The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 3 and Out - 2nd Year QB Pressure, USC NIL Death Star, Mailbag

Episode Date: June 21, 2022

John discusses the pressure and expectations facing Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson and the other 2nd year QB’s, why Hunter Renfrow is the perfect piece for Josh McDaniel in his first year with the Raiders, and why Lincoln Riley and USC are set up to be an NIL superpower. He also answers listener questions in the Middlekauff Mailbag. #herd Subscribe NOW and follow Middlekauff and The Volume on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for the latest content. It's always  FanDuel for the best wagering action!See 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 IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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

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

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

follow at Clifford and at TikTok podcast network on TikTok. The volume. The three-in-out podcast with me, John Middilkopf, is presented by Fandul's sportsbook. There's no better place to make every moment more than with Fanduel. Great odds and markets for baseball, the NBA, NHL, PGA, Tours, and so much more. awesome new and existing user promotions.

America's number one sportsbook, very easy to use, safe and secure. You get your winnings fast. I cannot recommend it enough. Love gambling with Fanduel. If you are new, just download the Fandual Sportsbook app to get started. Now sign up with promo code Colin so they know we sent you. What is going on, everybody, John Middlecock, three and out podcast on this beautiful Monday afternoon, June 20th. Hope everyone's doing great.

Hope everyone had a good father's day. Looking forward to the summer. You've got little kids. Enjoying time with them. Or whatever you do. Hopefully, positive vibes only here. Obviously, three and out podcast, subscribe. If you listen through Collins feed, share it with your friends.

We're big fans of organic reach here. Also, the Middlekopf mailbag at John Middilkopf. I'm going to need you guys this offseason. We have 30, 40 days. till training camp starts. I don't know if you've noticed. Not much goes on in the summer. So I'm going to need you people.

I want you to be part of the show. Slide into my direct messages is my name at John Middilkoff and get your questions to answer here on the show. We're going to do mailbags as much as humanly possible over the next probably 30 days, at least incorporate them with the show because we need you. One, you guys are a huge part of what we do. And two, need the content.

So, yeah. I've fired in those DMs, if you haven't already. And if you have, firing again. Love to talk to you. Love to communicate with you. You guys are my people. And I wanted to start with, I just watched the Warriors parade. And I think, I've had a problem with this for a long time.

That the media has often got mad around draft time with football because so many guys like Bob McGinn forever, the athletic has done a good job of this since they've been in existence. They write those articles with anonymous. scouts and they give their takes on different draft prospects. And, you know, they have information that most fans and media do not. And they say things about guys, you know, about their work ethic and different intangible stuff that tends to piss people off. And one of the things that always really drives them nuts is when they say, like, football

isn't everything to them. And the media's like, why does football need to be everything? Balance life. It's like, yeah, balance doesn't really exist at the highest level of most industries. most at the highest level if you're going to compete on Wall Street, if you're going to compete in football, whatever you're doing. And it's really competitive. Like you're going to have the balanced scale is not be like,

well, you know, I eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner with my family every day. But I also work at 9 to 5 like it doesn't exist. You have to be probably there's a line, but and sometimes it goes on the side of being unhealthy, having an unhealthy obsession for what you do. And I've seen with the Warriors who. had three championships. I would say coming into this season, Steph, Clay, and Dreyman on and off the court

had accumulated $600,000. They were already all three of them, definitely Steph and Clay Hall of Famers, Uber rich. Steph was already one of the greatest players ever. Yet basketball and winning to those guys means absolutely everything. I say it all the time.

I didn't grow up a Warriors fan. I'm not even necessarily a Warriors fan now. I'm a Steph Clay and Draymond guy because I love what they stand for of we'll do anything and everything to win we'll be inclusive with teammates we'll help young guys we'll use veterans we don't care

whatever it takes to win we'll do because basketball to us means everything I was when I was in college and definitely in high school I was more of a Peyton Manning guy and I kind of shifted to now I still love Peyton Manning because I think him and Tom are very similar but him and Tom became equals

because both those two guys, and Tom obviously is still playing, football, beside like their immediate family, nothing matters more. So when you're going up at the highest level of sports, and again, I think this translates to most industries. Like, Elon, if you're competing with him in business, he eats and sleeps it. It's all encompassing in his life. Bezos, all these guys.

Now, Bezos's kind of riding off in the sunset now. But for a long period of time, I remember Fox, like the regional, used to do these things like behind the glory or it wasn't behind the music that that mtv used to do there was some show like that but with athletes and i remember them doing one on mark cuban and mark cuban said for seven years and maybe he lied a little bit he didn't take a day off before he became a billionaire because he was you know obviously an entrepreneur starting his own company and listen when you go into business for yourself and you stop receiving w-2s like you end up there holidays like i don't even know besides like july 4th and maybe christmas but you don't get holidays

Like you end up working. Now, it doesn't mean you're working 10, 12-hour days, but you work a lot. It's just part of the deal. But if you love it, it's much easier to do. And when you're competing against Tom Brady or Peyton Manning or Steph Curry, it's all encompassing in their life. They don't have much balance.

So to compete against these guys, we judge you so much during the season, the tangible stuff we can see, the games. And once the football season starts to practice. But for these next 40, days. It's basically, quote, unquote, NFL vacation. You can do whatever, literally whatever you want. No one is going to be on you. No one is telling you what to do. You could eat, drink, and sleep for the next 40 days and show up at training camp. But if you do that, you're falling

behind. Forever, like when I was a kid, you know, the athletes I grew up on that played in the 70s and 80s, or they were still playing in the 90s, they were notorious. They were open about it. They would show up to training camp, whether you were a baseball player, spring training, basketball player, or definitely an NFL player back when they had like a month straight of double days. I went to Tahoe probably a couple weeks ago and I drove by Rockland, California. And when you say Rockland out loud, I think that's where Bill Walsh took the 40 diners for training camp. And their training camp is not what this training camp is because there are no double days allowed in the NFL anymore. Hell, I don't even think they're allowed to practice anymore in camp five straight days

without an off day. Bill Walsh and Bill Parcells and Tom Landry and all these guys, they would have weeks on end of double days. Hell, when I played high school football running the wing tee at Davis High School, where we were like barely above 500, I remember having three straight weeks, zero days off, double days every day.

I remember going to Fresno State. We had three straight weeks of double days in the Fresno heat. Maybe they got one Sunday off over a 21 day period. And that was one of the one, practice off. So even in that day, we still practice one time. The discipline, and this is where it gets to the GM and the coach, the players that you've drafted over the years, the players that you've brought in on free agents and paid big money to for the first time, you have to feel very, very comfortable about their character, about their desire. So when you hear these GMs and coaches talk about

when they sign a free agent, like, we've loved this guy since he was in college. That means they loved typically, not just the player, but what he stood for. What, when they went into Alabama or Texas State or San Diego State or wherever the player went to college, what was said about that guy, his drive, his work ethic, his love of football. Because football, unlike basketball or baseball, in baseball you get to play every day. In basketball, you play like four times a week. In football, you play 17 times a year. The majority of time, even now, where you'd never practice less, is still spent practicing

and lifting weights. Remember Bill Parcell's in that famous clip? This is why you lift all them weights. It's the one sport where weightlifting has been a prominent part of it since the history and the origin of the sport. You've probably spent just as much time in the weight room as you do on the football field, like literally on the game day football field.

You know, probably once season starts practice and the weight room are probably somewhat even. But you have to love football so much to be a good football player. It's pretty outrageous. And then when you look at the top of, guys in the NFL, whether it's the Bosa brothers or Aaron Donald or

Tom Brady or Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes. And the other thing is the Warriors, like, they'd already won. Yet their drive and desire to win again, like think about that in the NFL. Like, you got to beat Tom Brady more than likely, especially if you play in the NFC.

He's won seven times and he wants the next one as bad as all the previous ones. Like Patrick Mahomes, I just saw a headline. He's like, that was the worst half of football I've ever played and it drives me and I lose sleep over it now. Do you think about a guy like Josh Allen now who's, you know, kind of got to the mountain top in terms of being considered a great player, but like he hasn't really

done that much. So think about his drive and desire. Like think how hard it is to overcome the top guys and how much they like it and how hard they're working. So the summer, to me the most fascinating part is do you have the right type guys in your team? Can they stay disciplined and focused and locked in all summer long when no one's keeping tabs on them?

It's easy August 4th when the entire day is mapped out by the head coach. How about June 25th when no one's watching you? And your girlfriend just wants to lay in bed all day. And your buddy's like, I got a bunch of beers. You want to come drink? You know, that's what separates guys. And listen, as someone who battles with internal discipline, like the summer to me is the time in the NFL that we don't really talk about. I think it's when the top players really separate from the rest of the pack.

and thinking about two years ago, there was a quarterback draft that was talked about as being one of the more talented quarterback drafts we've seen, right? Trevor Lawrence was considered a top quarterback. Zach Wilson kind of came out of nowhere. Trey Lance was his big-time talent. Justin Fields was his big-time talent, five-star, and then Mack Jones, who had replaced Tua, and honestly it looked better than Tua.

And the crazy part is, and we saw this year's draft, the quarterback draft was viewed as terrible. Kenny Pickett, who was the first quarterback off the board, would have been easily the sixth best quarterback in that draft. I mean, everyone I talked to in the NFL said Kenny Pickett is basically like a poor, poor man's Mack Jones. And Mac Jones was the fifth quarterback drafted in his own draft. Well, eventually when we, and this is my issue with John Snyder and Pete Carroll. Like they talk about Drew Locke, like they loved him coming out.

Well, yeah, that's three and a half years ago now. Like he's been in the NFL for a while. Now, all these guys have just played one season in the NFL. And Lawrence, Wilson, Fields, and Mack, I guess Lawrence and Wilson started immediately. Trey redshirted, but he got a couple starts. Fields, Andy got to start early on, then he got hurt and Fields took over. Mack got to play the whole time. But, like, after this year, like, these guys are no longer draft prospects or, like, I love

Justin Fields coming out. Like, eventually they kind of get to put on some tape. And let's face it, all these guys, Trevor Lawrence was the number one. one overall pick. We held him to the standard and I did two of like best prospect, Andrew Luck, John Elway. That's a lot of pressure. This year he's going to have to show like you can you be a serviceable like above average quarterback? You don't need to be a superstar yet, but we can no longer compare him to Andrew Luck. Andrew Luck went to a Ryan Grixon Chuck Pagano, a guy that will never be a head coach, a guy that will never be a GM and immediately took him to the playoffs. Immediately

year one. And really that first year's head coach got cancer in Bruce. Bruce took over. Now, it turns out, Bruce a much better coach than Chuck Pagano, so that was an upgrade. But still, like, the thing you can't dispute about Andrew Luck, when he was healthy and he started for your team, you were going to the playoffs. So if you're going to compare Trevor Lawrence to Andrew Luck, like, are the Jags in the playoff mixed this year? Like, I don't know. I was a big fan of Trevor Lawrence. The people I trust in the NFL were big fans of Trevor Lawrence. They love the guy. But I think there is some question mark, like, was he overhyped? was he really not as good as we thought?

And it's hard because he's with the Jags who are just an all-time joke organization. But he does have a coach that won a Super Bowl. So I think we are going to be able to make some just tangible judgments at the end of the season. And Zach Wilson, I thought it was nuts that the Jets took him. Just because, like, he was a one-year wonder at BYU who typically plays a big-time schedule.

But because of the COVID year, all the teams on their schedule, just played conference games, they ended up playing a schedule that was the best team they played, I think was Coastal Carolina. Now he is physically gifted. He's got a big arm.

He's mobile. But he'd go to the Jets. And now the big market from Utah is the thing I said the entire time. Coming from that market in Provo, Utah, to go to the New York market where the organization has been pretty terrible, to me was pretty risky.

Like, I didn't know if it was going to work. Now, I will give Joe Douglas credit. It feels like they've drafted pretty well. the last couple years. But I've been saying over and over, I think there's a sneaky amount of credit on this organization, or I mean pressure on this organization. It doesn't mean they have to make the playoffs,

but they cannot suck. If you tell me the Jets win four games, it wouldn't shock me if everyone gets fired. Like eventually they just got to show something. Like can they just win seven games? And listen, Joe Douglas, Robert's all, like this guy, this kid has to show something. he just got to make some place.

They drafted a top 10 wide receiver. They drafted a wide receiver last year. They got running backs. They signed a tight end. They drafted offensive linemen. It's kind of time to, you know, piss or get off the pot. Do something. And I think there's pressure on the organization.

But specifically him, like Trevor Lawrence, just look like top picks. No different Trey Lance. Tray Lance is inheriting a team that's loaded. I've been going to NFL practices now for 12 years. The Niners, just being in a lot of, at their practice, I mean, are a top five or six roster in the NFL, not their quarterback. I'm just talking about the roster, talking about all their positions. They have studs everywhere.

And they have a coach who is the offensive coordinator, who is really good. So, Trey Lance has the best situation of this group by a mile. He's got a star wide receiver. He's got a really good number two wide receiver. He's got a star tied in. He's got running backs everywhere. He's got a good offensive line. He's got an excellent defense.

There is no excuse for him not to be just functional. And last year in the two games he played, again, major project, it was a roller coaster ride. And it's hard for me even being an OTAs. It's just, it's nothing like an actual game simulation. He has the physical skills. He has the arm strength. He's just going to have to do it. But he has, unlike you could make excuses for some of the other guys, well, their coach sucks.

Well, their team's not going to know. There are no excuses for Trey Lance. Jimmy Garopla, who is average as the day as long, I mean, was a starting quarterback for them in the NFC championship game. Justin Fields of this group, I'm probably going to give the biggest pass to. I think their coach, who I think I saw already got docked to practice. I just, I'm not a believer. And I just think their roster is terrible. I don't know how Justin Fields,

and I was on the record of saying I would have taken Justin Fields over Trey Lance, five-star guy, more physically gifted, but Kyle Shanahan clearly liked Trey Lance more. I think he thought it could process better. Time will tell. Justin Fields has a big, big uphill battle. I mean, think about Justin Fields. Five-star guy goes to Georgia out of high school,

who was just fucking loaded NFL players ever, and then it kind of gets weird. Transfers to Ohio State, where they're also loaded as ever, one of the best wide receiver rooms we've probably ever seen. And then he goes to the Bears. And now he has a coach

who's a defensive first head coach. Their roster is probably bottom six, seven, in the league, and it's going to be difficult. But, so he's probably got a little bit more runway. You just hope that he doesn't get a bunch of bad habits and loses his confidence. And then last but not least, he, because Trey and him both had equal great spots last year, Trey didn't have to play. Mac did. Mac got an incredible landing spot, right? He gets Bill Belichick, he gets a team with an excellent

defense, an excellent run game, Josh McDaniels, and they just scheme their way to 11 wins. I saw a headline today that their coaches around the NFL thought that the offensive playbook in New England held Mac Jones back. Bullshit. As the season went on and they played in tighter games, in bigger games, and they forced him to make plays with his arm, he couldn't do it. He's a limited player. Now, he's going to improve. Maybe one day he can be as explosive as Kirk Cousins, but I thought that was kind of the category was in. Kirk Cousins has excelled because he's played with Diggs. He's played with Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, like he's had great offensive weapons. This team does not have that. If they're going to succeed, they have to run the ball

and they have to play defense. Look at their weapons. They're not great. To me, though, what Mack has working against them is their offensive coordinator situation, which I was going to say it over and over again, and we're going to hammer this home as we get into training camp,

is currently a disaster. But, like, he was still the 15th overall pick, and because you're of the New England Patriots where they're no longer Super Bowl or bust because Tom left, but let's face it, anything less than the Patriots, anything less than the playoffs when you're the Patriots, is going to be viewed as a disaster.

So there's going to be pressure on him to be even better, you know, potentially, quote, unquote, carry the offense, unlike he was able to at times last year to be able to do it in stints this year. We've talked a lot about, I haven't, but I'm just saying I've read a lot about his body. He's in much better shape. I think Mack Jones is going to be a fascinating guy this year. The baseball season is here.

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1-877-NY or text Hope NY 467-369, New York, Tennessee-888888-9-8-8-8-9-10 1-2-2-4700. Wyoming. Visit www.1-800 gambler.net, West Virginia. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential.

Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win.

I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Clivert Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement

to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment. And the next, we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast.

It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok. Podcast Network on TikTok. Another fascinating guy, which I think is just something really cool about the NFL.

One thing that just doesn't happen in the NBA, it's why Draymond Green such an incredible story, is he became one of the best role players in league history and he was an early second round pick. The crazy part about that is like, usually don't find great players in the second round in the NBA. You're an outlier if that happens. We're in the NFL, you consistently find Hall of Fame. in the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh round.

I mean, a large percentage of starters in the NFL are undrafted free agents. And I think the cool part about the draft is it's so easy to be like, we love this guy, and then two years later you realize that guy sucks. Or this guy can't play, and then three years later, you realize that guy can really play. And part of it is when you look like Hunter Renfro, and he's in D.K. Metcalf's draft, and he has the picture with a shirt off, kind of like Mac Jones last year with a shirt off in the cigar

and he looks pudgy and Hunter's short and they put that picture of him next to D.K. McCaff Who looks just like a Greek god? It's easy to go, how do these guys play the same position? And then you watch Hunter Renfro

play and you go, this guy's not only an NFL player, this guy's a legitimate player. This guy's one of the best slot receivers in the NFL. Though I always felt with Renfro, he got a little discounted. It's like, how about Hunter Renfro,

this little engine that could. You mean from Clemson? Beside, like, beside Alabama, there were three teams that could give them a run, actually four. The Urban Meyer, Ohio State team, the Davosweeney-Clemson teams, the, and the Kirby Smart Georgia teams,

and I guess the one-off Ed Ogeron, Joe Burrow team. Those were the only teams over the run that you felt like could step on the field and go toe-to-to-to-to with Bama in a national championship, in an SEC for all the marbles. And this guy caught a game-winning touchdown on a team absolutely loaded with NFL players. And he was a starter for them.

T. Higgins, Mike Williams, Deshawn Watson. I mean, they had so many players. I'll just find random players. I might have said this on this podcast. I'm at Niners practice, and Ray Ray MacLeod makes a pretty cool play in practice. I'm like, what school do Ray Ray MacLeod go to? Oh, yeah, he went to Clemson five years ago. They have so many random guys in the NFL.

NFL and Hunter Renfro didn't just play for him. He started and was highly productive and got drafted because he deserves to get drafted. Now, you would say most guys who are undersized like Julian Edelman is an outlier. Hunter Renfro is an outlier. But Julian Edelman had to go to junior college and then he went to Toledo where he played quarterback. So when he got drafted and they transitioned him to wide receiver, that is a pretty incredible story. When you come from Clemson and you had to walk off touchdown in the national championship against Alabama to beat Nick Sabin, like, I don't quite view you the same as Edelman, a little engine that could, but your body type, you kind of look like no way this guy's going to be able to play. And then I've been watching

him closely the last couple years, and obviously last year he caught like 99 balls. And I remember talking to a buddy that was on the staff. He's like, what you do not understand about Renfro is, is how fast he is. And obviously to be a great slot receiver, even in the day and age, where, you know, Brian Dawkins and John Lynch and Steve Atwater and Ronnie Lott are not going to give you a CTE coming over the middle. No one's allowed to hit anyone

at the violence and veracity that you used to be able to. Now, there are still collisions. It's still a violent game, but it's much safer now. But you still have to be willing to go over the middle with the big bodies. And he clearly is.

And I just love stories where most people, when he was coming out, even though he was coming from a top program, did not think this guy was going to be any good. And now he signed a contract for basically $11 million a year. And it almost feels like a steal. Because you've got one of the best slot receivers at a position now. When you get guys that are highly productive,

they make anywhere between $15 and $25 million. So you're almost getting this guy on a discount. And honestly, the only reason you're probably getting them at this price is because of where he was drafted. If he had been a second round pick, his price per year probably goes up $2 or $3 million. Just a reality. But you put $32 million in front of $100,000.

Renfro, how's he supposed to turn it down? But he does feel like the perfect, perfect slot-wide receiver for Josh McDaniels and the New England Patriot offense that's now in Vegas. And last but not least, I grew up born and raised a Pac-12 homer. I loved watching, you know, when I was a kid, I was a huge UCLA fan. And in the 90s, UCLA was much better than USC. And then what Pete Carroll turned that program into and what Oregon has become the last several decades. And Mike Bellotti, who was a longtime coach there, where I grew up, my dad was a UC

Davis guy and always took a lot of pride in UC Davis coaches. And Dan Hawkins, who coached at Boise, and Chris Peterson who coached at Washington, they were all Davis guys. And Bellotti was one of them as well. So I always followed those three programs were kind of our claim to fame. And then Jeff Tedford, what he did with Cal, and we've clearly fallen off a map. The Pac-12 has struggled for relevancy. Mario had a moment. Utah has had a couple moments. They've only made the playoffs one time in the college football playoff existence and I think was the first year with Chris Peterson when he took Washington. We have struggled and we have been lapped and a huge reason why is

Najee Harris went to high school right up the street from me. There is now a quarterback at his rival high school who is down, he's one of the top quarterbacks in the country, who is down to five schools. This guy again, the Bay Area star quarterback, his five schools are all in the SEC. A lot of our top players now gravitate toward the SEC. And I'd be a hypocrite if I blame them. Because when I watch college football on Saturdays, I tend to watch SEC games. Now, I tend to watch Georgia, obviously Bama, LSU,

Ole Miss now with Lane, obviously Jimbo with Texas A&M. Their league feels the biggest. It feels the most important. That in the Big Ten. and at moments, Oklahoma and Texas, but Texas has been really shitty. But the SEC is on a completely different level for a reason. They're the most interesting.

And the reason they're the most interesting, they produce most of the national championship teams, they produce clearly all the NFL players. It is cooler. And the world's never been flatter. So just because I live in California or Washington or Oregon, I get the access to all their games. And the Pac-12 has fallen off a map.

And I think I give Mario, lot of credit, and I don't blame him for leaving, he went home, but he recruited at Oregon like he was at an SEC school. And I don't know if he's a good enough exes nose coach, but his passion and his willingness to go toe to toe with all these big programs, I admire. And on Sunday, on Father's Day, there was this video that went viral on my timeline, and it was Lincoln Riley. And he had taken, I think, a lot of his team and a lot of recruits to what used to be Staples Center is now, I think,

crypto.com, and who knows, maybe that thing could get crashed and it could be Staples Center again. Well, it probably wouldn't be Staples even exist. And he took everybody to eat breakfast or brunch or lunch on center court.

And the one thing to be good at USC, and I would say even just in the PAC 12 in general, to be excellent, you need to be two things. And Pete had this, and Jeff Tedford had this. Chip had it kind of, but Chip hated a recruit.

Jeff Tedford loved to recruit. Pete Carroll loved to recruit. Mario loves to recruit. It does still at Miami. You got to be a recruiting junkie. It has to mean a lot to you. You got to take passion in it. And you got to be a great scheme guy. That's the only chance for you to succeed. You know, in the SEC, if you're just an elite recruiter, if Mario's just an elite recruiter and can get the top, top in talent, because he's in the ACC, he might just be good enough to ultimately get to a college football game. Now, does that mean a college football playoff game? Does that mean he's going to win it all?

No, because you have to scheme at the highest level. But I think he's going to get so much fucking talent that he's just going to get there. Look at Harbaugh. Hardbaugh is not a great scheme guy, but he recruited so well, they're so tough, and they finally made a run this year. Now, they got curb stomped in the game, but they got there. And I think Lincoln Riley, I think there's some question marks, because one thing he didn't do at Oklahoma that he has to do at USC

if he's going to win a national championship. He doesn't necessarily have to do if he's going to win the conference because really I view him he's got to go through two programs to win the conference. Utah, who is never going to recruit the caliber of player, Lincoln Riley is going to recruit, but they never have. They can scheme and they can play football as well as anybody, given their talent. Now, in Oregon, I don't know if Dan Lanning is a great coach or not. He's coming from Georgia.

He'll be able to recruit because Oregon always can. But Lincoln Riley, his division, like Chip Kelly is going to hang with Lincoln Riley, zero chance. Arizona State, which I think is a sleeping giant, isn't shambles. Arizona sucks. Colorado's awful. Oregon State is just going to be a talent deficit, even though they beat them last year. But Clay Heldon, listen, great guy, looking back, had absolutely no business being the head coach at USC.

Like, I don't think USC, I think they're going to get some preseason hype to make the playoffs. I don't think that's necessarily possible. But I do believe that they can become a power fast. And it's never been easier to become a power fast because you don't need to take for three of your recruiting classes. You're taking transfers every single year. I mean, the best two players right now on USC's roster is their quarterback, transfer, starter last year at Oklahoma. Their star wide receiver, transfer, Pitt, Blitnikov, winner. I think he won the Blitnikov or he was in the mix.

Like, that's what you're going to be able to take advantage of. Like look at Nick Saban, Jameson, Williams, oh, where did they get them? Ohio State. you know, I mean, you can take top players when you're a top program from other schools. When you're at random schools, even if you're a Power 5, you're kind of taking the spillover, right? Like this guy couldn't play at Alabama, we'll take them. This guy couldn't play at Ohio State, we'll take them. When you get a guy that's transferring from Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan, he could have played there.

Maybe he just doesn't like it. Chip Kelly actually benefited this last year, had a bunch of transfers on his team, kids from L.A. Well, who's going to get the pick of that litter now? Lincoln's going to pick before Chip does. So I think that USC, whether they lucked into it, they obviously paid for it. It's going to be very, very difficult for this not to be a borderline home run. Now, for USC for it to be a home run, they're going to have to win a national championship. But I don't think it's inconceivable within two years, given their conference and their road to get there, they could be a playoff team.

Now, once they get to the playoffs, they could be overwhelmed. And Georgia, you know, Bama, A&M, Ohio State could kick their ass. Very, very feasible. But I think it's going to happen much faster. And it makes sense. The game has changed. Here's the other thing USC has going for it. One of the reasons Sabin is so mad is because deep down he knows his institution does not have the Texas oil money.

And now the Texas is coming in the SEC. And I know they do suck. But they have the money to buy all the players. And right now, it's just basically a free-for-all. And it always kind of has been, but no one was spending a million dollars on a player. Even if you were getting a top player, you were giving them a bag of cash.

I'd heard stories the last couple of years, $250, $300 for the top flight recruits. Well, now to get whoever, because it's legal, you've got to pay the guy's millions of dollars. Well, S.E has unlimited money. And they have unlimited resource. No different in Texas and Texas A&M.

That is the biggest obstacle for some of these programs in the SEC, like can LSU, can Alabama, can Ole Miss, how are they going to financially hang with the oil money and the SEC money? And if Lincoln does this right, which I think he knows he can

because of the resources, they're not. And he's going to start getting them. And they're going to become cool again, partly because he'll be able to pay. He was able to recruit at Oklahoma. Now, Oklahoma's always recruited well, but he recruited really, really well the last couple years. So if he recruits at this level with the cash backing, I'm telling you, I saw that clip of them eating lunch with all the fathers and fathers day and all the top recruits.

And I just went, this is a long way away from Clay Helton. 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 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 which I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball. 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. Okay, let's go Middlecoff mailbag. At John Middlecough is the Instagram. Fire in those DMs.

Two Fs. firing those DMs and get your question answered here on the show. Start with Alexander. German Bears fan here. I know you don't like Uber Fluse because it's an offensive league and he's a defensive-minded head coach. But the duo with Fields and Matt Nagy and offensive minded head coach didn't work out at all last season.

So isn't it a good thing that the Bears try a different strategy? They also have a good offensive coordinator in Luke Getzzi, who is coming from a great Packers team. Would love to hear your take on that. Keep up the great work. Greetings from Bacanang, Germany. Bear down. Well, here's my issue.

Let's say Getsey is awesome. He's the next Mick Vey or Shanahan. Well, what happens? You lose them. I'm with you. But just because something doesn't work the previous go-round, why would that, you know, force you to go the opposite way? Now, Ryan Poles, I still can't believe that he,

said in his opening press conference, they're going to own the division. It's like, bro, the Packers have literally destroyed you for my entire adult life. I thought that was bold. But my buddies that know him all think he's good at his job. I just, I don't know about the Iber flu sire. Again, I don't know why I'm so judgmental on this one. I'm just out. I'm betting against it. Now, I'm not some, I'm not Nostradamus. I mean, I could be wrong. I'm not right every time. but I feel I got a pretty good sense of this stuff, and I don't know. I just don't also think they're good. So it could just be a very difficult year.

When you lose immediately, it's hard to overcome it. Now, if ultimately Justin Fields becomes Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, like Justin Herbert, star quarterback, you guys will look fine. But you've got a long way to go, and I just don't think he has much talent around them. Their offensive line is horrendous. So just start with that. when your offensive line is horrendous, it's hard to function as a young quarterback, let alone one with, let's face it, their weapons aren't great.

You got Moody, you got Commet, who's solid. Running backs are okay. The Khalil kid, not bad. But it's not exactly like Tyree Kill, Dalvin Cook, and George Kittle are walking through that door. I just think it's going to be very, very challenging. I think you're going to have a very rough year and then we're going to have to judge them the next couple years, probably in 23 and 24.

I'm giving them somewhat of a pass this year because my expectations are low. So I'm not going to talk a lot of shit about the Bears winning and losing games if they go five and 12. Because I expect them to win four or five games. That's my expectation. And they kind of set themselves up,

kind of blew it up, make some trades, which if they draft well, it's the right move. Right? They didn't have a first round pick. They kind of had to blow it up. They were in cap hell. Ryan Pace was horrendous. general manager.

I mean, not very good at all. Ryan Pace was pretty bad at his job. That's just a reality of the results of his drafting. Anytime your offensive line really sucks, I think you're a terrible GM. With Sequin's receiving ability and his ability in space, could you see the Giants trying to utilize him like a Debo-type role? Assuming that he's healthy,

I could see him forcing the defense to focus on him every play. What do you think? Well, one thing the 49ers really benefited from is their offensive line as a run blocking unit was excellent. But they basically have seven offensive linemen. They have the five who are literally offensive linemen. They have the best fullback in the league, Kyle Eusecheck, also known as Juice, who is a great blocker. And then they have arguably the best blocking tied in in the league. So when we talk about the Shanahan run game, we talk a lot of.

about the zone scheme. They basically have seven guys blocking for them. And all their wide receivers block. So your guys' offensive line is not very good. And listen, maybe he'll be much healthier this year because he was coming off the ACL. The thing that made Sequin so special was he was so elusive. He had such great change of direction and feet could make you miss. His high-end speed was elite.

I think his high-end speed was as good as it was in the NFL. Remember there was a play on like Thursday night football, I think his rookie year, where he split the two Eagles defenders and they didn't even touch him and he scored. I'm not saying Debo was ever that fast, but Debo's pretty fast. Debo's play speed is excellent. Sequin's play speed last year was average. So if he's not going to be, if he's not going to have high-end play speed, then it's hard for him to do that.

Now, if he gets back to what he was as a rookie, then yeah, you can use them like a decoy, you can use them all sorts of roles. But, like, when you can't block up front, it does make it more challenging. Part of the reason, Dibo has seven people blocking for them on most place. That's, we don't talk about it because talking about tight ends and fullbacks blocking is not a sexy thing, but that's just a fact. Huge fan of the pod, lifelong Packers fan. My question is, what is Roger's worst playoff loss of his career? After all these losses, I can't tell what is the worst one with the potential to go win a Super Bowl. Thanks.

Hope you respond and I can hear your response. Well, two years ago in the COVID year when he lost to Brady, ultimately he lost to Tom Brady. So I have a hard time going, you know, he lost to Tom Brady. And in 11, I think they go 15 and 1 and he won the MVP and they were defending Super Bowl champs. That was the game that Coughlin, I think, froze his face off. or that might have been the Favre game. I don't know. I mean, I think Coughlin beat him twice in Green Bay.

Not him, but the Packers. One was Favre, one was Rogers. You know, ultimately, Eli and Coughlin then beat, you know, Brady again. To me, I don't, I'm not going to bring it up right now. I feel like that lost. He was a six and a half point favorite at home against Jimmy Garapola. And then the 49ers did not score. an offensive touchdown.

Like, ultimately, the buck scored touchdowns. If I told you that Aaron Rogers winning, having one of the best seasons of his career, the best player in the league,

home playoff game, loses to a team that does not score an offensive touchdown and Devante is healthy, I think that's pretty hard to stomach. I think the 49er game

is the worst loss of his career. Because it was there. Like, he didn't need to be Brett Favre or you know, Kenny Stabler. Like, we didn't need some all-time great game. He just needed to be better than he was. You didn't even need an MVP-level performance.

But to lose to that team, I mean, the Niners were on fumes. Any NFL team, love your podcast. Are you still doing scout for any NFL team? I'm coaching in a pro league in Mexico. Trent Richardson is playing on our team. Anyway, we have a very,

very unique talent playing in our team name Juan Monigo. Can you help me spread his game film? Do it on YouTube, baby. The NFL's keeping tabs on you. These scouts get paid to keep tabs on you. No more scouting for me, just talking. That's pretty cool.

You're scouting in Mexico League or working for a Mexico League. Obviously the NFL. I think the 49ers and the Cardinals play in Mexico next year. I have a question that no one seems to be asking. Tom Brady has been dominant well into a his 40s, as we all know. And as he is approaching his age, 45 season, would it be foolish

to think with all the off-field retirement drama, the massive Fox deal, and the Dolphins News, to think that this is the year the Bucks and Brady fall off a cliff, especially since they have several key departures on the offensive line?

Well, part of what makes sports the craziest, like ultimately, it's pretty clear the economy we are headed toward a disaster. Maybe maybe not a quote unquote disaster, but major problems. And listens. Google a history book, recessions, and economic slowdowns happen every eight to 12 years in the history of time. That's the way the world works.

Well, Charles Berkeley has been saying this on TV since I can't remember. Nothing and no individual outlast father time. Now, Tom Brady has done it better than literally every athlete in the history of professional sports in this country. But Payton Manning and the Denver Broncos kicked ass for three years. Kicked ass. They were awesome. They were putting up crazy numbers. They were dominating.

Then all of a sudden, it was over and he couldn't throw. Ironically, they won a Super Bowl his last year when he couldn't throw. But Tom Brady, it doesn't feel like is going to look like that. You know, Peyton had the back surgery, so that was always like eventually maybe his body was going to go. Tom has had one major injury and that happened what? 14 years ago in 2008 when he tore his ACL. So Tom has been relatively healthy. I mean, he's had nicks and bruises over the years,

but I mean, is the guy missed a game in 14 years? I'm pretty sure besides suspension when Roger Goodell screwed him for deflakey. I don't think he's missed the game. Now, could they fall off a cliff? Yeah, I mean, there's a lot of moving parts. You just never know. Now, I don't think it would look like Peyton Manning.

I don't think it would look like Ben Rothersberger, but you never know when it's coming until it's there. And then you go, oh my God. something's happening. Now, it's hard because every time anyone thought Tom Brady was going to slow down, he not only didn't slow down and he won. So I'm not going to bet against Tom Brady, but eventually it's going to happen. Like there's going to be a season where I don't know if he's going to suck, but he's not going to be a top five quarterback. And you would say at 45, I mean, how long is it going to go? Is he going to be able to play quarterback until he's 47, 48? Now it feels like, is he going to

retire after this season? Is he going to go play for the Miami Dolphins? I, I, I, I, I, I, I don't know. But who's to say? Lifelong Raider fan from the first Oakland run. I do not understand not picking up Jacobs' fifth year option, as when he is healthy, he is a top 10 back. So if he's healthy and productive this year, he walks for nothing,

or you have to franchise costing even more. Your thoughts on this? Well, as a running back, like ultimately they don't think that paying Josh Jacobs 12, 13, $14 million is worth it, even if he is fully healthy. And I don't disagree. I don't think ideally you want to be paying a running back unless he is like Walter

Payton in his prime or maybe Derek Henry, $13,14 million. I think we consistently see it not pan out. Alvin Kamara gets paid, up and down, injured, now in trouble. Dalvin Cook always hurt. Zeke falls off a cliff. Wouldn't you just rather have like three running backs on rookie deals? So I think it's just simply, when Josh Jacobs is healthy, he's really good. I agree with you.

But I don't like tying up money in my cap when I'm paying Max Crosby, Derek Carr, Devante Adams, Hunter Renfro, Darren Waller to paying a running back. Because I think I can draft random running backs. Look at the Patriots. They got a bunch of random guys and they ran the ball down people's throats. So I think that is the reason they didn't pick it up. One is it's been hit or miss with his health, but they just don't view paying a guy, especially one that gets injured, you know, $12, $13 million.

And I don't think that's the wrong decision. You and many sports personalities argue Seattle should attempt to acquire Baker Mayfield or Jimmy G. From a talent perspective, I agree Baker and Jimmy are upgrades over Drew Locke. However, given the state of Seattle's roster, what is the point? An upgraded quarterback might get Seattle four or five wins instead of two or three and take them out of the number one draft pick contention. I think Seattle is bluffing. leaf in Drew Locke in order to justify

bottoming out and rebuilding. Thoughts. Again, my stance on this has not changed. Pete Carroll and John Snyder are trying to win. Especially Pete, I promise you that. John Snyder might be cool with it if he's been given

assurances. I know he's on a long-term deal in making money, but we know these teams can pay anyone to go away. Like the NFL, I mean, what if they win three games and they both get fired? Whoever takes over that job, it's a great job if they have the number one overall pick. But what if you're those guys?

One risky part of football, and I would just say pro sports in general, like Paul Allen's no longer alive. They're dealing with the sisters. Who's to say that they won't sell that team? And then a new owner comes in. And you're not a sacred cow to that new owner. So I don't think either of them are guaranteed

if they have a three-win season to be brought back. I'm not saying they get fired, but I just, I don't think you ever know. And I think with the way the NFL is, GMs and coaches always try to win. They always do right or wrong. I don't think like that. I'm in agreement.

They should suck and try to get the number one overall pick and pick a quarterback. But what if John and Pete were sitting right here and be like, yeah, what if we win three games and I'm fired? If I'm Pete Carroll, I'm 72 years old, I'm never going to be a head coach again. Now Schneider has a long resume, right? Is that a lot of success?

But you're never guaranteed to get a second GM job. That's not the way it works. You're just not. Why do you think kickers and special teams do not get talked about when talking about games? Guys like Justin Tucker, I think, are big factors when it come to play calling latent games. I know they aren't as sexy as receivers or pass rushers, but I think they separate good and mediocre teams. I agree. When you have a good kicker and you have a good punter, it is a huge point of difference for your team.

Right? The punter can create field position constantly and the kicker when he is nails from 55. and in, you're always in scoring range once you cross midfield, or at least not far away from it. So it helps your play calling. I think you hit the nail on the head. It's not fun to talk about kickers and punters. Right?

You ever play golf? No one talks about putting putting putting three woods and drivers, right? Football's the same way. You talk about scoring touchdowns. You thought about throwing bombs. You talk about sacking the quarterback. No one talks about Justin Tucker until you need Justin Tucker. And it kicks a 64-year-old game-winning field goal.

and everyone's hugging him at midfield. And Justin Tucker, like Adam Vin and Terry, probably are some of the most famous kickers of all time. Matt from Australia. Have a question after listening to the latest pod. Contracts are getting bigger and bigger in the cash department. We all know guys these days get paid more money. But would love to know if that's relative to 10, 20, 30 years ago.

Instead of talking money anymore, let's start talking percentage of the cap hit the player is taking. I think that will really show where each position is trending and the importance of the guy in a results-driven league. Stay golden, my man. I don't think you're wrong. That would just take effort. And if an intern or someone wants to do a little research, I think guys have always made a lot of money.

Right. There's a big difference even in the day and age when things are more expensive and inflation. I love it when they're like, inflation's 8%. Not where I fucking live. Where I live, it's about 30%. And the cities I've been in in the last year, the Bay Area, LA and Scottsdale, it ain't close to 8, 9%. It's much closer to 30, 40%.

But, like, you make $40 million, I don't care how expensive things are. That's a lot of money. Now, if you made $5 million in 95, that was a lot of money too. I also think it's relative to how much money everyone else is making. Like now, if you make a million dollars, that's still a ton of money.

But I remember when someone made a million dollars, like when I was in junior high in like 96, that was a shitload of money because you could buy an enormous house for a million dollars. In nice areas now, you're not sniffing a nice house for 3x that. So now is two and a half, three million dollars, the old million dollars?

I remember getting a job out of college for 60, 70 grand. Well, is that now 100 grand? So to me, money is always relative, right? Things used to cost less, things cost more, relative to how much people are making in your industry, relative to how much things cost in society. Also the cap.

Like to me, the cap wasn't that relative, right? Guaranteed money has changed. I hear what you're saying. That'd be a fun exercise. Probably too late, but who would you got to win this thing? Can't imagine isn't Rory, chef, Rom, Rom, or Morcawa. So much firepower in the top 10. I took Burns at 20 to 1 just because he seems like value.

I had a ticket on Zalotauris, 25 to 1, obviously Matt's Fitzpatrick won it. Fantastic tournament. Football is an incredible sport to gamble on. Golf is fun. If you have a guy on Sunday in the mix and you have a ticket for him to win or to top five, it is thrilling. And I promise you, now I love golf, but if you enjoy gambling, I'll promise you gambling on golf is a wild ride.

If you are close to being in the mix to earn. some cash. It is very, very fun. And part of it is $100 I had on Will Zalotauris. If he won, I would have made $2,600. If I put $100 on the bills playing the Jets, I'm probably going to make $90, right? There's just nothing like the return on investment in golf gambling. Now, it's hard if I bet on the bills, like I basically have a 50-50 chance to win. If you bet on golf, it's not even close to that. It's very, very small percentages. But the high and the juice of being in the mix is, I mean, having Zalotaurus on Sunday at the U.S. Open, I mean, I'm pacing around my house. That put on 18, I mean, I could barely watch. He missed it, but God, I thought he had

it. Oh, that one's going to haunt me. I appreciate everyone listening. Fire in those direct messages. I need you guys. I need, I'm calling for you guys. My Instagram is my name, fire in those DMs, and let's talk. Adios. Adjohn. I'm Middokoff. See you. Volume. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and Friends.

Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter.

Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the I Heart Radio, 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 I-Hard Radio app, podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying.

Yep, that's me. Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, 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 Cliford 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 Cliford Show on the. iHeard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. 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. This is an IHeart podcast.

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