The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 3 and Out - Draft's 'Bachelor' Appeal; Red Flag Decision Dilemma; Top Draft Takeaways; Mailbag

Episode Date: May 4, 2021

In this episode, John explains why the reality TV aspect of the NFL Draft is making it more popular every year, what separates a draftable red flag player from an undraftable one, and gives his takes on the top headlines coming out of draft weekend. He also answers listener questions in the Middlekauff Mailbag. Follow John on Twitter and SUBSCRIBE now to get all the latest content!! 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, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter.

Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year.

Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. On the Look Back at it podcast. For 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 was big to me. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it.

With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild year. It was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win.

I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfills of conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeard 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. Get right to the romance and find the way to wow this Valentine's with 1800flowers.com. From classic roses and bouquets to decadent chocolate-covered berries, gourmet treats, and more. Surprise your Valentine with 1,800flowers.com. Right now, get the 18-stemmed Enchanted Flowers.com. rose medley for $3999 or upgrade to 24 red roses for $10 more. Go to 1800flowers.com slash tune in. That's 1,800flowers.com slash tune in.

What is going on? Everybody. May 3rd, 2021, the draft is officially over. And now we move to OTAs. I watched a lot of press conference. conferences this weekend, bits and pieces of a lot of teams. Every coach, every general manager mentioned OTAs like they were happening. Clearly the union does not agree that that's going to be a story to definitely watch

over this next, I don't know, two or three weeks to see how that kind of unfolds. But we're going to dive in to everything that's actually happening right now that we know about. Some thoughts just on the overall draft. Some other things that I picked up, just some nuggets from just different teams, things that were said. And then just some overall draft thoughts. You know, I have to take an inventory, just some specific stories. And we'll dive in that way.

If you listen on Collins' feed, I'd appreciate if you go to the Three and Out podcast. If you like the show, subscribe. If you leave a review, also would be greatly appreciated. Three and out, leave a review. And then, of course, the Middlekopf mailbag at John Middilkoff is the Instagram handle. Get your questions answered right here on the podcast. easy. Okay, I wanted to dive into the NFL draft, and I can't steal this analogy. Someone DMed it to me in the Middilkoff mailbag at John Middlecoff's the Instagram handle and said,

do you know why the draft is so fascinating? It's basically the bachelor for men. It has, you know, 288 roses, but really the first round is, you know, it did 12.5 million people that watched. It's 32 Roses for probably 50, 60 guys that we know several guys, right? The top 10, 15 picks are really, really famous. And we don't know where they're going to end up. It is the ultimate, listen, we've lived my entire, basically the last couple decades when I was in high school till where I'm sitting now. Reality TV shows are not just in vogue.

They are everything. I mean, they run television. They run our entertainment. reality is just part of life now. You know, it's something that I kind of hang my hat on. Before, I always felt like when I was growing up, the media, it was hard to like see inside, to feel like they were part of you.

They were separate. Now the people that are crushing in media, you know, are kind of raw and real. Show back the curtain, right? I mean, they're not hiding anything. At least I try to hang my hat on that. Like, I'm a pretty open book. And I think life has turned into one big reality television show, right?

with social media, obviously just everything. It's just kind of the way society works. We know way more now than we did 20, 30, 40 years ago. And with the NFL, I would include that as well. But a big reason the draft is so fucking awesome is because the NFL is by far, not even a close second, the biggest, you know, sporting league in this country. It is you could combine all the other sporting leagues

and they might not even equal the NFL. It has dramatically separated from the pack over definitely the last decade. Basically, when everyone started saying the NFL is going to die, Roger Goodell sucks, is when they doubled down and they've never looked back. But the draft is a huge reason for their success. It's a huge springboard leading into the off-season,

which ultimately goes to the season. And a big reason we've got to tip our hat is college football. Unlike in basketball, where their sport has really, really had it seen a precipitous drop in interest. A large reason, in my opinion, now there are several factors. Their draft has never been less interesting, right?

It's pretty boring. Why? We don't know any of the fucking players. Guys are coming from overseas, one and done guys, dudes are playing in the G League. I mean, I'm kind of a nerd. I know a decent amount of the players, but the average fan does not.

Where, when it comes to the NFL draft, you have a decent idea of the top, you know, 15, 20, 30 guys, in the draft, which is really all the NFL cares about having a enormous Thursday night, doing 12.5, 13, 14 million people watching. And the only reason we're able to do that is because coming in, we have a feel and we've seen some of those players. Because the second biggest sport right now in America is college football. So the masses watch the NFL and they watch college football. And because to get to the NFL, you have to play college football. There is

no circumventing that. I guess you could play college basketball, but those guys are outliers. for the most part, 99.999% of NFL players playing college football for several years. And then, like, the Rose ceremony, which is the draft, is fascinating. Because it is true reality television show. Beside the first couple picks, we didn't have any clue. Who was going to go where? Like, I'll be honest, when the Cincinnati Bengals took Jamar Chase, I was like, damn, I thought they were going to take Pena Sewell.

When the Miami Dolphins took Jalen Wado. I was like, damn, didn't see that one coming. when the Carolina Panthers took J.C. Horn. It was like, wow, I didn't see that happening. No one saw Justin Fields going to the Bears. That's a huge reason for the interest. So occasionally, and I don't try to pay these people any attention, you see these media members like, abolish the draft.

Some of these agents, get rid of the draft. A draft is a big reason for the explosion and the sustained cash flow. The draft is a necessary, I don't call it an evil, but if you're anti-draft, it's a big part of the process, which is the NFL's business model, which currently produces cash at a high rate, right? The news today was that the Thursday night games will be exclusively on Amazon. And the NFL has some built-in advantages, right? One thing that's way different in basketball,

most elite guys in basketball don't need to stay for more than one year. I acknowledge that, right? The G-League team in the NBA was actually stationed in where I live, in Walnut Creek, because Steph Curry's gym was here, they had facilities, they were here. You know, that in theory is supposed to be good for the NBA? It's bad. No one watches the G-League. No one knows who any of these fucking players are.

Where if you play at Alabama, you play at SC, you play at Texas, you played LSU, you played Ohio State, I'm going to consume you as a fan. Right? It's easy for a guy like me who makes his living off talking about football being able to talk casually about a lot of these prospects. Because you've watched Ohio State, you've seen Oregon play a game or two, you've watched Clemson. Even if it's just for a game or two, you have some sort of familiarity with that given player. And then going into the draft, you're a fan of your NFL team. You want to see which guy they're going to take.

Like the Pittsburgh Steelers, one of the biggest brands in the NFL. Who do they end up with? Star running back at Alabama. Dallas Cowboys, biggest brand in the NFL. Who do they end up with? Star linebacker from Penn State. Right? And even the 49ers who end up with a guy from North Dakota State

that we built up that player so much. Everyone know who Trey Lance was. And it truly has become the best reality TV show in just in America, the National Football League. But I don't think we can underrate how important the draft is to the entire television show, right? It gives us an introduction to the future guys of the league. It's one thing I've always said,

and listen, it was part of my job when I worked in the NFL, but at least now I don't need to fake it. I find fifth, sixth, seventh rounders very, very boring. Undrafted free agents as well. Like, I could peek at a guy, give you an opinion, but you have no clue until you watch them practice. I've been going now pretty consistently to NFL practices, whether I worked in the league or doing this for a living,

for over a decade, and you know immediately you're like, oh, that six-rounder sucks. Oh, damn, that undrafted free agent is really good. And the great part about the meritocracy of the league is like, if a fourth-rounder sucks, an undrafted free agent is good, and they play the same position, the fourth rounder's gone, and the undrafted free agent makes a team. Now, obviously, a lot of good players come from those rounds, right, historically.

Richard Sherman's, Brady's, Julian Edelman's. I mean, we can list George Kittles, a ton of guys from all different rounds. But at the time when they were drafted, no one's like, I bet George Kettle is going to be a Hall of Fame talent, not a soul. Right? Julian Edelman, he's going to be West Walker's replacement, a great champion, and Tom Brady's best friend. Of course not.

Now, I have no problem doing that once these guys prove it, but we do that much more with the first rounders. And that's what's fun, right? And that's where we spend the majority of our time talking about because those guys are much a leader, you know, higher level prospects. A leader, I don't think that's a word. but just higher level guys. People, we are much more comfortable projecting,

where it's much more difficult in the later rounds. Right? It's why the television ratings for the later rounds, I mean, I'm an NFL junkie. I kind of find it boring, you know? Now, I had a little money on Keegan Bradley. He let me down, but I was like watching the golf tournament Saturday. It's like, you know, I don't even, you know, we'll see.

These guys are good. And I'm not saying that a lot of them will be good. It's a great part about the NFL. A lot of the guys in the 5th, 6th, 7th, and undraftedgedy free agents will end up starting, especially now, guys that obviously. It's got it out guys with limited film. Who knows? This could be an ultimate crap shoot But you don't really know till you start trust me. I used to do it

Evaluate preseason film you'd be like I bet this third rounder is good and then all of a sudden you realize Damn is the fifth rounder better? Well obviously that team didn't believe that on draft night neither do the fans But it changes fast because you know right away Anyone listening to this whoever your team is you can list countless examples of like god I didn't know who this guy was but two years later our best player in the draft class with our six-round pick. It's like, God, thank God, we got those two undrafted free agents that were our starting right guard

and our starting cornerback. Happens to every team in the league. So the reality television show, I mean, it peaks at the draft, but then going into training camp, we're all locked into the first and second round players, right? But then as you watch preseason play out, you're like, damn, that guy's really good.

Or damn, this guy kind of sucks. And the reality television show plays on. And part of last week, a huge edition, Aaron Rogers, wanted to be in the mix of everyone talking, and he threw his kind of hat in the ring. I don't even know what to make of that situation right now. Is it just as simple as he doesn't want to live in Wisconsin anymore? He wants to move out to La La Land with his girlfriend, slash fiancé, slash wife.

I don't even know what they are. Because there's three opportunities where San Francisco, Vegas, and Denver, he just wants to come out west. I get it. I'm from the West Coast. I lived in the Northeast for a couple of years. I couldn't get back to the West Coast fast enough. So I understand. Now, part of his job, like he's been there 15 years, makes a ton of money, like kind of comes

with a territory in that business. Plus, it's not like a year-round job. It's really five or six months, right? Ideally, six months if you make playoff runs, which he typically does. But I'd say the Green Bay Packers have been pretty good for Aaron Rogers brand. Now, he's been good for them too, right? But I think it's a muddy situation. I watched some of the press conference with Goudicans.

I thought he handled it pretty well. But I think that's a great example of the ultimate reality TV show. You're telling me the MVP of the league and one of the best players we've ever seen. It's like, fuck it, I want out. You don't typically see that. While another star young quarterback, think about this. He's like, you got to trade me. And then a month later, all these massage therapists come after him.

And now it's like, is Sean Watson ever going to play in the league again? Like, ideally, if you're the NFL, you don't want situations like that. But when I talk about reality television show, when I talk about the big business, that's a good thing. One thing that I think's really hurt the NBA when I was growing up, They used to have crazy players. You know what's pretty good for sports? Having not everyone be the same.

Not having everyone be the same boring personality. I like some crazy SOBs in my league. The NFL always going to have that. The NBA used to when I grew up Anthony Mason, Rashid Wallace. I mean, I remember I was a huge Sacramento Kings fan and we got Jason Williams, White Chocolate, Randy Moss's high school teammate.

Like, you need some dudes on edge. The NBA's full of just elite guys. who make a ton of money who just are kind of boring. The NFL still has some wild cards, right? And we'll talk about it a little bit later, like red flag guys. Like, listen, I'm not a red flag guy, hopefully in my life, right? I try to do the right thing. I try to stay out of trouble.

I've never been arrested. But if I ran a business and my business was a pro sports league, like having red flag guys in your league help just draw eyeballs. It just does. You know? I mean, the media hates it. Like, how can you get those guys to the league? Well, I don't know.

It's a bottom line business. We're just trying to make money and win games. That's really our only, we're not setting the moral compass for society. And ultimately having some of these crazy dudes in the league, like for the big picture, I hate to say it, is good for business. I mean, it's just a fact, right? It just is. Now, you don't want an abundance of them, but having a couple guys just on the ticker getting in trouble

isn't bad for business. It's been proven. We've seen it year after year in the NFL. The NFL's had the greatest run of the last decade we've ever seen for Sports League. Now part of it, it's just, it's the perfect television product and television and media money is skyrocketed because that's where our eyeballs go. But, like, the reaction. A win is a win. A win is a win.

I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Clipper 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 good. 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.

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

episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the AIDS. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed 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 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 Hard Way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests.

I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth. 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 Hardway and listen now. Audi television show just carries on, right? What's going to happen with Aaron Rogers? What's going to happen with Sean Watson? Are they going to trade Jimmy Garoppel? This is just reality television at its finest. We don't even know if any of these rookies can play.

Did Jordan love any good? Like the questions are actually real. You just can't beat it. Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch all of our shows at Fox SportsRadio.com. And within the IHard Radio app, search FSR to listen live. Get right to the romance and find the way to wow this Valentine's with 1800flowers.com. From classic roses and bouquets to decadent chocolate-covered berries, gourmet treats, and more.

Surprise your Valentine with. 1 800 flowers.com. Right now, get the 18-stem enchanted rose medley for $3999, or upgrade to 24 red roses for $10 more. Go to 1,800flowers.com slash tune in. That's 1,800flowers.com slash tune in. What grows in the forest? Trees? Sure. Know what else grows in the forest? Our imagination, our sense of wonder, and our family bonds grow too, because when we disconnect from this, and connect with this. We reconnect with each other. The forest is closer than you think.

Find a forest near you and start exploring at Discovertheforest.org. Brought to you by the United States Forest Service and the Ad Council. Look through your children's eyes to see the true magic of a forest. It's a storybook world for them. You look and see a tree. They see the wrinkled face of a wizard with arms outstretched to the sky. They see treasure and peasant. They see a windy path that could lead to adventure.

And they see you. Their fearless guide through this fascinating world. Find a forest near you and start exploring at discovertheforest.org. Brought to you by the United States Forest Service and the ad council. Okay, let's take a look at a couple different teams and their philosophies when it came to this last draft. Let's start with the Colts. I'm open-minded when it comes to risk, right? I mean, the two head coaches I worked for, Pat Hill and Andy Reed,

I'd call pretty liberal when it comes to taking risks, taking flyers on guys. That's just, that's how they thought. And I'm open to it as well. Like I look at the Colts and I go, you know, they're a little bit more conservative when it comes to players. And I think you heard Frank kind of get excited there. Like, I'm not anti-taking risks, but why are we taking risks when there are good

players with high character. And I think sometimes we outthink the room in terms of the scouting philosophy and the draft process. Because there are some talented players who are turds off the field, right? And you like desperately want to include them in the group instead of really focusing on just the really good players who are good guys. Now, no, most people aren't like Andrew Luck, but just high character, good guys. I've always said this about the NFL.

I think the majority of players in the league are really, really impressive individuals. I think a large percentage, 80, 85% of the league could do basically anything and just have a lot of success in society. They're disciplined, they're hardworking, they're smart, they're high character guys.

I think that's the overwhelming majority of the league. Then I think there's 15, 20%, that are, you know, teeter go back and forth of like, you know, I don't know if I'd hang out with that guy. Now, it's kind of a crazy sport. So maybe 10% of that, 20% it's just the nature of getting crazy people in a sport that you've got to be crazy to play.

But I often think that, you know, a team gets dead set on an individual player and they try to justify his character issues. We've seen some different stories, or at least I have. Cowboys took a dude. They got kicked out of Florida State. I think the Titans just got turned.

story about a dude from Pittsburgh that it's his girlfriend. The Florida State guy beat at his girlfriend too. The difference is the Titan guy. He came out and immediately said that he didn't do it. The Florida State guy who then played at Marshall, Josh Ball. I mean, he did it. So every year you have countless, and that's an extreme domestic assault. I mean, we could have as simple as like, I don't know, got arrested, got in fights,

just maybe not the greatest guy. Like, here's a reality of society. Everyone like, and listen, mental health is a huge. issue for a lot of people. Like, yeah, it's life, right? We're all dealing with different mental stresses, mental pressures, societal pressures, uh, relationship pressures, business pressures. Like, that's welcome to the real world. Like, I mean, fuck. That's never changed in the history of humanity. It's just been at different levels as society and civilization has changed over time. but sometimes, you know, like when you get a guy doing something crazy and people try to use

like mental health, like he's just going through a rough time. No, you know, some people are just assholes. Some people are just bad people. Now, I don't think anyone's born a bad person, but over time, once you get to like maybe early 20s, mid-20s, you can just be a bad person. Like, there are, not every person that you meet in life is just like, oh, that's a good guy. Salt of the Earth. I'd want to be around that guy

Want him to be my neighbor I'd want him to be my business partner Just the simple Reality to the situation A draft is no different than any office Right Or any group of kids coming out of school Trying to enter the workforce

There are good ones and they're bad ones We've just got some bad apples There's no way around it I'm not a psychologist But for whatever reason It just happens with certain people I think a lot has to do with your upbringing If I had to play amateur psychologist

but maybe it's just psychologically we're all wired a little different and I think sometimes just get questionable individuals and if you think that guy's a questionable individual but he can play football and I've always said this it's not the NFL's job to be the moral compass of that city of that state in this country that is not their job they basically have two objectives and they're both intertwined first and foremost to make money second win games

you could even reverse the order win games and make money that is their job they can throw up PSAs about anything that's going on in the world and try to act that is not their job and deep down they don't really care

we know that and I don't blame them for it they're a for profit business they're trying to make as much money as humanly possible and they've become pretty good at it but the one thing you hear Ballard say is like why are we like

I got no problem basically taking a guy that can help us play but if we can get a good guy who can also help us play let's just take that guy. Why are we overthinking it? I think in a lot of times it's like how is it going to be perceived in the community? What will, I guess

it doesn't, like where I live, I don't know a soul who still reads the paper but I think in Philly and New York Boston still read the paper in the northeast like papers are dead out here with the youth maybe that's true back there too in Chicago I don't know but like that was always a thing like what's going to be the

headline in the paper. Now it's more like the headline on the internet or what we're going to say on podcast. Why do you care? Because ultimately we've seen if you win games, no one, it doesn't bother anybody. Stadium's still full and if people still watch, that becomes a lot of white noise. Like, you can't do that? I can't. No, you can draft whoever you want. There are just, do you want to bring that guy, not for the perception of your team, but in your locker room around your team, which like I said, every team is conceived of a large, majority of high-level guys. So if you have a team like the Colts

and you're led by DeForest Buckner, T.Y. Hilton, you just draft last year Michael Pittman, Jonathan Taylor, Darius Leonard, good dudes, your GM, your head coach, high character guys. Do you want to bring a tournament in the room? Like, what's the point? Just because maybe we get an

extra touchdown? Why don't we just take a good player? And for the most part, that's how they built their team. What do they do every year? Win double-digit games. like that that's the to me like i think oftentimes and i'm guilty we gravitate toward the question guy for whatever reason i don't know why obviously it's his talent but if all things are equal why are we messing with them and i think frank brings up a great point the other thing i saw and this definitely went viral and i saw albert brir wrote that the steelers took a lot of heat for this statement

and I would ask Albert took a lot of heat wear like on social media, on Twitter. I mean, we know a small, small, tiny percentage of people are on there. So like, they really take a lot of heat for it? Because after watching the draft, I actually realized what Kevin Colbert was saying. He said it to Kevin Clark, you know, three or four months ago, and he doubled down during the draft process

because they did not draft one opt-out guy. and when he told Kevin Clark months ago about they will not draft an op-out guy, I just assumed he's talking like Penae Soule, Jamar Chase, some of the best players in the draft opted out. Roshan Slater, who went to the Chargers, like several picks in the top like 15 were opt-outs. I thought the majority of opt-outs were just high first-round picks. You know what it turns out?

That's not the case. There were opt-outs all over the draft. And I think it's a valid question, to ask like, I get Penae Sewell or Jamar Chase opting out. They had nothing to gain. What about the guys that had a lot to gain and opted out? And when I look up, go in the third, fourth round. Like, should you have opted out?

Was that a good decision? Did you get terrible advice? Because I didn't quite realize going into the draft the amount of players that opted out. Now, the Steelers did not draft one. and they were adamant that they weren't going to mess with it. Because I do think it's fair to say to go, whether this is right or wrong, I don't know the answer.

Every individual player is his own case study. But, you know, a guy that gets drafted in the fourth round that's an opt-out, like, did he even want to play football? Because like, Dalyon Waddle, Devante Smith, Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields, all these guys played and campaigned to come back. Now, one area I will defend the guys is in the Big Ten and the Pac-12

that it didn't look like their season was going to happen. Their institutions, led by the academic elites of America, wanted to cancel football. And the Big Ten did, and the Pac-12 followed them. And then they got a ton of shit, and we saw the SEC, ACC, and the Big 12 started playing like normal. And it's like, what are you guys doing? Why are you not playing?

And then they eventually capitulated and started playing. And to a lot of the players in the Big Ten and the Packer, They were kind of getting torn or, you know, toyed around like a yo-yo, right? Anyone, any small business owner in a city that was heavy on lockdowns can relate. You guys were treated like yo-yo's during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 with the lockdowns. There was no rhyme or reason to anything. At any moment, oh, it's off. Oh, you're open again.

That's not the way you treat people. And the Big Ten in the Pack 12 did that to players. So there is definitely an angle of a guy that like the Niners drafted. a third round corner from Michigan. And I was like, well, why didn't this guy play? But then I understand, like, Michigan, one of the crazy lockdown states in America, also with the Big Ten, it was very, very difficult. Like, I do understand, but I also get the Steelers going, you know, we're not even going to

mess with it. Now, I don't think you ever want to, pigeonhole is the wrong word, but back yourself into the corner with the philosophy just because there are probably going to be a lot of good players, non-the-top guys, who opted out last year. in the Big Ten and the Pac-12 who strictly did it because they weren't able to train and they didn't know if they were going to play and then, you know, come mid-October like you guys are playing. It was a shit show, an absolute circus that there is no way around it. The Pac-12 and the Big Ten were embarrassing during the fall.

And the ACC and SEC kind of clowned them. And I think a lot of the players who I'm sure are friends with a lot of guys in those conferences, like, I don't know what we're doing. And a lot of those schools were closed down, hardcore, you couldn't work out, they don't facilitate any place to work out, and the guy's tapped out. So I understand Tomlin and Kevin Colbert taking that stance, but I also think you've got to be careful because certain individuals like have a good case. And they might push back, well, he had the opportunity to finally come back with his teammates,

and he didn't. And they're not talking about Jamar Chase and Panay-Soul, which I just assume they were the whole time. Really, to me, what they're talking about is the dude in the fourth round. Like, why wouldn't you want to play and help your stock and go up? Because that is the one thing with the opt-out guys. Anyone that did not play in 2020, yeah, fall of 2020, who wasn't an elite player,

he could have helped his stock and gone from a third or fourth rounder to a second or first. He also could have hurt his stock. Because part of having more information and a larger sample size is we get a better view of who you are. Now, I think a lot of the kids would say, I wasn't able to train, I didn't feel I was going to play, I didn't feel I was going to play very well

I didn't I wasn't comfortable doing it because the elephant in the room was these kids weren't scared of corona right it was just they weren't able to work out they weren't hell all the schools in the pack 12 out by me weren't able to practice the cow canceled the game when one player got corona

because of these crazy laws in Berkeley they literally had to cancel because one guy in one position group got corona they had to cancel the game so it's like I go both ways. I like the Steelers being strong in their conviction with it, and I understand elements to where they're coming from. At the same time, like, outside of Pittsburgh, I lived in, you know, a radical place who I kind of would, if I was one of these players, I would have been like,

what's going on here? And they really never got an answer until last minute. I mean, hell, Cal played UCLA one week. The following week after the game was canceled, they had an, opponent that had to cancel a game. On Friday, they're like, we're going to play UCLA. They played Sunday morning at 9 a.m. at the Rose Bowl. So it's like, I don't even, I think you have to put yourself in some of the shoes of some of these teams and go, this is pretty nuts. Like, it was the school's fault. It was the institution and their leadership's fault.

It was a clown show. And I think a lot of these players, I give them credit for like, this is stupid. Now, some of these players probably lost themselves a lot of money. the guys that are going to end up being good pros, they would have been good if they would have came and played. But, you know, the situation was very, very complicated. Another thing I saw, John Elway, he took a back seat this draft.

I think we've got to be very careful about, just because you're a GM, like a title, and anyone in any different job knows this, just because you have a title doesn't mean a damn thing. A wise man once told me a long time ago, said one thing he learned early on in his career, he works in the financial institute, like he's, you know, I guess a venture capitalist now.

He hedge funds, like he's in that kind of world, finance world. And he said early on his career, he was so big on being called like a vice president and asking for all these titles. And he's like, you know what? One thing I learned, you could call me an intern if you're paying me a premium. People get so caught up and hollow things.

And being a GM in the NFL is a really big deal. But not all general managers are created equal. You know, I mean, we see what's going on with Goudicans and Aaron Rogers. The one thing we've learned, the general manager in Green Bay has a lot of juice. So when Aaron Rogers says he wants the GM fired, it's because he knows it was the GM's call to draft the quarterback. The GM is in charge of the Packers. It's an elite general manager job. It just is.

But if you're the GM for the Seattle Seahawks and John Schneider, ultimately, Pete Carroll is the boss. It is not the same as being the general manager in Green Bay as being the general manager in Seattle. And for most of these teams, depending on who you are, like, historically for Andy Reed, being his GM is not that great of a job because ultimately he's the boss. Well, one thing, since he's gone to Kansas City, he lets the GM be the GM. John Dorsey, Brett Veach, they get to run free agency, they get to run the draft. So every team is so different, right? San Francisco. Like John Lynch has a very, very difficult job handling Kyle Shanahan, running the scouting department. But Kyle Shanahan is the ultimate decision maker.

If he truly wants something, he's going to get it, and John's going to get vetoed. Now, John's paid a ton of money, but his GM job, the Denver Broncos, that is an elite general manager job. As we saw with Elway for the last, you know, whatever decade, and now with George Payton, like, they get to be in charge. Part of being a GM, like you aspire to run the program.

Now, it's a hard balance, because ultimately you want an elite coach, and usually elite coach is going to want some juice. but in a perfect world you kind of want a coach who's going to be open-minded to your ideas and you can work with. And that's what I bet

if John Snyder walked in the door right now he'd be like, you know, Pete's giving me a lot of juice over the years. Mickey Loomis would say the same thing with Sean Peyton. Brett and Andy just have a, you know, kind of a unique relationship. And that's what I'll be fascinated. Like George Patton, Peyton,

when he took the GM job in Denver, like he gets to make all the calls. If Vic Fangio doesn't win this year, he's going to get fired. And I'll be fascinated to watch with the Lions, with Atlanta, some of these new programs. Like, how's it truly going to work? Does the GM actually get to pick the players? Or do you have to do what the coach wants?

Now, ultimately, you want to be on the same page as the coach. You don't want to draft a player that he doesn't want. That doesn't make any sense. Right? That's a terrible business philosophy. You guys want to be on the same page. But we're humans. We all are not going to think alike.

We're going to have, we're going to butt heads. and ultimately who's in charge, who's making the decisions, is going to win out. And that is usually what leads to a lot of fights and anger historically in NFL buildings. I wanted to dive into some draft nuggets and just different things from this weekend that excited me, that I had opinions on, that I just wanted to mention here on the pot. And first and foremost, one of the more polarizing picks, I think ultimately, I saw Breer and Peter King and most people in the NFL world thought the Alex Leatherwood, the Raiders 17th overall selection tackle from Alabama, was the most head-scratching pick

in the draft. And I say it all the time. The draft is twofold. One, it's a marketplace. What do you have to pay for a given player? Right? You don't want to use the 10th pick on. a player if you can get them at 15.

Can you move back? You don't want to, if you're sitting there at 18 and you've got to get to 14 to get the desired player you want, what's going to cost you something? It's a marketplace. Every player has a value, and you have to understand the value league-wide. And one thing I saw today by several, you know,

different people on the internet, I saw Jim Nagy, director of the Senior Bowl, and I think Benjamin Albright said that Alex Leatherwood, everyone's making too big of a deal of this. Because most people I talked to thought he was like somewhere between like 40 and 60. And Jim Nagy wrote he would have gone in the first round. And Benjamin Albright said he would not have made it past Baltimore at 27.

Now listen, I'm all for having a player you want, isolating that guy and being dead set on getting them. But back to the first part of the equation, You have to know what you have to pay. And here's the thing with the Raiders with John Gruden and Mike Mayock. They have had now three years in a row. They've taken a guy that the entire league would not have taken at that spot. Now, I understand that maybe the teams I talk to like him worse than the Baltimore Ravens or whatever,

but at 17, from Cleland Farrell, last year to Damon Arnett and this year to Alex Leatherwood, in the first round, when they get into a big spot, they never have the ability. to move back. Just look at the Cowboys. They would have taken Michael Parsons at number 10 overall. Now they got the Eagles to come up to 10

and they move back two spots. They got an extra third round pick and they took the guy they just would have taken. Yet with Cleland Farrow with Damon Arnett and now with Leatherwood, I got no problem taking these guys in the first round.

I get it. But why do you never know the value and are never able to finagle three or four spots back? At a fourth, at a third, hell, move five or six spots back, Add a two. Do business.

Do NFL high level shit. They never are able to do it. Now, I think Mayock would say it takes two to tango. True. It does. But why are you never able to find a trading partner? Ever! In the first round, on the big boy pick,

when a lot's on the line and that pick is worth a lot of capital, you're never able to move. Ever! Not with Farrell, who I don't think Cleland Farrell would have got in the top 15. Damon Arnett, you'd be hard pressed to convince me you couldn't have got him at like 30. And Leatherwood. So even if he was going to go to the Ravens at 27, 28, whenever, you can't go from 17, find a way to get back to like 23? They never are able to throw a curveball.

Anyone can move up. Moving up is not that complicated. If I'm at 20 and I want to get to 11, the Bears when they got Justin Feud, You call the guy at 11, you go, listen, we'll give you next year's one. Boom, we got a deal. It's that simple. Anyone can move up. Moving up is easy.

Moving back is hard. You know why? Because going into the draft, you have to understand who's where, what value is where, understanding what picks are worth. You have to line these things up before the draft. And the Raiders are never able to do that under this administration. I think highly of Mike Mayock. everything I ever watched him do on television, he was always impressive.

He was always much more of a NFL guy than he ever felt like a media guy. Deep down at my core, I'm really more in the media into the business. I like that shit more than the NFL stuff. More than the scouting stuff. Mayok's the opposite. He's just a junkie. He belongs in the NFL. But he has a weakness.

Gruden is well. And Gruden's the boss. Ultimately, Mayok answers to him. But like, this is what a job. GM has to at least have set up, and he's never able to do it. Not once in these big spots. Maybe he does it later in the draft. Who cares?

What happens with Farrell, Arnett, and now Leatherwood, that you can't just get the guy that you want it all along? I got no problem with you taking Leatherwood. But take them at 22, take them at 24, and add an extra third round pick. That's what the draft's about. Value, acquiring assets, outthinking the room. it's a business exercise. It's not just, we gotta get this player.

This guy can play right tackle for us. Okay, I get it. But can you also get that guy that you want to play a right tackle for you? And acquire a third round pick, because that's what the smart guys do. And the Raiders, it feels like they're operating on a different wavelength than all the good teams. Brady.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers took Kyle Trast in the second round. I saw Bruce Ari and said, you know, you end up watching Kyle Pitts. you end up watching the wide receiver Tony and you're like, God, all these balls are perfectly placed. They ended up drafting them. Don't blame them at all. If you have a star high-level quarterback, Belichick did it once with Jimmy Garoppel.

Now, ultimately, Jimmy outlasted him. To me, the Buccaneers were crazy to not take a quarterback in this draft. Get them around Tom for a year, for two years, however long he's there, but I like the mindset. And you need a backup quarterback. If Tom Brady does go down, you are not winning anything with Blank Aver. you will lose unless he has to just play one game. But if he has to start five, six, seven, eight games, you will lose. So maybe Kyle Trask, you know, he can just be a marginal starter, good backup.

If Brady were to roll an ankle and miss a couple games, which you'd say that never happens. But if it does, he's 43, 44 years old, could you win some games with this guy? And can he take some information and through, you know, just being around Tom every day, watching the way the guy practices, watching the way the guy works. You don't think that benefited Jimmy Garoppolo when he got traded to San Francisco? He kind of knew the secret sauce.

Now, ultimately, you have to end up going out, you have to play, you have to make the throws. You have to call the plays from the headset from the coach, right? You need to execute the offense, but it can't be anything but a positive being around Tom every day in practice, being around him every day in the meeting room, taking notes by how he lives his life.

So I love that pick. And I'm not even that big of a Kyle Trass guy. I think there's tangible pressure now on the two young AFC North quarterbacks from the same draft. Obviously, Lamar is much more accomplished than Baker Mayfield, right? I mean, he's won an MVP, basically been in the playoffs all three years. Now, the Ravens organization historically is, I mean, on their worst day, beside last year, that was the Brown's best day. Right? So before this last year, Baker's first two years, Hugh Jackson, Greg Williams, Freddie

Kitchens, you know, Freddie, I'm making a sandwich in the kitchen, was embarrassing. But both those guys, but start with Lamar, like they added a wide receiver in the first round. They added T. Martin and Keith Williams are their receiver coaches now. So Hollywood Brown should get better. They signed Sammy Watkins, who's played for the Chiefs for the last three years, who's beloved in that organization. You know, it's time to kind of take a step as a lot of. as a passing quarterback.

Because as we've seen with all these running quarterbacks historically, you can't just run around forever. Eventually, you've got to make throws. Even the mobile quarterbacks like Russell Wilson

and Sean Watson are running around behind the line of scrimbage throwing the football. It's a big year for Lamar. And I'm a Lamar fan. Earlier, when I had my AC up a little too high,

I had nobody cares work harder. He's got the right mindset. He doesn't play the victim BS that the media would eat up. You know, it's not my fault. It's the coaching staff. It's the offense. No, he always wears it.

But now it is time for him just to take another step as a quarterback, as a passing quarterback. And I think it can be a hard balance when you run, you know, a run heavy offense. It's hard to get into a rhythm as a quarterback. It's easy for Josh Allen, Mahomes, Aaron Rogers, Brady to get into a rhythm as a pastor. They throw the ball. There's not a balance. They're not like, well, we're going to take off and run. We're not going to run quarterback power here.

So I think it's just Mark Andrews' stud. Like they got weapons. They got weapons. Big year for Lamar Jackson. Same with Baker. Their team is loaded. Absolutely. They're going to play a third place schedule.

They won 11 games. They've gotten better this offseason. The Brown's roster on paper, probably top five in the league. And if Baker plays like he did last year down the stretch, they'll be in good shape. he had moments early on. Now, new offense, it's very quarterback friendly. They got two sweet running backs. Odell Beckham comes back.

The Browns, their defense is going to be awesome. They just drafted a sweet corner in the first round. Ward is good. They signed a safety in free agency. They already have. You see Miles Garrett at the draft? What was that? The second or third round when he came out in his suit?

I mean, the suit looked. Remember when Chris Farley's fat guy in a little coat? That looked like Jack guy in a little coat. Remember Arnold Schwarzenegger? in the 80s. That's how Miles Garrett looks right now. The difference between Arnold Schwarzenegger, he's not stiff in the hips.

He can bend the edge. Miles Garrett looks like a different species of human than like myself. Is this guy getting bigger by the year? The guy looks like a fucking monster. I mean, he might, for the next three or four years, be the best pass rusher,

you know, beside Aaron Donald than the league. So you got weapons everyone on offense. You got a sweet defensive backfield. You got the best pass rusher in the league, potentially. Yeah, good young coach. This kind of big year for Baker Mayfield, man, and Lamar Jackson. Now, both these teams probably be in the playoffs, but we know the Ravens will.

We'll see. You know, the Browns, one playoff berth in a long period of time. Can they sustain it? They should be able to. I mean, you could argue they should win the division. Wait until we see some of the odds come out. Like, can I get the Browns like five, six to one to win that division? I mean, what, they haven't won it probably since the 90s.

I kind of like that. I don't, but I, you know, I was texting with Nagy on Friday, maybe it was Saturday, he said it to Peter King and Albert Breyer, like he loved Justin Fields. They did a lot of work on Justin Fields. I didn't realize they were kind of circling

the Justin Field situation. That if he fell, 10, 11, 12, they were going to be aggressive. Like, they had a plan of attack, and I've talked a lot of mess about Ryan Pace. I think he's an average to below gentleman. manager. I mean, he whiffed on a quarterback in a draft with Mahomes

and Watson. Like, that alone's a fireball offense. You took Mitch Trubisky over Patrick Mahomes and DeShall Watson. It's hard to take anything you do after that seriously. But, I'm not going to go Harry and Lloyd here, totally redeem yourself. But, you know, redeem himself a little bit.

I mean, Justin Fields, who, if you had told me the Niners took it three, I would have plotted. I wouldn't have thought it was crazy if the Jets took it too. I think Justin Fields is an elite prospect. Elite. He's a better prospect coming out of college than Deshawn Watson.

I'm not even to compare him to Mahomes, because it's not even apples to apples. Mahomes wasn't, we weren't even talking about it. But Deshawn, who had won a national championship, who was viewed as a legitimate NFL player, like, I think Justin Fields is a better prospect. Physically. Now, obviously there's more to quarterback

than just your physical attributes, but I give the bears, they got lucky in a sense that he fell, right? The Panthers and the Broncos passed on him. And they pounced. What would have been fascinating if Justin Fields and Mac Jones were sitting there at 15, who Belichick would have taken? I'd assume Mac Jones, but who knows?

I mean, they signed Cam Newton last year. None of us saw that coming. Some of the Jets coaches, Albert Brewer wrote this, in their meetings leading up to the draft, Joe Douglas put a lot on the coaching staff to evaluate all the quarterbacks right in, like, February and March. They did a big evaluation before they made any decision on Sam Darnold. Some of the coaching staff for the Jets, like Zach Wilson more than Trevor Lawrence, which I've heard some people that do too.

I don't think it's that crazy. But I said it last week, a Jets fan DM me is like, you're just a Jets hater. I'm not. They're the worst team in the division. That's not being a hater. Joe Douglas would tell you that over beers. That doesn't mean in a couple years they can't be really good. I love Robert Sala.

LaFleur has a chance to be a really good offensive coordinator. Look what everyone running that offense do. But they don't have much talent. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what 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 kids. 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.

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. 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 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. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just. because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, 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 finishing that sentence. 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 in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tript Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing.

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

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

Search learn the hard way and listen now. On the roster. They have two good offensive linemen out. They have a safety. Some of these draft mix, but we don't know. You know, the guard, I mean, the quarterback, who knows? It's going to be a big transition. But a lot of pressure is on this guy.

Their coaching staff thought he was better than Trevor Lawrence. That's pretty bold take. This guy better be pretty solid. And like I said last week, I think it's going to be difficult. You know, it just is. I mean, the division they play in is tough. I mean, it's got Belichick, greatest coach of all time, Brian Flores, who learned 20 years from Belichick,

who has a solid team, and Sean McDermott, who has an elite team. I mean, the second best team in the AFC. You've got to play those six times. You have a first-time coordinator on offense and defense, a first-time head coach, and a rookie quarterback. Just a lot of moving parts. of newness, right?

I mean, put yourself in the situation. Anytime you're doing something new, even if you're good at it, it's difficult. Like, you don't just, whatever you do for a living, if you just take a step up at whatever that is, it can be a challenge the first week, the first month, the first year. You get a new job. You usually don't just hit the ground running

and just take off like Usain Bolt, like, oh shit, this is easy. Like, they're going to be growing pains. Anytime you gain new, responsibility in your position. I guess Zach Wilson is doing the same thing. It's just at a much higher level. Robert Saul has never been a head coach. LeFour has never been a coordinator.

Joe Douglas now actually has like pressure on him for the first time, right? Making this move with the quarterback. So I'm just... Douglas, I guess he told him on the phone, all you have to be to Zach Wilson is yourself. Us and the organization will lift you with us. Like he's trying to take the pressure off the quarterback but we just know, like, the pressure always turns to the quarterback.

Just the way the business works. 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. Right now, get the 18-stem enchanted rose medley for $39.99, or upgrade to 24 red roses for $10 more. to 1800flowers.com slash tune in. That's 1,800

flowers.com slash tune in. If I could be you and you could be me for just one hour. If you could find a way to get inside. Each other's mind. Walk a mile in my shoes. Walk a mile in my shoes. Walk a mile in my shoes.

We've all felt left out. And for some, that feeling lasts more than a moment. We can change that. Learn how it belonging begins with us.org. Brought to you by the ad council Walk a mile in my shoes 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.

Dipers and toys are everywhere. Ooh, but Mom has just nailed the perfect car seat buckle for the the toddler. And now the eldest daughter who looks to be about nine or ten has secured herself in the booster seat. Dad zips the bag closed and they're off. Ah, but looks like mom doesn't realize her coffee cup is still on the roof of the car and there it goes. Oh, that's a shame. That mug was a fam favorite. Don't sweat the small stuff. Just nail the big stuff. Like making sure your kids are buckled correctly in the right seat for their age and size. Learn more at nhtsa.gov

slash the right seat. Visit nhtsa.gov slash the right seat. Brought to you by Mitzha and the Ad Council. Okay, let's dive into the Middlecoff mailback. At John Middlecough, the Instagram. You guys, please slide right in to the direct messages. I have a lot. Start with Wes. If declaring for the draft is a requirement to enter the league,

couldn't a Zach Wilson or a Trevor Lawrence, go play in the CFL for a year, then enter the NFL as an unrestricted free agent, can't help but feel like Zach Wilson's career is going to be over before it even starts when he goes to the Jets. Well, so let's... What's stopping a top prospect like Trevor Lawrence

from not declaring further the draft and entering the league as a collegiate free agent? I know it would probably be worse for the league. Well, here's the thing. Like Trevor Lawrence, the moment he gets drafted, he's property of the Jacksonville Jax. Right? Or Zach Wilson, with the Jets.

So they could not show up and go play in CFL, right? They would still be under the umbrella of their team. And where it wouldn't make sense is the NFL pays more. Do you know how much the number one overall pick is going to make this year? I think like $38, $39 million. Guaranteed. Four years, $38 million. And if you're good, you get the fifth year option.

And if you're really good, you get your contract extension. our neighbors to the north They ain't paying that type cash Hell you're not even allowed to leave your house right now in Canada You get arrested So I'd say these guys Yeah Plus here's the thing

Now if Trevor Lawrence Came out of college and was a true free agent How much money would he get Someone probably give him $100 million But it'd be pretty risky Right I do think it's The way the NFL works, the draft is good for players.

You get drafted high, you get a lot of cash. Right? They build up the league. They keep the cash flowing for everybody. Not just you. It's a team sport. You need to pay a lot of people. The draft is a healthy mechanism the way it's set up right now in the NFL to just keep the league flowing.

Listen to the podcast this weekend and you talked about being immature with, your mind in your 20s. I thought that was really interesting and relatable to myself right now. What did you do or how did you change that? Well, I think as you get older, you just become less emotional would probably be the wrong word. I'd say less reactionary. Most of my immaturity in my 20s would just be, I'd freak out, right, and get angry at

stuff. A lot of stuff you can't control. You just don't have control of your emotions. You see young players in sports, right, in high school, freaking out. And you see guys in the pros like, now, guys freak out too. But guys be able to handle their emotion. I think as you live, as you meet new people, as you do new things, you gain new perspective. It sounds kind of cheesy, but I just, I think it's with age.

You know, I mean, now some people are more mature in their 20s. I think the best thing that's happened to me is perspective in life. You know, I've been fired, have been in the gutter, and I've been doing well. I've seen both sides of it. You know, you're either going to wake up happy or not, whether you've got a million dollars in the bank or whether you've got $0 in the bank. If you just have a good attitude and don't freak out over everything,

it's easier to accomplish stuff. The other thing that I try to do a really, I was going to say really good job of, I'd be lying if I said I did it. I am cognizant of and I attempt to not do is to assume things. And I think you get a lot of, get in trouble in your mind,

when you assume things. I think the faster you learn, and to me, you only learn through doing things, the less you assume, the healthier mind is. And I think when you're young, and it happens to people

that aren't young too, they spend so much time assuming. And I think when we assume, we naturally think of the worst things, something negative. And that's going to lead to, you know, becoming,

you know, emotionally a little unhinged. I, I, to me, the main part of maturity is just control of your emotions, right? And the more you can control your emotions, you know, someone looks at you funny when I was 20 years old, I might stare back. Someone looks at me funny now. It's like, whatever, I don't care. Now, I'm not claiming to be like,

Chuck Liddell. What am I going to do? Go kick his ass. But my point is, like, little things. And then on top of anything work related, like, you have a question. There's a disagreement or something that you think, like that, that money doesn't add up. just ask. I think the thing that I didn't do younger that I definitely do now, and maybe it's just because whether you own the revenue or you're in business with people like I'm in control and it all the buck kind of ends with me,

that you're just quicker to ask. Like, hey, what's going on here? What are we doing here? You get ahead of things faster. Before I would just let things happen and then react. And sometimes you don't have a choice, but I'd say, Don't be, don't hesitate if you're, if you think something, instead of assuming the worst, or even the best, but usually typically assume the worst. Just try to get ahead of it. Ask.

I respect your work and connections in the league and have heard from your story countless times. I just want to say thank you. The last great way of being. I just don't want to read a compliment. I'm 40. I've been a pothead for years. Responsible. Have a family, a career and just love to get high in my downtime. Keep preaching, helping people mentally change. because you can help many of these future players. I appreciate that. It's a good... Sometimes you just don't have a question. You just have a compliment. You guys don't need to hear that. Oh, you know, I like them.

You know, they make you feel good. Be lying if I said they didn't. But like I said, on the maturity thing, you can't, like, in this position I'm in, I get a lot of positive things that are direct messages to me. And you also, like, I'm glad I make people feel good, but you got to be kind of careful

of not just like, you know... I mean, it's human nature. bunch of people say nice things about you. You're like, kind of, damn, I'm pretty good at this. That's, you know, you just try to act the same. I appreciate that. But what I said about weed is true. And I got family in the beer business and they've done very well. But to act and they'd be the first anyone in the beer business would tell you. I mean, alcohol is harmful. And I, listen, I had, I had drunk Friday night? Yeah, Friday night. I mean, I'm not anti-drinking by any means. But the notion, the way I grew up, and I still see.

it because some of these states not federally legal. I think a lot of people, and I've invested pretty heavily in weed, thought the Democrats would make it. But it's like, you know, Kamala Harris, when she was the district attorney in San Francisco, she was very anti-weed. One thing that like in some of my weed investments, you know, I probably have close to six figures. It makes me a little nervous.

Like I thought the Biden Harris, you know, would just, boom, it'd be legal. It might be a little bit more challenging than I thought. It just, there's so many different elements with this. The other thing with politics, I see it with gambling in California. Like, why is gambling not legal in California? Well, I'll tell you why. Because we have Indian casinos, which are legal. They're untaxed, and they have an unlimited amount of cash.

Well, they want no part of these gambling companies coming to California. Because they'd build big-ass casinos, and they would take market share, and it'd be a battle. So what do they do? They pay off the politicians. No different than coming up, what was weed? Well, it was negatively marketed by who? alcohol companies, well, I'll give alcohol companies credit. They've pivoted.

They're all in on weed companies. They've invested in the weed sector. You know who never wanted weed to become legal? Tobacco. Now, tobacco's fucked. I mean, they're done. But they were a huge part of the negative marketing behind weed probably well before I was born, but definitely while I was alive.

And funding, making sure the penalties behind it, keeping it federally illegal. It's all kind of messed up, man. Money makes the world go around. Never forget that. I do have a question. Joe Burrow is really worthy of a first-round draft pick. Question. I saw the college film.

You're talking Joe Burrow, the Bengals? I saw the college film and understand that he's undeniable talent, but I don't know about a first overall. Is there something I'm not seeing or understanding? I've never bought into him. Well, he was a one-year wonder. Now, his one-year was incredible. I mean absolutely

jaw-dropping one of the greatest seasons we've ever seen I would say the little bit that we saw before he got hurt he looks pretty good now he's not going to be

Aaron Rogers he doesn't have that type arm he's not going to be Mahomes he's not going to be Josh Allen he's not going to even be Russell he's really I think to me if he becomes what I think people hope he becomes

he's like a better version of Tony Romo I think Tony Romo was a stud now Tony Romo through some picks, but he's kind of a playmaker. Well, Joe Burrough's kind of a playmaker, too. And, you know, Romo, like Burrow, they didn't have the strongest arm in the world. And it turns out like, you know, Romo's a big-time athlete. Now, obviously he was a much bigger, more pedigree behind as a high school kid and in college

at Ohio State and LSU relative to, I always get the Illinois schools messed up, whatever school Sean Pade and Tony Romo went to. I think it's different in Jimmy Garapolo's school, but one of the Illinois. So it's just I'd say the biggest negative on Burrow Why I don't think it'll ever be an elite elite player Is his arms just not You know dominant

But Drew Breeze wasn't either And he had a hell of a career I'd say his biggest detriment is his franchise They're a joke I mean Zach Taylor Listen I just don't agree with taking Jamar Chase Over an offensive lineman I just don't

Because you could have got a sweet defense Or a wide receiver in the second round I would rather have gone Offensive lineman wide receiver That would have been me but I don't run the Bengals. My question is, do you think the Steelers made the right choice going Naji at 24?

Then going Tide-in in the second? Or do you think they should have went running back, then a line instead of tied-in? Will they run game improve? If it didn't win drafting Mendenhall to replace Willie Parker without drafting offensive line early. I like Mendenhall.

I remember I liked him a lot. I think Nogie's a better player. I mean, I think Nogie can be pretty freaking awesome. I will be shocked if Najee's not a pro-bowl-level guy in the NFL. I really will. I think he's a big-time talent. Big time. I would bet on Najee Harris.

Now, tight end over offensive line. I'd be lying if I... I'd have to text somebody in the league that studied them or you as a fan know your offensive line better than me. I would always go offensive line, but what are you supposed to do if you don't have an offensive line been great at high? the problem with the Steelers is like they draft at the end of rounds

so all the offensive linemen got drafted in the first and early in the second round like what are they supposed to do draft some tackle at pick 24 in the second round if the guy if the tight end i think is tight end from penn state right if the tight end's the best guy on their board like i don't know i mean a tight end does play a role in blocking now i'd be lying if i said i knew much about the tight end they drafted but i i can't i can't hate on that I think the Steelers and Kevin Colbert know what they're doing.

Hey, big fan of the pod. Be sure to announce when you come out to Phoenix next, lunch on me in Old Town Scottsdale. Just talking to NFC Western real estate. I like this guy. Thanks for the DM, Kevin. I'm going to look in this week about exploring to buy a place. It's kind of a balance because I am not planning on selling my place in Walnut Creek

in the Bay Area. So I want to keep that. What I've thought about is maybe going, instead of buying a house in Scottsdale, maybe going condo, and I can kind of split it with Airbnb. Not split it with Airbnb. I own it.

And Airbnb it when I'm not there. So if I'm in Northern California, going back and forth, but when I'm there, I can just live there. My place, my mortgage is so cheap here. I don't know. I'm kind of going back and forth

with some different ideas. We'll see. Because when I bought this condo in the bay, the market was out of control. I paid $55,000 over asking. Luckily, they fucked up on some contingencies and I got. It turned out to be like 45. But it was, I paid a lot.

I mean, it's pretty crazy how much I paid for where I live. I kind of, my next purchase, I want to be a deal. Now, I want it to be nice. You know, I don't know. I kind of go back and forth. It's tough, you know, being a 36-year-old with disposable income and options. I'm a Cowboys fan. Didn't expect the Cowboys number one pick.

What's your honest opinion on it? Everyone I know in the league love the guy. They didn't pick up Van der Esch's fifth-year option today, which isn't shocking. He gets hurt all the time. I just think they took the best player on the board. They would have taken one of the two corners. They went eight and nine.

What was Jerry supposed to do? Unlike the Raiders, Jerry made a move. Jerry's like, shit. Well, I got to play against DeVante Smith, whether he goes the Eagles or the Cowb or the Giants, I might as well to get an extra third-round pick out of it and get the same guy I was going to take anyway, especially once the Giants trade it up with the Bears.

And he might have known that the Giants were going to take the Bears off, once he traded the Eagles for Devante Smith because the Giants, or excuse me, the Bears were trying to trade with Jerry Jones, but he didn't want to go down that far. So he knew the moment he traded with the Eagles that the Bears would probably immediately trade up for the Giants. So it's bang, bang, boom. I see you, Jerry. Don't sleep on the old oil man with the plan.

I'm on the board at the Barracuda up in Reno, Tahoe. I'd like to get you invited as a VIP and get you in the pro amp. Glad, this is, this is, you're making my world right here. It's not as sweet as the event. No,

I have a family friend who's played in the Baracuda several times. I'm gonna call this guy. I like where this guy is, Glenn is my type guy. Invite me to play in, uh, PJ,

you know, it's a lower end PGA event. But hey, you know, bakers can't be choosers. I'm just trying to get my foot in the door. Roger's going the 49ers Time date stamp Yeah I don't think that's happening

I mean at this point in time You know if I'm the Niners It's crazy as it sounds Because listen Aaron Rogers is one the greatest players of all time Like I'm just going all in with Tray Lance He's 20 years old You got him under contract I mean let's face it

Roger's a little bit of a drama queen He's a lead player But like I don't have it Unless you take Trey Lance for Aaron Rogers straight up Which they're not going to do Like I'm not giving you Trey Lance, George Kittle, and Nick Bosa. Because if I'm the Packers, like,

Trey Lance for Aaron Rogers, I'm getting done. I need several players. I'm just not doing it. What I don't understand about Rogers, why did he wait so long? Just to mess with the Packers? Why didn't he do this, like, in free agency? Is it just because his girlfriend,

fiance, wife, whoever, you know, whatever they are officially the title is, wants him out in L.A.? Is it really just that simple? Which I understand. But I, why do you wait? Like, I don't, just don't. I get if I'm a Packer fan, it's like, are we serious?

Like, we screwed up draft and Jordan Love, Aaron. We pay you a lot. You win here. Your life's pretty good. No one messes with you here. You got a pretty good gig. I love your take on Mac Jones and the Niners being a total smokescreen and find it shocking to hear cowards believe the rumor so adamantly.

Although he agrees it's not a smart pick, we're trading up for, curious to see what happens. Okay, these are before the draft. My take was simple. Like Colin, I talked to Daniel Jeremiah on the phone last week. Everyone that I knew like that, they were adamant they were taking Mac Jones because there were a couple people pushing that narrative.

The difference is I eat, breathe, and sleep this team. I know this team like the back of my hand. I followed Kyle and John really closely. I know a couple people up top in that building. Now, I'm not saying I knew who they were going to take. I just knew this simple fact. Since John Lynch and Kyle Shannon have showed up, they don't leak anything.

If there's any secret nature to what's going on. Like when they traded for Trent Williams, it was obvious they were going to try to resign them. There was nothing to hide there. But in this situation, I was like, you know, I don't know that they were. would just be going around like a high school rumor and telling everyone. I got this situation a little red flagged.

This does not add up for me. Never added up for me. It just didn't. And I was just, I never believed they were going to take Mac Jones. Now, I do believe they could have. I do believe that Kyle liked Mac Jones, but I give, however it played out, I give Kyle credit that under no circumstances,

he selected Michael McCorkel Jones. And I like Michael McCorkel Jones. I think Mack's a good player. Like I said, on the weekend pod, I think 15 is even high for him. Like, Mac Jones did not fall in this draft. You could argue he was overdrafted still by the Patriots. To me, Mac Jones probably should go somewhere like 25 or after.

That's still a little high. Like, second round. And there's nothing, I think that sounds like offensive. Great players going the second round all the time. When I work for the Eagles, our two best players, Deshawn Jackson, Shady McCoy, we're second rounders. There's nothing wrong with going in the second round. I can list a litany of elite players in the history of the league that have been second round players.

There's not an unlimited amount of first round picks, and not everyone is a first round value. I heard the Panthers GM said it. John Snyder's been saying it for years. Most teams have 15 to 20 first round grades on players. That means in a given draft of hundreds of hundreds of hundreds of calls. players, 15 to 20, probably on your typical team, have first round grades. That is elite company. Mack Jones just was not an elite prospect.

Really good player, good prospect. Nothing about him was elite. Nothing. Not one thing. Especially that you can quantify. It's like, well, you had it. Well, you know, a lot of guys have it. Guys get drafted, a lot of fifth rounders get drafted that have it.

So that ain't enough. You know, it's just not. And I just knew the Niners aren't, they're not the talkative group. Like John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan, I just, I had a hard time believing that they were just texting everyone their plans.

It's clear it wasn't, that just wasn't true. It wasn't the case. Tray Lance is now their quarterback. Until Aaron Rogers is their quarterback, but I doubt that happens. Appreciate everyone listening. Have a great week. See you Friday. Peace.

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. 1,800 Flowers has thoughtful and artfully created options that are guaranteed to deliver the best birthday surprise. Shop thousands of unique gifts at 1,800flowers.com for exclusive offers and great values. To order today, visit 1,800flowers.com slash tune in. That's 1800flowers.com slash tune in. 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-heartedly. 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-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, 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 is 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. 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.