The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 3 and Out - MNF Bucs/Giants Reaction; Lamar Limitations; Potential Tua Pivot; Belichick's Push Back; Week 8 Wrap Up; Mailbag

Episode Date: November 3, 2020

In this episode, John explains why Brady's pocket presence is a lost art among the younger QB's like Daniel Jones, why the evidence that Lamar Jackson can't win from the pocket, why he would be open to drafting a QB if Tua doesn't pop, looks at Bill Belichick pushing back against critics of New England's rough year, and answers listener questions in the Middlekauff Mailbag. Follow John on Twitter and SUBSCRIBE now to get all the latest content!! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque.

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

A win is a win. I don't care which 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 Clifers Show. This is a place for raw, unfilled conversations with athletes,

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From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84's big to me. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians,

and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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 the best birthday surprise. Shop thousands of unique gifts at 1800flowers.com for exclusive offers and great values. To order today, visit 1800flowers.com slash tune in.

That's 1,800flowers.com slash tune in. What is going on, everybody, John Middletop? Three and out podcast. Back at it again. I do think this might be the last week here on Collins' feed. So make sure to go to the three and out podcast. Apple, Spotify, wherever the hell you listen to podcast, and go subscribe. I would greatly appreciate that.

Go subscribe. And big things happening, big things. Just like this giant Tampa Bay game that just ended. Actually, a much better Monday night game than I thought. We'll dive into a lot of stuff that just happened this weekend. Lamar, you know, kind of is what he is at this point. To a situation, some of the stories that came out this weekend about potential. them pivoting if he's not good enough.

Did they just start him because I wouldn't blame it if there's Stephen Ross was watching Justin Herbert and Joe Burrell like can I see my guy? Belichick's getting crushed from being a bad GM. Some other thoughts on things we saw this weekend. At John Middlecoff is my Instagram. We do Middlecoff mailbag, slide up in those DMs. And you get your questions answered here. The people show also like I said, three and a half.

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So we'd appreciate that. I guess it's a big week going on. The election is happening. If you're listening to this on Tuesday or Wednesday, So hold on to your butts. Let's start with this. And I was just watching the Monday night game and the polar opposites of when Daniel Jones would come on the field

and then Tom Brady would come on the field. And I noticed something. And I don't think enough players in the NFL do this. If I was, even if I was a mobile quarterback, I don't understand why these guys don't study Tom Brady and his movements within the pocket. Now, clearly playing within the pocket is the hardest skill to find, right?

It's actually when I watched Joe Burrow and I threw on the Cincinnati Tennessee game this morning, I was like, he is so poised in that pocket, and he's so under control. But I would just emulate, and like the best pocket quarterbacks of the last decade, right? Or Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning,

these guys can't move. Like Aaron Rogers is a great pocket quarterback, but in his back pocket, I mean, I'm not trying, pun intended. He can always roll out, obviously, Russell Wilson and some of these mobile quarterbacks, a younger Ben Rothersberger. Even though old Rothersberger now is kind of just stuck, he can't really move, but he's really good in the pocket. And part of it is huge and he can see, but I would just, I would copy these old guys. Like if I was a talented young quarterback, Deshawn Watson, whoever. Because I think sometimes young players, their pocket mechanics,

get kind of shitty. And you saw Daniel Jones in the the game. And listen, he is, he's a very flawed player. He has a lot of talent, but he turns the ball over at rapid rates for a guy that needs to be accurate. He doesn't have great touch. He's very hit or miss with that. And his pocket play is horrendous. He's running into sacks. When I watch young quarterbacks in the NFL, so many of them move backwards when kind of, you know, everything gets crazy in the pocket. And listen, the most under- part about playing NFL quarterback that we never talk anything about, right? It's always arm strength and are they tall enough, or do they have athleticism enough, is toughness.

You have to be a tough MFer to stand in that pocket with four or five guys, and the four guys, typically, two of them are over 300 pounds, probably all run, you know, sub 5040s, multiple guys, 250, 260 pounds on the edge that all run 4-6, 47. threaded, no body fat, coming after your ass. And then if they blitz linebackers, those guys are typically six foot now, all running four-force, full speed, will destroy you. So the most underrated attribute of a quarterback is toughness.

Impossible to quantify it, we know it when we see it. Because all the tough quarterbacks are willing to step up in the pocket. Because when you step up in the pocket, do you know what you do sometimes? You step right into the rush you get hit. When you step away from the pocket and you're kind of, you know, floating backwards. In theory, you're avoiding pressure, right? But a lot of times, the outside rushers, you run into them. How often do you see quarterbacks run into sacks? Now, I don't pretend to be Bill Walsh or Sean Peyton or Andy Reid when it comes to like dissecting the quarterback,

but it's pretty basic. I watched Tom Brady all night. He cannot move. He's probably, I mean, it's probably one of the worst athletes in the league, right? He was when he came in a league. Well, he's now he's 43. He's in better shape now, but he can't run. He can't run away from anybody. Yet he never goes backwards. He only goes forward. I saw this with Baker Mayfield this weekend. He's always running to the right or to the left. Like, bro, stay in the pocket, step up. If it's not there, throw the ball away. Daniel Jones, on this last drive of the game, right before he hits Golden Tate for a really nice touchdown, he got this lucky like fourth and 15. He almost ran right into a sack. because when you backpedal at quarterback and you're going right or left,

you're going to run into one of the defensive, the pass rushers, the ends, the edge rush, because typically the offensive linemen are pushing them up field. I see it happen all the time. And sometimes with the young athletic guys, Lamar's, Deshawns, Russell used to do this really early in his career. He's gotten so much better. Like Russell, when he's in the pocket and there's a lane, he has no problem stepping up and making throws. He's developed into a great pocket quarterback. Great might be strong, but a really, really good pocket quarterback.

In those first three or four years of Russell Wilson's career, it's like, could he do that? Rogers is the greatest hybrid because he can play anyway. If he wants to just eat you alive from the pocket, he can step up all day long. But he has the athleticism to either roll to the right and roll to the left, but also not really run into sacks. These young quarterbacks like Daniel Jones, then the Deshawns and Lamars and the Jimmy Garoppos, they do these like 360s in the pockets, and they run right into pass. pressure. You know who I never see do that? Drew Brees. Uh, Peyton Manning forever, Philip Rivers

forever. Obviously Tom Brady. They don't even waste those steps. They don't practice it. But part of it is like when the heat's coming and listen, I don't blame those guys for doing the 360s. I can't imagine seeing the guy run at you. But if you want to be an elite player, you got to be consistent with your footwork in the pocket. Like it's pretty tried and true formula. And I'm a big believer of like the quarterback position has changed, like more athleticism, right? But when you're making throws, unless you have like a Mahomes or Peake Rogers arm and you can get away without perfect footwork in the pocket, the majority of guys, Tom Brady included, have to have to have your feet step stepping up into the pocket. You can't be rolling backward. And I think it's

something you see consistently. It's why so many of these quarterbacks fail in the league. And even not even fail, but never probably reach their ultimate potential. Because a lot of these guys get drafted in the first couple rounds have a lot of talent, right? Big arms, smart kids, looked apart, can move. A lot of them

don't want the heat. And I don't even know if it's don't want the heat. It's just their instincts are, no matter how much you coach them up in practice, no matter how many bag drills you use, it just never gets embedded into their head. Daniel Jones came from a pro-style offense in David Cutcliffe,

who produced the Manning brothers. And you watch them, you're like, God, this guy looks like a quarterback who just never going to figure it out. He's got bad mechanics. He's a bad decision maker. He's not calm in the pocket. You know, this isn't his rookie season. He's been playing a little while now.

And his just, his fundamentals are atrocious. But you do see some talent there. He's athletic. His arm, when at least he sets his feet, he can make accurate throws. But Tom, one of the worst athletes in NFL history, I guess back in the 80s and even 90s, there were a lot of bad athletes at quarterback.

Now, like, you know, not everyone's Lamar or Kyler, but even the average guys are, you know, Josh Allen, right? I mean, just go around the league. Deshawn Watson, these guys can move. Like, Kirk Cousins is at the bottom end. Like, pocket quarterback, like, and Tom Brady has no problem.

He doesn't even play that well tonight. I give the Giants a lot of credit. I've said this. I had a take. I had a sweet segment lined up if the Giants got blown out. Because my take is, listen, I understand how your bread is buttered. And you want big markets on TV. And I'm someone, you know, I grew up in a smaller market, the Sacramento area.

It wasn't the Bay Area. You know, I was a Kings guy, but I was a 49er Giants guy. So I rooted for big, you know, big, I guess money teams. but I remember when the Kings lost the Lakers and no one gave a shit and all my friends, we were devastated and we thought we got screwed. It turned out the referee was on the take with the mob, but later I learned, like, of course the NBA would want the Lakers. Like, I would too.

It's better for business. So I get it. I also believe, like, the next two weeks, the Giants were on Monday Night Football the night. Now, they had a good showing. They actually were pretty entertaining. And the Jets are on next week. I do think there should be some baseline.

like in the NFL, the television ratings. It's such a national sport. Like, I understand why the Yankees are on Sunday night baseball basically every week. They're always good, though. So, like, a Yankee team is always going to the playoffs. So you're putting these Jets and Giants teams, they don't win any games. There should be, like, a mandatory line to get a Monday or Sunday night game. At least Sunday can flex.

Monday you can't flex because of the travel. Like, you should have to have won eight games the year before to get a Monday night football game. Now, I don't pretend to be, I'm naive to the fact, like, there's a lot to go. into this. But the Giants were awful last year. Where did they, where were they in the draft? Like top seven, eight? I mean, they were terrible. And yet they're on Monday night football against Tampa. Now I get to why you put Tampa. They got Tom Brady. And I also gave them a little bit of a pass tonight. You're playing a bad team on the road, prime time games. Even the bad team gets fired up. It's clear Tampa's got a boatload of talent, right? Godwin will come back off the finger

injury. Mike Evans had a touchdown with Tom the night. Gronk. looks better and better. Ronald Johnson, Leonard Fournett, run their ass off. Tampa's defense, you know how I feel the defensive coordinator is the best in the league, if not, you know, top two or three. Devin White is just becoming a superstar. JPP, ever since he blew off his hand, the guy's a badass, plays his ass off, you know, Sue, their front seven is awesome. Their young D.Bs make plays. Whitfield, the safety they drafted in the second round is just a, I mean, that dude is just crushing people. Love Tampa. Like, they're going to be a 12-win team. and probably if they can stay relatively healthy,

the favorite to win the NFC. Because I think they're a little more complete than Seattle. Though Seattle, like, their high end is really high. I could see Seattle, Tampa, Green Bay is still a little flawed. As I'm recording this, the trade deadline's not quite over, so we'll see if they make a trade. I doubt they do. But I just wish we could get teams that are two, three, four-win teams

and that have not won the year before, they shouldn't be allowed on primetime games. Like, can't you do some sort of rotation? And listen, I understand, like, you're not going to put Jacksonville or you want to avoid some of the smaller markets. I get it. So it's really difficult for the league when the NFCE sucks because big markets rate higher.

It's just simple math. There are more people. If the New York Giants play, the Dallas Cowboys or the San Francisco 49ers, you just have more eyeballs in those two cities. than if you have, for example, Jacksonville play Tampa, right? I get it. I do understand, but there has to be a way to just get playoff-level teams in these games.

And there's a huge story today that, like, ESPN and NBC are fighting over Sunday night because Sunday night's the biggest game. It's easier with Sunday because you can flex games because they're on the same day. You don't need to change travel. It's a much easier endeavor. but man, I just, I don't want to look up in November and see a team that doesn't have a win. You know, I don't want to watch the Jets next week. And it could have been a voided.

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 it. on 10 pounds.

I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win.

I don't care which I'll say. 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 brain. a new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated.

One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast, it's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me, or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. 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 Jett. And I'm Alex English. episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack, so I'm starting to see that there's a through line.

We also have AIDS on the table right now, so. Thank you 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, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan, 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 Games, as we have real conversations about healing,

growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free iHeartRadio app, search learn the hard way, and listen now. Now, I get they won seven games last year, so you could say, well, John, they were kind of on the come.

So maybe it's, I hate just throwing crap against the wall without having a solution. I just, I don't know, man. I'm just tired of these crappy teams on my primetime games. Now, I'm going to watch it. I waited to record till after,

at least the opening segment. You know, a little trick of the trade. I already did a little most of the meat of the podcast. But couldn't it be like Tampa for someone better? For the love of God. Get right to the romance and find the way to wow this Valentine's with 1-800flowers.com. From classic roses and bouquets

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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. 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 discons connect 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. Let's dive into, I'd say the game of the day in terms of it actually lived up to being a good game

and the hype leading up to it was the Steelers and the Ravens game. and I think we learned something. Now, some of you might have learned something. I already knew this. I think a lot of you probably already knew it too, because we had evidence. Lamar Jackson is not going to be good at winning big games. Why?

Because you have to pass to beat good teams. And I said it last week when talking about Seattle. I said there are two things that are non-negotiables if you're going to win the Super Bowl. You need a star quarterback and you need a good defense. And when I stay a star quarterback, I don't mean Lamar Jackson. I mean a passing quarterback. Russell Wilson, Aaron Rogers, Patrick Mahomes, and a good defense.

It's pretty clear. The Ravens have a really good defense. Again, these are non-negotiables. You want to compete for the Super Bowl. You need a good defense and you need a star quarterback that can pass because it's a passing league. The Ravens ran for well. 200 yards yesterday and lost. Why? Because her quarterback was throwing interceptions. To win in

2020, you have to throw the ball against good teams. You can beat the shit out of the bangles, you can pound the jags, you can run circles around the Browns. But when you're going to play the Steelers, when you're going to play the Chiefs, when you're going to play in these playoff games, defenses are going to make your quarterback beat you with their arm. Yesterday, Lamar Jackson, I'm recording this on Monday, so if you're listening to Tuesday or Wednesday, completed 13 balls. But it wasn't just the 13 completions. He basically opened the game with a pick six.

Later in the second half, through a key interception that led to a Steeler touchdown. And just wasn't a good enough passer. Because the jury's in. I'm okay with them running a little bit. If he can't beat me throwing the ball, I'm going to have a chance to win. And right now he can't beat me throwing outside the numbers. So if I take away his past game inside, right in the box, my linebackers just take away the tight ends, basically, in safeties.

And I saw Mike Toliman talk about it after the game. We weren't going to take our linebackers off the field to put in more D.Bs and have them run it down our throat. Now, the reality is they were effective running the ball. J.K. Dobbins, a really good player. Gus Edwards. I mean, their run game is good. You don't win in 2020 and really over the last couple decades with a great run game.

It doesn't matter. It's fun. It can win 11, 12 games, and the Ravens are going to win 11 games. And they're going to run it down people's throat consistently. And then when they play the Chiefs and when they play the Steelers and when they play a playoff game,

they're going to get their ass kicked. Now, they didn't get their ass kicked yesterday. They actually outplayed the Steelers. I thought if you just watch the game, you just like, I thought the Ravens were kind of dictating the terms. But they couldn't win the game. Why? Because they couldn't pass to win the game.

And when they had to make some passes, they're either their quarterback through an interception or he just leans to run. And when the game's on the line, like runs, you get stuffed. It's like, I need you passing. There's a reason why the Chiefs would be the heavy favorites right now. Because they have Patrick Mahomes. There's a reason why, as you saw yesterday with Seattle,

now it might have been Jimmy Garoppolo too, but their defense plays well, they're never going to lose. Because Russell's going to destroy you through the air. The rules dictate passing the football now. That's how you dominate in the sport of football. And I like Lamar Jackson. I was wrong on Lamar Jackson. I thought he was going to be a terrible pro.

He's a really good pro. He won the MVP last year. But is he a guy like, would I want him for the next 10 years? No. I'd rather have Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert. They haven't won an MVP. But I know they can win through the air. In theory, I mean, they're on terrible teams.

But, like, I want my quarterback to be a passer. Because, listen, running the ball is fun when you're, quarterback and run around. I saw it. When I was with Philly, we had Michael Vick. It was sweet. He almost won the MVP. And then we got to the playoffs and he was just limited because back then he couldn't really read the nickel blitz and he got hurt a lot and Lamar's actually been durable. My quarterback has to be a throw first guy. Just look at the history of the league. Look at what works. Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Rothosperger. Hell, even Flacco and Eli won three Super Bowl. and how'd they win those three Super Bowls?

Flackos 1 and those guys and Eli's 2. Because he made big plays with his arm. How is this even... How are we still talking about this? Really, we don't need to. Like, we have the evidence. When the Marr plays in big games, he doesn't look good.

Just that simple. Rothersberger, who to me is a shell of Peak Rothesberger when he was this powerful athlete that could move around, but not a runner, but would keep plays alive, he can't really move anymore. He didn't even throw for over 200 yards.

But when the game had to be won in the second half, and definitely in the fourth quarter, when he had to make big throws with his arm, he made him. They scored touchdowns and they ultimately won the game because Rathusberger, who now is much more capable kind of with his head and his brains than he is like with his body. Because he can't move. He's kind of a statue.

But his arm's still good enough and they clay pool, Juju. their receivers are so physical. They just have a great passing game. And that's why the Steelers, like, if they play the Chiefs tomorrow, you'd be like, yeah, Steelers could beat the Chiefs. The Ravens play the Chiefs tomorrow. You'd be like, yeah, no chance.

They ain't winning that game. Passing league. Don't ever forget that. And there are a couple non-negotiables. You want to be a Super Bowl contender. You got to have a good defense. You got to have a stark quarterback. That's simple.

You know, if your quarterback is a liability throwing the ball, that's a problem. That'd be like, yeah, I run a business right now. We don't have a big present on the internet. Like, yes, pretty big liability now. Like, you should probably, you know, have a presence either on Facebook, have a website, have something. Because that's where the consumer is.

If you have an offense right now, you know, we could really run the ball, 250 yards a game. Cool. Like, what about when you're playing the good teams? Can you throw for 300? Not against the Jaguars, not against the Bengals, but against the Steelers, against the Chiefs, against the Titans in the playoffs.

No, you can't. We've seen it now. And some of it's on Greg Roman, because his run scheme is so good that it feels like, I don't know whether it's practice, they don't figure out how to utilize the passing game in practice,

develop their quarterback. And, I mean, it works, right? He won the MVP. But the goal of this sport, when your team that's this good, same with the Niners, back with Kaepernick, I saw it, is not to, like, win the MVP or to win 12 games.

If you're that good, you want to win the Super Bowl. You want to win playoff games. And listen, they had a devastating injury with Ronnie Stanley, who just signed the contract, he got his leg snapped. It was, I squirmed when they showed the replay. It was hard to watch. It's a devastating injury.

And I think Marlon Humphrey is on the COVID list now. But I still think the Ravens are going to be, they're being in the playoffs. And they're not going to, you know, the Steelers are going to win the division. So the Ravens are going to be the five seed. They're going to play the Bills or the Titans. I don't know, the bills, Josh Allen's come back to Earth. But why are the Ravens going to win a playoff game again on the road in the cold? You know, it's like, can you throw?

I don't think you can. Some of that's on the coaches. I'm not putting it all in Lamar because I think their offense kind of dictate you get this so run heavy and then your passes are kind of hit or miss. And the ebb and flow with their offense just does not work against good teams. And it's just, I don't even, I'm just kind of tired of arguing this fact moving forward. Okay, let's type into a story that I found really, really interesting. Didn't see this one coming.

and it was, you know, from a friend, know him a little bit, Adam Schaefter. And he tweeted out that one factor that contributed to the dolphins decision to name two of the starting quarterback was because they owned the Houston Texans pick. Clearly the Houston Texans are not very good,

and that pick may be very high in the draft. The dolphins need to know what they have in Tongaveloa as they enter this, you know, next spring's draft, with their two picks in each of the first two rounds. So if they need to pivot, they will. And it kind of got me thinking. I think a huge part of it is when I got up on Monday, I went to the gym, and I didn't see any of the,

I bet, as you know, on the Titans, they not only didn't cover, they lost. And I watched that game when I went on the treadmill. I'll tell you this, you work out with a mask on? I saw my gym charged me for the first time in like forever. So I'm like, oh, they've got to be open. I'm going to go, I need to get my ass in shape.

You know, instead of just riding this little stationary bike here. So I've gone to the gym for the last week. Now you've got to wear a mask. It's no joke. I mean, I actually feel I'll be able to shed some pounds just with a mask on. I actually kind of like it.

Maybe it gets me breathing a little harder. So I'm watching the game on the stairmaster and going, holy hell. Joe Burrow is just a stud. I watched Herbert. Four straight games, three touchdowns in each game. The only rookies to do that in NFL history, Justin Herbert, Deshawn Watson. Those two guys are franchise quarterbacks.

Joe Burrow is, I mean, his poise is unreal. Herbert's talent is eye-popping. And then I watched Tua yesterday. 12 completions, 93 yards. Now they won the game pretty easily. Two defensive touchdowns and a special team's touchdown. They beat the shit out of the ramps. I mean, destroyed them.

But like 12 to 22 for 93 yards is not getting it done. and I think one thing that's going to factor in, and I've watched a lot of college football, Trevor Lawrence stud, Justin Fields, stud. Kid at BYU, Zach Wilson, stud. Trey Lance, haven't seen them besides some YouTube clips. Everyone in the NFL

thinks he's a freak. I mean, we got four quarterbacks could go in the top ten. Lawrence and Fields are going one too. This Zach Wilson kid at BYU and Trey Lance could both go somewhere between three and 12. So if you're the dolphins, the world,

worst thing you can do in the business of football. And that's what this is. This is a football is a business exercise. The draft is all about value. Free agency is how much you're willing to pay for players. As much as it's about player acquisition. It's about what are you paying for them? How much is it cost to get them?

Don't get a trade for them? What's my trade cost? It's all business. It's all about value. It's all about what you're paying, what you're getting, a return on your investment. Like right now, the Niners have like $80 million on the injured reserve. Not a great ROI, right?

If you look at it in that lens, I saw someone, a baseball writer wrote recently, like, we need to stop calling players assets. It's like, you want to sit at the little kids table? This is a billion dollar business. And trust me, Google asset. Where I come from, that's a positive thing. An asset means you bring something to the table. Do you know what you don't want to be?

You don't want to be a liability. Because you know what happens in business with liabilities? They try to get rid of them. and here's what I know about Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert. I think if we pulled NFL general managers of the greatest assets in the sport of football, I think Mahomes and Rogers and, you know, Rogers is a little older, but Mahomes and Russell Wilson would probably be one, two. And there'd be countless guys like, you know, Aaron Donald.

There'd be coaches like McVeigh, Belichick, Andy, you know, Payton would be valued as high. But we're talking assets. I would say Burrough and Herbert would be two of the better assets in the league, especially when you factor in there in rookie contracts, meaning you could spend otherwise. Remember Bill Simmons, if you used to read him, used to do his trade chart. If we just did the trade chart of the most untradable players in football,

Patrick Mahomes would be won by a mile. Russell Wilson wouldn't be far behind. Justin Herbert and Joe Burrell would be high on the list. They would be very fucking high on the list. To a... Listen, I know Collins talked about it a couple times. like you just watch him, you go he's not that big, and you just watch him in a dolphin's uniform,

he doesn't look that big. His arm's not great. So, and his team's not great, so how is it going to be difficult for him to be, you know, extraordinary? We're just going to have to see. I'm going to have to see more. Now, their schedule gets a little easier, but they're going to need him to, like, throw for a couple,

300-yard games, and you just, or at least see it, 250, just see him, you know, kind of take over, maybe be down at a game, how he reacts. Like, they're going to need these next two months of evidence. Do we got a guy? because the worst thing you can do in the sport of football is go all in on the wrong quarterback. It's at your franchise back there, you know, several years.

And the great part about what they do have, they have a treasure chest of picks. So even if they did screw up, the Arizona Scardle screwed up. They ride it the ship the next year. They just drafted Cala Murray. If Zach Wilson or Trey Lance or one of these guys is dramatically better than Tua, you think, trade Tua, even if it's a second round pick.

Because the worst thing you can do is hold on to him for too long. I think the countdown's on. And listen, where does Brian Flores come from? Bill Belichick. What is Bill Belichick? Cold-blooded. Because what do you have to be in the sport of football? Cold-blooded.

Who do we kind of consistently call beside Belichick the best coach in NFL history? Bill Walsh. What was he known for beside the West Coast offense? Trading guys a year early before a year too late. It's a tough business. This isn't the NBA. This isn't baseball. There aren't scholarships.

besides Mahomes and like Rogers and Russell Wilson, most guys are not on crazy contracts. You can get it in and out of them quickly. It's a great part about football. It's why all of our teams on any given year can be good. It's why we have that record of like a new team has won a division every year for however many years to get the playoffs, right?

We always have a team go I think last to first. It's a great part about football. There's a lot of equality because every team has money because the media rights, one. And the way the draft works, if you get a good course. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque.

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

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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 you all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode

where we've discussed crack, so I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now, so... Thank you for finishing that sentence. 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 I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Keer Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't

realize that we are in possession of the thing and we're still chasing it and we don't know when we've done enough because people scoreboard watch life becomes about wins and losses Steve Burns Dustin Ross because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth or are you a good person because you're afraid because that's two different intentions bro absolutely and that that's two different levels of trust I want you to just really be a good person join me Keer Gaines is we have real conversations about healing growth fathers pressure and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way.

Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the hard way and listen now. Quarterback, if you get Joe Burrow, like I'm watching the Bengals going, I think I tweeted this on Sunday, they're the best shitty team in the league. And they are, you know, some pieces away, draft some offensive linemen,

get them some more skill guys, improve the defense. They're going to be good. They have a star quarterback. Do you know what the San Diego or the L.A. Chargers are? they're a coach away from being a playoff team don't get rid of Anthony Lynn now the question is that Dean Spanel's going to pay any money here's what I know about the dolphins

Brian Flores pretty good coach he beat the piss out of the Rams I mean they came and Molly waft him and I saw him do it to the Niners like he runs a tight ship he runs an impressive operation I am very very impressed now they just need to they have multiple first rounders multiple second rounders

they're in position but if two ain't the guy just pivot So what? Some media people say you screwed up the last fifth pick. Now, it would hurt because you could have got Justin Herbert, but you don't have them. Water under the bridge, it's over. So you just got to decide, and these next, they're four and three, so they got nine more games to find out if this guy's the guy. I know it's a short period of time, but just given the situation that they're inevitably going to be in come this draft,

you got to know. You do. I think the heat's on. And I think, Tua, I don't know if he would know it. Now, the heat's on for him. Like, he was drafted number five. He's got a guaranteed contract. He's going to make his money no matter whether he's traded or stays.

But I'm fascinated to watch this play out because we just saw it with the Cardinals. And I gave the Cardinals kind of a hard time. Like, you know, they're kind of doing Rosen Dirty. I mean, we knew about three games in last year. It was 100% the right decision. One guy's on a practice squad. The other guy was the rookie of the year. If you just watch Kyler Murray, you're like, yeah, Rosen can't hold his jock.

Well, what if you can get Zach Wilson or Justin Fields? and they're a dramatically better, you know, NFL prospect than Tua. Because I just know this, 12 of 22, 93 yards and just kind of a little piece shooter arm. You know, I watch Herbert, watch Burrow. It sure as hell doesn't look like that. On January 19th, 2020 for BBDO and AT&T Radio, ad ID AXWR-0975-0-0-0-0. Spot title, Fiber Lifestyles, Meet the Walker's, BAUC 60.

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one is Belichick has taken a lot of heat his team's two and five they're terrible I think he was asked a question on local radio about if he screwed up the roster and if they should have had more talent and his answer was pretty simple we sold out for the last five or six years and in those last five or six years we won three Super Bowls

we went to another and we went to another AFC championship game. That happened from 14, 15, 16, 17, 17, 18 last year 19 and obviously they lost in the first round of the playoffs. Put all their chips in the middle of the table and they got three rigs

and they went to another where when he benched Malcolm Butler but he didn't bring that part up. But any franchise would take three Super Bowl rings over a five year period of time if that took you to one, season that you end up going to go four and 12.

Four and twelve. Yeah, 16 games. Like that's where they're at. They had a bunch of opt-outs. Cam Newton's not any good. Belichick didn't draft that well the last couple years. It was all worth it. We saw it.

Nine Super Bowl appearances over 20 years. They won six. Like, it doesn't get any better than that. It's never going to happen again. And listen, is Belichick the best GM? No. Has he had a lot of hits? Yes.

Is he the perfect GM? Of course not. He's an elite coach. They lost their quarterback. They ended up with Cam Newton and Jared Sidham. Their team stinks. Not a bad thing. Maybe get to reset, get some money next year.

They're going to have some cat space. They're going to have a bunch of draft picks. Wheel and deal and make some shit happen. But this notion that after seven games that we just forget everything that happened from 2001 to 2019 is just so classic 2020. Like the evidence is in. he's an all-time great.

It was all worth it. We watched him consistently dominate our teams. Whoever your team is, he beat you. And if your team's in the AFC, he probably beat you in big games. And if you're a Steeler or a Colts fan, he did it multiple times.

The Broncos are like, we got him once. He did. But it's like, can we just say, you know, he's due a bad year? Of course, Brady's winning this argument. He went to a team. team stacked. They had Evans.

They had Godwin. He got Gronk. They already had O.J. Howard. They had Brate. They had Ariens, who's a really good coach. They had Todd Bowles, who's one of the best defensive coordinator. It was a really good situation. Of course Brady's winning down there.

Worst case scenario, they were going to win 10. Best case scenario, they win 13. Like, they were going to be good. Belichick was, signed Cam Newton, gave him $500,000. Because he just all the money he had, slash, they didn't really have any other options. There's not any good. It's okay.

Doesn't mean they're going to be bad forever. Who do you bet on more? Him are the Jets? Right? Even the dolphins, like, what if two is not that good? Just pump the brakes, take a deep breath. The evidence is in. Belichick's great.

Having a bad year. He had a bunch of opt-outs, and they just salary cap hell. Andy Reed and the Chiefs, they ran early in that game a fake punt against the Jets. And to me, that's classic of like, how do you get your guys to focus against a team that's not going to win a game?

You do some fun stuff during the week and you get them engaged. So you go, hey, guys, we're going to run a fake punt. You tell them that maybe on Wednesday. It's like, okay, cool, I get to lock in to do something cool on game day. Because otherwise, we're just going to treat this like a normal game. How do you get a team to focus against the Jets? I couldn't focus against a team that, listen, the coaches can get up in front of the room and be like, guys, I'm telling you.

They play hard, they got good players. The film speaks for itself. They're terrible. So this is what elite coaches do. They let their guys have some fun on weeks. Like, when you play the Ravens, when you play the Steelers, when you play a playoff game, there's no fucking around. You might install some trick plays, but it's super focused.

On a week like this, it's probably going to be a little looser, but we stay locked and loaded. Mahomes threw five touchdowns, they ran a fake punt, and they destroyed the Jets. I thought that actually the Jets might play close because the Chiefs wouldn't care that much. But I give Coach Reed and just the Chief's operation credit for looseings. it up a little bit on a game that would be easy to overlook and just not really try. And they didn't just try.

Like the Chiefs tweeted out a video of the guy's dancing. Like they showed up to kill the Jets. That was a bloodbath. You know, watch the Packer Viking game. God, Dalvin Cook, when he gets going, he's a really, really good player. I think it's pretty clear and not like this breaking news that Russell Wilson's in the driver seat for the MVP. He's on pace for 50 plus touchdowns.

His team, you know, will probably when the dust settles might be the one seed. But even if the one or two seed, he's going to have a great statistical year. He's never won it. So the momentum of the arguments already started, and he deserves it. And he was fantastic again against the Niners defense. He was pretty good. You know, I mean, the game was tight until Jimmy Garoppolo was just throwing picks and it just kind of ended. But I said it last year when I saw him live.

it's just the hyperbole there is not like enough you can't overreact to just how sweet this guy is he's like a bigger version of Terrell Owens but he's like Calvin Johnson's height

but he's thicker D.K. Metcalfe is just a dominant dominant force perfect spot perfect quarterback but his talent is elite like his play speed he's got really good hands

he's good at like boxing out corners in like tight window situations he's just a fantastic player, enjoy watching him play, and he's just a absolute monster. And a huge reason he's going to win the MVP, Russ is because of DK. It's like a big reason Tom Brady won the OmbP in 07 was like, Randy.

When you get a great wide receiver to go with a great quarterback, it takes him to another level. The college quarterbacks right now are just stupid good. I mean, obviously Trevor Lawrence is going to be the number one overall pick and he's got Corona right now

and he's not going to play against Notre Dame. his backup. DJ, I don't know how to say his last name. He's a kid from St. John Bosco in Southern California. Number one overall player in the class went to Clemson. Looks like Ben Rothesberger meets like Patrick Mahomes' arm. The guy's an absolute monster. I can't wait to watch them play Notre Dame, actually think that they could beat Notre Dame with his true freshman. He's a baller. Justin Fields is dramatically better. He's really good. A kid from BYU, big time talent. There are some big-time quarterbacks in this draft class that just keep an eye on the BYU guy. Obviously, we all watch Ohio State and Clemson, but the BYU guy can play, and the North Dakota State guy, we don't have any access to them because the season's over.

But those four guys, I think there's a chance four guys going like the top 12 picks. I don't have any takes on Danucci or the Eagles. I mean, Wentz wasn't very good, but they found a way to win. I was recording a podcast during that game. I mean, the game just, you knew the Eagles were. going to win. I have zero faith in Danucci. The Cowboys are just headed for a disastrous season. The guy that fought the bear, I've never seen anything like the Javon Wims. I honestly had never heard of the guy to go up to the Saints player, give him a haymaker, and then the guy look, like,

are you going to throw the flag? And then for him to give him like several other haymakers, one of the dumbest things I've ever seen on a football field. Like I get sometimes the heat of the moment, you take a swing if you're in a pile or a guy shoves you down. But But I never understand a full-on brawl. Like, it's just like, you guys know the rules. You're going to get tossed. You're going to get suspended. You're going to potentially break your hand.

You're hitting a guy with a helmet on. Just absolutely moronic. Okay. Let's bang out some Middilkoff mailbag questions. At John Middilkoff is the Instagram handle. And slide up in and ask me some questions. I got the game ended so like sports centers rerunning and they're just showing all the Niners injuries.

Kittle. I.R. Jimmy, I. I think Schefter tweeted like the Niners lead the league with like $75 million on injured reserve. Sary caps are 200 million, so you do the math. Their season's over. Question for the podcast.

How do you feel about the Titans Trade for Desmond King? Love to hear your thoughts. I haven't studied Desmond King this year really watched them that much. I always liked him. Didn't he have, wasn't he an all pro a couple years ago.

I know that the Titan situation, their corners stink. Adori Jackson's been hurt all year, and he's not a great player. Malcolm Butler is okay, but he can't run. He was the first team all pro in 2018. Second team all pro. I guess he's a return to...

Yeah, he's an upgrade for him. Their problem has been Clowny. You know, $15 million. Has Clowny been good this year? Not really. The Simmons guy's, pretty good. They're front seven solid.

I watch them. They just kind of go as Tanyhill goes. Like Tanyhill threw some bad pick. Tanyhill was awful in that game. Their defense, I mean, Joe Burrow pulled some plays out of his ass. That's what Joe Burrow does. I mean, Joe Burrow is just a baller. I'm telling you, Joe Burrow is a star.

Now, will it materialize because he's in Cincinnati? I don't know. But Joe Burrow, man, you can't watch him and just go, holy hell this guy's good. And I think Tennessee is, you know, Kansas City, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, or I guess Pittsburgh, then Baltimore. And I guess you would put Tennessee over Baltimore because they beat him when the games mattered. But I don't know.

I just, Tanyhill, I don't really trust. He's like an Alex Smith, but he can have those bad Alex Smith games. What do you think about the Eagles moving on from Wins? I don't know what the cat numbers are. They're bad. I mean, they're, they paid him so much money. he's can't, the dead cap next year, 60 million. Carson Wentz will be on the Eagles next year.

But they can't keep riding this roller coaster. I understand he's talented, but he wouldn't be the first or last talented due to fail in the NFL. Listen, what did, was it Thomas Jefferson or something? Said like intellectual derelicks, like, talented people fail all the time, like intellectual people that don't make it.

Like, there are a lot of different people in different industries. I completely screwed up that saying. but let me see if I can find it nothing in the world will take away from persistence talent will not nothing is more common than an unsuccessful man with talent genius will not

unrewarded genius is almost a proverb education will not the world is full of educated derelicts persistence and determination alone are omnipotent my guy Calvin Coolidge I got a little keep it in my phone Some sayings if I ever want to bust that out

I don't even know what that has to do with Carson Wentz I just really wanted to read that I guess the point is it's true A lot of talented people fail The difference is when you watch the Philadelphia Eagles And listen Carson has been all over the place this year He makes some throws where you just go What the hell are you doing

He is playing with Fulgham Greg Ward Jr. Goddard just came back who'd been injured and also got beat up this summer. Jason Peters, I was watching the game. Like, I was recording a podcast, but I had the game in the background. I saw him limp off. I mean, they're teams in chambles, injury-wise. The Niners have them, but they're not far behind.

So I just think you get developed bad habits from being some hero ball. They need to get healthy. Like, for example, the 49ers. I think there's a decent chance Jimmy Garoppolo never plays the game for the 49ers again. And I think it would be justified. I think would, like, do you know how many teams in the league would be lined up for Carson Wentz? Niners would take him tomorrow.

Eagles aren't getting rid of them. Do you know what the Giants would do for Carson Wentz? Do you know what Washington would do for Carson Wentz? You know what Belichick would do for Carson Wentz? You know what the Jags would do for Carson Wentz? You know what Bruce Ariens would do? I mean, his quarterback's 43 years old for Carson Wentz. Sean Payton, his quarterback's 40s, about to go to NBC.

Do you know what he'd do for Carson Wentz? Listen, I get it. He's a roller coaster and this season has been tough. It's been a head scratcher. but I think you can justify it with the craziness around him. I think he's going to eventually turn the corner. And maybe, I don't think, I don't believe, like, he'll ever be probably what I think we thought he was going to be, like this all-time great kind of Mahomesy, right?

Because he had that moment that year where he was going to win the MVP and he got towards ACL, we thought like, oh my God, this guy's going to revolutionize football. This guy's like Raffaesberger with a little Brady, with a little manning. This guy's a total package. and then he wasn't, and then Mahomes became that. I do think he can rattle off a bunch of Pro Bowls, though, and have a really, really good career. And they're an offensive organization.

They've always been, had great offensive players. Howie, trust me, I believe they'll be fine. He just needs to, he's just going through a rough patch. I know it's early, but what about Burrow or Herbert? Listen, I'm a sucker for a West Coast guy, so I'm a big, and I like a big arm, so I would probably, you know, maybe Herbert, but I think Joe Burroughs pretty special. Watch that game against Tennessee, he's pretty special, man. I think they're both pretty special. Now, Herbert's still a little raw and needs to work on a little bit of touch on some throws.

He can still kind of airmail just some touch throws, but he can make throws that Burrow can. can't make just because he's got a much stronger arm. I think they're both superstars. I mean, have a chance to be. Like, those guys, bro's innate calmness in the pocket, and just when craziness is happening, is elite. It really is. Herbert is just such a good athlete.

He can, like, run away and then on the move, throw these balls. Both of them are big-time players, man. I'd probably lean Herbert, but again, I'm full disclosure. I'm a sucker for a big arm. Sorry for the novel, but are the 49ers, the most unlucky team in the league. I think it was Harbaugh's last year when the Niners roster was completely decimated by injuries

and other random shit. Chris Borland retired, Patrick Willis retired out of nowhere. I think Alden Smith was released. He's released the next year. I mean, I can't remember someone created a website where you couldn't insert your team and it would show you what you would look like if they were 49-ard.

It was a joke. Fast forward to this year and it feels the same way. Many teams are going through injuries but nothing compares to the star power that's team had lost. From week one to the halfway point of the season, they went from Super Bowl favorite to top 10 pick. I just think it would be interesting for someone to go over the roller coaster

that is the 49ers franchise. Dominates for a decade. Trash for a decade. Domine it for three years. Trash for five years. Dominant for one year. Trash immediately after. Yeah, I mean, I don't know what to say about this year. I think it's clear Kyle's a really good coach.

They're four and four. They play the Packers on Thursday. I would say they probably shouldn't win that game. They got no George Kittle. Jimmy Garoppel was terrible. Like, Jimmy Garoppel has not been good this year. So if Nick Mullins can play like he has coming out of the bullpen and not like he did against the Eagles,

they'll be fine in terms of what Jimmy Garoppolo was. Now, George Kittle's the best player on the team when Nick, you know, him and Nick Bosaar. Well, Nick Bossa already tore his ACL. Now George Kittle broke his foot. Like, that's a fucking disaster. I mean, those are two pro-bowl, all-pro level players. So I don't really know how you overcome that.

If Kyle can beat the Green Bay Packers, if Kyle can get this team to 8-8 and 8, it's an incredible coaching job. I mean, they got $50, $70, whatever million on injured reserve. All your best players are hurt. You're playing with like Jason Verrett. I mean, you're playing with Scraps who actually, Jason Verrett's not a terrible player, actually.

Debo Samuel's injured. All their running backs are injured is wild. Yeah, I mean, I don't really know what to say. I do think there's some randomness to it, though. I always say that with injuries. Like George Kittle breaking his foot on a random catch is not something because the strength staff or the trainers or the doctors.

I see that sometimes like when Jason Peters gets rolled up on and he limps off the field. They're like, oh, the Eagles, more injuries, what's going on? I don't know, he got rolled up on. You know, like sometimes Ronnie Stanley signs a $99 million contract. The first game, I think it was T.J. Watt. I remember watching that on the couch.

I take it a little edible in the morning. I got a workout first. And I was just, I remember looking up and seeing him when, ever you see an offensive lineman slam the turf, you know they're in pain. Because offensive linemen are always injured. And you never hear about it, you never see about it. They're playing with broken fingers, broken toes, just, you know, deep bone bruises.

When a guy is on the ground slamming the ground, you knew something was wrong. So when they showed the replay of that Ronnie Stanley injury, and I saw, I think, Rapsheed or Schefter tweeted this morning, I mean, it's ligaments. It looked fucking awful. I mean, I get queasy when I see that. Everything you read, this guy's a great high character guy, he's a really good player. He signs the contract and like everyone says like, good thing he signed the contract. I think, I bet he feels like shit.

I'm not saying like he's glad he did, but once you sign the contract, if you're a high character guy, you take whenever you do a deal, think about this, any deal in life, if you're worth your salt, you want to live up to the deal, right? Like you get, someone gives you $99 million. or pay like one of the best tackles in the league, you want to show everyone. I'm a pro bowler, I'm going to kick the shit out of everyone,

I'm going to be an elite player in this league for a while. I'm going to make my franchise, my owner, and my coaches proud. Like, I'm worth it. And then the first game, you get your ankle shattered and now you're sitting in a hospital bed.

I just, I felt terrible. I mean, I hate that feeling when I see a guy get injured. So number one thing, not that I ever would go back to the NFL, that I hated that feeling.

A big on the sideline. next to the scouts or the coaches or whatever and when the practice would just go silent when a guy would just be laying there. It's the worst feeling in the world. I don't know how these GMs and these coaches do it. I guess you get numb to it. I don't know.

I mean, I get numb to a lot of things in life like lose money to have a bad business deal, get fired, whatever. That helpless feeling of being in football, and it's like this in any sport, but it happens the most in football because of the most injuries and just seeing Nick Bowman,

also laying on the ground with a torn ACL, seeing Ronnie Stanley with an ankle shattered, seeing Odell Beckham have to get carted off the field. Like I just, ugh, it makes me queasy even thinking about it. I just despise that feeling. I have a question for the mailbag. Given the, this week's awful performance against the Seahawks, I think it's safe to say that Jimmy isn't the quarterback of the future for the 49ers. With the offseason being one of the best opportunities to go after a quarterback in recent memory, whether through free agency or in the draft, you think Shanahan and Lynch will acknowledge the quarterback issue that's a offseason or ignore it and attempt to build up around Jimmy.

I think they make a trade. I think Sam Darnold would be in play. I actually think they would, if they got rid of Daniel Jones, I think they would kind of like Daniel Jones. Now, you could get Daniel Jones and keep Jimmy. I think the hard part is if you're going to draft a quarterback. Jimmy's on a pretty team-friendly deal. He makes him like the low 20s,

and you can cut them at any moment without paying him anything. So I would imagine that the Niners, if they're going to draft a guy, Jimmy Groplo would be on the roster. if they like, the thing people have asked about Matt Ryan and Kirk Cousins, those guys aren't getting cut. And the Niners, the Niners couldn't elevate Kevin White this week off the practice squad. They didn't have enough money on their cap. Think about that.

And most teams, I saw someone today tweet, the Saints, who traded for the Niners, Kwan Alexander today, the linebacker who makes a lot of money. In 2021, the cap is going to be between like 180 and 190 million. depending on how the corona finances play out. Their cap was $265 or $70 million. Now, obviously in football you can cut guys, but think about that. That would be a problem if the cap,

because this year was $200. If Corona had never happened, the next year's cap would be like $2.15. They'd cut a couple guys and get Drew Breeze would be off the books. They'd get down easy. They're going to have to cut, I mean, $80 million or change some money. It's going to be a problem.

As a lifelong Giants fan, the last decade has been rough. After the Monday night game, two things are clear. We found our head coach, but we haven't found our quarterback. I think the only position is to fire Gettleman and draft a quarterback. The problem is I really believe in Judge. Do you think replacing Gettleman will ruin Judge's future with the team? I can't think of any examples where that worked in the past.

Here's the biggest issue when you do shit like this. Is when you hire the head coach and you let the general manager hire him, you can't then the following year when you've just been really mad get mad the team's not very good and then get rid of Dave Gettelman because then what do you do at general manager do you as the Morrow family

then just go interview GMs and then hope that he gets along with Judge do you let Judge dictate who you hire why didn't you if you're just going to hire Judge hire a GM then two with him so you can just either hire Judge first or hire a GM and then hire Judge because I'm with you.

Gettleman's gots to go. He drafted Daniel Jones six overall. I think we can all acknowledge. Daniel Jones, I remember shitting on the pick. He's not by any means of scrub. He's an NFL player. He's a second round pick, right? To me, if you had drafted Jones in the second round,

they drafted him six overall. I love Sequin Barclay. Very, very talented player. Won't pass for tech, but very great runner. Great catcher of the football. You can't draft him second overall. that can't happen. It just can't.

Not when you need a million things. That's dumb. That's bad value. That's not understanding the way the draft works. So Dave Gettleman's gots to go. But then what do you do with Judge? Like you said, it never works. So then you bring a GM, what if he doesn't like Judge?

What if Judge doesn't like him? What about their working relationship? Because the most strongest relationship you need on your team, right? Is the general manager and your coach and the coach and the quarterback. And in a perfect world, all three work together. Like Veach, Andy Mahomes. All buddies, all on the same page, all working for a common goal. Mahomes, what do you need? Veach, this is what I like. Coach Reed. They're all together. John Snyder, Pete, Russ. Group. All together. When I think quarterbacks, I close my head, I think

Russ, Pete, John Snyder. Veach, Andy, Mahomes. Just like a group effort. Even say what you want about Brady, like they're all kind of in it together. Jason Light, Brady, and Arians. It's a little different. It's a little like kind of a renegade combination, but the Seattle and the Kansas City one are organic, right? It's the GM that drafted him. I guess Beach didn't technically draft them, but he was on the staff and he loved him. The head coach, same head coach, and the quarterback. It just, there becomes a lot of, we use word loyalty a lot. And I think loyalty is one of the, is a word that gets too like liberally thrown around. Like to me, loyalty, to gain loyalty, like, I'm loyal to people that I've known for a long time or trust, but to develop trust, it takes time.

So, like, I wouldn't, like, Howard Ariens and Brady be loyal to each other. Where Pete and Russ, they've been together for a decade. Mahomes and Andy, like, even though it's only been four or five years or whatever, they know that they're just, like, in the bunker together. That's where I see, like, do you think Jimmy Garoppolo thinks Kyle Shanahan is loyalty to him? I bet he's thinking, like, is this guy going to cut me? Jared Goff's probably like, well, McVeigh likes me. luckily my contract enables me not to get cut because if I look like I did against the Miami

Dolphins I have the last couple weeks, I'd be in trouble. Quick hot take, Jared Goff does not look good this year. He looks all over the map. And that's why you don't pay average quarterbacks huge money because you don't want to get in these situations of where you don't like them and then you can't get away from. It's back to Carson Wentz. Like, I can live with it. His talent is immense. Like at the end of the day, Jared Goff's talent doesn't sniff Carson Wences. So like I can live with him to come across. Carson Wentz's problems. It's like Doc River says. You got to be your problem, your talent has to outweigh your problems. That's like the Antonio Brown. That's why it keeps getting chances. Well,

your contract, if your contract outweighs your talent, that sucks because then you kind of start weighing down a franchise. If your talent outweighs your contract or they're equal, the team feels good. Like, you think the Rams give a shit what they pay Aaron Donald? No. Paying them 20 million, 25 million, whatever. They don't care. Go kick ass 99. We love you. No one even thinks about it. you have a sweet player and he's dominant. Like the Niners, what are you paying Kittle? I don't know. They didn't even care.

What are you paying Bobby Wagner with Seattle? Like they don't, Honey Badger with Kansas City. You don't think about it like that. When you have dominant players and you pay them a lot of money, like go kick ass, take names. We got your back. But when it's like, oh, God, we're paying Jared Gough. I saw Kevin Clark tweeted out this weekend. Jared Gough is the third highest paid player in the league this year.

That ain't good. Appreciate everyone listening. Again, go subscribe to the pod, Three and Out, Apple, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, wherever you listen. And I will see everyone soon. Have a great week. Keep your head up. Might get a little weird.

Probably will get a little weird. Probably going to stay off Twitter for Tuesday and Wednesday. And just try to be a normal human being as normal as possible. Adios. Go vote. Talk to you soon. See ya. Get right to the romance and find the world.

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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

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