The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 3 and Out - Dak Disappointment, Soft Bills, Burrow > Allen, Mailbag

Episode Date: January 23, 2023

John reacts to the Sunday Divisional Round games, starting with Dak’s disappointing performance in the loss to the Niners, if Dallas is stuck, the Bengals dominating the Bills, why the Bills’ complete lack of a run game unsurprisingly cost them, and why Joe Burrow and Patrick Mahomes are in a QB class by themselves. He 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! #volume #herdSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter.

Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque.

Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The Volume. The Three Now Podcast with me, John Middell, is presented by Fandul Sportsbook.

It's the NFL playoff time, and there's no better place to get into the action than Fandul. Awesome, new and existing user promotions. America's number one sportsbook, very easy to use, safe and secure, you get your winnings fast. I cannot recommend it enough. Love gambling with Fandul. If you are new, just download the Fandual Sportsbook app to get started. Now sign up with promo code Colin so they know we sent you. And Fandual is now live in Ohio.

What is going on, everybody, John Middlecock, Three and Out podcast. The AFC and NFC championship games are set. We got the birds hosting the Niners. And Mahomes and Burrough part new. Let's do it. What a day of football. Bye-bye Cowboys. Great effort, Dack.

I don't know what the hell of that was. Bill's a lot of football to discuss. A lot of stuff to discuss. A lot going on. I will dive into the two games coming up. We'll have a big week of football. Looking forward to these conference championship games. A lot of talent, obviously.

Mahomes' injury status. A lot going on this week. So make sure you subscribe to the podcast. If you listen on Collins' feed, greatly appreciate you. I'm going to add a couple mailbags at the end of this podcast. at John Middlecough is the Instagram Fire in those DMs

I'll put a longer mailbag on Tuesday show And we'll keep rocking and rolling And yeah We got to enjoy the football because what We've got three more games left Now that the Pro Bowl doesn't exist As a Skills Challenge We just got three more games left

Now that the Pro Bowl ever counted But I kind of counted it Because we all Watch would be strong But I had it on the TV in the background But now I don't know So yeah let's dive in to some football But before we do, let me tell you about my friends at game time.

Here's what I need you to do. This is the fastest growing ticket app in America. I just went to my first hockey game. It was incredible. Big hockey guy now. I will go again because of my friends at game time. I went to the app. I downloaded it on my phone.

I signed up. And when I signed up, I typed in John. That's J-O-H-N in the promo code. And I got $20 off a pair of tickets. Now, if you want to go to an NBA game, if you want to go to a college basketball game, if you want to go to NHL games, if you want to go to concerts,

take your friend, take your dad, take your mom, take your wife, take your sister, take your brother, take your buddies, your son, whatever.

Use GameTime and use my promo code, J-O-H-N to go to any event wherever you live. Get the best deal with GameTime, download the app on your phone, sign up, use the promo code, J-O-H-N,

can't recommend it enough. Love my friends at GameTime. Let's dive into some football. And overall take, the best four teams are playing. And I think sometimes in the NCAA tournament, when you get to the final four, it's not always the best team, right? There's some upsets. There's some underdogs.

There's some Cinderella stories. The four best teams are playing. Clearly in the NFC, the two best teams are playing. Niners, at the Eagles, let's go. It was pretty clear over the second half of the season, there was a big three in the AFC. it was the Chiefs, the Bengals, and the Bills. And what's weird is we held the Bills to such high esteem all season long

because of the game they almost won last year at Kansas City, even though the Bengals went to the Super Bowl and also beat the Chiefs last year in the AFC championship, also beat them during the regular season. But it was those three teams every year is different. And we saw today like, actually no, the Bills are not remotely close to as good as the Bengals. And they got worked. And we'll dive into that game here in a second.

But when you look at the 49ers and the cowboy game, the thing that stood out to me the most is, listen, I have some takes that I'm very, very adamant about, right? The Brandon Staley take, my Cliff Kingsbury take, my thoughts on the Patriots coaching staff. And one thing with Dak Prescott is I never understood how you could pay him $40 million a year. Now, unlike Brandon Staley, who I think is kind of a fake guy, I like Dak a lot, fantastic human being. the type guy you want in your building as an NFL team. But not every player is worthy of being paid a premium. And just because certain players play positions that net them X amount of money doesn't mean that you should pay them that amount of money.

I got no problem breaking the bank for Nick Boses, for Micah Parsons, for Jamar Chases, for Trent Williams, go around the league to the top players. I pay premiums for premiums. All pros, elite, pro bowl guys, I will pay top of the market. Travis Kelsey, George Kittle, whatever. Because I know in the biggest moments, those guys on a given game, on a given series, in a given matchup, will dominate. We'll be the best player on the field. Will be the best player at their given position no matter who we're playing.

Dak Prescott can have a great game. He did versus Tampa. Newsflash. Tampa stinks. Over the course of a season, though, Dak nets out where he always nets out, somewhere between like 10 and 13 in the league, which is on the grand scheme of things pretty good.

But in the playoffs, you watch him, you go, I don't know. I don't see it because it's not about one individual pass. It's about the turnovers. He's throwing the ball to the other team. I think I saw on Twitter today, five picks in his playoff career. today he threw two and he easily could have thrown a third that Drake Greenlaw would have walked in the end zone.

In these big playoff games, in the divisional round, in the conference championship, and obviously in the Super Bowl. As a quarterback, you have to take care of the football. And I've defended Dak on individual games, like in that Jags game where they lost in overtime. And I forget, it might have been Noah Brown. I forget the exact receiver. It hit off is numbers. Not every interception is on the. quarterback. We see it throughout the league, right? You can throw a pick that the wide receiver

should get that on their statute. But that's not the way it works. The interceptions fall in the quarterback. Today's interceptions were hideous. They were embarrassing. And they ultimately, in a game that was 19 to 12, and for a large portion of it was 6 to 6 to 6 and 9 to 9 decided the freaking game. It led to 6 points, multiple field goals. his turnovers. They were backbreakers. Clearly the Cowboys this year did not have the potent weapons like they did last year. Amari Cooper's not on the team. Cedric Wilson's not on the team. Tony Pollard got hurt in this game. You saw the Niners. They're loaded. But they also in a game with a seventh round quarterback today could not afford to throw an interception. Brock did not. They barely could

afford to turn the ball over and they did on a fumbled punt by Ray Ray Ray McLeod. In a big tight game, in a low-scoring game where the defenses are dominating, turnovers are going to determine it. And today, when you watch the Cowboys, penalties creeped up and they impacted them. Not as badly as the game last year in San Francisco, but it was Dax decision-making. And 13 interceptions is last nine games.

And again, there are several picks in that of those 13 that are not his fault. But even if that number is nine, you can't average a turnover a game. You can't be playing the best defense in the league and throw two picks, not to get tipped at the line of scrimmage, not to go off your wide receiver hands that literally hit defenders in stride. Dominic Lenore, I'm screwed up his name, I just call him Lenore, jumped the route on you like that?

He looked like Dionne Sanders. He looked like Eric Davis. The other play that went off Jimmy Ward, who also jumped the route and ended up on Fred Warner, like those are horrendous passes. Dre Greenlaw read you like, those are the type plays that happen to Matt Ryan or Derek Carr that literally everyone that's watching the game makes fun of said quarterback.

And that was Dak today. And when I pay, it's one thing, if Brock Purdy would have thrown some picks a day, at the end of the day, he's picked 262. He makes $700,000. And it would have been devastating. And it's not about what your paycheck is or where you're drafted. You're playing in the game. It is what it is.

That's a $40 million. a year player. $40 million. The standard and the expectation when you get paid that much money is so high. The reason when I'm watching the game today is like Micah Parsons, the height,

the potential defensive player of the year, him and Bosa, like the standard in which he's held, every time I looked at number 11, it's like he's living up to it. Every time I look at 97 or 19, these guys are just making plays. Yeah, Dak, the highest paid player

in the game by a wide margin was honestly one of the worst players in the game. And you can say well, his numbers actually weren't that bad and he did throw a great ball to CD down the sideline. That's great. He threw two picks that ultimately was a major reason

that cost his team the game. And he threw a pick last year against the 49ers. Backbreaking. You cannot turn the ball over. And right now, Dak Prescott is a turnover machine. In a game when the Dallas Cowboys coaching staff did a damn good job. Dan Quinn, who might be a head coach on another team in the very near future,

more than likely is going to be gone. So there's a chance the defense could take a step back. They're stuck with this quarterback. And this quarterback right now hasn't just plateaued. Good player. It's solid. But holy moly, he throws a lot of interception and turns the ball over and it'll kill the Cowboys today.

And the 49ers and the Eagles like, this should happen. These are the two best teams in the NFC. I think when you look at the hierarchy of the NSC, there's the 49ers and the Eagles in their own tier. And then honestly, probably Dallas in their next tier, and then you could argue over the next group of teams, right? The Seattle's, the Detroit's, the Giants, Minnesota's, basically a bunch of, when the dust settles,

above average teams, but teams that were never going past the divisional round. And you look, this is a heavyweight matchup, with star players literally everywhere. You know, I often say it's a coach quarterback league because it is. The quarterbacks make the most money because they should. When you have a good one, a Joe Burrow, a Patrick Mahomes, right? I mean, a Josh Allen, in theory, you ride them to the promised land.

Josh still got to find a way to get there, but Joe and Patrick are pretty sweet. And the Eagles have the advantage, right? Jalen Hertz was an MVP before he got injured. He easily could have won the MVP. Patrick Mahomes are going to end up winning. But when I look at the coaching matchup, Kyle Shanahan now has four playoff victories in the last 12 months. He has six in the last three years.

He's done this a lot as a head coach. Siriani has one career playoff victory, and it was against the New York Giants. And I like Nick Sirion. I'm not trying to be some hater. So I'm, the Eagles have the quarterback advantage clearly. Jalen hurts the better player than Brock Purdy.

And Kyle Shanhan is a better coach than Nick Siriani. And the other thing is, like, Siriani is very dependent on his coordinators, and they're pretty good. Gannon and Scyken. Kyle calls the play, so he impacts the game. Obviously, the Eagles come out here on fire. Siriana does a good job getting him ready. That's also not an issue for Kyle Shanahan and the Niners. I think this game's going to be fascinating.

It's just an incredible matchup of elite players everywhere. We will dive into the game as the week goes on, but it played out correctly. And then in the other game in the morning, it was an eye-opener. One, I'm so glad that we avoided. And I said when the Hamlin situation happened, I wasn't going to be critical of anything the league did about the outcome of how they figured out the situation

with the game not being played. I did hate the neutral site in a dome. For the three best teams, we're all outdoor teams playing in cold conditions. Like the chiefs, the Bengals, and the bills, like, I can't be playing indoors. This isn't a Super Bowl. This is the AFC championship game.

So I'm glad, as Joe Burroughs say, get those refunds, guys. Because that game, I did not like that. That thing bothered me. We avoided it. But the bills in a weird way for a team that, listen, I probably picked to win the Super Bowl at the beginning of the year. I said if they made it to Glendale, they were going to be my favorites because they were a dome team.

If they would have won this game in the dome, I would have picked them against the Chiefs. They got their ass kick today. They got thoroughly. worked. It's one thing, obviously, Joe Burrow, the guy's a star. Absolute stud. Think how many playoff games that guy's won. He won three last year. He's won two. He's won five playoff games in 12 months. And he's clearly leading the ship. And the defense of coordinator and the defense is solid. But Joe Burrow, Jumar Chase, Mixing, and Higgins, that is a potent unit.

You know, we talk forever about, you know, the big three. And for a long time, it was Kelsey, Mahomes, and Hill. To me, the new big three is Higgins, Chase, and Burrow. Absolute ass kickers. I would not have been shocked. I told Stucky, like, I'm just not betting against Joe Burrow and the points. It's one thing to win a game. It's another thing to destroy the bills.

And that's what they did. They worked them. Like, ultimately, the Cowboys lost. Cowboys didn't get worked. Their defense showed up to win a playoff game. Their defense handled the 49ers for the, for three quarters. They eventually wore down. Niners took advantage, won the game.

Dak threw a couple picks. That was not by any means in NASCAR. That was a very, I was very entertained by that playoff game. Bill's Bengals, that was, we're taking you to the woodshed fellas. We're tougher than you.

We're better than you. We're more potent than you. You're playing in Buffalo in this crazy snow environment. We're more prepared for this. And ultimately, a couple things translate in the playoffs. Physical defenses always translate. why the Cowboys had a chance today.

It's why the Niners and the Eagles are still rolling and a running game. And I've said this forever about Buffalo. I can't like ultimately your quarterback is not Cam Newton. He's a, you know, a $300 million player, whatever he is. He makes $45 million a year. He's a fantastic player. He picked us some bad habits this year. He kind of became this like hero syndrome guy.

Like you can, one thing Mahomes did a fantastic job of this. season was like learning to live another down, checking the ball down sometimes. Not every single play I have to be Brett Farr of reincarnated. And I got news for you. Mahomes is a better player than Farr, and Farr's one of the best players I've ever seen. But Mahomes, I thought this year was his most complete season ever. Maybe statistically throw more touchdowns or whatever, but just in complete control of the game.

That's also how Joe Burrow plays. Obviously, Burrow will hit Higgins and chase down the field, but he has no problem throwing the ball to his running back. But the thing the Bengals do, obviously a lot better than the bills, is they run the football. They will hand the ball to a legitimate running back. And in a game that's in the snow and you can't just throw bombs all game long, trying to run for 150 yards is a healthy thing to do. And the bills can't do that.

And they haven't been able to do that in Josh Allen's time as a starting quarterback. And Sean McDermott, I like Sean McDermott a lot. He's like, I value knowing, you know, he's one of the head coaches I know in the NFL. I was rooting for him today. They got their ass kicked because they're not that tough. And offensively, when you don't have a run game, which is weird, most defensive coaches love having a run game, it's hard to win in the playoffs. And it showed today.

And they have to find a way to get someone on their team who can run between the tackles. And you can go, this guy's getting us 100 plus yards. Because when the bills went to four straight Super Bowls, and they were one of the best teams of the decade in the 90s, one of their best players who's in the Hall of Fame was their running back. Because you're going to play a lot of games, whether you're playing at Buffalo, whether you're playing at Kansas City,

whether you're playing against the Steelers or the Ravens in outdoor inclement weather games. And you watch today, Burrow makes a lot of things happen, and he's very comfortable in the weather. but like their offense is very balanced and he is not in a weird way for the star quarterback he's playing within himself and you watch Josh Allen when you can't run the ball it always feels like he's got to turn into either Cam Newton he's got to run it and it was really hard for him to do that or they're just chucking it down the field and it's not going to work when

you're playing like Squaw Valley you know you know or Vail Colorado and the snow's dump it it feels like you should go skiing or snowboarding And I thought the bills were just exposed for being soft today. Like the Cowboys, a lot of respect, not soft. Not that great, but they were not soft. Like there was one team today out of the four that you went, God, that looked like a soft operation. And it was the Buffalo Bills.

And it feels like they've become very, very dependent on Josh who, now, like, let's face it. Now, I'm guilty of this. When we talk about quarterbacks, it's always like, Bahams, Allen, and then Borough, Herber, Lamar, and that kind of crew. We got to do it a little differently. It's Mahomes and Burr.

And then Allen. And I love Josh. He's still one of my favorite players to watch. I think eventually he's going to lead Buffalo to a Super Bowl. But they got to do a better job of building this thing around him. Because right now with the no run game, it's a problem. You know, and listen, we can be say he didn't play that well. And honestly, he's had two games where it's like a little more to be desired.

and really a season's been a little hit or miss. I believe in Josh Allen. I'm not selling any stock, but you got to do a better job of like getting him a legitimate running back. Look how much better the chiefs look with Pacheco. Now, he was a seventh round pick, but just his physicality between the tackles, and it's not like Andy's calling run after run,

but they can run the ball with a physical element. Because when you run the ball, it's not just about playing your opponent. It sets the tone in practice. it makes your team more physical. And you watch the bills, they just kind of look soft, which is pretty crazy,

because maybe I was fooled. I thought they were really, really good. And I've probably done this, and a lot of people have probably done this. Zach Taylor's having a lot of success, and it shows you when you get the right quarterback, they clearly have talent,

and their defensive coordinator does a really, really good job. But Joe Burrow is a really, really, really special quarterback. Like he is a, watching Mahomes yesterday go full legend on the injury was just made me feel like a little kid. Like that's cool. You got to drag the guy out of the field.

Watching Joe Burrow just kind of perfect playing the quarterback position. It also kind of makes me feel like a little kid. Like this guy is just, this is what you want to watch. And obviously the story all week is going to be Patrick Mahomes health. I wish you hopefully he gets close to 100% as possible just because I want to watch these two best players in the league. Joe Burrow, Jalen too.

I mean, Jalen went healthy. He's awesome. But watch these guys throw haymakers at each other. Just a fantastic day of football. And I think no one's shocked that the Niners won, but watching the Bengals thoroughly dismantle the bills, not something that I saw coming. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games.

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

A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care which I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way,

this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment,

and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show, isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the iHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Looking to get more out of the NFL season, now's the perfect time to download fan do.

America's number one sports book. Right now, new customers get a no-sweat first bet up to $1,000. That's free bets back if your first bet doesn't win. The promo code is always Colin. Fandul has tons of betting options. I like the same game parlay. Bet a little, win a lot. FanDul's app is safe, secure, easy to use, and you get paid your winnings really fast.

the no sweat first bet up to a thousand bucks. Promal code Colin. Make every moment more this season with Fandul Official Sportsbook partner of the National Football League. 21 plus and present in Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Indiana and Louisiana. Permitted parishes only. Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee, Virginia, or West Virginia. First online, real money wager only.

Refund issued as non-withdrawable site credit that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.Fandul.com. gambling problem, 1-800 next step or text next step to 5334-2 Arizona, 1888-78-9-7-77- or visit c-cpgagbler or visit fandul.com slash RG and Colorado, Indiana, Indiana, Jersey and Virginia. 18777-7-7-1-1-7-1-7-1-1-7-1-1-7-1-1-7-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1.

Visit 1-800-gambler. In West Virginia. Okay, let's rattle off a couple mailbag questions. At John Middilcoff is the Instagram. At John Middilcoff is the Instagram. Fire in those DMs and get your question answered on the show. Very, very easy to do. Let's start with

John here Bill's fan Just finished watching a disappointing season Come to an end At the same point two seasons in a row I know McGermit changed the culture And made this team into perennial contender But this team is now regressing

The expectations are now Super Bowl or bust with Alan I think the organization needs to consider contacting Sean Payton and making a drastic move to replace a coach who has an enormous respect from the players in the organization. What are your thoughts? Might be risky,

but I think Sean Payton is a higher you can sell the players and the fan base. Can't wait to hear more from you and Sobel on the Go Low podcast. Got to figure out when the Go Low podcast is going to come back to life. Might be this week. I saw something in my inbox.

Might be in a couple weeks. I don't know. But a lot of golf talk coming up. I watched my second TV, John Rom, the season. Listen, I think Super Bowl robust, like there was only one Super Bowl

or bust guy the last 20 years, and that was really Brady and Bill. I'd say even Mahomes and Andy, it's hard to be Super Bowl or bust when you've only won one. Now, I would say the Chiefs are getting to the Super Bowl or bust, but like Nick Sabin's championship or bust,

most people are not. I think you guys are more like, it's not about losing, right? You can a loss. You guys never won a Super Bowl. Hell, just getting to the AFC championship game would have been incredible. But it's another thing in the second round

to get destroyed. Today was tough. Today was tough. Because you got shoved around. They ran the ball down your throat and you can't run the ball. So there's a toughness element to your team that's lacking. Now, I said this last week, you

guys, and this happens a lot in baseball and basketball when you sign a huge free agent and you're a team that's really close. you signed von Miller to $55 plus or $50 million guaranteed and he tore his ACL. Like that was a massive, massive loss for you. You took a big swing on them and it kind of backfired. Now it's part of football, guys get injured,

but that's pretty crippling. You know, listen, I hate to say this, but I think you'd have to have a conversation. Now part of Sean Payton is like, are you getting rid of Brandon Bean? Is he part of the problem? I think it's very, very difficult. If I just remove any knowledge of, like, knowing the guy that I have,

everything that happened over the last month with Hamlin situation. Like, I just don't think you can fire Sean McDermott. I don't care how ugly today looked. Now, I do think it's fair to say that next year, I don't think Sean Payton's taking a job. Sean Payton's not going anywhere. I think that Sean McDermott is on the hot seat next year. It's basically like when the,

AFC or you're gone. I don't think it's Super Bowl or bust, because again, you guys have never won a Super Bowl. Josh Allen's never won the AFC. But I think it's like get to the AFC championship game and borderline win it. If this happened again next year, to me, he gets like the Tampa, Tony Dungey, see ya. I heard you say CMC and Purdy had the same 40. They gave me pause, so I checked. According to NFL.com, CMC ran 448 and Purdy ran 484. Did I miss something? I said they had the same 10 time. So the 40, from a Scouts perspective, is broken up into three times. The 10, the 20, and the 40. Like you said, McCaffrey ran a 4-4 and pretty ran a 4-8. But they're 10-time, which we use to measure a lot of like, like, D-Lineman, what Nick Bosa, Michael Parsons, right, Hassan Reddick, Fletcher Cox, like when those

guys are at the Combine, your 10-time, Chris Jones is a really big deal because it measures how fast you play in a short area. Brock Purdy's 10-time is really good. He obviously is not going to run away from anybody in 40 yards, but as you saw today, like he can keep plays alive just in a little 10-yard radius. So I was talking the 10-time, not the 40. Confusing, because Brock Purdy did not run a 484, or else he'd be like the little white Lamar Jackson.

Are Joe Burrow and the Bengals being held back by Zach Taylor? They won today over the bills, but to be honest, honest, most of Zach Taylor's play calling seems completely uncreative by the fact that Joe is a stud quarterback and they got ballers all over the field in Chase Higgins, Boyd, Mixon, and company. Crazy idea. But if they make the Super Bowl and lose again, would they maybe make a move for Sean Payton to try to capitalize on the talent they have? Look forward to hearing your thoughts.

So we got a Bill's fan that wants a McDermott gone for Sean Payton. We now have a Bengals fan that you guys got, I don't know if you're a Bengals. fan, but here's what I'll say about Zach Taylor. He has been in six playoff games, and one of those in Super Bowl, in the last 12 months. He's won five of them. He is five and one in his last six playoff games. Five and one. That includes on the road in Kansas City and in Buffalo.

I'm sorry, I will defend Zach Taylor today. His team showed up with Lou Amarillo. Am I saying his name wrong? Diomador, Lenore, I screwed that up earlier. Lou, I just call him Coach Lou. And they beat the shit out of the bills. So I have a hard time. Would every team in the league rather have Sean Peyton and Zach Taylor?

Of course, but I can't fire Zach Taylor. He went on the road to Buffalo as a six-point underdog and kicked their ass. That's a fantastic win for Zach Taylor. I don't want to say it's as big as the Chiefs one last year because the Chiefs one got him to Super Bowl, but it's not far behind. That was impressive today. That really was.

Now, this week, it'll, depending on what Mahomes' injury is, well, I mean, we know his injury, but in terms of how healthy he is, they might be favored, you know, there's going to be some pressure on them, but it's five and one. How many people listening to this, whoever your favorite team is,

if you're a cowboy fan, an eagle fan, whoever, a Giants fan, a Patriot fan, would you take being five and one in the last 12 months in playoff games? It sucks to lose in Super Bowl, but you're winning every other game. And you're kicking some ass. I mean, they kicked ass today.

That was, they worked the bills. That was crazy. I know the Bengals have a great team and Joe Brough is amazing, but when do we have to admit Zach Taylor might be a pretty good coach? Okay, I thought we were going to keep shitting on Zach Taylor.

Sometimes you and myself included treat him like Staley, but clearly Zach is a lot better. 100%. Here's what I say about Zach Taylor. I watch Zach Taylor talk. I hear a real guy. I hear a normal guy. Guy from Oklahoma, Midwestern American. I think you play it in Nebraska.

Just clearly, just a high level guy. I like Zach Taylor. Now, I don't know if he's Bill Walsh, but I'm with you. From what I can see, I would love to have Zach as my head coach as a Broncos fan. Is there something I'm missing? No, I'm in agreement. Zach Taylor, as the kids would say, we're giving you your flowers. Win playoff game. What you have to do as a coach, listen, most coaches are never going to win Super Bowl. Can you just win playoff games? Can you win playoff games?

Like, if you can't win playoff games, then like, it's hard to keep your job for a long time. Like Kyle Shanahan, he might get his ass kick this week, or he may lose by a walkoff field goal, or he might win the game and then lose Super Bowl. He might never win a Super Bowl. But you know what Kyle Shanahan does a lot for the Niners? Win playoff games. He's won six playoff games in three, I guess, the last four years. He's been the playoffs three of the last four years.

He's been a conference championship game three times. Like, that's all you want as a fan, unless you have Brady or like Mahomes is like, just give the team a chance. Just give the team, win some games. Zach Taylor's doing that. Clearly, Burrow likes him. I'm with you. I'm getting a lot of Zach Taylor DMs.

This is from Sean. Big time fan. But it's time you stopped dissing Zach Taylor. Earlier this season, you pretended to forget this man's name. I did. It's time to stop the nonsense parroting of so-called conventional wisdoms that Zach is not a good coach. Burrow wasn't just being polite when he said Zach was the best coach in football.

I wouldn't go that far. But I hear you. Zach has led the Bengals to a second AFC championship game and when few thought they would do so. you finally stopped Nam and Herbert ahead of Burrow in your list

of stud young quarterbacks a little too late but at least you finally did it it's now time to give Zach some respect and cut out the condensation thank you for reading this

I love you but sometimes tough love is called for keep up the great pods I especially love that you publish pods on Sundays no one else does

I've got to pay the bills baby I'm with you I wasn't trying to be condescending when it comes to Zach Taylor. I literally in a podcast earlier this season forgot his name. Part of that is a smaller market coach, right? Like I wouldn't forget Mike McCarthy's name.

Or, you know, he's just not as famous even as like the Cliff Kingsbury's or some of these guys. I will give him his flower. He's doing the goal of a coach is to win. It's to win. Like I can shit on Kyle all I want for the end of the first half. What the hell was he doing? He won the game. That's all that matters.

like ultimately Mike McCarthy today I thought was one of his better games his quarterback was terrible was awful Dak Prescott was not very good so and I think I heard Mike Tomlin say this might have been on Sean McVeigh and Schrager's podcast a couple years ago he's like I learned I think he was taught by Monty Kiffin or John Gruden or one of his early mentors in the NFL that like any good coach can make a C player a B or B plus for a season

and have a guy overachieve, he said, what really makes the best coaches is making your great players always play great and getting your best out of your elite talent. Because ultimately, like, in pro sports, to win and compete for championships, you need your role players to overachieve and play well.

But ultimately, like, I need Aaron Judge and Justin Verlander and Steph Curry and LeBron James or whoever my star players are to dominate. Like, the reason that 49ers are, win a lot of big games, because their best players dominate. The reason the Chiefs

have been to so many AFC championship games, Travis Kelsey, Patrick Mahomes, Chris Jones, and Tyree Kill when he was on the team. This isn't a complicated formula. Obviously, you need other guys to do well, but, like, Andy gets a lot of credit

because he gets his sweet players to dominate. And that's what Zach Taylor is doing. When I look up at the TV, it's Higgins, Chase, Burrow, and Mixing, kicking your ass. kicking your ass

so nothing but love for Zach Taylor nothing but love I deserve a little tough love because I I probably took I don't want to say the easy route

but it was a question Zach Taylor I was wrong not not afraid to not afraid to pivot John is from Wade you see the Ed Reed stuff curious to get your thoughts in the mailbag

if you don't cover it on your show why saw the he was hired by Bethune Cookman, and then I saw that he, I watched his speech to the team of him talking shit about the administration. And I worked at Fresno State for two years. And at the time, our administration was actually much more into like Title IX. They didn't really like football. And it was very, very difficult to watch Pat Hill having to deal with that. And I've listened to a podcast Dion did with Shannon Sharp. number one Laker fan.

And he talked a lot about like, most coaches, not at Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, are constantly fighting an uphill battle. Because in fairness to these institutions, like they're run by academics. And these academics, they live in this little bubble. Most of them, their only job is academia, and it pays well once you get tenured.

And you're constantly fighting to try to get, you know, upgrades or what you value for your kids. and in football is for your team. And Ed, I think, believes that he got screwed over. Like they said they were going to do something. And clearly they had no intention of doing that. And basically, Prime told Shannon, like, it was happening all over the conference. Like, there's a lot of shady shit going on.

And I think academia is a lot of shady stuff because there's a lot of money flowing in and who knows where it's all going. Grants and people getting their hands on cash did have no business getting their hands on cash. and I don't know the details on this but I can understand that some of these institutions going something doesn't add up here and Ed Reed a former player

guy who made a lot of cash and a high level organization could probably sniff out of fraud and I wonder if Ed realized like we ain't seeing eye to eye on this one so I give Ed Reed props for getting the hell out of there because

I always lean up on the side of administrators, in academia, whether it's in the athletic department, or whether it's in the academic side, I don't know, man. I don't trust them. So I lean with Ed Reed on that one. His speech to the team,

just absolutely shitting on the institution. I loved it. I mean, I love it. I just think there are so many people. I talked to someone on the phone the other day who's in a graduate program and who said some of his teachers had actually been in the real world and come back.

Listen, I'm not anti people that teach if you're going to be work at a university and you teach in the business program and you've run a business or been part of the private sector. But if you're just teaching and you've only, in college at least, I'm not talking high school, I'm talking in college.

And you've only been part of academic. It's like you're teaching these guys They're gonna leave college to go in the real world Like life's not about this textbook or this slide show You know so it's just I don't know Trying not to be too negative And I'm an educated guy two degrees

Pro education you know pro education Grandpa was a professor of Cal I never will be but he was Okay last question Now that Greg Roman is available Do you think he would fit on the bears I think he would have success with Justin Fields. I think Justin Fields can be as good as Lamar,

and they have a similar skill set. Of course, Fields needs improvement on the passing game, and Roman seems to struggle with passing success. Regardless, if Fields was in Roman system, I think he would be a top 10 quarterback. Do you agree what's your take? I just think they're going to stick. I mean, Iber Flues hired Getzzi from the Packers.

He didn't go anywhere. I just don't think it's an option. You know, I think that Greg Roman, and he's not going to be the barest coordinator. Though I actually think it would definitely work. I mean, they kind of did that last year, didn't they? They just ran them around like Lamar. Now, they weren't winning any games,

but he was being very, very productive. So I hear you. But I think that I give their coordinator now some credit. He kind of morphed their offense into that. Now, Roman is the master of kind of the running quarterback offense. But I think your guy, I would give him another year. He's going to get it. appreciate everyone listening. See you guys on Tuesday. Adios.

And talk to everyone soon. See 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.

Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. 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-Hart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an I-Hart podcast. Guaranteed Human.