Is that what he's doing? Ryan, what do you think? You think there's a refi? I could see refi. I mean, look, I don't know. I hope for Jeff, it's like maybe it's some type of contract

on like a new show or something like that. Yeah, yeah, maybe he just got a raise. That's why he couldn't. That's why he had to be a little cloak and dagger. Like, hey, Jeff Schwartz's, you know, smarter than you podcast going. into a television set on FS1. Maybe that's what it is.

Look, I have no idea. But I did hear that in the background. This is very important. So I thought that was, that was quite funny. I got it. He didn't even go.

I got to go. He just knew we heard it. He heard the words very important. He's like, I got it. I'm out. And for that reason, he did the Mark Cuban. And for that reason,

I'm out. I love college football. There's one thing I want to see that I'll make the sport even better. Tell you what it is. And my picks. Next. And the first.

Hurt. 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

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A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Cliford 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.

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Look, I think this is going to be a fun weekend. I've always loved week zero in college football or even Labor Day weekend in college football and there's no NFL really that you need to watch and that's fantastic because it gives us a chance to catch up on college football and you have some of these teams that didn't play last year like physically didn't play or played in the spring.

Played in the spring. So I think I'll give you my picks in a second but should be a good weekend. and just have football people back in the stands. Kind of awesome. Kind of awesome. Speaking of college football, you know, there's, when you have earlier this week,

you had this alliance between the ACC, the Big Ten, the Pac-12. Pac-12 yesterday announced that they would not expand at this point in time. Today, the Big 12 basically said, hey, we're looking for some new schools. I haven't seen. spoken to anybody today, but when I did, I would think, I don't think SMU will get in.

I think TCU would block that. I'd like the idea of having the two schools in the Metroplex, but I don't see that happening. Houston, you want to be in that market. That, I believe, has to be a school. I think you probably need a Cincinnati, gets you in the state of Ohio, which has players, and gives you a travel partner for West Virginia. I'm a proponent of BYU. They have their own network, wildly popular. I'll tell you, the other one that's not getting a lot of run, it's got a great national following, Air Force. And you can travel partner with BYU as well.

Personally, Colorado Springs is beautiful, a ton of tradition. They rate a little bit on national TV. There's a big following. It's an outstanding academic institution. Air Force to me. I know there's talk of other schools. Those would be the ones that I would probably focus on.

I mean, I know there's some other options. People said Boise State. I love Boise. They take out Oklahoma State, I think, week three in college football. Boise continues to be one of those great cities that you always want to go to and most people don't go to. I can tell you it is as cool. It is as awesome as people tell you it is.

But that's a bit of a reach for everything else about Boise State. I don't know. But what does need to happen, and I think the reason the PAC 12th, linked arms with the Big Ten and the ACC is not just, hey man, we want to hold on to our thing. We want to be a spot at the table. That's part of it. I think most of these schools understand that we can't have the SEC making all the

determinations for what the future of college football, college sports looks like. Because then it'll become a very regional support. That doesn't work. In order for college football to break out of a little bit of doldrums with ratings, You need to be a national sport. It's one of the reasons Michigan's actually big in New York City, a ton of alums in New York City, obviously Chicago. If Michigan could ever take that next step, ever beat Ohio State,

that would I think do wonders for the Big Ten. Penn State being back to being elite would help as well. Both had difficult years last year with COVID's and shutdowns and losing so many players. Notre Dame is somebody. Now back in prominence, Notre Dame is a ratings cash cow. So two is Texas. but you got to get the West Coast going. And USC has got plenty working against it.

Some things working for it. You just cannot be a regional sport and hope to survive along the lines of college football with the money that they're expecting to generate. The ratings will follow if you have the entire country on some level engaged. But right now, like once you get to the college football playoff, why would you care if you're in the West United States?

Texas hasn't been involved. A&M could get there. Very talented this year, although registered freshman starting quarterback. Let me get you my picks. It's almost the end of the show, but that doesn't mean we're phoning it in. Nope, we grind to the very last segment.

It's time for best for last. Okay, here's what I'm going to do with the best for last is I'm going to give you five college football picks, five college football picks, and get you on your first. away, okay? Five college football. Do we have any, Ryan, do we have any college football music or any football music for picks or, there you go, there you go. All right. Let me start with one, which is kind of interesting. Before I get to the big games, Yukon takes on Fresno State.

And yes, Stores is the Fresno of Connecticut. Now, Fresno, State's coming off a year where, excuse me, Yukon's coming off a year where they didn't play. And remember, previous to not playing in 2021 or 2020, they were three and 21 over the past two years. Fresno did play. Kailin Dabor is their coach. He's only been a coach for one year. They were three and three last season. And they averaged 336 yards passing per game.

this to me is just about a program that hasn't played a game in two years and wasn't any good before they played a game and one that was solid last year in a pretty darn good league fresno's a 27 and a half point favorite it's going to be a hundred and two degrees in fresno with an 11 a.m. start time I'm taking the dogs and not the huskies the Fresno state bulldogs and the points. All right, I got another one for you that's a little bit off the beating path. San Jose State. Brett Brennan, how does they,

they won the league last year. And what you don't know about San Jose State is they couldn't work out on campus. They had to go up to Humboldt State, which, Humboldt State is the horticulture capital of California traditionally. Chico, Humboldt.

You used to tell a buddy, like, I'm going to Humboldt. They're like, to school for four years to just smoke weed, right? That's what they used to tell people. Anyway, they went up to humble to have to practice. With all of that, they came back and won their league. They returned their starting quarterback.

They're taking on southern Utah. Give me San Jose State and the points. Their defense was outstanding last year. Wouldn't surprise me to know if they pitch a shutout. I'm going to take San Jose State. All right, now I got the two bigger games. You're like, we got five picks. You're right.

Nebraska taking on Illinois. Now, I've seen this thing run up to nine, but it opened at 7. I'm going to take Nebraska in this one. I think eventually Brett Belema becomes the right and smart coach, but I like Nebraska to win. Nebraska with Adrian Martinez. They're beautiful 90-degree sunny day in Champana.

I think Nebraska goes in and gets a win. I also think this one's an under. Over under is 54. I'm going to go take the under. So there's two picks in this. Nebraska and the under. And my final pick? I think it used to be the worst job in high major football.

Now it's just a very challenging job, but it's still not a great job. UCLA, they're taking on it. Everybody's saying Chip Kelly under pressure. Not sure I see it if you look at his contract, how much they have to pay to buy them out. But they take on Hawaii. Obviously a tough trip for the. Bowe's anytime you've got to leave Oahu behind and their new on-campus stadium behind.

But I like the under in this one. 67 and a half. I like the under in UCLA and Hawaii. I do think UCLA wins. I don't think it's terribly close. If you made me double up on the picks, I'd take UCLA in the under, but the official pick is the under. So, Fresno and the points. San Jose and the points.

UCLA in the under. Nebraska and the under. And if I was going to throw on a bonus pick, I would take New Mexico State in the I-10 rivalry with U-TEP. I take them to cover not to win their 10-point dog playing at home in Los Cruces. And those are the picks. All right.

You got Collins coming back Monday, so he doesn't have to do what Colin was right, what column was wrong. Again, according to Fox bet, Nebraska is a seven-point favorite. I'll take Nebraska, I'll take the under. According to Fox bet, I'll take Fresno at 27-5, UCLA at 18, but I also take the under and that one. And New Mexico State has a 10 point home

dog. Like James Winston's going to get a second chance. And now he gets a second chance with a great play caller, playing indoors in a division where he's played, he has knowledge, and you can clearly win. Could he be like the third or fourth Tampa Bay quarterback to resurrect their career?

We'll find out. Have a great weekend. I'm Doug Gottlieb. This is The Hurt. One more Hird. The Horde streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the IHeart radio app. Search heard to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like. Another podcast from some SNL

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

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

Either way, the podcast's superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I Heart 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 hear, 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. 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, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media.

Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford 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 Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok podcast network on TikTok. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.