The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 3 and Out -  Herbert Extension $$$, Purdy Watch, Bosa + Martin Holdouts, Mailbag

Episode Date: July 26, 2023

John reacts to Justin Herbert and the Chargers agreeing on a huge 5-year extension, the added pressure on Brandon Staley, and what the Niners expect out of Brock Purdy, if there’s reason for concern with Nick Bosa and Zach Martin's holdout. He also answers listener questions in the Middlekauff Mailbag. Follow John onTwitter, Instagram and YouTube for the latest. Check out Gametime - the fastest growing ticketing app in the US, and the official ticketing app of 3 & Out and GoLow -  for tickets to all of your favorite NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAA teams. Concert and comedy show tickets, too. Go to Gametime now to create an account, download the app and use code JOHN for $20 off your first purchase. #Volume #HerdSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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What is going on, everybody, John Middlecough, three and out podcast. Little Wednesday edition. We just had a little breaking news. Justin Herbert signs a massive amount of money. I think over 260 million, 185 guaranteed more money than Lamar or Jalen Hertz. dive into all that as well as Brock Purdy is ready to roll some holdouts Zach Martin Bosa Sequin signs a contract really the only contract he could sign because he was franchise tag so we will dive into all that as well as the mailbag at John Middlecoff Instagram

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we got a podcast today. I think me and Colin are going to do something later in this week whenever he gets back from Canada. Looks like he's having a good time on the Instagrams. So I'm jealous. And we'll talk some more football. So just football, football, football, we're going. Guys getting signed.

And not the running backs. Well, they did, just not as much as they wanted. The other players are getting a lot. So we'll dive into it all. Mailbag, like I said, let's roll. But first, you have a smartphone. Because if you do, do you know what I need to do? I need to go to your app store and I need you to download the GameTime app.

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Do it right now. I remember two years ago after Justin Herbert's second season that I talked to multiple NFL teams. And one thing you do as a personnel department, is we talk about it a lot in the draft. Like, we grade every guy, regardless of where we're picking and what positions we need. It's no different in the NFL. When the season ends, at least by the combine,

you have every player graded in the NFL. From Mahomes to Sequin to Brady to random practice squad guys. Every team, every guy has an updated grade based on that season. And then you can go by position your highest graded guys. and I remember talking to multiple teams who are pretty well-run playoff level squads and they both had Justin Herbert

as a top five player. Now that was the season, remember, when the Raiders beat him in week 17 and the Chargers didn't get in the playoffs. We were screaming, God, he should play for a tie just so they both get in. And then Justin Herbert last year,

another fantastic season, they're in the playoffs and they have the devastating loss to the Jacksonville Jacks. But I think it's clear, and it's been clear from very early on his rookie season. This guy's a star, and he's the total package. We've all watched bits and pieces of the quarterback documentary. We need a lot out of that position.

Obviously, the physical characteristics, he's got it all. Size, speed, arm strength, touch. There is nothing physically that he can't do. It honestly is pretty crazy looking back. it was understandable, I guess, at the time, but the two went above him. If you could do a redraft, Burrell still goes one, but it's one, two. It's Burrow Herbert and really one A, one B. And I know Burroughs accomplished more as a team.

They just have a better operation. Herbert's dealing with Brandon Staley, who has dramatically let them down two years in a row. Now, I'm not saying the guy's perfect. I'm not comparing him to Mahomes in terms of complete player, or Peyton Manning or Tom Brady. but if you have eyes and you have watched the Chargers play, you go, I'd want that guy as my quarterback. And then like I said with the quarterback documentary,

you need the physical characteristics. Then you need the intangible stuff. And he clearly has all that. The knock on him was he was kind of like understated, wasn't loud enough. That clearly isn't an issue because when you're that good, it just makes you a little louder. And from a character standpoint, he's an A plus.

So the Chargers now go. from Drew Brees to Philip Rivers to Justin Herbert. I don't think we talk enough about how well they've had it from the quarterback position. I also think this contract who now gets slightly more guaranteed, I think, than Lamar and Jalen Hertz. He gets an enormous deal. He gets NBA money because that's what these quarterbacks are making now, right? Almost $200 million guaranteed. There will be a $200 million guaranteed quarterback within the next 12 months.

and 185 guaranteed, a lot of money, man. It really is. Clay Thompson a couple years ago, his max contract was $190 million. So the money getting divvied out now at these positions is historically large. And if I'm going to give a historically large amount of money, if I'm an NFL franchise, I have to feel excellent about the player.

And I don't think the Chargers could feel any better about this guy. Now, I think from a big picture standpoint, it put pressure on him and pressure on the franchise now to make a little bit of a run. You don't need to win the Super Bowl this year, but can you win a couple of playoff games? Can you be battling with the Chiefs or the Bengals in the AMC championship game? Because your team, talent-wise, is stacked. Your quarterback is a star. And I don't know, was he a couple?

Just watch the games. I know you can't call GMs and coaches. They all think he's a stud. They don't just think that about anyway. He is. He's really, really good. He's the type guy that you want to build a franchise around. Chargers got lucky. Dean Spanos cut a big check. He might not like paying his coaches. He's all, they pay the players. Now, granted, the NFL just, he had free money with the media deal. But I think there is tangible pressure this year on the Chargers, on Brandon Staley, on the organization to take a step. It's weird because you don't even need to win the division. You play in a division with one of the most well-run franchises in recent memory. I mean, they might be going on a Patriot-like run in the Chiefs. You should be able to win 12 games and not lose the Jags with a 27-7 lead at halftime. That's not acceptable this year.

And when you pay quarterbacks this type money, and just in general in sports, right, when you start paying players, historic amounts of money, you don't fire players. You fire coaches. So Brandon Staley, to me, has been a major red flag as two years as head coach. And if that same thing happens again this year and they underachie, it's adios because they're in it with Herbert as they should be for the long haul. He's easily one of the most physically gifted quarterbacks in recent memory. Like he's on the short list of like Josh Allen,

Cam Newton in his prime, Brothusberger. I mean, this guy is a physical freak. And he can really, I mean, and he's just, he's really, really good.

So I completely understand. Would have done the same thing as well. Now it's just, time to win as a franchise, which you could argue over the last 20 years with a talent this team has had on different iterations is probably one of the more underachieving teams. I think it gets back to not skimping on the players, but they've skimped on the coaches. And now all eyes turn to Brandon Staley and its coaching staff. Can they get it done when it matters the most?

Let's start with the 49ers who had veterans report today and tomorrow unofficially because the pads don't come on until Sunday starts their training camp and their practice with everybody. And Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch spoke today. And there are several news and notes coming out of the organization. But to me, the big news was that Brock Purdy, who in the spring and really early wintertime avoided Tommy John when Kyle had a terrible play call and had his backup tight end blocking all pro and led to Purdy's elbow getting injured. And it looked. kind of dire there for a little bit. Is this guy going to have Tommy John? Is this guy going to miss the season? And when he had the surgery here in Arizona by a baseball doctor, they were pretty

optimistic, but you never knew until three or three and a half months in and he could start throwing. And as you've seen all over the NFL, guys going on Pup, and we'll get into that a little little bit later, Brock Pruy avoided Pup. And he's not quote unquote full go, but he's able to practice. They're going to put them on somewhat of a timeline on a given week, a couple days on, one day off, and let that backup quarterback battle between Tray Lance and Sam Darnold take shape. But to me, the big story is this. Before Andy Reid got Patrick Mahomes, who's going to go down as, I don't know, top three quarterback ever, he shows on that trajectory. And just one of the great players we've ever seen, he was winning a lot. Now, he hadn't won a Super Bowl, but he was winning constantly.

And what made it so awesome is that he was doing it with all sorts of quarterbacks, from Donovan McNabb to when he had to win with Jeff Garcia to Michael Vick, to Alex Smith, to obviously now Patrick Mahomes. And what makes Coach Reed such an awesome coach is he doesn't need Brett Farber Patrick Mahomes to win games. Now, you need typically a great quarterback to win a Super Bowl. there have been some outlier teams, an individual's, a Trent Dilfer, a Brad Johnson. But for the most part, you need a star quarterback, a Peyton Manning, a Tom Brady, a Mahomes to win Super Bowms to win Super Bowls.

But you don't need them to consistently win double-digit games and go to the playoffs. Now, only the great coaches can figure it out with all sorts of different quarterbacks. And Kyle Shanahan is really going to test the limits this year. Because Jimmy Garopla, who to me is pretty average and greatly benefited from a fantastic defense, awesome weapons, and most importantly, a fantastic play caller, is Brock Purdy was better last year. Now it's a very, very small sample size, the seven games, but the 49ers offense was dramatically better. He's more athletic than Jimmy Garapolo, and I don't know if he has a stronger arm, but he's definitely more willing and more accurate down the field to push

the ball. And I would call him more of a playmaker than Jimmy Garoppel. But if Kyle Shanahan rolls into this season and wins 11, 12 plus games with Mr. Irrelevant, is he going to win the Super Bowl or not? I don't know. I'd still take the Chiefs or the Bengals or the Bills because if I'm picking a team, I'm just going to lean with the star quarterback, even though the 49ers roster top to bottom or the Eagles is as good or better than them all. Like really the only team in the league that can go player for a player with the 49ers is the Eagles. Now, they happen to have a very expensive premium quarterback who went toe to toe to with Patrick Mahalms and really outplayed him in the

Super Bowl. Could Brock Purton do that? I don't know. But if Kyle Shanahan, which everyone, including my mom, is going to pick the 49ers to win the division, as you should, but if you can just consistently win with random quarterbacks, that's a pretty

incredible accomplishment. And the debate with Kyle Shanahan for a long time is his record was under 500. Well, he shut everyone up. And last year, won 12, 13 games. Now his record. nine game above 500. But to me, the most impressive part about him is he wins playoff games. Like, you get him in the playoffs and he wins playoff games.

Has not won a Super Bowl, but the three of the years that he's been in the NFC championship games, he's won two games each year. So I has six playoff wins. Like, sick, he's beat Mike McCarthy back to back years at home and on the road. I mean, he beat Aaron Rogers on the road. Right. His teams come to play. And a lot like Andy Reid is the one thing Andy really values, even before Mahomes,

was the line of scrimmage, puts a lot of value in the offensive and defensive lines, and it just has a very good feel for playmakers. And to have a good feel for playmakers doesn't mean you always got to be drafting guys in the first round. He has the ability to see guys in the draft and then develop them once they're on the team to have a very explosive team regardless who the quarterback is. It's why you can win games when Alex Smith is not even throwing a touchdown to a wide receiver. because he's throwing the ball to Jamal Charles all the time. Your tight ends are productive.

Your defense is good. And that's what makes a good head coach. That's why Sean McVeigh's been pretty good, right? Last year was standing. He has a very balanced as good teams are just good on defense. They were pretty good on the line of scrimmage, especially on the defensive line. You have to value those things as an offensive coach.

It's why guys like Coward talk so much shit about defensive head coaches because it doesn't feel like they understand the offensive side of the ball. And I'm not saying Kyle Shannon. or Andy Reid or defensive geniuses, but they value the premium positions on that side of the ball. They want pass rushers. They want big heavies in the middle of their defensive line. They love good cornerbacks. They want to be able to cover.

And that's where you put yourself in position because all you can ask for is home games in the playoffs and a chance, you know, to win a Super Bowl. And it's going to be very difficult because we talk about this all the time. There's a high, whatever, a tier of five or six teams, right? We know the three teams in the AFC. So, Chiefs, the Bengals, and the Bills. All three basically have $50 million quarterbacks. I know Burrell hasn't signed his contract. Mahomes and Josh Allen might make $45, whatever, but $45, $50 million quarterbacks.

All three of them should be the highest paid guys in the league. And then you look at the NFC, which is a lot weaker. The Eagles have, well, I think it's fair to assume he's going to continue that level of play. Or just a high level of play and be a pro bowler, a very, very expensive elite quarterback. and then Dak Prescott, who, you know, a little underwhelming, but is a consistent pro bowl level guy. And then the 49ers who have Mr. Irrelevant coming off an elbow injury. And if he's just able to win like this, it's a remarkable job of team building, right?

Because their team is so well balanced. They made a move that I read flag last year. When they traded for Christian McCaffrey, I'm like, you're trading a second, a third, and a fourth for a running back who's been injured a lot. And then they get Christian McCaffrey and he scores 14 fucking touchdowns. a 49er. And he's just a complete badass. I mean, he does it all. Like, Seekwon, it's like, pay me. It's like, hey, Seek Juan, be better in the passing game. You know why McCaffrey's way better player than you when you're both healthy? Because he dominates in the passing game.

If you want to get paid, try doing that, if any of your running backs. It's a passing league. We know you guys can run the ball. You got to bring more to the table, right? Like, I need my star offensive linemen to run block and pass block. What makes a good linebacker? Can you play the run and play the pass, like you kind of got to do it all. The reason these quarterbacks get paid so much money is there is nothing they can't do. It's why we pick apart some of the mid-tier guys because they're lacking some stuff. So big year for Kyle Shanahan, who I really think is kind of becoming until he wins a Super Bowl. And remember, it took Andy multiple decades to win a Super Bowl, kind of this generation of that.

And if he's able to honestly even get close with Brock Purdy, it's an incredible accomplishment. A couple other things coming out of 49er camp today. Nick Bosa's holding out. One thing I would say is actually two things. The 49ers do not just give money away. They always pay their best players. I've been around them professionally now for 12, 15 years, right? A little less than that, probably about 12 years, I guess.

And they will pay everybody from Frank Gore to Patrick Willis to Vernon Davis to Kaepernick to Joe Staley to this crew of guys. Fred Warner, Trent Williams, Nick Bosa, Debo Samuel. They'll pay them all. but they don't just go Jerry Jones and tell you, what do you want? We'll cut you the check. But they'll pay you. They'll make you work for it. And they'll argue.

They'll negotiate. They just took over a team in Europe who was in the EPL and then got relegated. Well, their main cap guy, Parag, who I would say him and Howie are the best money guys in the league and can be tough to negotiate with sometimes, knows what he's doing. But he doesn't just give you an open checkbook and say, you write down the number and we'll give you what you want. Here's what I know. And I've talked to them about, they know Nick Bosa is going to cost a shitload. 110, $120 million guaranteed. Money, you can combine every running back.

They're in a GM in the league that would pay anyone of quarter of what you would pay Nick Bosa. And he's worth every penny. But they're going to negotiate and haggle over it. And here's another reality. I've gone to Niners training camps for the last three or four years ever since Bosa's been on the team. He doesn't practice that much in training camp.

unlike a lot of players where you're like, you know, is he really in good shape? He needs training camp to get dialed in. Nick Bosa goes to Florida for six months with his brother, their dad who played in the NFL and I think another trainer. And they just train like mothers. I mean, they are not messing around. He came back last year as jacked as any player I've seen in the NFL since like Khalil Mack in his prime. So I'm not worried if I'm the 49ers about Bosa's conditioning level, about his ability to be ready to go. I don't blame Nick Post. Until I have a contract, I'm not stepping on the

field. I understand the new rules about the fines, right? Because before you could waive them, you can't do that anymore. Well, if I miss a week, and that's whatever, 350 grand, we're adding $350,000 on the contract. I'm that good a player. Unlike the running backs, I got leverage. I rush the passer, which beside the quarterback and the tackle, there's a quarterback, and then there's the left tackles and the pass rushers. Those are the most important guys in the league. and then a couple right tackles like Lane Johnson that are also valued at that level. But Boast is holding out, which is to me totally understandable, not really worried because I've seen them, takes very limited reps, not worth him getting any sort of injury in camp.

The other thing is last year, you know, Debo's had a weird career, right? He was drafted above two guys. Debo doesn't play a true wide receiver. Like, A.J. Brown, D.K. Metcalf are true outside wide receivers. Debo is much more like a hybrid, right? He does most of his work within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage. We know he can play running back, runs a lot of slants, runs a lot of quick wide receiver screens, get the ball in his hand and then let him take off.

I don't know what his 40 time is. All I know is when the ball is in his hands, the overwhelming majority of players in the NFL are not catching them and they typically do not. But early on in his career, he had battled some injuries and some weight issues. Because unlike D.K. and AJ, for example, those guys are tall, linear players. Debo's kind of short and stout. And sometimes like the weight can be an issue. And a couple years ago came into camp out of shape. And then in 2021, literally carried the franchise to the playoffs. Contract year gets broken up. 2020 wasn't great. It wasn't terrible. You'd still want

like Debo Samuel type guy. You want on your squad big game. You want to be in the trenches with him. Whether you're gambling on him, whether you're rooting for his team, dude's a war daddy. But his level of place at the bar so high in 2021, didn't play up to his standards. And I think some people thought he was a little out of shape. You know, two years ago when he was kind of doing his holdout thing, unlike Nick Bosa, don't worry about his conditioning. Debo, two years ago, went to Florida and people weren't quite sure what he was doing. This year, I don't know this for a fact, but if I had to take an educated guest, he spent his entire offseason in Scottsdale. I think the 49ers went, hey, you go to this person. There's a big training facility here where a ton of NFL guys work out. And Kyle Shanahan said today, he was sending him pictures constantly. He's like, I've never had a man sent me so many pictures of his shirt off.

I think Debo's very proud. I think he's very locked in. I think he has a lot to prove because I think he was feeling himself a little bit last year and had a down season for his standard. Still a really good player would play for every team, start for every team. But he's also a unique player. Not every OC could use them perfectly suited for this offense. And I think there are some big picture question marks with him just in general, right?

because Brandon Iyuk, who is going into his fourth year, is going to need a contract eventually. He's not quite on that number one tier of guys. But if you're on the second tier of wide receivers, let's use T. Higgins as an example, you're waving goodbye to the running backs. You're headed toward that $20 million number. You might not be a $30 million player, but you're 18 to 20. If Odell is getting 15, you better believe the younger guys like Iyukes and the Higgins are thinking, you know, 19, 20, $21 million.

So it's very, very hard to build the team, even if you have a cheap quarterback with one wide receiver making 25 and another guy making 20. I don't care how you fudge the books and the 49ers are good at that. So this is a big year for Debo just to kind of reflexes muscles

for the 49ers to feel good about him being a franchise level player. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year.

Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. Yep, that's me. Clever Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from.

from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast.

It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Honestly, I'm a little tired of the whole running back thing. I really am. I think it's kind of embarrassing. All these guys bitching and a moan are all making $10, $11, $12 million.

Right. If they were making $2 million, I would understand. But they act like they're more deserving of everyone getting their back, like they're royally getting screwed than linebackers, then tight ends, then guards and centers. Why are they any different? This notion, everyone was saying that they should get a special spot in the salary cap, why shouldn't guards and centers?

Why shouldn't linebackers? Why shouldn't tight ends? Running backs are the last position that any GM or coach would want to utilize for the benefit of the team. They are the most replaceable player. Austin Echler, who got the Zoom together as the group, right? Literally is a great example of an undrafted free agent who caoed, beat out, and sent Packin a former first round pick in Melvin Gordon. said, I'm better than you. I'm an undrafted free agent.

Get the bleep out of here. That's essentially what he does. Did. And that's what happens constantly. And then Saquan, who signed his contract, which was the smart move, actually should have signed the contract when I'm sure they offered him $25, $30 million guaranteed. Because now he's going to get franchise tag more than likely again next year if he has a solid season. So he will have two years.

And let's say the franchise tag next year is 14, million. He'll have made $25 million over two years. Like, that's pretty lucrative couple years, given your position. Supply demand, basic economics. This is not fantasy football. This is not Madden. This is a business with a salary cap that you have to build your team. The reason you pay Trent Williams or any elite offensive tackle, right, big time money, because they're very hard to replace. If you lose Trent Williams, if you lose Lane Johnson, you're not finding their replacement. They don't exist.

Walk around. Society, New York, L.A. Fuck, go international. Tell me how many 6-5, 300-plus pounders with running back feet you're going to find on this planet. I'll find a ton of guys 5-11 big-time athletes that are strong. You just will. And there aren't many guys that can throw for 5,000 yards. That's why quarterbacks make so much money.

If there were less running backs, if Sequin Barclay wasn't a dime a dozen, and I know he's better than most, but the difference of him and some random running back right now at a camp that's going to become the next Isaiah Pacheco isn't very wide. And do you know what the Chiefs are paying Isaiah Pacheco? The league minimum. So it's like, would you rather have Isaiah Pacheco making 800 grand or Seekwon making 11? Because I'll tell you this, I'll take Isaiah Pacheco and then the ability to, to fill in my team with three other players.

And then I'll just have a better team. Why? It's a team game. This isn't golf. I'm not just trying to find Rory or Brooks Kepka. This isn't tennis. This is a team game. And there are several positions,

pass rusher, tackle, quarterback, that are infinitely more valuable by a wide gap than running back, which is arguably at the bottom of the list. But this notion that they're getting screwed anymore than tight ends isn't Travis Kelsey making 12-13 million dollars a year? What does Travis Kelsey have in common with Nick Chubb or Sequin Barclay or Austin Ecliffe? Not much.

Been doing it a lot longer at the highest level in the biggest games. I just, I don't hear him bitching and moaning. So this notion of these Zoom calls of they're getting screwed any more than a guard, I'll tell you he's getting screwed. Zach Martin. Hall of Famer, one of the best players of his generation. Wants more money. Deserves it.

Like, Sequin is making more than him. How does that make any sense? It doesn't. So this, it's never going to change. They constantly, like, scream at the fans and the media. Like, your coach and your GM view is widgets. They just do. They're the people who don't value the decision makers, right?

It's them. They are the people. And they're the most important people in your business. building because they choose who to pay. Us people that talk about it for a living, your fan base, they have zero pull. Absolutely none. Now, obviously there is a variable with the Giants with Daniel Jones,

but like we said earlier, he plays the most important position. So is he overpaid? Of course he is. Was he way harder to replace than Seekwon? One million percent. So I give Seekwon credit for realizing, like, what are we doing?

This contract can't. change because we can't extend because of the rules, sign the deal, get a little up front, and just show up and ball. And the next year, you'll probably get franchised again. I give the Giants credit for not capitulating for doing good business because this is good business. Daniel Jones, pretty risky business. I'm not going to call it bad business because of Daniel Jones, they win nine, ten games.

He has another season like he did last year. Like, I'm sorry. Like, that's just, is it worth a little more than you would have like to pay? Of course. but as we see all around the league, like the Vikings are going to find this out. Coles Cash, baby. If Kirk Cousins, they just let him walk and he disappears next year,

who are they replacing him with? Who's playing quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings next year? Cousins got some flaws, but good luck upgrading that. You saw, depending on who your favorite team is, the Pupp list all over the NFL. And you saw guys like Jonathan Taylor, Vaughn Miller,

to Ron Armstead, and a ton of guys are on the list. It's why it was a big story when Brock Purdy avoided it. And, you know, every team, every year goes, we feel good. He should be back soon. And sometimes they will. So I headline Jonathan Taylor might only be on it a couple days. And then there are just guys that never find their way off of it. And then all of a sudden they miss all of training camp.

And then the season starts and they're on it for six weeks. and it's like, God, I didn't think the injury was that serious. And to me, anytime a guy starts a season or training camp on the Pup list, I'm just nervous. I'm not saying it's the end-all be-all. I'm not saying he's never going to play all season, but we see it time and time again that those guys never actually come back. And some guys you know, right, like Taron Armstead, the tackle for Miami.

He's always hurt. So what's going to happen this season? He's going to be injured. So I'm not even counting that one. But Vaughn Miller, for example, major injury last year. Now, he's a veteran player, and I'm sure you're taking it easy,

but until he can have like a week of practice with no knee swelling, like I'd be nervous if I was a Bill's fan. Doesn't mean he's not going to play this season. Doesn't mean that he's not going to be good. But until guys start practicing, especially this is not 1958 Bear Bryant double days, practices for NFL standards historically pretty easy. There's no tackling to the ground.

round. It is one practice a day. And honestly, there's just three practices in a row. And then there's an off day. That's mandatory by the league. So let's just something to keep an eye on the Pupplist. And then there are good times like J.C. Horn, former high pick, missed all of OTAs because he had an injury, avoids it. And he's ready to go for training camp. To me, anytime a guy was injured in OTAs is able to avoid Pup and come back ready to roll, it's great. And then clearly, we talked about it yesterday. You have those instances of guys getting hurt. You just kind of hope it's not that big a deal.

Jameson Williams, who it doesn't necessarily matter because he's going to miss those games for gambling. You know, tweak something. It's going to miss a couple of days. And then you have Tony with the Chiefs who tweaks a knee, return the punt, all of a sudden needs surgery. So you just,

it's just time. You kind of keep your fingers crossed. You hold on for your ass. Not a big deal. A guy's got to miss a couple weeks, especially a veteran player, a guy that you've seen produce. But sometimes a couple weeks can turn into a month.

And then all of a sudden, you know, we don't feel he's quite ready for week one. So it's just what makes this sport so difficult is why depth is important. And it gets back to the running back thing. When you overpay certain positions, they better produce at the highest level. Because if they don't, it does limit your depth as a team. A couple other news and notes. Like I said, Zach Martin, this running back thing, like, what about a guy like this? Future Hall of Famer, one of the best players in the league, just if you put it in a vacuum,

obviously guard is on the lower end of the tiers of importance because the way you have to look at a football team is there is just a hierarchy of importance. Starting with quarterback, you could argue left tackle or just tackle in general. I want my right tackle to be good too. And so many sweet pass rushers now line up over the right, Howard Mudd used to always tell me,

why do you keep saying left tackle, right tackle? What's the difference? He's like, when I was with the Colts, we had Dwight Frini on one end and Robert Mathis on the other. So your left tackle's good and your right tackle stinks. Good luck. you're going to get your quarterback killed. So tackles, pass rushers, quarterbacks.

And then I think we can argue. A lot of people say corners, I'd argue de-tackle. Because if I have a sweet defensive end, sweet detackle, sweet defensive line, I can kind of get by. The 49ers made the conference championship a couple of years ago with Josh Norman, who's slower than me and you. Why? Because their pass rush was dominant.

Now, does it help to have good corners? Of course. Do you want lockdown guys? Yes. But I'd love to have Dion Sanders and Derell Revis. their prime, of course. But for the most part, it's going to be very, very difficult to get those guys because you either got to pay a lot and they don't really come in free agency. And you got to trade a lot for them, i.e. what the Rams did to get Jalen Rams. And there aren't really,

I'd argue there's a short list of quote unquote elite corners. And depending on what your defense is, you might not play a lot of man-to-man defense. It might be more of a zone defense. And then you need a specific type player like a Richard Sherman. And the only reason the 49ers were able to get him the one year is because he was coming up. off of torn Achilles. Otherwise, Seattle wouldn't have got rid of them. So once you get an elite corner, they don't really become available. So Zach Martin, I think the Cowboys don't have a choice, partly because if you're Zach Martin, you go, however long I've been here, right, a decade, kicking ass, taking names. You pay Diggs's brother. I always get them mixed up. So we got

Stefan and we got Trayvon. Trayvon's on the Cowboys. And he a couple years ago had that year, right, whatever many picks, good player. And they gave $97 million. I don't have the guarantee. money, but I'd guess 40, 50 million. They gave a lot of cash. And the average per year, which I think could be a little overrated. But when a guy like this who they clearly like ain't going anywhere for a while, average is close to $24 million a season. If you are, excuse me, $20 million a season, might be like $195.

If you're Martin, you're like, uh, you know, I don't need $20 million, but I'd like about $15 to $18, we got to do something with this contract. I ain't showing up until we figure this thing out. So they got a little bit of a problem on their hands. You got to take care of what's in front of you, but this problem I don't think is going to go away. Justin Fields, I'll give them credit on this one, because I've been critical of just as common about 4,000 yards.

Like, bro, just walk before you run, right? Let's just have a little success before you start making proclamations about what's going to happen. I do think it's a good idea. The Netflix quarterback show got, you know, whatever, renewed. And they're going to do it again. season and they're trying to find quarterbacks. And one of the first quarterbacks they went to, smart move, right? Get a young guy kind of polarizing in Justin Fields. He turned him down.

And who knows? Maybe he could have a breakout season and that would be an awesome storyline or could go the other way. In general, when you're in his position and you haven't proven shit, and let's face it, the GM and the coach did not draft you. If this season does not go well, there's a decent chance you might not be on the team next year. I think the move is just 100% focus on yourself, nothing external, that you can control. Anything that you can control, avoid it. And I think he made the right decision on this. Like to me, a guy, like one reason it was smart for my homes to do it, how often do you

get the opportunity to document something like that in the middle of a Hall of Fame career? Like to me, Joe Burrough should be all over that. right? But I do think it's going to be harder to find the Marriota type. You know, I mean, are you going to get like, I don't even know, a Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, that type guy. But Zach Wilson, the Jets would never even allow him to do that. But how do you find, you know, really who are the cousins, right? Dak, or excuse, Dak Prescott, Derek Carr, Jimmy Garoppel.

Jimmy would never do it. Hard time seeing Dak do it. Might be a little more difficult getting guys to do it. then you'd think. Now that I'm just, I hadn't really thought much about it, but what's the upside if things go sideways? And if you have a down year,

people will blame you for doing it. Because ultimately Mahomes won the Super Bowl and the MVP. Cousins had a fantastic year. They hosted a playoff game. Mariotto's career unraveled, but no one really cares. Like he was a backup before that. I do wonder if it's going to be a little more difficult

for them getting some starters though I don't think it's crazy for the Burroughs, even the Josh Allen's, Jalen Hertz, another guy, but it'll be fascinating to see what three quarterbacks end up giving the go-ahead.

Chris Jones, like Zach Martin, it gets complicated because once you have an older player who's going on contract three or four, they start going, I'm underpaid because in a vacuum they are, right? And Chris Jones,

going in the last year of his deal, makes almost $20 million, dollars goes, well, I'm, last year I was ever been as good as Aaron Donald. We won the Super Bowl. I'm the best defensive player on our team, which is the best team in the league. Am I not a $28, $30 million player? Now, I do think they would gladly just give them like a one year $30 million deal, but that's not really probably what he's looking for, right?

He's looking for like three years, $90 million, probably guaranteeing $65, $70 million. That's if he's willing to go short. I would imagine he'd want like 5, 5, 150 guarantee 80. And I do think it gets pretty difficult. The problem for Vich and the Chiefs is you need them because you're in win now, try to go back to back, win another Super Bowl, just be a legendary dynasty type team. He gives you the best opportunity to do that. But big picture value-wise, like, does he have, is he more likely to only have one more year like that or four?

I think if you were betting, man, you'd probably say less likely to have like five, six more elite years, right? And could you flip them right now for maybe a one and a two and get some other team that would be willing to pay him? You could, I think. But is that the smart move when you're trying to win now? It's not. It's kind of in a weird spot. And it's probably why they haven't figured out a number because it becomes difficult. I also think it's difficult for your locker room when you go, everyone knows.

Mahomes, how important he is. But let's say, we wouldn't pay Tyreek last year, so we traded him. Kelsey, who is going to go down as the greatest tied in in the history of the league, is if I pay you $29, $30 million, he's making less than half of what you're making. How do I look him in the face and say, this is cool? It becomes a very slippery slope, and this is something that Belichick always thought about, was the dynamics of his locker room when it comes to the money, because we're all humans. I don't care what you do. You could work in an insurance company.

You can work in any industry. The difference is a lot of times in our different businesses, I've only worked in football and in radio, and you kind of know who makes what. I would imagine there are some businesses where you don't really know. But I think it's natural for humans to talk. Football, you don't even need to – it's a public. number so you know exactly how much people make. Well, if you're listening to this right now and you're very, very valuable to your company, let's just pick a number. You're making 200 grand.

And you go, God, I'm making a ton of money. I have a good life. They kind of let me do my thing. It's a win-win for everybody. I probably could make maybe 300 if I went somewhere else, but it's pretty risky. I just, I get sweet bonuses. It's working out pretty well. But then there's another guy who's your equal who gets a contract that's worth. $450,000. It would just create animosity. I don't care if his job's a little more important than you. If his job's a little harder to find, we're human beings. We just are. And that money, especially for us guys, is kind of how we value our self-worth. Right or wrong. It's just, it is what it is. That's just a fact for a lot of us. And in football, why you see these guys,

why you see the running backs up in arms, because they value themselves with a number. And I'm like that. I'm a very financially driven, like, I value success based on what numbers are doing, whether it's downloads or revenue. Like, those are the only thing I really care about. And the older you get, the longer you work in a business, if that's the way you think, it only gets worse, right? So I think that's an issue that the chiefs in V. I don't have any inside information on this, but let's just put the piece of the puzzle together.

That if my home is the most important, you know, one B and one C are Chris Jones and Travis Kelsey. Well, you can't have one guy, even if his position is more value when he's already making more money, make almost three X what Travis is making. That could get a little weird. Two and a half times, like I wouldn't blame Travis for like going what the hell. And then last but not least, I can see this coming from a mile away. Sean McVeigh is, I guess I was going to say his fiance. They're married now. Veronica, good follow on Instagram, is pregnant. And the baby is due you know, sometime give or take mid, late October. And obviously you can't always control when the baby comes and it could come on a weekend

when they are playing a game. And I can see this coming from a mile away. I would assume Sean would be with the baby. But I do think there's a percentage chance that he would coach a game while his wife's in labor, especially if it's in L.A. and then get helicoptered or somehow get there. And I can already see this being getting takes left and right coming out of the fucking woodwork by the media elites and their takes on life balance and some things. And listen, I'm not saying right or wrong. And who knows? Maybe the baby happens

on Tuesday and it doesn't even matter. But if this thing's happening, especially on a road game, it would be a fascinating follow. And if he were to coach the game, and I'm not saying you should do this. I don't have a child yet. I would assume if I was him be next to my wife. I don't think it would be a choice. But now Sean McVeigh's kind of addicted to football. You never know. You talk about a controversy you can see coming from a mile away. Does Sean McVeigh coach if his wife goes into labor?

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 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 imagine. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated.

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

So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Okay, let's do a little thing we like to call the Middlecough mailbag. The way you get in this is easy. You slide into my direct messages on Instagram. It's just my name. At John Middlecough, fire in those DMs.

easy to do. I will not get to every question today. I think I'll just put out a mailbag come Friday just so I can bang out some more questions and we got some content for you guys for the mailbag. As a Niners fan, how concerned should we be about the Bosa situation? Do you see this getting ugly any time? I talked about this earlier in the podcast. The 49ers pay every player that matters. They always have. but Parag is an elite businessman. I mean, he's just nosy shit. I think him and Howie are two of, if not the most dynamic money guys in the league. Now, Howie's also the GM.

Parag is more in charge of like the contracts, but he also buys the York's European soccer teams. Like he's just a wheeler and a dealer and knows money. And they know how good Nick Bosa is. They don't like they love Nick Bosa. but whenever they get to whatever the number is, like with Debo, it was like $55, $60 million. Like, they're going to argue with you.

They're going to negotiate with you. Like, they're cutthroat that way. If they could save $5 million off the top line, they know what general, you know, the general area you're going, but that's the way they operate. So I would imagine they're haggling over a couple million, couple here and there.

They're in, I would imagine Nick Bose is going to get 120 guarantee, Keith. So maybe the Niners right now are at 110. He's at 125. And I'll figure it out. But Nick Bost is not only not going anywhere, the number is going to be astronomical. It's going to be big. So I would not be concerned. One, he's a fitness freak. And two, they've just paid every player that's mattered in my adult life. If Derek Carr is a good season and playoff success with the Saints, could we start to think that team success isn't a quarterback stat? after watching Stafford win in LA and Wilson's struggle in Denver, I think it's clear most good

quarterbacks with success are products of their surrounding. Here's a simple reality at the position. I don't care if you're Peyton Manning. Payton Manning and Indy had a Hall of Fame General Manager who did an incredible job of drafting skill guys around him, right? Starting, I guess Harrison was there when he got there, but from Reggie Wayne to Dallas Clark. to Austin Colley, like they always had sweet players on offense. Same thing when he got to Denver, right? They had a lot of talent on the offensive side of the ball. And in Denver, unlike Indy, they had really good defense.

Stuff is out of your control, right? You don't get to pick the players. You don't get to pick the scheme, really. You get to influence it. But guys like Derek Carr and Matt Stafford definitely do not. Matt Stafford went to the playoffs three times in Detroit. Now, he didn't win a playoff game, but they had some success, right?

I think Derek, he technically led the Raiders to the playoffs twice, the one year he broke his ankle. So he, a little bit like Stafford. I think watching Stafford's career and Derek's career, Stafford's a better player. But I hear you. Like, if they win 12 games and Derek throws 35 touchdowns, be a pretty big moment.

Whenever this happens, like the Lions waved the white flag. They never said Stafford stunk, right? They knew how good he was. they just needed to blow it up. And they capitulated when Stafford's like, I think it's time we go our separate ways. The Derek thing is like, we don't think you're good enough.

We don't want you here. The Lions were, what's the point of this? Let's just go our separate ways. Stafford wanted out. The Derek thing's a true. We don't think you're any good. So to me,

I love those. Like Belichick, I think you're old. Time to go a different direction. And he was wrong. Brady was still good for a couple years. I don't necessarily. blame Belichick, but Brady's just an all-time outlier.

I mean, he's just, you would move on for most 43-year-olds. If their name's Tom Brady, you're probably screwed, though. Question for the pod. If the Bengals decide to keep the big three together, Burrow, Chase, and Higgins, how will that impact the rest of their team? Will it prevent them from resigning key players like DJ Reader, Logan Wilson? What do you think is the best route to a Super Bowl? Here's the hard part.

When you're best, like, I'll give you an example, the 49ers. Now, Burrow, being a quarterback, we just saw Herbert, like, I mean, Burroughs going to get $270 million and get $1190 guaranteed, right? But the Niners are a good example of a team that benefits from, like, they got two of their best players, play tight end, running back, and even Fred Warner lineback. So those three guys make like 12, 14, and like 13 or 14, 15 million dollars, right? Jamar Chase is going to be at minimum. I'm a $28, $30 million player. Higgins, what I talked about earlier on the podcast,

isn't quite on that tier, but even in that like IUC tier, that's still $20 million. And then Burrow is just $45, $50 million. The problem is when you hit on multiple wide receivers, I kind of believe you have to pick one and then just build it around a tight end or running back and then defensively.

I don't, and I understand what they said at the combine, like people thinking that they were going to, to trade Higgins, like get your own wide receiver. I don't disagree because you want them on your squat. It does get very hard to pay all three of them. Ideally, you would have an all pro at tight end. If you could turn T. Higgins into a tight end, you wouldn't RAPE because you would immediately save $5, $6 million a year.

And the guaranteed money would be like, what's T. Higgins guaranteed money? $50 million. What do you have the guarantee? I mean, Travis Kelsey got a contract since you got $22 million guaranteed. So there's no right or wrong answer. Like the whole point of the draft is draft good players. The problem is when you hit on them and they play certain positions, they just cost more. Right.

And it's just, that's the reality of hitting on wide receivers. If you can afford a Mercedes, okay, like you can make the payments or whatever. If that Mercedes has issues, everything about it costs more than let's say the Honda Accord, right? Or my Chevy Tahoe, right? You get a Range Rover. the maintenance on that thing is more. Once you hit on a wide receiver, the whole point of the draft,

every player you pick you want to be sweet. But when you hit on a center, it's easier to keep that guy forever than it is like three wide receivers. You usually got to pick one. Mainly when you're paying a quarterback. If you're not paying a quarterback, you've got a lot more wiggle room.

But Burrow, now Herbert, Mahomes, you really got to think about the way you build. I've seen Colin in a couple shows doing this topic and wanted your take on it. Historically, there are around 4 to 6 new teams in the playoffs every year, which also mean that around 4 to 6, I don't think it's 4 to 6. I think it's like 1 to 2, a conference.

So 4 max. 6 feels like a lot. Because think about last year, the Giants were new. Seattle, I guess, was new. But the 49ers were in it. The Eagles were in it the year before. the Vikings were not in it, the Packers. So yeah, I guess maybe you're right. The Chiefs were in it. The Bills were in it. The Bengals were in it. The dolphins were new.

So yeah, okay. The Cowboys were in it the year before. I've been here four. Six feels like a lot. I would say the teams that would be, I would red flag this year would be, would be Minnesota, could take a step back. But the more I think about them, you watch that quarterback documentary, couldn't they still be a white? wildcard team. You know, the Giants, could they take a little step back? But the NFC kind of stinks. Like, could them in Washington potentially flip? Maybe, but is BN and me a good play caller? Like when Andy's not around, we're about to find out. Is the quarterback any good? I think the AFC could have some swings, right? I guess the Chargers were in it, the Jags were in it, the Chiefs were in it, the bills were in it. We'd pick all those teams, the Bengals we would pick.

The Ravens did not make the playoffs. The Ravens did make the playoffs, right? Yeah, they did with Tyler Huntley. The Steelers would be a team. The Browns potentially with, you have Deshawn Watson as a bounce back year. The Denver Bronco, Sean Payton and Russell Wilson. I mean, those are the teams. The NFC, it's hard to find, like, are the Rams going to bounce back? I don't see the Rams.

I don't buy it. I just think they are, I don't think they're good enough. One, and two, is Stafford even healthy? They are just so dependent on two players. We saw last year those guys get hurt. You're just screwed. Browns fan here. I was kind of surprised that you didn't include

Stefansky in your coaches on the hot seat list. I know that Watson's situation has been a mess, but I feel like this year was a top five offensive line, top two or three running back, legit wide receivers, and a full year of Deshawn. The excuses have pretty much run out. Am I right for thinking that Stefanski is a coach, a guy coaching for his job

and needs to make the playoffs this year? What's funny is when I finished it and I was thinking about it, I had to get Sark in there. So if I was going to just go an NFL list and remove Sark, like it's just to me, Sark and Staley are just two places I'm going to, I've planted my flag for years and I ain't budgeant. I kind of like. I've heard them on some podcast. Feels like a smart guy. I'm not inundated with Brown stuff. Like I know you guys have a diehard fan base, live and die with it.

I checked out last year. I did not pay attention. I want to almost say I gave you a pass in the year before, I mean, Baker just stinks. But I hear you. I think he was a guy, he was a strong omission that he not only could have been on that list, probably should have been on the list.

And if it was NFL-centric, you would just remove Sarkesian and put him. Because like I said earlier, you don't fire players. And when you pay a guy $230 million guaranteed, he's not going anywhere. So, yeah. Here's the problem, though.

let's say you go 8, 9, or 9 and 8 and 8, and you miss the playoffs, right? Your 8th or 9th best team in the AFC. And Deshaun looks okay. You're kind of screwed. You can fire Stefanski. And you're an NFL job, so people will take your job. But are you telling me that that's a good job? Because if Deshaun is, for whatever reason, damage goods, that's a problem.

Right? It really is because you're kind of stuck with them. Long time listener, second time asking a question. Is there a reason to believe the hype around quarterback Jeff Christensen says about Trey Lance? I totally understand your opinion about his accuracy and just overall no reps. So is there any reason to get into the session with Mahomes and Christensen? Also, congrats on the move.

I'm very hesitant with off-season stuff, just in general, any sport. right, like I've completely changed my batting stance. I've completely worked on my jump shot. I've completely re-changed my motion. It happens a lot in golf. Like, I've made tweaks to my swing. Well, how's it going to work once you're playing? Because there's a little thing called muscle memory that I know as a golfer

that you can make tweaks all you want. I'd be like, God, I'm on the range. I'm hitting as good as freaking Rory McElroy. And then you get to hole two and the ball's flying all over the place. Same thing with a quarterback motion. I can shorten it up. I can shorten it up. And then the moment I get a pass rush, I get bodies in my face, your muscle memory just kind of resorts.

So if he's able to keep a shorter release, that will be impressive. But as the news came out today, Brock Purdy's healthy. Trey Lance is competing to be the backup. Now, even if he wins the backup job, he is not on the field. So I don't see the reps. He gets some practice reps and some preseason reps. But if Purdy's healthy, he is just not going anywhere. Now, you could argue he played seven games and he got injured.

I'd say, well, you know, some of Lance's injuries have been running around, right? Rookie year trying to run over a guy, hurt his shoulder or hurt his knee against Arizona, broke his ankle last year running. Like, he's kind of in a weird way, a running quarterback, but he's not that fast. Like, Purdy got hurt because Kyle Shanahan just called a terrible play. Tyler Croft is not blocking Assam Redding. That's just, and I understand Kyle's stubborn and refuses to go. We would like that one back.

He'll never say that. Which, listen, it's his prerogative, but he should. Like, that was a play you would like a redo on. Not a Titans fan, but I'm a little confused on why you were down on them. They have one of the easiest schedules in the league last time. They had a prominent number one wide receiver. They made it all the way to the championship game. They were leading the Jags by multiple games,

come to the end of the season before their team got hurt, and they took it all the way to the end with Dobbs at the quarterback, with a chance to make the playoffs against the Jags. Obviously, the AFC is loaded, but do you really not see a chance for them? These teams make the playoffs given the easy schedules and weak overall division. I think when you say a number, A.J. Brown in 2003, even, you know, the version of A.J. Brown a couple years ago, like what they're getting in Hopkins, there is a wide gap. Like, Hopkins is, to me, not even a top.

I know the Madden rankings had them really high. I think Madden had him rated higher than A.J. Brown. and I refuse to even acknowledge that. And I appreciate the game. But like those rankings, but I think it's hard to compare a young in the prime, AJ Brown,

and an older trending down Hopkins. But in a vacuum, am I being a little hard on the Titans? Probably, right? Like you said, the schedule sucks. The division's not that good. Elite coach.

Even if I'm not a huge Tanyhill fan, he's proven he can just kind of play an Alex Smith-like role. Here's the problem. I think the Jags are going to be dramatic. better. Trevor Lawrence didn't really hit his stride till halfway through the season, right? So the Jags get Calvin Ridley, never forget, who's a really, really good player to go with Christian Kirk, who has proven last year, everyone shit on him. I'm guilty too. The contract was bad.

Pretty damn good. So to me, their passive game is going to be much better. Have young players on defense. I think it's more likely the Jags are like an 11-win team. And even if I'm too low on the Titans, and the Titans get to that 8-9 range. But I don't think when the dust settles in December, that's as close. Because the Jags, Urban Meyer, ain't walking through that door. They got a guy who outdued Belichick in a Super Bowl, who is the play caller. And they got Trevor Lawrence, to me, who's really coming into his own. Like the way we talk about the Burroughs and the Herbert's and the Allen's, like,

it took Allen a couple years, right? Herbert and Burrough pretty quickly. Trevor Lawrence got Urban Meyer year one. I think by the end of this season, we're going, God damn, Trevor Lawrence is a beast. That's what I expect. And Tannenhill will not be on the team in two years. I'm sure you were tired of talking about the running backs, but I feel like it's the easiest solution for the NFLPA is trying to negotiate incentive and incentives for all rookie contracts. If I'm a running back, if a running back hits a thousand yards on a rookie contract, they get $1 million.

Mahomes throws for 50 TDs on a rookie deal. Bonus. Bosa gets 10 sacks on a rookie deal. Bonus. Not sure how it would work for offensive line, but I think it's the easiest fix for a guy like Philip Lindsay who put two thousand yards seasons, but never saw any real money due to a short shell flight. Here's the problem. That stuff's already negotiated. So like they just entered a contract as a, as a players union and as as ownership. Like they're the contract signed. Once we sign a deal, right, like just bought a house. I'm under contract. I got the mortgage, which I got to start paying. In about five days. I've got to double dip because I still got to pay for the apartment I'm standing because the house isn't ready, right? But that's neither here nor there.

My point is the contract is the contract. The contract they have, they're not amending that. They're not adding shit. So I hear you, and I wouldn't be against that, right? Like if you outperform your rookie deal, but here's what I'd argue if I was a GM. The moment I give you a contract, especially the high end guys, right? I think it's fair for lower round picks that are making $700,000. but Nick Bose has become a star, but he was the second pick of the draft.

He got a $22 million signing bonus. Like if Anthony Richardson or CJ Stroud hit and they become a really good player, it's a good contract, right, because you get a franchise quarterback, but you didn't pay him nothing. I mean, you gave them 35, 38, 37 million dollars guaranteed before they'd ever proven shit. They'd prove it in college. But that's, we've seen time and time again, that is not automatically going to translate.

So I think with the high players, like Sequin, like Bosa, like the high, I don't know, man. They get paid a lot, a lot of money for guys coming in the league with no track record. Now, if I was represented in the union, I'd say, hey, listen, when you sign a guy or draft a guy in the fourth round, right, when you hit on a home run on a Kirk Cousins or a George Kittle or Richard Sherman type or whoever, I mean, there's a million examples. you get that guy in a four-year contract averaging about $850,000 or $900,000 or whatever it works out to be over those four years. To me, they have to have an enormous incentives. Like, if I'm a fourth rounder and I become a pro bowler in year two or three,

to me it should be like a $5 million bonus. I should be paid like what you're paying the first round picks. Like, to me, that's negotiable because that happens all the time, right? You get a guard in the third round, do turns into like a four-time pro bowler. And you're paying him $785,000 in a second year. You're like, I don't. What a deal.

This is stealing. So I think that's the argument, but that's not going to happen anytime soon. Pretty sure they just came to an agreement last year for the new media deal. They're, the CBA is signed sealed delivered. Question for the pod, a simple one.

On the current trajectory, do you think running backs are going the way of the fullback? We barely see fullbacks anymore. In high schools and colleges aren't producing running backs in good numbers anymore. Kids are smart and they all want to be quarterbacks. Wide receivers and corners is where the money is. I still think running backs exist all over college football. But the more and more that the spread offense overtakes just the college game

and definitely the high school game. I would imagine if you go to any good high school around the country, I've been saying this for years. I went to high school in the early 2000s. The overwhelming majority of high schools had an option offense, whether it be the wingtie, whether it be the triple option, some semblance of that. By the time I got to Fresno State in like 08, 09,

it was starting to become very spread happy and definitely very pass happy. In 2023, I would imagine the quote unquote spread in high school football is closer to 100% than it is 70. Right. So the more and more you do that, the less you develop offensive linemen who can, you know, are versatile player because your quarterback's never under center. It's why every time we have the senior bowl and whoever's coaching the senior bowl looks at the quarterbacks and go, how many of you guys have ever been under center, most of them do not raise their hand. So, yeah, I think more and more they become these hybrid players. I think we get more Austin Ecklers, who like we talked about earlier, was an undrafted free agent.

Saquan special talent, they're always going to be special talents because these guys, 5-11, 6 feet, there are 220 pounds that can run like the wind who are just physical freaks. You want to have them tote the rock, right? You want to get under center hand them in the ball. But I also think, like, more and more high schools have guys that look like Austin Echler physically. And if you can find those guys, they can produce in the passing game. Just how many colleges, like, beside Jim Harbaugh, are getting under center and slamming it down your throat? It's kind of a thing going by the wayside.

So the NFL is a product of what they're given. They don't get to determine what comes to them, right? if they did every year, they would have like eight Lane Johnson's and eight Nick Boses and five Joe Burroughs, but that's not the case. Some years you've got a bunch of tight ends, right? The college talent determines itself, right, which comes from high school.

It actually works from the bottom up. And even schematically, it does, right? Spread really, think of the college passing attacks have really, or I mean, in the pros now, that is much more of a passing league. I would say that was developed through the college game because that's what it kept handing them. Quarterbacks who had thrown a lot more in their youth, who were much more equipped to throw the ball 50 times a game immediately. Patrick Mahomes was used to throw on the ball all the time.

Seemless transition. Not very difficult. Greetings from Ontario, Canada. This is my favorite pod. I appreciate you. Lizzie, love the content. Have been a big Niners fan since. the Montana days.

Here's my question. If Purdy doesn't bounce back from a surgery is hoped, the Niners will be prepared to run Darnold out there for the entire season, assuming the supply legitimate, I don't, this question, this is using his wife's Instagram. Obviously,

that was a huge off-season topic. Sam Darnold, Trey Lance, I think that topic dramatically was muted today. Now that we have, at least as of the day, you can still, you have setbacks and stuff,

but until there's a setback, we have a backup quarterback battle. And then I think the big picture question mark is, if Sam Darnold wins the job as the backup quarterback, does Trey Lance also continue to be on the team, or do they trade them and just make like Brandon Allen their third quarterback? That to me would be the number one question. If Brock Purdy is 100% starting week one,

which all signs point to that right now, is if Sam Darnal wins the job, does Trey Lance stay on the team? I'd say it's 50-50. I am more inclined to say a decent chance because of this third quarterback rule, which was created because of the Niners, right, in the Purdy situation. If that rule didn't exist, I would say he would not be on the team. But because of that rule and he's a good guy, I would say still a decent chance they keep him because you already paid him anyway.

Like, you're not unloading that salary. Unless a team's a little desperate and you can get like, he was awesome in training camp and maybe you'd get a third. But even then, why wouldn't you just keep him? So it's a complicated situation. It's going to be once the playing on the field works itself out, the situation is going to play itself out by locker dynamics. How comfortable they are.

Purdy, does he need, do they need to get Lance away from? Do they feel comfortable with the two of them being together if he's a third quarterback? So a lot of moving parts there, which, you know, makes football football. fun, man. The quarterback controversies, even when you have the set starter, high picks, you know, the Zach Wilson's, the Trey Lances, the Justin Fields, these topics never die, man. They never do. Have a good weekend. And, or not weekend, it's the middle of the week, my bad. I don't even know. It's just football's here. All the days are the same. Talk to everyone soon. Peace.

The volume. Another podcast from some SNL, late night comedy guy, not quite, unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends, me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes.

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