The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 12/28/2020 - HOUR 1 - A Green Bay Win That Was More Than A Win

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. He also discusses the Browns loss to the Jets and how Baker Mayfield learned what it’s like to be Sam Darnold for a day. Plus, Michael Vick joins the show to talk about Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa getting benched again.   Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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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 I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok's podcast network on TikTok. 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 not to be played with.

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This is the hurt, wherever you may be and however you may be listening. Fox Sports Radio, Iheart Radio, right here on 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? I'm 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 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. 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's, Sderia 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 Sanford Francisco did do them. 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 far 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.

He gets 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. So 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 overreval. 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 are 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 made. Mayfield was. Three fumbles, lost of the Jets, a pass-a-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 Deshawn 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 Breeze? 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. Deshaun 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 core 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 I-Hard 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. Yep, that's me. Clipper Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skisks.

hits, 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-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when kind of He said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do a little camp? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we picket 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, correct. 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 IHeartRadio 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 therapy. Careers, 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, 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 Hardway and listen now. Everybody knows basically the better the ending to a movie, you walk out of a theater and you feel better about the movie.

I always felt that usual suspects was an average movie with a great last 12 minutes. You walk out of the theater and you're like, man, that is some movie. I thought castaways with Tom Hanks was a much better movie with a dicey ending. And I left the theater and I thought, that's disappointing. How something ends kind of changes history. The old joke, if you can have a good three or four opening minutes on a date and the last 10 minutes are okay, you get a second date. Like, don't blow the beginning of the end. Seattle's funny.

I'm from Seattle, the Pacific Northwest. I've been very critical of the Seahawks. But by beating the Rams yesterday, it validates so many of the things they've done. The NFL's all young, hot shot coaches, Kyle Shanahan, Sean McVeigh, Cliff Kingsbury. You just gave 69-year-old Pete Carroll an extension. Yeah, he's still the king of the division. He certainly won yesterday. Russell Wilson's contract, $35 million.

You're saying he's Patrick Mahomes good. Yeah, there were two drives in the whole game that decided the division. Russell at the end of the first half, Russell at the end of the game, they were both great. The only two drives of the whole football game for Bucket-Akman and Russell had both. I mean, I can't believe you traded those first round picks for Jamal Adams. I don't know. I watched yesterday, he's like really important. Carlos Dunlap is unhappy in Cincinnati.

Last thing you need is an unhappy bingle on your team. I don't know, Carlos Dunlap has helped energize the defense. It's like all the questions about the Seahawks get validated after they win. Whoever wins the war gets to write the book on it. Pete's a little old, Russell's a little expensive, Jamal, the first round picks, Carlos Dunlap, man, they took some big risks and free agency. And you watch them this morning and you're, you're like, yeah, they're right.

And the Rams, conversely, who we thought were the smartest people in the world a year and a half ago, now you're like, what do you do with that golf contract? Man, they are wasting that defense. They don't have another first round pick to solve their issues again. I don't want to overvalue it because the Rams play. I think it's Arizona next week. They're going to win that football game. They're going to get into the playoffs.

But sometimes a game, you know, we call it overreaction Monday. You come into the NFL and you feel like. like, you know, a win makes everything right and a loss ruins everything. And the Rams and the Seahawks, they're still fairly even football teams. Rams have had their way a few times against the Seahawks. I thought the Rams would win this weekend. They were off a humiliating loss. But for all the Seattle criticisms, the one thing they did, and it's almost unheard of in the NFL,

the Seahawks took a weakness and they didn't have an offseason. In the middle of a season, they fixed it. And it's become a strength. That almost never happens in the NFL. You can have a flaw and band-aid and bondo it, kind of solve it, hide it, but you don't go from the worst kicking game to the best in a season. Seattle's now gone from like a no-tenesse, no pass rush, look like the Tennessee Titans, literally no pass rush,

to a top five pass rush, to being led around by Russ Wilson in the first six to eight weeks of the season, now being carried by the defense. here was Jamal Adams after the W. For everybody out there, they got to start putting respect on this defense's name because this defense is playing lights out. And to me, we're the best defense in the league. And you can quote that, you can do what you want to do with it.

But at the end of the day, I believe in these guys. I believe in this coaching staff. Yeah, a weakness to a strength in all Seattle's big gambles, Russ and Pete's contract and the D.K. Metcalf and the Jamal Adams trade and Carlos Dunlap coming over. This morning, you win the division, you write the book about it. Joy Taylor with the news. No, no, no, no, no.

Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. Well, the Steelers won their division. They looked to be on their way to a fourth straight loss for a moment. They were down for a moment. For a moment. For a moment. For a moment.

They were down to the Colts by 17 points in the third quarter, but they rallied with three straight touchdowns to win 2824 and clinched the AFC North. It's Pittsburgh's first division. title since 2017, which is also the last season that they made the playoffs. That was a, by the way, that was the biggest throw in six weeks for the Steelers. Big Ben finally threw the ball down the field. And it was that play where I thought, okay, finally six weeks, no deep balls.

That was the whole point of the game to me. Like this is what they've been struggling to be able to do, despite the fact that they have these receivers. They can't get the running game going because nobody respects their game down the field. And they hit that first one. And then they went, and it was almost like that ignited this belief that let's go over the top. It was a 39-yard touchdown pass to Deontze Johnson and the 34-yard completion to chase Claypool. That was the story of the game to me, and it's been the story of the Steelers season.

If you don't throw it over the top, defenses don't feel the need to respect that. They can stop the run very easily and force you to throw these dink and dunk passes, which has caused a lot of the drops. So continue to do this. Try this next week. You won the division. This looked like the Steelers. Yeah. over the time. My whole life, Bradshaw to Big Ben. They've always been physical. It's always been a thing. They've always been physical.

Cowher was physical. Tomlin's physical. Both guys looked like they could play. But they've always been a big play over the top, home run hitting offense. And for like 11 weeks, 12 weeks, 13 weeks, they weren't. And people say, you've been ripping the Steelers. Well, their second half is what I saw early in the year when we bought into them in like September. Right. And they have not had an explosive running game. and Slevy on Bell. So you kind of need to rely on throwing it over the top.

They had 20 total yards, total yards. Brutely, had five carries for 20 yards. Benny Snow had six carries for no yards. Now, James Connor had a red zone touchdown, but that's not going to get it done. You're going to have to throw it over the top. 1.4 yards of rush is still a massive. You can't win playoff games with that.

You can not. Can't. But they play the Steelers. I mean, the Steelers play the Browns next week. I like the Browns. I do. Browns have to win to get into the playoffs. I think they will.

I think Cleveland's, you can't get too caught up. they're going to have their receivers back. Listen, Cleveland's a good team off a humiliating loss. Baker will play well. I still contend. I think the Colts this morning are still better than the Steelers, although they lost to them, and the Browns lost to the Jets,

but I think they'll beat the Steelers. I've been saying this for a month now. Cleveland's better than Pittsburgh. I would agree that the Browns will beat the Steelers because they have to. So they're playing for more. The Steelers have won the division. Obviously, they want to continue to win going into the playoffs. but the Browns have to win this game.

I don't think the cults are better than the Steelers, though. I think the cults are very inconsistent, and Philo Rivers has massive limitations. So Tom Brady led the Bucks to a huge 47-7 win over the Lions. His numbers now... It was done in the first quarter. His numbers now... I mean, we both thought he would have kind of a Matt Ryan-esque year.

He's having closer to an Aaron Rogers normal year. Like, he's lighting... I know it's Detroit, but somebody's got to play him. Everybody else is playing Detroit too. Yeah, exactly. He had 348 yards and four touchdowns all in the first half. The wind clinched the team's spot in the playoffs for the first time since 2007. And even though they will be a wildcard team, Bruce Ariens is confident knowing that anything can happen in the playoffs.

Anything can happen. I've been a six-seed. I've gone all the way to Super Bowl and won it. And right here in this stadium. And so anything's possible. And now that we're in a dance, we've got to see what next week brings. and where we're going. They'll clinch the five seed with a win

against the Falcons next week. They have gone. They would also get the five seed if the Rams lose to the Cardinals. They've also, I think, found a little bit of an identity. They're going back heavy to Mike Evans, which is really, don't have Rojo. But, I mean, I think the story of this year

has been kind of a lack of an identity offensively where there's a lot of disparate parts and nobody knows how they fit. It does feel like Mike Evans is their one. Then they go to AB. then Godwin, then Gronk, and it kind of feels like... Yes, that's how it should be. Yeah, it just took a long time to get there,

but no preseason, this is how it works. Exactly. Finally, what a game, Dolphins Raiders Saturday. Ryan Fitzpatrick was the hero for the dolphins. I actually... Okay, well, I have lots of thoughts on how this all played out, but he replaced Tua with just under 10 minutes left in the fourth. Miami was down by three.

He then led the team on three consecutive scoring drives, including the one that set up the game-winning field goal in the final seconds. Dolphins got the 2625 win and can clinch their playoff spot with a win over the bills next week. Tua was 17 of 22, 94 yards, one touchdown before Fitzpatrick came in and went 9 for 13, 182 yards and a touchdown. And Brian Flores did say the Tua will be the starting quarterback next week. And the Raiders are now officially eliminated. Now, I know everyone is having a lot of mixed reactions to what Flores did here.

Is it good for Tua? Should they stick with Fitzpatrick? What does this all really mean? To me, as a Dolphins fan, I can objectively say, I think, the Raiders lost this game. This wasn't about Fitzpatrick, who came in and did a great job. Yeah. Right. And it was a good move by Flores.

Yeah. But if he doesn't try to take Fitzpatrick's helmets off, right? We're not talking about this game the same way. Well, there's also the worst pass interference call. In a weekend of bad PI calls, there was a call against the Dolphins secondary, a pass interference. That was an egregiously bad call. If that doesn't happen, Gruden isn't getting criticized this morning. He's not in the same place.

Like the Dolphins won that game, a horrible officiating call gave the Raiders a chance to win. But when that game was over, I felt like the better team won. I did. Yes, the more resourceful. I don't want to overreact to how, like, look, the end of the game is the end of the game. That's the outcome. Sometimes you have good refereeing days. Sometimes you don't.

Things go your way. Sometimes they won't. But at the end of the day, if Fitzpatrick converted that catch, if that penalty doesn't add another 15 yards, you're not in field goal range. So I'm not going to overreact to what happened there. Like Fitzpatrick should not be the starter. It's still to his team. It's not get crazy.

Yeah. And the more resourceful team won the game. Sometimes it just comes most of the time, actually. It comes down to situations. And the dolphins were better situations. I could argue. they've been the best situation team in the league. Not most talented, not most dynamic.

If you're just talking situational football, they're as good as anybody. It's a very New England feeling where you lose and you're like on the flight home, we have better players than them. How does that working out? I mean, that comes down to preparation. Yep.

Joy with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Hurd-Lie News. Michael Vic, 13 NFL seasons, four-time pro bowler. Joining us now, brought to you by Mercedes-Benz, so what do you make of the Packers?

I had my questions about their physicality. They're a little bit of a frontrunner. They're a finesse fighter. Last night, snow, Titans. I mean, my takeaway was they went physical, which they don't normally do. What was your takeaway on the whole evening? I thought they played championship football.

I thought it looked the way it was supposed to. The Green Bay Packers last year was plagued by run defense, and I thought they were stout last night. I thought that was their biggest test coming to the 2020 season. Can they stop the run? And I think they did a great job. And they do a lot of great things as well. They do, you know, they pass the football.

They can run it. You know, they got great defensive backs, you know. So I think they have a very complete team and the rest of the past world. So, you know, it was all about can they stop the run? And the ultimate test was last night against Derek Henry. And they stepped up to the challenge. You know, I watch Kansas City. And my eyes tell me this morning that Buffalo and,

Green Bay are the two best teams in the league. Kansas City may be the most talented. Something is not off. Now, I know it's just betting, but they haven't covered the spread in seven weeks, meaning how data lays them out. They're not hitting their stride. Are you concerned?

What do you make of it? You know, I think it's just Andy trying new things and trying to figure out, you know, what's next. You know, you got to continue to evolve. And if the offense continues to look the same, then, you know, this is National Football League. teams are going to pick up on that. And then the game is going to get harder.

I think Andy is trying to, you know, going to different direction with the offense, trying to, you know, find new concepts and what works. And this is the time to try. You know, you don't want to do it in the postseason. You want to do it, you know, at some point in the season where you can see exactly what you have and what you can get away with.

And then you mess that with everything else, you know, you find some things that can actually work. And you surprise some teams. So, you know, I know, I know how Andy think it's postseason time, and the regular season is over, so it's time to get ready to compete and try to win another championship. There's going to be a lot of talk today about Brian Flores, benching Tua. First of all, he's young.

Were you ever benched, and what do you make of the benching of Tua? Yeah, I went through the same situation in my rookie year with Doug Johnson and Dan Reeves, and I didn't like it, but I had to appreciate it and accept it. because I was a rookie. And, you know, to have a veteran in front of you who can relieve you when you're struggling, you know, it's something to have some sort of gratification for, you know, in tour sense.

And he's a humble young man. He gets it. Next year, Brian Flores won't do this to tour. He'll allow Tour to play through these games and grow up, I promise you. So I like the way they're handling this situation. I think if you've got a guy like Ryan Fitzpatrick who can step in and give the team a spark when needed, then the young rookie will understand it,

especially when it turns out the right way. Yeah, you know, it is interesting. It's not like the Carson Went situation where he's been paid, that we've got a lot of film on him. I feel like Tua, like you, when you were young, it's like you're still evolving. I don't even know what I have yet. So in a weird way, I feel like Brian Flores is protecting him. Did you feel protect him?

Yeah. Yeah, he's protecting him. And you got to think about it like this kind. He's still learning on the job, too. He didn't have any preseason, any OTAs, any training camp. He didn't get to go out there, though, interceptions and learn from it or make mistakes and trial and nerd. He didn't have that period. So he's getting it all on the flight.

So that's why I say Ryan Fitzpatrick and his presence right now is invaluable to this team. And Brian Flores knows that. A team that fascinates me. And I don't know exactly why this is. But in baseball, you talk about stats. In football, it's always been about win games. Lamar Jackson, I think he's like 26 and 4 against everybody not named the Chiefs. He just keeps winning.

I think he's a better thrower than people give him credit for. He's not John Elway. It's not beautiful. He doesn't throw a... But I keep watching him this weekend and I'm like, oh, I would not want to play the... You know what the Ravens remind me of, Mike? They remind me of the Titans last year, the team that beat him. They've had an identity.

We doubt their quarterback. They got a smart coach. They can play physical football. Like, what do you make of the Ravens right now in Lamar's play who you know? in the last month? Well, first of all, yesterday I thought Lamar did a great job of passing from the pocket. I think Terry Bradshaw pointed that out specifically yesterday. You know, he wasn't looking to run.

He was hanging in the pocket. He was giving his receivers a chance to work downfield and get open. And for the most part, they did. And it's some serious teaching going on over there right now. They have all the coaches to help Lamar progress as a pass. James Irvin was, he comes from the Andy Reed coaching tree. you know he's giving him game i know what's going on so you know it's time the the ballman is happening right now you know he has to happen on the flat um but lamar's doing a great job and and he's playing his game he's running

when he has to he's passing when he has to and that's all they can ask for you know out of the young phenom yeah he has had a great he's outplayed patrick mahomes in the last month look up the numbers he's leaving nothing on the table he's as good as they come yeah he is good as they come yeah lamar's playing great football right now. So yesterday, just kind of a mess for Baker Mayfield. How did it land for you? What'd you make of it? Yeah, yesterday it kind of illustrated. You can't put it in the hands of Baker Mayfield. Baker is the quarterback that needs people around him. He needs help. And that's not a bad thing. That's a good thing. That's something that he should embrace. And I think yesterday, it showed. He can't be the hero. He can't be a guy who's going to put the team on his back. You know,

And those circumstances was for certain on display, you know, not having all his receivers out there. So, you know, naturally I could see Kevin Safansky saying, all right, Baker, go win it. But it's just not going to happen. They need to stick to their game plan. And they should have ran the football a lot more than they passed. They passed away too much. And it showed Baker, you know, he was pressing and he tried hard. And I give him an A for effort.

But ultimately, they didn't get the results that they wanted. So, you know, this is a good film for them to go back and look at. They should have beat this team in the Jets. They had everything to gain and nothing to lose. So, you know, it's a tough situation to be in for Baker. Finally, I don't see the Dallas Cowboys. They may win the division. I don't see them as a team that could win a playoff game.

But there is something to be said that they're ending the season and there's a sense that, okay, we get DACBAT and there's optimism. Go back to your career. even on your average teams did a good December matter did winning down the stretch matter at all let me tell you Kyle in 2011 we was 4 and 8 I was coming off a rib injury and uh we had a pretty tough schedule in front of it as an opportunity to make the playoffs I think we had you know the dolphins and the jets and Dallas and the redskins to finish up and and we finished 8 and 8 but, you know, it was all about finishing strong, you know, competing, never knowing what can happen.

A lot of scenarios come play all time. But it was about, you know, going out and playing for our coaches, playing for the city, playing for the team and each other. And we was able to put it all together. So, you know, and at the end of the day, just keeping it real, you know, when you don't finish strong, it's going to be a lot of changes made whether it's coaches or players. And you have to acknowledge that, and it's a real thing. So, you know, you have to play some of your best football in December for a lot of different reasons.

That's what the coaches want. That December film is what gets talked about. That December football is real all across the board. No, it really is. And I'm watching the Cowboys play. And I'm like, you know what? Mike Nolan probably gets replaced. But there's going to guys that get extensions and coaches get extensions because you look at them right now and they look kind of buttoned up and competent.

Yep. Yep. They look like they get it all together. all of a sudden. You know, yesterday was a totally different Dallas Cowboys football team than was a couple weeks ago. And, you know,

I'm looking at it like where they come from. But, you know, I mean, better late than never. And, you know, it's good for the game of football to see teams bounce back the way the Cowboys did this year

and still have an opportunity to compete. Like you said, I don't think they win a playoff game, but they make it, if they make it, it'll be a great accomplishment. Michael Vic,

13 years, four-time Pro Bowl. A good talking to you, buddy. Thanks, Colin. 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 you're saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversation. 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, Apple Podcast or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people.

I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill

waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 was big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack, so I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now, so... Thank you 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 or are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely.

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

the only sportscasters I liked were the honest ones. I was never one of those like eight, nine, ten-year-old kids that wanted sportscasters who like told me my teams were great if they weren't. I like, for some reason, I was attracted to sportscasters who were always like a little critical of the teams. Because everybody, you know, you go to a local city, like a Pittsburgh and, you know, mostly everybody's telling you how great the team is. And I always, when I was a little kid, anybody that was willing to criticize the local

teams was the sportscaster I liked and most aren't. Pittsburgh Steelers have great standards, but their fan base now, it's remarkable. Despite having one of the great franchises in league history, they want to be told how great their team is when they're not great. Yesterday didn't prove anything. You were outplayed for 60, 70 percent of the game. I think Big Ben must have had nine Red Bulls at half because for the first time in months,

he actually had a great couple of drives. He threw a deep ball finally. The Steelers are a slightly better, happier version than the Colts today. For most of the game, their best offensive plays were pass interference calls. Some of them I didn't think they earned. But Big Ben in the second half came out, whatever he did at half. I'm not in those locker rooms. They don't let the press into locker rooms.

Whatever he took, whatever he did for about an hour, he actually went down the field, through the deep ball, threw it accurately. It didn't appear to be in pain, was willing to get, you know, hit, hold the ball a little longer, and they deserve that. They still average 1.4 yards of carry. They still have multiple losses on their defense. These are the same teams.

Good, not great defense, promising young players, and a very big butt, the butt being Big Ben and Phillip River, are just no longer consistent enough, young enough, healthy enough, or dynamic enough to win multiple playoff games. I don't think yesterday really solved anything. I just think whatever happened at half, Big Ben came out and said, I'm going to throw the ball deep. And he had not. He didn't in the first half. He didn't in the last month. But I kept watching this game and thinking, you know who would really help both these teams? Carson Went. That's what I kept saying. I kept thinking, once Philip Rivers got off the first half script and you need him to add lib, you're done.

He can't do that. Big Ben actually can still do it, but just not frequently enough to eventually beat a Kansas City, a Green Bay, a Seattle, a Saints. I think if they met Baltimore again, they wouldn't win. But Mike Tomlin always has perspective, puts things into context, his thoughts on the difference between another awful first half and an energized second half. How does or how did a team turn it around so dramatically from one half to the second? You know, we just, we missed on some, on some opportunities in the first half.

I don't know if it was that dramatic. It's a fine line between, you know, drinking wine and squash and grapes, as we say in this business. And sometimes it's very subtle. We've all had our struggles of late. And so none of us are removed from that. This is a fighter's business. This is a competitor's business. and I expect all to compete and to smile in the face of adversity.

Hey, listen, right now, Cleveland isn't feeling good about themselves. Pittsburgh is. Baltimore really is. I still think Baltimore right now is the best team in the division. I think they beat Pittsburgh tomorrow. I think they're playing the best football. I think Baltimore is what I thought they would be. I think Baltimore is a handful of the best team in the division, and they may not even make the playoffs.

They do control their destiny. So Pittsburgh, to me this morning, is a slightly, happier version of the Colts. Promising young players, good defense, not as great as everybody thinks. That looked like two old heavyweights, circle in the ring, both could take a punch, neither could consistently land any. They're just not dynamic enough. One of the things I love about the NFL, and there's fewer games, so the games mean more. So when you watch a game, I sit there every Sunday, I told a buddy of mine watching he has a setup in his house with three or four TVs. And I told him yesterday, I just

nothing better to me than Sunday afternoons. I just love them. And some of it is I bet football. Some of it is, it's my favorite sport. Some of it is, it's better on TV. Some of it is that there's more scarcity. There's fewer games. They matter more. But I think after watching this entire season, I think there are five teams

that can win the Super Bowl. This morning, there are five teams that can win the Super Bowl. Buffalo, Kansas City, Seattle, the Saints, and Green Bay. They can win the Super Bowl. I think there's nine teams that could win a playoff game. Baltimore, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Indy, Ram, Chicago, Tennessee, Miami, Tampa Bay. But they've got inconsistency or a hole or a liability.

I don't see them as multiple playoff winning teams. For the record, let's go back to the five teams that can win a Super Bowl. These are the happiest teams in the league. Because this morning in December, they have a chance. chance to win a ring. The only other team of those nine that I think is happy is Baltimore, because they're playing well, they're mostly healthy. I think if they did win a playoff game, that would be a step for Lamar Jackson. Both sides of the ball, I think they're pretty buttoned up right now and playing really well. But four of the five teams that can win a Super Bowl

will be miserable in a month because they won't get there. And oh, by the way, even if you're happy in this league, San Francisco last year, one incomplete pass in the fourth quarter, and you're miserable again. Kansas City has won 23 of 24 games. Inside the building, there's slight panic that they're playing really bad red zone defense

and offensively leaving a lot of meat on the bone. 11 teams in the NFL this morning do not know if they're in or out of the playoffs, week 17 coming up. The happiest place in the NFL right now, now is probably Buffalo, where they believe they've got an A-plus young coach and an A-plus quarterback, but if they lose as favorites to the Patriots tonight, they're miserable. That is the NFL.

That's why it's so great. Kansas City's the reigning champs, and they're playing really bad football. They really are. They're winning and underachieving offensively and bad in the red zone defensively. You got Buffalo feels great if they win tonight. Five teams can win the Super Bowl. 11 don't know if they're even in the playoffs. nine that can maybe win a playoff game.

Baltimore, the only one that I truly think this morning is really happy where they're at. In fact, I could make the argument, the happiest team in the NFL this morning is the Jags. They're the worst team, but they potentially have a great future because of Trevor Lawrence. That could be the happiest team. There's no pressure on them. They're getting Trevor Lawrence. They're probably getting a new coach. The Jags are feeling right now.

It's like a little Christmas present early. But this game just offers so much intensity. It is so tough. It is so competitive. It is so intense that you're briefly happy. You can't script drama better than this. You're just briefly happy for very small moments. Here we go into week 17.

And again, I think there's five teams that can win the Super Bowl. That's it. I don't think Tampa can. They haven't been able to beat good teams this year. They just crush bad teams. Tennessee doesn't have a pass rush. The Colts and the Steelers aren't consistent enough at quarterback. Cleveland looks like they're fun when everything lines up,

but you add a little dissension, a couple injuries, take a receiver or two out, and they're bad. Rams, what are we going to do with golf? Chicago is Tribisky back? I mean, the Chicago story is the strangest of the year. I'm just seriously, the Chicago Bears story is the strangest story of the year. It's one thing that Seattle's defense got better, but we knew Dunlap and Jamal Adams were great players. Chicago's offense is on fire, and we don't even know if Tribisky can play. Trubisky's a fascinating player.

He's got a winning record. He's gotten to the playoffs. He's now maybe on the first or second hottest team in the NFL. And a month ago, we thought he was a bust. And then we're going to fire the head coach, get rid of the quarterback. GM was in trouble.

I don't even know what Chicago is. I have no idea what Chicago is. I'm not sure Chicago knows what Chicago is. It's a Monday. It's the herd back forever two next. Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends.

Me and hilarious guests from Bob Codenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, S&L'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. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds.

I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me. Clifford Taylor the 4th.

You might have seen the skis. kids, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfills of conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to The Clifford Show on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hard. 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 IHard radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. This is an IHart podcast. Guaranteed human.