The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 3 and Out - Chiefs Even Scarier, Bad Deshaun Night; Brady/Belichick Uncertainty; Rams Questions; 3 for the $ ATS Picks; Mailbag

Episode Date: September 11, 2020

In this episode, John breaks down the season opener between the Chiefs and Texans, why the Chiefs are even scarier than last year, and why Deshaun Watson's happy feet in the pocket repeatedly got him into trouble. He also discusses why Brady and Belichick face unprecedented uncertainty in their first year apart, why Rams need to be entertaining or risk LA irrelevance, gives his top 3 picks ATS Week 1 Picks; and answers listener questions in the Middlekauff Mailbag. Follow John on twitter @JohnMiddlekauff and go to theherdnow.com to find the latest content. Subscribe now! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, 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 IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games.

Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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, 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, unfiltered conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but the show. 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. On the Look Back at it podcast. From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84's 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. 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. Get right to the romance and find the way to wow this valentines with 1800flowers.com. From classic roses and bouquets to decadent chocolate-covered berries, gourmet treats, and more.

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I appreciate everyone listening on this little thing we call opening night. I don't even know if they call that in football, but we had game one. Super Bowl champs. Nancy Chiefs against the Bill O'Brien's Houston Texans, no DeAndre Hopkins, and it wasn't that great of a game. It was if you were a Chiefs fan because they kicked their ass. It was 34 to 20, but honestly, it didn't feel that close. We'll dive in to a couple thoughts based on the game.

Got a lot of stuff coming up on this weekend, some Belichick thoughts, some Brady thoughts, some things on the L.A. Rams. I pick a couple games for the weekend. then of course middlecoff mailbag at john middlecoff is the instagram slide right in you'll get your question to answer here on the podcast if you if you could and i know a lot of you have middlecoff uh the three and out podcast with me john middlecoff is up on iTunes and separate i know some of you guys listen on collins feed and you guys can listen if you could subscribe to that as well leave a review if you like the pod it helps us sell it it's all all

basically. I know I'm just, I just talk, but the salespeople tell me it does with reviews and helps the rankings and all that type stuff. But we had football. And I think Pat Riley used this term once upon a time, the disease of more, the disease of me. I think it's human nature, right? It's really easy when you're in the gutter, when you, I've been fired before, that feeling of like, I'm going to show them. I've always believed. that when you're at your lowest points, it's the easiest to respond, right? To me, it's easy to dig yourself out of a hole.

It's harder sometimes to stay at the top of the mountain. And why I've always thought it's really impressive when champions can maintain their edge and their drive. I've said it forever about Tiger Woods. He's worth hundreds of millions of dollars. He's won everything humanly possible, and yet he's still grind and trying to win. And hell he won last year.

Like, what is he doing? Tom Brady, who will get in later, 43 years old, six Lombardis, MVP's, money, the wife, the family, he made it. What's he doing? This drive is incredible.

But I do think individuals you can find, right? Tom, Michael, Tiger, whatever. It's hard to find teams to stay motivated, especially players once they got paid. Now, I expect. did Mahomes the contract not to phase him. And I know, obviously, no Coach Reed and Veach and just other guys on that staff and the reverence they have for Patrick, but just his attitude, his mindset.

Like, he was not going to be phased by the money. Now, when you get paid that type money, you never know. But still, I mean, he was the 10th overall pick. He had been a millionaire. He had won the MVP. We saw him bounce back after his MVP year and win the Super Bowl. but I thought the Patrick Mahomes we're going to see is the Patrick Mahomes we're going to see.

And it's clear. There is no argument. Not that there really was. But he's not just the best quarterback. He's the best player in the league by a mile. He's clearly the best quarterback. Like he's just, he's a bona fide superstar, rock star, one of the most elite talents we've ever seen.

But we already kind of knew that. To me it was more like Chris Jones got paid. And I had thought over the offseason like, you know, Is he a guy that, you know, how's he going to act once he gets paid? He dominated tonight. Kelsey, it's like, you know, he's been in the league for seven, eight, nine years. He's been an all pro, pro bowler. He's made money.

He's his third contract. He looked like tonight, like, oh, you guys are telling me, kiddell's the best tied in the league. I mean, if those type guys are going to pay with the chip on their shoulder, this team, man, you don't need to be Bill Walsh. You don't need to be Tom Landry. you don't need to be Parcells to see this team is elite. I mean, they had the best offense in the league the last couple years.

I don't care what you tell me about statistically. When Mahomes is right and they're healthy, it ain't a fair fight. Then you add this little running back Clyde Edwards Haleigh, H is silent, as Al said, to the mix. So they've already had the most potent passing attack in a passing league. And then you add this little guy who runs like a big guy who can make you miss, who can run guys over, who didn't even have a catch tonight, who's a great catching running back out of the backfield. Like this team, man, and then defensively,

they have more than enough pieces. I mean, they got two big-time defensive linemen and Frank Clark and Chris Jones. They're secondary solid. Their coaching staff on defense. I mean, Spagnola feels like he's pretty solid now. Like, this team's really good. And they played last night, like,

reminded me a little bit of the 73 win warriors, who won the championship, the next year came back in FU mode and just dominated the league. And we haven't seen this in a long time, maybe since the Packers, after they won the Super Bowl in 2011, they went 15 and 1. That year, the Patriots in 2007, but part of that was Deflate Gate and Belichick and Brady were just in FU mode. When the best, most talented team in the league is in FU mode, I don't know really what

you do, right? They have more talent than you. Basically every game they're going to play, they have a better coach. than you. Their players right now are so locked in. They have so much cohesion. Kelsey, Mahomes, Tyreek, even Watkins now. These guys have been there forever. The offensive lineman, Fisher, Mitchell Schwartz. Their players have all been together. And it's like, well, Clyde's a rookie. Well, he's kind of coming from the chiefs of college football. He's coming from LSU. That team, I'm not even trying to overreact, but it's pretty clear they got a lot going for him.

and if the quarterback stays healthy, I think they're the heavy favorites to win it again. And I appreciate that they still care, that they're still trying. And you think it's the price of admission, play hard, you're playing a sport for a living. We've seen year after year for a long period of time that as guys get paid. I remember hearing John Lynch one time,

actually before he was even in the league, tell a story about like after the Tampa Bay Buccaneer team won a Super Bowl, he's like the next year driving like OTAs he's like you know I knew we were in a little trouble like our backup offensive lineman was doing commercials our third corner had like the nicest car in the parking lot he's like everyone kind of felt themselves I'm like you know I don't know if we still have the same edge and I've always thought about this for myself like it's been easy professionally where I'm at right now at 35 my entire life since I've graduated college scratching and clawing and wanting more and desiring more and I can't do this more. I want to do this. I want to make more money here. What happens one day? Like, I have the utmost respect for Colin Coward because I've seen, I went and prepped with a show. He shows up at like 5.30 in the morning. And when he says on his television show or his radio show or podcast, however you consume them, that we've been prepping here for three hours, he ain't lying. And I'll promise you this. I know enough people now in the media and we've

all heard the stories. Some people just show up. when you have that big of a work ethic and clearly the chiefs do and you have a kind of a chip on your shoulder even after you've made it after you won the ring or after you've accomplished whatever you have in the field

like the sky's the limit like what is Jeff Bezos still grinding for I don't know it's just he's just wired like that I mean like Steve Jobs till his dying days was just grinding certain guys like what is Jerry Jones so consumed with all this for certain guys are wired that way And clearly the Chiefs players, like I knew the coaches are never in phase,

but they're players like if Kelsey and Chris Jones are going to keep playing this hard, making that much money to go along with Mahomes and how good he is? Like, what type contract would you have had to give Patrick Mahomes to feel bad? It was too much money. $700 million? I'd feel pretty good. $800? Like what is the number that he wouldn't be worth?

I mean, I didn't even think they like play. that well the night, and they just won with ease. He just had a cool 24-32, a couple hundred yards, three touchdowns, just see you later. Audio, see you guys next week. I mean, that's just, man, that can't see Chief's team is the real deal. Okay, let me dive into something really quick, and if you listen to Monday's podcast, you know I like this player. I have, I heaped a lot of praise on Deshaun Watson, but I got to go the other way tonight. He has some bad habits.

And you noticed it. I mean, I don't watch the Texans like super hard like I do some of the other teams in the league. But I watch them enough. And I've obviously watched a lot of Deshawn Watson. Tonight I thought, like not every sack is equal. When you get sacked, it isn't always on the offensive lineman. Now, sometimes your offensive lineman gets beat or is pushing a guy at the pocket. You have to step up.

And listen, I am the most, I've changed dramatically in terms of pocket. passers, right? I want my guys to be mobile. I want Mahomes. I want Deshawn Watson. But you still have to play within the pocket because that is the rhythm of the offense. And tonight, even when he's thrown off in the pocket, you don't need to take off. And when Deshawn Watson takes off, and I'm not talking about down the field, he runs around in the pocket. And he puts his head down when he runs. What throws off the entire play. So you might as well, I can't even judge the play call from Bill O'Brien, the moment Deshaun Watson starts doing 360s in the pocket. You have to step up and you have to slide.

Now, there are times when you have to roll out of the pocket and make a throw on the move, which he can do, clearly. But when he gets sacked and he's getting chased by Chris Jones or Frank Clark, and he's looking at the ground running away from, like, that's a problem. That is not a good play. And he took several hits tonight that he doesn't need to take. Part of being $150 million, $160 million quarterback, you have to play smart.

I can't afford, and it's a hard balance, right? There's a fine line of being a playmaker, keeping plays alive, and no one went to live another down. Throw the ball at the trainer on the sideline. And he needs to learn when shit hits the fan, just throw the ball away. Because I don't need you doing two, three, 60s, and getting body slammed by Frank Clark or Chris Jones.

You're going to get hurt that way. and we just paid you a lot of money we need you because you're the franchise and you when you start getting bad habits and there's a balance which again not all his fault earlier in his career his offensive line

was atrocious and I'd have to look at the film to know how terrible or bad is offensive line like they're playing good defensive line men tonight but part of being like Drew Breeze Tom Brady Peyton Manning I mean the greatest quarterbacks of Aaron Rogers they don't always have a great offensive line

You have to manipulate the defensive linemen with steps, with subtle movements. You don't always need to run. You have to keep your eyes down the field. You don't need to be Bill Walsh to understand this about NFL quarterback play. I know Greg Cosell talks about it all the time. And Russell Wilson, earlier on his career,

ran into a lot of sacks. And when you're running into sacks, that's on the quarterback. And the media thinks every offensive lineman sucks. And listen, I'm not some like former offensive lineman beating the drum. Though I did play a little guard in high school. My point is like tonight there were some plays where it just felt like

and maybe he was all thrown off, they got down big, but it was an ugly night for Deshawn Watson and just in terms of playing the position. Because for him to be a great quarterback and become like an all-time quarterback and become a Super Bowl level player, he's going to really need to hone in on the details of the position for greatness. Like you can already tell Mahomes, and I'm not trying to compare him to Mahomes,

but Mahomes has the perfect balance. He can be the playmaker when it really calls for it, but he also can just subtly slide in the pocket, step up in the pocket, move over in the pocket, avoid a little rush here in the pocket, keep his feet set, deliver the strike. I'm watching Mahomes kind of, or, I mean, Deshawn getting happy feet. Not because he's scared,

but because he's just not playing calm in the pocket. He's just a little jittery. And to me, there's a difference of jittery. Some guys are terrified. Watson, clearly not terrified. But you can be jittery just because you have, like,

your fundamentals are kind of bad. And I thought it's fundamentals, and it might just be, this year's a little weird, maybe can get it back, but I had people tweeting at me, like, you know, he does it sometimes. and he's

you got to avoid that because if you're going to do that you're going to play bad the chiefs aren't the 85 bears and they kind of handled them the night now again his offensive line isn't the 93 Cowboys offensive line

I understand that but you pay a guy that much money I just I need some better fundamentals out of you you have to keep your feet up or your head up you can't 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. 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 conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated.

One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast, it's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger.

So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network

on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tapped Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at It podcast. I'm Sam Jek. And I'm Alex English.

Each episode, we pick a here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84's big time, to me not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so you all know. I mean, at this point, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack.

So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you for finishing that sentence. Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history.

Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience

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

Be running away from two defensive linemen within the pocket. Just throw the ball away or hit the ground. Live to fight another day. You can't. He has to learn to balance the hero ball. And does he have the right coach for that? I don't know. I mean, Bill O'Brien's not a great GM.

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Okay, let's talk about some stuff this weekend. And actually, on Wednesday night, my little brother just bought a place really close to where my mom is, so I went to see them. And Wednesday night at the club that he's a member of, they got a little skins game, so we played a little golf. I didn't win any skins. I've been terrible all season long, worst golfing summer of my life. and then I came home and I threw on the television

and there was this documentary on Barcelona, the soccer team, who I'm not a European soccer aficionado, but I know enough, Man City, Manchester United, Barcelona, Real Madrid, the top teams. Obviously, Barcelona, they got this guy, don't know if you ever heard of them named Messi, many consider them the greatest soccer player ever. Documentary was badass.

It's about Messi, it's about this, coach named Pep, who's a bald guy who's now at Man City. And it's really just about the greatness of what this team became in the peak of Messi when they hired this coach named Pep. And they went on this run that many considered for like a two or three year run from like 09, 10, 11, and 12, like one of the greatest soccer teams that's ever played. And this guy named Tieri-Henri, I think he's French, but he played on this team. and I remember him from the World Cup

and he's in the documentary a lot. Actually, Messi's not in the documentary that much in terms of speaking. He does a little bit, but it's a lot of Tierra-on-Ree talks a lot. And at one point in time, he said something, I may have had a little edible chill on the couch, so my head was working,

and I'm jotting down a couple notes when the topic hits right, and I was like, that is a sweet line. He said, after a while, people knew we were going to win. They just turned us on to watch us play. And I started thinking like, wow, that's a pretty profound statement, right?

Most of us, when you're a fan of a team, you flip on the channel to see if your team is going to win or lose. And if you really think about it, I'm 35 years old, there have been a small handful of teams slash individuals that you really just turned them on to watch them play. Because deep down, you knew they were going to kick everyone's ass. there really is two guys to stand out to me. Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods. Like, when I was a kid, you watched Michael Jordan,

you knew he was going to win the MVP, the championship, none of that matter. You just wanted to watch him drop 40. You wanted to watch him play. The result was already set. Tiger, you know, for that 10-year span, it was like, he was winning like 40% of his tournament events. I mean, he was winning just, I mean,

every major he entered. You're like, he's going to win. Now, he didn't always win, but you sure as hell thought it. You just turned it on to watch him play. For the most part, I can imagine if you're an Eagles fan, a Seattle fan, any team, right? Or Cincinnati Reds fan, even a Yankees fan. You have different years where you think your team's really good, but you know, you're always a little nervous you're going to win or lose.

It's really rare to get that. You just watch for the greatness, and that's why greatness is so hard to find, right? It's why Tiger and Michael are fucking legends. You know, it's why Belichick and Brady are legends. For the last decade, they have been the best team in the league consistently for a wide margin. I was recording my other podcast today, and my partner, Guy Haberman, gave me a stat. He said, come Sunday morning, or I guess it's Sunday afternoon. And for those of you on the East Coast, actually, you know, the game kicks off at 4 o'clock,

so it's like late afternoon evening. Tom Brady has not been an underdog in a game. in a game since 2014. This is the first game at Tampa Bay. He is an underdog in in half a decade. Think about that stat. Every time when you turned on the Pats, and listen, I live in California, I'm not a Pats fan.

I just appreciate greatness. We all thought the same thing, whether it was a playoff game, whether it was a regular season game, whether it was a Super Bowl. Pat's are going to find a way. Pat's are going to win. We already thought in our head the result.

We just turned on like, wonder what Belichick has up his sleeve today. I wonder what Brady is going to pull out of his ass and bring some crazy comeback, or is he going to throw four touchdowns. We just turn them on to watch them play. Or hate watching them or whatever, but we're all thinking the same thing.

They're going to win. Just like when we watched Tiger in 2003 or Michael in the 90s. Or I'm sure if you watch Barcelona, in 2011. They're going to kick the shit out of you. Just see how they're going to do it. And that is no longer the case.

Brady and we've talked about this before since Brady left, like, they were good for the NFL. They were a tandem of greatness. And they brought some controversy, but they consistently won. And they consistently dominated people. They didn't have rivals

because people tried to be their rivals, the Texans. They owned them. Colts, onage, Pittsburgh Steelers. We can talk about how terrible their division was for the last decade. Let's go around to the other teams. The Steelers, who easily were the best team the last four or five years, couldn't beat them. The Patriots owned them.

We knew when they played these teams, they were going to win. And even the games where you're watching, you're like, no way they're going to pull this out. And they do. Down in the Super Bowl of the Falcons, the Chiefs game a couple years ago in the AFC championship game. things just always kind of fell their way. Now it doesn't mean they always won the Super Bowl.

They clearly didn't. Now I think they've won three of the last six. Those days are over. They got a divorce. I mean, that's to me, for the first time in forever, we don't have a team in the league where every week you turn it on. Literally, Vegas has favored them, like I said, since 2014. They're going to win.

And there is something cool about that. Now, I get if you're a Jets fan, a Bill's fan, a Steeler fan, but listen, if you're like me, you just love the sport and you appreciate coaches, you appreciate great players, like, it kind of sucks that it's broken up. Now, it's kind of cool to watch them both cook separately because we get Belichick gets Cam Newton, that's fun. We get Brady gets Aryans and good players around them, that's fun.

So it's still really enjoyable. But what we had for the last 12 years, but really the last decade, like when those two became really, really famous, and took their legacies and the brand and the league to another level, we don't get that. And watching that Barcelona documentary when he says, people just turned us on to watch us play. You know what he's saying?

People turned us on to watch us dominate. People turned us on to hate watch us. No matter what, you were peaking. Because you already knew what the result was going to be. And I think it kind of resonated with me because I'm like, God, that was the Patriots. Like, I mean, how many. many people hate watch the Patriots over the last however many years.

Even me. And listen, I love the greatness. I already miss them. But, I mean, I'll be the first to say, yeah, I got a little tired. I mean, I was ready for Mahomes and Nandy to start winning. I'm ready for Kyle Shanahan to start winning. I'm ready for other teams to start winning. But we'll see.

I mean, I think there's going to be an impact felt on the league. Obviously, the Cowboys, you put them on TV, a lot of people watch. but the New England Patriots for the majority of their franchise history were irrelevant. Not like the Boston Red Sox or the Boston Celtics, they were a terrible franchise who had one kind of high watermark in the mid-90s. Belichick turned them into the second biggest brand in the league. Second biggest brand in the league. When you put them on television,

more people watch than any other team beside the Dallas Cowboys. And we don't get that anymore. it's going to be fascinating to watch Tom Brady and Bruce Ariens, underdog. I think they're going to be good, but who knows? There is a chance that we just look back. Like, that's, you know, like Brett Farve with the Jets, you know, or Jordan with the Wizards.

Or it's like Montana with the Chiefs, right? Who knows? I don't have a good feel. I think they're going to be pretty solid, but, you know, your guess is good as mine. I mean, he's 43 years old. he drinks, you know, a lot of water, eats a lot of avocados and doesn't eat tomatoes, but man, 43 years old. The majority of my life, once you got to like 37, you started looking like Philip Rivers did last year.

You don't get to keep kicking ass, right? So eventually it's going to come to a head. Is it this year, is it next year? Does it never happen? Does he just defy logic? Maybe he does. Maybe he's just the greatest, you know, quarterback and human that's ever lived. I don't know. And Belichick, you'd think, is eventually going to just have a losing season. I wouldn't bet against either, though. I know that. But I'll promise you, we're going to miss the tandem. I'd argue we already do a little.

One thing I've always said, and my experience getting to live in Philadelphia, really crystallized this for me, is that the biggest difference between West Coast sports and, like, North East Sports, or I'd even say the South, and probably the South a little more college sports, but they can be shitty and still be interesting in the South and the Northeast. When I was in Philly, we had a down year,

just as many people cared. Like, when the Phillies suck, people are locked in. If the Yankees are good or bad, people are going to care. Alabama, win or lose, everyone's all in. University of Florida could have a down year, but people are still, like, they're moved emotionally. Out West, we just don't do boring. You know?

And I think, listen, people say we're fair weather fans. It's true. That doesn't mean we're not really passionate. But we're just less likely to care that much when you lose. Baseball, basketball, football, you name it. When it comes to sports, whether it's the weather, whether it's just, I think a lot of it's the weather. I do. But I also think it's just more of a laid-back cold.

culture. I don't think people are as die hard. Now, once you win, all their chips are on the table. And I've seen it. I've never lived in Southern California. But I really just, I went to school in the Central Coast with a lot of people from L.A. and a lot of people from the Bay Area. I always thought the biggest difference of the people were just they surf down there. We didn't surf up here. It's just a bigger part of the culture. But in terms of the way we carry ourselves, the way we talk, similar. It really is. But when I went to Philly for those couple years, I was like, this is a different human out here. I actually kind of liked it because I'm little patience, very passionate about sports, obviously, and just kind of crazy. Like, I fit in pretty well in Philly. I enjoyed my time

there. I related a lot to the people there. Though, like at my core, I still have a lot of California in me. But I've seen it with the Niners. Like, there were years where apathy sent in, and people just did not care, and the television ratings plummeted. This is the San Francisco 49ers who are one of the biggest brands in the league. When they win, they do huge national television ratings. Their fan base

in numbers is massive. They win three games, no one will watch. You know, when the Eagles or Steelers or Packers or the New York Giants, even when those teams suck, like people are paying attention. Talk radio is still booming. It draws a lot of emotion.

It's not that way out here. And I think the one thing the Niners have, or even now Seattle has, is they've been in an area for a long time. And they resonate with people now over generations. The L.A. Rams are kind of different, right? You know, St. Louis stole the team from L.A. for 20 years. And Cronke, who's a Missouri native, brought them back. He spent $5 billion on this stadium that we're going to watch Sunday night against the Cowboys.

Watching hard knocks, I mean, just the stadium looks badass. I would, you know, hopefully once corona dies sooner than later, and we can get back to normal in 2021, 2021, somewhere in the near future, I would like to go to Sophy Stadium, also the Vegas Stadium Allegiant. Raiders might try to not let me in, but I'll definitely stand will let me in. I'll buy a ticket. I like sitting with the people. I would like to see those two stadiums.

They look freaking awesome. But here's the one thing with L.A. and I think it's a big reason why they trade it for Jalen Ramsey I would say up here like having stars it definitely matters like I grew up on Barry Bonds Steph Curry Montana you see all these guys but I do think if you win people will care there have been some Giants teams that didn't have great stardom

and everyone in this area cared I do think it's pretty important down there to have some star power like when I think the Lakers I think Magic Shack Kobe when I think even the Dodgers, the team they've had over the last five, six years, just loaded with stars, right? I mean, the Pete Carroll USC team felt like an NFL team.

I never went to one of their practices, but everyone used to tell me you would go on like a Wednesday, a competition Tuesday, and just the celebrities and the agents, and it was just a zoo, it was a party. It was Hollywood is what it was. And I think naturally,

when we think LA, that's the first thing we think of is like Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, the stars, Malibu, and anyone that's driven down there, it's beautiful, it's gorgeous, it's freaking awesome. But they're very, they're fair weather, like we all are out west, but they're also very star-driven.

And the L.A. Rams, I think, have a star head coach. I think McVeigh is like the millennial version of Gruden. You watch them on Hard Knocks. I'm not sure many people listening did not watch much Hard Knocks. the television ratings were terrible. I'll admit it got a little slow

the last couple episodes. But I enjoy watching Sean McVeigh and Anthony Lynn. I feel bad. I talk a lot of crap about him. Still don't know if he's a great like scheme guy because he doesn't call the offense, doesn't call the defense,

but he has a really impressive guy, high character guy. Very likable. I'd want to be Anthony Lynn's friend. He's an impressive dude. Same with Sean McVeigh. And Sean McVeigh is really probably the star of their franchise.

And then you get Aaron Donald. They just pay Jalen Ramsey. They got Jared Goff. They have star players on paper, right? They have two of the best defensive players in the league. As someone in the league texts me, or I was actually on the phone with him, probably within the last week,

he's like, you know what? Brocker's a good starter. He's like, Google the rest of their defensive roster. They stink. How are they going to stop anybody? What happens? And listen, I think Jalen's the best. That's corner in the league, and I think Aaron Donald is one of the best defensive players we've ever seen.

But if one of those two guys goes down, I mean, they're paying them both an astronomical amount of money in the next couple of years, they're not going to be able to build up that defense. And offensively, they're paying Jared Goff like he is a pro ball star. And I like Jared Goff, and I think he's going to be fine. But he can't move. He's not a mobile quarterback, and their offensive line can't block anybody. So their margin for error on offense is pretty slim. Now, they should be able to run the ball.

I know a lot of people in the league, like the Acres kid that they drafted out of Florida State. They do have a lot of skill guys, right? In Cooper Cups, a baller, Robert Woods. I once in a draft meeting compared to him to Reggie Wayne, didn't look good early, got out of Buffalo. I feel a lot better about that now. I think he's going to go on to have a long productive career. He had over 90 catches last year. He's a baller.

And Van Jefferson, he looks good, too. But as we saw, like last year, the teams that win win in the trend. Can you win with an offense? You've got to have a good offensive line. You can't beat good teams because most good teams have good defensive lines. When your offensive line is weak, it's the problem for the Packers. It was a problem for the Vikings. It's going to be the problem for the Rams.

And I'm just fascinated to know they spent all this money on the stadium, all these glitz and bright lights, and they're spending just a crazy amount of money on a handful of guys. And I don't know if it's going to be good enough. And I don't think they're going to be terrible. they have too much high-end talent. The problem, though, with having a lot of high-end talent that you're paying a large percentage of your cap,

if one of them gets injured, your depth on your team is very, very limited. And listen, they had no choice. Once you give up two first-rounders to get Jalen Ramsey, what are you going to do? Let them test free agency after this year? I mean, you had to pay them. And I got no problem paying them.

But talking with some guys, and my philosophy on corners have changed a little bit. I would put all my chips in the table on my front seven. I would get multiple sweet defensive linemen. I think linebackers undervalued in the NFL. Think how many teams in the league have either a sweet running back. I saw John Gruden the other day give it his press conference. She's like, well, we got McCaffrey this week.

We got Alvin Camaro the next week. You know, we got... 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.

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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, personal health, personal health, personal. purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations,

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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. And yes, I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast. Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month,

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

And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the hard way and listen now. Austin Echler, the following week, you know, next week. It's Melvin Gordon, Philip Lindsay. You know, just every team's got sweet running backs now.

Chris Carson, this one, Miles Sanders, this week. Then we got this guy. It's like every team has a guy that can Zeke, that can catch, that can run. Who's covering that guy? You're linebackers. You need three down linebackers. The day and age of these two-down mics are dead.

The hybrid linebackers matter. Now, obviously you'd want Luke Keekly. but just get some of these guys that are in the league like the Niners guy, Fred Warner. Obviously, Bobby Wagner's had a long career. You see some of these guys drafted the last couple years. Last year, Bush from Michigan. You saw this year, Kenneth Murray, Queen, the guys at the end of the first round. The kid, the Seahawks drafted.

You need guys that can play sideline to sideline and cover. Who's doing that for the Rams? They didn't have any money, so Corey Littleton got to walk to the Raiders. I think their team's pretty flawed. I think they're going to be in a little bit of trouble. And you don't want to be in trouble in L.A. Because people won't care. And they have so much money invested in this working,

I think it's going to be a challenge. Now, again, let me put this on record. I don't think the Rams are going to stink. I think they're going to compete to win eight, nine games and be in the wild card mix the whole year, just like last year. If the playoff rules were of, 2020 or 2019, they would have made the playoffs.

I just don't know if that's good enough. Like part of going to L.A., like, I need Jack Kobe. You know, I need Mookie Beck and Clayton Kershaw. Now, you can lose in the playoffs or whatever. That's fine. But I need some just, I need 11 wins if you really want to get Southern California talking about you. Because you got LeBron James, you got the Dodgers killing it. I think it's going to be harder than people think.

No one cares about making the Super Bowl two years ago. I think how much has happened since then. I barely remember the Super Bowl this year. And I went. I didn't actually go to the game, but I was there in Miami. Feels like seven years ago. So there is pressure. If I'm Stan Crocky, I'm spending all this money.

I'm telling my GM, like, I'm telling Sean, like, put your balls on the table this year. We need to win 10 games, double-digit plus. Because if we win, we go 7 to 9, 8, and 8, no one in this town's going to care. Get right to the romance and find the way to wow this valentines with 1-800flowers.com. From classic roses and bouquets to decadent chocolate-covered berries, gourmet treats, and more. Surprise your valentine with 1-800flowers.com.

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Brought to you by the United States Forest Service and the ad council. And we're live here outside the Perez family home just waiting for the... And there they go. Almost on time this morning. Mom is coming out the front door strong with a double-armed kid carry. Looks like dad has the bags. Daughter is bringing up the rear. Oh, but the diaper bag wasn't closed.

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and the Ad Council Okay we're going to do this Every Every Friday And this is not my idea But I'm going to pick three games And I've actually bet on two of these But we're going to talk about it

From a gambling perspective Now whoever sent me this DM I can't My DMs I get so many And I lose them And I can't keep up track with everyone but it's going to be called three for the money again the dammers idea not mine appreciate the idea and i'm going to pick three games i i have hard cash on two of these and i i still by the time

kickoff goes might bet on the other but i would have no problem betting on on all three of these these are where i'm going to put my money i bet i think you hear a lot of people talk in sports now that like act like they gamble i think a lot of them are lying uh i'm 35 i've been gambling since probably about 16 when I used to sneak into Cash Creek playing blackjack. I've been gambling on sports since college, Eli Manning. So that would have been about 08. I would have been, you know, early 20. So about, you know, 13, 14 years, maybe 07.

I didn't have access to like bookies. And when online casinos started to get big, if you remember when online poker or just poker on ESPN kind of blew up, then online poker became big. and you could bet on sports, so I got into it at about 07. So I actually gamble, you know. I lose a lot, and I have to take periods off

because as I've made more money, like I don't get that much juice out of a $10 bet. Like, you know, my unit's probably $100 a unit for me. And I can get up there pretty quick, you know, and anyone that gambles knows you can lose, but you can also win. And I plan on winning. So three for the money.

Let's go with my first game. And this is based off my bookie. Obviously, some of these numbers might change a point, a half a point. Some of these games have changed like three or four points over the last couple weeks. I've been eyeing this game since the schedule came out from a gambling perspective. The Browns at the Ravens. I think the Ravens are a little overvalued right now. I say it all the time.

Look at dominant rushing schemes, like especially unique ones. the Wildcat, what Harbaugh did with Kaepernick, they usually don't dominate for a long period of time, right? Dominant running backs, Emmett Smith, Walter Payton, Barry Sanders, Adrian Peterson, L.T. Can dominate. But schemes, when you're running like the triple option or the zone rate, stuff like that, it can get neutralized because what the hell do you think coaches do for the last eight months? Especially during the coronavirus.

They watch a bunch of film. So all these teams in the AFC North, who do you think they're? they watched. I think they studied Duck Hodges? No, they watched the Ravens and Lamar. Now, Lamar's going to have to become a better pastor. That's just, that's a fact. And listen, the Browns beat him last year.

The line, I think, opened at eight and a half. It came down all the way to seven. Last time I saw it at seven a half. I like the Browns here. I think they finally have a coach who just might have a chance to know what he's doing. They have a ton of sweet personnel. Their offense is loaded. Their offensive

lines better. They can run the ball. They have good players on defense. I don't know if the Browns necessarily win this game, but seven and a half points, I like the Brownies. This has been my favorite game on the slate for a while, and it's crazy that I say my favorite game of the slate involves betting on Gruden and Derek Carr, but that's where I've ended up.

Because under no circumstances, should John Gruden in Year 3, he has complete control of this roster, they have a bunch of good players now, especially on offense, they shouldn't kill the Carolina Panthers. Cam Newton, Luke Keakley, Greg Olson, Steve Smith, Sr.

ain't walking through that door. Teddy Bridgewater is. Now McCaffrey's a stud. And if you play fantasy, I'd probably put them on your fantasy team. But if I wanted to win a game, and they didn't win many last year, I don't think Carolina's going to be any good.

I think it's going to be a huge, just learning curve from Matt Ruhl, never been a head coach in the league. Obviously, been a head coach at Temple, been a coach at Baylor. Playing Brady, Breeze, and Matt Ryan is a little, different animal than getting Texas tech and Texas back-to-back weeks.

Welcome to the big leagues. I like Matt Rule. Joe Brady was a quality control coach a couple years ago. And beside McCaffrey, their defensive roster does not look good. The Raiders should win this game by 10. I know the game opened up. I think it even. It's now at minus three.

I would probably like the Raiders almost up to a touchdown. I've heard from people on the Raiders coaching staff. Darren Waller is even better than he was last year and he was a pro bowler. Josh Jacobs is a stud. the Brian Edwards and Rugs are awesome. They should dominate Carolina. The cohesion, they haven't lost a coach in three years. Gruden's been calling plays now as a head coach back in the league for a couple years.

Their teams are just much more improved on defense. They spend some money at linebacker. I love the Raiders minus three, which is crazy. If they lose this for me, I have some cash on this game. I'm going to be pissed. This is my favorite game of the week, though. Someone tweeted at me today Joe Judge, I think like 20 minutes into practice,

freaked out, it was a bad practice and made them all restart. Again, this isn't Little League, this isn't colleges, the NFL. And I just talked to some friends in the NFL. They said, Google who the Giants have on defense. And I did. And I don't know any of these players. They're not very good. They just cut their first round pick that they drafted last year.

They don't have a pass rush. They don't have any secondary. They're slow at linebacker. the Steelers who went 8 and 8 last year with a guy named Duck and Mason Rudolph. If Big Ben is just, he doesn't have to be peak Big Ben, pro-bowler, all-pro, future Hall of Famer. He just has to be like Kirk Cousins.

They have offensive skill guys, the guy they drafted last year, I think from Toledo, Deontay Thompson is legit. I still believe in Juju. They're just, their defense is top-notch. You think Sequin Barkley and Daniel Jones. Now, Sequin is going to make plays because Seekwan's elite. You think Daniel Jones is going to make plays against Pittsburgh Steelers? Monday night, Joe Judge, Mike Tomlin.

I like the Steelers huge in this game. Now, I got it at five. It's up to six. I'd probably like it up to seven points. There's obviously going to be no fans in Giant Stadium, MetLife, whatever the hell they call it now. I just, I can't like the Steelers enough. Steelers minus six, Raiders minus three. Browns plus seven and a half is what I have it at. Three for the money. Those are my picks. Okay, let's end this week with the little Middilkoff mailbag. At John Middlecoff. It's the Instagram handle.

DMs open, slide right in, and we interact here. Hey John, longtime listener. First time, DMer? Why at the Packers only won two Super Bowls with Farvin Rogers? Is it just because we are not a free agent destination? I know we got Reggie White a long time ago, but I wanted to hear your opinion. Whether on the show or a quick DM, thanks. That's a hell of a question.

To me it's less about the free agent destination and just more like how did they not win three of the last 25 years with Farvin Rogers? It really is crazy, especially some of Rogers teams. Now they ran into the Harbaugh-Nin-Niners, they ran into that Seattle team, but remember they had Seattle on the ropes. I don't really know what to say. I would say the over-under of having two top-10 quarterbacks all-time for when did Farve get good? 95 through 2020, so for 25 years.

Now I know Farv had a down year, a couple of years, and Rogers, they've had a couple down years over the years, but 20 of the 25 years have an elite quarterback play, I would say the over-under would have been two and a half, and I probably would have taken the over. So I would have said, this is the least amount of Super Bowls you could have possibly won with Aaron Rogers and Brough-Farf is what they had.

I'd say the max would have been like four. three would have felt right. I don't know if it has to do necessarily with free agent destination because I think you can always sign people. And look, they start throwing around a little money.

They signed Zadarius last year. The NFL, all these teams have money. There's a long-ass question. Jeez, Luis. I heard you disparage Matt Patricia and the Lions organization is truly sad. But am I crazy for thinking they have a damn good chance to win the division this season?

I have a few reasons like them. Stafford might be the most underrated quarterback in the league. Last year in the eight games he played, 2,500 yards, 19 touchdowns. Okay, they choked away the fourth quarter and had to settle for a tie in Arizona. Chiefs had to convert a fourth and eight on the final drive to win. Okay, blah, blah, blah. In the division, Minnesota, Green Bay are known to have great home field advantages,

but there will be no or limited fans this season. Good point. So that advantage will be mitigated to some extent. although in theory is that Green Bay's advantage has to do with their grasp, not just the fans. Minnesota plays three teams coming off a bye, two are home teams, one a row, blah, blah, blah.

Okay. I hate to bet against Zimmer. His record against the spread surpassed only by Belichick, but his defenses look depleted. His D-line lost Everson Griffin. This guy's got a pretty informative take here. The Bears also have quarterback controversy. I don't believe they will improve this season.

Love the podcast. Sorry for such a lengthy response. Please tell me. why I shouldn't bet the hell is on this? Yeah, in fairness, if you were going to take a flyer in the Lions, this would be the year. I think the Bears are going to be better

just because I don't think their quarterback play can possibly be worse. If Trubiske's just as shitty, they'll bench him for fools. I think Minnesota will come back to Earth a little bit and same with Green Bay. But they still have Aaron Rogers, and like you said,

they still have Mike Zimmer, and they still have a lot of good players. I just don't... What has Patricia shown us that he's good? Like, yeah, Matt Stafford can be a good. quarterback. And when he's on, he could throw 45 touchdowns. So maybe he could overcome his bad coach. But is their defense going to be any good? Do they have any pass rush? I don't know. I just, I have a hard time closing my eyes and seeing Matt Patricia

being a division champ. To be honest with you, I have a hard time closing my eyes and seeing Matt Patricia in the playoffs. So I don't know what else to say to you. I mean, this is all just these are my opinions going into a season I don't have any tangible information to say yes or no but I just I'm betting against Matt Patricia

when I get an opportunity I'm betting against Matt Patricia I'm a Bears fan from New Zealand and was wondering what you think there was any chance the Bears could get Aaron Rogers from the Packers next season I know they got Foles who will end up the start of this season but I think there was a chance Rogers has a few seasons left in them

and the Bears could really use them I think the Bears would take Aaron Rogers so faster head would spin. Here's the problem. The Packers are not going to cut Aaron Rogers. If they do get rid of them, they're going to trade them. But here's the bigger problem. Jordan Love is terrible right now. So the chances that the Packers trade Aaron Rogers after this season to go with Jordan

Love, I would say it would be slim. To me, after Jordan Love had the worst training camp, what feels like of any quarterback that's going to make an NFL team this year, I would say he just Rogers is starting for at minimum two seasons so I just don't think he's going to be available and if they did trade Aaron Rogers here's where I know there is no chance they would trade him

that would be the Chicago Bears so I mean they're just Chicago Bears are not getting them they're just they're just not I'm a diehard Browns fan and I don't understand what Clowny just did he chose to go to the Titans when he could have gone to the Browns for more money while playing opposite of Miles Garrett.

With Garrett seeing the majority of double teams, Clowny could have thrived and maybe next season got that massive contract he's been looking for, acknowledging that no one knows what the COVID will do to the cap. So my question is, what about the Brown's perception? We had those 1 in 15 and 0 and 16 years under Hugh Jackson, but since then they've constantly added talent and vastly improved roster. Do you think free agents will view the Browns as toxic and refuse to go there, or do you think this is just mismanaged situation by Clowny and is Zay?

agent. Well, if they offered $15 million and he didn't go to the Browns, he's a moron, I mean, the Seattle Seahawks offered $15 million and he didn't go there. I think him going to the Titans was pretty simple. Mike Vrable. Mike Vrable coach him in Houston, so he was very comfortable. He knows the scheme. He knows the coach. So he knows the head coach believes in him. Why I think it was easy for him to be excited about going to Seattle. They just traded for him. Now, I'm with you. These teams clearly wanted him. We're offering them money. In fairness to clown, Like I like there is a lot of talent on the roster. I just think he watches the Browns.

It goes they suck, right? But you put Clowny there with Miles Garrett and that offense. Some of the guys they also have on defense, they would have been good. I'm with you. Clowny lost money. I mean, there's just Clowny misplayed it. I think he thinks he's a lot better than he is. And he's now the Titans.

Now he's still got $12 million and he could make up to $15, but I'm with you. Now he's looking at it like Jeffrey Simmons, the guy they drafted from Mississippi State's a baller. I think he thinks he's going to eat and dominate. Not eat literally. I mean, he's going to eat, obviously, but he's also going to sack the quarterback. In theory, I mean, he does never get double-digit sacks,

but I think it had to do with Brable and the scheme fit. Would you rather have Dak Prescott or Carson Wentz long term? As a cowboy fan, I wanted Wentz when he came out, and I believe he's the better player. Dak is extremely durable and seems to have the clutch gene. Thoughts? Well, he didn't last year against the Eagles. If I was a betting man right now, and you said,

John Middilkoff, you're the head coach slash GM of, you know, the expansion middlecoffs, and you get one quarterback. There are two available, and you can only pick one. Would you take Dak Prescott or Carson Wentz? I would take Dak Prescott. Not because he's more talented than Carson Wentz. He's not. Carson is vastly more talented

But I would have to take the safer route One guy is durable And doesn't miss any games I just I think it's that simple Do I think Carson's a better player? I do. Would I rather have Carson If he is healthy, I would But that's not the reality

Because the reality is one guy I already got hurt in his training camp And I like Carson Wentz I'm a huge fan I think he has immense talent He should win MVP's in this league If Dak wins MVP's He's got talent but it'll be more like he had sweet wide receivers,

he had Zeke, the offense clicked. If Carson wins, like Carson can just carry a franchise. That can't carry a franchise. But durability, this is the NFL. This is staying healthy, you could argue, is a skill, right? It's not a skill you can control. Like, nobody wants to get hurt. No one wants to tear ACLs.

You know, is Durwin James injury prone? You know, you'd have to say yes. You got hurt in college. He's been hurt twice in the pros. There's no disputing. He's a star. He's the best safety in the league right now if he's healthy. He's always hurt.

You watch hard knocks, and they're just like, this guy's the best player in our team. Might not even be that close. And they got a team with Joey Bosa. It's like, yeah, this guy's, and Keenan Allen, this guy's the best player in our team. Two years in a row, missed a season.

Now, Carson did play 16 games last year, but it's just hard. You know, it's just hard to feel good about him staying healthy. That'd be my biggest question mark. We're just staying healthy, man. Oh, here it is. This was Ricky Lee.

I got a suggestion for you. You need to bring gambling elements and to expand your audiences. With your knowledge and information, give out three picks every Friday against the spread, and you can call it three for the money. That's my suggestion. Great show, brother.

Well, I used it, Ricky. I like it. I found you. I'm glad I ran into your DM. Okay, last one. Question for the pod. what do you think it would take for the NFL to cancel the season? So far, COVID has kept it bay for the league,

but you know if there are any, if this happens, there will be do this clauses that are in the NFL policies for this season. I think there are no chance. Zero. I mean, I just, they're playing. If people get Corona, they just won't play that week. Like, there's just too much money in the line. This is how everyone gets paid. Coaches, players, they're all in this together.

The players want to play. Why? Because they get paid. The coaches want to play. because they like coaching and they like money. The owners want to play because that's how they get paid. The networks want them to play. So they just deal with it.

It's why they expand the practice squad. I've talked to friends in the league. They get tested every day. Tested every day. Their testing policy is intense. Every day you're getting a swab up your nose. So they're just they're very proactive on this

and they've been from the jump. There's just too much money on the line. I mean, I think they're spending millions of dollars as a league every month to do this testing. It's worth it to make the hundreds of millions of dollars you're going to make. It was worth it for them to spend. Let's just, I did some net math. I could be a little off somewhere between $15 to $20 million.

Just the football operation. The football players, the scouts, coaches, trainers, like just that group would add up to about $18 million if my numbers were right. You know, around $100 a test. you know, just every month. Think about when other people in these buildings start coming back in, right? Now, they're not going to be around the coaches and the players,

but still, you're going to get tested every day. You're not going to let someone a random guy in the building. It's not tested. Spending millions of dollars every month around the league. And the players and coaches are the players and owners are splitting this cost, right? Because it's worth it for all of them to get their money. Because it is.

And I think it's just simple business. You know, it's not, You know, people talk about science and all that stuff. This is just, they'll do whatever they take to make their money. It's really as black and white as that. And one thing's clear with the NFL, they'll do anything for their money. Just like every business, you know. These businesses are not charities.

They're not into set the moral compass for society. They're into turn a profit. And turn a profit they will do. Appreciate everyone listening. And I'll talk to you next week after Sunday's games. Adios! If you love to be remembered as the person who gives the best birthday gifts, I'm here to tell you that 1800flowers.com is your ultimate birthday gifting destination.

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Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk 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 IHeart Radio app,

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I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app. 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 Cliford 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 IHard 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's big to me. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild.

I mean, it was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.