The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 3 and Out - Free Agency Day 1, Rodgers Waiting Game, Jimmy G/Raiders Questions, Mailbag

Episode Date: March 14, 2023

John reacts to a wild first day of free agency, including the football world awaiting Aaron Rodgers decision on where to play next season, and why it makes sense to make the decision sooner than later. He also discusses Sean Payton’s aggressive moves in his first free agency with the Broncos, the problem with relying heavily on free agency, and if the Raiders will regret ditching Derek Carr for Jimmy G. 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 #herd  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The volume. It's the three and out podcast presented by Fandul. The sports calendar is packed, and there's no better place to get it in the action.

Like Fandul. There are so many sports to bet. NBA is coming down the home stretch. March Madness is here. You know we love those 12-5 upsets. The PGA Tour, kind of like Jordan's beat this week. Fan Duel has exclusive offers, boosts, and more all month long. When you win, you'll get paid fast.

Jump into the action any time during the game with live betting. Love a good live bet. Combine multiple bets for a same game parlay. Love those two, good payouts. Can't recommend it enough. So download the Fandual app today to start making every moment more. 21 plus in select states. Gambling problem?

Call 1-800 gambler. Hope is here. Gambling helpline. M.A.org. Or call 800-327-5050. For 24-7 support, MA. Call 1-800. 7-7-8, hope-n-why, or text, Hope & Why, 467-369, and why.

Fandua is offering online sports wagering in Kansas under an agreement with the Kansas Star Casino, LLC. Call 1-800-G, or visit Fanduel.com slash RG, Colorado, Iowa, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Tennessee, Virginia. Win a hundred next step. Or text, next step, next step, to 533-42, Arizona, 1-888-78-9-77, or visit ccpg.org slash chat. Connecticut. 1-800-9 with it, Indiana. 1-800-5-22-4-7-00, or visit KSgamblinghelp.com, Kansas, 1877-7-7-0. Stop, Louisiana. Visit W-WW-W.MdGamblinghelp.org. Maryland, 1-800, 522-4-700, Wyoming, or visit www.org.1-800 gambler.net, west Virginia. What is going on, everybody, John Middlecock 3 and Out podcast. Hopefully everyone had an enjoyable Monday.

Free agency was pretty nuts. I'm recording this at about 8.30 at night, and I've waited. I recorded a large part of it during the day, but I waited to see if something happened with Rogers. And it's like, you know, I'm not going to stay up all night and just wait on this. So if news breaks about Aaron Rogers tomorrow, I will include that on the Go Low podcast on Wednesday. especially because this week's not a great golf tournament week, even though actually some guys are playing. So anything happens with Rogers,

I will give my thoughts on that, in terms of the meat on the trade. I'll touch on a little bit coming up, but the meat of the trade on Wednesday's podcast. Me and Coward did a long one on Sunday. It's why I didn't have anything yesterday. But yeah, a lot of other stuff happened. We will dive into it all.

It's been a wild day. I mean, fast and furious. The NFL's king for a reason. It was pretty enjoyable. Not that I agreed with most of the deals, but it's just cool to see. And yeah, so the plan is today reacting to everything, not Rogers. And Wednesday, golf podcast, potentially Roger's thoughts on there, and then obviously another pod on Friday.

So you want to get into the mailbag, did some mailbag questions today. At John Middlecophis, the Instagram, firing those DMs. easy to do at john middlecoff instagram firing those dms you got any golf questions go to at golo pod it's an instagram account firing those dms and uh and yeah we got a lot going on keep rocking and rolling uh football's king for a reason you know a lot to talk about my girlfriend's like what what do you podcast about in march and april i'm like yeah i'm not worried i worry more about july uh march and april uh that makes my job easy Easy, especially weeks like this.

But first, I got a couple things to tell you. First and foremost, game time. They're my friends. They're my sponsors. I use them. Go to your smartphone. Go to your apps. Download the Game Time Ticket app.

That's a screwing ticket app in America. You want to get tickets for cheap. First time users type in the promo code, John, that's J-O-H-N, and get $20 off. March Madness, all over the country. In a city near you, you want to go to a game? Want to take your son? Want to take your buddy? Want to take your brother?

Want to go with your wife? Need to get out of the house? Promal code John $20 off. Spring training, baseball games, NHL games, NBA playoff games, concerts, comedy shows. If you're going to get outside of the house, take a friend, take your significant other,

to something. Use my promo code. John, J-O-H-N, $20 off. As well as my friends that take care of you for March Madness at game time, us at the volume, because March Maddus is taking Center State,

we're doing merch madness. Just head to the volumes website and use the promo code merch madness for 20% off all merchandise for all of the volumes personalities. Myself included, you want a three and out shirt, you want to go low shirt. We're going to start pushing merch on this show and on the volume. And if you want a chance to compete against Colin, myself, and the rest of the crew, join our bracket challenge. Just head to Yahoo and find the group, The Volumes Merch Madness. or type in bit.l.ly slash volume merch madness. Fill in your bracket and the top five finishers will win volume swag.

Can't recommend it enough. Let's rock and roll, baby. Speaking of March Madness, that's essentially what today was. Now, I have waited. It is almost 8.30 Pacific Standard time. I'm not just going to wait up all night because the biggest story in the league has been this Roger scenario. I assumed, like everyone else in the league, it would happen today. Now, it's hard for me to have some crazy take right now.

He's being selfish. He's being a drama queen. He wants Tuesday to himself. He wants Wednesday to himself. I don't know. I mean, maybe I will have that take once we get all the information whenever the dust settles. Isn't it a little weird that Aaron Rogers, if you're listening to this and it's happened that it even took that long for it to happen? maybe, but maybe there'll be more information that comes out.

It feels like he's going to end up on the Jets. But as I'm recording this currently, he is not on the New York Jets, which he spent time in darkness. His team didn't make the playoffs. He's had months to figure this out. Now it's complicated. A lot of money. You know, he's been on a, you know, he's played for the Green Bay Packers for a long time.

They're easily one of the biggest brands in America. Anyone who has seen the Green Bay Packers play on the road, for being a small market team, they are not a small market fan base. You know, he's been lucky to be a part of, you know, one of our biggest American sports brands. While New York is the biggest market, the Packers are infinitely bigger than the Jets. And the Jets are a big market, especially when they're winning. Now, they haven't been winning, but I don't really know what else to say. Besides, it's hard for me to have an opinion on the situation, on the trade, when as of recording this,

nothing has happened. I don't have the information. I feel like it's easy to like talk some shit about prolonging this out because if you're just taking an educated guess, it feels like it's on Aaron, but maybe it's not. And maybe as the situation comes out, I will react. A couple other things. And maybe this is a domino effect of Lamar because if they don't get Rogers, he decides to retire, goes back to Green Bay, which feels unlikely. Maybe they make a run at Lamar Jackson. But if they don't, salary cap all around the league is drying up. And as Colin and I talked about yesterday, we can't universally make fun of Deshaun Watson's contract as being an awful deal.

And only Patrick Mahomes deserves that deal to then say, give it to Lamar Jackson on top of giving two first round picks. Today, unless something crazy happens, doesn't feel like a great day for Lamar Jackson. Money drying up everywhere. and to make a huge contract, you know, not only do you have to have salary cap space. Now, you can manipulate it. You have to have cash on hand to pay for it. Now, I know there have been reports that Washington still do it and kind of kick the can down the road to the future owner.

But every day that this goes by, you would have to say it gets a little less likely that Lamar Jackson is traded. And I don't view it as collusion. I just view it as good business. Because I know this. If I was a general manager, I could not give Lamar $230 million. Could I give him $150? Yeah, I could, because that's essentially like three, three and a half year deal. You give him $230 million. I mean, the way it works in your cap, you were in bed with him for five or six years. And this is a guy who's missed 10 games in the last two seasons.

But today could not be a positive for him. Now, a day I would say that was positive in terms of the headlines, they're signing a lot of players. I think represented something. And let me preface this whole rant by saying this. Sean Payton is a legit top five, six head coach in the NFL right now. Based on resume, there aren't many guys ahead of them currently in the league. And just if you based it on 2023, if you did a draft from scratch, he would, I'm sure, go if it was up to the owners slash GMs, probably top five or six.

So the upgrade from Hackett to Sean Payton is as wide as the state of Texas. That is a no-brainer hire for them in terms of a head coach. But when you give a guy $90 million, he then has all the power. Of course he does. I mean, he makes $17 or $18 million a year. He does not know the GM. Now, I watch some of their press conference at the Combine. he acts like he respects him and likes him.

But I thought today was very reflective of a co-to answers to nobody. And an owner who says, Sean, we're paying you 90. You do whatever you want to do. And for 15 plus years, and he said this over and over, not just a guy that he respected a lot, but someone that he viewed as his best friend, Mickey Loomis. There was a balance to Sean Payton. Now, part of it was like they signed some bad contracts here and there, and they didn't always have a lot of wiggle room come free agency.

But I thought today, I think I read they spent almost $140 million in guaranteed money. They gave Mike McGlinchy $50 million guaranteed. Honestly, I didn't know much about the guard that they signed Powers from Baltimore. But texting friends in the league, multiple people said, yeah, he's kind of a stiff. Now, both those guys are pretty good in the run game, but today reflected a day where the coach has unlimited power. And the general manager is essentially his assistant. And I don't blame Sean Payton for being aggressive. He ain't trying to play the long game.

Sean Payton wants to win immediately. And I thought today reflected that. And I think sometimes when you get a coach that has no checks and balances, which to me when it comes, to football on the field game planning, no issue with him being the grand pooh ball, no issue with him having unlimited personnel juice, or excuse me, juice on the game plan, on preparing for the opponent, on once training camp starts. In the off season, and listen, I'm a little biased. I like the GM.

I like the personnel people to have some say. What did Robert Kraft tell Belichick, I don't know, the most accomplished coach in the history of the league, you need to list some other people. Because a lot of times head coaches aren't the greatest. Because in fairness, they're not viewing things, especially a guy of Sean Payton, who's this second job, making all this money, trying to win big, immediately big picture. And signing those two offensive linemen for almost $90 million guaranteed is borderline laughable.

I mean, it really is. Now, he might counter and say, listen, we're out of some draft picks. We have to utilize the money and the cash. that we have available because our owner is very, he's rich, so we can sign huge signing bonuses and then manipulate the cap there. And I go, yeah, I understand that logic. The problem is the people you're paying premiums for, are they that good? Are they worth that type money? And in a salary cap league, like ultimately with the Saints, for example, they had a lot of money tied up in really good players. When you pay guys like Alvin Kamara, Camara, Camero,

Drew Brees. I'm just a couple to come to my mind over a period of time and you have a lot of funds allocated in signing bonuses. Those guys are high-end players. Those guys are impact players. Even when they gave Mike Thomas, which has backfired, he had proven before kind of fell off a cliff. He was a high-end player.

Mike McGlinchie's an average starter. Again, having done the film study, got multiple people saying powers borderline stiff, laughable. But coaches just view plugging. and play guy. He started somewhere else. There was a reason the 49ers and the Raven said, see ya. Adios. We're not paying you that money. And the undoing of Sean Payton will not be coaching.

We'll not be schematics. We'll not be motivating the team Sunday through January. But we've seen it with Bill, who's in my lifetime, the greatest football coach I've ever seen. personnel can let you down. Making poor decisions in March and April in this league has devastating consequences. It can limit your ability. I don't care how great you are as a play caller, as a schemer, as just an overall head coach. And John Payton has proven to be a big time winner.

But clearly with the Saints, there were some checks and balances there. And I just wonder today, if it was any reflection, I don't know if there are a lot of checks and balances currently in Denver. 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 Midway Point of the NBA season is here, and now is the perfect time to download Fandual, America's number one sportsbook. Because new customers get a no-swet first bet up to $1,000. That's bonus bet back if your first bet doesn't win. Just download the Fandual Sportsbook app.

It's safe, secure, and super easy to use. Listen, you can bet on the game any way you want. Straight up, aka Moneyline. point spreads, team totals. You can also do player props, whether it's points, rebounds, assists, covers it all. And so many more exclusive bets

likes two times three. Two three pointers scored in the first three minutes. How fun is that? Fanduel even let you combine your bets for a chance at a bigger payout with same game parlay. So don't miss the chance to get your no sweat first bet

up to $1,000 in bonus bets when you go to fandul.com promo code Colin. That's Fanduel.com promo code Colin to learn more. 21 plus in select states. Gambling problem? Call 1-800 gamble. Hope is here.

Gambling help line, MA.org or call 800-327-50-50. For 24-7 support, MA. Call 1-8778. Hope N-Y or text Hope NY. 467-369 NY. Fandua is offering online sports wagering in Kansas under an agreement with the Kansas Star Casino,

LLC. Call 1-800 gambler or visit fanduel.com slash RG, Colorado, Iowa, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Tennessee, Virginia. Win 100 next step. Or text, next step to 533432-42, Arizona, 1-888-7-8-9-77. Or visit ccpg.g.gat-org slash chat. Connecticut. 1-8009 with it, Indiana. 1-800-522-470 or visit KSgamblinghelp.com, Kansas, 187777-7-7-0. Zero, stop, Louisiana, visit www. W.W.W. dot MD gambling help.org, Maryland, 1-800, 522, 4700, Wyoming, or visit www.w. www.1-800 gambler.net, west Virginia.

Okay, one thing you saw today with free agency is the reason a lot of old school people over the years had said, This is not the time when you win big. The NFL is based on draft, develop, and extend. Because that's when you get in this business the best price and bang for your buck. Because typically you can extend early at a price where only you are competing for the player services. And in free agency, especially the last several years, most high-end pro bowl level players do not. hit the open market. Why? Because the teams, all these teams, this is not baseball, all these teams have big money because they all get the media rights contracts from the league and the ability to pay

their players. And you saw today throughout Monday morning into Monday afternoon, enormous contracts happening for average players. Now, I can find you a shitty home, but depending on where that home is, it will determine the value. If I say, hey, this crappy place is on the water at Pebble Beach, it still is going to be inflated as a price, right? Because the land is valuable. The amount you can get for that crappy, you know, tear down at Pebble Beach or Malibu or Jupiter, Florida, is going to be a lot different than Stockton, California, right? Phoenix, Arizona. And you saw, you pay a a premium certain places in real estate. Not necessarily a better home, but location, location, location, an area. You pay a premium if you want to sign a guy in free agency. Why? Because you

typically have multiple people bidding on his services. Like, to me, you're paying, I kind of messed with the math a little bit. You could argue a 30 to 35 percent premium on a lot of these players. when I saw Mike McGlinchie, now he plays a position that is hard to find. Tackles, pass rushers, obviously quarterbacks, but their position is naturally a little higher than the majority of positions in the sport. Then when you factor in, they hit free agency. I started to think what would the 49ers of ever extended McGlinchie for a long-term contract? And that number is probably 30 million or below.

So the Denver Broncos to get Mike McGlinchy to sign with their team gave him $50 million guaranteed. Now, there are elements in free agency where if it's a good guy, a hard worker, a durable player, that some of that inflation's already built in. Like, you feel pretty good if you're the Broncos about getting a guy that you know can just start as your right tackle. If the rest of your team is good, he can be, you know, like he was for the 49ers, arguably their worst offensive player. arguably their worst offensive player, but full-time starter for five years on a team that went to three NFC championship games. But relative to their team, you know, they would not have extended them. And then he hits the open market and to get his services, you're paying a 35, 30% help.

Some might argue 40% markup for the player. Tremaine Edmonds. You know, the Bears, and I get Roquan Smith, want to be there. They traded them to the Ravens. Then they pay this guy, $50 million guarantee too. Like, it's just the amount you have to pay in free agency. Like, at least you know, here's the difference is, if I buy a place in Malibu that overlooks the water or Pebble Beach that overlooks the water, even if the house is god-awful and terrible, that is still very valuable. If McGlinchie and Edmonds and these guys that you pay a lot of money to, Derek Carr, do not play at a high level.

It's a disaster. Part of the reason we see these people be major quote unquote bust in free agency, because the amount of money I'm paying you is on the pro bowl scale. So if you play at an average level, we got problems. We got major problems. and when I'm going to pay a premium for your services, that makes me really nervous. My margin for error is slim than none. And you saw a lot of these contracts today for, let's face it, average to slightly above average players getting paid, you know, like borderline,

pro-ball impact level guys. And that's just not the case. Just because I pay you like Lane Johnson doesn't mean you. you are Lane Johnson. Just because I pay you more money than Fred Warner doesn't mean you're a better player than that, but that's the price of to acquire these guys, their services in this market. And this market is an all, it always has been and always will be very, very inflated. So it's why the good teams historically are very, very hesitant, pick their spots. And even then, like, they can get burned.

It's part of the sport. And I saw a lot of money getting thrown around for a lot of players that if I was on the team, the GM, I'd be pretty damn nervous. Some non-Rodgers quarterback thoughts. I would say the biggest name because Carr signed last week and the trade with the Panthers and the Bears. Jimmy Garoppel officially is the Raiders starting quarterback. And they gave a guy who's now back-to-back years, missed games, major injuries, $35 million guaranteed. Gave him three years, you know, fake money, but close to $70 million.

And on the positive element here, it gives you, like Gino Smith, a lot of wiggle room. Good guy, people like him. He's proved when he's on the field to be a productive player, good with younger players. He's proven you can draft a guy. He can be the mentor like he was for Trey Lance a couple years ago. When Trey was his backup, he was the starter, and he battled injuries and he got the 49ers. He didn't get them, but he was the starting quarterback on a team that was in the NFC championship game. Now, a huge part of Jimmy's success has been the surrounding talent and the coach, who was also the offensive play caller.

And three things jump out to me on this contract. One, this guy's not a durable player. He was hurt this year. He was hurt the previous year. he was hurt in 2020. The only year when he was durable for the San Francisco 49ers was 2019. 2018, tore his ACL. You know, one year when he filled in for Tom Brady,

he didn't make it to game three because he got hurt in the second game. This guy gets hurt all the time. So when you sign this player, if Jimmy Garoppel could just play every game, you would have a serviceable middle-of-the-road quarterback, who's smart, who, you know, gets along with his teammates, who's just a solid player if you have good players around him, which clearly the Raiders,

Josh Jacobs, DeMonte Adams, Darren Waller, Renfro, half. But I can't count on Jimmy Garapolo. How do you feel confident that he's going to make it 10 games? Especially the Raiders' offensive line, you know, isn't exactly some world-beater. And so the pressure that it puts on Jimmy to play these games, I don't know. You pay a guy $35 million.

You expect him to start 17 games. And I just don't think you can't. The other thing is, what if Derek Carr is good this year? What if he goes to the Saints, a division that stinks, and they win 10 or 11 games? And he is in the playoffs. And Jimmy and the Raiders and Josh are in a division that best team in football chiefs in it. The Chargers are going nowhere. They're really good.

They were a playoff team this year. And if it wasn't for one of the great collapses of all time, should have won a playoff game. the Broncos were an abomination last year. It will be hard, even if they got to figure some things out still. And Russell may never be the same guy. The upgraded coach is the size of the Grand Canyon. And those games, while the Raiders beat him twice this year, were hard fought. I'm pretty sure they won one game in overtime, if I remember correctly.

My point is, this division is very, very difficult. So Carr, who you just kicked to the curb and right. So, listen, everything comes to an end is now with the Saints, they're probably going to have some success. Even if it's 10 wins, it probably wins the division. And then you who have this injury prone quarterback, and it's going to be very difficult to have just a solid season because of your division, there's going to be a ton of pressure. Like, I don't know, man. I think the pressure on Josh McDaniels going to the season is really, really high. And if they end up drafting a quarterback, which Jimmy is equipped to handle that, like, is he a lot?

to make it to year three if they win six or seven games again, which is very much on the table. Some other quarterback news, it was a little shocking when Jared Sidham, who to me, in the couple games he played for the Raiders, looks pretty intriguing, goes to Denver as a backup quarterback, I think like $10 million, good backup money.

Interesting player. I mean, the game that he played against the 49ers might have been a one-off situation, but holy moly, was he good. Sam Darnold, you know, couldn't go to a better situation to resurrect his career. One, offensive weapons everywhere. Two, doesn't really have any pressure because he shouldn't beat out, Trey Lance,

but I would say that they're going to be a backup quarterback. Controversy is the wrong word, but a competition. And Brock Purdy, you know, whether he's ready at the start of training camp, in the middle of training camp or week one, he is a starting quarterback for the 49ers if he's healthy. But the backup situation is not situated. It is not set. Tray Lance, unlike last year where he was handed the starting job,

it's just going to have to compete this year. And that's healthy. And if Trey's better, okay. Sam Darnal has started 55 games in the NFL. And he showed some signs of life last year. You know, and to me, a backup quarterback, I haven't seen the money. I can't be much. That's a pretty intriguing spot.

And if he ends up being your third quarterback, it's a damn good third of quarterback. If he ends up being your backup quarterback, pretty good backup quarterback. And ultimately, Sam Donald fits right in with the 49ers. Guy who's been injured a lot with a couple other quarterbacks who are injured. You know, it's very on brand. It fits perfectly. And Mike White, man, it's interesting with the dolphins.

They drafts Skylar Thompson last year in the seventh round, who ends up playing at the end of the season because of the injuries. Showed some, actually some promise, I would say, some nice throws in that playoff game that they, that they lost to the bills, though it was a really good game. You sign Mike White. So you got a guy that started a playoff game. You then get Mike White, who, you know, was kind of like this sensation.

Is he actually that good? I don't know, but he started some games. He's tough. It gives you some backup plans, Mike specifically, that if you don't end up getting Tom Brady, if Tua gets a concussion, you just have, I think I would rather have Mike white at this point than Teddy Bridge. Water. So I like the Stidim. I like the Mike White. I like the Sam Darnel. I like signing quarterbacks that don't have to start that are young, tough, high character guys who have

proven to be able to handle the backup spot and just get along with a lot of guys. It's a very unique job, right? Because you might end up not playing a snap all season long. And you are just, the demand at the position is basically like, be a great guy, be a great team. mate, be a great study buddy, but at any moment, uh, rolled ankle, a broken finger, uh, who knows what? Snap of a finger, you're a starting quarterback. So you better not only know what's going on. You got to be like mentally prepared, even though there's a chance.

Again, you do not touch the field. It's a, it's a unique position. There aren't positions like it in sports, right? Every other position in football, because you don't have two kickers on the roster. So every other position has several players. all rotate in. In baseball, even if you're a reliever, not a starter, you play. Right? If you're the backup outfielder, you still rotate in and those guys get days off during the season. In basketball, you could be the 12th man. A couple injuries, all of a sudden,

you're like rotating as the seventh guy. Backup quarterback, like, we see it every year. Backup quarterback gets no snaps. And with a 49er, sometimes, like, the backup quarterback always ends up starting games. Mike White ended up starting games. Stidham ended up starting games. Sam Darnold started games as the starter, then as the backup, and then came back as the starter. So it's just, it's a crazy position. Think how many quarterbacks in the NFL started their careers as backups. They're good. I mean, even Mahomes started his career as a backup.

Aaron Rogers started his career as a backup. Dak Prescott, Kirk Cousins, started their careers as backups. Now, Dak, because of injury, started immediately. Cousins took them a minute, right? They drafted Russell Wilson to beat a backup. He ended up beating him out. the quarterback position is just it's this fluid situation

that even if you got Brady or Manning, you're one neck injury or ACL injury away from think how many times, you know, I'll never, was it Monday night football when Aaron Rogers broke his collarbone, boom, you got the backup quarterback in. You just never know. It's not like that at other positions

because you're just constantly rotating even if, you know, offensive line, like at any moment you know you might play. And every single team, I don't care who you are, never starts the same five offensive linemen all season. It's impossible. Hell, the Eagles were in the Super Bowl.

They were rotating offensive linemen all year long because he had injuries. Part of the deal. Wanted to hit on a couple contracts. A lot of contracts I don't like just because of the price points. I have no problem if the guy's a starter on my team, but you start paying McGlinchy,

you start paying Edmonds, like that type money. It's not, those guys have been starting players for playoff teams. I just view it differently once I start paying you premium. but there are some contracts that like Hargrave, the 49ers signed a $40 million, which is somewhat risky. He's a 30-year-old player coming off the best season of his career.

Like, that guy's a plug-in-play ass kicker. The only question is just, he's just older, you know, but he's going into his eighth year. He's just awesome. 11 sacks last year. You put him with Bosa, you put him with Armstead. That defensive line with the 49ers takes random. guys to become stars. So I don't, that's a lot of money for a guy on their third contract, a defensive tackle, but based on the tape last year, he was a complete and utter dominant player.

You know, Jesse Bates is a good example. I always struggle with this. And if you're a Bengals fan, maybe you know his flaws. Like, I'd be lying if I broke down Jesse Bates tape. But he's basically a five-year starter on your squad. You draft him the second round years ago. Franchise tag last year on these last couple years, one of the better teams in the NFL. And honestly, for a large percentage, one of the better defenses in the NFL. So I get a guy who has been part of winning, starting player, and certain teams don't value certain positions. I've never liked that. Like, I don't care linebacker, safety, guard center. When I get an impact player, I like to keep them. Now, it's not like Bates is, you know, Ed Reed or, you know,

Earl Thomas in his prime. It's not like he's an all pro every single year, a pro bowler, but he's pretty damn good. So I love that signing for the Falcons. I think I saw like $23 million in the first year. Their defense has been atrocious the last couple years. The Falcons just need more talent. They got a long way to go. And to me, Jesse Bates could play for my squad any day of the week.

Another sneakier signing, just because the guys become a backup. reason he became a backup is, one, he can't play right tackle or any other positions but left tackle. And two, it turns out the Eagles just found this incredible rugby gem. And Malata is just a baller at left tackle. So Andre Dillard, who they drafted years ago in the first round, is a good player. Now, the one knock on him is he gets injured. He's got some injury question marks. But when he plays, he's a solid left tackle.

So to get them for 29 million, Titans obviously, you know, rotating through some offensive linemen, got rid of their center, got rid of their left tackle. I think this has got a potential to have pretty good upside for a guy that you didn't need to break the bank for. Like back to McGlinchie. And again, I feel like I'm crushing McGlinchie, but I am because of the money. If I got to pay Mike McGlinchie $50 million guaranteed, like if I'm giving a guy $50 million guaranteed, the guy's got to go to the Pro Bowl. A couple years ago, Trent Williams got $60 million guaranteed. You trend fucking Williams. It goes to Pro Bowl every year.

So you just got to pay so much money for half the price. I get Andre Dillard, who's a much better athlete. Now McGlinchie's better in the run game. And McGlinchie's been more durable. But my point is, like the price point in these contracts for non-like impact players, to me matters. So I get a guy that could start at tackle that's a $10 million player. That's got a chance to be a pretty good value signing. 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. Okay, let's dive into the mailbag. At John Middlecock is the Instagram DMs wide open. Fire in those DMs with a passion and a fury for life. As my guy Jim Harbaugh would say, enthusiasm unknown to mankind. Ad John Middlecock, Instagram, fire in the DMs. I'm recording this part a little earlier in the day than the open. Because as of this, I'm recording this about 4 o'clock Pacific Standard Time.

My guy, Aaron Rogers, taking a sweet-ass time. Let's start with Bruce. I'm so fucking sick to my stomach He Instagram DM me A picture of Jimmy Garoppolo in the Raiders uniform Car costs too much Now we got captain injury at the helm Pathetic

Yeah I gave my two cents on that earlier I think it's a pretty bold move by old Josh McDaniels I would probably bet against it Working out As someone from the Valley Okay this is Tristan I'm intrigued by are Pat Hill and Fresno State stories when you were a GA there, so please keep them coming.

Also, I'm looking to start a podcast, myself inspired by you. Cool. I listened to Coward growing up my whole life and then saw that you were doing a pod with little experience in the industry compared to others like him. Any marketing advice or just advice in general how to get started? Well, you know, I had a little experience. I had a radio show for three years and fifth biggest market in America. number one a couple times. So I had been talking for a living for several years.

Now, when I started this podcast with Colin, it was 18. I'd never hosted anything by myself. Obviously, I've attempted to work out the kinks over the years. I still think we're trying to get better, trying to figure this out as we go. I think depending on, if you do it with someone else, it can be a little easier to keep the conversation going. If you do it by yourself, I've been talking for a living my entire life. My dad used to yell at me to shut up because I couldn't stop talking. So it is an attribute that comes naturally to me. Right.

Like Kyler Murray, Lamar Jackson have been running since they could walk. Because fast guys run immediately at a young age. Right? Some guys, good looking guys pull chicks early on. Guys like me, we've been talking for a long period of time. And I've been a heavy, heavy. sports talk radio guy from probably the moment I was 10 years old. I don't really listen to it as much anymore.

I listen to podcast, but it's something that came naturally because I had consumed a lot and I just naturally never shut up. So if you're going to do it by yourself, you got to be willing to just talk a lot. And it's not easy. You know, just turn on a mic, talk for an hour. See how it goes. Now, if you do it with someone else, you can have more of a, conversatial is that a word converse you can you can have conversations um i am not going on much

sleep so my head's not really working it can be more free flowing and it's not as dependent on one individual but what colin does on television live tv is really hard ultimately this isn't live tv i'm recording this and if i screw up i can edit it always it is a lot easier than doing a live television show. But it's not easy. I'm not trying toot my own horn, but it's a podcasting game A for everybody. On the trade-up for quarterback,

Josh Allen, Deshaun Watson, Patrick Mahomes, all worked out. True, but all were not the first quarterbacks in their draft, and Mahomes and Watson went 10 and 12, and Josh Allen, there were two quarterbacks taken ahead of them. So I think it's how you kind of come in,

and think about that. Mahomes, Alan, and Watson, if I remember correctly, they didn't mortgage the farm. Pretty sure each of them had to give up the following years one, if I'm remembering that correctly. But when you look at these enormous deals, most of them have struggled. Because I think there's a huge pressure that goes along with,

hey, Trey Lance, you were traded for three first-round picks. Bryce Young or Anthony Richardson, you were traded for a first round pick, a second round pick, and DJ Moore, who's a stud? Like, that's a lot. And obviously you flip-flop this year's won. I think when you get that, you know, kind of, I don't even know what you would consider it, but the target on your back, that's even the wrong way to describe it. It would just be the way your career is defined as a young player.

You were the guy the team traded a lot for. The other thing is Deshawn Watson and Mahomes were kind of good immediately. Josh Allen took a minute but he got to suck for a year. When I trade a ton of picks for you you don't really get to suck.

You got to be good kind of immediately. I'm desperate for some help here. Can you help explain these restructured contracts clearing out cap space? It's driving me crazy. Does the capstone

pick get to a point where it can no longer be restructured? Are they just converting part of the salary to a signing bonus? If so, what's to stop someone from paying all someone's salary via bonus and having no cap hit at all? I figured there was some kind of negative ramification. Well, when you give a guy a signing bonus, let's just pick an even number. $30 million. And I give you a multi-year contract, four years. I can amortize that signing bonus. I can amortize that signing bonus over the life of the contract. So when you are just owed, right, if your signing bonus has already been paid out, and it's in year three or four of your contract, and I still like you as a player,

and your contract coming up is $15 million. And your cap hits going to be $18 million. I can take, and I could be wrong, a Howie or Parag might have to correct me on this, I can take that salary, turn it into a signing bonus, and give you $1,000. 10 or $12 million up front and then push that back on following years. So the cap hit, you're still getting the same amount of money, but the amount of money that's on the books for this given season is lower. And that's how it constantly gets manipulated.

So I think you see a lot of guys that get their contract restructured. It's because they transfer that year's salary, which for a lot of like Khalil Max and Keenan Allen's, that come to my mind. Good players who have a large individual cap hit or salary that year, and then I push it back to previous years. It's why you hear people talk about kicking the can down the road or the bill eventually comes due, because it's not like you're not going to owe Khalil Mack or Keenan Allen that money. It's just not going to hit your cap this year. He's getting his cash no matter what, but you're manipulating the books. That's really what's happening. So,

yeah, that's the best way that I know how to describe it. How many weeks do you give Sam Darnold to become quarterback one due to injuries? Where ironically about Sam, like Purdy, who now has an injured elbow, and like Trey Lance, who has a messed up foot, is they're all injury prone. Well, Sam definitely has battled a lot of injuries, and Trey Lance through two years has been injured a lot. So I think he will, he'll fit right in. know. He was a guy that a couple years ago, I thought the Niners were going to trade for. They ended up not doing it. The Panthers did it, and then they traded for Tray Lance. So I think,

I talked about it earlier, but I'm definitely intrigued. I'm definitely intrigued, especially when you get guys cheap. Not much of a question, but a content idea for your Instagram or podcast. GM John, each week, pick a team and go into depth. on what you would do as the GM for the upcoming season. I'd be really interesting what your ideas you throw out. Well, that's probably a good off-season, a good off-season project. I would say, you know, I'm in the reaction business. I don't create the narratives.

I just react to them. So my podcast is basically a reaction to what's going on. And that's kind of what I do, more than, like, hypothetical stuff. some of that, and I think people even in my business push back say I should do more of that kind of bores me sometimes because I'm not the GM

and it's not my pull but you tell me like hey, look at what Sean Peyton just did who he added to his staff and who he signed. I can give you a take on that because I do have a thought on it but I'm not a huge like hypothetical guy what you should do because I don't have any control over it

right? Like George Payton and Sean Peyton are going to do what they're going to do then I will give my opinion on what they did. I don't know if I'm right or I'm wrong, and I'm not in the right or wrong business. I'm in the entertainment business. And luckily, I have thoughts on a lot of these things that happen in the NFL and in college football and on the PGA tour.

But I like reacting to things that actually happen or actually probably going to happen. Like so-and-so is on the trade block. Then I'll tell you, like, I think these couple teams should trade for. Right? Like, if Lamar Jackson is available and he'll sign for, $200 million. I'll give you a couple teams.

And I said, I think Houston and Detroit should definitely sniff around on them because they got multiple picks. But, you know, I'm not, the hypothetical stuff kind of bores me. And I think one thing I try to do on this podcast is I try to talk about things that excite me

because I think that's what makes a good listen. Is what excites me, what I'm fired up about is what you're going to enjoy, right? You're coming to listen to my opinions. A long-winded way to answer your statement, but I appreciate you shooting content ideas. I'm never opposed to content ideas.

Content is not really my issue. We go pretty strong about 10 months a year. Hey John and join the pod. With the Raider signing Jimmy Garapolo, what do you believe we will use our first round pick on? It seems as if we might take a major defensive

player, but I can't help but draft a quarterback to sit under him for a year similar to Mahomes. Well, remember, he did that with Trey Lance. two years ago. I think that this is a good example of a hypothetical. We know the Raiders are going to draft someone in the top 10, but will they still take a quarterback,

or now are they more inclined to take a position player? I still think they will be sniffing around the quarterbacks. Now, where they're drafting, you know, the Panthers are going to take someone at one, the Texans are going to take someone at two. The Colts, obviously, either if they trade up a spot or where they sit are going to take a quarterback more than likely. So several quarterbacks are going to be gone by the time that they pick.

But I would say that would still be in play. Now, if you look at Josh McDaniels, he was with the Patriots when they took Jimmy Garoppolo in the second round, when they had Brady. So to me, it would be on the table. And I don't think Jimmy, you know, makes it impossible for them to take a guy in like the third round. Because look at some of these guys historically that go in the second, third, fourth round. Derek Carr, Jimmy Garoppel, Dak Prescott, Kirk, Cousins. Hell, Brock Purdy last year was in the seventh round. You can get

starting quarterbacks not in the top ten. So as of right now, given that several quarterbacks would be up the board, I would take a position player, like you said, preferably on defense or an offensive lineman, and take a quarterback later in the draft. But I would probably still

draft a quarterback if there are guys in the second, third, fourth round that I'm excited about. For the mailbag, what do you think would be another option for the Giants to sign a quarterback if they don't sign Jones? Well, they did sign Jones. This was today.

You're saying if they hadn't signed Jones, what else would they have done? I would imagine they would have been in the Jimmy Garoppolo market. I would imagine that they would have... Who else is really out there? You know, a lot of Mike White's, Sam Darnolds, you know, and Jared. at Stittams. So they were always going to re-sign Daniel Jones or franchise them. So it was never an

option of Daniel Jones not to be their quarterback. Whether it was the franchise tag. And Albert Breer wrote a lot about it today, the negotiations back between the agents and Joe Shane, the general manager. So, you know, he was always going to be their quarterback. Because Jimmy Garapolo, you know, it would make more sense if you're the owner of the Giants. You know the guy. He's played for you. You finally saw some signs of life this year to just stick with DJ another year. My pushback on that deal was like the amount of money. I just don't know who they were bidding against,

even though I get that they liked him. Hell, they really like them at that much money. First time listener, or long time listener and second time questioner. Love the mailbag segment and your insight reach out. Dolphins fan. But question about the Jets regarding something I heard in the Coward podcast, talking with Dave Wonstead. I always enjoyed Dave Wantsdale with Colin.

He's mentioned typically defensive coaches and defensive guys like to run the ball and keep their defense rested. I know the Lamar contract is wild and that his demands are outrageous, even with his injury history, but with his age, wouldn't he be a better fit for the Jets than Aaron? Sala is a defensive-minded coach, and Brees Hall in one year has shown he can run the ball with success. Their D is good, and they can win games by keeping the powerhouse AFC quarterbacks off the field.

I thought this while watching the Super Bowl. You can't let Mahomes back on the field. Thoughts. Well, as of recording this, Rogers isn't officially on the Jets. I think the difference is, is you get Aaron, he's more of a guarantee than Lamar. Because one with Lamar, especially now, like you've got to factor in, Nate Hackett. So Nate Hackett and Aaron, there should be a seamless fit in terms of your offense.

The other thing is Aaron, once he started having a lot of success after the first year with LaFleur and he won back-to-back MVP's, the Packers were pretty good at running the ball. And really, their offense became, you know, obviously Devante was exceptional, but Aaron Jones became a star. A.J. Dillon really came on. I think it might have been his first, maybe even a second MVP year. Maul Williams, maybe he left after LaFleur's first year, I don't remember. But he had a lot of success Aaron did in, you know, the Kyle Shanahan physical.

They ran a lot of zone stuff, but with the running backs playing a big, big role in the team, something that they didn't really do under McCarthy. Now, he won MVP's with McCarthy, but I thought he played his best football of his career, the back-to-back years he won the MVP. And I even thought the second year he won the MVP, would that have been 21 when they had the one seat and they lost the 49ers? I thought he had kind of mastered the quarterback position in terms of just complete control. He was still an explosive down-the-field passer, but he knew the run game and just, you know,

getting the ball out of his hands fast. And that guy isn't that far removed. I know last year was a struggle, but I thought Aaron Rogers two years ago, the way he played that season was some of the best quarterbacking we've seen in a long time. You know, Mahomes, some elite Brady, some elite Peyton Manning.

Like, it was big time. And if you think you can get that version, that's better than anything Lamar Jackson's bringing the table. Plus, like, Aaron costs you a lot of money. Right, let's say he ends up being on your team for a couple years and you pay him $100 million. Committing $200 million to Lamar Jackson, and giving up your ones,

again, don't have the trade compensation assuming Aaron goes to the Jets. You still have more assets doing the Aaron Rogers. It's a shorter-term solution, but I think it gives you more flexibility long-term because you still have the picks. Again, a lot of unknown at recording, but I would, if I was the Jets,

I would rather have Aaron Rogers and my picks then trade the two first rounders and give Lamar $230 million. Appreciate everyone listening. Free Agent News is going to keep flowing. We'll keep talking about it. YouTube channel, this podcast, my Instagram feed, a lot of content out there. Let's keep rocking and rolling, baby.

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. This is an IHeart podcast.

Guaranteed human.