The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 3 and Out - Jamal Adams is a problem, Jerry Jones can pick coaches, Opting out is BIG business

Episode Date: December 20, 2023

John dives into the issues surrounding Jamal Adams and his relationship with the Seahawks and if he's become so much of a headache for Seattle that they should just cut ties, if you're a potential top-20 pick in the NFL draft should you opt-out of bowl games, and should the Panthers leave Carolina and relocate. Lastly, John answers your questions for this week's mailbag segments. 5:16 - Jamal Adams is a problem 15:29 - Jerry Jones can pick head coaches 22:55 - Opting out of bowl games 34:59 - Mailbag 35:20 - Should the Panthers leave 39:15 - Should Seattle draft a QB 47:45 - Will Baker be back with the Bucs 57:52 - What should Green Bay do with their D Follow John on Twitter, 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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and deposit restriction terms and responsible gaming resources. What is going on, everybody, John Middilkoff 3 and Out podcast? Okay, we have some aftermath of the Seattle Eagle game. Something I saw Jerry Jones said the day that I found pretty interesting. And college bowl opt-outs wanted to dive into some of the guys saying, I'm not playing in the game, I'm getting ready for the NFL, and how that, that conversation has changed dramatically over the years. And then of course the Middilkoff mailbag at John Middlethoff,

at John Middilkoff, fire in those DMs. We've had a podcast Saturday night, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday. We are banging out content with Christmas right around the corner, probably less podcast next week. So get your fill now. A lot of content out there. Find us on YouTube as well if you like the video stuff. Everything we do here is on the,

Middlecoff 3 and out YouTube page. So go subscribe to that as well. But first, can I tell you about my friends at GameTime? It's the holiday season. Christmas is right around the corner. I'm sure, like you, I know myself, don't have gifts for people I need to get gifts for. Well, you know the easiest way to get someone want a gift

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it's very easy to search on the app, what event you want to go to, where you want to sit, the different price points, even the sight lines of the event. When you type in the promo code John, J-O-H-N, J-O-H-N, you get $20 off. Hard to beat that. Download the GameTime app, promo code John, save yourself, $1220, get someone a present, do right by someone else, make their day on Christmas Eve or Christmas, save yourself a little money, I don't even need a thank you. Just download the GameTime app, promo code John. One thing I talk about a lot because I've seen it firsthand when I worked

in football, in college and the pros, and then since I've been covering football when I did the radio show, I was going to a lot of practices, and now being just pretty interesting. and dated and following the league closely. And because of this podcast and through Collins' reach, I've met a lot of people that I didn't know in college football and in the NFL. And one thing that is hammered home in me is the importance of football character, the love of football. And like, we talk a lot about character and acting the right way.

To me, football character, we've talked about it earlier this week, is how much the game means to you. And that's also taking the good. with the bad, right? We saw it with the Eagles. They demoted Sean Desai for Matt Patricia. Well, he can't just quit. He can't just leave.

He can't just pout. You bench players all the time. You make lineup changes in football, you know, continuously throughout the season. So coaches are harping on next man up. Be ready. If you get benched, stay focused, be a pro. Well, coaches have to act that way too. And let's face it, we're all here.

human beings. It's much easier to be happy in any of our lives when things are going well. When professionally in your job, you're having success, you're making money, in your relationships, your kids are succeeding, your relationship with your girlfriend, your wife is going well. It's easy to have a good attitude and a smile on your face. It's not easy to not be a full-on grouch and be miserable when shit hits the fan. Because the easy, the easy thing is, you know, thing when we all hit adversity, which whether you play in the NFL or whether you're a normal human in society that just has a nine to five job, things are not always going to go well. And how you handle that kind of defines to me who you are. And I think when you look at football

players, the best guys handle the struggles the best. Coaches included because you're going to lose games. You're going to get, you're going to have bad plays. You're going to have bad games. How do you bounce back from that? Do you keep your head up? Are you someone in the locker and people continue to want to be around? Or are you just kind of a front runner? And last night, Jamal Adams was nowhere to be seen. And I didn't think much of it.

He's injured, whatever, missed practice all week. Then it was kind of rumors circulated on Tuesday that he was not going to play healthy or injured. Now, he's been injured a lot, and he was missing practice, so it's safe to assume that he's dealing with knee issues again. He's an often injured player. But there is no.

disputing that he can be a little bit of a pain. And I have no problem in sports being in business with people that can be a little bit part of a pain. Now, if you're going to be a pain, you better be a part of winning. I've seen it with Draymond Green. You know, caused, you know, created some controversy over the years. But for a large portion of his career, championship level player, the Warriors needed him and it was well worth it. Now you get to the time the team's not as good. Everyone starts questioning it, right? Some of the greatest teams in the history of sports, have had crazy men on their team. But if you win, whatever.

As long as your production outweighs your problems, no big deal. And several weeks ago, when Jamal Adams, who let's face it, has been a disaster for Seattle. The moment they traded for them, it was not going well, and then they doubled down and they gave him an enormous contract. Well, within the last month, a reporter that covers Seattle had, like, quote, tweeted a video of him getting smoked for a touchdown. Jamal didn't like it, when after the guy's girlfriend or wife,

and even Pete Carroll had to come out the next week, like, we're not into that. But that is not cool. And basically, you know, acknowledging Jamal, like, that's bullshit. Even though I did kind of appreciate Jamal's comment of when they go low, I go lower. But I can't have one of my highest paid players kind of acting like that representing the team when he's not playing well.

Like, that's kind of embarrassing. and I think, listen, Jamal Adams, if I'm Seattle, I don't really want any part of them anymore moving forward. He was nowhere to be found. He didn't even come to the game yesterday, whether he was injured, whether he was, you know, an inactive regardless.

It has been a disaster. And this team last night, to me the coolest part about Monday night, and I got a little emotional, partly because, you know, sappy sports moments do that to me. That Drew Locke moment and all the content to come out

after his post-game interview, what he said in his press conference, the videos of him and Gino looking at each other. Like, football character is a really, really big deal. And to me, a major reason why Seattle won that game is because their backup quarterback, who was beat out a year ago, stayed in tune with the program. And Gino deserves a lot of credit. Drew Locke gave him that. But he's a guy that you want around.

He matured in front of their eyes. He's a person that, like, is growing in a positive manner. And you look around the rest of their team. Yeah, D.K. has some issues with personal fouls. But you know what? I know on any given moment, D.K. Metcalf, and this is part of the deal, could be one of the best players on the field, if not the most dominant player on the field, on any given snap, on any given series, in any given game.

Jamal Adams doesn't have that in the back. The only thing he can really do is make some tackles for loss. And even in the Niner game, he was struggling in the run game because you've got to play him as a linebacker. And if any of my offensive linemen get their hands on them, the weight discrepancy, he's got no shot. So to me, you removed Jamal Adams, who, let's face it, had been pretty controversial. One, as a player, just not that good.

And two, clearly kind of a headcase. And, like, to me, if I'm in the Seattle business, I'm just out. Just stay away, man. We made a huge mistake financially. We're worse with you on the field. Let's just go our separate ways. And listen, Pete has always been really good at balancing some of the crazies with some of his normals.

But for the most part, most of his crazies have always been big. big time football players. And to me, Jamal Adams isn't. And what you saw last night was a character win. You know, guys, Julian Love coming in,

playing well, Drew Locke coming in, playing well with some of their high-end players. Leonard Williams kicking ass and taking names. To me, the good teams in the NFL, especially in recent memory, a lot of the Patriot Dynasty,

this 49er team, the Chiefs team, have guys who were just all in, have guys who can handle the shitty times. Because if you can't handle the shitty times, because if you can't handle the shit, times, what are we going to do in a tie game in the fourth quarter of a playoff game? I can't trust you. And to me, Seattle really learned last night, you don't need this guy. Just tell him,

stay away, we'll pay you, it's over. Like to me, it unofficially ended last night for Jamal Adams' career. Now, Pete is really weird, right? He's an old coach, but he's kind of this progressive Al Davis, pretty open-minded. Like, I don't expect that to happen, but to me that's the move. And Seattle has a very, very good chance now if they just win two of their next three games to make the playoffs. And I think football character was on full display from their squad. And that's why it made the Drew Locke moment so cool. Because this was a guy who didn't even play well the majority of the game, but who had that in the bag in the final drive. He has the starting quarterback rooting him on. And also, one of the cool things about sports, and I don't go to as many

games I once did. I don't go to really any NFL games because of this job. My girlfriend really wanted to go to the Cardinal Niner game, but it's just, it's hard for me. And this is like a first world complaint, but like, you know, as a podcaster, I got to watch all the games. I go on with Colin after the afternoon game. I like to do something after the night game. I got another podcast, usually based on the 49er game. So it's just, it's easier for me in my business. You go to an NFL game and I've been to a ton of them. It's kind of, as anyone listening to this, it's kind of your I wasn't able to go. But whenever you go to a game, you never truly know what you're going to get, right?

You could get a game that's just a clunker that's just a bad game, right? You could get a blowout and the team you're rooting for, which is fun, or you could just get a memorable moment. And I've been to a few of those. And I'll never forget being on the sideline for when Navarro Bowman picked off Matt Ryan on Monday Night Football and Mike Tariko had the famous call, the pick of the stick. Navarro jumped in the end zone. It was the last home game ever a candlestick. And looking up and the place was just going bananas, Chris Berman was there, boys the men played after the game because it was Eddie de Bartolo's favorite group. And it was just one of the coolest sporting moments in football I've ever been to. I've been to some really

cool ones with Steph Curry, some crazy Giants games in their World Series runs. But that was just a regular season Monday night game that is just entrenched in you. And anyway, one last night who's a Seattle fan that was like you know is they going to get blown out the game got flex should we go you know it might just be fun let's go that's a game you'll never ever forget people in Seattle

are going to be talking about that game until you die that I was there at the game when Drew Locke led the two minute drive and the walk off touchdown and Julian Love picked off Jalen Hertz like you just there are certain games in every franchises and there are usually a lot of times in a prime time spot especially on Monday night football it's just Do you remember the Monday night football game when?

And that's just anyone that got to go to that game, anyone listening to this that has been, and I'm not even talking playoff game, I'm not even talking to Super Bowl, I'm just talking a memorable game for the team you root for when you attend. And listen, we all remember when we're watching it on TV, but there's nothing quite like going. And that game not only popped on television, but was just, that was fun. Just as a football fan who just loves cool. stuff to happen. That was awesome. And listen, like I said, if I'm Seattle, Jamal Adams, no

moss. I think Jerry Jones, a lot of people, because he's a kind of a polarizing individual, you know, talk about Jerry like in the sense that he's a little much and almost like he's not that good of an owner. He just cares about himself, egotistical. I'd say this little stretch of Mike McCarthy has turned out to prove. And listen, he's the general manager to me. title only because when they traded for Trey Lance and he started rattling off some of his games, he clearly had no clue what he talked about, what he was talking about. He clearly didn't watch him on film. I do not think he is involved, beside during the draft process, interviewing some of the guys, or maybe during the free agent process, having been at games

watching it. I do not think he's watching tape. I know that's for a fact. And he just likes having the GM title, which is his prerogative. He's the owner. But one thing he's he's clearly done pretty good job of is they build a really good team. Like, they have a lot of talent. And Jason Garrett, to me, was averages the day as long. Mike McCarthy's proving to be, listen, he's not going to be Belichick or Andy Reed, but he's pretty damn good. And Jerry was asked on his morning radio show, which he does weekly, which no other owner does, you know, about the loss. And he said, it sucked. But honestly, I told the staff this morning that I was proud that that that game meant something was because of you guys, the position you've put us in. You're going to the

playoffs for three straight years. He's like the best part of this season so far has been the coaching staff. And Jerry gets credit for that. Because a lot of people when he hired Mike McCarthy, remember Mike at the press conference lied. He hadn't even watched all the games. Here's where Mike gets a lot of credit. Is he hired a guy, and this is my thing with Siriani. Like what's his next pitch? We've seen him try to be the offensive coordinator. That was a disaster. He knows nothing about defense. So, like, that's, and not honestly, they played decent last night with Matt Patricia, but he can't influence that.

So beside his R-R-Raw speeches and throwing a challenge flag that his guy upstairs is telling him, what's he doing? We kind of said that about Mike McCarthy the last couple of years. Well, it's like, Dan Quinn has the defense. Kellan has the offense. What are you doing? And Mike's like, wait, you want to see? Kellan, get the fuck out of here.

I'll call the offense. And what happened this year? Their offense has been awesome. And they're now in position because the Eagles have three conference losses. They have three conference losses. Now we'll have to see how the season ends, the different tiebreakers, but they got a chance to win the division because of that loss last night to the Eagles. So now you got Mike McCarthy who takes over play calling, which, let's face it,

I would say it was one of the most controversial in-house coaching moves of the entire off-season. And it's gone well. I often ask this when it comes to a coach. What are you doing? Right? And most of the coaches now are play callers. Right, like Sean Payton, what are you doing to fix it? Why I'm calling the place.

I'm figuring out a way to score points. All the good coach, Andy Reid, Kyle Shanahan, Sean McVeigh, they all call plays. Now, we have some CEO head coaches, and John Harbaugh has a lot of success. But, you know, I think if you're going to make the argument, like why Lamar Jackson can win the MVP, because it's pretty fucking important.

Before Lamar Jackson got there, John Harbaugh was doing a lot of swinging swords before games, and they were losing with Joe Flacco. So I like my coach to call a side of the ball. Like, I'm paying you $10, $15, $20 million, I need you to influence. I don't want to be beholden to a coordinator who, if we have success, immediately gets a job.

Now, I'm not saying that doesn't work. Mike Tomlin and John Harbaugh had a ton of success. But when I watch Mike McCarthy, I give you more credit when you're calling one of the sides of the ball, and currently he is. And that side of the ball looks good. And I think Jerry knows it. Jerry knows he's got a good thing going.

So a lot of the talk was Mike kind of put himself, I wouldn't even say on the hot seat, but under the microscope when he made that move, moves worked. And I think the move has brought him more equity with Jerry. Now, a lot of season left. Big game against Miami, then a big game against Detroit. We'll see how the playoff shake out.

Again, if you get to the conference championship, if Mike McCarthy does and loses to the 49ers, that is an overwhelming success, given that this franchise has not been to that game since the 1995 regular season 1996 playoffs. Think about that. That's a pretty long time. So their standard is not Super Bowl or bust.

Their standard doesn't even get into the Super Bowl. Just get to the final game in the conference and you're getting a contract extension. Because I'll promise you this. If they are in that game, even if they were to get beat 50 to nothing by the 49ers, he's getting a contract extension. And honestly, he deserve it.

And Jerry should get a lot of credit for not just hiring Mike, but giving Mike the opportunity to fire his guy. Because that's what he did with Kellan Moore. He fired him. He said, you're not coming back. And taking over and proving that not only can he do it, I can make it better. And that's all I want out of my coach, right?

Like, in college, I can have a CEO. Kirby's not calling the defense. Nick's not calling the defense. Jim Harbaugh doesn't call the offense. It's such a different sport, right? Recruiting such a big deal, leadership, all that. And the pros, this is an intellectual game. We talked about it on Monday after the Monday night game.

because something Marcus Spear said on ESPN. Like, defense is all about effort in the NFL. No, it's kind of a lot about coaching. Like, the price of admission is playing hard. No good player in the NFL doesn't play hard. If you don't play hard, you ain't going to be on a fucking NFL roster long in the NFL. That's a fact.

Unless you're an all-time freak clownie, and then you're just going to bounce around. And I'm not even saying clowning doesn't necessarily play hard, he's having a good season. You know what I mean. He's considered an underachiever. Most good defensive players in the National Football League, I would say would be considered to play hard, to play with high effort.

So then it's about talent and scheme. That's what the NFL is. It's a scheme game because most players, one, are playing hard, try, and on the good teams, are talented. Then it comes about coaching. And right now the Cowboys, their coaching is pretty high level. I know they just got their ass kicked. But same thing with Sean McDermott.

Like, well, what's Sean McDermott doing? Well, he's calling the defense. and I just watch him play the Cowboys, shut him out, kicked his app. Didn't technically shut him out, but you know what I mean. Dominated them, strangled them. Now, does he keep doing that?

Because if he keeps doing that, does he do that again to the Chargers? Does he do that against the Patriots? Does he finish the season against Miami and do it again and win the division? Because if he does, like, that to me earns more equity. Wait, you're not only the head coach, you're not only given the speeches at the beginning of the week, given the pregame speech, motivating the guys,

leading your coaching staff, but you also call the side of the ball? That value to me, what do they often tell you when you, when you get a job. The more you can do, the more you can do, the more you can do, it's true. If wait, wait, you're good at sales, marketing, and you know how to balance the books. Like you bring a little more to the table than just a guy that's, you know, good at marketing. And I think the faster that you can get as a head coach to become a play caller as well as a good leader, it's very, very difficult to replace you.

Even in a league, and I agree with Colin, tends more to, you know, lean to the opposite. offensive coaches, well, if you're a good defensive head coach and you're calling the plays, they're not going to get rid of you. They're just not. So I think Mike McCarthy has had a hell of a year. Another story, it's kind of an ongoing. It's a fluid situation because there's so many different poll games is I saw today that Jared Verse, who has a chance to be, if not the top pass rusher in the draft, you know, top two or three pass rusher off the board. He's probably a top 15, 18 pick in the NFL from Florida State. And Jaden Daniels, the Hall of Fame player,

it'll probably go down in the LSU Hall fame, but the Heisman winner for LSU opted out. May's already opted out. Caleb's opted out. And do you know what I'm glad? Because I remember back when Christian McCaffrey did it, it was a really polarizing story about opting out. You know, like the history and the tradition of these bowl games.

Like, where are you playing for the national championship? Because if you're not, who gives a shit. This is a business. And one thing I learned a long time ago, I'll never forget when I worked at Fresno State, Pat Hill said this. The only person that cares about you is you. Now, other people often, you know, care about you.

But professionally, if you are not caring about yourself more than everyone else, you probably got a problem. And that's, listen, if you're thinking about it right now, do I ask for a raise? Do I ask for more responsibility? It's on you. It's not a marriage where you have to kind of like figure out what she's thinking before you do it. And like, hopefully you're like reading her mind.

And then it's like, well, I hope I'm right on this one. Professionally, when you want something, you got to ask. for it. It's not about deserving. It's not about want to. It's about communicating. I want this. You might get to know, but until you ask, until you put yourself first, the people you're working for, the people you're working with will not put you first. Promise you that. And forever, it was like, you just play in the ball games. It was like, wait, I'm going to be the seventh pick in the draft. That draft pick pays me a $22 million signing bonus. If someone just accidentally falls on my leg and shatters it and I end up going in the third round instead of the first round,

that is costing me an astronomical amount of money. This isn't business. This is big business. So I have no problem with anyone who is a lock to be a top 20 plus pick saying, I'm not playing in the bowl game. Now where I would have an issue, if you're like a fourth round pick, fifth round pick, if you're going to declare your senior or whatever and you opt out, you always have the opportunity.

to earn more credit because the majority of your evaluation is going to come on tape. And when you play well in a bowl game, there are just more eyeballs there. And you can always earn yourself, maybe go from a fourth round pick to get yourself in a third round because that tape against that opponent, against that sophomore that's going to be a first rounder the following year, kind of earns your respect in the eyes of evaluators. So I don't view all opt-outs the same. but any Marvin Harrison, Jaden Daniels, Drake May, verse, any high-level prospect,

not only do I have no issue with it, the NFL has no issue with it. They're not only numb to it, they think it's the right decision. You think they want you to get injured like Jalen Smith did once upon a time? The guy was going to go in the top 10, top 15, hell, maybe top 5,

has a devastating knee injury and plummet's in the draft to the second round and cost himself, millions of dollars. And listen, I've talked to him before, and I know he says he doesn't regret it, and I understand having that mindset, because when something bad happens to you,

you've got to have a positive mindset. But when you have examples like that for these players, you have to make the best business decision, because that's what you're going into. This is not, we're not playing, this isn't peewee football, this isn't high school football, we're not teaching life lessons.

This is going to be your profession, and a lot of money's on the line. and health to me during the draft process is a we put a premium on it at the combine you go through all the medical checks and having an injury at that time which could potentially put next season in jeopardy even an offseason in jeopardy

can be devastating to your draft stock because all draft stock is it's like the specs on a home how many square feet how big is the backyard what neighborhoods it in any issues any stuff need to be redone What's the kitchen look like? How big's the master bedroom?

That's no different than like, how healthy are you? What was your production? How fast did you run? How good's your character? All that stuff equals your draft position. Well, for a lot of the top guys, all those boxes are already checked. If they were a house,

people would be lined up outside the house to pay over asking. And it's a marketplace. And these guys, luckily, for the first time, kind of realized, like, I don't need to do this. And they're not quitting. on their teammates, that they're not doing that at all. They're just making a decision. I can't, the risk is not worth the reward because we're playing in a bowl game where they just give us a

trophy that ultimately means nothing. And we're the seventh team in the country or we're the 15th team in the country. It's cool. It's fun. It's football. But I have potentially another 10 year career ahead of me. I'm playing with a lot of guys that are probably my close friends, people that I will talk to until the day I die, right? If you're a college football player and you've been on one team for three or four years, there's a decent chance that 10 plus teammates will be kind of your close inner circle in life for the rest of your life, even more than a lot of guys that you play pro football with. But as you age, even if they're like, hey, I wish you were to play, most of those guys will not be going pro. Like most guys that you play college football with won't play on Sundays.

So you have to put your priorities ahead of them. And I'm just glad that we're at the point now where people don't even think twice over, you know, those decisions. Because looking back, it was such a stupid argument. Now, if you have the chance to play for a national championship, to me, if you're playing for one of the final four teams, that's a different story. And listen, there's a reason none of those guys ever opt out because they have the chance to kind of be in football hall of ground, to win a national championship. but any of the other bowl games I got news for I'll watch them shit I'll probably bet on some of them

are just kind of irrelevant in the grand scheme of things to end on this my friends at Uber Eats it's time for this week's player I thought might give almost almost anything to redo his game brought to you by Uber Eats I think there's only one guy

and I think that's James Bradbury on that final drive he gave up and listen I understand they're in cover two on the ball that DK. Met calf caught, but you got to cheat on that one. You can let D.K. Metcalf just fly by you. I don't care what the rules are. You have to just take a couple steps back. And then on the touchdown pass, if you watch it before they both break out of the screen, he's kind of squatting on a shorter route, whether it's a comeback, an out, an in. He does not want to give up a 10-yard completion. They don't

of any timeouts, there's only 30 seconds left. You cannot let him just run right by you. And he was kind of flat-footed. And listen, D.K., maybe he'd just get you on that spot. On the touchdown pass, under no circumstances can you give up a touchdown. You can give up a 15-yard play. So what? There's 25 seconds and they're at the 10-yard, 15-yard length. There's no guarantee they're going to score a touchdown. You're not playing Peyton Manning here. You're playing Drew Lock. You can't give up just an open deep ball. That ultimately the quarterback, and the guy still has got to catch it, but you got smoked because you're just sitting there flat-footed.

I don't care what the rules are. I don't care what the defense is calling. There comes a point in time where you've got to be a football player. You see it all the time in zone defense with linebackers, and honestly Seattle does this a lot. I love Bobby Wagner, but he just kind of sits there in grass in the middle of the field. It's like, bro, there are guys to the left and the right of you.

I don't care what the rules are. There comes a point where you got to be a football player. And I'm not pretending to be Bill Belichick here. But I learned when I was in the NFL, killing grass in zone coverage or just killing grass because that's what the rule say, that's the opposite of being an instinctive player. Time, situation, third and eight, you're just going to stand there? Like no one's around you.

The guy's seven yards to you're right. Why don't you cheat over there? Same thing with Bradbury. Sitting flat-footed, Jackson Smith, who just is going to be a stud, already really good player, just goes right by you. Game winning touchdown. Now you lose, now your seasons and shambles because you're just like, listen, you can't run with them strive for stride.

So cheat. Part of life is to realize what's coming or what could come and is the worst case scenario and kind of play against that. And if something else happens, that's not as bad, you deal with it. But you never want the worst case scenario to play out. And that's what happened to James Bradbury.

So that was this week's almost, almost anything player the week. You can order almost almost anything with Uber Eats, the official on-demand partner of the NFL. Order now. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential.

Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win.

I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement

to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast, it's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger.

So, if you've ever supported me, or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Cliverts show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok.

Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do a little Kim?

Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam Jett. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent

episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so you all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack, so I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now, so. Then you're finishing that sentence. Yes.

I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in America. in history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Okay, let's get to a little thing we call the mailbag, and here's how you get in.

It's very, very simple. At John Middlecough, at John Middlecough is my Instagram. Two F's firing those DMs. At John Middlecough, firing those DMs like Marco just did. I listened to all your shows. I already liked this guy. considering the Panthers' recent struggles, plus only having five fans at their game.

It was windy, and it was cold, and it was rainy, against the Falcons. The overall state of the franchise, do you think there's a possibility of relocating the team to a different state, like Austin, for example, especially with the absence of state income tax and the fact that the city is becoming more and more popular? Well, I don't hate your mindset.

The problem is, You know, the state of Texas, Jerry is one of the heavy hitters in the league. The Cowboys are the league's biggest brand. Why would they want another team in Texas? I think they would block that. And Houston is one of the biggest cities in America already has a team. I think both those teams would vehemently throw their bodies, you know, in front of that. I don't have, you know, I kind of, I do this kind of live, so I don't have the Charlotte stats.

But isn't it one of the fastest growing cities in America? to me the market You know to me the Jags with Jacksonville much more likely to relocate than Carolina The problem in Carolina is they just suck When they were good and hosted the NFC championship years ago like it was okay You can't be That bad If the Cowboys were that bad

If the Eagles were that bad if the Niners were that bad And a game was rainy and wet people wouldn't go You know I'd say I never bemoan the fan that attends games. Because let's face it, in the football, it's way easier to sit at home and watch a game. And honestly, football is the greatest thing that's ever happened at sports television.

It's just, it's made for TV. Like, you go to an NBA game, sometimes it's actually better than watching it on TV. Basketball games are awesome. You go to the right baseball game. It can be, one, it's just kind of an event, get out in the sun, in the summer, have a beer.

A football game, I'd argue, is better on TV than it is in person. So if you're going to get me to go to the game, it better be a decent product. And the Falcons, Carolina, I swear to God, I'm not making this up. If I lived in the area, right, obviously I wouldn't fly to Carolina to go that game.

But let's just say hypothetically, you buy me a ticket. What would I have to pay you, John Middletaloff, to attend that game? I'll take care of the travel. I will take care of the sleeping arrangements, get you in a nice hotel. I think my number would start,

I wouldn't do it for 10 grand. My time, my weekend. I'd probably be, I swear to God, 25K cash that they couldn't tax me on. Minimum. And I'd probably need you to set up a golf round at a country club or something. That's how bad that game would be.

I would have gone last night for free if I would have known how awesome the game would be. But in the wet, in the wind, especially if I'm sitting outside. Football game, man. that'd be pretty miserable. So I can't, I have no issue with no one showing up. Why in your right mind would you go to that game?

Even if you're a season ticket holder, because you can't give the tickets away. We've all been a fan of when teams are bad and known, I've never been a season ticket holder. I don't even know why technically in this modern day age you'd be a season ticket holder. It's much easier. Shout out to my friends at game time just to get tickets when you want to go. Now I get it from a business.

If you have a business, entertain clients, make sense. But to me, if you're just a fan of, of a team, just buy tickets when you want to go. Now, maybe there are other perks that I'm missing. And I get it if, you know, it's a family thing. Like if you've been in a city with a basketball or a baseball team or even a football team. But are you going to every game? Football, I guess technically you could.

Basketball or baseball, no chance. But I, yeah, I think Carolina's there to stay. I think they want them in that market. Could be wrong. But that market to me is a lot different than, let's say, Jacksonville. as a Seahawks fan I can't help but worry following Drew Locke's Monday night

master class and that Pete and the management might look to keep both him and Gino for another year instead of drafting a first round quarterback in next year's draft. Chris Ballard used to say this a lot when everyone wanted him to draft

a quarterback in the first round instead of like bandating it with rivers and wince and Jacoby, Matt Ryan, obviously some of those guys were bad. But he's like, you guys do understand that if we're not drafting high,

I got to really like a guy at pick 22 to just pull the trigger and draft him in the first round. Do you want me to just draft Kenny Pickett or Mac Jones because you guys wanted me to draft a quarterback? Seattle's going to go, if I had to bet right now,

they're 7 and 7 looking at their schedule, I'd say 9 and 7, or excuse me, 9 and 8 would be my guess. Well, if you're 9 and 8, probably get in the playoffs. I mean, there's a decent chance them and the Rams both make the playoffs. That means you're drafting like pick 21-22. Well, what if there's not a good quarterback there?

And what if how high, I'm not opposed to like trading up and getting a guy that you really like. But I don't think it's crazy. I mean, as of right now, two years, they've won 16 games with Gino and Drew Luck. If their defense was just a little bit better, if Witherspoon comes back, if they keep Leonard Williams, they add another pass rusher,

Their team's got a lot of talent. Now, the quarterback position obviously is not ideal, but just because you trade up and get, you know, Bo Nix or Jaden Daniels doesn't mean those guys are going to be any good. We see it all the time. So I actually think they're in a decent spot. They have a ton of good players all over the roster, a lot of young impact guys, a ton of good offensive weapons.

Part of the reason you can compete with Drew Locke and Gino Smith, you got DK, you got Jackson Smith, you got Tyler Locker, You got Kenneth Walker, you got some young tackles. Dissley's not bad. I mean, you got players. Another struggling Steelers fan here. Going forward, where do you think the organization should go at quarterback? I'm pretty much out on Kenny, and our backups make me want to vomit.

I agree. Do you think that we should focus our 2024 draft or go for someone like Kirk Cousins in free agency? I think it's difficult when it comes to Kenny. pick it because you just drafted him in pick 20 and this is the second year. So he's going to be on the team next year. You're not going to draft a guy in the first round. That's just, that's just not happening. I would be stunned. I do think it's on the table to be sniffing around it guys, right? Kirk Cousins, can I get them for cheap? Would I trade for Justin Fields and then have a competition between Fields and can he pick it? You know, do something like that. I think

that's the most realistic option with you guys. To me, the biggest question, though, with your franchise like what do you do with the coach do you just do you do you fire him because i don't know about you i think it's over and that's not i'm not a mike tomlin hater i think the chargers should immediately hire mike tomlin just to get some respect just to get a real coach and you'd be like middle coffee sucks like you know what the chargers would do for mike tomlin but i listen i i think i think you are much more likely to kind of like try to sign a gino smith type now he's under contract, but you know what I mean. Baker Mayfield, someone, to come in and compete with Kenny Pickett.

I think that's the most realistic option. Question for the pod. Are highlight quarterbacks overvalued in the social media era? All we see are highlight reels, but we never see the misreads that made them scramble and make some incredible plays for 20 yards when they actually left yards on the field. It's hard to criticize passes that are never made. Maybe with fans, and I think Justin Fields is a good example. If you just watch some highlights of Justin Fields, you go, holy shit!

Look at this guy, scramble around, throw the ball down the field. The problem is NFL teams do not evaluate you off highlight packages. They evaluate you off all 22 tape that is silent. With scouts, general managers, and then the coaching staff in a room, usually with a chew, a zen in, a gatorade zero, their feet up, and some music blaring in the background. Just watching you play football. And so listen, yeah, it creates a lot of false media narratives

because a lot of people that talk for a living, if you don't know anyone in the NFL, you're just giving your opinions that usually are probably not great. If you are talking to people in the league and then forming those opinions off that, I've said it forever why Colin's so good. When he went all in on Baker Mayfield was not going to work, or Zach Wilson's not going to work,

he's using his opinion but he's also talking like three or four GMs you think those GMs probably telling him yeah we don't like him that character doesn't so he forms his opinion knowing what the league thinks I'm not saying it always works and not every guy's right but if you do that more often than not

it helps last year everyone would act like sauce Gardner was the next Dion Sanders I talked to a guy in the league this year they're like we think he's a little overrated he won't fucking tackle he can't really handle the quick quicker guys. And look this year, what happened? Derek Stingley is now on the field. I would take

Stingley for the next five years oversawes. And I'm not acting like sauce some scrub, but the hype machine of the way, and I'm guilty of this too, that we all do it. It's why that I try to be measured when I talk about Purdy. I don't fucking know if Purdy's going to be some Hall of Fame player. But based on his sample size, he's the best quarterback since the 49ers have had since Steve Yon. And Jeff Garcia was pretty damn good and so was cap. But he clearly is the most well-rounded quarterback they've had in 25 years. Now, does that mean give him $200 million? He's still got to do it longer than he's done it.

We got time. But this argument, like, he's fucking damn good. He's not Josh Allen. He can't move like Lamar Jackson. He doesn't have an arm like Patrick Mahomes. But for the 49ers, he's pretty freaking sweet. And I think that's how you talk about it in the NFL. Yet, like you said, in this highlight generation, it's like, oh, look at these seven dunks.

It's like, yeah, well, he can't shoot a lick, and he doesn't try on defense. So no good team wants the guy. But I can show you a highlight. Basketball's king of that. Highlight packages, make a guy look good. And football is kind of turned in on that a little bit with social media. Not a football question, but I heard you give a toast to your landscaper who happened to go to jail a while back. Did he ever get out?

And did you ever get your lawn taken care of? Again, love the show. my former landscaper got deported and it sucked because I really liked him and he was awesome and he was putting all these trees

in my, all these ficus trees in my backyard so basically none of my neighbors can be able to see in they're going to be like 15 foot ficus trees and he had dug all the holes

but we had to wait because it was so hot in Arizona he said they were going to die and then when I was going to have him install the ficus trees I couldn't get a hold of them somehow through my girlfriend's friend who introduced him to us, got a hold of his wife,

and he was in jail in Tucson, Arizona, and now he's in Mexico. Luckily, the guy that moved me into my house, I hit him up, ask him if he knew anybody. He said his cousin was a landscaper. So now Jorge installed the ficus trees, did a good job. I'm going to have him do the front yard. He was really hammering me on like, let's do the front yard.

I was like, Jorge, I've just spent a lot of money in a remodel. Let's just take a deep breath. I don't care that much about the front yard right now, but I did get a new landscaper, and yeah, I don't even want to say my guy's name because he's gone and it makes me sad because I like that guy a lot. He was fucking awesome. And honestly, he wouldn't charge me enough.

I used to say like, no, I'm going to pay you more. Good life lesson. I think a lot of people don't realize, like, you probably can charge a little more than you think. If you do a good job. Especially if you're like an independent contractor. I think sometimes people lowball themselves because they're afraid that, like, Like, I don't even know. Like, I can't do the work.

If you can, like, if you're going to charge me, you know, if this is 4,500, like, 4,500? It's like, shit, I thought it was going to be like $8,000. I'm a diehard bucks fan, and this team is always terrible than magically a Super Bowl winning team once every 20 years. I would take this over being a team that is always 500, but the bucks are heading toward an era of being okay in a bad division. Obviously for the business, is it better? to be relevant, even if you have no chance at a Super Bowl, but as a fan, I'd rather build something that has real potential. Baker and Bowls will never be worse, the worst, but they're never

going to be great. Should the Bucks re-sign Baker for something? Yes, in theory, in a perfect world, you would rather get a team that can just rattle off 11, 12 wins for like five straight years. That's a perfect world. But sometimes the world isn't perfect. You sucks forever, you got Tom, you became really relevant. And now this team, has a chance to make the playoffs and win the division. If you win the division without Tom Brady and you go over 500, it's a very successful year. You get to host a playoff game,

even if you lose the Cowboys or the Eagles. So what? All you can deal with is what you have. What are you supposed to do? Blow it up, trade everyone, get rid of everybody. Like you have some pieces. You have some really good veteran players. And I think Baker will be back.

What was he, one year, four or five million? If he wins two of the last three games, I think he's back one year 12 million, one year 15 million, and you just kind of figure it out year by year as you're building toward the future. I think you can kind of do both at once, but sucking sucks. Because there's no guarantee that if you bottom out and just blow,

that you're going to turn it around and be good. That's just not how it works. We see a lot of teams just bottom out and they stay bad. I think the ceiling, as a Seahawks fan, I think the ceiling for this team can be high, but it seems we have reached the ceiling with Gino and Locke. If Seattle doesn't make the playoffs, it might be a shorter jump to the top 10, but if they go on a run and somehow make the playoffs,

what a potential trade would need to get their quarterback? Well, the Chiefs did it years ago to get Mahomes, right? Was he the 10th or 12th pick? I always get him and Deshaun Watson mixed up, right? Tribisky went two, which is crazy. And I think did Deshaun go 10 and Mahomes went 12? vice versa, but they came up from the 20s. And they gave, I think, a future one and some, I forget the exact trade.

But I think you'd come up at 21 to pick 10 for next year's one and some other stuff. But I think for every Mahomes and even Deshaun with the Texans, it doesn't work out a lot. Now, it's pretty risky. And you're seeing a lot of guys around the league like Gardner Minchu or Jake Browning. do you have to do that? Can you win games with Gino and Drew Locke? Now, if you love the guy, put all your chips to the middle of the table.

Never forget. I was telling my girlfriend this. The reason Drew Locke's on the team, she's like, who is this guy? I'm like, well, they got him back. A lot of you guys know it, because John Schneider liked the guy. I'll guarantee you this.

John Snyder had a first round grade on that guy coming out of college. I'll promise you that. Because he wanted him in that trade. He liked him because I know the type of players he likes. He loves Josh Allen. He likes physically gifted quarterbacks, and that's what Drew Locke is. And, yeah, so I, it wouldn't shock.

If Drew plays again, they keep winning games with them. I could see them kind of maybe giving him a year. Do you think the Colts have a chance of making the playoffs, or do you believe they would be a team out, Buffalo and the Texans on the rise, the Jaguar slipping? Week 18 against the Texans, seemed like it will decide it all. If somehow they get in, do you think they have a chance against the two-seed? No, I don't.

I mean, the two seed probably be the Chiefs. So I would say no. I think the bills are going to win that division. So you get, it would be the Ravens, the Chiefs, the Bills, what division am I missing? And the South, which, who knows? So I would say, I think you guys are won and done. I really do.

Awesome year. I mean, we all thought you were going to suck once the quarterback got injured. Who cares? Now, I actually don't think the Texans have a bunch of injuries. You know, I think CJ would be back this week, but I think all those teams are kind of the same, right? The Jags are in shambles. I haven't looked at your schedule, but... Been watching for a long time now. Question for the pod.

Do you think any of the backups doing well this year have a chance to be the starting job next year? Browning, Gardner Minchu, Drew Locke, Tommy DeVito. DeVito, no. Locke, unlikely. I would say that I don't see how Minchu wouldn't be a starter somewhere. he wouldn't necessarily start an indie if the quarterback's healthy, right? Just because you invest that much into the quarterback, he's going to play. But I think, you know, if Baker can be a starting quarterback somewhere, you would think Minchu would get more money.

So, like, why wouldn't the Patriots be interested? I mean, a lot of these teams, Minnesota, what's their quarterback situation? Right. I mean, they're going to be teams that, why wouldn't Atlanta want Gardner Minchu over what they got? So, yeah, I think Gardner Minchew is a starter next year. I'm probably still TBD on Browning. To me, what still makes sense for Browning is probably like two years, 10 million to be Joe Burroughs backup.

But I guess you never know. All it takes is one person to like them. I was wondering if you could discuss on your next mailbag episode some stories, insights on being a junior employee on a professional football team. I'm currently a junior employee at a financial service company and struggle with getting noticed by management and forging a career path. If you could share any advice, I can't speak for financial group,

but when you're the lowest guy in the totem pole in an NFL office, there aren't that many people there. So, you know, the coaching staff at the time had however many guys, offense, defense. And in office scouts, it was like Howie, a couple pro scouts. So you know everyone pretty quickly

on a first name basis. So it's pretty easy once you start, my number one advice say yes to everything. Anyone that needs help, do it. And basically on the organizational chart, everyone's above you. So help anyone to do anything. And again, I can't, I don't know how many people are in your office, but it's just pretty easy to become close.

Like developing personal relationships always helps, right? So it's easy to get to know these guys when you're helping them do stuff nonstop. Whether it's stuff for the special teams coach, whether it's the offensive coordinator, whether it's the GM. we spend so much time together that you just do whatever you can. And a lot of it's like picking people up at the airport, getting coffee, just there's a fine balance. And listen, you got to have instincts on this from being like a kiss ass and just refusing to be

denied and just do whatever it takes to not just get noticed. And I, you know, I guess when I looking back, I just did whatever I was told and did it to the best of my ability. Right. You don't want to go too far past Like this guy's trying a little hard So I can't speak to how it works in the financial services They're probably not going to ask you

For the next great stock Right? But can you everything you need to do For the guys that you answer to I would say do to the best of your ability And be early, stay late Listen FaceTime is over Like as you get older you realize it's kind of stupid When you're young it matters

You want to be known as like this guy just fucking always here. And it's easier when you're younger and you don't have a family or whatever. But I would say everything you're given, try to make it an A plus. And if you can, if you see opportunities to go above and beyond,

do it. But there's not like, every interpersonal office dynamic is a little different. Some leaders are more personal than others. Some are just standoffish and don't give a shit about you. You just got to find people in the building

who you think are talented, or in their growing places. And, you know, if it's not the CEO, maybe it's, you know, a vice president or something and just try to develop a personal relationship and let them know, like, you know, I want to be sitting where you're sitting. What can I do?

That also asks people that you work around advice. You know, people love their ego stroke. So, like, ask them a story. Ask them how they got to where they're at. People like hearing that stuff. People are people like telling you that stuff. People like being asked how they became successful. So that's always kind of an easy one.

because like, you know, trying to do some project and then hand it to the CEO, like, hey, I think these are the, whatever your industry is, you know, can go bad too. It might not look great. They might disagree with you. It's pretty risky. But I think just getting to know people and picking their brain on what they did to move up the ladder is probably the easiest and safest tactic. Because one thing when you're the lowest guy, taking huge risks, can, you know,

be pretty risky. Like I'm all for being a big risk taker, but you can turn people off pretty quickly, and it can backfire in your face. So there's just a fine line of like pushing the envelope and like kind of staying in your lane. Because most people don't like the guy that's trying to be like a hero

when he's like 23 year old, you know, some economics degree from, you know, some state school. But also people appreciate, you know, ambitious people. So you've got to strike the balance. I think the easiest way is just get in with people and ask them and pick their brain

and just try to forge a real relationship. A real relationship. That would probably be my best advice. Okay, last question. Massive Packer fan. What do the Packers do with his defense? Barry is terrible and should not be on the staff next year. Where he is, who do the Packers turn to as a defensive coordinator?

Well, I think it depends who gets fired this year, right? Like if Belichick gets fired, he's not going to be an option. But is Todd Bowles available? Because last year they had, right, what's his name with the Browns, Jim Schwartz, that's clearly a pretty good defensive coordinator. Vic Fangio was available last year. Pretty good defensive coordinator. So you got to get guys that you know work, that you know are good.

Like, is Wink Martindale still on the Giants next year? Or does him and Brian Dayball run their course? Because if he's available, all over him. I need to get a guy with pelts in the wall. I need to get a guy that knows what he's doing. Because that game on Sunday morning, for me, on the West Coast, was pretty bad. I think it was the highest passerating by an opposing player in the history of Lambo Field. And if you just watched it, you're like, it's one thing if like Peyton Manning or Tom Brady in their prime lights you up, Baker Mayfield.

That was bad. And listen, he could have got rid of him last year and he didn't. And he stuck with his boy. so it's on Matt LaFleur to make a tough decision and fire the guy and then the Packers have to give him $4, $5 million to go hire the best guy in the market because if he'll do that, then they'll be okay. But if they're like, hey, you know, we'll give you $2 million, because I'll promise you this, Joe Barry's probably one of the lower paid

defensive coordinators in the league. If you have one of the lower paid defensive coordinator in the league, like you can't really complain when your defense looks shitty. You've got to pay a premium for a premium. And that's what the top defense, if Todd Bowles, let's say the, bucks lose out. Todd Bowles gets fired. Todd Bowles isn't cautioning you

Joe Barry money. He's costing you two X that, maybe three X that. Would you give Todd Bowles $2 and $5.5 million to be your defense coordinator? Well, do you want to be good on defense or not? Because if you do, then yeah, Pam. The volume. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite.

Unhumor me with Robert Smigel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, guests, S&L's Mikey Day and headwriter, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is

not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast, 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. Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfilled conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it.

Listen to The Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok podcast network on TikTok. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human