The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 3 and Out - Kittle/Kelce Deserve Record TE Cash; Rams/Chargers Hard Knocks Takes; McDermott Deal; Seahawks Cut GF Smuggler; Mailbag

Episode Date: August 14, 2020

In this episode, John explains why George Kittle and Travis Kelce are worth every penny of their record TE deals, gives his take on the debut episode of the Rams on HBO's Hard Knocks, Bills Head Coach Sean McDermott getting extended in Buffalo, and dives into Seattle cutting super smart rookie Kemah Siverand for trying to sneak a woman disguised as a player into the team hotel. He also answers listener questions in the Middlekauff Mailbag. Follow John on twitter @JohnMiddlekauff and go to theherdnow.com to find the latest content. Subscribe now! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

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

Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard 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, 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 Clifers 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 I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok's podcast network on TikTok.

On the Look Back at it podcast. From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84's big to me. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it

with our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Get right to the romance and find the way to wow this valentines with 1800flowers.com. From classic roses and bouquets to decadent chocolate-covered berries, gourmet treats, and more. Surprise your Valentine with 1-800flowers.com.

Right now, get the 18-stem in julys. Shanted Rose Medley for $3999 or upgrade to 24 red roses for $10 more. Go to 1,800flowers.com slash tune in. That's 1,800flowers.com slash tune in. What is going on, everybody? John Middilkoff coming to you live from the Middlecoff Studios, according to a little thing we like to call the Three and Out podcast. Back again, Thursday, August 13th, about 4 o'clock.

in the afternoon. It is hot here. It is about 100 degrees. And if you Google the weather for tomorrow, where I live in Walnut Creek, it's supposed to be 107. The Sacramento area where my mom lives

is about to be about 110. It's going to be, you know, it's going to be hot in northern California for the next couple days. Luckily, I'm a warm-blooded animal and I love the heat. Hate the cold, love the heat.

So let's get it on. Maybe you have to play a little golf. sweat it out. Got a lot going on, football-wise. We had some major signings today, George Kittal, Travis Kelsey, and I think they fall under something that I say all the time,

a mantra in the way I live life. I watched Hard Knocks, though, as I saw Pro Football Talk reported, only like a little over 200,000 people watch Hard Knocks. Typically, like last year, the first episode with the Raiders and Gruden was like 750,000. So not very many people watched. But I enjoyed it.

And I just wrote down some things that I noticed with McVeigh, with Anthony Lynn, Jalen Ramsey, Bosa that I wanted to hit on. Again, if you like football, it's just an easy watch. It's probably not going to be as crazy of a season, but I think there's enough star power in this season to, like, hold us over. And, you know, part of it is just, I think, a huge reason that limited viewers is just corona. People's habits are off. No preseason games doesn't help.

no build-up. Just weird times we're living in. So it's just nature of the beast. Sean McDermott got a big extension. Seattle cut an undrafted free agent for trying to sneak in a chick who was dressed as a player to his room. What a moron.

So we'll get into that. And then, of course, the Middilkoff mailbag at John Middlecoff is the Instagram handle. Fire in those DMs. Leave any question you want. We'll answer those at the end of the show like we do every single podcast. Pretty easy.

Also, for those of you that listen on Collins' feed, subscribe to the pod three and out on iTunes. Also, I'd greatly appreciate leave a review. I know a lot of you have, and I tip my hat to you. Again, Middoughoff Mailbag, Instagram, at John Middilcock is the handle. It's just my name.

And leave a question, if you want. You don't have to. Just or follow it. I don't care. You can do whatever you want. But let's start with this. George Kittle got paid today and Travis Kelsey about less than an hour later got paid to

and I have a mantra I think I stole it from somewhere a motto just something that I believe in when it comes to sports I have no problem paying a premium for premium players now that doesn't always mean you know you're going to win championships whenever Deshawn Watson eventually gets paid

he will not make Mahomes money but he's a premium player Like, listen, I don't enjoy watching James Harden that much, even though I acknowledge he is a fantastic player. I got no problem maxing out James Harden. He's a premium player. Mookie Betz maxed out. Got no problem.

But I've been watching Jeff Samarja for the last five years, and listen, I like Jeff Samarza the guy. He's my type guy. He is a terrible baseball player. And the Giants gave him $90 million, and he gets shelled every single time he pitches. And it's been a disaster. one of the worst contracts, probably in franchise history, besides Barry Zito, and the differences

Barry Zito actually won some World Series games. You see it all the time in sports. Like, when Nidamanu got $60 million, Namakinsu was a good player. He wasn't an elite player. He wasn't Aaron Donald. You notice why the Bears, and definitely the Rams, and now the Chargers that paid premiums for their players,

they don't even think twice. Because when you have an elite player, you can afford to pay him elite money. Now, there's a chance they get hurt. That's the nature of sports. You can tear your Achilles running down a basketball court. You know, you can rip your shoulder bench pressing, let alone playing all these sports. People get hurt in sports.

It's just part of the deal, right? You drive long enough, you're going to get into a car accident. It's unavoidable. A lot of stuff's out of your control. Think how many guys in football get hurt when it wasn't even them, right? Someone rolls into their ankle, someone hits them. It's not always like a guy making a cut. Sometimes it's someone doing something to you.

Remember John Carlos Stanton when he wore that thing in front of his face forever? He got a baseball that hit him in the face, shattered his face. It wasn't him, but it happened. And he missed a bunch of games and, you know, changed the season. It's part of the deal. But when you get George Kittle, and listen, at the end of the day, the tight end market, even today with George Kittle getting $40 million guaranteed, is outrageously low-valued.

Like, listen, for those of you that's trade stocks, tech stocks now kill it, right? Any tech stock is just from Apple to Netflix to AMD that makes chips is on the rise right now, to any company that's directly tied to technology is having some success right now. Revolve, keep an eye on that, RVLV. It's a company that just sells women's clothing. A girl I'm dating uses it all the time. I've been like, God, I should invest in this stock. It was really cheap.

They just had record earnings. So if your business is based on technology, you're going to crush. It's a BP fastball right now. Well, if you get a star tied end, do you know the best part about having a star tight end? They don't cost that much money. Like, everyone wants a star defensive end. Of course you do. The problem is, and listen, I don't mind doing it, but when Joey Bosa's do a new contract,

you have to pay him $102 million. Basically quarterback money. Khalil Mack, Aaron. That's what these guys cost. It's like, geez, Louise. George Kittle got $62 million less than guaranteed money than Joey Bosa. And George Kittle is, I used to throw this out pretty liberally, easily the best player. Nick Bosa's pretty damn good too. But George Kettle is the best player on the 49ers.

The 49ers just went 15 and 3 and won the NFC pretty easily. Now, they didn't actually get the one seed very easily. Their games against Seattle were pretty hardly contested. But in terms of their two playoff games, they kicked the shit out of the Vikings, they destroyed the Packers, and had a 10-point lead in the Super Bowl. And their best player is George Kittle. And what he cost when he was doing a new contract was $40 million. And then Travis Kelsey, who was under contract from a deal that he signed like four years ago,

who has easily established himself as a Hall of Famer, I think in 16 or in 17 and 18, he had catches in the 80s. These last two years, he's combined for 200 catches. I think it was 103 and then 97. And if it wasn't for Mahomes, you know, you could flip a coin who's more important him or Tyree killed to the offense. Listen, all I know is Calcs got 200 catches

the last two years. Now he has a Super Bowl. He's been a five-time Pro Bowl or a four-time All-Pro. Like the dude's going to the Hall Fink. And his extension cost him $28 million extension. Can you imagine if the Rams were like, hey, Jalen? And we'll get into Jalen a little bit later for Hard Knocks. You know, we're interested in doing an extension.

How does a 30 million guaranteed sound? He, he, he, I don't even know what he'd say. They gave him 28 million. Travis Kelsey's like the peak of his powers right now. George Kittle, who literally is in the peak of his powers, is younger, a more complete player, but Travis has proven to be more dominant in the passing game in the sense that they can just lean on him. Now, George can too. It's just, they're kind of different, but they technically play the same position.

But the reality is, what it costs to get these two guys, so 28 for Kelsey, and I'm just talking guaranteed dollars, you can give me the overall money, but we know in football it doesn't ever matter. Because the moment you slip and I can get out of it, I do. It was one of the big benefits now looking back what the Patriots did with Gromk. He was always way cheaper than most premium players. Because most premium players, if they play a premium position, Larry Fitzgerald got 50 million back in 2011. Amari Cooper this offseason. it got $60 million. And listen, I like a Marry Cooper, but am I paying them top of the market money?

Now, technically it didn't even get top of the market money, but it's crazy what a good value is right now for these tight ends. Now, I was thinking about this today before I hopped on here. I don't know how many more, like the tight ends are going to be different moving forward. Think about where the good tight ends have come out of lately. Alabama, who, you know, spread it out more, but they still want to pound the rock. In Iowa, kind of more of a pro style. You know, even Mark Andrews that has turned into a really good tied end. He was a mid-round pick.

I think he was a fourth-rounder coming from a spread offense. It's a little harder to evaluate some of the spread offense tight ends. Because at the end of the day, you're going to need to supplement that with a backup tight-in who can block. And what makes Kittle such a great value is even if he diminishes a little bit, if he gets dinged up, he's not quite as fast in three or four years, he's such a good blocker like Gronk. His value is still there. he could still do other things.

It was the problem with the Rams when they signed Gurley. The moment he fell off a cliff, they couldn't keep him in the game. It couldn't function. The irony is he actually had 14 touchdowns last year, but we all talk about Gurley like a scrub. But clearly they regretted that contract. Like my biggest issue with the Rams is,

and you watch them in Hard Knocks, they're pretty well run. Shaw McVeigh is really high level. They got good players. They signed two contracts that were devastating because they paid premiums for non-premiums. Now, Gurley at the time, was a premium player, it just backfired because his knee is all messed up.

And Brandon Cooks never was. Like, you can't pay guys like Brandon Cooks. Think, like, no one in their right mind would take Kittle or Kelsey and trade them straight up for Brandon Cooks. And those guys cost way less. Technically, Kittle now makes the same as Brandon Cook's per year, but Cook's got that deal two years ago. And, you know, we're talking about these markets getting blown up.

I also think there are outliers in markets. Patrick Mahomes is an outlier. No one's getting that contract for the foreseeable future. Even George Kittle, like, who's the next tight end who's sniffing George Kittles' contract? It's not happening. And this is also the great part about the NFL. When I want to keep players, I can.

I don't ever have to trade the players that are really good that I want to keep. In the NBA, you're constantly trading guys, even when you're winning. Like, we understand when Jalen Rams or Jamal Adams demand a trade, right? Their team sucks. It gets weird. It sucks, but even their fans get it. Like, we're not winning whatever. But in basketball, it happens all the time with winning franchises. It's like, wait, Kyrie's demanding a trade, he's playing with LeBron. Now, there's obviously

more going on. It's like Russell Westbrook and Paul George, you know, it happens with teams that go to the playoffs. In football, when you win, guys are usually happy, and they'll get taken care of and they'll stay. And teams always have the ability to keep them. It's why we get built in, good rivalries. The NFL, which has always kind of been like this, kind of feels like the NBA was in the 90s. Players stay. You build big brands. You get legit

rivalries. There becomes like kind of hate between teams, and it's genuine, and you get to watch the same players go up against the same players for a long period of time. And it's fun. And that builds equity in us, the fans. Because essentially that's all I am now. I just get

to talk about it and it's my job too, but I started as a fan and I'm much closer to a fan now than than I was when I worked in the NFL because when I worked in the NFL, I really just cared about one team. Now I re-care about most of the league, because I know I got to talk about it, and I enjoy it.

And I guess, like, I did care about most of the league when I worked in the NFL, like I clearly kept tabs on it, but I care, the only thing that really matters was we win or lose and were we getting good players. Because that's how, going into work every day that mattered. Now I go into work every day. I want to see cool things happen.

Like, I like it when a story about a player sneaking in a girl and getting in trouble. It's funny. Now, we would have laughed about that in the NFL too, but, you know, I think there was a lot of talk, and there have been some rumors, and I know Mike Tannenbaum tweeted, like, a couple weeks ago, that the new holdouts were going to be hold-ins,

and George Kittle, we don't know, and maybe he'll say this during his press conference. Padded practices are going to start in the next couple days, Would he have participated in that? Maybe not, because it wouldn't have been worth it for him to do that until he got his new contract. And I always think with players, I never have a problem with elite players holding out

when it's justified to do. And you're going to eventually, George Kittle was going to get paid. Whether the Niners paid him or whether he forced to trade. I got no problem with the elite guys doing it. My issue always with Levion Bell, who was an elite player at the time, was bro, they're not going to pay you.

And the franchise tag was enormous. Just take that money. It's huge. That was my only issue. I understood where he was coming from. I'm cool with the Khalil Max and Aaron Donald's holding out. I am pro because they're on the right side of the business there. They deserve to be paid the most.

And it's not worth them to risk it in the sport of football because at any moment you can shatter a leg where you're never the same because it's such a physical sport. And a lot of these guys were talking about play physical position. that piles and people getting rolled up on. Same thing with George. But you got to know your market. You got to know your value.

And I think a lot of these players, the elite guys, like not everyone's equal. There's a small group of players, non-quarterbacks in the elite tier. And we've seen several of them moved. Khalil, Jalen Ramsey, Jamal. These guys are going to get huge money. So they played their cards.

They could be aggressive like NBA players. But if you're not in that top tier and you play it in the league, you get laughed at. That's probably the biggest difference between football and the other two sports with like the second tier players. They can't force their way because the market's just a lot different. But George Kittle, Travis Kelsey, you pay a premium for a premium. It's why the Chiefs are going to be good for a long time.

And the Niners should be a team to be reckoned with for the near future in the NFC. Okay, let's get into Hard Knocks. And if you haven't watched it, understand, not seeing the television. ratings, not that many people watch it. Though, football-heavy podcast, you listen to this podcast, you probably like the NFL. Plus, younger people listen to this podcast. We stream.

I watch it on my iPad on HBO Max. My overall take, after I finish the episode, because sometimes, I know from me on the West Coast, I guess it comes out on this time for everybody. It comes at 10 o'clock at night. And sometimes on like a Tuesday, especially I've had a big weekend.

I go to bed early sometimes. But for whatever reason, I'm like, okay, I grabbed my iPad. I was actually falling asleep at like, at like $9.55, and I'm like, I'll just check out the first 10 minutes. And I ended up watching the whole thing. When it ended, I was like, I really enjoyed that. I thought it was good.

And I kind of took, I actually didn't. I'm not going to give myself credit like I took notes in bed, but I made some mental notes. And the number one thing that stood out to me. And this got reported, I think, over this last week, maybe the last like 10 days, that ESPN had made a run at Sean McVeigh. Now, he's under contract, and why would he,

leave being a head coach in the NFL to go be the ESPN Monday night broadcasts especially at 34 like he can become a lead broadcaster whenever he wants now he turned it down and he got a contract extension I think last year he makes big money and if you saw his house he's got a sweet pad I don't know we're exactly in LA but overlooks I mean it's got a sweet view pool you know babe fiancee he's got a good life but I Sean McVe is a special character you know and every once in a while you just get special character in the league, and they just stand out, right, at coach. And I think we've seen it over the years, like Mike Tomlin, Bill Parcells.

Belichick's a special character because he's so good, but he's not like some big personality. We think Belichick is great because he's kicking the shit out of everybody. But, like, to me, John Gruden had just a magnetic personality. It just drew you to him. And I think Gruden and everyone makes the parallels to Sean McVeigh, and I do think there are some, you know, just their passion, they're just love a football. I mean, they're football nerds. Now, anyone who's been around a coach, I mean a real coach. This could be high school, this could be college, or this could be the NFL. Because I know a lot of high school coaches

that eat, breathe, and sleep it. Just like I know a lot of college coaches that do it. And just like NFL. I mean, been around coach Reed, Sean McDermott, Matt Nagy. They're football nerds. Like football, they're just geeks about football. And you see that with Sean. You see that with John You saw that, you see that with Belichick. Now, he's not as crazy about it. But you just, they're just likable. And the thing about Sean McVeigh, I think a little bit like Mike Tomlin and like Gruden,

they're perfect for the cameras, man. They just, they're just made for TV. Now, I think Sean McVeigh is a pretty damn good coach. I think his team this year, given how hard it's going to be in the division, we'll see these next couple years. I can't keep going to the playoffs? I think Jared Goff,

probably a little underrated at this point. be fine. They should be able to, you know, compete to get like the 7-6 wild card spot. But if he started losing, who knows? Maybe he'd be over it. Because the thing is, he could just stay living in L.A. and be, you know, a main broadcaster making huge money if he ever wanted to do that. Now, I think he's too good of a coach. I don't think he's going anywhere. Plus, he's really young. I thought he was fantastic. Anthony Lynn. I don't think he listened to this podcast because if he did years ago, he would have heard me talking about him and probably turned it off and probably hate me. If he's listening or anything,

anyone's listening that knows him or works for the Chargers, I apologize. He's a really, really likable guy. He actually came off, I don't know what I thought he was like, but I was impressed. I've called him a meathead before. I thought Anthony Lynn was really impressive. Easy to see why the players really like him. Easy to see why just people around the league respect him. He's organized.

He's on his stuff. He just, he's just an impressive guy. It was like, you get it. You see it. Like we've seen sloppy head coaches on this. We've seen impressive head coaches, right? We've seen just characters on the show over the years. I just think Anthony Lynn was solid.

I was impressed after I watched an episode go, I get it. I understand why guys like him. Now, I don't know. He's probably more of a figurehead, you know, even though despite being an offensive coach, you know, he has no C. He has a D.C. He's kind of the guy leading the charge. You know, I like my head coach to be the guy calling the place,

Andy Reid, Sean Payton, you know, Kyle Shanahan. You can say, well, Belichick doesn't, yeah, Belichick knows every play that's getting called that goes through the headset. He gets any moment can chime in. Now, I'm not saying Anthony Lynn doesn't necessarily. He probably knows on offense, doesn't know on defense, but chargers were actually, I mean, they're a fun team to watch on the hard knocks. Jalen Ramsey.

Jailen Ramsey's crazy, but I kind of like it. Like, you know, when he flipped out on the media for asking about his contract, I actually thought his freak out was fair. He said, I'm not worried about it. Like, he's not going to say anything else. He understands. And I was told this two years ago when they traded for him, or they trade for him last year.

He said, well, do they have to pay them after this year? How are they going to afford to do that? He told them he was okay playing out the five years. Why? Because he knows he's an elite guy. Like all the guys we mentioned earlier, the Kliols, the, you know, Aaron Donald's, the George Kittles, he knows he's going to get elite money.

elite, whether the Rams pay him or someone else pays him, he's going to get broken off. And if he could make it to his, after the fifth year and make it healthy, which is a risk, he's going to get, I don't know, $80, $90 million from the Rams. It's going to be stupid how much money Jaylon Ramsey gets. I like that he's kind of angry and edgy. Like, you don't need everyone, you notice with Aaron Donald, he's not Mr. Happy Go Lucky. Like, I don't need everyone to be a choir boy. I kind of like some guys to be pissed off every day.

You know, I've tried to become a happier person. But sometimes, you know, when I get edgy, I feel like I get a little more aggressive. And I enjoy Jalen Ramsey. Now, I think you need things to be going well. Like, when your team is just solid, he'll be fine. I don't know if you love him when things are down, because he's pretty loud. Like, the one thing with Aaron Donald, he's pretty quiet. He just shows up, kicks ass, goes home.

Aaron Donald's a badass. The Bosa brothers. And I learned this just, I got Nick in my backyard. And watching the show about Joey, I don't really know what I thought they were, but they are way more impressive guys than I thought. Maybe it's because they're understated and they kind of got this rep,

especially Joey, used to run with Zeke in college, you know, had some question marks coming out for being this party guy. I don't want to say a slap, but just being a guy that, a great player, but who know, was kind of a risky, you know, could he be a trouble guy? You know, going to L.A., would that be a good fit?

You watch him just the way he was around his coaches, when he started crying about telling his dad, and I've just seen the way Nicks conduct himself around here. Pretty impressive family. I'm not talking about on the field. They're both elite players. But they are, like, you see why the teams really like them, and they get along with everybody.

They're perfect fits, you know, in their organization. Remember when Nick was first drafted and he had some Donald Trump tweets and San Francisco media was like, how are you going to fit in? It's like, guys, the locker room is not Twitter. People just get along with other people. We don't all

define ourselves by what we say about a politician. You know, most people, up until social media in these last like three or four years, most people didn't give a shit. 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. Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions. my journey from basketball to college football or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way,

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

and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream,

this is right what you need to be. Listen to The Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people.

I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with a little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick 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're just so you. y'all know. I mean, at this point, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you for finishing that sentence. Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history.

Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast. Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark.

Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing, and we're still chasing it, and we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns.

Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth, or are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, is we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway.

Open your free, our Heart Radio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. I just find the bosses really likable as a family and definitely absolute ass kickers. And Joey, you know, when you think about it, the only guy really to get in trouble out of the group, Michael Thomas has been a badass, no issues. Zeke was the only one that,

and I think Joey was kind of with him, but Joey's been a non-issue. Zeke had some issues early on in his career. It looks like he's got it figured out. But damn, Ohio State produces some dues. That's for damn sure. I enjoyed Hard Knocks. I'm looking forward to the next episode.

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Learn more at nhtsa.gov slash the right seat. Visit nhtsa.gov slash the right seat. Brought to you by Nitsa and the ad count. I just saw within the last 24 hours, a friend of the program, actually shot him a text earlier today, hasn't responded, but do have his number. Sean McDermott came on the pod during training, or not training camp, the Indianapolis Combine, which holy moly feels like 17 years ago, got a big contract extension. and I was thinking about this because a lot of times, like when you sign a Belichick, you know, Phil Jackson, it's just such a no-brainer. But most coaches sign, you know, decent-sized contracts before you really know if they're a championship coach.

And it's fair to say that you're usually and typically going to sign a guy to an extension just if he wins a little bit, right? Doesn't necessarily have to win a Super Bowl. and I was thinking about relationships. Like, think how much more you learn about someone after you get married. Because typically, for the most part, once you get married, then you have children. Now, I don't have children, but I was raised by parents who were married, that me and my brother, and I saw how difficult it is, right, to raise children,

what you have to go through, the sacrifices you have to make for the kids, let alone, and I'm dating someone right now, understand, like, there are, there's a learning process of what you go through and the growth that you go through with someone as you, you, you go through things, right, in different experiences together, but you also learn about people as you do things with them and go, God, I really like this person, that person's really impressive, how she treats my friends, how she treats my mother, and vice versa, I'm sure you're getting judged the same way. And oftentimes with coaches, you can learn a lot about a guy

before you even win. Like you can sense it with the way the guy acts, the way the guy treats people in the building, the way the guy runs his football operation, how much different he was, like in relationships to prior coaches. You're like, God, she's way cooler than the last two chicks I dated.

That's for damn sure. Now sometimes if it's Freddy Kitchens, the bar can be really low. Like, listen, we've all been in some of the kids, relationships we regret. But when you get around someone in the coaching profession, I think pretty quickly you know. Now, unlike a player where I can pay a player and he can be on a bad team, but if he still produces, he's still worthy of his contract. Because he's doing, especially if he's a, if he's playing winning football, winning any sport, basketball, baseball, like Mike Trout,

does everything humanly possible he can to win? he's worth every penny he makes. Now, he'd be worth more on a good team because he would impact winning, but he does everything possible. The Angels would be terrible without him. And I think sometimes in coaching, and I saw it with Kyle Shanahan,

like he was really good the first two years, despite the record not being good. You could tell. Now, Sean McDermott has now made the playoffs two times in three years, and the bar for the bills is really low. But I think sometimes in the day and age we live in, that just like making the playoffs, like you gotta win championships.

Like if you make the playoffs every year, you know as a coach how financially viable you are to your owner? How much money he will make the polygulas if he just keeps on making the playoffs? You know how valuable Andy Reed was to Jeffrey Lurie? Or even before Patrick Bohm showed up when he was just winning consistently,

making the playoffs every year, winning double-digit games, doing huge local television ratings, For the Chiefs in Clark Hunt. Stadium sold out, merchandise flying. Now, the goal is to win. And everyone would like to be the Patriots. Make nine Super Bowls in two decades, win three in the last six years.

But it's okay to go to the playoffs every year. Like what Mike McCarthy meant to the Packers was a lot of cash and a lot of money and a lot of success. And he was worth the contract extensions they gave him. And Sean McDermott right now, and I know him personally, is a really, really impressive. of guy. And the crazy thing about the coaching profession is my first year in Philly, he got fired. He got fired. We had made the playoffs and hosted a playoff game. And Sean McDermott got fired. Now, about a decade later, he just got a contract extension as a head coach. So, you know, listen, I've been fired a couple times. I got fired by the Eagles. It never, like,

it's crazy on some of your lowest moments, how if you're really good, and really focused, even if you're not that good, if you're just determined to not fail. What's the number one predictor of success in America? It's not intelligence. It's not talent. It's grit.

And the one thing when I was around, John McDermott, now he's a really smart guy, but he is a grinder. I mean, a disciplined grinder. And for being like a skinny bald guy, he formed wrestler, I think he was college teammates with Mike Tomlin,

at William and Mary. He's just a tough guy and an overachiever. And do you know what I like my coaches to be? I kind of like him to be overachiever, tough guys. And just absolute grinders. So is he ever going to win Super Bowl in Buffalo? Really his success, Josh Allen's going to have to be a great player.

And if this year Josh Allen were to regress, they'd have a quarterback problem, though I still think they could function because they're going to be good on defense and well coached. But their immediate future is tied to Josh Allen. But we know Sean McDerm is a good coach. and to me you just extend good coaches because we see when you get a bad coach

you know a guy that has no business being a head coach how they look and I'm not even talking about Freddie Kitchens or even Jim Tom Sula or Patricia I'm just talking the middle of the road guys like a guy that should be a good head coach

but for whatever reason he's not Norv Turner Pat Schumer guys that are like legit coordinators like that why doesn't this work It just doesn't work, right? Or college coaches like Shiano or Chip Kelly. You're like, God, this should, and it just doesn't work.

It works with Sean. He's just, the Buffalo Bills have a legitimate coach. And if Bill Belichick ever retired, which who knows, he might not. No life, he's a football guy. They would easily have the best coach in that division. And I think, now, this guy's got to be good. And as Sean told me in training camp, that Josh Allen last year, everyone said he can't throw short and intermediate,

and he improved dramatically in that area. And he said this year, obviously the question is deep ball accuracy. Well, it's going to be huge because what did they do? They traded for Diggs from Minnesota, who was one of the best deep ball threats in the league. So if they can figure that out, they're going to just be really good. Because they are good. They're just a good team.

But like, you don't know how good of a mom, and, you know, my listenership is mainly male, so I'll just use that example. She's going to be, and I've never had a mother. I don't have children. But, like, I think you can pretty much tell, like, yeah, this girl's going to be a good mom. Or, wow, I don't know if this is quite going to work.

Just like, you know, I don't know if Sean McDermott's going to just rattle off playoff victories, but I got a pretty good idea he might. Right? I'm pretty bullish on the guy. I think we've seen enough evidence that if Josh Allen turns into a player, they could be a powerhouse. And I'm betting on Sean McDermott, little biased. but props of the Buffalo Bills for knowing what they got.

Okay, before we get in the mailbag, we just got a hit on this story. Seattle Seahawks, Kee-Maw-Silverton, Silverlin. I don't even know how to say his name. I'd never heard of him. And I was like, did they draft this guy? Then I Googled it.

He was an undrafted free agent, a corner from Oklahoma State, the fighting in Mike Gundy's. He, in the last couple days, tried to sneak in a female at training camp. I don't know if he met her in Seattle, what the deal is.

We tried to sneak her in. And she was dressed like a guy, like she was on the team, so she must have been wearing some swag, some sweats, maybe it was a girlfriend, and they got caught. And Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks and John Schneider immediately cut him.

Now, on the most basic level is funny, right? Dude, there's one undefeated team in world history, and it's not an athletic team, right? And this guy fell victim to it. and he lost. And it cost him a job. It's funny.

You know, sneaking someone in. It's just, it's something that, listen, I've snuck out of my house many times growing up. So I'm pro pushing the envelope most times. But on a serious note, and again, kind of funny. The headline, it's a funny headline. Got caught, sneaking in, lost his job. On a serious note, like, I'm sorry.

I don't think this guy could be any bigger of an idiot or a moron. Like on the moron scale of 1 to 10, this guy's like a 20. In the middle of Corona, when these coaches, and you saw on hard knocks, and you just see in life how often this being talked about, how serious this is, to one, just try to get through camp. And the NFL's done a really good job because they've taken it really seriously. I think they did a report. They've actually done really well with the testing. That a guy who's an undrafted free agent. So if you're an undrafted free agent

This is the worst year of the history of the league To be an undrafted free agent Typically it's You actually sometimes rather be an undrafted free agent Than like a six round pick This guy's an undrafted free agent He's fighting for a roster spot And he gets caught and he gets cut

It's I can't even imagine And I saw a lot of people tweeting Like this is Because of Corona there's being extra strict Into that This could happen in 2015 In the day, in the day

dorms or really the hotels, I guess, because every team is just practicing from their facility. So it's just a rookie hotel where all the rookies are staying. You would have been cut for this whether Corona was going on or not. I saw Jeff Schwartz tweet that and he's dead on. Like this, that's unacceptable. That would not fly in the middle of training camp. Like you have rules and you either follow them or you don't. Now listen, we all, you know, have needs in life.

But if you can't suck it up for a month, when you're trying to make an NFL team. And you haven't even been around these guys, right? Because there was no off-season. They do not know you. The other thing during training camp, and this year, because there's no film, it's not like he got to put two preseason games worth of film.

It's like, God, this guy can be pretty good. We're going to look past this. This is a time where teams have to trust players at probably higher levels than they ever have, given what's on the line and this virus. I don't... 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 podcast.

A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Clivert 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.

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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. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people.

I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. 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 was big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack all day, but just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack, so I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now, so... Thank you for finishing that sentence.

Yes, I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years. for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host,

and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing

and we're still chasing it and we don't know when we've done enough because people scoreboard watch life becomes about wins and losses Steve Burns Dustin Ross because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth or are you a good person because you're afraid because that's two different intentions bro absolutely and that that's two different levels of trust I want you to just really be a good person Join me, Keir Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open your free iHeartRadio app, search Learn the Hardway, and listen now. I don't see how.

And listen, there have been much worse infractions of players, right? We've seen countless. Domestic violence, murder, I mean, drug trafficking, we've seen it all in the NFL. The NFL is a real-life playmaker. from ESPN back in the day. We've seen it at all. But this has to be on the short list, given the times we're in,

of one of the biggest idiots to ever get a chance in the NFL. I can't even overstate that. And I can't imagine that they said, what? He dressed her up like a dude on the team to try to get her past security. I would pay for the security footage

of the security guard that works for the Seahawks and his reaction. Are you guys serious? Do you understand the profession that we're in? You're not trying to pull this off at the normal insurance company where they got no clue.

These guys, the security team, is used to monitoring guys that make millions of dollars who are public figures and have done some stupid shit over the years. They've seen it all. The level of stupid stupid, that this guy attempted to pull

as a guy with the least amount of leverage in the building. If Russell has the most of the 80 players at training camp, right? If Russell's number one, Bobby Wagner 2, whatever, this guy would be borderline number 80. If all things are just equal and everyone's just a good guy. I don't see, even if some teams around the league had a decent draft rate on this player, like kind of liked him coming out and for whatever reason,

even though the market already kind of spoke, like bro, you did not get drafted. I should have been drafted. No, you weren't drafted. Every team passed on you countless times. Some teams, you know, 10 to 15 times passed on you. The league told you what they think about you. You're an undrafted free agent.

Luckily in the NFL, that's not a death sentence. You can overcome that. You can become a really good player. You can become a starter in the NFL. You just blew... Now, I'm not going to say in absolute, like he'll never get a chance. I'm pretty confident that no GM is messing with this guy.

You can't trust him. He couldn't make it to the middle of August in Corona. Think about that. Couldn't make it in the middle of August. Because he wanted to get late, which we all can relate to. I understand that. But I think there are sometimes in life you got to suck it up. And in the middle of a pandemic, when you're trying to make the National Football League

you might need to just hold out for a month, right? And just suck it up and, you know, use the iPad if you got to. But God, I mean, moron number one in the league right now, this cat from Oklahoma. If you love to be remembered as the person who gives the best birthday gifts, I'm here to tell you that 1-800flowers.com is your ultimate birthday gifting destination. 1-800 flowers has thoughtful and art.

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Discovertheforest.org. Brought to you by the United States Forest Service and the Ad Council. What grows in the forest? Trees? Sure. Know what else grows in the forest? Our imagination. Our sense of wonder. And our family bonds grow too. because when we disconnect from this and connect with this,

we reconnect with each other. The forest is closer than you think. Find a forest near you and start exploring at Discovertheforest.org. Brought to you by the United States Forest Service and the Ad Council. Okay, let's get into the little thing we like to call the Middlekopf mailbag. At John Middlecough. It's an ad symbol, and then just my name. and it's an Instagram handle and the DM's wide open.

Leave a question up in the DMs and you get them answered right here. Pretty easy. Very, very straightforward. Also, just got to reiterate, if you like this show and you listen on Collins feed, subscribe on the Apple or wherever you listen to podcast, the separate three and out podcast. That's this show. And it helps with selling and everything.

Leave a review on Apple if you can. Greatly appreciate that. I know a lot of people have. Tip my hat to you again. I just, if you like the show, I would greatly appreciate you doing it. It doesn't take long. Full disclosure, I recorded every part of the show except this about three and a half, four hours ago. Ended up doing some other work, went for a run, tried to get my fat ass in shape.

It's harder in Corona. Made some dinner, watch some TV, and now I'm back here. It's about 8.30, almost. And it's a great part about podcasting. You can kind of put the show together at your own pace. And I was actually just thinking when I was eating my little burrito that I made, pretty good, actually. a little meat, some beans, and just tortilla, and put a little salsa on top. That, you know, today when Kittle was signed, my first reaction was to look,

like, if Kittal just got $40 million, what is Travis Kelsey, who just won the Super Bowl, who's a back-to-back all-pro, who's had 200 catches, what's his contract status? And it turns out that he had two years left on his deal. And I thought, this is probably going to be the last year of Kelsey on the team. And I thought earlier this season, or the off season, like when we were in Indianapolis, even when I was at the Super Bowl talking to Veach, I remember whenever these guys come on, you know, the first thing I say, listen, I'm not a journalist. I'm not here.

Searching for the truth. I'm just trying to get a good interview with famous people, GMs, coaches, you know, players, whatever. I'm not here to kind of hit you with some secret question. Like, I got to ask, how much, how are the contract negotiations going on with my homes? Like, I just, we know. They're talking. He's not going to go anywhere. So, you know, so I have no problem not prying in if they're gracious enough to come on the show.

But it was, and I didn't even ask them. I just assumed, obviously, I'd never assume Mahomes were going to get a 10-year, $450 million deal. But we knew, and they were all talking, you know, when I was there at the Super Bowl, like, Mahomes was going to get an astronomical amount of money. I just assumed it was going to be like $40 million a year, but like $200 million, right? Turns out it was way more. And then somehow, I always, I always. always thought that Chris Jones was going to get tagged and traded,

and they signed him. And then even looking at Kelsey today, my first response was like, this is probably going to be his last year. Then they're going to have to trade him. And somehow they signed him too. I mean, they won the Super Bowl, signed the best player in franchise history, Mahomes, and kept two of their next three best players.

It's just crazy. I don't know how Veach did that. I mean, Veach is a dynamic GM. He just really is. I know him. I mean, I'm not just saying that. Like, if he sucked, I just wouldn't say it. But I wouldn't be talking about him.

But it's pretty clear. Like, he's just really good. Like, the 49ers, what they did with Kiddled today, it's not like Jimmy Gropold makes like $22 million. They don't even have that. They can cut D. Ford and Richard Truman's off the books next year. If he doesn't resign, like, they don't even have that much. They were just hassling over how much they were going to pay him.

I don't even know. I haven't even quite dove into all. the numbers. I don't even understand it. How the Chiefs pulled this off? I mean, I don't even get it, but they did. And, you know, I'm not even trying to humble brag. I just text Andy at

dinner. I was like, God, Veech is a he is a dynamic GM. I mean, he, and his response was just very. I mean, he is. He's good. I mean, he's really, really good. There's just no way around it. And the Chiefs now are built in Kelsey's game, because he's not some, like,

huge, you know, him and Kittle are different. Kelsey's much more productive, consistently in the passing game, though he's just asked to do that. If Kittle played for Coach Reed, and, I mean, Andy would have him block two because he's such a dominant blocker. They're just different type players. But if you ask Kittl to play in the slot every down, he'd get open with ease on guys.

I mean, he can fly. Kittl's elite. They just need him to block more for the Niners because the running game is a huge part of what they do. And he's an elite blocker. But they're both elite players. I mean, Kelsey is a dominant player. and I just don't know how he kept them all. It's just, it's wild.

Now, there's also an element of, and I think the Patriots have had this for a while, if you're an offensive player and you're playing for Patrick Mahomes, because Kelsey actually didn't get Kittle guaranteed money. And now granted, it was an extension, and if you factor in the money, he's going to play these next two years.

He was making like $9 million a year. It'll all add up to about the same. But, you know, I think sometimes, if you think like Julian Edelman and McCordy and those guys did over the year, and you go, well, when it's all said and done, I might not have the contract that some of these other cats have, but I'm going to have two or three rings.

And one time I was texting with a famous player on DMs, and he brought up the point that, you know, what's crazy about the NFL is we don't really make any money in the playoffs. And this is a guy that's played in a lot of playoff games. Now, he's made a lot of money as just a player, but he's like, it's kind of crazy. We don't get paid for the playoffs. And I was like, yeah, it's kind of true.

I mean, just thinking about it. And it's just, no, even LeBron or any of these sports. You make all this money if you're making 20, 30, even $10 million. And then once the playoffs start, you get like these $100,000, you know, dividends, basically. But my pushback was when you win in the playoffs, you can make money forever. And that's the Patriot example. Like McCordy, Edelman, Gronk. those guys, yeah, they haven't made as much as some guys on the field, even Brady.

But Brady's going to be printing cash till the day he dies. Edelman is going to be printing money in that Boston area and just everywhere. Here's three-time Super Bowl champ, Julian Edelman. Here's three-time Super Bowl champ, Devin McCordy. Here's one of the greatest tight ends of all time and three-time Super Bowl champ. We'll see if maybe they'll win it again this year, Rob Grimkowski. There's something to that. Here's the thing about Travis Kelsey.

Could he have made more if he had, like, made a stink and not signed this extension? But what if the Chiefs win two more Super Bowls in the next five years? Here's Travis Kelsey, two-time Super Bowl champion, and then seven-time Pro Bowler. I wouldn't have left Patrick Mahomes either. You know, I think, you know, and you see this with the Niners, like, if I played for Kyle Shanahan or I played for, you know, Sean Peyton, I wouldn't want to leave those guys. you know where your bread's buttered.

If I was, you know, working for Tim Cook or Elon Musk, I'd want to write it out too. You don't want to leave talented people in certain businesses. And that's pretty clear there. For the bail bag, if you saw the quotes from Ryan Day's teleconference, you could tell he was pissed and frustrated with the Big Ten. You think this ends up causing him to just say, screw it to college football and go get an NFL job?

I actually saw him again today. I saw him get tweeted in my timeline. He's pretty measured. I would say this. Unless a job in the NFL is, you know, and I'm not saying he's some hot candidate right now, because Lincoln, you'd still more proven than him. He's coached one year.

Urban left him a loaded team. They were loaded against this year. I understand him being pissed off because, I may be wrong on this, but I've read some places that the big, tent is going to have people at school. Like these schools are allowing intermurals. My whole issue with all this is just so arbitrary.

You know, the base on science left a long time ago. We're just basing things on like what politicians and school presidents are just kind of pulling out of their ass and it changes state to state place to place. And I get Ryan Day being mad on the simple fact, he had a squad. I mean a squad. To me, they would have been the betting favorite to win at all. So anytime that you have a squad, that that's a squad. good, it is that good, and it gets ripped away from you.

I get being mad. I really do. And in his case, like the quarterback was probably going to, this is going to be this one year with Justin Fields. So that's a big loss. But at the end of the day, think about this. If an NFL job has a star quarterback, it's better than every college job, right? You could put Russ, if the Jaguars had Russell Wilson and offered Ryan Day the job,

that job is better than Ohio State because you can win a Super Bowl if you have a top, you know, Aaron Rogers, Pat Mahomes, it's got to be an elite guy. But if your job does not have a quarterback or a question market quarterback, it's not a better job than Ohio State. Like, you could push back

and I would imagine some Ohio State fans would be like, even the Jaguars of Russell Wilson, that might be a stretch. Like coaching at Ohio State, if you're good, is an NFL job. There are unlimited resources. you get, as they do at Alabama, you don't recruit, you pick players. You draft 20 first rounders a year.

How's Ryan Day, unless like Pete Carroll retires next year and Seattle offered them, how do you find a better job? You think about most of these new coaches to get jobs. Besides like McCarthy, most of the jobs stink the last couple years. Like the Cardinals, the Giants, the dolphins. I mean, I just coached Ohio State. They pay you $6, $7, $8 million. You're a king in the town.

I've never been to Columbus, but it's a big city. I mean, it's one of the biggest universities right in America, just the size, let alone the town's big. And you're number one. Like, to me, I'm a big fan of, and I'm a little jaded. I worked for one NFL team, and we were the number one thing in town. And that was badass. You know, I can't imagine being some of it.

Like, it's probably the Chiefs. I know with the Niners, the Patriots, right? The Steelers, the Packers. Like, there is a group, you know, I haven't been to every city, but it's the Bears. I mean, if the Cubs are bigger, you'd have to tell me if you're from Chicago. It's probably a push if the Bears are good.

But to me it's a big deal to be a big deal in town. Like, you want to coach where football is king. That's why having a job at Alabama or Florida or the Dallas Cowboys is a big deal. You know? Like, are the Houston Texans the biggest thing in Houston? Or is college football bigger than Houston? Like, are the Atlanta Falcons the biggest thing in Atlanta? Or is college football bigger?

I think it's fair to say college football bigger. Like Tampa Bay. Like, they got a good squad, and Tom's there, and this year's going to be cool. But the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are never going to be the biggest team in Florida. I mean, if the other three teams are good, they'll probably be the fourth. Florida State, Miami, and the University of Florida. So I just think it doesn't get much bigger in Ohio State. Hypothetically, couldn't teams from the Big Ten and Pac-12

just join the Big 12 in SEC for a year if they want to play in the fall and just have a couple super conferences and have them just play their already release schedule? Or could you see these teams refusing to play in the spring in the conferences that cancel so their players aren't playing 20 games in nine-month window? Wondering how that's the look if it's feasible. I don't see how they play in the spring. I know there are some things being floated around. I think Jeff Brama, Purdue, I didn't read his proposal,

but I just don't think it's feasible to play two seasons in one year. Now, I saw Gottlieb tweet this and he's right. There's always been spring football. And spring football had 15 practices and several scrimmages. The difference is in a season, you practice, so let's say your normal week is you practice Monday, You practice Tuesday, you practice Wednesday, Thursday's light, Friday's a walkthrough, Saturday you play.

Now, at Fresno State, we practice slash ran on Sunday, and I guess got Monday off. So your typical week is Tuesday hard practice, Wednesday hard practice, Thursday ramping down, but still pretty locked in, Friday walkthrough, Saturday play, Sunday like a workout slash, just get your legs move, to get the, you know, stiffness, soreness out Monday off. So that's a, like, in the spring you have 15 total practices.

I'm talking four practices in a game in one week. And lifting is a sixth day. So I don't see how you accomplish that in the spring. Because a game week is just intense. The game planning, the practices, working around school, the games at these campuses. I don't see it happening. Now that that's, John, I hate the podcast, you ugly son of a bitch, with a winky emoji. Now that that's out of the way, and in light of George Kittle signing, his extension,

would you please explain to the audience how signing bonuses in the NFL work? Thanks in advance. Well, I'd have to text a couple of my negotiating friends. Here's how, to my knowledge, it works. And I've been explained this several times, but when you don't talk about it all the time, you kind of forget the nuances of it. When you see the true guaranteed,

so the $40 million for Kittl, that goes into escrow. George Kittle is getting that $40 million no matter what. The Niners have to have that within two weeks of signing. The way it's always been explained to me is a signing bonus, so the $18 million for George Kitton. for example.

I think, you know, Bosa's was huge, gets paid in two weeks of signing. So within two weeks of signing, he will get $18 million. And then that $40 million is essentially paid over the first, like, I think, 24 months. I was about to say 12 months,

but that feels crazy. Like, in the NFL, the majority of your guaranteed money gets paid very, very early in the contract because it's in an escrow account. It's why it's kind of screwed up the way they do it. And the signing bonus is just the moment you sign, like George Kittle's going to have $18 million in the next two weeks.

Hell, I don't... Logistically, you might have it next week. And then the way these... Why the cap numbers always look weird is because you can take the bonuses and amortize them over the course of the contract. It's why people don't mind giving big signing bonuses sometimes because they can, like, push back some of the numbers,

it's like $18 million over like amortized it over whatever four or five years of his deal. Which really for tight end is not that much money, right? I mean, it's a lot of money for a tight end, but just relative to like Joey Bose's contract or Patrick Mahomes type deal. So that's where, that's why as a contract negotiator told me, was it last year when Matt Ryan signed that deal for $100 million? he was like Arthur Blank has to put $100 million in cash in an escrow account. And Maddie Isis' signing bonus was massive.

So it was Rogers. So like when Rogers got that huge guaranteed contract, you have to, I mean, that's what's a lot different. Like when Clay Thompson signs with the Warriors for $190 million, you don't have to have the $190 million. You just pay them that year, $25 or $30 or whatever the number is, and you just go from there. And the NFL, like, that's where the guaranteed numbers are pretty big

because it's freaking guaranteed. Now, it's essentially guaranteed too in the other sports, but you don't look at it in an escrow account. Do you think the NCAA PAC-12 will meet the players' demands, halfway partly or not really at all? And if not, what does that mean for the PAC-12 moving forward? Star players transfers, lose recruits, thanks, Cade. Well, they're never going to get 50%.

I think name, image, and likeness is inevitable, so, yeah, they'll give them that. I think that, and I've explained this, and I think most people listening know, the football program pays for all the other sports. So, like, they want 50% of revenue. Well, hey, guys, you can't pretend to care about women's basketball and then say you want 50% of revenue because it finances that. And is that stupid?

Yes, I agree. That shouldn't be the case. But that's the model. And you want a revenue share. You're not like a business partner in this, right? Like, we got expenses here. And the expenses are all the athletic department. Now, we could cut those because I would fire about half the assistant ADs in my department.

Hell, I got no problem getting rid of most of the Olympic sports. That sounds cruel, but I'm a football guy. I mean, and I'm a business guy. I like my big business to profit from the... I got no problem giving the players a cut. Here's the problem, though, in football. So does, like, the backup guard get the same as the star wide receiver? That's the first round pick?

How do you divvy up the revenue, do you? your players. Is only a scholarship athlete allowed to get money? What about the walk-on? Is the Tim Tebow, Johnny Mansell player, allowed to get more? That's how it works in normal society. The more talented guys get paid more. Or do we got to be equal? Are we getting rid of women's sports? Would the Fed allow that? It's a federal law. Title IX. Fair or not, it exists. Are you planning to attend NFL games if fans are allowed in most stadiums? Do you have opinions on how things should be run? Pre-packaged food?

No-draft beers? Plastic seat. Between fans. I've received email surveys from teams whose tickets I've purchased for this season. They're doing the best to accommodate the fans. NFL and NFLPA has the ability to get the season going. Just wondering your opinion on attending games. I'm down to wear a mask and comply with most things to attend.

so far I'm playing to see Drew Breeze in his final season and Cam Newton began the second half of his career It's a hell of a question by Seth I would say I'm not going to attend an NFL game not because I wouldn't because we're not going to have fans in California So I was about to say I got two teams I mean the Raiders are gone The Niners will not have fans this year

So I'm not going to travel somewhere to go to a game The Niners were having fans and I could go to a game The Niners were having fans, and I could go to a game, I would sit in the stands, no problem. And like you, I'd wear my little mission mask. I wouldn't care. So I don't know. I saw Jerry say it.

I thought about that before it's crossed my mind. Like, you couldn't have concessions open. But sometimes I walked down the street. And in California, I mean, listen, I got no... You tell me to wear a mask in your building. I put it on. I'll follow your rules. If I'm walking down the street by myself, I don't have it on.

now if like but again like i got antibodies i ain't scared i can't even pass the thing but i never understand like people wearing the mask and then they sit down at a table outside and then take it off while people are just walking by like that's where i get with the arbitrary rules none of them really make that much sense so if you could have a quarter of the population you wouldn't be able to fill it so if you could have 50% fans how do they choose like so you bought a ticket why are you allowed to go and the guy next to you not like i don't that's where it gets Could you allow to bring your own food? We know the NFL wouldn't want to do that.

I haven't really thought that deeply about it. My guess would be if there were only a quarter of the fans there, you wouldn't need all the concessions open anyway. Maybe they have three designated spots throughout the stadium that you would get a beer of food from and sit in your seat where it's like every other row or something. I don't know. I mean, yeah.

I would attend the game though But you're talking to a guy that's not afraid of Corona in the slightest Like I just I'm not So I don't I don't even think about it to be honest with you I mean the only reason I think about it is because of the restrictions that are on our life But not like I went for a hike the other day in this woman

I mean I was in the middle of nowhere And I saw her coming from a while away And she just was walking with a mask on I was like listen I'm all I get I know problem if you're scared. I understand it. Like my mom's scared. She's also 72 and had cancer before. So like, I get it. Like she should be. This is her disease. So she hot. She quarantines as she should. It doesn't come out. Like it's, this disease is for her. It's not for me. Right. And this lady who, you know, was probably in her early 40s. It was like, you think the deer are going to have corona out here? Like, I mean, I think a bear's going to give it to you?

What are you doing? But again, she walked by, gave her a little nod. I'm not into shaming anyone, but it did cross my mind. Like, she just weren't, and it was like 95 degrees. What are you doing? But I guess that's not PC to shame people with masks in the wilderness by yourself. But that's the world we're living in. What are you going to do? Appreciate everyone listening.

Share with your friends. Subscribe to the pod. And I will talk to you next week. See you. If you love to be remembered as the person who gives the best birthday gifts, I'm here to tell you that 1,8, $100 Flowers.com is your ultimate birthday gifting destination. 1-800 flowers has thoughtful and artfully created options that are guaranteed to deliver the best birthday surprise.

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help an a cappella band with their Between Songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to Humor Me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal,

but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth.

Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media.

Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Cliford Show. This is a place for raw, unfills of conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to The Cliford 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. Podcast Network on TikTok.

On The Look Back at it podcast. From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 was big to me. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s.

84 was a wild year. It was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to Look Back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or where it's a wild year. you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.