The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 12/28/2020 - Best of The Herd

Episode Date: December 28, 2020

After the Packers dominating win over the Titans, Colin explains why this win meant more for the front office in Green Bay than just the standings. Colin dives in on where he was right and where he was wrong after another week in the NFL and start of the NBA season. He also talks to Super Bowl champion Trent Dilfer about the Packers win over the Titans and Lamar Jackson’s red hot December.  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 Podcast, 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 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 Heard. This is the best of the heard. heard with Colin Cowher on Fox Sports Radio.

Ah, here we go. It's a holiday week, holiday Monday, live in Los Angeles. This is the hurt, wherever you may be and however you may be listening. Fox Sports Radio, Iheart Radio, right here in FS1, one hour from now, where Colin was right, where Colin was wrong, yes, I had a little ski accident. I've got a busted-up rib. No big deal. Searing pain. Don't want to talk about it.

Joy Taylor, how are you? Great. So other than the rib incident, you had a good Christmas? Had a good Christmas. A lot of kids, a lot of skiing, a lot of falling. A lot of food. And that's kind of where we are on a Monday. So it's all kind of getting sorted out today. I'm not a big award person. You know that. We don't talk about that much. But I do think most valuable player in the NFL is worthy of discussion.

I think it's Aaron Rogers. Let's stop arguing. Mahomes, frankly, has not even had a lot of. a good December. Mahomes has more to work with. Aaron deserves the MVP. He's been absolutely magnificent. But Aaron's not the one who really won last night. Aaron wins all the time. He's good looking. He's rich. He's got a Super Bowl. Aaron's life. He wakes up. He's winning. Who won last night was the Green Bay front office. Think about it. They draft Jordan Love. And they said, many reports well documented. It was to push Aaron Rogers. Oh, he said his best season ever. They draft A.J. Dillon because their two backs are going to be free agents.

We all questioned it. Oh, he was really good last night. You watch him and you think, oh, ho, ho. They got a big East Coast running back is going to be good in that snow. Matt LaFleur is a head coach is now 25 and 6. They signed Aaron to an extension a couple of years ago. The cap hits 21 million for the league's most valuable player. And the last couple of free agent signings have done really, really well. Last two years, they went out and got Preston Smith. Zaria Smith, Christian Kirksey, and they've all been terrific.

Green Bay's front office won last night. And we'll kind of roll our eyes. You know, they go to bed in their khakis. They live below their means. They drive a used car. In fact, they go to the car lot, and they buy a used car. And they don't spend their money, and they work hard, and there's that small town feel and ethos.

And this morning, they were right. They got the coach right. They got the quarterback contract right. they don't go big and free agency, but they go smart. The draft picks look like they work. We argued all off-season. I certainly did. I said, this is the fighter that you put in the octagon.

He's got no interest and taking a shot. Last night, they faced one of the NFL's most physical teams, and they ran the football, and they stopped the run, and they played great. This morning, the front office of Green Bay, coastal elites rolling their eyes at their khakis. They were right. Coach is right. Quarterback contract right. Second round pick is right.

Free agent dabbling's right. They were right. And by the way, they're not overly reliant on Aaron Rogers. What are you saying? He's only 12th in attempts. So in the offseason, they got Jordan Love to kind of push Aaron

and they wanted to be more physical, meaning they saw what San Francisco did to him. They didn't want to be reliant on Aaron throwing 45, 55 times a game. He is 12th in the NFL in attempts. They're balanced, they're physical, this morning they look smart, and they're absolutely for all the eye rollers, and I'm one of them. Check, check, check, check.

They're one of a handful of teams that should win the Super Bowl, and it's going to go through Lambo. And it's been remarkable through the years how few times Aaron Rogers, and Brett Farr get home playoff games. They should play them every year, right? Congratulations. Here's Aaron feeling himself, and he deserves it. We had an opportunity to be in prime time.

I guess a really good opponent. You know, I think we've all heard about the conversation about us not being enough good teams and, you know, not responding and playing a complete game. And this was our response. I feel good about where we're at. It's tough to play in the cold. It's tough to play in Lambo.

I think we proved that tonight. They did. They got it right. The draft picks, the free agents, the quarterback contract, the head coach, the front office, keep wearing those khakis to bed. You were right. The critics, myself included, were wrong. I want to talk about Baker Mayfield.

Oh, you knew I would. So when Baker Mayfield was drafted and Sam Darnel was drafted, I had said I didn't like Baker's personality. I thought he would be a franchise quarterback. I thought he was overvalued. valued for a number one pick. I thought Sam was a bigger, stronger, more athletic, more mature guy. But over the course of their careers, it's been difficult for both. They've gone through some dysfunction. Okay, both have gone through a lot of dysfunction. They've gone through multiple

head coaches. But the difference is, is Baker Mayfield had a very aggressive front office. They got him OBJ. They got him Jarvis Landry. They've gone out and got him really good offensive linemen. They have spent money and mostly on offense. They don't spend money on the back end of their defense. That's all cheap draft picks. They put their money behind him. And Sam Darnold, well, all their good players are mostly on defense. And many of you have said, Colin, you were wrong. Sam Darnold is just no good in Baker's great. Well, isn't it interesting? What happened to Baker Mayfield yesterday? Oh, nothing. What happened to Baker Mayfield yesterday was Sam Darnold's reality for three years. Oh, the Cleveland

offensive line went from the best graded offensive line in the NFL. to missing two of its best starters. It was just average. The running game, like Sam Darnold, he didn't have any. Wide receivers, top three or four or out. Yeah, that's sort of what happened to Sam Darnold's first three years. Sam Darnold's career has been no run game, bottom five offensive line,

and a wide receiving core that's hurt. COVID can't play. Missing an action, no show. That's what Cleveland was yesterday. And it's funny how completely mediocre Baker Mayfield was. Three fumbles, lost of the Jets, a passer rating in the 60s, 53% completion percentage, and the fewest points scored on the Jets all year. This is not to take a shot at Baker Mayfield.

It is the reality of the NFL. There are, and I really believe this, there are only two quarterbacks in the NFL, maybe three, that can carry a bunch of meh. Aaron Rogers, Russell Wilson, and I still think Tom Brady can do it on some Sundays. What about Deshaun Watson? He's 4 and 11. I mean, that's what he is right now.

Well, what about Mahomes? What about him? He's had a bad December with a loaded roster in the smartest offensive coach in the game. What about Drew Brees? Can't throw over the top. What about Big Ben? Did you watch Sunday? Outside of Aaron Rogers and Russell Wilson, who just make me work almost.

every Sunday. And I think Brady's way closer to that than anybody wants to admit. This league is about what you're surrounded by. Justin Herbert can't mostly overcome a coach who's solid but not special. Baker yesterday or Sam most of his career can't overcome a bad receiving core and an offensive line missing two of its best players. Deshawn Watson can't save his team every Sunday. At some point you need help. There's about three to four guys in the world that are great at quarterback. Everybody else that's close to that is good with an occasional great Sunday, based on who's available to play alongside them.

What happened to Baker yesterday was nothing. It's what's known as Sam Darnold's reality. One of them has had really nice help. One's had none. Yesterday, it was actually Sam who had the healthier receiving corps. and the better defense. And actually, I thought the better play calling. Why did Baker throw it so many times?

Here's Baker after. Plain and simple, I failed this team. I put three balls on the ground. Two of them that, you know, they recovered. And then the other that on the fourth down, obviously, need to just hold on to the damn ball. This one's on me, but here's the thing. This one's going to sting for a day or two.

But we have the Steelers to win and get in. Here's why I love the NFL. I won't spend too much time. I'll talk about this later. So we're going into week 17 in the NFL. 11 teams this morning. A third of the league has no idea if they're in or out of the playoffs. This is only one team in the NFL this morning, as far as I can tell, Kansas City knows exactly they'll be, they have a buy.

It's just, it's the gift that keeps on giving. You have very few teams, and I'll get into this next hour, that I think can win a Super Bowl. I think it's down to five. I think there's nine teams with the potential to win one playoff game, Baltimore maybe two. But just think about this. We go through this entire season. It's been, I mean, the weather, you start in September, and it's 85 degrees, 90 degrees of the game, your battle in COVID, you get your buys, you have injuries.

We go to week 17. and 11 of these teams don't know. You get a call this morning. Are you guys in the playoffs? I don't know. We got one more game. I have no idea. What are your travel plans in the off season?

Really, I have no idea. I have to wait until next Sunday. You can't script how great this league is. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. On Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeart Radio app. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque.

Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the 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'll say. 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 Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tapped Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking.

What the hell does George Bush got to do 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 y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you for finishing that sentence. 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 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, Tript 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, our heart radio app. Search learn the hard way and listen now. So here we go. Colin Wright, Colin Wrong in a Monday. Where Colin was right.

I said a month ago, maybe longer than that, I said, keep your eye on Seattle's defense. I think Carlos Dunlap is actually, and the return of Jamal Adams, is going to solve their huge problem. They were a really good team with no pass rush. And now, arguably, first or second best pass rush in the league, only team this year that's held the Rams without a touchdown,

The defensive line, as we predicted a month ago, the young players are starting to gel. Dunlap's got four and a half sacks in seven games. And we kind of called this. We said most times you have a real weakness. You can't solve it in season. But we said the Dunlap move, Jamal coming back, and there's a couple of emerging young players. We think that defensive line, they're going to figure this out in season and they have. Where Colin was wrong.

I only did Blazing 4 this week and I did it on Twitter only, but I've got to own up to But Jacksonville, Colts, Rams did me wrong. Thank God for the Dallas Cowboys. I'm 38, 39, and 2 on the year. So I need to have a winning week for a winning season, never had a losing season, ever doing Blazing 5. Cross my fingers. Where Colin was right?

I said with Tua. I had this concern about Tua. I said, I know he's smart and he's steady, and he's got the right temperament, and he's accurate. I said, but I don't see a ton of special. And now he's been benched twice, and I think what worries me most of all, He's last in the league in like yards per attempt or yards per game.

He's averaging, I mean, he went three straight, three and out against the Raiders after half. You just can't do that. The Raiders are a bad defensive team. And I think what I see with Tua, with Joe Burrow, I see there's a certain cool, calm. He can move around. With Herbert, it's the arm. With Josh Allen, size an arm. With Lamar, it's the athletic ability.

I don't see a lot of special. I just see a grown-up, accurate, adult can handle. the NFL, but there is, I'm kind of waiting for the it, and I've yet to see the it. Where Colin was wrong. I thought Tennessee was another physical team that would walk into Lambo and push the Packers around, and they did not. Derek Henry was mostly corralled. A.J. Dillon, actually, it was the big Packerback that had two touchdowns and 124 yards. I thought they played a game. I wasn't sure the Packers were capable of playing, which is,

you know, Tennessee because kind of wins ugly and their physical and a big running plays. And the biggest running play was Ryan Tannahill on a keeper. So I thought the Packers, it's not that they won, it's how they won. It was physical December football and they were the tougher, more physical team. Where Colin was right? Said a month ago, watch Kansas City play. Something's not right. Last seven games.

They're giving up 25 a game. Their point differential shrinking. Their turnover differential is now negative. This is not the best team in the league right now. Remember, they were 7 and 4 week 11 last year, and then they got hot. But if you've watched this team for the last month, there's this sense that we have to anoint them a dynasty. They've won one trophy.

They trailed the Niners in the fourth quarter. Patrick Mahomes has an 89 passer rating in December. They have the worst red zone defense in the NFL. and Atlanta outplayed them for most of yesterday. The Chiefs are vulnerable, and they are, I don't care what their record is. They're not the best team in the league right now. Where Colin was wrong. I can't even explain the Chicago Bears.

Mitch Trubisky is on fire. In the last three games, he's completing 71% of his throws. His quarterback rating is 108. They've scored 36, 33, and 41. and I said a month ago, I'm not sure Matt and Aggie makes it through the season. Give the coaching staff credit. They have rebooted it. They're absolutely playing to Mitch Tribusky's strengths, which is short passing, move the pocket,

let him roll, let him be athletic. It absolutely can win games in this league. There's a little Jalen hurts to him where I don't think he's a great thrower, but he can make plays, he moves the chains. and if you give him the right coach at Jalen Hertz or a Mitch Trebisky, sometimes you can struggle to get him off the field because he gets in matchups, roll in the pocket.

And I thought this team was dead, buried, GM, head coach, quarterback toast, and they are right now outside of Baltimore, maybe the hottest team in the league. Where Colin was right? Urban Meyer, according to various reports, NFL teams are now interested. This has been something I've been on for about a year. How come you keep hiring all these Cliff Kingsbury

who had a losing record, and Urban Meyer never gets a phone call. He's the second best college coach of my life behind Nick Saban. Super smart, high-functioning, knows personnel really well, and also as an offensive kind of guru that kind of created his own way to see the world offensively. He is the NFL.

Remember how good Pete Carroll was when he walked into the NFL out of college because he knew all the recruits? Urban Meyer, the first two or three drafts, if you have Urban Meyer, he's going to nail the drafts. Nobody knows college national recruiting like Urban Meyer. Finally, teams are waking up. Where Colin was wrong. The Dallas Cowboys, they've won three straight. They looked organized.

I thought, you know, I've always, you know, Andy Dalton got way too much heat early. But since the by, they've looked like they've been well coached. Now, their defense isn't very good, but I thought they made excellent adjustments yesterday. Jalen Hertz had a couple of nice series. After that, Philadelphia only scored three points. They can still make the playoffs. I don't think they can win a playoff game, but let's be honest about this. They get deck back.

They're going to be better at quarterback. Dalton will be one of the best backup quarterbacks. I still think they should move a wide receiver and get defensive help. But this morning, you can say it. They've got a little bit of an offensive identity, and it looks as though they're at least capable of making in-game adjustments, which is a start. And not every team does that.

Not every playoff team's great at that. Dallas now looks well coached. Where Colin was right? I said after the playoff loss for the Clippers, if you don't trade Paul George, you're going to have the same issues. He's not a franchise guy. He's just a really talented basketball player. Yesterday, Kauai is out.

Clippers lose by 51. worst half-time deficit in NBA history. Afterwards, Paul George said, no big deal. It is a big deal. It's a big deal because Kauai Leonard needs a Robin to his Batman. And once again, Kauai's out and you don't have your franchise guy that you're paying franchise money to to step up. Paul George is a nice guy and he's a nice player.

But when you pay them that extension, this is what you're going to get. Questions if Kauai Leonard is not available. Where Colin was wrong. When everybody said Tom Brady was washed, I said, no, he'll probably be Matt Ryan. Yeah, my bad, I was wrong. He's Aaron Rogers. Tom Brady is going to shatter, shatter my expectations. Last three games, eight touchdowns, no picks.

Right now in the year, he's got 101 passer rating, a 66% percent. completion percentage, 36 touchdowns and 11 picks. He had a perfect passer rating against Detroit. I'm being a little sarcastic here because you all said he was washed. And I said he's not washed. He's going to be Matt Ryan. And by the way, Matt Ryan has been a top 10 quarterback in the league for the last decade. Brady is blowing through all the recommendations or all the predictions.

Let me add this. So a couple of the NFL people I know, like Tanaels had a very good year, and Aaron's had a great year, and a lot of the veteran quarterbacks, Derek Carr's mostly, you know, he's had a good year, and Brady's having an incredible year. One of the things that's not getting talked about

for these veteran quarterbacks, it's the quietest year ever. There's no fans. And so for these Matt Ryan's and these Rogers and these Brady's and these veteran guys who have been around forever, it is much easier to operate at the line of scrimmage. Now, it's obviously easy for everybody,

but if you've been in the league 10, 12, like Philip Rivers, it's had a much better year than we thought. Brady's had a much better year than we thought. A lot of talk in the NFL is that the lack of crowd noise at these games is such an advantage for veteran quarterbacks. I mean, Ryan Tannahills putting up, he didn't play well yesterday. He's putting up huge numbers. So some of this is just COVID.

has a little benefit, and that is nobody in the stands. There are no real road games. You know, it's just veteran quarterback who's seen everything, heard everything, playing in utter silence. It's like practice. Brady looked like against Detroit, practice. That's what he looked like. It was seven-on-seven

drills. Trent Delfer is around the corner on A. Monday. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. 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. Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined.

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

you need to be. Listen to the Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tapped Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do 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 is big to me, not just because. of crack.

I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you for finishing that sentence. 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 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.

Tript 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, as we have real conversations about healing,

growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free, our heart radio app. Search learn the hard way and listen now. Trent Dilfer's joining me, 15 years in the NFL, a decade and a half. A Super Bowl and a head football coach in Nashville, the University of the Academy. You shaved your beard, by the way. You don't look like a man lost in the mountains anymore.

So congratulations on that as you're hanging out in your summer home and your winter home, I guess, in Lake Tahoe. Let me start with the Packers. You know, sometimes wins are wins, and sometimes they mean more. and I did think in the building, a lot of my eye rolling at the Packers between the draft, the running back in the second round, and who's Matt Lafleur, he'd been a quarterback, and, you know, they never spend money on free agency, and I look up this morning, I'm like, well, they kind of answered,

they were kind of right on everything, right? Like, I thought it was kind of a, it was a good foundational, organizational win. It said a lot of things about them, I thought last night. I'd agree with that, and I think they won on their terms. You know, they want to get the lead early, protect that defense. They want to be balanced. I think that's what Matt LaFleur has done the best job with with this offense is the ability to spread you out, quick game, tighten you up, run game,

play action. I think that first drive, they had four runs, four passes. You know, this is a football team that Aaron makes everybody better. And if you put Aaron in a position where he can operate at a high level early on, spread the ball around, have the freedom of a run game to accept the play action pass. They get a couple's core lead. Then the defense plays better than its talent. I'm still not totally sold on them of finishing this race and winning a Super Bowl because of the defense. But if they can

play on their terms like they did last night, then they're going to be tough to beat Lambo. You know, it's funny. I was looking up a number this morning. Let me look at this real quick. It was Lamar Jackson. And, you know, I've come, you told me this years ago, there's a lot of different ways to win in this league. And Lamar Jackson

in the last month has 117 passer rating. And for his career, it's over 100. And I keep hearing he can't throw. And I say, listen, it's not always the most beautiful thing. But I do see touch. I do see him coming out of halftime, second half and making adjustments. I know it's not going to win any beauty contest, but I watch him, Trent. He wins. He's a hard matchup. I think he throws good enough when you consider the other elements, doesn't he? I agree. I've always said this about him. He throws it actually. pretty darn well in between the hashes.

For all the reasons you're saying, he can change speeds on the ball, he can change trajectory on the ball. He anticipates well in the middle of the football field. And he gets some open looks in the middle of football field because he's so dynamic as a runner because his running game supports that so well. Where he struggles outside the numbers, you know, when you get those isolation throws out on the boundary versus tight coverage. But guess what?

Soon who 20 quarterbacks in the NFL? There's very few that can anticipate well versus tight coverage. and throw people open outside. This is a guy that, and here's what I like the most about the Ravens. They've identified his DNA, what he does best. Obviously, handling a very complex run game, him running the football, him being a threat in the run game, and then him dominating in between the hashes as a passer.

They don't try to do anything else. And that's why he's been playing so well the last month or so. I have them as one of the few teams the NFC that can beat the Chiefs and get to the Super Bowl because they've found their identity and they're calling plays that Lamar does best. You know, I'm watching the Seahawks Rams game yesterday and

you know, I've watched every Rams snap because I'm in Los Angeles. This year we didn't see their preseason games, but their games all kind of look the same. You know, it's a lot of this counter stuff. The offense doesn't change a lot and I look at it and I think, okay,

so you are what you are and I get it. But when I watch Jared Goff, here's my big issue, is that if he is off, if you move him out of what he had at the line of scrimmage, if you ask him to add lib, the accuracy goes, now he's having a confidence issue, the ball doesn't come out good. And I look at myself and I know he's won games, but I look at myself and I see McVeigh's body language and I hear him,

and I don't know if McVey and Goff, is it maybe Goff the wrong quarterback for McVe's offense? I don't know. They've been pretty successful. I agree that Jared has to play the game a certain way. He needs to play on time. The longer the play develops inside the pocket, the worse he gets. He tends to be better in the play action game. He struggles in the drop-back game. The only thing that doesn't fit completely is they boot so often. They make it in boost. So they change the launch point so often. And Jared's not the most athletic guy. And one of the things, advantages of changing the launch point and getting outside the pocket is if your receivers aren't open, is having a mobile quarterback that could then go attack the line of scrimmage as a runner. Steve Young, think of Steve Young. They did a ton of naked and boots with Steve Young. It wasn't there. Boom. He's using his feet and he's getting you eight to 15 yards of offense. That's the only mix. It's the only fit part that I don't see. I do think Jared does a great job the line of

scrimmage, handling the run game, handling all the checks. I think Jared's a good football player. Is he great? No, but I think he's very good, and he has the ability, if they stick with him, to be even more successful than he's been to this point. So what are we to do with the Tua benching? I mean, Brian Flores, I guess at some point you're paid to be a therapist when you're a head football coach. What do you make of the benching? What does it mean? Well, I think this was one of the few head coaches and get away with it. He's pushed all the right buttons this season.

I thought Fitzpatrick said something really interesting. I don't know if this got any carry-on media, but in one of his quotes, he said, this is the one coach I can see doing this because he communicates so well Monday through Saturday. And I think that's a big piece of this, is what Brian Flores is telling these quarterbacks during the week, how honest he's being with them,

the expectations for you to. Hey, Tua, you do A, B, and C, and you're the guy. But as soon as you don't do one of those things, we got a pretty good reliever. We're going to bring in who I know we'll do those. things. And as long as you're honest and transparent with the quarterbacks going in, then I think they can live with it. You also have two pretty unselfish guys here too. You have a unique room. And I thought the announcing crew did a good job. I think it was Kurt Warner

talking about that dynamic, how these two have really like a big brother, little brother relationship. I was in a very good room like this with Matthew Hasselback in Seattle. When the two guys really respect each other, they really have a bond and they're in it for the greater good of the team. They're for something bigger than themselves. Then I think you can make these decisions. If there's animosity between the two players, if one player is a very selfish player, if he's doing stuff behind the scenes, then you can't do this stuff. So I think Brian Flores has pushed all the right buttons. He's been honest with them and you have two unique, selfless people you're dealing with. So, you know, we know Kansas City's good, but it's funny. Mahomes is

passerating in December's in the 80s. And, you know, Mike Vick came on earlier and he said, I think Andy's experimenting a little bit, like finding out what they're not good at and finding it what they are. I guess you can do that when you're them. But boy, Trent, it's hard for me in the NFL to watch a team struggle in December and think, oh, here comes Buffalo, they'll be fine. Isn't there a little concern with how Kansas City is playing despite winning? Normally, I would say yes.

I think they're an aberration to a certain degree. They're just different than everybody else. Their floor is so much higher than everybody else's. Andy knows they can play, they can play sea level, just middling football and still beat people. They played really well defensively. They made plays when they had to. I think the one thing he has in his back pocket, he was, you know, his running backs were banged up. I think the thing he has in his back pocket is we can get into the playoffs and we can run the rock.

we can play action pass and we can make big plays. And they didn't do any of those things last couple weeks, but that's what playoff football is. He knows you can get into the playoffs. He still has the magic of Mahomes. The dynamic playmakers everywhere, they're coming out of their ears, but he'll get back into the playoffs.

They're going to run the rock at a higher level. They're going to play action pass off of that. When they play action pass off of it, you're going to see home run shots, and they know they can trust the quarterback on third down to convert long-yard situation and keep drives a long- life. I still as bad as they're playing. I agree they're not playing well. I think they're by far the favorite to win the Super Bowl. Finally, you played 15, 14, 15 years in this league, and

there's one or two things that are really hard. I said this with Seattle. It's almost impossible to have a weakness and in-season make it a strength. Seattle's pass rush, Dunlap, Jamal Adams, good coaching. They've done it. I also think it's hard when you lose, you can lose a game, but not the locker room. to kind of lose the locker room, have a buy like the Cowboys come out, and it's like you're limited, but you're not a bad football team anymore. And I think Mike McCarthy did what's really hard is that you kind of reboot or re-engineer the locker room during the buy, and they have limitations, Trent. But, you know, they play hard now.

They didn't look like they played hard in September. That's what I see with the Cowboys now, not just winning, but the way they're playing. What do you see? I agree. I tip my hat to Coach McCarthy and the entire staff, the entire building, because it takes the entire building. It's not just the head coach and some speech he gives. Frankly, when the head coach gives those speeches in a tough situation, because I've been on those teams, you kind of roll your eyes. But on the whole building, when everybody says, hey, let's buy in, let's change. If you don't like the way things are going, change the way you do things. And let's really have a higher accountability. Let's play for a purpose bigger than ourselves. Let's make sure we all finish. this race strong, then you can have change. And I think that's what the Cowboys have done.

I give Coach McCarthy that staff, the players, the veteran leadership, other people in that building a lot of credit for how they've been able to turn this thing around because it did. It was one of the few times it looked like a team just didn't care early in the year. And now it looks like they really care. There's a passion. And I still don't think they're very good, but there's a passion and an energy and a juice to them. Like it's a complete 180. from what they were the first half of the season. I mean, listen, Trent, the Bears were on a six-game losing streak. They were awful.

And I watched the Bears first half against the – I watched them last two weeks, and I'm like, you've got to give the coaching staff credit. Like, it is – you can lose locker rooms in this. You've been in a locker room probably before, but you just lose the guys in the last month. Here's the difference. You know, about six, seven years ago, the league changed and became significantly younger. All those old six, seven, eight, nine, ten-year vets. that used to make up the core of your roster are now first, second, third year guys.

Well, in the old days, the olden days when your team was veteran late and you went through a tough time, vets had the ability just to cash it in. Pack up the U-Hauls, let's get into the offseason, I'm too big for this. Well, now you have more of a college vibe in the NFL. And if you get an organization that can create that college enthusiasm, that college energy, that inspiration, younger kids tend to buy into that more than older grizzly vets.

And I think that's where you're able to see the bears, the Cowboys, other teams make these mid-season adjustments because you're doing with a younger, more impressionable player that's willing to listen, that's willing to change instead of the grumpy old man, it's like, I'm done with this, I'm packing the U-Ha, I'm taking the kids to Hawaii

as soon as this thing's over. That was really smart. That's really thoughtful. Well, we knew it. And congratulations, The beard. I can see your face now. I couldn't in November. So it's a win for all of us, Trent. Thank you. It was my Christmas present to my wife. She was not real happy with the whole beard. All right, buddy. We'll talk soon, Trent Dilfer. Here's Joy Taylor with the news. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. Well, not terribly surprising, but Washington has released Dwayne Haskins.

This just didn't go well. No. Move comes after he was benched in yesterday's 20 to 13 loss to the Panthers. he completed 14 of 28 passes for 154 yards and two interceptions and a fumble before being taken out in the fourth quarter. In a statement release this morning, Ron Rivera, thanked Haskins for his contributions to the team over the last two seasons and says he believes it will benefit both sides to go their separate ways. You know what? If you just didn't know about anything other than watch him drop back and throw the ball, you would say that's a successful guy. He's big, he's strong, he can throw an accurate. He has a beautiful release. When he completes balls, you're like, oh, it's beautiful.

He looks like a number one quarterback, but the concern out of Ohio State was always maturity. Even Urban Meyer came on this show and said he's not quite ready to be a franchise quarterback, but unfortunately in pro sports, you are go. This is the Baker issue. This was the Johnny Mansell where there's something there, but you're asking a 22-year-old to run a $5 billion franchise, and some guys are just not ready for it. No, they're not.

I'm very pro player. I try to be gracious with people. I try to think, what was I doing at 22? Would I be capable of doing this? And the answer is no, but I also wasn't in a space of that level of responsibility at 22 either. And more and more, you know, you have young athletes going through camps. They are working with people like Jordan Palmer. Like, you have a lot of mentors.

The league has done a really great job with rookie symposies. partnering guys with older vets to bring them into the league. You can even prepare now for the Wonderlich. It used to be just you took it. Now you can prepare for it. Prepare for everything. There's really, it's an academy. There's the football academy in America.

So you try to weed all this stuff out. So when you get the job, you're ready to go. He's just, he's not a rookie. Last year, the selfie thing, it was ridiculous. I wasn't outraged by it. It takes a lot for me to get outraged. it was just like, what are you doing? Like, this is silliness, and it's not a good look,

and you have to be aware of what's going on in the game. And to me, like, if you're not on a level where you're proven and you're a winner and what you do on the field cannot be questioned, you shouldn't even be paying attention to any of those other things. I'm not going to be in the gym every single day, no. But when you're on the field, you should be aware of what's going on.

Like, you can't be taking a selfie when the game is not over. And obviously, we know what happens. He goes to a party with his girlfriend, it's a girlfriend's birthday party, whatever. I don't care about the dancers or whatever. That's nothing to do with it. In 2020, every single person on planet Earth is aware of what's going on and what the repercussions of being around other people are.

Now, if you're an NFL football player, it's a bit heightened because not everyone on planet Earth has been tested every single day and has to go through COVID protocols to walk through the door and has to come in on their off day to get tested and has to wear contact tracers. Everybody's not doing that. So you can't be unaware of where you're supposed to be. It's too much. This is a franchise that is going through a lot behind the scenes.

They cannot afford any other PR situations. Rom Avera is a no-nonsense guy. You're just not going to get this grace on top of the fact that you're not playing well. Yeah, not going to happen. Now, is he going to end up somewhere else? Maybe. But if he doesn't, I wouldn't be surprised, he's had some chances. Yeah.

I mean, this is why GMs, why guys like me come out and are critical of Johnny Mansell. Baker or James Winston about judgment because by the time you get to the NFL, they're not going to be patient. Like literally, they almost cut him before the game Sunday. Peter Schrager reported that after that incident with the dancers, like half the building, they were raising hands, voted and like, let's get out of here. I was, I mean, obviously, Alex Smith is injured and Ron Rivera owes it to the other guys on the team to put the best player out there to give them an opportunity to make it to the playoffs,

because despite the fact that obviously Dwayne Haskins doesn't care about that, the rest of the guys do, and they deserve an opportunity to go to the postseason. So I think that's what it ended up coming down to. Now Taylor Hineke is going to get the start next week. But if I was wrong Rivera, there's no way he would see the field again. But I really think he weighed, well, I think Haskins is better than Hineke, and I owe it to the rest of the team to give us the best opportunity to win. That's what I think it came down to.

But I'm not surprised by this at all. I would have not let him see the field. I heard things a year ago from somebody that works at Fogg, There were a lot of problems that he was not showing up on time, that he was leaving the building early. So this is one of these things where if you've been working in our business for long enough, you have enough sources. You were hearing stuff last year. Like even in preseason, people were just saying, man, he's not as committed as you'd love a rookie to be. So, you know, I don't think the ending here is shocking to people that are well connected in the NFL.

There's a lot of things that can be out of your control. You can go to an organization that's dysfunctional. Yes. You can lose players. to injury. Bad head coach can get fired. I mean, look at Deshawn Watson, what he's had to deal with in his career.

The things that are within your control, being on time, not going to parties during a global pandemic, things like that, you need to take care of. So the chiefs held on to beat the Falcons in a close 17 to 14 game. Atlanta gave Kansas City's offense and problems, holding them to fewer than 20 points

for the first time this season. The Falcons had a chance to send it to overtime, but Young Way Koo missed a 39-yard field goal at the end of the game. I'm not laughing. You know, this is, of course, what happened. That Atlanta outplayed them. Atlanta had a lead, lost it.

Like Atlanta does, valiantly move the ball down the field with a chance to tie it. And then it would have been any other team in the league after Kansas City scores, three and out, four and out game over. No, Atlanta drove all the way down the field to win the game and whiffed. That, of course, Atlanta did that. This is, of course, what happened. God. I just feel, I honestly feel bad for Falcons fans.

Like, how can you expect any other outcome at this? No, I live. And every game. I live in Los Angeles. Atlanta is the Chargers South. Yeah. This is what, like, at some point structurally in the organization, it's not a coincidence. Why Atlanta and the Chargers.

Now, Chargers actually almost gave yesterday's game up. But this, when I was watching this game, I'm like, it wasn't just that Kansas City took the lead late. It was that Atlanta tortured its fans by, by the way, Matt Ryan had four or five big throws up the side. And you're like, Oh, they're going to win the game. And he's a great kicker, too. It's wild. Well, the Chiefs clinched the top seat in the AFC with the win,

and they will get the only buy in the conference. Patrick Mahomes was 24-44-278 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Travis Kelsey had a big game. He set the record for the most receiving yards in a season by a tight end with 1,416, a record previously held by George Kittle. He also became the first tight end to have two 100 catch seasons. So a star for them.

obviously. But look, they got the buy, so they're happy. Only team in the playoffs, we know exactly where they'll be. At home. Everyone else is still up in the air. All right, so this was crazy yesterday. Obviously, it was a full day of NFL games with a lot of implications, but there's NBA basketball being played. And without Kauai Leonard, the Clippers found themselves in a historically bad situation.

They trailed them abs by 50 points at halftime. What was the score? 77 to... 7727 at the half. I didn't watch the game. I saw highlights on YouTube. I saw the score at half and I'm like, what is that?

It's a tragedy. It's the largest halftime deficit ever in the NBA. And it didn't get any better in the second half, obviously. They lost by 51 points, which just set a new franchise record. 124 to 73. Paul George said it's not that big of a deal. I'm off the Clippers this year. They made me a liar last year or so I'm off them.

Landry Shamet and Montres. barrel are gone so their bench is not as good. They don't have a true point guard. I don't think they got better this offseason. And I think it's, it's, I don't want to overreact to the beginning of the season. But to me, Kauai Leonard is in a different category. He is, he's separate. He's beyond reproach. He's a great player. He won a championship. He carried the Raptors and won a championship for the country of Canada. Like, he's in a separate situation. Yeah, LeBron, Durant, Kauai, Anthony Davis. There's no questioning then. They're great players. I know what he can do in the playoffs.

I've seen it for years. Paul George is the question mark on this team. I don't care about the money, whatever. Everybody has to get paid. Every team has to pay somebody. That's not the important part. Your number two, you have to prove that you are that guy. You can't come out here and say it's not a big deal.

It's a very big deal. It was historically bad. It is a big deal. It's okay to say that was horrible. We are taking responsibility for how bad it was. It is a big deal. It's not just one game. Well, when Kauai is missing, you are now the franchise player available.

Like when Michael Jordan left, Scotty Pippen still took the Bulls to the playoffs and was a call away from the finals. Like, it mattered that Pippin validated his robin. It's like, okay, Michael's gone, I'm it. And Scotty, that's why Scotty got a job in Houston and Portland and big money. It's like, Paul, the star's gone, be competitive. Have to. Joy with the news. Well, that's the news.

And thanks for stopping by. The Hurd-Lie News. being benched is not a big deal. Want more herd? The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the IHeart radio app. Search Herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like.

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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 you're saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifers Show. This is a place for raw, unfills of conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated.

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