The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 11/17/2020 - HOUR 3 - Gruden

Episode Date: November 17, 2020

Jon Gruden's reaction to the "Victory Lap" storyRaiders vs ChiefsGuests: John Johnson, Maxx Crosby 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. On the Look Back at it podcast.

From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 was big to me. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s.

84 was a wild year. It was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th.

You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifers Show. This is a place for raw, unfilled conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Thanks for listening to The Heard podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday from 12 to 3 Eastern, 9 to noon Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and FS1.

Find your local station for the herd at Fox Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeart radio app by searching Heard. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Pure Talk USA. Unlimited text. Unlimited talks, two gigs of data, $20 a month. Grab your mobile phone, dial pound 250 and say my name, Colin Coward. That'll get you 50% off the first month, Pure Talk USA. The Rams have allowed, the L.A. Rams, you think of them as an offensive football team. They are carried by their defense. They give up 4.7 yards of play this year, number one in the NFL yards per play. That's a huge stat in Vegas. That's a big stat. They've also given up one touchdown the entire. season in the fourth quarter. And I think a huge component to it is, I think they have the best secondary in the league. John Johnson, the third, is a ram safety.

Went to the same university as our buddy Will Blackman, Boston College. He is now joining us live via the Coward Global Satellite Network. So it's interesting. You're a young guy. You come in this league. You haven't missed a snap this year. Total baller.

But you play alongside Jalen Ramsey, who was the number one high school corner. He was the number one college corner. He may be the only time in your life. where you've played with a guy who's as good as you. And, I mean, your first thought, playing alongside Jalen Ramsey, I mean, what separates him from, I mean, you've been the best DB on every team you've ever played on.

What separates him? I mean, you know what you're getting with him. Like, he's going to bring that confidence. He's going to bring that swag. He's going to bring that energy, the big plays. And he just makes my job a lot easier. I know that. You know, he's going to lock down his side.

You know, sometimes I'm like, Jay, you want me? Nope, I don't need it. He don't need my help. So, I mean, he makes my job a lot easier. I can condense the field. But it's just really his swag and confidence that pushes him over the top. So it's interesting because you are a young guy and you just keep getting better. And they have a defensive back coach with the Rams that most of the public Aubrey Pleasant doesn't know about.

And to me, when I look at the Rams, I don't look at Jalen Ramsey. I look at all you young corners and safeties and you're all getting better and better and better. So what kind of defensive back coach? because he's obviously been great for you. What didn't you know that he's taught you? How do you improve? What is coaching done for you? Oh, yeah.

I mean, at the end of the day, his personality is bigger than a lot of people imagine. That's like you said. But for Coach AP, it's just all technique. Him and Coach Everard was just all technique. That's what it always comes down to. You wouldn't be in the NFL if you didn't have talent, if you didn't have ability. So it's just really locking in on the basics, the fundamentals. And that's what's going to bring you home in those big games,

especially like crunch time in the fourth quarter, playing technique, be true to yourself, being real discipline. That's what Coach AP preaches all the time. So Russell Wilson, you get to face him twice a year, which the good is you at least know what he brings. The bad is you face him twice a year. So this was his worst performance against you. When you face Russell Wilson, like what's the challenge for you, John, individually?

What's the worst part about that? You got to worry about guys getting behind you. You got to worry about plays going on for eight, nine seconds. You got to worry about him taking off and running. Guys, they're back turning. You don't see him. So all those things create problems for us. And those are the things that we attack during the week that we are conscious of that we're aware of during the week to try to slow them down.

But it is hard. It's hard to completely shut them down. The best you can do is try to slow him down, especially on an MVP front running season that he's having. Yeah. Okay, then there's Kyler Murray. So a lot of people compare the two, but Kyler's actually faster. is it in terms of a runner? When you play Kyler, do you basically think the same way as you do when you face Russell?

I don't think so. I think Russell, he's more of a scramble to throw type of guy. I think Kyleor will actually take off and run on you. And they have design runs for him. I don't think they have too many design runs for Russell. So that's just the biggest difference. And it's going to take a lot of discipline during that week, that practice week to prepare for him. I haven't watched too much tape.

You know, last year I got hurt and missed 10 games. So it'll be a challenge for sure, but I think he's definitely more of a flat-out runner than Russell is. When, you know, Aaron Donald has been voted the best player in the NFL several times. And obviously you don't have to go up against them in practice. But take me back to the first time you saw Aaron Donald, and it was probably at practice. And you play with pros. Everybody around you all day is a great athlete. When was the first time you watched Aaron Donald and just went, oh, my Lord, this doesn't even look the same?

You know, it's crazy. I have a crazy story. So my rookie year, when I first got in, he was holding out. It was his contract time. So there was no OTAs. There were no – I think he came a few days just to be with the guys and be with the players. But he missed most of the training camp, pretty much all the training camp. He missed week one against the Colts.

I'm pretty sure he did. So it was really that Redskins game where I was like, oh, man, I see why he wasn't. trying to, I see why he wanted his money first before he's playing. We make jokes in the locker room like, he doesn't get blocked unless he wants to get blocked. And that's it, practice all games. So you can put two, three guys on him. I mean, he's just unbelievable. And thank God he's on my team.

Yeah. Hey, so you play Tom Brady. You get an extra day of prep. You play Tom Brady. So when will you, John, start diving in on the film of Brady and really start breaking it down? Right after I get off this call. I know our coaching staff, I'm going to go to the facility. today as well, but I know they're already working on it, but we won't install it as a team until

tomorrow, but I'm definitely going to take a look at what they're doing. You know, they've got Antonio Brown. They got a lot of guys that can make plays on offense, so definitely want to get ahead on them. It's an extra day. We played them on Monday, so we should be well prepared for that game. We just got to get our bodies going, and we've seen time before in a Super Bowl game. We did pretty well against them, so we just got to see what the differences are with Bruce Ariens and go from there. By the way, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, A, B. You guys, it's the best secondary with the Rams against the best receiving court for the Rams. And, you know, finally, Sean McVeigh is a offensive guy, and he always comes across as so likable. Does McVe ever bark at practice? Has he ever

screamed at you? Or is he always a nice guy? Because he always comes across such a nice guy. Does he bark ever? All the time. See, look, they got a picture here being nice. It's before practice. But if his offense isn't firing, how they're supposed to be firing, if they're making mistakes that he can't live with, he's barking for sure. He's going to make sure everything is nice and neat. Everything is as he designed it as he pictured it and whatever's best for the team

going against the other team for the week. So he's definitely a perfectionist. He's like a mad scientist when it comes to this offense, man. So he's definitely wants his way. He's going to bark at you if it's not his. the way he wants it. All right. Finally, you face Kyler Murray and Brady two of the next three weeks, but I want to ask you about Andrew Whitworth.

Great left tackle. Top four, five left tackle in football. Jared Goff needs his left tackle. What do you think on? Now, Whitworth, I think,'s going to come back this year, right? That's what it looks like. Hopefully we can get him back, but, I mean, it's just a big loss. I think Whitworth, he was

having, this is year 15. He was probably having one of the best years of his career. I don't be giving up a sack this year. So, I mean, I just hate to see him go down. He's a big leader on our team. Everybody can look up the big wick on and off the field. So it's a big loss. Hopefully we can get him back.

But I know one thing, he's going to be engaged at practice, and he's going to get whoever replaces him on the right track to replace what he did. So I hate to see him go down, but I know he's still going to be present in that locker room. John Johnson, the 3rd from Hyattville, Maryland, went to school out there, then BC, and they're happy to have him in L.A. with the Rams. Appreciate you coming on the show, bud. Thank you. Thanks for having.

me. This is one of my favorite shows on TV. Appreciate you. Oh, I appreciate. John Johnson of the Rams right now, their secondary is stacked, and they face Brady on Monday Night Football, and then two weeks later they face Kyler Murray. So you get the pocket guy and the most elusive guy, along with Lamar Jackson in the league. So it's a real challenge. But the Rams, they have really, in the last year, totally, all their draft picks in the secondary, they all hit. They can all play. They're all elite, all of them. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games.

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

A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, 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 wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, Follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast.

I'm Sam Jett. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 was big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so y'all know.

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, so. Thank you for finishing that sentence. Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah.

For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway 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. Tript Fantine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we don't realize that we,

are in possession of the thing, and we're still chasing it, and we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth, or are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person.

Join me, Kear Gaines, is we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast Learn the Hardway. Open your free Out Heart Radio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. Joy Taylor with the news. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news.

Well, we haven't talked to cowboys in a while, so why not? Oh, what happened now? The Cowboys are in line to get Andy Dalton back this week. He returned to practice as a full participant Monday after clearing both concussion and COVID protocols. Mike McCarthy said they're taking it one day at a time to see if Dalton will be ready to start Sunday against the Vikings, but he did say that Dalton looks good in his first practice back. He is so far this season, 61.2 completion percentage, 452 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions.

Yeah, I mean, they're good at right tackle, but they got, you know, we were talking about this. Goulet and I were talking about this because he's the resident cowboy Homer. So they have right now, clearly the Jets and the Jags are the two worst teams. Right. They're going to take quarterbacks. The third pick, I mean, if you start looking at it, I think Washington is better than Dallas. But I think I don't see wins for Dallas. I don't think they'll beat Washington, which is the easy game on their schedule.

So they're going to pick third. They mostly don't need what's available. Like the top of the draft is quarterbacks, a great left tackle. So what are the Cowboys do? Because Jerry doesn't want to give up that third pick. Jerry likes high picks. The Cowboys get talked about. You know, Jerry loves headlines.

What do the Cowboys do with that third pick? We're glommed on to all these quarterbacks. They're not taking one, right? He likes Dak. So there's a great left tackle at Oregon, Sewell, but they have Tyron Smith, who gives you about 10 to 12 games a year. Do you take him still pay Tyron for two or three years? Seriously, you've got to start getting cheaper on that offense.

Yeah. Because you're going to pay Dak, you pay Zeke, you pay Amari, you pay Tyron Smith, you pay Zach Martin. To me, you go offense with your, you know, everybody thinks their defense need help, They got to get cheaper on offense. Well, I mean, their defense does need a lot of help. They need a lot of help, period. But I don't know.

If you look at their schedule, if Andy Dalton's back. Oh, it's bad. I mean, they're the Vikings this week. They're not being the Vikings. No way. Then they have Washington. That could go either way. I like Washington.

I would lean Washington, too, but it's still a division game. What's that? The Ravens. Loss. Bengals. Loss. 49ers. Probably a loss.

I mean, I think Bengals. Niners, Washington, you go either way. Then you have the Eagles. I mean, I think the Eagles are better right now, but they're still not playing well. And then they have the Giants. Like, if the Cowboys could mess around and win a couple of these games and not be in as high as they need to be,

it's just that division is so awful. It's, I mean, the wild card's obviously dead in it, but it's getting Dalton back could kind of change that. So Kyler Murray scored two more rushing touchdown Sunday, giving him 10 for the season. That puts him on face to finish the season with 18. which would set the record for the most rushing touchdowns by eight quarterback. Cam Newton currently holds the record with 14 in the 2011 season.

Cam was a power runner. Kyler's a speed runner. Cordell Stewart. Remember that year? Name from the past. Right. So Cam Newton has 14 in 2011. Steve Grogan with 12, 1976.

Cordell 97 had 11. Cam also had a high number of 10 in 2015, Dante Culpepper in 2002. and right now, Kyla Murray in 2020 has 10 on pace and finish with 18. He doesn't get hit. Yes. That's the difference. Cam was a power runner who you can go back and look at some of those early hits. I think they almost altered rules.

Oh, yeah, I was supposed to say. Cam, I think, was a big catalyst for the rules changing on how you can hit a quarterback. And also, it reminds Cam was so uniquely big at quarterback. It reminded me of when Shaq played. NBA officials did not really know how to officiate Shaq games for you. Years. Guys would be hanging on Shaq and they wouldn't call it. Cam was so big that officials just let guys go high on him because it's like, well, he's six, he was bigger than the defenders. And it was like, and after a while, Cam's like, these are illegal hits.

Oh, it got ridiculous. It got to the, because you. Remember the, it was the game in the, he ran for an end zone. And it was about the goal line. Yeah. Is he against Denver? I know which would. And like three guys hit him high.

And you're like, whoa. Yeah, it was the point where everyone was like, okay. That's not. Like, he's big, but he's still a quarterback. I think it was against, I think it was in the corner by the pylon. He got smoked, I think, by Denver. And you're like, you wouldn't allow that with any other quarterback in the league. No, I know exactly what you're talking about.

Finally, the Jets will once again be without Sam Darnold this week. He's still dealing with a right shoulder injury. So Joe Flacco will get to start this Sunday against the Chargers. Gays said he's confident. Darnel, we'll be back at some point the season, but he wants to make sure he's 100% before he comes back. I'll throw this at you. they know they're going to trade him.

So they don't want him to get injured. They don't want him to get hurt. This is what it feels like. I'm not saying Sam's 100%. But boy, whenever there's a doubt, they don't play him. It's like, are they just protecting him? By the way, they know the team's bad. So why put him out there and he looks lousy and struggles and loses?

Instead, get him healthy. No, it hurts his value. The last couple times we've seen him, we think he's pretty good. He finished strong at the end of last year. and somebody gives you a first round pick, not a second round pick. Well, in the race to the top of this current NFL draft, obviously it's Jets in first place at 0 and 9, then the Jags, Washington, Cowboys, and the Chargers. So the Jets remaining schedules at the Chargers and the Dolphins, Raiders, at Seahawks, at Rams, Browns, and at Patriots.

So pretty brutal schedule. Maybe the Patriots is the most evenly matched, and that's a stretch to even say that. Then the Jags remaining schedules, Steelers, Browns, at Vikings, Titans, at Ravens, Bears, Colts. I've got to tell you, the Chargers, if the Chargers get another top five or six pick, that team is, that's a good roster. They're just, I got a young quarterback in a coach right now. I thought they were going to be a lot better than this year. So did I. So did I. Yeah.

But it may work in their favor to get another high pick. How about the Dolphins getting another great pick? Well, yes, they have the pick from the Texas. Now, the dolphins are interesting because they have to rebuild their offensive line, but they took a left tackle Austin Jackson in the first round last year, so they probably wouldn't go left tackle. Or would they and move Austin Jackson over to the right tackle spot where he's not as much a power blocker? I could see them going offensive line there.

I could also see them moving down and getting some extra picks. Boy, they're well-run right now. It's amazing. When you get the right coach in, I never thought well-run. Jimmy Johnson left, and I didn't think well run for the dolphins until last year, like 15 years. It's very nice. Yeah. It's very comfortable.

Yeah. Joy with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Heard Lide News. It is interesting. So think about all, I mean, you never know what you're going to get out of college, right? You just don't know.

Is a coach going to be great? Tom Coughlin, nobody thought he was a, you know, Boston college guy. He beat Notre Dame when they were number one. He went to Jacksonville, and all of a sudden you look up and he's beat. and Belichick in Super Bowls, twice and Brady. But it's like, it looks like Brian Flores is a hit. Joe Judge, early indications are

like the players are totally, they get better every week. Cliff Kingsbury, it's working. I mean, I don't know if he's great, but it's working. I think Zach Taylor in Cincinnati. I think Joe Burroughs, I mean, again, offensively, I think it's working. Matt LaFleur is obviously winning a bunch of games in Green Bay. So, like a lot of these young guys,

it's working. I'm trying to think of another young Sean McDermott and Buffalo's all run. Matt Rule? I think Matt Rule's done a great job. They got no. They need players. They need, we always knew this. They needed two drafts to rebuild the defense. And they're not paying Bridgewater a ton so they can go spend some money next year on defense.

They drafted actually well on the defensive side. So, oh, by the way, Chris Broussard. James Hardin wants to go to Houston. We'll see. Chris Brousard earlier. An interesting nugget about what he's hearing in regards to a potential James Hardin to a Brooklyn trade. What they're saying the word around the league is, now, I haven't heard this from Kyrie or anybody close to him, but people around the league are saying Durant wants Hardin and

Kyrie does not. Uh-oh. That's not great. That's not good. because to me, it'll be very fun to watch. Or you could make this argument. If Kevin Durant wants him and James Hardin's the second best player, so KD and Hardin are there together, and they've got some other nice pieces,

does it force Kyrie to be on his best behavior? Because if Kevin Durant wants Hardin, they're going to get Hardin, and they may move Kyrie Irving, which I never like Katie going from the maturity of Steph to the inconsistent personality of Kyrie. So that's interesting. So Brouss here in that KD wants Hardin. I would too. I would be a little reluctant on Kyrie Irving.

I'm not reluctant at all on Hardin. Hardin will show up and drop 30 a night. Like Hardin loves basketball. He never misses games. You know, I mean, James, for all the misgivings people have had about Hardin in the playoffs, plays hard every night, never skips games, works hard at practice. That's not the issue with him. I don't think, you know, he doesn't give you a great effort on the defensive end.

and I think that ball-centric style can wear people out. But if Kevin Durant wants Hardin, maybe it keeps Kyrie Irving on his best behavior. Because I believe today, KD is the best of the three. Hardens a close, semi-close second. He hadn't had the injuries of KD. Max Crosby of the Raiders. The Raiders are interesting and good again. He's their best pass rusher.

He'll be joining us live next. Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHard Radio app. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all,

embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app. Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying.

Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show.

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

this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Cliverts 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. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs?

Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down,

and try to make sense of how we survived it. including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 was big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack, so I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now, so...

Thank you for finishing that sentence. Yes, I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years. for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing,

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

Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, is we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now.

Max Crosby, this is why the NFL is so great. So Max Crosby is just fantastic. And he's from like Rochester, Michigan. So you would think, oh, he played for Michigan. No, they didn't recruit him. Oh, Michigan State. No, they didn't recruit him. He goes to Eastern Michigan, and he's the best defensive lineman for the Raiders.

And his stats are fantastic. They force five turnovers. And he's in Vegas, baby. And we love Vegas on this show. Max Crosby, Raiders defensive end is joining us live from Vegas. So good Lord. First of all, it's great to have you on. And, I mean, I'm sitting there thinking nobody offered you.

So how many offers did you get out of high school? I had one. It was Eastern Michigan. Yeah, you know, it's funny. Being from Michigan, you know, I would think somebody would want me, but I didn't get anybody. So, you know, Eastern was the only one. And, you know, they offered me. And I was expecting maybe some more offers, but, you know, they were the only one.

So I committed right away. You know, it feels like, honestly, Max, it feels like Gruden and the Raiders are a good fit for you and your personality. And I'm not there every day. but give me your relationship with Gruden. I mean, Gruden's a tough guy and he's a fighter, and you're obviously a fighter to go to Eastern Michigan and end up as a great NFL player. What is Gruden like to play for?

Yeah, you know, I think you're spot on. You know, Oakland, you know, now the Las Vegas Raiders are, you know, it's just a perfect fit for me and my personality, you know. We're hard-nosed, you know, and Gruden loves guys like that. You know, he wants guys that love football and, you know, that's everything I am. You know, it's an awesome, you know, organization. You know, it's, it's fun, and we have a lot of fun, and it's laid back, but when it's

time to work, you know, they're on it. You know, they push me personally every day to my limits, and, you know, I know they do that with everybody else. So it's an awesome environment to be around, and we're really just having fun and trying to be the best we can be. Well, you're winning, and that's all I know. By the way, you're kind of a power football team. You run the ball, you get after it. Now, Vegas can be distracting as a young guy from cold weather Michigan and you got a beautiful girlfriend and you go to

Vegas. Do you go to the casinos ever? Y'all football? I mean, what's it like to live there for a young guy? Yeah, you know, I moved here in February. So, you know, I kind of got to see the town for the first time and it was, you know, it was awesome. You know, it's beautiful. There's a lot going

on all the time. But for me personally, you know, especially with this COVID going on and everybody's got to be safe and nobody wants to miss games. You know, I've literally have the same routine every day. I come home, I eat good, I hang out with the dogs and my girl, and we just relax. So it's not like I'm living on the strip. I'm far away from that.

So I'm definitely ducked off and just having a good time and relaxing. So you're in a division now with Justin Herbert, Patrick Mahomes. When you guys beat, and nobody else is doing this, you beat the Kansas City Chiefs. Take me inside a little bit what it is like to play with Mahomes. Is he talkative? Does he audible a lot? is he a trash talker? What is it like to face Mahomes,

the world's best football player, many believe now? Yeah, you know, I believe that too. You know, he's a once-in-a-lifetime type talent. You know, the guy, he doesn't really talk much. You know, he's super focused when he's on the field, but the way he plays is just so much different than any other quarterback you face. It's just like, when you play the Chiefs,

you know it's not like a regular football game. You know, you know you're going to be running for your life trying to get him down. You know, he's trying to extend plays, trying to make, you know, underneath passes behind the back. You'll literally do anything. So he's just a different type of player. And, you know, every time we play KC, we know it's going to be a,

you know, it's going to be a crazy game. So last time you beat him, and I thought this story was hysterically funny, it's so Raiders, it's so Gruden, it's perfect. So you guys drive the bus around the victory lap thing, and Gruden, it's so funny. So Gruden was asked about it yesterday. I got to play this bite of Gruden getting all pissy. Here's Gruden yesterday

at the press conference. Here he is. Hey, John. Today, Andrew Reid mentioned a couple times the victory lap you guys took in KC after the first game. What exactly was the victory lap? And is that something that you think about this week as far as bullet material or anything like that? Not really. I mean, you can find a smart

Alec bus driver in Kansas City who made some snide comments when we got on the bus. Maybe that's why we drove around the stadiums to tick him off. You know, this is ridiculous. Next question. So can you just, you won't get in trouble? What happened?

Can you tell me the story? I honestly, it's funny. After the game, you know, we were also fired up. You know, obviously winning in Casey is very rare. And especially with that team, you know, it's a big deal anytime you beat them. So on the bus, you know, I noticed when we took off, we were like I didn't even, nobody said anything like, yeah, we're taking a victory lap, blah, blah, blah. I just noticed we were driving around the stadium because we were just going in a big circle.

So honestly, a lot of the guys, we had no idea. So we were just noticing we were like, wait, like, where are we going? It was just going in circles. So I don't know. You know, I honestly don't know the backstory at all. And yeah, you know, it is what it is. People are trying to make it bigger than it is. Yeah, the media, that's what we do.

So you have 16 sacks in 25 games. You're a very, you know, you're in a most. guy, you get after it. Can a defensive lineman be a leader? And by the way, when you're young, I mean, you're a kid still in this league. Is it okay? Like, do you like the leadership thing? Yeah, you know, absolutely. You know, a de-lineman definitely could be a leader. You know, we're in the trenches, you know, we're going toe to toe to the biggest guys and strongest dudes on the field at all time. So, you know, being a young guy, you know, I feel like that was something I struggled with a little bit last year, you know, as far as the leadership standpoint.

But this year, you know, me and Cleland and the rest of the guys, you know, our defense is a bunch of young guys trying to, you know, generate, you know, pressure and generate a new type of football that, you know, is just hard nose and gritty and play to the end of the whistle. And that's, you know, that's something I'm trying to do, you know, be a part of that and help the guys any way I can. Boy, your speed is incredible. You just don't play like most offensive linemen. You're fast.

Has there been, obviously, you know, it's funny, you play at Eastern Michigan. That's nothing against the league you were in. But the offensive linemen aren't quite as good as the AFC West. Who has been the best offensive linemen you faced? Ooh, that's tough. In the last two years, you know, I feel like David Bakhtiari is definitely up there. We played him in Green Bay last year. I think Taylor LeWan, Larry Mutantzel, there's a bunch of guys like a name, but yeah, no, you're, you are, you know, you're not wrong when you say that.

You know, there's every week, you know, that's the biggest difference. Come from the NFL to college. It's like, college, you know who you're playing this week. Like, oh, it's about to be one of those weeks. But the NFL, everybody's good. And there's guys that are athletic that are 320 pounds and 6'7, like you just don't see that in the back. So, you know, the talent is incredible in this league. So it's always awesome, you know, to get out for a challenge like that.

Were you worried a little bit when you came from a smaller school? Take me to your first practice because, you know, your eastern Michigan, you go to the NFL first practice. Was there a moment, Max, when you're like, okay, I can play in this league? I know I can play in this league. Yeah, 100%. You know, coming from the Mac, you know, we played, we always played like a Kentucky or like an Illinois or Purdue during the season. So I always had big games against the, you know, the Power 5 team. So I, I was confident, you know, I wasn't worried. But when I first came to training camp, I saw Trent Brown line up

at right tackle and nobody wanted to go against him. And I was like, I'm going to take it on, you know, as a challenge, you know, to try to beat him. If I could beat him one time, I know I could win in this league. So I was going against him every single day. And this dude is 6, 8, 6, 6, 9, 400 pounds. These is a different animal that I've ever gone against. So the first time I beat him, I was like, okay, I can do this. Like, this is easy. If I can beat Trent, I can beat anybody. So that's always been my mentality.

I always think about going against Trent when I first got in the NFL. And, you know, that gives me a ton of confidence. Well, it's great meeting you. The Raiders are a great story. I'm old enough, and I still think I'm pretty young. But I go back to the Raiders when they had Kenny Stabler and John Madden. It's an incredible tradition. Vegas is a perfect fit.

And I think I just, the whole John Gruden thing is just, by the way, when they drafted you, did Gruden get on the phone? What did, hey, Max, it's Gruden. Did he get on the phone when he drafted you? Oh, yeah, 100%. The first thing he said is, I need you to get Mahomes. We need you to get Philip Rivers and all that. And I was like, all right, let's go. I was like, I got this.

Let's do it. And it was hilarious. So you know how Gruden is. He always, always loves challenging his players. And I love it. you know, he's one of a kind. Easy got a root for. Max, good luck to you and the Raiders, my friend. Thanks for coming on the show.

Good luck to you. Your girlfriend, your three dogs, which you locked up for five minutes so we can hear you on the air. We appreciate it. Yes, sir. Thank you so much. All right. Max Crosby, Raiders, defensive. That is so crude.

Hey, Max, I need you to get after Philip Rivers. Patrick Mahomes, Max, you got to get after it. But, you know, it is. You play in the Mac and all of a sudden, your first practice, you're against a pro bowler. 380 pounds, 6-9 tackle. Like, it really is, it really is amazing. It is really fascinating when you think about physically having to do that. Even at his size, and he's massive.

When you watch his video, he's so fast. Like when you watch, Aaron Donald's strong. We all know that. But Aaron Donald, they'll send tapes out. You can get it on YouTube. When you watch Aaron Donald's feet, watch how fast this guy is for his size. Now, this is a 270-pound player. No, watch him right here.

I mean, boom. Like he is on you fast. He can, and there's not that many. This is the one. It's like where do you come from? It's amazing. Yeah. I mean, his speed, his closing is one second.

He is on you. And it's great to see. Good for the Raiders. We all face a lot of opposition. None more than age. Check out M Drive Start. Every morning one scoop, proteins, vitamins, minerals, digestive enzymes for elite nutrition.

Do not let age define you. MDrivevStart.com. We had a good show today. Very fun. Peter King, Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly. He likes me. John Johnson, Max Crosby, and Chris Roussard. It was fun to get a couple NFL dudes on today.

We got nice guys, too. Yes. Good dude. John Johnson, the third for the Rams, Baller, and Max Crosby. All right. Let's go, Max. Get my homes. Get him, baby.

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.

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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 mean, 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 podcast.

A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me. Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media.

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