The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 3 and Out - Colin Cowherd on Reich Firing, Seahawks Post-Russ Reboot, Tua/Dolphins

Episode Date: November 8, 2022

John is joined by Colin Cowherd (Host of The Herd and Colin Cowherd Podcast) to discuss the Colts firing HC Frank Reich, if interim Jeff Saturday has any shot to succeed, Pete Carroll’s remarkable post-Russ reboot, the biggest factor in Tua and the Dolphins surprise turnaround, and if the Jets have finally turned the corner. They also touch on Brian Kelly’s early success at LSU, if Saban’s Bama dynasty is done. John also answers listener questions in the Middlekauff Mailbag. 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! #herd #volumeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Okay, here on a special Monday night edition. I was listening today with J-Mack talking to a little football that the news broke right before your show. I guess we could just go into that. That's bigger news than anything we witnessed tonight. I heard when Frank got fired and then I think an hour or two later it got announced that your initial reaction. here, Colin Coward, Frank Wright got fired after getting his ass kicked by Belichick. Yeah, I mean, I think Frank's a good coach.

I think the world we live in now with social media is that everybody's willing to join the avalanche. Nobody wants to get buried by it. So nobody wants to ever go on social media and have an opinion that doesn't follow suit to the masses. but the truth is Frank Reich is a really good coach. He took Carson Wentz, who a lot of people thought was shot and got 27 TDs and seven interceptions with a number two receiver, Michael Pittman, and not a great tight end and a declining offensive line. It's like, that's not terrible. In the better AFC, it's not terrible. and then the very impulsive Jim Ursay said because of that, you know,

regrettable performance in Jacksonville, Colttau'll struggle down there, whatever it is. Ursay flipped the lid on a flight back home and told him, get rid of him. Okay, now you're scrambling. You know, you're too good to get a top pick. Do you have to give away multiple picks to move up in the draft? And now they look around the market and it's like, they had to overpay for Matt Ryan. And now they're screwed as a franchise.

He's a big cap hit this year and next. So, you know, again, look at the owners who have meddled, Dan Snyder on a quarterback pick, the late Dwayne Haskins, if you remember that, that was his pick. Al Davis at the end of his reign, the late Al Davis. Now, Jim Ursay, it never worked. Ursay's not even that old, Colin. He looks 75, but he's actually in his early 60s. And I think he's making a mistake here.

Ballard will keep his job. That's my understanding. But somebody had to be the fall guy. They got rid of the offensive play caller two weeks ago, I think. Last week, yeah. And there's some, Sean Peyton told me today he doesn't think he actually called plays. Somebody had to be the fall guy. My question, though, is, you know, I think Frank had some moments and was handed a rough situation when he first got.

got there. Yeah. And honestly, when he had Rivers, who was at the end of his career, they had an 11-win season. They were right there in the last couple years. Okay. So there he go. Rivers and Wentz.

I can argue he got more out of them. Last year, I mean, they did lose. I mean, that last game, Colin the Jags game. I mean, they got their ass kick by a team that ended up having the number one overall pick. And this year clearly wasn't going well. You know, Matt Ryan, once they traded Wentz, they were in a tough situation. but once they get Matt Ryan,

he is the former quarterback, offensive coordinator, head coach, you know, because he wasn't going to be the head coach next year. So firing him now. Now the Jeff Saturday thing, I guess ultimately my take is, I bet Erse looks at his staff and goes,

they all suck. I'm not making any of these guys, you know, the interim coach. Tepper, whatever it was, three or four weeks ago, probably personally like Steve Wilkes and he'd be like, you know, this is an easy one, give him a shot.

Maybe Erse's like, screw all these guys is really kind of up in his feelings and bitter. But this is, I mean, it's pretty bizarre. It's a little out of left field in the middle of the city. I mean, how does Jeff Saturday know the majority of the team's name, the guys on the team's names? How's he going to know the space? He just won't know any of these people.

Well, and also, um, it looks so impulsive and scattered. Any top candidate would pass. Sean Payton won't even look at that job. you know, let's say there was somebody from college football. You wouldn't even look at that job now. So, you know, if you look at we have on average seven to eight openings, a lot of times, John, the key is how attractive you can make it look for the next guy. So with Matt Ryan's contract, and they have one of their tackles, I think the right tackle,

Brad Smith, I think I'm getting his name right, DeForest, the defensive lineman. I think they have a linebacker they pay a lot to. Leonard, they don't have a ton of cap space. They don't have a number one receiver. They have an old quarterback. It's not a, and they have an impulsive owner. So like when you're going to move off a job, right?

If you're going to fire a coach, you don't want to seem rash or impulsive. Because, you know, the marketplace, let's say the charger's job is open. Well, that's going to be the most attractive, not saying, it is, but or the Raiders job. I get all those offensive weapons. That's pretty attractive. Or Arizona. I get Kyler Murray, DeAndre Hopkins. You know, those are, you've got some attractive pieces there.

What about Indy today? Owner, weapons, quarterback, cap space, what's attractive about it? I would say the most attractive thing is they have had a talented team and their GM is a pretty consistent human being. Yeah. You know, that would feel. But, you know, in situations like this, if the owner is going to be, be the modern day kind of Al Davis, Jerry Jones, or think he is, it's that trumps everything

because once he starts doing that, I mean, is this, did you, did you work at all with Jeff Saturday? You've been around the guy? I mean, I'm doing. Yeah, I mean, he's a pretty high, that's my thing. Like the pushback, having seen Howie and Andy, it's easier to be a GM in the sense of you don't have to yell at players or anything. There's an element of being a coach that is just more difficult than the GM. But, like Jeff Saturday, like, so when Mayock and Gruden kind of came out of nowhere and became GMs, it's an easier transition than if I just took some former player at 50 years old because he played 20 years ago and just made him headcoat, that's tough.

But this guy did. I mean, I always say that Brady and Manning were the magic and bird of my life. You know, they took the NFL to do it in a whole new heights. They were the two best teams. And this, you know, the Colts were the second best team of the 2000s, right? He just couldn't really beat New England for a long period time. And he was, he was, he was, Peyton's hand was in his butt every day for six months a year.

He saw, I mean, they were the second best team in the, basically the league for a decade. So this guy, and he came in as an undrafted free agent. A little Steve Courish, right, came in the hard way, but seen the best of the best, had to deal with the best of the best, clearly an intelligent guy. So I do think he's going to be able to relate with everyone. But, you know, practice plans. the management of everything. I mean, there's a lot.

It's not like Andy Reid just kind of dictates everything or Belichick, right? There's a lot that goes into the daily life that if you've never worked up at all, then even Mike Vrable. Mike Vrable did just go from coach to player, works with Urban, then went with Bill O'Brien, kind of cut his teeth as a position coach, recruited. You know, saw a lot of, even though he basically made the jump in six or seven years, he still put in some time to learn some of the nuts and bolts.

So to me, I guess my overall take, it's borderline impossible. to be ready, even if you are a super high-level guy and a good football guy. I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but the argument could be made that Saturday is a good guy. They won't win a lot of games with him. They need a quarterback. I mean, you get a better draft pick. You lose a lot of games. Jacksonville's in every game they play.

Tennessee is clearly better. You know, it wouldn't be the world's worst thing if you got better draft picks. I think they're really trapped. They've never recovered from Andrew Luck. I think they're one of those trapped franchises. I mean, G.N. Chris Ballard's smart. There's only so much you can do. Can you move?

Could you move one of your top pieces? You know, it's interesting. In the NFL now, San Francisco's rare. They have a star in every unit. Linebacker, safety, corner, edge rush, you know, running back, tight end receiver. They're really, really rare. To me, the best roster went healthy in the league. They're full backs a pro bowler.

Yeah, stud. Yeah. So, but I mean. I mean, their kickers reliable. I mean, they just. They really got everything. But if you look at Indy, they're good in a lot of places that don't matter. Interior Al line.

Linebacker. Safety. You know, you've really got to, if you really go look at what the Chargers did. So the Chargers get Herbert and then Rashon Slater. Then they go by a center. And what are they? they do this offseason, a corner, a clear, an edge rusher.

Like there's six positions you've got to get right. And Indy's good at a lot of them, just not those six. They don't have a great left tackle, a dynamic quarterback, a number one receiver. They could use another corner, an elite edge rusher.

They're really good in a lot of spots, but not the key spots. And, you know, it reminds me of little of Midwest Green Bay. You know, Boktiari is falling apart. They don't have a number one receiver. They don't have a great edge.

I like their corner, but they need more weapons. They have really good linebackers. Green Bay, yeah, I feel like the great at running back, you don't have to be. I just think the Colts have got to kind of reprocess how they draft. They've got to get greater and more dynamic at like five key positions. And you can't do that in a draft unless you're the Seahawks and like literally ace a draft. Yeah, I think sports, like acquiring players, especially in the NFL, it's like a lot of things in life. It's easy to talk yourself out of it. Oh, this house is too expensive.

You know, you can just, you can nitpick things instead of this is where I was wrong on the McCaffrey trade. It was like, you know, do you really need to give that extra fourth round pick? Who gives a shit? Because when he's healthy, he's, you know, Ladani and Tomlinson in 2022. And that's where the Niners and the Rams and I don't know if you saw the story. And maybe you talked about it on the show, but like the Packers were willing to trade a first round pick for, DJ Moore. Yeah.

Did you, did you see that? I saw that. And it's like, if they would have had that mindset over the last five or six years consistently, they might not be in this spot. Right.

And they found themselves in a position where really the only guy they kind of wanted wasn't really there to be had. Yeah. You know, but there have been countless guys like this over the years. Andy Reid's always willing to like, okay, you want my 30th pick,

I'll go get your sweet player. Sean McVeigh, boom, right? Well, I always, I think this makes sense. No man's land early. in the draft is like pick 20 to pick 32.

Right? It's because most GMs I've talked to tell me there's about 16 every year. 16 to 17, great talent, different makers. Like they're going to start. Guys are you have first round grades on? Yeah.

And then you go from about the 17th, 18th player to about the late second round and they're all kind of the same guy. You know, they've got a hole, but you like them. And so I've always believed in the draft. I would, if I'm a really good playoff team, I would always give up my late first for like a Pro Bowl starter. Like DJ Moore is better than anybody,

at least for the first year and probably two, DJ Moore is going to be better in a normal Green Bay year where they have the, you know, 23rd pick, 24th pick. He's going to be better than any player there, certainly as a rookie and probably, even if the kid hits, probably the second year, right? It'll take that receiver late second, early 30 pops.

Cooper Cup took four years to pop. So Jamar Chase is an outlier. Devon DeLadams took two and a half. Yeah. It takes a while. So I think Green Bay, it's of their nature. It's the smallest town in professional sports in America. They don't have an owner, which I never thought.

I never thought that was a weakness until about seven, eight years ago where you get these younger owners, these more aggressive GMs or Stan Cronkey, the Hunt family. Jeffrey Lurie, they'll just go buy a player. They can be talked into it quickly on the tarmac, right? Like, I mean, that's literally how Sean McVey talked Stan Cronkey into Matt Stafford. He's on the tarmac. And he's like, Stan, we need him.

Here's why. And Stan's like, okay, 10,000 feet, he's off in, you know, he's off to Denver, wherever he's flying to. So Green Bay doesn't have an owner. And I think Mark Murphy is kind of, I think he's very capable, very smart. But the no owner thing, kind of the Midwest values, don't overest. spend people are different in the Midwest that's more frugal they're not the capital they don't spend as freely or as willingly and that's why Andy Reid is so unique like he's just a big market

spender he's going to go rebuild stuff and that a lot of a lot of places just don't still don't feel comfortable doing that well I've always thought you are kind of who you are in the business who teaches you you know he he kind of cut his teeth in green bay with Mike Holmgren with Farvin reggie white so he saw the power of big stars and talent, and then right away he gets to Philly, Donovan McNabb, Brian Dawkins. It's a powerful thing to have impact players. I think Sean McVey has seen that up close and personal, right?

Todd Gurley, Aaron Donald, they get Jalen Ramsey, Kyle Shanahan. It matters because it impacts you in these big games. Because in big games, your role players matter, but your stars win you the games or not. You know, the 49ers won two-road playoff games last year because they had studs, you know, because they didn't have great quarterback play.

And that's what's crazy. Like, I agreed with, with you over the years on the Pete and John Schneider. You know, it felt more Russell for a couple of years, really caring the franchise. Yeah. But I watched them, and I've watched them a lot this year,

but yesterday, I mean, playing a franchise that's in Chambles. And it was clear, like Seattle's buttoned up. They have good players. They were well run. And obviously Arizona's not.

And the final score was not indicative of what you witness when you watch that game. Seattle kick their butt. Oh, Seattle was clearly dominant. Worked them. You know, are you,

I mean, I know you've talked about it, but you've got to be a little surprised by how well they look. Obviously, Gino is one of the stories of the year. Oh, there is no precedent for Seattle. A quarterback pops in year eight. I mean, Rich Gannon, maybe. You know, I think for years and years, you know, Seahawk fans today will say, hey, you guys really whiffed. Well, but then you Seahawk fans with for the previous five years when you thought they were going to go back to the Super Bowl. This defense has been declining for years.

The drafts have been really hit and miss, mostly miss, for years. And I think this draft felt like John Snyder, not Pete Carroll, and the scouts took it over. It was a, it's really the best draft since Pete's like second year, first year. I mean, two starting tackles, a star running back, a star corner in the fifth round, the edge rusher. Their first five draft picks are all elite. elite players. Now, the Jets got their first four appear to be really, really good. But, John, you did this. You're a former pro scout. To get four high-end starters in a draft is almost unheard of. Seattle may have gotten five. It's crazy. It's crazy. So that's part of it.

And I also think Pete's history, you know, Sean Payton today on the show said he's shocked by Seattle. Pete's always been a really good teacher and motivator. I've talked to older players, and they're like, listen, Pete's stories can wear you out. His sort of gum-chewing, relentless energy can kind of wear you out after like six or seven years. But there's a reason he crushed in college. By the time you get worn out, you graduate, right? That's the thing about Sabin. By the time you're just about done with Sabin, you're done with Sabin.

And I think Pete's energy and his motivation and his teaching qualities are great with young teams. And I think his history shows it. This is a really young team. I mean, what an advantage. You don't, if I was Seattle and they're going to have big cap space, I'd go by the best center on the market. Go by the best center on the market.

I'd probably go get another corner. But, I mean, can you imagine not having to worry about paying a tackle left or right for seven, eight years, an edge rusher, an elite corner? Yeah. I mean, those are, that's what the Colts need. They've got all of them and we'll have to pay them for four years. So they are really, and next year, John, because of Russell Wilson trade, two firsts, two seconds, two fourths. If they do fairly well in this draft, this is going to be a Super Bowl roster.

I mean, that clearly, if they get the quarterback right, it's a Super Bowl team. Well, and if Gino can just sustain it, I don't know if he's good enough to win a Super Bowl, but they're going to be competitive. I had a guy with the Jets tell me that he's like, we have crushed the draft the last couple years. And you watch them. One of my takeaways at Jets Bills game, the talent differential on the two teams,

beside the quarterback, you couldn't notice much. But he said, let's pick our top nine picks over the last couple of years because they've had a bunch of first and second rounders. If we hit on eight of the nine, and then these guys become pro bowlers, impact players, and the one we miss on is Zach Wilson, we might be in trouble, big picture.

That's right. But if we hit on the one and miss on six of the other eight, but it's Zach Wilson, we're flying high. And that's when I watch them, like, they're playing well as a team. But that quarterback, I mean, he can't really function. I mean, they got a problem if he's not able to take a pretty big step in the next couple of years. Because every year he's got to play the bills. I know they beat him, but it wasn't because of him.

And Belichick, and even now Miami can score. Like, Zach Wilson's a problem for the Jets because you can watch their team. if you just know anything about football and go, Jesus, they got some players. Well, oh, yeah. I mean, they're a pass rush. And the coach feels like he's kind of like got something going. Yeah, well, what the Jets really have is maybe the best pure corner in the league. So they could put him on Stefan Diggs, take out the big play for the bills.

The bills don't have a running game. So now what are you doing? You're throwing on third and seven. Well, that pass rush, they don't have to bring extra men. No. So Green Bay locks down Stefan Diggs. doesn't bring extra people, gets a tremendous pass rush,

doesn't respect Buffalo's run game, doesn't have to, and all of a sudden, you know, when you take out, I always call the bills Mike Tyson, like if you take out the knockout punch, not much of a jab there,

right? No. If you take out Stefan Diggs and the Josh Allen home runs and say, okay, beat me on nuance. You watched yesterday.

It's not part of Buffalo's game. Well, that was my take on the Chiefs game. The Chiefs had their C-minus game, yet Andy Mahomes, they don't wilt. Even when they're playing like shit and Kelsey, they just are able to stay focused and they just find a way they're down 17 to 9. They have the big drive. They win in an overtime. I don't think the bills win that game.

That's right. They haven't. But the Chiefs, to me, that's the difference in the two teams and really the two quarterbacks. And hopefully for all of our sake, he doesn't have a major elbow injury. That would be awful because they would be done. If Josh Allen's elbow injury is serious, what a break for Miami, not just in division, but if you if you sort of look at the trouble spot for Miami, it would be a row January playoff game with small to it that pass rush. You'd be like wind. I mean, Tua underthrows, not occasionally, every deep ball.

They're all underthrown. He throws a lollipop. So you can see Miami, you can see around the corner and go, the trouble spot for them is that windy cold weather game in Kansas City in Buffalo and Cincinnati. Because their defense isn't that good either. They're not built to play like that. And that front seven for Buffalo and healthy is the deepest in the league. So all of a sudden you take Josh Allen out. They're not winning many football games.

Is it Case Keenham's the backup? Okay. Now you win the division. You get a Miami home game. So now you only have to go on the road one time. And by the way, Cincinnati could play a Kansas City. They knock each other out. So like this Josh Allen thing, Miami is a huge.

They're the team in the league that really needs desperately a home field playoff game because in their divisions the coldest city in the country of size, Buffalo, Chicago and Buffalo. So I looked at that Josh Allen thing and I thought, boy, what a, of a, all the teams. People would instinctively think, what a break for the chiefs. But Kansas City could go to Buffalo and win. I don't doubt that for a second. But Miami.

They could play wherever. But Miami, January 15th. No chance. They're not winning that game. And so it's like, wow, what a break. And by the way, Miami's a great watch. I'm here for it. I love watching them play.

Well, before, because I wanted to ask you him about Brian Kelly, but a lot of people, you know, because you look at the stats, two, uh, MVP, to me the MVP of the team is Tyreek Hill. And the one thing I underestimated, his competitive character, I thought he'd be one of these, a lot of times, definitely in my life, once the money really hit in the mid-90s and the 2000s, guys would get that third contract and then they'd just kind of whatever. But it kind of, you look back in Tyreek, no wonder he was so good with the Chiefs, because his competitive spirit was just like Kelsey and Patrick Mahomes.

He's playing like with Tua, who's clearly not as good as the guy who's used to. like every game really matters. He has been incredible for them, though. And I can imagine when a guy with that many accomplishments who's a Super Bowl champ, no one else on the team has that, is playing that hard every single week. I mean, Colin, he's got 76 catches. It's November 7th.

I mean, he's on pace for, the Cooper Cup year last year was awesome. This looks a little different. I mean, no one's even around this guy. Right. And it's been impressive. And I know Andy always thought, like, people under it, Tyree's smart. Like his ability to learn football.

He goes, Mike McDaniel, smart guy. they have hit the ground running. And to me, he, not Tua, has carried that team. Yeah, no, I think he was always a field tilter. You know, I said before this season, I said, Kansas City will be fine, but they won't score as quickly. They'll score, you know, Sky Moore and Scantling and Juju Smith-Schuster. They'll score.

But they're not going to score like that. You know, if you go look at the Tyree Kill Mahomes, Travis Kelsey teams, what was remarkable about them? They trailed Houston once in a playoff game 24-0, and I never for a second thought they were out of it. They, it was like having, it was like the Yankees,

you know, there was so much home run power that deficits didn't really matter. This team can't fall behind 24 nothing in a playoff game. They, they just, they're not going to be that fast. They don't have the lightning. And so,

yeah, he's a field tilter. He's, there's not many in the league. He's just, there's no way to, I mean, even corners in this league.

If you, who was I talking to or listening to? Oh, Emmanuel Sanders told me the other day. He's like, man, he just got out of the sport and he works for the NFL network. He said when we play the entire re-killed team, you know, like even the corners for us like, hey, I need help on the back end, man. I can't run with this guy. And that's NFL corners for Buffalo. Football season is underway.

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Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth.

Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions,

my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes,

creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment. And the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream,

this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at Tickford. Talk Podcast Network on TikTok. You know, it's funny when we say field tilter, you know, in college there was probably five or six guys that tilt the country, right? And I think Kirby has proven to be that at Georgia.

He's taking that program to another level. And you've always been a big Brian Kelly supporter. And when I was a GA at Fresno State, we played him as last year at Cincinnati the year they went to the BCS and it was, then he went to Notre Dame. Clearly, he realized he could never win a national championship at Notre Dame. he could never beat Alabama with Notre Dame's teams. And he goes to LSU and I don't even care. If you're in Brian Kelly's family,

I bet Brian Kelly didn't think year one he'd beat in Alabama. One, just from a TV product, that was as good as college football gets. I mean, it's awesome to watch at night. But what he's done with that team, and you and me are West Coast football guys. I mean, Jaden Daniels, to have him play that well this soon after it looks so ugly,

I mean, are you shocked by how fucking good the LSU is? I mean, beating Alabama. I know this isn't, this isn't, I was told by a scout, the difference now of Alabama five years ago is Georgia now splits with Alabama on the top recruits and then A&M in Texas the last couple years with the cash has been able to buy some of them. So Alabama doesn't quite monopolize just everything they once had. Yeah, I mean, if you take out their best edge rusher, Will Anderson, it's not, it's a good D-line, but it's not scary. It's not like Georgia's not what it was. No. And they don't have like their second corner or their third corner.

or their third corner, look like everybody else's second corner and third corner. So I think what's happened is Lane Kiffin will steal a receiver, Kirby Smart, two linebackers. To your point, they're losing about six guys a year. And after about three years of that,

you don't have the depth. Yeah, because a couple of those guys never amount to anything, and then a couple of them are three and done. So it can add up fast. I am surprised. I thought year two, you know,

but what's interesting, somebody told me this about Lincoln Riley. So Lincoln has really solved USC's offense. But somebody told me, even with the transfer portal, you can't solve both sides of a team in one year. So Lincoln clearly said, I'm going to solve my side. I know offense. USC has one NFL player in their front seven defensively. It'll take them another transfer portal class.

By the end of next year, I think USC will be able to play with Caleb in that national championship spirit. They're not there yet. So I figured it would take I figured it would take Brian Kelly two years But the truth is LSU's got NFL bodies everywhere Somebody told me

Over the weekend I got a text yesterday That Brian Kelly basically told LSU Listen, you just need a grown-up here You just need an adult in the room You're fine We're going to be fine very quickly So, you know, one of the things that, not that it bothers me about the media, but it's so transparent and the lack of self-awareness by the media is kind of jaw-dropping.

The media doesn't like Brian Kelly because he's outspoken and he's kind of, you know, he's kind of that blustery. Well, in college, I think we judge you more in the NFL. No one cares the Belichick's a dick. As long as you win in college, you know, sometimes when you think you're fraud. I mean, I'm critical to Urban Meyer because I think he's kind of phony sometimes. Yeah. You're judged differently, I think, as a college guy because it's a little more father figure-like, right? Right.

But if you really look at Brian Kelly's resume. But maybe people actually like him that are around him. So I don't, you know, I've never heard players really bash him. No, no. No, I mean, he, he, I know one person that knows him well. And he really likes him. He said he's gotten better. Like Tom Coughlin, he's evolved.

He's easier now. He's loosened up. He's loosened up over the last 10 years. So I knew somebody that dealt with him early at Notre Dame And they like they said he changed early to mid to late Remember there was the death of the student I think that took a little chunk Yeah, the fell on the yeah yeah I think that that that was rough for his family

And so people evolve But it's like the media has to be honest about this That was the first time he's ever faced Nick Sabin with equal talent And he outcoached him And this is why I left everybody was like I can't, the media kind of took their swipes at them for leaving Notre Dame. Notre Dame is an elite academic institution at a private school in a lousy weather area of the country where you have to convince kids to come play there.

LSU, you ask them. And so he finally had, somebody once told me that about Mac Brown. They're like, man, Mac Brown's problem is everybody wanted to play. He got it rolling so fast that every Texas kid wanted to be a longhorn and he got a little sloppy in recruiting. But you just asked. Yeah, you just asked kids, do you want to play? So, you know, Mack came from Carolina. He's really working the recruiting.

And then all of a sudden they get rolling. And every corner wants to play for, for Texas. And you get a little sloppy. Pete got a little sloppy at the end of USC, where they were taking kind of marginal kids that, you know, weren't great character guys. But everybody wanted to be a Trojan out West. You were around here.

It was, they got anybody they wanted to. They were an NFL team. Yeah, so I just think, Brian, the media has to come to terms with he is in the top three or four in the country. He's won everywhere. He's won in five different places. And like four of them fast, like quickly. He's really good. Yeah, I mean, he's going to compete.

I honestly think, I think another guy, I think Jim Harbaugh can beat Ohio State this year. I mean, I think his team's really good. And I think Ohio State clearly, they're just, you know, Ryan Day is a good. good coach, but there's a toughness element that Urban brought to them that they just don't quite have now. And that's years when guys graduate and at the end of the day, Harbaugh hangs his hat on that. So like his teams, you know, it took them a little longer probably than everyone that I even I thought.

But his team's tough. I just watch Ohio State. Like, they're a little too dependent on wide receivers, you know. No, Joel Klatt said it today. Ohio State has a higher ceiling. Michigan's got a higher floor. Michigan's bad game is still really good. Ohio State has quarters and halves.

They were just tied with a one-win team at halftime. Yeah. I mean, Northwestern is a decent one-win team, but still. No, Ohio State has bad halves. It's like Michigan has okay quarters. They're never bad. And it's also the fastest Michigan team. You know, Ryan Day can coach.

It reminds me a little of Matt LaFlua Green Bay. And I think I was paddle. the back. I said this. I'll give you that. I said, by year two, I said, is he better than McCarthy, or is the division now just awful? Chicago's worst. Remember, McCarthy faced Detroit with Matt Stafford. McCarthy faced a Chicago team, Rex Grossman, that got to the Super Bowl. Minnesota's always been viable. And all these extra wins, these three or four extra

wins, they're kind of coming in division. He's not beating anybody good. But I look at Green Bay this year. The special teams are wobbly. The defense underachieves. They don't give it to Aaron Jones enough. They're going to get waxed by the cowboys. And I kind of feel like that with Ryan Day. We've just given him.

We've given him, annoyed him great. It's like I watched Oregon dominate Ohio State in Columbus. I watched Michigan dominate them in both the same way. Ohio State got pushed around. And even this year, I've watched them and I'm like, they're not as physical as Michigan. They're not as physical as Georgia. They're not. Yes, some guys and Harbaugh, some offensive coaches view themselves quarterback, wide receivers.

That's what their kind of personality. Harbaugh's personality is really more O-line-D-line. You know, that's, you know, for a former quarterback, he doesn't come off like a former quarterback. And I think that's always translated into his teams. And last year was the first time when it felt like the talent he had recruited well enough and the quarterback play was somewhat equal. And obviously this quarterback, in theory, should be best. better, but, you know, C.J. Stroud, I think the media thinks he's like some top two player, people I talk to. I mean, the top two players are Bryce and Levis.

Like, C.J. Stroud is not going to be a top, I don't think, a top five quarterback, top five. He's going to be a top five quarterback in draft. But he's not going to be a top five. Off the air. And there's nothing wrong with that going pick 20, you know? We had this conversation with my staff today off air. We went to a break. And we were taught, I had just said something about Michigan or college football. I told the staff off air, I just said, I just would struggle to draft C.J. Stroud top 10. I just don't see the it. Well, he's not a great athlete. He's throwing to, it's a little to a Mac Jones-ish, the guys he's playing. I mean, Marvin Harrison's kid looks incredible.

I mean, the guys he was playing with last year. So, yeah, I'm with you. And we'll see. There's going to be a lot of, you know, pressure. Everyone's going to be watching that game. And that's if Georgia, Tennessee and band. AM LSU. I mean, I'd say Ohio State, Michigan's, you could argue, is even bigger, given

what's going to be at stake, right, if they're both undefeated going to that game. But, well, I'll let you get to bed. And so this is fun. This is AMP. This has been live. So for all the people watching that we'll all put this on my social from time to time, we have a deal. It's called AMP with Amazon, where we kind of take a podcast style and we just go live with

it. It's like radio. And it's fun. we just we buzzed through like 30 35 minutes like nothing man that was great i i tweeted too colin but i'm uh i'm i'm hacked i'm locked out so the crypto people have my account cryptocurrency people they have my stuff no elan's got a lot going on right now so i'm i don't know if i'm high on his on his list to get back to so uh we'll just we'll just see what happens all right buddy see yeah okay later colin see buddy

Let's get to the mailbag. At John Middlecalf is the Instagram. Fire in those DMs. Get your question answered here on the show. You got Hackbad on Twitter. You probably know this. I do. Kind of hope it doesn't ever come back.

Wouldn't mind it. John, as a fellow baldheaded John, I'm a big fan of the show. You were critical of Tua earlier in his career, but now he has a system and a set set of weapons that garner to his skill sets. That being said, do you think Tua deserve some more credit and maybe some MVP conversation.

I think we'd all have to agree. Tua is playing better than I thought he would. But when I watch him, I don't feel like I'm seeing some dynamic player. He throws a very catchable deep ball, hangs up in the air a little for me. If anyone's going to win the MVP on the Dolphins, the biggest diehard Dolphid fan would have to admit Tyree Kill

would have to win the award. Tua can't win the award over Tyra Kill. like that that just can't happen. So is he better than I thought? Yes. One thing I've seen some clips of him with the media. Like, feels like he's pretty getting a lot more comfortable in his own skin,

which is cool. I'm a big fan of any human being, whether they're that talented or not. Like, you know, not being insecure and not saying that he was insecure, but it just feels like he's very comfortable in his role. Talking to the media with his teammates. And I respect that.

Like, if your team members, like you, there's something to be said about that. Hey John, love the pod. Why do NBA refs continue to call so many touch fouls? Seems like more no calls would make the product better. Faster pace, more action. Not sure the business case for this. Any idea why the NBA does not cut down on calling so many touch fouls?

Brian in Connecticut. I got to be completely honest, Brian. And maybe it's, I haven't bought the NBA package. I probably won't. I haven't really watched that many NBA games. But here's what I tell. Adam Silver. Why is your league already started? It's November 7th. How about starting about Thanksgiving? You used to start at Halloween, which I thought was a little too early. Now you start like the middle

of October. Like I love baseball. Love it. But them playing World Series games against LSU, Alabama, it's one thing if that game was early October, it's fucking early November. Why can't we find a way to finish the season way earlier. Why can't we find a way in basketball to start the season a little bit later? Make your TV product more valuable and get more money. I say it all the time.

People think the NBA is some lock to get a big TV deal. I call bullshit. We're in, if not headed into economic chaos. The NBA's ratings have diminished for like the last five years. They've lost half their audience. It's like, well, the NFL keeps quadrupling.

Their audience keeps growing. Like, how is the, NBA going to just get a dramatically bigger media rights deal? Well, life sports, yeah, they're already making a lot. Why wouldn't I just offer you the same if I'm ESPN, if I'm TNT, if I'm Apple? Why do I need to pay you way more? Because that's just how it works? Bullshit.

Like, why your audience is diminished. That's what I do not get. Everyone that covers, and I listen to some decent amount of NBA podcasts, like, well, this next media rights deal is going to be 3x. there's going to be guys making $80 million a year. Is there? Are we sure? Because this last media deal was horrendous for all the partners. TNT, ESPN, they got throttled.

Now they're just going to pay three times what they just paid and that deal wasn't good for them. There's obviously a value to have the content. But Adam Silver's league, let's face it, is in pretty big shambles. So I can't speak to the refereeing, you know, the officiating and the NBA has always been terrible. but think of what has happened in the last couple weeks. The Kyrie situation I mean the Spurs had a player

sending dickpicks to employees and the Spurs are then trying to act like they should be absolved from it because she's suing them too. It's like, yeah, come on San Antonio. Popovich, where are you on this one, buddy? They have another player

on the Hornets who just, I think, going to jail, domestic battery. I mean, let's, the NBA they got some issues. With the Steelers looking like they will get a top three pick in the coming draft, what do you think is the most likely scenario for them? Do you think they ride with Pickett or draft the new quarterback? Maybe they trade down for more picks.

Any thoughts? I'll be completely honest. I haven't thought about the Steelers draft, but they would have to get one of the top two picks to me to move off Pickett. I just think they are very likely to keep trying to build this team up and build around Pickett. because it's not like they have a new GM and a new coach. I mean, this coach, and even the GM was there when they drafted him. So I think that Kenny Pickett is going to get a couple years.

He just is. Because in their mind, they can put a really good team around him. Get T.J. healthy. Maybe, you know, if they get the eighth pick, trade back, accumulate some more picks, try to nail a bunch of picks. They've historically drafted pretty well. Yeah, I wouldn't. I wouldn't assume Kenny Pick

it would be in any trouble. I'm curious if you think Arizona will clean house with the coaching staff and GM after the extending Kime and Kingsbury. They're great, underperforming, and it seems like big changes are in order. Yeah, I would say that everything's going to be on the table there.

You can't fire a player, right? Like you're not firing, they guaranteed him $170 million. So Kyler's getting a couple years here. Kailor ain't going anywhere. I think the only question now is do they survive? My gut says no, but win five games and we'll see. And that kind of feels like what they're headed toward,

but not really, I don't know. Hey, long time listener, despite my dad and I living on different coast, California, New York, we both listen religiously and often texts about the show. Wow, I appreciate that. Your dad's a good guy. Was curious who you think are the top five and bottom five quarterbacks,

independent rosters. Well, I think the top five quarterbacks, obviously Mahomes and Allen, would be right there. Brady and Rogers would not be, based on this season, I mean, obviously Brady and Rogers, you could grandfather them in, but if I'm excluding them, I would say that Jalen has played like a top five quarterback. So Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Jalen, Jalen Ramsey, Lamar's hit some rough times. you know, two of me is, I mean, the stats look like it, but, you know, is he a top five quarterback?

I don't know. Dak, cousins, I don't know. Gino, I mean, Gino has had a top five season. I guess you could put two in there just when he's played. They've won, which is the goal of the team. I would say bottom five quarterbacks this year. Zach Wilson,

Davis Mills Russell would be in the conversation I think Jared Gough is pretty terrible Baker Mayfield Stafford's been pretty awful I think there'd be a comp Matt Ryan was pretty bad there'd be a competition for that one

Zach Wilson's team's good but I think even Jets fans would have to agree he's probably not a bottom five quarterback but I don't know. Zach Wilson's a weird one. How about Jaden Daniels? I live in Tempe and I always seen the dog in him, just being held back by the below average pack 12.

I think it's about time the world to see. I remember him at ASU, I guess I never really thought much about like his toughness, which has clearly been pretty strong, right? His toughness, his competitiveness. I just didn't think he was a good enough passer. And I think it speaks to Brian Kelly and how good of a job they've done.

He's playing with really good players. He's playing really well. He was really good the other night. He was really good. Now, he wasn't the best quarterback on the field. He's playing against a guy that's probably going to be the number one pick in the draft. And Bryce is one of the more fun players in a long time.

Bryce is like Johnny Mansell fun. Bryce's box office. And Jaden did what he had to do to put his team in position to beat him. So, yeah, he's... Remember that first game of the season, Who'd they play Florida State? I thought they were headed for just a terrible season.

Last week, you briefly talked about how the NFL distributes revenue from its TV deals to teams to pay players. This is super interesting to me. Can you explain it further? How do incentives and bonuses work in a strict salary cap? Well, so whatever the DVD deal on a yearly basis is, right? So 300, let's say it's like $3 billion. It might be off. Whatever the number is.

32 times 300 million. It's my calculator is not big enough. But whatever the number on the annual basis for the media deals, which means what the TV pays you, accounts, I think last year it was like $300 million. Again, I'd have to Google get the exact numbers.

But let's just pick that number, $300 million. So every team got that from over the year. Now, I don't think you get it in one check. It comes over the fall. Well, think about what your payroll is for your, team. It can't exceed. It's a hard cap. So the cap, I'm just going to pick an even number. Last year was $200 million. You get over $100 million extra guaranteed. Like most of our businesses, right, I'm not, this podcast is a good example. If we don't sell advertising,

if I could have a million people listen to an episode. But if there is no advertising on the episode, there is no revenue. So the only way I'm guaranteed revenue for this podcast is to get advertisers, have us pay them for our audience. That's the way this business works. It's the way any podcast works. It's the way any television show works.

It's the way the NFL works. The reason that the CBS is worth it for them to pay $2 billion a year to get the NFL because they can sell advertising and make more than $2 billion a year. So they get more than their players. So you could be a, team with no revenue, makes zero dollars, and you get guaranteed $300 million.

Now, you obviously have other expenses. Well, think how much your coaching staff costs. Let's say your head coach makes 10. The rest of the staff makes five. The training staff makes another, you know, scouting staff makes another couple million. You're still under $220 million. You got $80 to play with. Think of all your employees don't cost, you know, another couple million dollars.

Some of your other expenses. So even if you made $220 million. nothing else. The media money, you would be in, you'd be making money. Now, the bonuses, like when I give you a pro bowl bonus or a touchdown bonus, I'm pretty sure, and again, I didn't work in the cap, I just know a couple people that did, they've always told me that follows over to the following year. So it's just, that's the way it works, is that if I owe you, you know, my players to combine

$10 million in bonus money, that rolls over to the cap that next year. But I can't go into it. There are probably different kickers, ways for that to work. But I do know that the media money pays for the players. Now, you could be making other money and used it to pay for the players, but I would imagine that's where most teams get their money to pay the players. Middlecough mailbag at John Middlecough, Instagram, firing those DMs. Adios. Peace.

You call you. 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.

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