The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 3 and Out - KOBE; Super Bowl Week; Justin Herbert Draft Stock; Mailbag

Episode Date: January 27, 2020

In this episode, Middlekauff steps away from football to remember Kobe Bryant after his tragic passing, looks at his top storylines for Super Bowl week, the rising draft stock of Oregon QB Justin Herbert, and answers listener questions in Middlekauff's 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. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo, and every episode, we're cutting through the noise,

breaking down the biggest moments in sports and giving you the real story behind the headline. And we're going straight to the source, the athletes themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions in the moment, and the stuff nobody gets to hear. Listen to Sports Slice on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok.

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 acapella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter.

Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, guys? This is Clivert Taylor the Fourth. And on my podcast, The Cliverts Show, I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff. Like being an internet famous referee. We're in the middle of a game. This linebacker, this linebacker walks up to me. He goes, hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her.

What? Time out. Quarterback on office blue with 42. Hey, Wreck, my mama want you to weigh better. What? Hey, Miss Parker. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano. It's our favorite time of the year on our podcast point game, the playoffs. We're digging into the biggest surprises of the season, and I'm looking back on some of my greatest playoff moments. If we didn't talk ever again, I was harmed.

you just understood. That's how personal it got. Wow. Then after that game seven, Mark keep coming until he's like, you know I love you, dog. You know, it's all love. This was just playoffs.

This was just basketball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Fundersruck, adjective. Shocked and amazed by the power of fun on Carnival. Riding Bolt, the world's first roller coaster at sea. Brian got thunderstruck so hard, his 93-year-old grandmother felt it 3,000 miles away in Nebraska,

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Full details on carnival.com, ships registered by Hamas, Panama. What is going on, everybody, John Middilcock, three-and-out podcast? A little change this week. I'm in Miami. Well, if you're listening to this on Monday, I'm flying out to Miami. Be there Monday night, Tuesday,

Wednesday, Thursday, and then all day Friday. Boots on the ground, getting a feel for the people, getting a feel for the place, and getting a feel for this game. This is my football heaven game. Niners Chiefs had to go now and there. So we'll do podcast Wednesday and Friday. Just the feel of the game, see if I can talk to different people. We'll see where the win takes me.

I'm pretty fluid because I don't. The podcast business, you can kind of record from wherever you are. so I don't really have a schedule. We'll just kind of, we'll see what happens. We will see what happens. I was going to talk about football, but I have some thoughts on Kobe Bryant. We'll open up the show with.

Justin Herbert won the Senior Bowl MVP. We're getting ready for the Super Bowl. Just a fantastic matchup. I talked a lot about the coaches last week. The Brown still don't have a general manager. And then, like always, at John Middlecoff is my Instagram handle. Slide up into those DMs. And I'll answer your question here at the end of the show.

At John Middilkoff, again, Instagram. Easiest way to get a hold of me. Well, let's start with Kobe Bryant, who unexpectedly died in a devastating helicopter crash accident, however you want to describe it. I was at the gym when the news broke, and you're just like, God, I wasn't even a Laker fan. I actually despise the Lakers. But he's easily one of the most famous athletes of my lifetime. and whether you hated them or whether you loved them, you respected them. And I think it's still something the NFL has because it's hard to be a half-in NFL guy.

You have to give a lot of yourself to the sport of football. Where in basketball, you can overcome some stuff just with great athleticism. And I guess you can do that in the NFL too. It's just a much more violent sport that if you kind of half-assed the process, you get yourself hurt. where in basketball, when I grew up, the NBA I always thought was on equal footing with the NFL in my childhood. Now, I lived around where I grew up close to Sacramento, we had an NBA team, but football was huge. I mean, the Niners were an hour away from me in the peak of their dynasty powers. But Michael Jordan was the biggest athlete in America when I was growing up.

There wasn't even a close second. Michael was on a pedestal by himself. I was born in 84, so by the time, 94. I was 10 years old, get to junior high, 96, 97, 98. I mean, Michael Jordan is a godlike figure. And Kobe Bryant emulated and wanted to be exactly like him. But the thing that as I get older and the type players that I root for, just like the type people I root for,

you don't have to be the most talented human. You don't have to be the smartest person. But I never meet anyone who gives everything they have to whatever they do. As Kobe talked about basketball, it was his craft. You know who also talks about football like that? Like Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. They dedicated their life to the sport. They put all their chips in the middle of the table.

And in a weird, weird way, obviously, I'm nowhere near as, I can't even parallel them to what they've accomplished in their life. But I know me personally, when it went into work in sports and scouting and now this media thing that I've been doing my entire professional life, I put all my chips in the middle of the table. I don't have another option. Like, Kobe's proven. He can do a million things.

He was really smart. Peyton Manning, same way. But they went all in on their craft. And Michael was clearly like that. Tiger Woods, my favorite athlete, he's like that. And in a day and age where so many athletes talk about their brand and we're a business, that shit comes when you win. The reason TB12 exists is because he has six Lombardi trophies.

And he's given his entire life to play quarterback. The reason Kobe became so big is he, it was all basketball all the time. Everything else was second. Same with Michael. It was all about winning. I say it all the time about Tiger Woods. He's had his back fused. He's had his knee reconstructed.

Yet Tiger Woods, still this weekend, I'm watching at Torrey Pines, has more money than God. Couldn't, I mean, he's super famous, doesn't need to do any of this, but he loves the juice of competing. and really and sometimes it's cheesy when you hear a coach's talk like this but when they talk about loving the process he loves the process of getting ready for a tournament when you read about Kobe and as a king's fan growing up couldn't beat Shaq and Kobe they were the best duo probably in my lifetime now Michael

Michael and Scotty were more successful but Shaq and Kobe were their high end was high they were unstoppable they were an unstoppable force when you think about one of the main reasons Kobe and they had a breakup Kobe thought he was lazy. Really that simple. Kobe thought he didn't work hard enough. Shack had a famous quote,

well, I got hurt on the company dime, I'm going to rehab on the company dime. And football, when I first got hired by Fresno State, one thing Coach Hill used to always talk to the team about that we didn't want to be were union workers. Clock in and clock out. Because the grades at whatever they do,

whether it's an athlete, whether it's a coach, whether it's a CEO, whether it's a great parent, Whatever you do, it's more than just an 8 to 5, or it's more than just something you do because you have to do. It's something that you dedicate yourself to doing, and you give a lot of freaking time to doing that. And whether you like Kobe or hated Kobe,

and when I say hated him, it was from a basketball standpoint, you respected the hell out of them. And there is a handful of players in my lifetime that you just put on that level of, you know what, whenever that's, guy finished playing a game or whenever that guy's season was over or whenever that guy retired or whatever happened that that guy left it all on the field on the court whatever he gave every freaking thing he had he had nothing left coaches have been saying this forever emptied the tank

Kobe's one of the rare guys who truly emptied the tank and the older i get like those type players i like it's why i didn't grow up a warriors fan i know it live in the bay area but i was more of a Kings has, more of a Michael Jordan guy. I love Steph Clay and Draymond. Because before they became super famous, they weren't into the brand and like the money. They were grinders.

They really kind of operated more like NFL guys, especially Steph and Clay. Not big school guys. Not number one picks. Now they were both first round picks, but they weren't the number one overall guy. They didn't have many scholarship offers. They just absolutely grind when no one's

looking. It's the thing I like most about sports. Players that maximize everything they have. Now, if you're a talented player, like if you're Odell Beckham, and you give everything you have, it's going to be impossible to fail. Now, when you kind of think he kind of gives it, might not,

I don't know, you just leave some open for interpretation. Here's what I know about Tom Brady and Peyton Manning and Drew Brees and JJ Watt. All their chips from the middle of the table. Like, whenever JJ Watt's careers end, I'll be like, you know what, that guy legitimately emptied the tank.

He could not have worked any harder at becoming a better football player. Nothing else he could have done. Nothing. There's nothing. It's like when Luke Keekely had that video that he was retiring on the Carolina Panthers. It was like, you know what? I respect the shit out of Luke Keekely. And I think there was something, someone,

there was a video that came out that Luke Keechley's first four years or maybe someone tweeted it, didn't have a television at his house because he didn't want to get distracted from watching film. Those are type players I like. It's cheesy or whatever. And hell, I can't relate to it.

I can't. Like when I say, I put all my chips in the middle of the table on this profession. Luckily with this profession, I'm allowed to watch a lot of TV. I can't relate to being that maniacal and being that disciplined

and just having this overarching drive. And with sports, like most of us in business, like we want to double revenue. or we want a big quarter or whatever. But there's not, the goalposts always kind of moves. With sports, the goalposts very simple. Win the championship. Be the best player in your sport and win a championship.

Like you can kind of, it's kind of tangible. And Kobe was at the highest level. I mean, think about Mamba mentality. What so many players and athletes in 2019, kind of, you know, if you're an athlete, a pro athlete right now in his mid-20s, Kobe was arguably the best athlete in the world. when you were growing up.

It was like, when I was thinking of the 2000s, it would have been like Kobe, Peyton, and Tom. Those are probably the most three famous guys of like the 2000s, maybe Shaq for a little bit at the beginning. But those guys all, to me, have the same characteristic in common. And it's just their ultimate dedication for the craft, whatever it takes to win. And I think sometimes the great players always have that.

I think sometimes the frauds. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise,

breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments, that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games,

from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered. Sports Slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to Sports Slice on the IHeartRadio app,

Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 and the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kier Game.

And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking. Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase

that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it, and we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross. because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth? Are you a good person because you're free?

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 iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now.

What's up, guys? This is Clever Taylor the Fourth. And on my podcast, The Cliver Show, I'm bringing. you conversations about all kinds of stuff. Like being an internet famous referee. We're in the middle of a game. This linebacker walks up to me, he goes, hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her.

What? Quarterback on office blue 42. Hey, rec, my mama want you to wave at her. What? Hey, Miss Parker. Listen to the Clippers show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

Hey, I'm Jared Adano. You might know me as that loud guy who yells out, help on the internet. Help! Somebody! Please! But there's so much more to me than me. I'm an actor. I'm a comedian. And recently, I've become quite the helper myself. And on my new podcast,

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One ring is too scary. Oh, cream of chicken suit. Hey, cream. Cream a chicken suit. This is Help from a Hypocrite, the worst advice from the dumbest people you know. Listen to Help from Hypocrite as part of the Mike Coutura Podcast Network available on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you. you get your podcasts.

Too strong of a word, but just the guys that most fans are just kind of indifferent on, don't. And that's the legacy guy lost his life at 41 years old with his daughter. I can't even fathom. I can't even fathom. And it's just a pretty awful day, but it also makes you think a lot about what you like about sports, why he resonated, why what he did worked. It's just, it's crazy. Get right to the romance and find the way to wow this valentines with 1800flowers.com.

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exploring at Discovertheforest.org. Brought to you by the United States Forest Service and the ad council. Kind of hard to even transition to another topic. It's just, I know maybe there aren't that many basketball fans listen to this, but Kobe's pretty famous. So I would imagine everyone is somewhat moved when you just see a human and his daughter die. But it is Super Bowl week, so I guess we'll just try to have an escape from real life and talk about the game.

And we'll have all week to talk about the game. I'll be, follow me on Instagram. I'm going to be all over Super Bowl Week, just Instagram and things, put on my story, whatever. I think the number one talking point this game is going to be the coaches. We have the young hot shot offensive mind in Kyle Shanahan. We have the established Andy Reid who's trying to get over the hump. Andy, quote unquote, can't win the big game.

That to me against Kyle, who, while it's his first opportunity, he did have and was a part of one of the more, I mean, definitely one of the more recent, but definitely one of the biggest collapse in Super Bowl history. I think actual number-wise, it is the biggest collapse of Super Bowl history. They're a 23 lead in the second half. 283.

It's just Barstool made shirts. It's just 283. 283. You never forget that. And Kyle was the offensive coordinator. Now you can nitpick and say it's on the head coach, tell him to run the ball. And even he's talked about it was really just a plight,

play here, play there. It could have easily been different. But the reality remains. Coach Reed made the Super Bowl once, ran into Belichick and Brady. And Donovan McNaft was throwing up. And then Kyle, who's made it once as assistant coach, blew a 283 lead. Now, it wasn't all his fault. The defense gave up 31 points in the second half.

Still, though, the facts are the facts. And I think we all can agree that these are two, I'd put Sean Payton right there, the most dynamic head coach is in the league when it comes to offense. Now, Andy's been doing it a lot longer with a ton of different schemes. Started as a West Coast guy. Not that long ago, he hired Chris Alt when he traded for Alex Smith. Now the Mahomes offense is a little bit of everything. He can coach it all.

What makes Kyle unique is he has a certain specific scheme, the zone running scheme, but he has added so many different layers off of it that you don't, like his offense, what is his offense? And the way the players talk about it, every week starts from scratch. We don't carry over anything. It's what I think a lot of people inside the 49ers operation enjoy about Kyle. Every week's a new game plan.

Every week's learning something new. It keeps everyone fresh. Where a lot of coaches in the NFL force-feed schemes. Like what someone, and I wrote about this last week in The Athletic, I had an offensive coordinator reach out to me, and I was texting with him during championship weekend. and he said Andy Reed's greatest strength is run pass ratio

he doesn't give a shit about that why should you you throw in this league to get the lead Andy Reed hangs his hat on getting his best players touches it's not about runs it's not about passes it's about getting Tyree Kill

Travis Kelsey Sammy Watkins Hardiman over the years when he's had Tio to Deshaun Jackson to Jeremy Maclin, to Shady McCoy. When he first got to the Chiefs, it was Jamal Charles. He'll get his best players, the football. And I think both these two guys are just refreshing.

Now, Andy is a unique personality. I obviously have a personal connection with him, known him for a long time in 10 plus years. Just seeing him work when I was in Philly, the way he deals with teams, the way he deals with his employees, the way he deals with... Last night, a blown call changed the game. The morning, the internet lost its mind.

Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where SportsSlice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athletes themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real.

From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, We break it down, give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered. SportsSlice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to SportsSlice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slic Life 12 and the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. 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? Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different. intentions, bro. Absolutely.

And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. What's up, guys? This is Clever Taylor the Fourth.

And on my podcast, The Cliverts Show, I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff, like being an internet famous referee. We're in the middle of the first. the game. This linebacker, this linebacker walks up to me, he goes, hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her. What? Time out. Quarterback on office blue 42. Hey, rec, my mama want you to wave at her.

What? Where's she at? Hey, Miss Parker. Listen to the Clifford show on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Hey, it's Edwin Castro. known as Castro 1021. And I'm Kunky, his best friend and business manager.

And we've got a new show called The 1021 podcast. I'm taking you behind the scenes on how I became one of Twitch's most popular streamers. We also love sports. And with the World Cup right around the corner, we'll be breaking down the biggest storylines ahead of the big tournament here in the USA. Listen to the 1021 podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Coaches, that's how nice of a guy he is.

For those who don't know if you didn't read my athletic article, my second year in Philly, he had me, who at the time was just a pro scout, over to his house for Thanksgiving. The morning wigs were there, a guy named Eugene Chung, who was one of our assistant offensive line coaches who had played in the league and me.

It's pretty cool. I mean, I don't know how many people are doing that. It just speaks to, like, he really is that good of a guy. And it turns out he's a best, guy than he is a coach and he's a damn good coach you know what's turning out like i think we're still getting to know his personality but it's a pretty likable guy too Kyle went from being kind of this surly young up-and-comer to just pretty well liked i know this

having watched all of his press conferences he's candid he's open he's just cool he's just himself i think both of these guys the thing that separates them from just a lot of coaches now and he's been doing it a lot longer as a head coach. They're very secure in their own skin. They're not trying to be something they're not. They're not screaming because they think they should just scream. They're just coaching the way they know how to coach. And trying to make sweet fun plays because that excites them.

Offense excites them. But they love the profession. I've seen Kyle at practice. I mean, just how active he is at practice. I know, I said this all the time when I was around Pat Hill and then now Andy read is just how much they love, how much they love practice. And I always say coaches like practice as much of games because in football, that's really where you get better.

You spend the majority of your time practicing, not playing. So I don't even know if there's a point to what this segment, just that I am really looking forward to the in-depth breakdowns, these coaches talking, and just the coaching matchup in this Super Bowl. So it's one of the better ones we've had in a long time. 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 artfully created options that are guaranteed to deliver

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To get inside. Each other's mind. Walk a mile in my shoes. Walk a mile in my shoes. Walk a mile in my shoes. We've all felt left out. And for some, that feeling lasts more than a moment. We can change that.

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told by the families that live them with commentary from experts. Visit adoptuskids.org slash podcast or subscribe to navigating adoption presented by Adopt U.S. Kids. to you by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families and the Ad Council. Okay, let's dive into something that happened this weekend. And there was, there's actually two football games. I don't count the Pro Bowl. Full disclosure, I did not watch.

I can honestly say this. I'm not just saying this to sound cool. I knew it was on, but I was just doing other stuff. I didn't watch one. Let me repeat, one snap of the Pro Bowl. If by the time this is out, that game did big ratings, who's watching this thing? I've only seen one play because Devante Adams tweeted, I guess, after he scored a touchdown, he did a 24, like a RIP to Kobe.

But yeah, I didn't watch one snap. But there was one game of actual consequence this weekend, and that was a senior ball. It's a big moment for a lot of guys. But it's specifically big. I remember several years back there was a quarterback. I'm not going to name his name because it was about an 8th. agent that held the quarterback out. And I was like, why are you holding the quarterback out?

The senior ball, if you're just, if you just have a big arm, you're going to look good at the senior bowl. Now, if you're a talented player, you're going to rise. If you're like a first or second round pick at the senior bowl, you fly up the charts. Because you're around all these other guys that are third, fourth, fifth, six rounders. So like the future of the league, and you're kicking their ass. It's why, think about guys that had good senior bowls. Lane Johnson

Aaron Donald You go to a senior bowl And you dominate It's like whoa This is not a fair fight And Justin Herbert I give him props Because he easily

Could have not shown up He was already a borderline Top 10 lock He's 6 6x He's got a huge arm He's a high character guy He's from Oregon They just won the Rose Bowl

He's been starter in Power 5 For four years unlimited tape he could have justified and whoever his agent is we don't need to go and I wouldn't have said anything but he went

it was a genius move because he's going to look so much better than everyone he's playing for just on a sure size alone then he played well and he was a senior ball MVP I left thinking this weekend I actually just didn't even watch that much of the game

saw one series but I already know he looks good I was getting texts all week from people in the NFL like this guy looks unreal I didn't realize he was this good And I was on the fence. I got watching his career. But I do know this. Josh Allen, who went seventh overall,

was not as good of a player coming out. And this guy might not have as big of an arm, but pretty close. Similar athletes, similar size, just freaks. But this guy's way more productive. The game I saw when he basically played an NFL level defense in Wisconsin and carried his team to a win was one of the more impressive things non-LSU I saw in 2019 in college football. And then he goes to the Senior Bowl.

playing for the Lions who have the third overall pick, kicks ass, takes names, has an unreal week of practice. The game isn't as important. I'll give you another guy that really stood out, Ziggy Ansah. I vividly remember Brett Veach texting me and like, bro, have you watched Ziggy in the game? And I'm like, no, I haven't watched him yet. I went back and watched the Senior Bowl game tape and he dominated.

Went fifth overall. Now, he's been heard, but he was a really good NFL player. So the Senior Bowl, when you stand out in that game, it really says something. And Justin Herbert, in what scenario do three quarterbacks? Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying,

and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions,

the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered. Sports Slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to Sports Slice on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slices Life 12 and the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. 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? Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust.

I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free, our heart radio app. Search learn the hard way and listen now. What's up, guys?

This is Clever Taylor the 4th. And on my podcast, The Cliverts Show, I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff, like being an internet famous referee. We're in the middle of a game. This linebacker walks up to me, he goes, A, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her. What?

Time out. Quarterback on office blue with 42. A rep, my mama want you to wave at her. What? Hey, Miss Parker. Listen to the Clippers show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Hey, it's Edwin Castro, also known as Castro 1021.

And I'm Conkey, his best friend and business manager. And we've got a new show called The 1021 Podcast. I'm taking you behind the scenes on how I became one of Twitch's most popular streamers. We also love sports. And with the World Cup right around the corner, we'll be breaking down the big. storylines ahead of the big tournament here in the USA. Listen to the 1021 podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your

podcasts. If Tua's hip checks out, don't go in the top five. I struggle to see one. Now, Joe Burrell is going to go number one overall to Cincinnati. It's not crazy. Now, Justin Herbert has never had a season as good as Joe Burrell. Not even close. I mean, Joe Burrow has had arguably the best season.

in college football history. But if you told me in eight, ten years that Justin Herbert is a better player than Joe Burrow, I do think that's believable. Now, would it be pretty nuts if Justin Herbert went one overall? Yeah, just because of the great season Joe Burrell had. But if you told me there were scouts that just like Justin Herbert better, I guess you'd just say, well, the one-year film was so great, but what about the previous years? I'm just telling you, people in the NFL love guys like,

Justin Herbert. High character, big school guy, good stats, plays well, and it's just a physical freak. So this guy, Joe Burroughs going to go one. Well, if you're at number two and you're the Washington Redskins, I do think you could justify trading back like one or two spots, thinking, well, two and Herbert might then go two and three, and I could still get Chase Young at four. Now, you could also counter, if you think Chase Young's going to be like Khalil Mack or Nick Bosa, don't overthink it. Don't risk it. Just take the pass rusher. Which, okay, I understand.

Well, at 3, the Detroit Lions, Matt Stafford was all screwed up last year with a bad back. You're telling me you don't want Justin Herbert? Think about the chargers. Think of all the good teams, you know, that have been pretty good the last couple years, but are not good this year that are drafting really high. I just don't see how teams don't, when we see,

why are the Chiefs going to a Super Bowl? Why were they in the AFC championship last year? Because they traded multiple picks to get up against Patrick Bahams. And that was at 10. You don't think you'd trade up to go get a guy at two, three, or four? And obviously, Tua is hip is a great unknown. But if that hip checks out, the quarterback by far is the most important position. It's all we talk about, like what Deshaun Watson's doing, how good Carson Wentz can be.

Even when Jimmy Garoppolo plays, how much better the 49ers are. Obviously, the Mahomes, Russell Wilson, we know it. We say it all the time. If you think this guy, clearly he has the talent, so part of it, no one knows. you're just projecting. Well, if you were going to project, you'd project this guy to be a really good player. If you believe in your coach,

if you believe in your position coaches, if you believe in your organization, to me, this is the type guy you'd want. It checks up all the boxes. I say it all the time with Josh Allen. It was just his inaccuracy was beyond over the top. He couldn't hit water from a boat. And now he's improved a lot,

but it's still a problem. But I understood people being enamored with the physical tools. I get it. Because I do understand. The physical tools matter. If you ever go to an NFL practice, these guys are huge. So being big, like, I don't like midgets. It's one of my issues with Kyler Murray.

He's just tiny. He's just tiny. He's like my size. like three or four, I'll promise you that. I think this guy, when the dust settles, it's gonna, it's gonna, I just don't see how he makes it past the top five. I just, I don't see a scenario

if he stays healthy for the next three months, how he's not drafted extremely high. 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. And we're live here outside the Perez family home just waiting for the... And there they go. Almost on time this morning.

Mom is coming out the front door strong with a double-armed kid carry. Looks like Dad has the bags. Daughter is bringing up the ring. Oh, but the diaper bag wasn't closed. Diapers and toys are everywhere. Ooh, but Mom has just nailed the perfect car seat buckle for the toddler. And now the eldest daughter, who looks to be about nine or ten, has secured herself in the booster seat.

Dad zips the bag closed, and they're off. Ah, but looks like Mom doesn't realize her coffee cup is still on the roof of the car, and there it goes! Oh, that's a shame. That mug was a fam-faced. Don't sweat the small stuff. Just nail the big stuff. Like making sure your kids are buckled correctly in the right seat for their age and size.

Learn more at NHTSA.gov slash the right seat. Visit NHTSA.gov. Slash the right seat. Brought to you by Nidza and the Ad Council. Look through your children's eyes to see the true magic of a forest. It's a storybook world for them. You look and see a tree. They see the wrinkled face of a wizard with arms outstretched to the sky.

They see treasure and pebbles. They see a windy path that could lead to adventure. And they see you. Their fearless guide is this fascinating world. Find a forest near you and start exploring at Discovertheforest.org. Brought to you by the United States Forest Service and the ad council. Okay, let's get to the Middilcoff mailback. A little shorter pod, mainly just because we're doing three this week.

Instagram, I'm going to be just, I'm going to be doing a lot of Instagramming in Miami. be on the ground floor we call boots on the ground my boots more like my nikes be on the ground i saw it supposed to be kind of hot i don't even know i haven't packed yet as of recording this just gonna go and let it fly and just see what's going on on the streets with the people so just follow me on insta and i'll be all over it and i also answer your questions here and i got a bunch to answer been a listener since i saw you come on collins show years back appreciate it i'm a big eagles fan and i have just one question why have the eagles struggled so much in draft developing the quarterback position.

All of their defensive and offensive line picks have been hits were well developed over the years to at least serviceable thoughts. I do think that corner is just one of the more difficult positions to figure out. It's very, very difficult to evaluate. Because when they're coming out, how many corners in college do you feel that are going to be really good players and then suck? It's rare, like the Robert Galleries of the world don't happen very often,

but it happens all the time in the NFL. Now, Sidney Jones tore his Achilles. Ronald Darby was hurt right when they got him. So, you know, Asante Samuel was a really good player for them. Obviously, Andy, early on in Andy's career, they had some good players too. I think it's a difficult position. Richard Sherman, who's a Hall of Famer, went in the fifth round. You know, for every Patrick Peterson, there are a lot of guys that are just swinging misses.

The Milner's, DJ Haydens. I mean, even the 49ers, a kid. Kelo-Weatherspoon. He's 6-1. He can run. Third-rounder from Colorado. He's benched for an undrafted free agent. I think it's a very, very difficult position to evaluate. People always ask me what's your best position to evaluate? I can evaluate the shit out of running backs and wide receivers and tight ends. Do that with my eyes closed. Lineman, a little more difficult, but if you tell me the scheme what you're looking for, I'll have a better idea. To me, defensive linemen, for the most part, or easy. Now, you've got to know a lot about them personally, like if they're tough or not.

To me, corners and safeties are so hard, are so difficult. They really are a tough position because defense is so complicated. It feels now, I could be wrong on this, but like quarterbacks and defensive backs, we get busts left and right. I've seen a lot of mock drafts and I was surprised to see only one had Justin Herbert going in the second round with other drafts. He is the last of the top quarterbacks to come off the board. What do you think makes the other quarterbacks better or worse than Herbert? I watched him these last two years, and to me he's a player who's similar to Carson Wentz. Great show.

Yeah, like I just said, Joe Burroughs' year is better than anything Herbert's ever done, right? Clearly. Now, he's playing, Herbert didn't play with Jefferson and Chase. He didn't have those two guys. Two is a better player. Two is just a better player. Now, two has been hurt. Now, Justin Herbert's been hurt, too.

Herbert's had some injuries. But I think anytime you play in the SEC and you win in the SEC, you get a little bit more of the benefit of the doubt. Like I said, I think Herbert, I feel very, very strongly after the Rose Bowl, then after the Senior Bowl, and then knowing that he's also going to go to the Combine, that he's going to end up going really high. I just, if there are questions with two his hip, he'll be the second quarterback off the board. Anyhow, who do you think the Niners draft at,

32. That's a good question. And last time I got answered, asked this, it's like, my head's not even there. I think they could go tackle. I mean,

Staley's got a couple years left, Max. You could do like Andre Dillard. They do Jason Peters. They could go corner. They could take a wide receiver. They could trade back. The great part about,

I see what you did there at 32 with the winky face. They could be 31 too. I think you can do anything. I personally probably would try to trade back and get multiple second round picks because they don't have a second round pick because the D4 trade.

So they only have a first and then a third. They need to get a second round pick. So I wouldn't be opposed to trading back from 32 or 31 and getting multiple second round picks. Question for the three and out podcast on this week's pod. You talked about game changing moves that changed the franchise. With the offseason ahead of us, could you break down,

could you do a team by team breakdown of one or two moves that changed the franchise? Yeah, I mean, I could, we're going to need some content for the off-season. So that's not a bad idea. Let me write down franchise changing moves. Maybe we can do players, franchise moves changing. I could do things like guys that could get traded this off-season,

kind of like an Odell Beckham, but to the right team if he went to the Patriots, you know, those type moves. like the clowny move helped you know help Seattle for sure laramie tonsill move just moves like that maybe the potential offseason moves that could happen I could do something like that too always looking if you got ideas for content because a couple people have asked me like middle coffee you only going to do what's the what's the what's the schedule for the off season there is no off season I keep on grinding this is this is this isn't uh this isn't a hobby

this is not a hobby this is a this is a life's work here so we we were record, we keep on going, even when the topics dry up. John, just listen to the three and out from the 21st on January. First question in the mailbag was about cap space. Incentives are classed into two categories, likely to be achieved and not likely to be achieved. The likely to be achieved at put on this year's cap, if the incentive is achieved, nothing happens. If the incentive is not achieved, that amount is added to next year's cap.

The not likely to be achieved, I like this. See, we get educated by the listeners. likely to be achieved incentives are put on the cap, but if they are achieved, it will hit next year's cap. This is a very brief view of incentives. It obviously is much more complicated for actual contractual negotiations, but that is the general idea. See, I knew it was something like that. That makes complete sense. So the likely to be achieved, get factored into that year's cap, then if you hit them, they carry over. The not likely to be achieved, carried over, and if they don't hit, they go away. So I think that's the cliff nose version. It makes a lot of sense.

Completely get it. Big time Niner fan in Idaho. The Niners run game has been amazing this year, but I feel like they don't have an ass kicker in the backfield. Moster has been awesome, and Brayda can break one off for 80, but I think it has been mostly running scheme that has made them look good.

What do you think about their backfield? Do you think they stick with what they have going forward and finally start working McKinnon in? Well, McKinnon's going to get cut this offseason. Or do you see them making moves in free agency or the draft? Well, I think when you think, Shanahan you think unlimited running backs it doesn't matter where they're from they're going to rush for a thousand yards like when you think Andy Reid you think this guy can work with any

quarterback so if Shanahan's best attribute is his scheme makes running backs that a lot of other teams would not value good you would never if you do something well in life like think whatever your business does well if whatever that may be you don't spend in areas that you don't need to that are functioning at a high level, right? You invest into areas you need to improve on. Like, I don't know if you can tell. I got a new microphone. And I hope it sounds a little bit better.

And I've been tinkering, but I've been thinking a lot about it, and I've been trying to find a good microphone and a better microphone, and I just want it to sound better. So I spent some money and got a new microphone because it didn't sound good enough. Well, my computer, which costs $2,500 or whatever it did, the MacBook Pro from three or four years ago, my computer works just fine. So I don't need to invest in the computer or the software that I have recording the podcast

or the Zoom that I work, plug it through that acts as like my board, but I needed a new mic. So I had to invest in a new one. If I already had a good sweet mic and it sounded good enough for me, I wouldn't have got a new mic. I think when you can manipulate the running back position with just average guys. And I think when you look around the league, the value would say never, like you don't need, you don't need Sequin in this scheme, and you don't. But certain teams might. But Kyle, to me, definitely they do not need to invest in a running back.

What up, John? Local Steelers fan from San Ramon. See, right down the road. I believe Ben would come out this year and tear it up, but he got hurt. What do you think he can pull together this year? I think it's just difficult, the older you get, the more injured you get, to bounce back. now he's going to be, I think, 38 years old. Their team offensively is still solid, right?

I mean, James Conner's a good back. Vance McDonald's okay. Their offensive line's good. Juju's a good player. That Deontay Thompson, the kid they drafted, they can fly as a good player. So I'm with you. If Ben had been there, they wouldn't have been, what was their final record? Eighth, Nate, they would have probably been at minimum 10.

They would have been in the playoffs. They would have been, to me, the Titans probably don't get in. They're the wild car team. They're a wild car team with the bills. they're just, hell, they might compete with the Ravens for the division. They would have been really good because their defense was good, especially once they traded that first rounder from Inka. I just, you know, Brady eats so healthy.

Breeze has been pretty healthy and he doesn't take that many hits. Rathlisberger is a weathered, weathered, older player. Look at Cam Newton, who went through so many injuries, and he's 30 years old. But you're like, well, his wear and tear, he ran. You're like, it's understandable. Like, is Cam Newton playing at 35 years old? He might not be. Rothersburg is pretty crazy.

He lasted this long, given how physical his playing style was. And for a three or four-year period where they had one of the worst offensive lines in the league and he was just always getting destroyed. Well, now he's just getting injured because part of you just getting older, you get hurt. Like you hear a lot of your buddies that are like 40. You're like, yeah, torn Achilles playing hoops. Well, when you're 20 years old, I can go to the rec center five days a week. I can play pickup hoops for hours on end.

I'm 35, there's a chance I'll never play pickup hoops again, besides, like, with my kids. I can't risk an Achilles. I can't risk the 30 pounds I'd add during my Achilles rehab. My body can't take it. It's just not worth the risk. I'll run on the treadmill. It's safer.

I don't have the time to full rehab to come back. Now, Rathusberger does, but I just think it's going to be difficult at his age. I don't know. I'm going to bet we never see the same Ben Rathusberger again. Now, I think he's going to try to play next year, but it could be ugly. That's just an uneducated guess on the way his style of play usually ages, especially after a serious injury late in his career.

Appreciate everyone listening. Again, we're going to come out with another one Wednesday and another one Friday in Miami, fall on Instagram and on Twitter. I'll be all over the place. See if Colin. I'll try to just make a cameo. He's probably pretty busy, but just definitely go hang out with him, so I'll get some behind the scenes with the coward, be of Fox Sports.

Just be around, roaming with the people. People with the Chiefs, people with the 49ers, and be out and about all week. Can't freaking wait. Super Bowl, RIP to the Mamba. And let's just keep on trucking. Adios, thanks for listening. Tell all your friends to go subscribe to the podcast, three and out. Thanks.

Peace. Get right to the romance and find the way to wow this Valentine's with 1-800-flowers. From classic roses and bouquets to decadent chocolate-covered berries, gourmet treats, and more. Surprise your Valentine with 1800flowers.com. Right now, get the 18-stem enchanted rose medley for $39.99 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. Last night, a blown call changed a game.

This morning, the internet lost its mind. and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where SportsSlice comes in. I'm Timbo, and every episode we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the biggest moments in sports and giving you the real story behind the headline. And we're going straight to the source, the athletes themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions in the moment,

and the stuff nobody gets to hear. Listen to SportsSlic on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and Friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier.

This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. What's up, guys, this is Clever Taylor the 4th.

And on my podcast, The Cliverts Show, I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff. Like being an internet famous referee. We're in the middle of a game. This linebacker walks up to me. He goes, hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her. What? Quarterback on office blue with 42. Hey, rec, my mama want you to wave at her.

What? Hey, Miss Parker. Listen to the Clippers show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano. It's our favorite time of the year on our podcast point game, the playoffs. We're digging into the biggest surprises of the season. And I'm looking back on some of my greatest playoff moments. If we didn't talk ever again, I was funny. You just understood.

That's how personal it got. Wow. Then after that game seven, Marquis came to him, he's like, you know I love you, dog. You know, it's all love. This was just playoffs. This was just basketball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.