The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 09/07/2021 - HOUR 2 - Herd Hierarchy, QBs

Episode Date: September 7, 2021

Colin's last Herd Hierarchy before the start of the NFL seasonWhat happens when you pay your QB too muchGuest: Daryl Johnston Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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By the way, I interviewed Peyton Manning and Eli Manning. I think it was Friday. It's on my podcast network. They were so funny. They are so exactly as you would predict. Eli Manning forgot the interview. And Eli's like, you're absolutely killing me. It was Big Brother, Little Brother, and their personalities were on display.

We are so lucky. Those guys have such good comedic chops. I mean, they could literally be a comedy team. They're so funny together. They've always had a very good natural ability to not take themselves too seriously. Yeah. And it's not forced. Like some people try and like, like, oh, like, oh, I don't care.

But you could tell like it's like, really. Yeah, it's really bothering them, but they've always had that sort of just awareness of their personalities and leaned into it. And it's really amazing. So Cooper Manning, who's also funny, his son, Arch, is a high school quarterback phenom. So you're going to have Archie Manning, Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, and then Cooper's son, you know, four NFL quarterbacks. And that's just in one American family. Isn't that crazy? It is, especially at that position.

I mean, you see this sometimes with families. I mean, obviously some families are very, very athletic, but like... I mean, like the Watts. Yeah, like TJ and... But think about if we had two other Watt brothers and they were both, like, excellent. It's just a... Banded of Coompos. Yeah.

And it's just, it's pretty cool. Yeah. So this is, or if I was Joy Taylor for our radio listeners, as you know. So this is my final heard horror. hierarchy into the season. We only had two real big injuries in the preseason. Nobody's playing starters. So I considered everything. These are what I see today. I don't think we're going to have any injuries before Sunday or before Thursday's game. These are the 10 best NFL teams. My final preseason herd hierarchy.

Heard hierarchy. Time is now. Let's go. The top 10 NFL teams, according to college. Number 10. Okay, what coach dominates young quarterbacks? Bill Belichick. The AFC East now has rookie Zach Wilson, Tua starting in his first real full year, and Josh Allen's still a fairly new quarterback.

I got New England 10. Listen, they added to their tight end and wide receiver groups. Belichick, the schedule, not overly formidable. The division is going to be a defensive-led division. Outside of Josh Allen, most of your best players in this division besides, you know, Josh and Stefan Diggs, they're defensive players. And I think the best defensive team is going to be New England. They ran the ball almost 52% of the time. I don't think they're asking a lot of Mack Jones.

It's the deepest running back stable they've had. It's a very good offensive line. There's a lot of teams I could put at 10, but I truly think the Patriots are undervalued. I think it's an 11 or a 12-win team. If you look at the schedule, I have New England 10. Number 9. The Colts, I do worry about some of their vaccination issues, but don't forget, they've added Carson Wentz and Eric Fisher.

So they're more athletic at left tackle and at quarterback. Don't forget that at the end of last year, they had two emerging young stars. Jonathan Taylor running back, Michael Pittman, received. receiver. They were also one of five teams to be top 10 in offense and defense. This is a rock solid organization that simply needs more athleticism at quarterback and with wins they have it. Number eight. Green Bay. Okay, they were 0 and 2 against Tampa. They were 14 and 2 against everybody else in football. My concern is their offensive line. Left tackle David Boktiari. Out. Pup list for six weeks. Corey Lindsley. Chargers.

Left, pro bowler. Right tackle Rick Wagner. No longer there. Running back Jamal Adams, a very good number two back. This offense has some real issues. There are Devante Adams tweak from not being nearly as dynamic. And I do think the division is slightly better. The Vikings will be better. So I have Green Bay at eight. Number seven. I'll go Rams. I don't want to go too crazy on the Matt Stafford stuff. But I will say this, Sean McVey has won 67% of his games, and I believe the toughest division. I think he's a really good coach. I also think their defense was number one scoring defense in the NFL and the number one total defense. It overwhelmingly returns.

I do worry about the Cam Acres injury, but I do think Sony Michelle is about 80% of Cam Acres. I think this is a very good team. I'll keep them at seven. I don't know if they're great. Number six. Seattle. Dwayne Brown is in and playing left tackle. Tremendous player that counts.

should also be mentioned. At the end of last year, in the final eight weeks, this defense was the number one scoring defense in the NFL. Pete Carroll and the fellas got it figured out. They also had seven pro bowlers that was tied for the most in the league. They have upgraded their offensive line with Gabe Jackson and the addition of tied end Gerald Everett. This is a Super Bowl capable team. I have them winning their division, albeit barely over the Rams. Number five. Ravens. Schedule's a little dicey early. Three of their first four on the road. and I do worry about losing a couple of running backs. Gus Edwards now will be the bell cow.

I'm not sure he is. But let's talk defense for a second. Ten of their 11 starters on defense return, and they were the number two scoring defense. I think we often overlook Baltimore's defensive side because of the dynamic nature of Lamar. That's all we pay attention to, and their tight end sets and their O line.

It's a really good defense, and they almost all return. Number four. Cleveland. I think Cleveland Baltimore is a coin flip. What I worry about Cleveland, seven new defensive starters. Now, I like them. I think they got really good players. I just don't know if they're going to be jelling in September. I think by October, November, Cleveland's going to be really good. I also think we have to be honest. Odell Beckham is often hurt, but he's not now. And that is a pop offensively that we did not see with this offense late last year. Odell Beckham wasn't around. So Jarvis Landry's great.

So they're going to be offensively. Could be really special. Don't forget how good Beckham is when he's healthy. Number three. Buffalo. They return all 11 starters on defense, and they went and drafted two rush ends in college. That's my issue with them. Can they get pressure on the quarterback?

They addressed it in the draft. They returned 21 of 22 starters. This is right now a very formidable, well-run, organization. And I think they have so many young players that are ascending. No chaos. I mean, it wouldn't be crazy to say that Cleveland and Buffalo, believe it or not, are two of the best three teams in the AFC for a long time. I really like this organization top down. Number two. Kansas City, they have four new starters on the offensive line. That worries me. So does the fact they were the worst NFL red zone defense. They allow touchdowns.

instead of field goals. Stuff like that matters as we see young quarterbacks getting better. Josh, Baker, Herbert, Lamar. This AFC now, I don't recall a time in my life, it had this many great young quarterbacks. So situational football, field goals over touchdowns could be the difference between winning a division and being a wildcard team. That's why they're two. Number one.

It's Tampa. That's obvious. let's remember what seized the moment in the Super Bowl. It wasn't Brady. It was the defense. I think one thing that's overlooked by Tampa is their consistent pass rush. They were the only team in the NFL last year that had four different players with over six sacks. And yet what did they do in the draft?

They went and got Joe Tryon from Washington, a wiry and quick edge rusher who was very good in the preseason. This is the best. Now, it's not as talented with as many first rounders. as Washington. But in terms of athletic players in their front seven that get to the quarterback, they added a piece to an already significantly difficult defensive front to defend. I think it's the defense. And Todd Bulls, who I think is an excellent coordinator, which will carry this team.

It will not be Brady. And there's my herd hierarchy. Okay. Darryl Mose Johnson, three rings, Dallas Cowboys, Fox Sports. He's got the Vikings and the Bengals, Week 1. that's Sunday at 1 Eastern. He's now joining us live. All right, any of that, heard hierarchy make no sense to you? Any of that? You just said, oh, coward, that's nonsense. Any of it makes sense or not make sense?

No, I enjoyed it. I enjoyed it. I thought there was a lot of good points. I agree with you with Buffalo. I've been high on Sean McDermott hired there with Brandon Bean for a long time. I think they've done a tremendous job. And for a guy from Western New York, it's good to see them back at the top of the NFL teams. You have the interesting perspective on something I'm going to ask you about here, that being on a Super Bowl champion and a high-profile team like Dallas, I always used to say with Muhammad Ali, everybody got his best fight. Like everybody that fought Muhammad Ali when I was a kid, it was the biggest fight of their career.

When you're the champion, you get everybody's best fight, everybody's best punch. Go to the years following Super Bowls for you. The following year, what Tampa will go through now. And there is no sneak in the side door. It is, oh, here comes the best team in the league. is it more difficult? It is. And when you add in the fact that it's not just them as defending Super Bowl champions,

but also everybody wanting to take down Tom Brady as well, it is challenging. And you have to be, your margin for air shrinks even more as a defending champion. And we saw that a lot during our run. I remember one of the times, I think we were 8 and 1 against the L.A. Rams, and they were 2 and 7, and they came into Texas Stadium and beat us. You know, we just didn't play well. So you can't have those little mistakes.

everybody's gunning for you. I know it sounds cliche, but there is a lot of truth to that. And I think when you add in the fact that you've got Tom Brady's quarterback, I think that just adds to it for the opponents. So you have Joe Burrow in week one. And this is a, you know, it's funny. I don't know what Zach Taylor is as a coach, but I did think when they played teams last year where they matched up okay, that they were very competitive. I like where Cincinnati's going. I think it's a really tough division. When you pour over film and you look at this Cincinnati team, where do they need gaps filled? Where do they need to elevate and where do you like them? I think the big thing, and we saw this a lot last season, it really comes down to how well you're playing

in the trenches. And we can just go to the Super Bowl and you got into that matchup with what Tampa Bay was able to do to the offensive line of the Kansas City Chiefs. We saw it in Dallas with all the injuries that happened early in the year and how that offense fell apart. You know, Dak was able to keep it going for a while until he got hurt. But the guys up front are really what drives the team. And I think that that's the one area that Cincinnati has really focused on. They brought in Riley Reefs, kind of hold down the tackle spot, spent a lot of money on the defensive side of the ball.

Larry Ogen-Jobie brought in from Cleveland, Trey Hendrickson from New Orleans. They've got to get better at stopping the run, especially the division that they're in. That's going to be one of the most important things. I think that's one of the things that we'll see against Minnesota. Minnesota was a top five running team last year. One of the things that Cincinnati wants to get better at is stuffing the run because they play Cleveland, Baltimore, and you know Pittsburgh's going to go back to some of that old school style with Najee Harris as their top draft picks.

So being able to stop the run, being able to protect Joe Burrow, that was primary with everything they did in the offseason was we have got to do things to protect Joe Burrow and keep him healthy all season. By the way, the Vikings are at Cincinnati, and I believe Mike Zimmer's a very good coach. I do think they're San Francisco and Minnesota last year fell apart physically. And every year in the NFL, we not only have four new playoff teams, four come in, four go out, but we have a team that doubles their win total every year in the NFL. And I kind of feel like it's Minnesota this year that I really like Zimmer.

I like the staff. again, what do they have to do they didn't last year as you pull over film for your opener? Well, the big thing is I've got a lot of guys back on the defensive side of the ball. You're right. They were really hit hard by injuries. We talked a lot about San Francisco, but Minnesota was in a very similar situation. When you talk about, you know, Mike Pierce opted out. You know, Anthony Barr goes down in camp. You know, it was just, it was unbelievable for him. You know, just a number of guys on the defensive side of the ball that weren't there. it was one of the worst ranked defenses, if not the worst ranked defense in Mike Zimmer's tenure.

So that's the area they're going to be focusing on is to get back in touch. And one of the odd things is even year seasons, Minnesota has struggled under the Mike Zimmer regime, but they've always bounced back in the odd year. So we've got 21 coming up, so they should be able to bounce back. But again, I think exactly what we talked about with Cincinnati, it's going to be similar with Minnesota. It's going to be that offensive line. A lot of changes in the office.

offensive line and Christian Derisaw is not going to be available week one, the guy that they drafted in the first round to be their left ankle as an anchor. So, you know, how does that offensive line play? Because that's what was driving that team last year. You know, it was the offense that that kept Minnesota in some of those games, you know, obviously for the first time, much better than the defensive side of the ball, you know, for Mike Zimmer and his team. So again, I think it's going to be what happens on that offensive line. Defensively, they're going to take a huge step because I've got a lot of guys back and a lot of guys healthy.

You know, Moose, when you live in the Dallas area, so you hear the radio, you read the papers, you see this team discussed a lot. And listen, hard knocks are not, last 20 years, they've been good, never special, disappointing, rarely awful. I do worry about the DAC shoulder issue. he hasn't taken a hit in live football in 11 months. Your kind of thought on Dax's health and where is Dallas today for you with Dack, their comfort level?

What do you expect this year from your former team? Well, you know, I expect the offense to be good. You know, there's a lot of talk about Ezekiel being down, being quicker, being more explosive. I thought he got off to a good start last year. I think the fumbles really got into his head and it impacts. acted his running style as much as anything. For Doc, I think he's going to be similar to what we're going to see with Joe Burrow in that Cincinnati-Minnesota game, is just having people around his legs while he's in the

pocket looking downfield. How quickly does he get comfortable with that? There's so much that goes on at the practice facility that we're not aware of that give the coach's confidence, and you have to understand and you have to believe that component. I think the big thing about the shoulder, and you bring up a good point, I think what a lot of people are worried about is the Cowboys immediately went to rest right away. And that was one of the things that they were told by everybody in baseball that they went to because this is something that's more consistent with baseball and with pitchers. And it was rest immediately. The quicker you get on it,

the quicker you rest it, the better chance you have for this not being an issue during the course of the season. So did they get on it quick enough and did they have enough time to get that rested and healed? I think that that's something we're going to have to wait and see and let that play out all season long. Where are they going to end up? They've got an opportunity, you know, to win the NFC East. They really do, but they've got to stay healthy. There's the typical team that's up against the salary cap that doesn't have a lot of depth. They did a good job weathering the storm last year in certain areas, you know, trying to fill some of those holes from what happened with all the injuries they had during the course of

the season last year. If that happens again this year, you could see something similar, but I think they feel a little bit better because guys got snaps and they were able to address it with better people. I think they're going to be much better on the defensive side of the ball with what Dan Quinn has put in place there. Obviously, there was a big emphasis in the draft. I think they've got better personnel fitting the scheme than they had last season. So that's going to be a big plus for them as well. So I think as a team, offensively and defensively, they should be good. But we can't forget about special teams. And that's an area that I think there's a little bit of concern there. For me, you know, John Fossel and what his group did last

year, they were very inconsistent at times. You know, Greg Zerline coming off of back surgery in the offseason, there's a little bit of unknown there, and it comes really down to kicker, punter, and long snap, where you're three key guys when you talk about the special teams components. So if they're able to stay healthy, because I think the depth is still not there as a team that's pushed up against the cap, you know, that's going to be the biggest thing. If they stay healthy, I think they can be very competitive in the NFC East. Good stuff, Moose. He's got the Bengals this week. hosting the Vikings, two teams trying to bounce back, especially Minnesota, Sunday, one

Eastern on Fox. Moose, great seeing you. Always good to see you, Colin. By the way, a fascinating stat that nobody talks about because it's boring, but it is fascinating and basically eliminates you from the Super Bowl if you're in this space. One number. One percent just takes you out of the Super Bowl. We'll talk about that coming up.

Want more herd? The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the IHeart radio app. Search Herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like. 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,

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Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano, and our podcast Point Game is about defying the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed. And finding ways to win no matter what. He's the smartest player to ever play the game.

His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before. And he knows. Without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game. We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs. I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nas Reid. He has to guard Julius Randall.

And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night basis on offense. And when IT's friends stop by, like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too. Steve Nass would get that thing. That man, hell get to fly. Man, he running up the court, licking his fingers, why he got the ball. Like, after you go through a training camp with that, Isaiah, you figure it out real quick. Oh, yeah.

Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the ball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. American soccer is about to explode. The World Cup is coming. Ramers sending on to Ernie. Score the chip. I'm Tad Ramos. I'm Tom Boe.

On our podcast, Inside American Soccer. you'll get the real storylines. I'm not worried about Policic, I'm not worried about Balagan, I'm not worried about McKinney. My only concern is what happens in the back. The biggest decisions. If you're going to look at stats and numbers, he has no shot at making this World Cup team.

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First, Jalen Hertz leads the Eagles against the Falcons, then in America's Game of the Week. Aaron Rogers leads a pack against Alvin Camara and the Saints. It all kicks off at one Eastern on Fox in the Fox Sports app. Check local listings for the game in your area. So I want to say this. I vote what I do with my blazing five which debuts Friday. I get about seven games and I find seven games I like immediately and I just over the course of the week I pair it down.

I'm not going to lie to you. Atlanta is one of the two best bets on the board this week. Now, as Joy rolls her eyes, she has the same birthday as my wife. So they have the same sensibility of their Capricorn. So my wife gets very frustrated with me when I do this. same dumb things over and joy is rolling your eyes at me. So I have not won an Atlanta Falcons bet in 28 years.

So, but that falcons bet against Philadelphia comes out on my little power grid is the second best bet of the week. So I have to consider it in my seven because I have to be loyal to the numbers. I'm not loyal to my history.

I'm loyal to the numbers. It's the second best bet on the board. It sounds like you're loyal to losing. God, you really are, Ann. Snarky put back. I threw it out there to be vulnerable and got crushed. Anyway, so Blazing Five debuts this week. Atlanta's a really good number, you guys.

Why don't you let me take Atlanta? Maybe I'll change it up. We could give it a new name. Blazing Five and Joy to. Enjoy to. Joy with the news. No. Can you get your water?

This is the Herdline News. Well, the Rams opened their seasons. Sunday night against the Bears. I can't pick my favorite game this weekend. There's so many great storylines and things to pay attention to. How about Tua against Mac Jones? I can't wait. I can't wait.

Great game. Can't wait. Well, Andy Dalton has obviously been announced a starter, QB1, but Sean McVay is prepping for both quarterbacks just in case Justin Fields get some playing time. I think he'd be naive for us not to prepare for, you know, them to be able to utilize him in some form or fashion. But Andy's a winning quarterback in this league. And then you see the ways that Justin made a lot of plays going back to his career at Ohio State,

what he showed in the preseason. And so I think you got to be ready for either or, but it's going to be a challenge for sure. I don't think we're going to see Justin Fields. You don't think so at all? Not at all. Maybe it's like a special package or something. Think about how badly it would have to go for Andy Dolan for them to yank him in game one. After all of this buildup about him being the starter.

And Matt Nagy, this matters, comes from the Andy Reed tree. What's Andy known for? Great September. Matt Nagy has been a great September coach. So I don't think Chicago is going to be incompetent. They'll move the ball. It'll be a competitive game. The number's out of whack.

Chicago, by the way, is my number one graded power play of the week. Seven and a half. Chicago is going to keep it close. That is a ton of points to give Chicago in week one. Yeah. A ton. Yeah, that's a lot. But I don't, look.

people aren't excited about Andy Dolan, but Andy Dolan is not an incompetent quarterback. He's not great. He's not a high-end starter, but he's completely capable. He won four or five games for the Cowboys last year on a defense that was awful and he had to get into shootouts. Yes, he's completely capable. So unless it is a complete and utter collapse,

I don't think they were going to see anything significant from Justin Field. I think if it is, it'll be something similar to what Shanahan is doing with Stray Lance, where they put him in for a package or some type of play. But I don't think that we're going to see him out there for any significant amount of playing time. Now, that said, if Andy Dalton isn't great, like, I think Andy Dalton is going to be competent and it's going to be comfortable. I think the Rams will win.

I don't think they're going to win by that many points, but I think that they will win. So the next you have the Bengals at the Bears, and then the Bears are the Browns. if it doesn't go well over those two games, I think around lions at Bears might be a place where they insert Justin Fields. If things aren't going well. If things are steady, I don't think we will see Justin Fields until the middle of the season. Yeah.

Well, I predicted Mack Jones wouldn't play, so my predicting is off. It's off, yes. Well, yes, but in all fairness, there were some circumstances unforeseen that kind of aided that along. So T.J. Watt has not participated in practice with the Steelers throughout training camp as he waits for a contract extension. And his availability for week one with their matchup with the bills is reportedly in doubt because of these ongoing discussions. Mike Tomlin did say this morning he's optimistic about a deal getting done before the start of the regular season. And Watt confirmed at the start of camp that he does hope to stay in Pittsburgh long term.

He's due $10.1 million in 2021. That's the final year of his rookie contract. so he will be the 75th highest paid edge rusher next season. And he's a relentless player. In average annual value, he led the NFL in sacks last year with 15, quarterback hits 41, tackles for loss, 23, and pressures with 60. He's the only player with at least 13 sacks in each of the last three seasons. I'm watching all these Steeler highlights against this. They really have a pass rush, and they're all healthy.

I think we forget how good they're. defense was until it fell apart. Right. I don't know what the hell. They had major injuries last year. I don't know what to do with Pittsburgh. Oh, I got a big dilemma on my hands. I'll tell you that too.

I got a huge dilemma on my hands with the NFL predictions. Huge problem. All right, well, we'll get to that. But he's definitely deserving of this contract and they need to get him there. And they really need to get this done

before the start of the season because they need him out there. Obviously, just the numbers I just read in a huge part of that defense. He has the third best odds on Fox Bet to win defensive player of the year as well. Aaron Donald plus 450, Miles Garrett, plus 600, and TJ Watt at plus 800.

He doesn't have the brand of JJ. He may be a more relentless player than his brother. I'm not sure if he's gifted athletically, but just in terms of a relentless pass rusher, if you didn't know football and watched Pittsburgh play, you could just go, who's that? He's on. He's an impossible to block. He's very underrated. He's an unbelievably underrated player.

Baker's not the most underrated player in that division. Speaking of underrated. There are big expectations for the Browns this year following a successful 2020 season. And the hype is strong for the team as a whole. But pro football focus doesn't think Baker Mayfield is getting the love he deserves as an individual player. They compiled their all underrated team for 2021. And Baker was selected as the quarterback. The quarterback for the all underrated team.

Number one pick. Okay. Yeah, I don't know that you can ever be underrated as the number one overall pick in the draft. I just, I think you retire that, that moniker, the moment that happens. You're rated highly. The minute you're a number one pick. You're the number one overall pick of the draft. The Heisman winner.

If I said to you. He finished second to Saquo and Barclay in Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2018. So he's on awards, he's got commercials. He's very rated. Very rated. If I, if you ask me, if I, if you ask me, if I, if you asked me, quarterbacks who were underrated, Derek Carr by a mile to me. I would say Derek Carr. He is swimming in chaos. I kind of think it's, it's fair to say Ryan Tannahill at this

point. I think that's totally fair. Ryan Tannhill's underrated. I don't know if it's Arthur Smith or Ryan Tannhill, but he's under, I think those two jump out to me as underrated quarterbacks. Yeah, I'm trying to think of other quarterbacks who are, who are not rated. Well, I mean, Lamar Jackson, uh, he was underrated and then he won MVP, so not underrated anymore. Okay, fair, that's fair, that's fair to say. Who is under, I think Derek Carr's in his own class. Tannahill's fair. I don't know if there's, let's be honest.

Most of these quarterbacks get nothing but love all day. Right. They're not underrated. That's what I'm saying. They're not a lot of underrated. I'm trying to think of guys like, Kyler Murray can't say that. No. Jimmy Garapolo can't say that.

He's been injured. So the criticisms of him are fair. I think PFF whipped on that. That's not, he's not underrated. I mean, maybe for a while, maybe until. the Cowboys paid DAC. I think DAC was an underrated quarterback. That's not even, you could make the

argument from a productivity standpoint, DAC is underrated. I think that the Cowboys paid him. So I would say then he's now rated. Like, there's a point where you have to retire that title. And when you're the number one overall pick, and this is not, again, this is not an attack on Baker. Baker didn't offer himself up for this

rating. They think everybody's always after him. This is not, Baker didn't like nominate himself for this thing. Like this was given to him. And we are just responding to it. I just don't think it's a realistic title to say someone who is the number one overall pick in the draft is underrated. If you go to synonyms of underrated, it's unnoticed and unrecognized. Once you're a number one pick, you're no longer underrated.

You're rated. Yeah. You are recognized. Progressive commercials, Hulu commercials. Right. You're rated. You're with Nike and body armor, Nissan. You're on the grid.

We know who you are. Are you done? Yes. Joy with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The herd line news. This always cracks me up.

So the two quarterbacks that Joy and I kind of, we just don't, we don't necessarily buy Artua and Drew Locke. There's something there. I mean, they're obviously playing in the NFL. They've played. They've started. But it's so funny about this. I always crack up. Like, I understand.

fans are fanatics. Totally get it. We love you. I watch college football this weekend. All sports need fans. But don't you think it's kind of crazy that the dolphins were in on Deshawn Watson, according to multiple sources,

and the Broncos chose Teddy Bridgewater over Drewlock. So the dolphins and the Broncos have issues and concerns about Tua and Drew Locke. I always cracks me at when fans are like, You media people, turn that visceral, turn that emotion onto your teams.

Miami and Denver have questions. We're just voicing the concerns publicly. So all you Drew Locke fanboys and two of fanboys, take it up with your team. I would argue the teams are voicing concerns. Concerns. They didn't even, Miami didn't even deny the trade rumors. Didn't even deny them. Well, I mean, I don't think you can deny if there's actually been an inquiry made.

Like if it's truly not true, then you can come out and say that didn't happen. But, you know, Flores is going to say this is our guy, but he didn't outright deny it either. Okay, here's a stat that is, it really eliminates you from winning the Super Bowl. There's one stat in the league last 10 years. This takes you out. You can't do it. That's coming up next. Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1,

the I Heart Radio app. Hey, it's Ben, host of The Fifth Hour with Ben Maller, along with my trusty sidekick, David Gascone, would mean a lot to have you join us on our weekly auditory journey. You're asking what in God's name is The Fifth Hour? I'll tell you, it's a spinoff of the Ben Mather show, a cult hit overnights on FSR. Why should you listen?

Picture, if you will, a world when we chat with captains of industry, in media, sports, and more every week, explore some amazing facts about human nature and more. Listen to the fifth hour with Ben Mather, the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games.

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

A win is a win. I don't care which I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford 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 where wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network

on TikTok. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano and our podcast Point Game is about defying the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs

without Luca and Austin Reed. And finding ways to win no matter what. He's the smartest player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before. And he knows.

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

And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night bases on offense. And when IT's friends stop by, like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too. Steve Nass would get that thing. That man, hell get the flying. He running up the court, licking his fingers why he got the ball, like,

after you go through a training camp with that I'm, You figure it out real quick. Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the ball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. American Soccer is about to explode. The World Cup is coming. Ramers sending on the Army Stewart of the Chip. I'm Todd Ramos.

I'm Tom Boe. On our podcast, Inside American Soccer, you'll get the real storylines. I'm not worried about Polic. I'm not worried about Balagan. I'm not worried about McKinney. My only concern is what happens in the back. The biggest decisions. If you're going to look at stats and numbers,

he has no shot at making this World Cup team. And the truth about the U.S. national team. It wouldn't be a huge surprise if our team ends up in the quarterfinals or potentially a great run into the semifinals. The World Cup is almost here. Experience it all with us. Listen, Inside American Soccer with Tom Bogart and Tabramos

and the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, wherever you get your podcast. Apollo is Tommy John's newest and most advanced men's underwear. Seven degrees cooler, dry release, fabric blend, 20% off your first order. Tommyjohn.com slash hurt. Tommyjohn.com slash H-E-R-D. Believe it or not, there is one number, just one, in the last decade, that takes you out of Super Bowl contention.

You're not going to win with this number. Now you're thinking number of fumbles, number of sacks allowed, your quarterback throws so many interceptions? No. No. It's what percentage of your quarterback's salary, what's the cap hit? How much of your salary does he eat? 2011 to 2020, 10 years.

the only quarterback that's won a Super Bowl with a cap hit over 12 is Tom Brady done it twice, 12.3 and 12.2. And we know he takes pay cuts. He never takes a full boat. By the way, if you get into the 11 percent, you have to be a Manning, Cooper or Peyton. So it becomes very, yeah, Eli is Cooper. Peyton or Eli. So to get over 12, you've got to be Tom Brady. And he takes pay cuts.

And you're over 11. You've got to be Peyton or Eli Manning. Meaning you can't do it at least to this point over a certain number because you literally don't have the pieces elsewhere. So what does that mean? So I took like 10 or 11 teams that I think have a, they're somewhere around the Super Bowl bubble. Like I consider these playoff teams. Russell Wilson, 17.4%. See ya.

Aaron Rogers, 14.5. See ya. By the way, Seattle's O line, still suboptimal. Green Bay's defense, not great. Plus their worst offensive line in years. Borderline, you're close. Carson Wentz, Matt Stafford, and Dak Prescott, all in the high 10 or 11%. The teams that are in good spaces,

Tampa and Brady, Buffalo and Josh, Cleveland and Baker, Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City, Justin Herbert and the Chargers, and Baltimore and Lamar Jackson. Now, I have Dallas in there. I don't really consider them a Super Bowl team, but I have them in the playoffs. But these are a lot of what I consider teams good enough to win. Seattle, Green Bay, Colts, Rams, Tampa, Buffalo, Cleveland, Kansas City, Baltimore, I think Chargers are one of the steals in the league. They've really shorted up their own line.

There's your numbers. Don't kid yourself. There's a reason that Brady has such a surplus of good defensive linemen and linebackers. He's 5.8% of the cap hit. It's fascinating also because Zach has been paid and Mahomes has been paid and Josh Allen has been paid. Yes. And you just keep pushing that money down the road. By the way, it'll get more difficult going forward.

Yes, for some of them. But I mean, you know, the one that jumps out at you is Russell Wilson's making 17-4. percent of his money. That's almost double the cap hit that you'd prefer. By the way, it's triple Brady's cap hit this year. It's six times Baker and Lamar's cap hit. So again, it's just Seattle is talented. Seattle is very much the Rams. A handful of great players, but they're thin in spots. And they're not, they're not, Seattle cannot afford an injury to like four players. They do not have a ton of depth on this. At corner, they are thin. O-line, They are thin.

I think this little nugget of information, I think, is a really strong argument for playing your young quarterback sooner. Well, you know, that's a very good point. So that's the dilemma with Jordan Love. So if you don't pay Jordan Love this year. You've wasted two years. You're paying a baker salary, even lower because he got drafted lower. So that's the thing about drafting. When you moved up to get Jordan Love, it's a really dumb pick if you're not going to play.

him. Right. Because next year, Aaron's a 46 million dollar cap hit. Now, even if you trade Aaron, I think he's a $20 million cap hit. But Jordan makes nothing. So that's not a punitive quarterback cap hit. It's not 15%. But if you're going to move up to get Jordan Love, you have to play him fairly quickly or you've just wasted the opportunity, which has been the reason Seattle won a Super Bowl. Right. The reason, I mean, if you start looking at Kansas City now, there's a reason they have a, They can rebuild their offensive line and pay a fortune for two of the guys. Because Mahomes isn't a big cap hit. Like that's the number in the NFL nobody wants to talk about.

Like, listen, I think Seattle's good. But your quarterback's almost 18% cap hit. So, I mean, if she, let's- That's tough for me to swallow. Seattle was my like, sleeper. There's no, they got seven pro bowlers. But Seattle is one of those teams that literally, if Dwayne Brown or Bobby Wagner is hurt, you're done.

Green Bay is the same thing. If Devonthe Adams is hurt, you're done. You're just not dynamic enough offensively and you're not special enough defensively. So that's why the, you know, I know you all are rooting for Baker-mainfield, but Baker and Lamar and Justin Herbert and Josh Allen, now's the time. Because those guys are all good enough. They're supporting casts. Josh, I mean, you look at Lamar, look at Lamar's roster, Baker's roster, Buffalo's roster.

Those are, those have very few. Well, Josh has been paid. Yeah. But he has, I would say, if the. Kids they drafted are as good as I think. They've really attacked their D-Line the last two drafts. Young guys, if some of them start popping, because that was Buffalo's nightmare last year, they couldn't get to opposing quarterbacks.

They, Philip Rivers marks up and down the field in the playoffs against them. So there's the number. By the way, I saw this. There was an interesting story about John Gruden. Mike Mayock said a week ago, we got to win. And so somebody, a reporter for the Las Vegas Review Journal, Vinnie Bonsieri, Vinnie Bonsignor, I hope I pronounced it right. I've talked to him before.

Basically, Gruden said, I don't feel pressure. The owner will tell me if there's pressure. First of all, let me state this. Everybody in my business should be rooting for the Raiders. They're interesting. There's chaos. It's a great brand. What has happened in the – it's kind of remarkable how much more popular football is

than I could argue basketball in America. football for the last 20 years has been largely predictable, Alabama and New England. And neither one of those, New England or Alabama, was star-studded in terms of personality. I mean, they're both like factories, right? Like New England. No days off. No days off. Alabama is the same thing.

The coach is the star. The players aren't the star at Alabama. And it is amazing if you start looking at how. how popular football has become. Maybe it's gambling. Maybe it's the erosion of other sports. I don't know. But the NFL's never been more popular. In college football, the ratings this weekend are huge. And it's been incredibly predictable for the last 20 years. 10 in college, well, 14 with Alabama and 20 in the NFL. Gruden's interesting. I think the NFL and college, I've always said this about college football. They need an L.A. team to be good in the Miami

Hurricanes. Those are big city teams. I don't care if it's UCLA, USC, or the Miami Hurricanes. The sport now feels very southern, very small town, very insular. It needs Texas. It needs Sark. It needs UCLA and Chip Kelly. It needs Miami. It needs flavor. It needs personality.

College football needs more personality. That's what it needs. And yet it's flourishing without it. And I think all of us, I mean, there's three things Joey and I always root for. Interesting chaos and more chaos. Good quarterback play. Yeah. I mean, that's pretty it.

And the Raiders have the quarterback play. So nobody's rooting, if you really know what you're doing in our business, we're rooting for the Raiders. I mean, let's be honest. It's nothing against Oakland. But good God, they were tarphing off the upper deck. The stadium was the bad. It's like, no, no, Vegas, when they show a picture of that stadium, which Joy was in this weekend, it feels huge. It's gigantic.

It's just a shimmering light in the middle of the desert. All right. Jersey Mike Sub, they got a new grilled portabella mushroom in Swiss. It's good. It's fresh. sizzles. Jersey mics. Be a sub above.

We've got a great third hour plan. It's the hurt. 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 acapella 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. On The Look Back at it podcast. For 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, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifers Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but, 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's podcast network on TikTok. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.