The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 3 and Out - Mike White vs. Zach Wilson, Aaron Rodgers Controversy, OBJ/Browns Dysfunction, Ruggs Tragedy , Mailbag

Episode Date: November 5, 2021

John touches on the Colts TNF throttling of the Jets, why backup Mike White's instant success makes Zach Wilson look even worse, and why the Colts' Week 8 loss to the Titans will continue to linger despite a bounce back W. He also gives his take on the potential long term consequences Aaron Rodgers catching heat for having to sit with COVID, why Twitter is delusional about Odell Beckham's value, and takes a sobering look at the Henry Ruggs DUI tragedy, He also explains his beef with the early college football playoff rankings, and answers listener questions in the Middlekauff Mailbag!Subscribe NOW! Make sure you follow John and The Volume on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for the latest content and updates and check out FanDuel for the best wagering and daily fantasy action! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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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 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 Clifers Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard,

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was 42 to a little. And then somehow Josh Johnson, one of the truly great Wikipedia football careers you'll ever see, just kept throwing the pill around. And he just threw a pick. It's 45 to 30. Obviously, the game wasn't that close. But, you know, something really stood out to me and it clicked with me tonight. And it made me think, I'll dive in a little about the Colts.

I don't think they're quite dead yet, but God, that Tennessee game last week hurts. The Aaron Rogers drama, and really the Packers have a lot in line this weekend with old Jordan Love. He could increase that little thing we like to call trade value. The Raiders, you know, it's just what a week. You know, what a week for Derek Carr, the franchise. Obviously, the tragedy that took place with the young woman losing her life is beyond terrible. couple thoughts on the Browns and Odell Beckham

like what the hell is going on there So then of course Middlecoff mailbag at John Middlecoff is the Instagram Slide up in those DMs and get your question answered here on the show That's my Instagram slide in the DMs easy Also if you could leave a review for the podcast

Three and Out subscribe Tell your friends I appreciate it But I want to start with quarterback play And the New York Football Jets and it hit me tonight. Like, you really find out, and people have talked about this before, this isn't like some novel concept here, someone's value when they leave, right?

We saw it last year. Tom Brady left and we're like, God, he left an enormous hole. But I think you can look at it in a lot of industries, right? I remember a decade ago, I listened all day long to ESPN radio. I couldn't even tell you what channel or where to find ESPN radio. How do you think they've done since all Colin Coward left five, six years ago? I don't know, slipped into irrelevancy hasn't gone well. And you can learn the value of someone in the private sector. Hell, you can learn a value of, you know, a parent.

You get divorced and maybe the rock of the family. You spend more time. We all know people that go back and forth between homes. one home's a little more buttoned up typically, right? Hell, you see it with substitute teachers. When the real teacher left, we all know this from grade school. It becomes a joke if the substitute doesn't know what they're doing. You're like, God, Miss Johnson's not here for the week.

It's on like Donkey Kong to screw around. And Zach Wilson, last week, Mike White, didn't just look fantastic. He led the Jets to a very impressive win against a very good team. And tonight, he leads one drive, and he looks fantastic. He's got a big arm. He looks big. He just looks like a real NFL quarterback. Hell, then Josh Johnson comes in,

and I know it was somewhat garbage time, even though there was a lot of time left on the clock, but they moved the ball. I've watched Zach Wilson struggle over and over and over. And then I got to thinking. I went, well, is BYU in shambles? Well, I watched the college football BCS release show. They were ranked 15th.

They just scored 66 points last week against a good Virginia team. Their offense is awesome. They have not skipped a beat without them. And then I think about another quarterback. Trevor Lawrence, who's going through some ups and downs right now in the pros, just left a program that was a bohemist,

a powerhouse. How's Clemson doing? They suck. Their program is in shambles. Honestly, they're lucky to be whatever they are, like five and three. I've watched him play, several wins. They easily could have lost the games I've been watching.

They are not good. He lost Trevor Lawrence. And I'm thinking today, like, Zach Wilson, and listen, I'm not trying to write his career in half a season, but he has been, by every metric, terrible this season. Absolutely awful. And for the Jets franchise to be anything, they have to fix him.

they have to make him an impact player. Not that, you know, it's clear. Like, that's not some hot take or whatever. That's just the price of admission when you draft a guy that high. I think the glaring thing, though, is when these other guys come in and the offense rolls. And then, but I just go back to BYU, it's like, well, at a smaller program, you know, Clemson, they went from Deshaun Watson to Trevor Lawrence. Like, good programs can get hell.

Justin Fields to the kid now. CJ Stroud, who's putting up big numbers. But I watch BYU, I go smaller program, just goes to another guy that just no problem. And then you think about Zach Wilson, he always looks and plays like it's backyard football. Like, bro, you're not playing New Mexico. This is Bill Belichick or the Buffalo Bills and Sean McDermott.

You got to figure it out. And I watch Mike White, I see a guy that's just more of a season pro. More of just a guy that, hey, I can take a checkdown. Hey, I don't have to be a hero. And listen, you go through growing pains, but this kid's got a long way to go. And I know if I'm Joe Douglas, the general manager, if I'm Robert Sala,

we got to spend every waking moment. Clearly the defense, they got a lot of things to improve, but our careers are going to be staked to this kid. And it's concerning right now. And I think you find the concerns when you see these other guys fill in for him. Hell, Josh Johnson,

who's been on 700 teams, who was the number one pick in the A-AF draft, who played it once upon a time for the Sacramento Mountain Lions. I bet you can't even name what league they were in, because I know I can't. And when I was in the NFL, I scouted that. I think it was the U.S.L. Tyler Kuletz was in it, played fullback.

Andrew Sendejo. I begged Lewis Riddick to sign him. He wouldn't take him to Howie. I should have been more voiceful then. That was a good find by me, even though I'd get no credit. But I would just, I've red flagged the whole Zach Wilson thing moving. I mean, they just signed John Beck in the middle of the season. Who's Zach Wilson? LeBron?

He just gets to sign his personal quarterback coaches. The hell's going on here. And then the Colts. And I just, they clearly have a team when they're healthy, who could be an AFC playoff team. But they might have put themselves in the hole way too early. That loss to Tennessee last weekend was devastating. They're up 14-0.

Hell, they get the ball late in overtime and he throws the pick. Like that, if they would have won that game, And right now, you know, they would just, they'd be over 500 and they'd have a shot. But I don't know. I feel like this season will look back and go, it'll be the season that could have been, what would have been, when they're 9 and 8 and they miss the playoffs. And I know people have DM me, I guess, in Indianapolis, they've talked about should they bench Carson Went so they get the first round pick?

No. Because you should compete to try to win nine or 10 games. Now, are you going to lose your first round pick because Carson is going to play the games? That was part of the deal when you signed them. And who knows, you're going to just be in the playoff mix if you're a nine-ish win team right up until the end so you have no choice. Now, if he gets injured and he misses a couple games and you're clearly out of it, 100%. But if he just keeps playing, you got to play through it. Because he's going to be your quarterback next year.

So you need him to get these reps. You need him. If you're going to make these playoffs, even next year, you need him. I talked to an executive this week on the phone. There are no quarterbacks in this class. Hell, the one quarterback he mentioned, I'm not going to do it right now because he said he's kind of a sleeper. He's never heard his name mentioned.

Now, he's an underclassman, but technically he'd come out. But he's not, he's like, he might be the best guy I saw. And no one's even mentioned this guy. All the other guys we talk about Malik, whatever, Liberty. He thought's a major project. Corral is tiny. you know, Carson Strong, the quarterback from Nevada, I guess, you know, got some medical red flags,

who's talented player, but there are no, like, top 15 type quarterbacks in this draft. They just aren't. Now, that doesn't mean guys won't end up going in that spot, but Carson Wentz is going to be your guy for the next two years. And listen, he's some flawed. He can play hero ball. You know, he's got some injury concerns.

But they ain't upgrading that. They're not. Like, one thing we've seen, this year, like he's a much better player when he's not in his own head than Jalen Hertz. Jalen Hertz can't hold his jock as a quarterback. He can't.

I think we all agree on that. That doesn't mean Carson's perfect. It means he's got some issues. And listen, the Eagles had to move on from, it was over. It was time for a divorce. But he's the Colts quarterback for the next couple years. And ideally, if you go, God, we might be able to keep this guy for five years, that enables you to do a lot

of other things. So, listen, maybe I make too many excuses. Like, I'm even friend. I don't even know Chris Ballard. I've never even met the guy. But I think he's pretty good. I think Frank's solid. And they got some good core young pieces.

But if they miss the playoffs, I think it'll be hard for them to shake that Tennessee game in Indy. Like, they had to have that one. And it does kind of feel like they're going to miss it by a game. And it's be like, yeah, you blew that one. Especially with Henry and the foot. It's just, It's the way the cookie crumble some years.

Okay. We got drama of brewing with the Green Bay Packers. And I was going to say Vince Lombardi, but he's long gone. Matt LaFleur, Goudicans. If you're coming to think I'm going to get on my moral high horse, most of the media has that market cornered. It's not, no one wants to hear.

Hell, I despise talking about COVID at this point in time. I would rather swan dive off the Bay Bridge than talk down to people. Again, the media has that market cornered. Bores me. It has zero impact on anyone. We're almost in 2022. Everyone's opinions are already set. Now, did he lie or not about getting vaccinated?

Again, I don't care. I truly do not give a shit. what Aaron Rogers says or does. It doesn't impact my life at all. Now, if you're a Packer fan, I could understand being mad at him because you might cost you a game. But let's call it what it is.

You're mad because it's costing you a game. Not because whatever you believe about vaccination, and I've said before, I got the damn jab. I did it for business reasons. And if I was in the NFL, just like the majority of guys, don't get it twisted. The majority of these guys in the league

got it for financial reasons, not because they were concerned about it. And I remember talking to Colin, about it a long time ago that these younger people were hesitant to get it and didn't quite understand. And listen, it's almost 2022. So Aaron Rogers test positive and is out at minimum this week. We'll see how long it goes. It could be a couple games. And I've been saying over and over, it's a little bizarre the way it all happened. Listen, the moment Tom Brady and Nick Saban got the shot, like everyone within college football and everyone within pro football, like you were going to

get some shit if he didn't get it. Period. Point blank. End of story. And Aaron Rogers didn't get it. And now he's missing a game. But like getting mad about masks, I don't care. I mean, I just simply do not care. Whatever they get in trouble for or not in trouble for, it doesn't matter to me. One iota. And let's face it, most of the media freaking out about it, they actually don't care either. It's called fake outrage. We've seen it on social media for a long time now. But the drama that the Packers had for the entire off-season which had nothing to do with

vaccines or COVID protocol it was Aaron Rogers' feelings. He's a drama queen. Like let's just call a spade of spade. He creates drama somewhat out of nowhere. Was a little of it justified that he wanted his boys on the team? Okay. It feels like they fix it.

And I've been pounded in the table for a long time that Aaron Rogers, he ain't going anywhere. They're having success. They're seven and one. They just had one of the best wins of his career on the road short week missing guys. And everything's going well.

Him and Matt LaFleur are on the same page. It is very productive. It doesn't get any better than this. And while I don't think anything has changed in the short term, whenever he comes back, the media is going to be coming through on their moral high horses and they're going to be lined up a mile long to drill him and get angry at him, right? And who knows how that goes? which that has nothing necessarily to do with Goudicans or LaFleur.

But is he going to get in a weird space now? Because it feels like he's been in the Zen-like space. They've been winning. He's been crushing it. And now is this going to create drama back within the relationship? You ever been dating someone, marriage or someone? You get in a huge fight. And then it's rocky, right?

But then you patch it up and you move on. But let's face it, depending on how big the fight was, it's always kind of lingering and no different than this situation this summer, even though I think most people with common sense just see the way they're acting. You know, it's going pretty well. But it still kind of lingers. Like, is he going to ask for a trade again? Is he going to demand more influence in next year's free agency in the draft?

And if he doesn't get it, he's going to say, trade me to the Broncos. No one truly knows but him. Even the Packers are like hoping it's going to go well. Maybe they'll make him a long-term contract extension. but now if it comes out and you know and the florios of the world are going to pound the table they need to pay for their actions they've been breaking protocols and listen i don't blame them like he's the most important guy in the organization by a country mile so if they let him circumvent some of these protocols just to take care of them listen this is big boy business this

is a billion dollar business like what were they supposed to do kick him out of the building you know let's be let's be real here it's easy to type on twitter oh my god and it's there's real life and he's the reigning MVP and you're kicking ass and taking names. But if they get a huge fine, what happens when they keep getting peppered with these questions? Do they, does this create a rift, even though they had nothing to do with it? In a perfect world, they would have loved him to get the jab. So this just went away. Now, just because Devanti Adams was vaccinated, he missed last week, you know, whether you get paid or not.

But again, that doesn't impact me or you at all. But I do wonder if there's just going to be this lingering thing, which was already there, now comes back into the forefront. And I heard Colin on Thursday morning talking like, let's face it. Usually when adversity hits, sometimes people point fingers. So do the Green Bay Packers support him? Which I think they will. How he acts when he comes back and has to face the media again,

it could get contentious. It will because the media is going to be throwing jabs at him and he'll probably jab back. and then how that carries over back to the organization. I'll be fascinated to see. No one will know, but I know this. The next time Rogers talks, it's going to have a lot of eyeballs

and I know that I will be watching. But on the bright side, if you're the Packers, is this rift originally, let's face it, was created because of this guy named Jordan Love. He hated the draft pick. Even though at the time, Rogers, it looked like it was kind of trending down. They drafted him at the end of the first round.

We've never seen him play beside a couple. Really, I think, like two preseason games. even this year in the preseason he got injured. Well, he gets to play the Chiefs, which is a huge win for the Chiefs this weekend, right? You don't have to face Aaron Rogers. You get Jordan Love. But what if Jordan Love is good?

And let's just say Rogers misses two games. And let's say win or lose, if Jordan puts together two good games, throws, you know, six touchdowns in the next two weeks, looks good with Devante Adams, moving around, looks like a legitimate quarterback. They're going to have two options. If Rogers at the end of the year,

this thing is lingered. The Rift comes back up and he's like, I demand a trade. You might feel good about your backup quarterback. You might go, you know what? This sucks. Obviously, we do not want to get rid of Rogers, but he's putting his stake in the ground.

He refuses to be a team player and he wants to go. So we're offering him $150 million. He won't take it. What are you supposed to do? You do have a backup plan, which is probably the second thing you're rooting for. Ideally, what happens, he's sweet. Think how many teams need a quarterback. The football team does not have a quarterback. The Denver

Broncos do not have a quarterback. The Houston Texans do not have a quarterback. There are no quarterbacks in this draft. The Philadelphia Eagles might, you know, Jalen Hertz, he ain't the quarterback. These teams are going to, what if this guy's good? Could you just get like the Jimmy Garapolo trade for? Could you trade him for a second round pick? Then all of a sudden, you know, you don't recoup, recoup all of his value, but you're able to flip him for something. of value and then pay Rogers and move on. To me, that is the best case in error, but he has to play well.

And the way he's looked at, and this is how you look at it when you're a scout, is like, if I'm evaluating a college prospect, I evaluate you based on, like, if you're in the SEC, I'm going to watch you against Alabama and Georgia. Those are the first two games I'm going to watch. If you're a free agent, I'm going to watch you

against the best teams you've played on your schedule, right? If you're a defensive end, well, how have you played against the best offenses you faced. Did you play the Rams? Did you play Arizona? Did you play Green Bay? You know, did you play, I'm trying to think in the AFC, Baltimore, right? Cincinnati, if you're a corner, like I evaluate you against the best competition. Well, the Chiefs aren't good on defense. So he's going to have to look good like the bar is going to be a little higher. If he was playing, you know, the Buffalo Bills, if he was just serviceable, you'd be like, this guy might be okay.

If he plays against the Chiefs and does not throw for a couple touchdowns, it's not going to be good. So there's a lot on the line, big picture, regardless of Rogers with Jordan Love this weekend. And I think if you're the Chiefs, like you just got kind of thrown a bone. You don't have to face one of the best players in the league, one of the best teams in the league. You could argue the best team in the league, getting Devante Adams. I read he's back in practice. So this kind of becomes must win the moment you see Jordan Love if you're the Chiefs. This week marks the halfway point for the NFL season.

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Mahomes, Tyreek, Kelsey, I like the Chiefs. like them to win pretty big. I would put $5 on the Chiefs to win $150. Fan Duel is the sports betting made simple. They're always hooking up you with great offers. Plus, when you win, you'll get paid

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Fan Duel app. 21 and present in Arizona Colorado, Indiana, Michigan, New Jersey, Tennessee, Virginia, or West Virginia. Refund issued as non-witrable site credit that expires in seven days. Max refund, $10. 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 which 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 IHeard radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. 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 Jette. 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. 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 Hard Way 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, Tript Fantine, 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,

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Keir Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open your free IHartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.Fanduel.com.

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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. Let's go to Cleveland and O'Dell Beckham. And I think we all know these people that it's just always something. I've disassociated with a lot of. lot of those people as I've gotten older, but like when I was young, like in high school, everyone knew the guy that was just always in trouble.

Could not avoid it. No matter what he did, it was like, oh my God. Same thing actually in college too. It's like, are these guys just dumber? It's like, well, no, I do dumb things too. Why is he always getting caught? Why is he always getting in trouble? You know, and some people just, you know, like if you're a miserable older people,

miserable people need company, right? Most happy, positive people don't associate themselves with misery. It sucks. It's why I always try to disassociate myself with the media. It's like, God, these people are miserable. I feel bad for their significant others that have to sleep with these people every night. It just seems like misery.

But misery just kind of attracts other miserable people. And for whatever reason, dysfunctional people just kind of gravitate toward those people, right? Jeff Bezos ain't hanging out with a lot of dysfunctional people. Right? Tom Brady, not doing it. I mean, Nick Saban, a lot of high-level people, he's around. He, losers, you know, people getting, he's just, he doesn't surround himself with those people. But for whatever reason, the Cleveland Browns, you know, there's several organizations historically that just attract that, right?

And Cleveland can't shake it. Like it's drip, drip, drip, this is like Cleveland, Odell Beckham, let's face it, they're kind of made for each other. We always act like, O'Dell Beckham, he was a star, kind of. Had a couple moments for bad Giants teams. Like, I viewed Odell Beckham as kind of a complainer. It's woe as me. It's someone else's fault. Like, no, it's Odell Beckham.

You kind of are what you are now. Like, you're well established. Like, you can't play the victim card. The Browns. Like, you're always in shambles beside last year. For whatever reason, I don't know. You know, it's even your owner. A couple years ago, it gets popped for cheating out the truckers.

It's always something. It feels like these guys are made for each other. But what I do not understand, I get where Odell Beckham threw out the bat signal to the LeBron got LeBron tweeting

and Instagramming about him got his dad throwing out YouTube videos like that that feels par for the course for the Browns but that doesn't mean that other teams

actually value them and the problem was as you saw with the Vaughn Miller trade teams did not have any cap space because last year with the lost revenue the salary cap came down

well if I'm going to trade for a guy let's just pick an even number making $10 million on the season Well, halfway through the season, I then owe him $5 million the rest of the season. If I have a total cap space going into the regular season of $3 million, I can't fit that $5 million under my cap.

So a guy like Odell Beckham, they made whatever $15, $16 million this year, most teams do not have $6, $7 million in cap space. So I couldn't even trade for him if I wanted to. I don't understand why the Browns didn't just eat the money, and get rid of them for like a six or seventh round pick because to me that was his value around the league. Now maybe there's a chance that no one was going to trade for him. I do think that's very possible.

He's a has-been. He is no longer some dominant player. Those days are in the past. And I know a lot of people love holding on to the past. I like looking forward. And it's 2021, not 2017. He's just kind of a guy right now. And when you're a smaller wide receiver

who hung his hat on speed and explosion and you're not quite as explosive anymore and you're not just super try hard, you know, die hard teammate. You know, it's like you get thrown kind of to the side. But I don't understand why the Browns, once they couldn't trade them, and let's face it, they probably would have traded them

at this point for a bag of balls and ate some of the money. Now maybe there's a chance the owner doesn't want to eat the money. I don't know. No one will know really beside the GM and the owner. But why not cut him at this point? if you're going to consistently just send him home and not allow him to practice, I don't get it.

It doesn't make any sense to me. Like if he's playing, whatever, you're not seeing eye to eye, but you're just going to play with it. I would go, okay, you know, it's just, this is the big leagues. You're paying him a lot of money. He can still be somewhat, you know, I guess productive. He's just a body for you. But now you're refusing to even let him participate. Just cut fucking bait.

Why do you want this going on? I don't get it. He hates your quarterback. Clearly the quarterback doesn't like him. The head coach doesn't like him. I'm always told, listen, I think highly of Stefanski. I've never met. Actually, when I was advanced scouting,

I sat next to Andrew Berry one time. It was probably like 2011. And I remember asking someone when I got back about him, I'm like, oh, he's that Ivy League guy. He's really smart. It's a good young scout. And clearly he's become a general manager. They have an Ivy League GM.

They have an Ivy League coach. Why are they doing this? Like, if you ever want to break out of the dysfunctional organization, category. You can't do things like this. This can't happen. Like, remember the Steelers with Antonio Brown? It would like, they'd always be able to handle it. Then they had a tipping point in the off season and he went away. But in season, even when he like threw the ball at Rothensberger, they could just figure it out. But when you're dysfunctional and you get other dysfunctional

people around you, let's face it, Baker is a little bit. Clearly Beckham is, has a long history of it. It just kind of permeates, permeates, permeates, I can't even say that word, throughout the building. right? It's just it's just kind of everywhere. And you can't stop it. It's like a leak that breaks into a flood. And the Steelers could handle it. New England handles it. Good teams handle it.

But Cleveland can't. And right now they have a problem. They have an issue. And I just don't get why they're holding on to it. The easy move, cut bait, move on. And again, in defense of Andrew Barry, maybe his owner is refusing him to just, refusing to let him pay Beckham to walk away.

But that's just, that's just bad business. Obviously, the story coming out of Las Vegas this week is horrific. Someone lost, you know, tragically was killed. And a young woman and her dog lost her life. The visuals of the burning car. You're not human if it doesn't hurt your heart.

And, you know, I hate that. I'm guilty of this because I didn't want, to, but I saw a TMZ tweet of Ruggs sitting on the corner. I clicked on it and him screaming and cry. It's just the whole thing. Just absolutely a 22 year old threw his entire life away.

And I hear a lot like, oh, it's like, Dante Stalworth only got 30 days. Henry Rugg's going to jail for a long time. I'll promise you that. This doesn't have that many parallels to Dante Stalworth. There wasn't a lady that burned alive in a car blown up with a guy going 150 miles an hour on a residential street.

It ain't the same. And listen, the states are different. Vegas, he's in major, major trouble. It's by, Henry Rugg's life, you know, I don't want to say over, because if you do 20 years by the time he gets out, he might be 40 or 15 years. But his life is ruined and it's self-inflicted. He did this.

But when you hear the story of Derek Carr telling he was at Top Golf and texting him pictures of a swing at 11 o'clock at night, and then three or four hours later, this happens. It's just, again, you're not a human if it doesn't create emotion inside you if you follow this sport. But I think, listen, we've all, maybe not some of you, if you haven't lost a grandparent, a parent, a friend, you know, had tragic things happen to your life. But it's hard. The older you get, like once you get to my age, it's basically inevitable that you're going to go through shit out of your control that is going to be, just bad, horrific.

You know, things or tragedies are going to happen. And it's, you eventually, like you learn, you know, there's a, obviously everyone grieves differently, but the sun comes up the next day. Like, businesses keep going. You know, you don't, you can stop. You can, you know, we all, you'll handle things differently. But like, life moves on. And if you have certain jobs, like, especially the quarterback of a team, you know, you still,

like, Derek Carr, I thought, for the 50th time on Wednesday to just carry a Raiders franchise that used to be a lot like the Cleveland Browns. And honestly, without Carr, I don't think there would be that many differences between the Browns, the lions, the dysfunction that just rings true.

And Derek has been the constant of just professionalism and I would even just say credibility that the organization, you know, for basically the last couple decades, It's just without him, they would not have. And, you know, I do think you get to a point where, you know, you learn this in like business school, the law of diminishing returns, right?

You can handle, like, some tragedies or some things that, you know, rocks your world as a company, as an individual, as a group, whatever. You can almost, you know, use it to gravitate toward each other. And use it as like a rallying cries the wrong. word, but just to come closer together. And I think the Raiders did that without Gruden, right? They've won the last two games and played really well. I mean, convincingly kicked ass against the Broncos and Eagles.

They've looked fantastic. And John Gruden was, you could almost argue he was an anchor on the franchise. It was not going well. And without him, it felt like almost, you know, the elephant in the room of negativity and drama was just removed. And that was before the email. So it was just. He was like a bigger-than-life caricature that wasn't as good of a coach as he was famous.

And I thought once he was removed, I'm like, damn, these guys could just, the AFC's wide open. I mean, Tennessee right now is the number one seed, and Derek Henry is out for who knows how long. Could be the entire season, right? The Chiefs are kind of in shambles. The Ravens just had that bad loss to Cincinnati. Like every, the Pittsburgh, Rafflesburg, he's old. Patriots have a rookie quarterback. I don't think the AFC in the last couple decades

has ever been more open. But on Monday, I was thinking, God, could the Raiders be the number one seed? I do think you get to a point where it's just hard to overcome this. You know, Derek, I watched his press conference yesterday, and he's like, you know, I was walking through the locker room and I look and I see Henry Rugg's locker

and it just kind of hits me, you know? And they have a unique group. Obviously, Derek has been with the Raiders for a long time. He's seen it all. You have their best player on the team is a recovered drug addict. One of the great stories in the NFL who was like a beloved teammate on that team in Darren Waller. And then their defensive leader, you know, had to go to rehab for alcoholism last year and he's cleaned up his life. And it's another great story who's become a great player in Max Crosby.

So like they actually for having, you know, they have a team full of a lot of guys with life experience. and I do think you can get together but there's a human element to this that Gruden just did not bring to the table. You know, obviously a young woman lost her life but, you know, a teammate who they just had spent a lot of... I mean, Josh Jacobs, think how long Josh Jacobs has probably known Henry Ruggs for.

You know, six years, seven years, right? They both went to Alabama together. They were both there at minimum, you know, three years. Jacobs was a senior. So Jacobs was probably on the team when Ruggs came on his recruiting trip. like we're humans, you know, and it's just this type of situation

they can rock you. Now, they're playing the Giants this week. They're leaving on Friday. I've already bet them to win. But I do wonder, like, it's just hard to shake so many of these things. And I don't know

if it's going to come to catch them. And there's a football aspect of Henry Ruggs was an ascending player. He looked fantastic this year. His statistical line, did not match what his impact was on the field. I think he had a chance to become a really, really good player. And now he's gone forever.

I mean, obviously they cut him. But, you know, and I see a lot of this like, his career is not over. Like, guys, he is going to jail for a long fucking time. Like, it's not arguable. Like, he ain't, it's over. Like, it's done. Like, he ain't coming back from this. And I'm not one to say that.

like when something happens to someone I don't ever say that this is this is the private sector you know you always look past when money's on the line it's just whether that makes you uncomfortable or not it's just that's the reality of life in how we operate in America but this one like I don't he ain't even

to be available and I think if you know I've never known a person that's gone to jail for 10 years or 15 years but if you would spend a lot of time with them even if you think the act that whatever they committed was heinous that would still impact you so I don't know if it's going to catch up to him this week.

Again, I put money on the Raiders to beat the Giants who have a COVID problem going on right now. But I do wonder if, like, as the season goes, if they just kind of, you know, I don't want to say fall flat, but it would be understandable. If they do overcome it, if they make the playoff, if they win the division, I think you can just hand the MVP to Derrick Carr, especially if he keeps playing how he's been playing. it would be a remarkable. Like, clearly it would encompass more than football, but if you're able to overcome your coach getting fired

for a non, you know, football thing, right, with the emails, and then a teammate slash an incident like this happening and you lead a team to, you know, 12 victories, it's a fucking remarkable accomplishment. Derek even talked about, you know, I don't have a choice. I have to compartmentalize. And this is what I'm saying, like, we all can compartmentalize no matter how much trash.

or death or whatever you've been through, but eventually it hits you. You know, and you just, it's hard to focus. You know, I don't care how mentally tough you are. We're all humans at a point. And this one, whether it catches up to them this week, but I could see just them going through a very, very rough game. It would be very understandable in the near future.

And lastly, the college football playoffs. I understand the business of the, the sport is to generate interest and a huge, and listen, college football right now is the number two sport in America. The NFL is number one by a wide margin. College football is two. Like last week, Michigan and Michigan State got nine million people. Nine million people like the World Series got 11 million people watching. The NBA, a big game for them during the regular season is like two million people. Michigan, Michigan State, nine million people. Ohio State averages 5 million people watching their games.

College football is a bohemist. It's a cash cap. And the way to increase just interest are put these arbitrary numbers next to teams. And they've been doing it forever. Right? It happens in college basketball is no different. But unlike college football,

all the teams who are any good make the tournament. So everyone has a shot to win the national championship. In college football, obviously before the playoffs, it was just, it felt a little thrown together. oftentimes it didn't feel like a deserving team even got a shot. It was just, there wasn't a rhyme or reason to it. Now there's a rhyme or reason. Four teams get in.

But to do this this early, to me seems like, can you imagine if we did an NFL playoff show? Like, this are going to be the matchups in Thanksgiving. And we just did like a serious show. You'd be like, well, these teams, like three of these teams still play each other. they all have the same record. Why are we wasting any breath? We don't do that, right?

We talk about the individual weeks games because there's not some arbitrary number next to teams' names in the NFL. You're they're going to make the playoffs or you're not. Now, obviously it's harder to make the college football playoffs because there's four teams. But by doing these games, like, I thought it was kind of stupid. Now, I understand why they do it,

and I get why the interest. But I guess I think it's stupid if you make a big deal, of it because just Georgia right now, clearly the number one team, no one argues. But Alabama, even before they get to Georgia, they already got a loss. They have to play at Auburn. Now, I don't think Sabin is, you know, Brian Harsen is Sabin's equal, but Auburn's pretty good this year. And let's face it, Alabama is somewhat a shell of itself. So for Alabama to stay in the top four, they have to win at Auburn, which they have lost before in the Sabin era, and then they have to beat Georgia,

who Georgia in that game, I would guess, will be a 7 to 10 point favorite. They are going to be a massive favorite, even over Alabama. Then take a step back. Michigan State. Well, Michigan State plays Ohio State. Guess what's going to happen in that game? They're going to be a massive underdog. And let's face it, more than likely, Ohio State's winning that game.

So that's going to play itself out. And then Oregon, have you watched them play? they are no lock to win out. They're just not. They get up for big games and they get down for little games. They still play at Utah, which they could lose that game. While they're better, they could lose. And then you look at the team, Ohio State, like I said, plays Michigan State,

and Oklahoma still play several teams that are in the top 15. So I understand getting all fired up on this and putting out the early rankings and getting everyone excited. Do you know the only thing we learn? the only thing we truly learned is that a non-power-5 team is never going to make the playoffs. And you know what?

I don't care. Like, I'm okay with that. Like, this is the country club that includes Power 5 programs. The non-power-5 programs are not invited to it. Every country club in America, like Augusta,

every state has these. Just because you have a lot of money, doesn't mean they're going to let you in. Just because you're having a good season, doesn't mean I have to let you in my playoff. And they can say whatever they want. It's white noise. We know they are on the outside looking in. And I saw yesterday Gus Belzon, who's now at UCF and clearly coached at Auburn forever, played Alabama every single year. I said, I've been in the SEC, I played Alabama, I played Georgia,

I know what it looks like. Cincinnati is they're equal. Well, that's great, Gus. But the people that decide don't agree with you. 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. 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, 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,

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And I'm cool with that. Because, listen, when I worked in college football, I was at a non-power-5. And while we played Boise and we would play up, you know, Wisconsin, and we would play Power 5 programs. But most weeks, it was like New Mexico, San Diego State. New Mexico State. It was teams that Hawaii that just aren't the same

as going through the rigors of playing even just Kentucky in Tennessee and Florida or Penn State in Iowa. It's a completely different level. So it doesn't bother me at all, but I think the overreaction sometimes to the early college football

playoff rankings is just that because it always plays itself out because all the top teams always in conference end up playing other ranked teams. And they will either stay up or they'll come back down. It's a tried and true formula. It happens every single year. And if I would guess, Ohio State's going to beat Michigan State. And ultimately, Mel Tucker is going to be at LSU.

In Oregon, like, I do not feel very confident that they're just going to win out. I will be stunned if they do not have a game over the next month where it's like tied in the second half. And you're like, oh, are they going to go down? because if they lose, they're gone. And then Oklahoma, if they went out, especially against, they beat Oklahoma State and they beat Baylor, they're going to be in the final four.

It's too bad that Texas and Paul Assassin, if you haven't heard the Paul Assassin story, make sure you Google that, is nowhere near the Final Four, because Sark is already four and four. He has his special teams coach, married or dating a stripper, biting kids.

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Okay, let's get to a little Middlecoff mailback. At John Middlecough is the little thing we call an Instagram account. I heard Derek Carr speak about the Henry Rugg situation. He is so reliable, mature, and impressive at the mic. How valuable do you think he is for the Raiders organization off the field? Thanks a bunch. Love the show. Like I said earlier today, I mean, I just,

they'd be a joke without him. They were a joke before them. They had moments even with them that they were kind of a joke when he was a younger player. And, yeah, I mean, they would be the Lions. They would be the Lions in a cooler market. No offense, Detroit, never been there,

but that's what they would be. So to me, they're very lucky to have them. They're very lucky Reggie McKenzie drafted him in the second round. Because Mark Davis never talks, right? Gruden, you know, was a laughing stock. I get laughing stock would be strong. I mean, he was definitely not worth the $100 million, that's for sure. So I think they are, they're very lucky to have the guy for sure.

And he's a good player. You know, I mean, he's a top, you know, 10 quarterback in the league. He's probably somewhere this year between like 7 and 10. He's just a really good player. He's the best quarterback. You know, Rich Gannon was only there a couple years. Now he won an MVP.

But, you know, Derek's career, he's going to have to make a playoffs a couple times. I guess Rich did make the playoffs and go to a Super Bowl. But, you know, at worst, he's got a chance to be the, you know, second best quarterback in the last 50 years. Ken Stabler, Rich Gannon. I know what's his name? What the hell is his name? He went to Stanford.

He won a couple of Super Bowls. Not Tom Flores, the guy that were... Jim Plunkett, but Derek's a better player than Jim Plunkett. But Jim Plunkett was a Super Bowl champion. They won two in L.A. Huge Cowboy fans. What's your take on the Gallup when Gallup comes back? Four wide spread with two backs?

Honest opinion. If you were the de-coordinator, how would you game plan against them? I had thought, like, should they trade Gallup? You know, I'm pretty sure Michael Gallup is in a contract year. I think the best thing they can hope for is Gallup comes back and is good. And then, right, they have, I mean, Amari and CD are going nowhere. That Wilson kid is good. Gallup's so cheap.

I'm going to his contract page right now. They got him in the second round. Yeah, he's a huge. UFA. So to me, if he comes back, you want him to look good so you can tag and trade. Could you tag and trade him to someone for like a third round pick? Like, I mean, I think he's a pretty good player. I thought he was really good.

Yeah, I mean, I spread it out, you know? That's what I'd do. I'd spread that baby out and throw the pill around. You know, Gallup, you know, I guess tag and trade might be a little tough. He had 66 catches two years ago. He had 60 catches last year. He's got 11 touchdowns the last two years. He hasn't played yet this year.

I always like Michael Gallup. I think they drafted in the second round. They drafted in the second round? They drafted the third round. And really, you know, if it wasn't CD hadn't fallen to them, they wouldn't have drafted CD. So I think that kind of changed the game. With the AFC in such a log jam currently,

who do you consider to be the top team at this point? I don't think there is one because Tennessee is the number one seed without Derek Henry, they just are not the top team. Their defense is not good enough to be the top team. I can't say they're the best team in the AFC. And they're good. I mean, they're fine.

I'm pulling up the playoff standings. Vegas, I mean, they just lost one of their best players. That one, and I think Vegas is a playoff team. I couldn't put the Ravens ahead of the Raiders because the Raiders beat the Ravens. I'd probably say the Bills. I think if the Bills played the Ravens, the Raiders, and the Titans, I would, you know, in a playoff game,

I would pick the Bills in all those games. Because I wouldn't take the Bengals, I wouldn't take the Steelers, I wouldn't take the Chargers, I wouldn't take the Patriots. I would say the Bills are the best team in the AFC. With the Ravens and Raiders kind of right behind them. I said it on my other podcast. The AFC is wide freaking open. Forever it was not open.

It was Brady and Belichick and Peyton Manning. And then the last three years, it was Mahomes. Now it's like, the bills are by no means a lock. Like, they can lose a playoff game. So I would say that I think this AFC is for anyone could win it. Before Ruggs went out, I thought the Raiders had a pretty good chance to compete with anybody. But that makes it a little more difficult. I'd say the Ravens, but they have had so many injuries.

And they got their ass kicked by the Bengals a couple weeks ago. I don't know. The NFC is going to be just powerhouses, right? Tampa, when Rogers comes back, L.A. Like, that's just the Dallas. I mean, those four teams are fucking good. I mean, all four of those teams can win it. Arizona, I think, is going to be a little more difficult.

But Arizona is going to make the playoffs. But those four teams can win the, like, if any one of those four teams were in the AFC, we would pick them. the Cowboys scheduled to have seems to have them slotted against less than stellar quarterback talent. The top quarterbacks they've played have been Brady and Herbert.

One was a loss, the other was a field goal at the end. Could there be in for a disappointment come the playoffs? They'll be when they're facing elite quarterback. Well, sure. I mean, that's the playoffs. It's hard. You know, you play the best quarterbacks in the playoffs. Whenever you lose in the, like Rogers last year, was a big disappointment.

the chiefs last year was a big disappointment. When you lose in the playoffs, unless the Cowboys do not win the Super Bowl, it's going to be a major disappointment. Because the Cowboys, so they play Denver this week. I got news for you. They're going to win that game.

Then they play Atlanta. They're going to win that game. They're going to be 8 and 1. Then they got the Chiefs and the Raiders back to back. Okay. Then the Saints. Then Football Team. New York, football team,

Philly, Arizona. I mean, they're going to win 12, 13 games. I mean, they have a very good chance to be the number one seed. More likely, they're the two or three seed. And they're hosting a playoff game. And hell, in the second round, they might be hosting a playoff game again.

If they're the two seed, they're going to host back-to-back games, assuming they win the first game. Now, granted, two-seat, it could be like Niners Cowboys, which talk about television ratings. That thing will do about 30 million people.

Yeah, I mean, I... When you lose in the playoffs and you're a 13, 14 win team, it's a kick in the you know what. I mean, it is... Think about all the playoffs. Let's just think out loud about some of the playoffs last year. Kansas City, devastating.

Buffalo, not quite as devastating. No one thought they could beat the bills. Packers losing to the Tampa. I mean, that was a big time loss. When the Saints lost to Tampa in the second round at home, That was a big time loss. That was Drew Breeze's last game ever as a pro.

Remember some of the visuals of Brady and Breeze on the field after with his kids? Brady's fan, or I mean, Breeze's family, Tom throwing one of Drew's kids' balls. It was clear. It was over. Like that was the end. And it's always the end whenever you're season. I'll never forget my first year in the NFL, we made the playoffs. We won the NFCs.

We hosted the Packers. And that was the year Aaron Rogers, won the Super Bowl. And he beat us. And the season, you spend all this time, all season long, every week, just grinding, grinding, grinding, grinding, your team's good. We had Michael Vic, and he almost won the MVP. And it was like, can we, can we go to the NFC championship game? We're going to win a couple of playoff games. And then you lose. You're like, what do you do the next day? You're like, yeah, you start getting ready for free agency in the draft. It just ends. So when it ends, it sucks. I mean, it is a kick.

in the you know what. I mean, it is a gut punch. So, Brady, here's the thing. Tom's going to lose one of these years in Tampa. Like, I mean, they might win back to back, but let's just, statistically speaking, what are the chances that Tom Brady ends his career

with nine Super Bowls? You'd say, probably not, right? Is it great? Like, one of these years, Tampa Bay this year, let's say they're the two-seat, and they play the Niners. And the Niners are a seven-point underdog. I'm not saying this because I'm a Niners guy.

I'm just saying like, it could be, I would put another team in there, but it doesn't really, you can't put Minnesota in there. They wouldn't lose to Minnesota. Let's just say Kyle Shanahan were to upset him. Can you imagine the feeling like, oh my God, is Tom Brady going to retire? Is he going to come back for another one? He can't end his career like that. Can you imagine how mad Tom would be?

We don't see Tom mad that often. Just like historically, we didn't get to see Bill mad that often. They didn't lose. They went to the Super Bowl all the time. Remember the couple times they lost it was like, oh, there's Bill. not shaking anyone's hand. Tom walking right off, sore losers.

What did Lombardi say? Show me a good loser. I'll show you a loser. Like, sore losers are usually, you know, especially when they're winners, they're not used to losing. So it's got to happen. It's just, if Tampa does not make the Super Bowl this year,

it's going to be a pretty historic moment when Brady loses. Because he's just, the last deck, six, seven years, he's, at minimum, made to the Super Bowl. And then how many Super Bowls does he have in the last five years? Four? He has four Super Bowls basically since 2015.

That's insane. That's nuts. But it's also a fact. Have a good weekend. Enjoy some college football. Enjoy some cocktails. Enjoy your family. And see you guys Monday.

I'll actually talk to you guys Monday. Unless you subscribe to the YouTube channel, then you can see some of this stuff. Adios. The volume. If you love to be remembered, as the person who gives the best birthday gifts? I'm here to tell you that 1800flowers.com is your ultimate birthday gifting destination.

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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 podcasts.

A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me. Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media.

Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Cliford 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 Clivert Show on the I-Hard 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. 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.

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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 grahammed. Listen to Superhuman on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.