The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 12/02/2020 - Best of The Herd

Episode Date: December 2, 2020

-The NBA Christmas Day schedule is why we talk about LeBron so much-Aaron Rodgers is making the Packers look dumb-Tom Brady's demise has been laughably overstated-It doesn't feel like Kevin Durant plans things the way LeBron doesGuest: Joel Klatt, FOX Sports CFB Analyst 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. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hard Way with your favorite therapist and host, Kear Games.

This space is about black men's experiences, having honest conversations that it's really not safe to have anywhere, but you're having them with a licensed professional who knows what he's doing. How many men carry a suit or armor? It signals to the world that you're not to be played with. And just because you have the capability that does not mean that you need to. Listen to learn the hard way on the AHA radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. On the Look Back at it podcast. From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 is big to me.

I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild. 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. Thanks for listening to The Best of Heard Podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday from 12 to 3 Eastern, 9 to noon Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and FS1. Find your local station for the herd at Fox Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Herd. This is the Best of the Herd with Colin Cowher on Fox Sports Radio. Ah, here we go on a Wednesday. It is an absolute pleasure to have you in.

We are live in Los Angeles, and this is The Herd. Says it right there on the wall. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening, Fox Sports Radio, IHeart Radio on FS1. It is great to have you in today. I watched the UFO special last night, phenomenon. The first time I've watched one in my life.

I thought you didn't believe in it was. That was incredible. I don't believe in aliens. So you had an alien experience. I did, and I've talked about it before, and I'm not going to get into it, but it was real, and I have no reason to make it up. It makes me sound stupid. Raylan Washington. But you don't believe in aliens.

I don't know what I saw, but I watched Phenomenon last night. I bought it. I was scrolling down the television. I just wanted to watch something, so I bought it, and it's a documentary, and it's really credible. You have, like, successful people putting their reputations on the line, not goobers, and you have, like, real video, not like, frisbees. It was the first time I've ever watched the UFO special in my life. I've watched 30 of them like the rest of you. First time I watched one and thought, that's credible.

Something out there. I'm not an egomaniac, so I believe there's got to be some other intelligent life in the whole universe other than just us. But that's just why I believe in aliens. Yeah. Plus, you know, you spend enough time around other people and you start to think like, well, maybe they're aliens. Not so sure about this. So I want to start with this this morning. a company I used to work for

strategically leaked the NBA schedule for Christmas Day. It's the biggest regular season day in the NBA. Schedule is very good. I'll be watching a lot of NBA on Christmas Day. It's very, very good. I like it a lot. But I think it's interesting. I hear this a lot.

Colin, you talk LeBron way too much. Let's look at this schedule. The NBA is going to run on Christmas. So where do they put Zion and the defending Eastern Conference champions, the Miami Heat.

On a game that's going to be at 9 a.m. Pacific, it'll be the smallest audience. Where do they put Janus? Oh, 1130 Eastern up against an NFL game. Where do they put Kauai Leonard? Oh, that's the late game, 1030 Eastern. That's just a West Coast game. And where do they put LeBron? Prime time.

The biggest rating game. will be that 8 Eastern, so the East Coast will watch it, and it starts at 5 Pacific, meaning on Christmas, after you've done your Christmas festivities and had lunch, the fans out West will watch it and the Midwest will watch it. So Janus, they put up against an NFL game, hardened Westbrookker nowhere on the schedule, Miami Heat and Zion the early game,

Kauai, they dump him late game. The league, the commissioner, and the NBA. Once again, puts LeBron since, 2003, 17 straight years. LeBron gets the primetime game on Christmas wearing a Santa outfit. Colin, please talk more. Nikola Yokic. No, I'd like to keep my job.

Colin, talk more Devin Booker. Why don't you do that with your friends? And they'll still never listen to you. I'm going to talk LeBron. And it's interesting who they put up with LeBron. Luca. Luca Donchich. Why?

because the NBA realizes right now they've got a little bit of a dilemma. They would like to anoint Zion Williamson as a star, but they don't trust his health. They put him on the early game. They don't trust his health. I don't trust his health, and I love him. They would love for Kauai Leonard to be the next star, but he's a little unique and nonverbal. They would love for Janus to be the star, but we're eight years. in the bubble they put him on at noon in playoff games.

His game doesn't transfix you. NBA's got an issue. They got to find the next star. John Morant, he's in Memphis. They got a FD. doesn't really talk. They have to find the next star. And they're banking on a kid in the middle of the country in Dallas,

Mark Cuban, fun game, 30 a game, overseas player, terrific, Luca Dantage. So it's interesting on this. is that we hear this all the time. I have a couple rules in sports. One of them is, you can criticize my sports takes all the time, but we think a lot about what we lead shows with.

There's a reason I lead probably 75 shows a year, maybe 50, with LeBron James. The league told you. They're putting Janus up against the NFL. They're burying Kauai. They got hardened nowhere on Christmas Day. Zion, we can't trust his health. John Morant, he's not there.

LeBron and Luca. And by the way, they gave Kevin Durant. They gave him a nice little spot too. He won't get the number. LeBron will. But they gave Kevin Durant a real spot too. They're crossing their fingers. They wouldn't give Kevin Durant the primetime game.

Why? They worry about injuries. But there's a reason LeBron gets it for the 17th year in a row. So I thought this was funny. It's Aaron Rogers' birthday today. And unfairly, people say I am, you know, you don't like Aaron Rogers. I would vote him MVP this year. He's been terrific.

He's been absolutely sensational. And although I defended the Green Bay Packers for drafting a quarterback back in the first round, I said, I get it. Aaron's been hurt. I get it. This morning, they look stupid because Jordan Love is third string and Aaron is lighting it up. I know, I know, I know. Colin, it's Jordan Love being drafted that has inspired Aaron Rogers to be this good.

Okay, we stop. what Aaron was lazy last year. Jordan Love showed up and he worked hard at practice. Give me a break. Let's not give Jordan Love credit because Aaron Rogers is having a great year. He's had a bunch of them. That's like whenever I hear people praise the college basketball coach because his kids get a good GPA.

How about credit the kid who goes to class? I don't want to hear how Bobby Knight made his kids. The kids went to class. They get the credit. They took the tests. I don't care about the coach. Aaron Rogers yesterday went in the Pat McAfee show. show. Pat's losing weight, by the way. Pat, it's holidays, have some candy. And flexed a little.

Here's Aaron Rogers on the show. When it comes to records, I love them in milestones. Like, I do take pride in them. I think there are more things you look back on when you're done playing. I don't think I'm done by any stretch of imagination, even though some people may have thought so in the offseason. You know, it's interesting. Aaron has a right to flex. He's having a great year. And by the way, That's why they drafted a quarterback. They drafted a quarterback and I defended it. But in the end, this morning, what does Green Bay need? The last thing they need is a backup quarterback.

They need two linebackers. They could use another pass rusher. They didn't take a single wide receiver in that draft. And Devante Adams, cross your fingers, is amazing top two or three receiver. But he does get dinged up a lot. But Aaron gets a flex here. And it's interesting about Aaron. Aaron is, I can make an argument.

Aaron is, and I've said this for years about valuable. I think the media doesn't get valuable. Aaron Rogers is the most valuable player in the national football league and probably has been for most of the last 10 years. That doesn't mean he's better than Patrick Mahomes. It's called the most valuable player. Green Bay turns off 95% of free agents. They don't want to play there.

They don't have an owner. So Aaron can't walk down the hall to a Jerry Jones. He can't walk down the hall to a Jeffrey Lorry or one of the Roonies and say, hey, man, I need help here. I mean, Andy Reid was asking Patrick Mahomes, who do you want us to draft? Like, Aaron is in a market. that needs him significantly more than he needs the Green Bay Packers. I can't say that about almost any, and I'm not saying Mahomes isn't great,

but Kansas City won a Super Bowl with Lendoson, got to the playoffs with lots of guys. Joe Montana, Alex Smith, and Mahomes is great. But there's a balance there that Mahomes is benefiting greatly from Andy Reed, that offensive line, and that front office. I mean, do you think Mahomes would be this good in Jacksonville? I'm going to go, no, he'd still be great, but he wouldn't be this. There is an imbalance in Green Bay. Aaron doesn't need the Packers at all.

What would they be without him? They'd be awful. They'd be the Jags. They can't stop anybody. So I'm going to give Aaron on his birthday. He gets a flex today. He's in a very unique situation. And I said this for years and years.

LeBron's been the NBA's MVP every year he's been in the league. Le Michael Jordan was the MVP of the league. NBA every year in his prime. The league literally needed Michael Jordan. He left 50% of the ratings disappeared into the ether. And we have to be honest about Aaron Rogers here. There's no franchise in the National Football League that has more of an imbalance between star player and organization and who needs more, each other more. I mean, Big Ben is great. They won games without Big Ben. And oh, by the way, you don't think if the Rooney's called up and offered Jimmy Garoppolo a contract or Carson Wentica. They've always drafted receivers, offensive line. Well, and Big Ben's great. But even when they didn't have Bradshaw and Big Ben, they're still a really good franchise.

But Aaron got the flex. And this morning, Green Bay looks like they wasted a pick. It looks like they wasted a pick. And I'm not going to give Jordan Love and the Packers credit because they drafted a kid out of Utah State. and Aaron now is having a great year. You want me to believe that Aaron kind of mailed it in the last couple years before Jordan Love or that he's watching Jordan Love at practice. And whoo, that is a threat. I have got to get my act together. No, Aaron's great. Knows he's great sometimes.

That's okay. Get a flex. He gets a flex. Because this morning, that Jordan Love pick, it looks dumb. You're watching Green Bay. They can't stop the run. Looks dumb. One more herd?

The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the I-Hard Radio app. Search Her 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 IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, CliverTaylor 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 Clivered Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need. to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your

podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do 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 a here. unpack what went down and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s.

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 Hard Way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, We get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough.

Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth. Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person.

Join me, Keir Gaines, as 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. You know, the Brady Arian's thing, and this is not a small thing to remember. Tom Brady, Joy and I were on the air. I believe we broke the story. Anywho, they had no OTAs, they had no camp, they had no preseason. Now people are saying, okay, okay, we get the excuses, whatever. about now. All right, what about now? Nobody had them beating Kansas City. Almost nobody had them

winning the division. We didn't. As I said yesterday, give yourself some credit. You thought they'd be about 9 and 7, 10, and 6, and you thought Brady would be better statistically. And oh, by the way, he is. 28 TDs, 11 picks, 65% completion percentage, passer rating at 95 yards per game, 275. That's with all new stuff. So I just want to remind you of something. The only Only three quarterbacks with more touchdowns this year are Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson, and Aaron Rogers. That's it. Okay. The only quarterback with more completions?

Oh, there isn't one. Tom leads the league. The only quarterback with more passing first downs is Patrick Mahomes. It's interesting. The only quarterback with more 20-plus yard completions, Mahomes, Aaron Rogers, and Deshawn Watson. The only quarterback with more attempts, there is none. Tom leads the NFL. And by the way, with Aaron Rogers, with Mahomes, Russell Wilson, they knew the system. Big advantage. Do you think it's a shock that Russell Wilson's leading his division, Patrick Malmns is leading his division,

and Aaron Rogers is leading his division. Why? Because in a year of COVID and no preseason, they got a jumpstart in everybody. Tom, September and October, he's learning it, figuring it out. Mike Evans was hurt, Chris Godwin hurt, OJ Howard left. They picked up Fournette right before the season. Let's do a little blind resume. Because I know we have this feeling that, you know, Tom is really struggling, although he's not obviously. Again, he leads the NFL in several categories.

So blind resume, we put up Tom Brady's years. For our radio audience, I put Tom on the left and the question mark on the right. So Tom has 28 touchdowns 11 picks, the mystery quarterback on the last. the right has only 19 touchdowns and nine picks. The mystery quarterback has a higher completion percentage, but throws for less yards per game and about the same passer rating. Who is that? Who is the mystery court?

Oh, we all love Carter Murray. We all love Kyler Murray. All right. Okay. And by the way, Kyler Murray came back with the same coach. And they added DeAndre Hawkins. All right, let's go Tom Brady and mystery quarterback again. Okay.

the mystery quarterback, fewer touchdowns, much lower completion percentage, fewer yards per game, and the passer rating much lower. What would that be? Who's the mystery quarterback? Oh, that's Tom in New England. Ask Cam Newton how that New England thing works out when you're throwing to stiffs. If you don't believe Tom Brady, if you think he's washed, go look at his numbers last year in New England. Cam Newton, have you seen his numbers this year?

Cam Newton's got talent. Cam Newton is not untalented. Cam Newton's an MVP. Tom Brady's numbers last year in New England are shockingly good. They're like, you know, Matt Stafford this year, except Stafford's got Kenny Gawaday and has like guys who can run in catch. So for everybody that's freaking out, Tom is fine. Tom is good. You know, Mahomes, Rogers, Wilson.

nobody thought Tom Brady is as good as those guys. Nobody thought that. But he lines up with everybody else pretty well, considering all the other top quarterbacks, had the system, had the coordinator, had the preseason, had the camp, had the, you know, they had that experience at least one year last year. By the way, Cam has four touchdowns and nine picks this year. So you go look at Brady's numbers last year.

It's like, wow. If you thought he was washed, go look at his numbers last year and look what Cam's doing. with same coach, same offensive coordinator. Offensive lines actually better. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeart Radio app. We have a little LeBron news. We do.

I love the de-escalation of LeBron announcements. So, Sham Sharania tweeted that LeBron has agreed to a two-year $85 million maximum contract extension with the Lakers. Rich Paul told the athletic that today. Boy, Rich Paul's had a good year. He's making a lot of money. Yes. Very well.

Went from the decision to I'm coming home article to like a tweet statement. And now it's just. Shams. I mean, that's not small, but not quite as dramatic as the decision. Well, it's interesting because it was about five, six years ago. Many people were saying that Kevin Durant was better than LeBron. I didn't buy into it, but Kevin Durant's great. Nobody disputes that.

Probably the second best player in the league if he was healthy, which, you know, you cross your fingers on that. But the difference between LeBron and KD is really that LeBron is strategic and Kevin is impulsive. And it has shaped their career. That's the difference. There's a story out today that Kevin Durant. denies that he had talks with James Harden. Of course he did. Kevin's impulsive.

Kevin once got engaged when asked why he said, quote, because all my friends were doing it. Not wrong with that, but that's impulsive. That would be impulsive. LeBron's moves are always strategic. So he goes to Cleveland, and they cannot get him a second-rate player. And so he's like, I want to win championships. So he strategically goes to Miami and wins championships.

then he's got the titles. Now he was the NBA's villain. He's like, that's not great for my brand. It's not great for my brand. And I want to go home. And for my legacy, they got some pretty interesting pieces. Kyrie Irving can play. So he goes home, wins a championship.

And then nobody in Cleveland at that point burned a jersey when he left because he delivered. Nobody was upset. Everybody, they almost understood, oh, Kyrie's out. He's going to leave. Cleveland understood it. He delivered for it. Then he goes to Los Angeles for a business move and a great brand because he wanted to and it's been brilliant.

TV shows, movies, acceleration of his net worth, a mogul stage, and also it's Los Angeles. It attracts players like Miami that can elevate me as I get older and play less. Everything strategic. LeBron's moves, and I just happen to be friends, pretty good friends with two of LeBron's best friends. And they're very smart guys, everything strategic. Kevin Durant tends to be more impulsive. So Kevin, and by the way, lots of people are impulsive. It doesn't mean Kevin's any less talented, but his moves, he's in Oklahoma City.

And instead of like really being aggressive and going and saying, I'm better than Westbrook, what are we doing here? He's kind of passive aggressive. And he says, I'm leaving. I'm going to go to Golden State. But he went from a ball-centric guard to two guards in Steph and Clay that would take a bunch of shots. And he wanted to be the man, but he went to an organization where he would never be the man. because Steph is the Warriors.

Kevin's more talented at his prime, but Steph is the warrior. And then he leaves and he's, I'm going to go, surprised all of us. Brooklyn. I thought it was going to be the Knicks. And then he goes to Kyrie, who is at best a little flaky, at best. That feels impulsive. So when the James Hardin story came out, I thought, yeah, this is what, this is what, you show me what you are and I believe you.

And that's not a knock. I love watching Kevin Durant. I think he's a remarkable, you know, probably one of the top five or six scores I've ever seen in basketball. He's a seven-footer who can drive past you, put it in the deck, score, post, jam, shoot. He's really unstoppable. I have a buddy Mark few that coaches at Gonzaga,

and he was an assistant coach on an Olympic team one time, and he said, and it's just all great players. He said, when you see Kevin Durant, with all the other great players, you're like, oh, offensively, he's way better than all of them. And it's like Harden and LeBron. it's like Kevin's one of the all-time great offensive players, but he's impulsive. And I do think it will unravel a little bit of his legacy, because I think Brooklyn's going to be at some point a little bit of a mess.

But there is a big distinction between strategic and impulsive. And I always feel with LeBron, he really just, everything's about business. And by the way, he's three for three. Miami worked, Cleveland worked. Lakers is working better than I thought, actually. Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd, Weekdays and noon Eastern. 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, 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 a 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 a here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so you all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack.

So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you finishing that sentence. 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, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we, are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it.

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

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

Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. Let's bring on the voice of college football. Joel Clatt is coming to the show. Fox NFL draft analyst, former Colorado quarterback. What's up, man? How you doing? Sensation. I bet.

I mean, there was a lot of name dropping on that last segment. Boy, did you know he's friends with a Ron's friends, everybody? Is that name-dropping or is that accurate? No, it's not name-dropping at all, Colin. I would do it more. So anyway, so let me just say this. So I have made, I am tired of one argument.

Because I am fact-based and science defender. Oh, it's all I'm about. Here we go. Here we go. If I hear one more time, how can you put a two-loss Georgia team above BYU? Because I have eyes in their way better. Okay. I'm going to consider recruiting.

I'm going to consider the draft. And when year after year, these SEC teams are all top eight in recruiting. And then the NFL draft half the first round is SEC. In a subjective sport, when I have to vote, I'm going to think, well, that team's got 32 NFL guys and BYU has won. Why can I make that? And I'm just, Auburn went nine and four. They beat Bama and Oregon. And they were the fifth place SEC team.

Listen, I mean, I don't think that the SEC is quite as strong this year as they were a year ago. And Auburn's a great point. By the way, is anybody. Big Ten's not either. Yeah, I mean, the Big Ten is down. But you could make an argument that all these teams look down because they haven't had the cupcakes to beat up on. Right? And those records aren't quite as impressive because we're playing conference on the game.

Let me just stop you there. I don't think any conferences is as good. Michigan's a mess. Penn State's the Big Ten's down. Those are, I don't buy Miami Hurricanes. Pack 12. I've seen Oregon play. Sorry, Washington looks small to me. And by the way, Texas ain't working. No, because of Notre Dame's inclusion this year, the ACC is better than it has been in the past. The SEC is top heavy this year with Bama. To your point about Georgia, though, the pushback I would give you is that it can't just be a beauty contest, right?

In the Olympics, we don't just say like, well, you know, this person wins the gold medal because we just know they're better. Why can't it be a beauty contest? Well, because the game has to matter, right? Or else why do we have a score? Well, Georgia doesn't have six losses. They've got two to Bama. And I understand that. But they also have not played dominant football, even in the last couple of weeks.

Everyone's been like, boy, they've been great in the last couple of weeks. I'm like, pump the brakes. You beat a South Carolina team that just fired their coach. You played a former assistant. And Mike Bobo was the interim head coach for the South Carolina Gamecox, who are a terrible team, by the way. You beat Mississippi State by seven. I mean, Mississippi State beat Vandy by seven.

That's a winless team that's hopeless and just fired their coach. I mean, Mississippi just beat Mississippi State by the exact same score, 31-24. So I just think that this notion that Georgia has earned that spot outside of recruiting rankings is false. Now, if you want to include them, that's fine. That's your prerogative. I think that we should not rank teams based on recruiting rankings, and we should rank them based on what happens on the field, or else we don't have any way for teams to earn their way into the conversation.

And I think that you're pointing more of this towards BYU. I feel some animus towards BYU. No, I have. Sure you do. Because you know why you're in the middle of the country and Colin, just likes to go there to ski. True story. Am I wrong?

I like skiing. But BYU, Pro Bowl is beautiful. Oh my gosh, cleanest city in America. There's no doubt about it. I played some minor league baseball there. Beautiful.

And I got some friends there. Yeah. Friends. So what I would say about BYU, though, is you have to keep in mind that this year is so much different because like on BY's U's original schedule, you had Michigan State, Arizona State, you had Stanford, you had Utah.

There are all sorts of Power 5 teams that then pulled themselves off of that schedule. So BYU scrambled to keep the schedule intact at all. But here, hold on. All I'm trying to tell you is the same type of people that are sitting in the committee room telling me that BYU is no good based on their schedule are the same type of people that are preventing BYU

from having a good schedule in the first place, the athletic directors. So I don't want to hold it against these kids who don't make the schedule themselves. Zach Wilson is in the Heisman conversation. He's good. He could be a first round draft pitch, by the way. You want to talk about draft picks and prospects?

How about the best position on the field? Georgia would trade quarterbacks for Zach Wilson in a heartbeat. So this notion that BYU is just not anywhere close to as good as Georgia, I'm not sure if that's the case this year. By the way, in the last two years, BYU has beaten Wisconsin, Tennessee. Tennessee stinks. Fine. They're one of your SEC darlings, though.

They recruit better than BYU. They've recruited in the top 15. But you just told you just told. But you just told me two minutes ago that recruiting is all I need to know. No, I didn't say it's all I need to know. I said it is a strong, I am a strong proponent of looking at who do you have. Now, if Georgia had five losses, I'd be like, get out of here. Oh, so that's what it takes.

Your standard is five losses. You have to have five losses. In the SEC. But no losses for BYU and a schedule that they had to make from the scrap heap is no good. Like, just get out of here. So you're giving BYU credit for games. they didn't play. Like, well, these teams backed out.

Well, that's the brakes. I'm also looking at the games that they did play. And while they're scheduled, not a lot of great teams. I'll be the first to admit this. However, what should a good team or a great team do against bad competition? What should they do?

Beating my 50. Okay, so BYU leads the country in point differential. 33.7, even better than any of the other schools in the country. They're second in the country in yard margin per game. So what are they supposed to? Like, what's Zach Wilson supposed to do? Kalani Sataki.

You tell me. No, I'm not. Just recruit better? No. They need to have the bag man come in. But I'm just wondering, because you're telling me that recruiting matters. So is it all about recruiting? No, it's about 75%.

Okay, so do the games matter at all? 25%. Okay, so if they're only mattering 25%, what are we doing? Why even play the games? Well, for revenue, for big networks. Oh, so it's just about revenue. No, I think the games actually matter. But only 25%.

In a subjective sport. But it's not completely subjected. No, no, no. That's why games matter too. Let's go 50-50. 50 on games, 50 on... So you have to have, you have to win some games. Okay, so in the biggest two games that Georgia played, they got their doors blown off

and their precious defense got hammered by Florida and Alabama. I didn't say Georgia should be in the playoff. I just said they're better than BYU. Well, you were defending their top 10 ranking. Yeah, they're about 10th, 8, 7th. They're better than BYU. You know, if we had... If we actually had math that made sense, see, folks, here's the deal.

Like if you just understand math even basically, you would understand that a 13 variable equation, which is what the committee is, has a high statistical variance of each variable. Okay, so one bias here or there is going to like wildly swing the outcome. Wouldn't you agree with that? Yeah. Okay, in the BCS system, while it only included two teams at the end, you had hundreds if not thousands of inputs, variables. So the statistical variance of those variables was much lower than what we have right now. So I'm supposed to be told that the 13 people in that room know better, even though they're the same type of people that are holding BYU down from a schedule standpoint,

when all the human polls and computer polls that would have been used in the BCS would have put BYU right around 7th or 8th. Okay, let me ask you this. Your kids' college education, BYU, Georgia play tomorrow. Who do you bet on? Georgia's going to blow them out? I don't know if they blow them out. I really don't.

Well, the better quarterback lies on the BYU side. I don't know what I'm going to get from Georgia's quarterback. Who's going to play quarterback? He won't have to. Mathis just transferred. They got the walk-on kid that didn't do much. I don't know. I think if asked where do you put your kids, where do we put our 401Ks?

What would be the Vegas spread? Probably seven. I would say seven. For a drunk handicapper, they're going to blow them out by 20 points. I don't think so. Georgia may win, but the game still have to matter. BYU's done everything asked of them. And the only reason their schedule is composed the way that it is is because of the type of the people

that are sitting in the committee room. I just think you're taking short-sighted. No, no, I think, first of all, I've always argued this. The people in the committee always get ripped. The March Madness people always get ripped. Nothing against Jay Billis. He'd be argued, I can't believe VCU doesn't make the tournament. Listen, these people on these committees, they sit and watch games all weekend.

They give up their social life to watch games. I think they're generally pretty smart. I'm supposed to have empathy for the committee who gets it wrong. but I think they're more right than wrong. The only empathy I have for the committee is the fact that the criteria has never been set in a firm fashion for them. So they're left to their own accord. They're like children playing in a park with no rules.

That's not. They're going to injure themselves. Children. I am pro-committee. I think they buy much. You're pro-committee. You're also just pro-like beauty contest recruiting rankings. Well, I mean, let's face it.

Well, then, guys, Texas hasn't lost their fifth game. And their composite ranking is really. high, they're going to have some draft picks. They should be in the top 10. Colin, you know what? I agree. Let's put Texas in the top 10 everybody. No, no, no, no, because their recruiting rankings have been really good. So they haven't had that fifth, that magical fifth loss that you talked about. So Texas comes in at number eight. My new top 10, Longhorns, number eight. The difference is the Big 12 is a pillow fight. So I don't take a big 12 team like tech. They can't even, they can't recruit their own state. I think, let's shift to Texas here. And the SEC is? Oh, it's great

conference. Oh, it is this year. It is. Like great teams out there. Man, did you see Vandy play last week? They just, they were so good. How about Kentucky? Man, Kentucky is really coming for it. I tell you what, South Carolina too. They just paid $13.5 million for Will Mushchamp not to coach. I can take the bottom of every conference and make fun of it. Can you take these body blows that I'm giving you today, though? I'm really, hey, I'm Roy Jones Jr. I guess. I guess. Listen, if this is a draw, then okay. Okay, go ahead. So let's talk about Texas because I thought Tom Herman, he was aggressive, he could recruit. Urban Meyer, you know, he worked under Urban Meyer hired him, so I know Urban Hires good coaches. And he'd won.

And all of a sudden I watch in Texas. Now, I've had friends who have dealt with him and said he's difficult and prickly. How cool are these friends? Well, I will say this. Let me just say this about Texas is there's no excuse. want to hear this fairness argument to lose to Iowa State. I don't give a rip about Matt Campbell. I mean, but you're bad right now.

Like the games shouldn't matter and we should just be looking at the recruiting rankings. Texas? In that case, let's give Tom an extension. Be honest about Tom. You're disappointed. Tom has underperformed. And I think he would admit that. However, it's also true that they are in better shape than when he got there.

Both of those can be true. That's not me defending. That's not me taking a stance either way. The rub right now with Texas is that they are playing to their level of competition, regardless of what that competition is. And losing. And sometimes they lose those games and sometimes they win those games. So in one year, like a couple of years ago when they beat your precious Georgia team in the Sugar Bowl, they played up and then won those close games. Because in large part, their offensive line played well. They ran the ball well. They did some of those things. Now they make far too many mistakes. Penalties are an issue. They turn the ball over and they don't make critical plays late in the game. And so they play to their level of competition. Then they make those little mistakes.

mistakes and they lose the close games. And I think that's, I mean, that's rubbing a lot of people the wrong way. I thought Tom was going to have to win the rest of his games in order to stay. I don't know this to be fact, but I just, I know that there's a lot of animus, and I do believe that there is momentum to change down there. Now, who they're going to get, I'm not quite sure. How many years he'd been there? This is his fourth year, if I'm not mistaken. Yeah, that's a lot of years. It's enough. It's enough years. That's right. That's fair. In particular, to beat an Iowa State team. Even if Iowa State is playing really well.

And Matt Campbell's done a great job. By the way, Matt Campbell, probably the best candidate out there in college football. Yes, I agree. They're fun to watch. I've watched them actually last couple years, about twice a year. They're clever. Breece Hall, their running back, stated it this way.

He said, five-star culture beats five-star players, you know. But that flies in the face of every argument you've made here today. By the way, snarky guy. Oh, he doesn't like it when I come in here. You realize if you took Clemson out, just take Clemson. one program in the country at Clemson. FCC wins the championship every year. Yeah, I mean, listen, but you're never going to get me to say that the SEC's not the best

conference. But that doesn't mean that we shouldn't allow games to matter, right? I do, 50%. That's my thing. They matter 50%. I mean, that's just, that's assonine. You can't say that. 50%.

All right, the games have to matter. You're right. You're right. 58%. Oh, man. You're asked, because all these teams outside of Bama was lose. Well, Bama is the best. team. By the way, we might be arguing just total moot points because Bama is right now, easily. Far and away the best team in college football. I mean, we thought they were, they blow out

Auburn. It's like it didn't even physically competitive. It's like, okay. No, it's just. By the way, Mack Jones, I think he's played himself in the first round in the Heisman conversation. Watch out for Mack Jones. I told you all the way back at the beginning of the season, Mac could have a Joe Burrow type year. And while he's not going to be the number one pick, and he's certainly not Joe Burrow, I'm just saying like, here's a guy that before the season, you'd be like, oh, yeah, Bama's got that kid. at quarterback. Mack Jones is going to be. What's his strength? What's his strength? Three things. He prepares incredibly well so he understands defense. Right. And you can tell his

audibles that he makes, his adjustments on the field, where the football goes. His anticipation, that's number two, and then his accuracy down the field. He throws a beautiful deep ball. And granted, he's thrown to great players, but I will tell you, he throws a beautiful deep. That ball hung in the air. That wasn't a great throw. Oh, my goodness. What are we doing? I'll get guys wide open. Oh, look at that. In stride over the outside shoulder against your precious Georgia team. Isn't Georgia the best team? the country? Let me see this one. Let me see this one. Oh, I mean, come on, guys. Oh, you underthrew that

one, by the way. What are you talking about underthru it? Where was the defense? By the defense wasn't there. This is his highlight reel. That one's great. How about that? In stride. Wide open. How many times do you see that? Don't see that in the NFL, unless you're playing the Jags. Here's another one. Let's see it. Let's see it. Let's see it. Let's see it. Let's see it. Get some to bite.

Oh, boom. Browse him right back in. Wide open by 10 strides. It wasn't wide open by 10 strides. This is his highlight reel. These should be per. Let me see. Oh, geez. guy within a football field. You know why? Do you know why? Okay.

Okay, folks, if you don't see this playing on FS1 right now, that wasn't a fake RPO. Okay, so he gives the play fake and then he gives a huge pump fake to fake the slant pass to Devante Smith. Guess what that detail-oriented football does? Fake and then boom, a big pump fake, not just with his shoulders, but with his arm as well. The safety bites up. You know why Devante Smith was wide open by 10 yards because of the detail of the quarterback position? Oh, my God.

This is nonsense. sense. All right. I want a bet right now. I want whatever you want. Fox bet, let's go. That Mac Jones is drafted in the first round. Oh, he will be. No question. Well, then what's your problem? I thought that's all that matters. No, I don't buy into it. You're recruiting in first round draft picks and now you're changing

your tune. I can't follow this. The inconsistencies run rampant. I have to put a wet blanket on some of you hypemasters out there. This is America's honesty broker. Joy as a witness. All right. I got to move on. I got big stories to break. We got a lot of stuff.

Joy has got a whopper of a story coming up. Joy, great to see you. You too, Joel. I actually thought you explained the math part of the conversation very well. Thank you, Joe. I love bringing guests on who talk. Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends.

Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel. Help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged.

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You're listening to Learn the Hard Way with your favorite therapist and hosts Kear Games. This space is about black men's experiences, having honest conversations that it's really not safe to have anywhere, but you're having them with a licensed professional who knows what he's doing. How many men carry a source? to the armor. It signals to the world that you not to be played with. And just because you have the capability that does not mean that you need to, listen to learn the hard way on the IHard radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. 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, my basketball

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