The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 3 and Out - NFL's Non-Bubble Works; Toxic Earl Thomas; Anti-Trey Lance Showcase; Jags Ngakoue Incompetence; Conference Winner Bets; Mailbag

Episode Date: August 25, 2020

In this episode, John looks at why the NFL can work despite not being in a 'bubble', why Earl thomas has become more of a headache than he's worth, why he thinks North Dakota State top QB prospect Trey Lance should pass on a one game showcase, why the Jags handling of the Yannick Ngakoue situation is just the latest sign of their incompetence.He also gives his best bets for conference winners, and answers listener questions in the Middlekauff Mailbag. Follow John on twitter @JohnMiddlekauff and go to theherdnow.com to find the latest content. Subscribe now! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

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Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, 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.

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

with our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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 Middlecock, three and out podcast. Coming to you live on this beautiful kind of smoky day in Northern California. And we are just a little over two weeks. weeks away from this thing we like to call week one. And we've got a lot of stories coming down the pipe. I want to thank you to the football gods for letting this season take place

and giving us all these fun things to talk about. A lot of corona tests. We had somewhat of a red flag situation. The NFL came out today. Turns out it was a faulty lab. We'll dive into some of that and the information that's coming out of the league. Trey Lance, one of the guys that's viewed as a potential number one overall pick, North Dakota State where Carson Wentz went to school.

I saw a rumor day, and it might be the dumbest thing I've ever read. Yonik and Dockway is probably going to be traded in the next week, and any team that trades good players late in the fall is always a team not well-run. I mean, good teams trade their players in the spring. I thought I'd do a little betting segment. I looked at a couple teams in the AFC and the NFC, some conference to win the conference odds. A couple that I just circled in the Earl Thomas DeBox. Like sometimes it's you, bro.

It's not always someone else's fault. You know, sometimes we've got to look in the mirror, and it looks like Earl Thomas now is on his, he's unemployed, and I'll dive into that situation. Of course, Middlekoff mailbag at John Middlecough is what we do to end the show. Instagram, DM's wide open, fire up in there, get your question answered here. Also, if you follow, if you listen to this podcast through Collins feed, also subscribe to the three and out feed.

and if you could, I would greatly appreciate it. Just leave a review. It helps us sell the podcast. And, you know, we've got to keep business rolling here. But I want to start with this. I think it happened on Saturday. All these teams were having all these guys test positive. It turns out there are a bunch of false positives

coming from the one lab in New Jersey. And then the NFL announced today that from August 12th through August 20th, so an eight-day period, they didn't have one player test positive. Over thousands of tests. You know, I have friends in the league, obviously, coaches and friends. These guys get tested every day when they go into the facility. So between, you know, scouts and coaches, between like six and seven in the morning,

they're getting tested every day. I mean, it's crazy some of the stories that I've heard just how serious they're taking them. It's not, I guess, crazy because you knew it was going to happen. But some of these stories you hear about baseball, like football is, here's the thing with football in the NFL in general. Over the last decade, it became the big, bad wall. and I think there were a couple reasons why. One, their commissioner was arrogant,

and he did not kiss the feet of the media. He did not play the game, and they don't like that. You can be the most successful person ever, but if you don't play the game, they're going to come at you. And Adam Silver, for example, that the media loves telling me as the best commissioner going, I don't know how that's possible when you've shepherded a league that is losing consumers by the week.

I mean, your job is to make people watch your sport. But you listen to what the media says and write about him. They think he's the greatest commissioner ever. He couldn't hold a candle to the guy he just replaced in David Stern. Roger Goodell, does he have his faults? Of course. Did he screw up situations? 100%. But under his watch, the league has made historic money.

I don't know the guy. I'm not up here pounding my chest for Roger Goodell. I don't even have an opinion. I'm indifferent on the guy. But I never hated him like everyone. in the media. And let's face it, the media hated him because unlike Adam Silver, he didn't text them. He's not friends with them. And here's the other thing with the NFL. Over the last decade, when this one of the craziest bull markets we've ever seen in American history, a couple things blew up,

right? Silicon Valley went to a whole new level. All these tech companies became the biggest companies, not just in America, but in the world. Well, the NFL, over that period of time, started running laps around the other leagues, the NBA and baseball. It's now in a different stratosphere. When they put on a game, like the NBA hopes some of these playoff games get 1.5 million people to watch. And again, I say it all the time. I like the NBA.

I love the sport of basketball. I'm watching all these playoffs. My friends are not. You couldn't pay them to watch. We're in the NFL. You put on a Thursday night game. You put on a Monday night game. I'm talking in the regular season when the game suck.

You get 10 million people to watch. They don't even need to try. When you put on a good game on a primetime game, It does, you know, eight figures. I mean, we've seen, we have evidence, we've seen it. And the media and the people that, you know, covered the sport, let's face it, through Twitter and social media, we've seen their political views. And they despise big business. It's one thing, it's one reason why when people, like, you remember the media, like, kind of.

Like, I just, I sell my opinions. I view myself really more as a businessman. Because I see the people in the media, and I don't have that much in common with them. Like, I love business. I like money. I root for other people to be successful. When I see other businesses that are crushing it, I applaud them. Like, I'm rooting for, I root for capitalism.

So, like, I don't know anyone in the league office. Roger Goodell could be an asshole, but the league has crushed it. And you can give me all these different variables and the reason why they have. All I know is that they lap these other sports, and during that period of time, they got a lot of hate. And as many wise people have told me throughout my life, the wind usually blows the heart. artist at the top of the mountain. And the NFL has felt that wrath over the last decade. Again, I'm not saying they've done everything perfect.

But when it comes to business, which is what they've run, they dominate. So when they got in this corona strategy, and here's another thing, the media gets very, very uncomfortable when people, like myself, say that they've rooted against sports. And I don't necessarily think they've rooted against sports. but in 2020, probably more than any time in world history, because of social media, when you have an opinion, you want to stick to that opinion. And clearly a lot of people in the media despise the politics in this country in Donald Trump. And Donald Trump, and it feels as Corona has become politicized, it feels like you're either on one side or the other side. I always say this about myself, I'm rooting for Corona to go away.

I'm rooting for businesses to come back. I don't know how that's political. I don't know when rooting for the economy and people to be able to put food on their table became political. But the fact of the matter is, that's where we've become. So a lot of people in the media, and I've seen Peter King and different people on Twitter, they got mad at Kyle Brandt of the NFL network. When he kind of tweeted out this comment, like,

are you guys rooting against it? And let's face it, you follow Florio, you follow Peter King and some of these guys on social media over a period of time. And I like Peter. but there have been instances where it just feels like because if Corona wins out and the NFL fails or sports in general fail or we got to keep locking down their opinion was justified

and I'm not dumb enough hopefully these guys realize that of course you want the NFL to be played that's what pays all of their salaries but when you're anti-business I don't think you often understand that which is crazy to think about but that's just the nature of sometimes in the media

I don't think people realize that it's helped me running my own business understand how the revenue comes in. I'm a big fan of being creative. Started a YouTube channel. But I also understand that you can't keep going without revenue coming in. And I think the NFL understood

and they've been lucky because they have an unlimited amount of resources. They were going to throw the kitchen sink at this thing. It wasn't political to them in the sense of their only job was to try to get games played because that is how the NFL makes their money by playing games. So someone with unlimited resources, given that's the NFL and all these teams, we're going to throw whatever it took to make sure that they could function.

And here are two things that the NFL was just naturally set up to have a chance against the coronavirus of the things that they could control. And a lot of coaches said this when training camps began, is that like at our facility, before we even put all the safety protocols and measures in place, it already was like a little bubble. Like in football, football coaches don't leave the office. They live there.

A lot of high-level players spend a large majority of time at the facility. Now, you have to balance those players, unlike the coaches, usually get Monday and Tuesday offices, especially if they're on a good team and they win a lot. So they got free time. And if you're not married, you don't have a family, you're going to go out and hang out. These 25-year-old with disposable income, good-looking men with cash that have a lot of energy.

Like, it's not, it's understandable. But here are two things that the NFL players, like different than basketball. Here's one reason the NBA had to do the bubble. They have a player league. Their players don't dictate the rules. Or, excuse me, the coaches and front offices don't dictate the rules. The players do. When the player wants the coach gone, they are fired.

No one tells LeBron James or James Hardin or Kevin Durant what to do. that they dictate the league. Like, that's just, that's a fact. Like, it doesn't bother me. I mean, it should. I mean, they're the best players. They don't listen to coaches. They shouldn't because LeBron's proven, like,

it doesn't even matter who's coaches. He can win with anybody. But the reality is in football, it's a coach in management league. And unlike the NBA, just like baseball, the money's not guaranteed. So the majority of the week, beside like some quarterbacks

and maybe like a star player on each team, is basically living year to year. on any given season, they could be cut. They could be thrown to the curb. And because of injuries, their career could end. So coaches, when they tell them something, players, listen. It's a discipline sport to begin with, right? You're told what time to show up at the facility.

You're told what time's meetings are. You're told what time practices. You're told we got another meeting. You're told to stay late. You're told to do extra. And you just listen. It's just part of the nature of football. It's built in.

And so far, in training camp, clearly worked out pretty well. Well, because most of these players, the majority of every team, is fighting for their job every year. So you take it very, very seriously. Or with the bubble, it forced these players like, you don't have an option. Because all those guys are on guaranteed contracts, right? They're not worried about getting cut.

They can't get cut. We're in the NFL, think how many veteran players every single year get cut. Now, here's what I've always said, and just about pro athletes in general, but definitely about the NFL, it's an educated league. Football is a smart guy sport

Dumb guys don't last that long And it's pretty clear By the evidence we have that none of these guys are tested positive They're listening to their coaches Because of course they are Because that's what they do So the coaches and the leagues

They put in all these protocols You know every single day You've seen on hard knocks How much they're overemphasizing Fall in the rules Listening what to do And doing whatever it takes To make sure you do what you do

what you can control to avoid this virus. And so far, you go through a, from, you know, an eight-day period where not, not one player test positive shows you, these guys are listening, and the NFL, you know, like any good business, and they're not just a good business, they're a great business, is usually ahead of the curve, even when people, let's call a spade to spade, we're kind of rooting for them to fail. Okay, let's get into Earl Thomas, who was just cut. from the Baltimore Ravens. And the Ravens not only cut him,

their players essentially voted on him to get the hell out there. And I'll never forget this quote from Doc Rivers. And the head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers, I think he said this when he was the head coach. I heard him on a podcast interview one time, and it was great, and it's so true. He said the worst thing a player can do

is let their problems outweigh their talent. When your talent outweighs your problems, you're okay, right? Terrell Owens forever, Antonio Brown for a long time, and you see it a lot in pro sports. But it gets to the point where you just, when the pendulum swings and your problems are better than your ability, it's over, and it's bye-bye. and yesterday on Sunday I think when he was officially released

maybe it was Saturday whatever over the weekend I saw everyone saying like all these teams are going to be lined up everyone's going to want Earl Thomas and if you told me Michael Thomas if you told me J.J. Watt right if you I'm just talking famous players we're just cut Richard Sherman Fletcher Cox

I'd be like every team in the league's going to want this guy without, you don't even need to have a meeting. Like, what do we have to do to get them in our building right now for this season? When I saw Earl Thomas was cut and people thought people were just going to sign them and maybe by the time you're listening, someone signs them. To me, that's not an immediate sign. That's like, hey, when we get to the office tomorrow, let's have a meeting. Let's talk some pros and cons.

Let's get on the whiteboard. Does anyone on our staff know anyone with the Ravens? Can we place some calls and see what the hell happened? We need to do some investigative work. Do people forget, and rightfully so, because this thing called the coronavirus hit, Earl Thomas, like three months ago, had his wife pull a gun on him when he was having an orgy with his brother. So, let's face it.

And listen, I'm not one to judge orgies or even hanging around with your brother doing that stuff. Not for me, but if he wants to do that, that's up to him. That's not even that big of an issue. Though, remember when that happened, the Ravens were pissed off because he did not tell them. He had just did something on Instagram. and the Ravens are like, what is going on? And then I read reports, multiple reports,

that he had consistently showed up late. And I'd say one thing in football you just don't get away with long is showing up late. Now, you don't need to be Tom Coughlin, be there 30 minutes before the meeting. But football is a pretty punctual sport. We always talk about it. It has a lot of parallels to the meeting, or the military.

That meetings, you know, practices, film sessions, your entire day, especially in training camp, is broken down by 15, 30 minute increments. You know from the moment you get in the facility, eat breakfast from like 7.30 or 8 up until 8 o'clock when you leave at night. Every minute's accounted for, every single minute. You have no excuse for being late. And when you're a player of Earl Thomas's level, right, it's one thing to be a rookie, being kind of swimming, not knowing where you're going, being overwhelmed.

You're Earl Thomas. Like a couple years ago, you were headed straight for the Hall of Fame. And now in the last couple of years, we have you getting carted off the field, flipping off Pete Carroll. Maybe they knew something. Maybe you're old, they didn't want to keep you. Maybe because your best football is behind you. And then you go to Baltimore, who I even thought at the time kind of overpaid him.

Clearly it did not go well. There were weird shit happening last year. Then he's showing up late. He's having orgies with his brother. And then this year, at a blown coverage in practice. Like, isn't part of practice blowing coverage? Isn't part of practice dropping balls? Isn't part of practice jumping off sides?

It's the point of practice. Coach him up, make changes. It's not that complicated. So when he blew up and he Instagramed the video in Lamar Jackson and the pistol, I mean, I would imagine John Harbaugh, Greg Roman doesn't want the video of their offense out. And then he starts fighting a teammate.

Like, that's clown show stuff. Blown covered. I got no problem at yelling, right? I actually enjoy confrontation, but in terms of getting into a physical altercation with a guy who's having a disagreement, like that's the point of practice. And I think the Ravens tonight

are so glad that guy is out of their building. Eventually you get to the point in time in your life, like Earl Thomas, you're not the Earl Thomas that we used to talk about with Seattle. Those days are done. You need to adapt. Time to throw different pitches. You can't keep acting like it's 2013,

and you're an all pro. That's not 2020 And listen If I ran a team Unless I get John Harbaugh on the phone And say it was all a big misunderstanding We just had to get him out Gave me some excuse

I don't think I touched the guy Like I'm not into touching former all pros That still think they're an all pro That aren't anywhere near that And are also a locker room lawyer I ain't doing it And I'll be stunned Stund will be strong

It's the NFL I'll be surprised if good teams with good cultures mess with this guy. Now, there are some connections, right? You just say Dallas, he's begged to go there before. You look at the 49ers who don't necessarily need him, but they have Richard Sherman and Robert Sala that know him. I would imagine Pete Carroll ain't going back up, you know, down that road again.

You'd say, well, Dan Quinn, as coached him before. Gus Bradley, you would say they don't really need them with the Chargers, almost called him San Diego. So who knows? Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential.

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

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

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

So, if you've ever supported me, or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Cliverts Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or we're 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-tapped Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick it here,

unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode, with Mark Lamont Hill waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 was big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack all day, but just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack, so I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now, so. Thank you for finishing that sentence.

Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way 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. Trip Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we, are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch.

Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth. Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust.

I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, is we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and personal. on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free

iHeartRadio app search learn the hard way and listen now. I'm not ignorant enough to think like this guy's going to be out of the league. He's still a starting player. But his day and age of being like the Hall of Fame,

game changer, best defensive player and the best defense in the league, five years removed. Like, we got to get with the real, get with the times here. And like Doc Rivers said,

the moment your career is in trouble, as a player in professional sports are when your problems outweigh your talent. And it sure as hell feels like Earl Thomas is trend in that direction. Funderstruck, adjective. Shocked and amazed by the power of fun on Carnival. Riding Bolt, the world's first roller coaster at sea. Brian got Funderstruck so hard, his 93-year-old grandmother felt it 3,000 miles away in Nebraska and immediately booked a cruise.

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

we reconnect with each other. The forest is closer than you think. Find a forest near you and start exploring at Discovertheforest.org. Brought to you by the United States Forest Service and the Ad Council. Okay, let's dive into a story that I saw a friend of mine, internet friend, but I've met him, I think, in person a couple times, talked on the phone. Pete Thammel, who covers college sports, writes for Yahoo, Yahoo, and he said, Sources.

This was the headline he tweeted out. Potential top five NFL prospect. that'd be Trey Lance, who plays for North Dakota State, is getting a surprise showcase game this fall. North Dakota State recently signed a contract to play Central Arkansas on October 3rd in Fargo. Multiple sources told Yahoo Sports. It will be the only game the three-time defending

FCS National Championship will play this fall. And here's a quote from an area scout on Trey. I'd be shocked if he's not a top 15 pick. I think he's going to go right up there in the top five with Justin Fields and Trevor Lawrence. I know, like I said earlier, my friend Daniel Jeremiah, thinks he's going to be a top, you know, potentially be the number one overall pick.

North Dakota State, I think, within the last month, as the Pac-12 and Big Ten and the Mountain West and all the conferences, canceled their football season, which was a really big deal. One, because they're a powerhouse. And two, just because they have this guy who would have been, you know,

kind of got the Josh Allen's, treatment where I know Josh played at Wyoming, which is Mountain West, but a smaller school guy that could be the number one overall pick, especially when you factor in Carson Wentz and North Dakota State. It was going to be a huge college football story. But when I see the headline that he's going to play a showcase game or just one game, here's what I know. Don't do it.

Now, I'm also not of the, I don't know the guy. He's only a red shirt freshman. He doesn't have to come out. He could, you know, next year when hopefully pray to God, things get back to normal, he could just return, play next fall on a team that's surely going to be loaded, win a bunch of games, probably win another national championship, and come out as a red shirt junior. Technically, it'd still be a redshirt sophomore if he doesn't play.

If I was him, I don't know what good could come from this. You're only playing one game, so you're not practicing really all year long. You're just going to play one game in October with a team, like, are they practicing seriously over the next month to keep everyone in shape? Who's blocking for them? is Central Arkansas playing a full schedule? I just see risk versus reward. And I don't know what the reward is.

His tape last year speaks for itself, right? He can just stand on that alone. What could he possibly do in one game to up his dock, throw five or six touchdowns? Here's what I do know. Several things could go wrong. One, he could just play shitty, which wouldn't even be that crazy

given that, I don't know, they're not playing a season Right? Again, let me repeat. Not playing a season? Football is not. Yeah, we're just going to play one game. What? So I don't see the reward there.

Two, I don't know, he could get hurt. Here's what I know. People get hurt playing football. You see it going on right now in the NFL, right? Lamar Jackson's injury right now. I saw several, I know, D. Ford got hurt. Brandon Ayup got hurt. players all over the NFL are getting injured.

Eagles had a guy go to the cart today. It happens. Del Pit, the LSU safety got drafted by the Browns. It looked like he tore his Achilles today. It's football. When you practice, when you work out, when you train, when you play in games, you can just get hurt. We all know the deal.

Here's what I do know, though. If you're only playing a one-game season and just the risk of not being on the same page, Football is a game of cohesion. Football is a game of practice. It's not the Houston Rockets just show up and shoot a bunch of threes. You need to rep your place. You need to rep the speed of your offensive line blocking for the quarterback.

I just don't see the upside. Now, if he has no desire to come out after this season and he's coming back the following year, then I mean I understand it. But given how much potentially this guy, has on the table financially and how just talented he is, I don't, this doesn't make any sense to me. And here's what I think a lot of normal people have struggled with the coronavirus.

A lot of these rules feel kind of arbitrary. Like, wait, you couldn't play a football season, but you can play one game. Like the Big Ten, Ohio State, they're not playing a season. Yet the Bengals are, yet the Browns are, yet the Cincinnati Bearcats are, yet Ohio State Ohio football in the state of Ohio is playing football. It just does not add up for a lot of people. I understand why the Big Ten parents and players and coaches are pissed off. Because you just look around.

You go, if I'm Jim Harbaugh, I go, well, the Lions are playing. Is Michigan high school football taking place? I don't think it is, actually, because Michigan operates a lot of California. But I get where they're coming from. But once you pull the plug on the season, you can't then dip your toe into the water. To me, either play a handful of games, like a 7-8 game conference season, even at that level,

or don't do anything at all. Because you have a player on your team who has way too much on the line. And he does not need a showcase. His tape last year was a showcase. Right? So to me, he does not have the ability to the scouting community

to really do much for himself. He can't hurt himself, though. He can get hurt, or he can play terrible. And even if he played terrible, it would be easy to like swipe it under the rug, but that film would still exist. You don't play, no one will hold it against you. You just go, this is, I didn't feel comfortable,

we hadn't been practicing, and I know it would be difficult. 20-year-old guy, all of his friends are playing, it's easy for anyone in my seat to tell someone not to do something. That's why I always struggle with the media telling like, the Big Ten kids should just shut up. No, they want to play. Why don't you let them decide to play?

It's kind of crazy. I haven't heard a peep out of the Pack 12. It's like, yeah, we're good, we're cool. we weren't going to make the playoffs anyway. You notice? They haven't said shit. But the Big Ten's pissed off. And I'd understand Trey Lance being pissed off too.

But I would recommend, if he asked me for advice, I would say do not do it. I saw Michael Lombardi, former GM, wrote an article for the Athletic, and he had tweeted out like last week that Yonik and Daquay was about to get traded the pass rusher for the Jacksonville Jaguars. and at the time he wrote in this article that I guess once the tweet went out

Dave Caldwell, the general manager of the Jacksonville Jaguars, freaked out, couldn't believe he was tweeting it. Lombardi had some good points in his article, it's like, David, we all know you're trading the guy. He's literally not at training camp. He has not signed the franchise tender. Your former cornerback, Jalen Ramsey, said the day he got traded was the best day of his life. he's been in the conference championship game and he has children and he still called that the best day of his life.

You run a clown franchise. I think the Jaguars are such an embarrassment. I was talking with someone over the weekend having a few pops and really one thing to league and I think basketball and the NFL and baseball should think about big picture. I'm not a big soccer guy in the sense of like I don't follow the EPL, the Premier League, whatever you can say. I do respect the league and I love the size of their businesses, how much they pay for guys. My favorite part, though, of European soccer is relegation. If you don't earn your stripes, you get kicked out. Like the Sacramento Kings would be bye-bye, the Jacksonville Jaguars would be bye-bye,

and the next franchise will get their chance. I think that would be something big picture over the next 10, 20 years these leagues should think about doing. You should not be grandfathered in to a seat at the table of making the cash. There should be other minor league franchises that have the opportunity to get to the next league. And it'd be a way, honestly, if collegiate sports were to ever die, I think you could function in some of the collegiate just as minor leagues and then have them give the opportunity to join the big leagues.

Right. But the Jacksonville Jaguars, here's what I do know. And I have this philosophy when I saw the Raiders, when they traded Khalil Mack a couple years ago, when the Jaguars last year were forced to trade Jalen Ramsey in the middle of the season. and now that Yonika and Doc Wei probably going to get traded the next week or two.

When you have a player that's unhappy and you know does not want to be there and it's clearly over, you have to trade him before the draft. Bad franchises trade players during training camp. You know why? Because even if I get a first round pick, I got no freaking clue where that first round pick will be.

I had a league executive told me when they do trades in the fall that they add like that first round. round pick is not as valuable as the draft pick on draft day. You usually discount it by 20 or 30 percent because I got no clue where it's going to be. Look at two good organizations that traded players and made tough decisions in the spring. And the Minnesota Vikings traded Stefan Diggs and the San Franciscoer 49ers traded to Forrest Buckner, both Pro Bowl level guys.

They did that knowing what pick they were receiving for the player. It's a very clear-cut transaction. You trade me 13, you get DeForest Buckner. You trade me pick 22, you get Stefan Diggs. I know exactly what I get. So when I remove the player from my team, I can take a player. And look what both those two teams did.

Justin Jefferson, Javon Kinloch. They replaced the player. The Jags now, the second year in a row, trade Jalen Ramsey. Well, you can't use that pick until the next draft. So you've got to play the rest of the season without a corner. You trade Yannick and Doc. way right now even if you get two second round picks you can't use them till after the season so you

lose the player you are going to be shitty and i i thought this when the miami was blowing up the team like why didn't they do that in the spring now we'll see if it works out but at the end of the day like they're two picks i say it all the time about laramie tundzel and minka fitzpatrick who i was wrong on that trade good great trade by the steelers i thought they were crazy but they proved me right is neither one of those picks, I mean, turned out to be any good. Laramie Tunsell's picks in the middle of the 20s, and because of Duck Hodges and Mason Rudolph, that pick was still, what, 19? You traded McHcifistpatrick, who was almost the defensive player of the year for pick 19.

Killeh Mack was traded, right, before week one, what'd they get? Pick 20 and 24. You picked them five, right? Now, Yonik was a later, I think it was a third rounder, maybe, second rounder. but he's turned into a really good player. Why can't any player be happy in Jacksonville? Can someone explain that to me? Most players, if you're willing to pay him big money, are happy.

Yet Jalen Ramsey and Yonnik and Dockway want no part of that building. And I'm not saying those two guys are like, you know, Ronnie Lott or Reggie White on the field or even just in terms of character stuff. I mean, they're clearly a little bit of a pain in the ass. But still, like Jacksonville, you drafted these. players. But if you are going to come to an impasse, which, listen, it's, it's happened before and

it's going to happen again, even for good teams, right? You start button heads and say, hell, Tom Brady had enough of Belichick. It happens. You have to know before the draft, because you don't, you just lose out on too much. You have no clue, because most teams that are going to be willing to trade for a guy like this are going to think they're a player away, more than likely they're going to be a playoff team. Plus, you don't have as much leverage. I think the Jaguars, man, should just be, you know, chicked out of the league. Okay, let's do a little betting segment. And we haven't talked much about gambling, and I love to gamble.

Now, this year is going to be difficult, right? I was listening to Collins' podcast with Chad Millman. A lot of unknowns for home field, it's always worth three, but if fans aren't allowed, some teams are going to have fans. A huge part about home field is like you can't hear on offense, right? You play the Saints. You play Kansas City. It's loud as hell.

It's hard for me to communicate. That's not going to be the case this year. We don't think a lot of unknowns. Who knows? But I do think we can, it's still pretty easy. Like to me, the first couple weeks for point spreads is going to be difficult. Now, I could do a segment, you know, leading up to week one over five games I like. But let's just be completely honest.

We throw shit at the wall and hope it sticks. We don't know how any of these games are going to look. It's just a lot of unknown. But over the course of a season, whether we're betting on division winners or the conference, I think if the season's going to be played, we can make some educated guesses on who's going to win the conference. And the odds that I use were based on my bookie.

Your odds might be a little bit different. But I pick three teams that I found pretty interesting in the AFC and NFC, factoring in value and just, I think it's kind of realistic. Let's start with the AFC. The bill's at 11 to 1. They should win the division.

And I think the Patriots are going to be decent, but the Jets probably won't be, and I don't think the Dolphins are any good either. And the Patriots have a lot of moving parts, right? First time without Brady, Cam Newton. I still believe in Belichick, but I think Jim Kelly said it

right when Tom Brady left. Like, there's no excuse. The bills have to win the division this year. They trade to get Stefan Diggs. Their defense is really good. They got a head coach who knows what he's doing. At 11 to 1, decent odds to win the AFC.

Now, if you're going to bet on them, you'd have to be putting on a lot of stock for the quarterback to get better. And that's pretty risky. Part of the reason they're not 5 to 1, they're 11 to 1. Nice look at odds. Not terrible.

Even at 3 to 1, and I didn't pick many just like no-brainers, you could argue the Chiefs might just be stealing. They could go on a Patriot-like run and just make the Super Bowl four times in the next six years. But specifically this year, they got 20 of 22 players returning. They had a sweet little running back. Their second round linebacker that I've been reading about, a kid gay from Mississippi State, it's going to be good.

They have the best player in the league. They have arguably the best play caller in the league. They have a loaded offense. I usually don't like betting on someone three to one to win the conference, but I mean, you can put $1,000, you win a easy little $3,000 right there. The Steelers. They went 8 and 8 last year, and like the bills, they're 11 to 1. If you tell me Rathusburg is healthy, I like them 11 to 1 a lot more than the bills 11 to 1.

You tell me Rathesburg is healthy, they're 11, 12-win team. Now, I've said over and over, I don't trust Ben. But technology, the doctors, just when you factor in modern medicine, there is a chance that he just, this is maybe, his last really good year he plays in every game. I'd bet against it, but if it does happen, they're going to be good. Because they had the worst quarterback efficiency in the NFL last year, and they went 8 and 8. Their defense is loaded. They have a lot of talent at the offensive skill positions at wide receiver.

So if they can just get good quarterback play, they're going to the playoffs. And if the Ravens come back to Earth a little bit, Lamar's already banged up, you know, I just think the Steelers are not going to be in. intimidated by the Ravens. I know I like the Steelers better than the Browns and the Bengals. Did that just, when I talked about value, it's just something to keep an eye on. The NFC.

I'd say one long shot when you factor in the last two years, they've won, they won eight games last year, and they won 12 games a year before. So they've won 20 games in two years. Trubisky couldn't have been any shudderer last year. And Foles, you know, has proven it in the playoffs. In the regular season, he's been a little hit or miss. but if their quarterback position, if last year was a two out of ten,

if they could just get it to like six or seven out of ten, they do have some offensive skill guys. Montgomery, I was reading today, slim down. Alan Robinson is just one of the more underrated players in the NFL. Their defense is still pretty loaded. If Khalil Mack, who I didn't think played that well last year, can bounce back. They got a Keem Hicks healthy.

At 20 to one odds, it's not inconceivable to see the Packers come back to Earth. The Vikings just lost a lot of, stalwart players that they've had over the last four or five years on this run, that the Bears could win their division the second time in three years. Anytime you've got a good defense, you're going to have a chance in the playoffs. Plus, if Nick Foles as your starting quarterback, we've seen what he can do in January. He just, he plays at a pretty high level. And I just think at 20 to 1, that's not crazy.

The Seattle Seahawks at 10 to 1. See, the Niners are at 4 to 1. Seattle's at 10 to 1. Well, Seattle adds Jamal Adams. I think D.K. Metcalf is going to take another step, and he's become a superstar. They have the best quarterback in the division. They were six inches away

that if Greenlaw doesn't make the tackle on the goal line, they win the division. They're a two-seed, right? Instead, then the Niners turned out to be a five-seat. People forget. Like, the Niners went 13 and three were the one-seed, end up in the Super Bowl. But they were, I mean, less than a foot away

from that being reversed. Seattle always plays well against the Niners. They play with... Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential.

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

I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, 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 where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tapped 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 Jay. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because. of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so you all know.

I mean, at this point, 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 Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tript Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough.

Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth? Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust.

I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free, our heart radio app. Search learn the hard way and listen now. Well, in the division. Like I said, they had Jamal Adams.

I just think their team. I understand their point differential was a little funky last year, but I think the culture there, I think the quarterback there, I think their comfort level within their own division, which is going to be really good, has to help. And then clearly just I take my chance

with Russell Wilson in a playoff game. And then at 5 to 1, I've toyed and gone back and forth with this. I still think they, there's some unknown with Brady and Ariens and how the offense is perfectly going to fit each other, but their team is really, really talented. And we know when Tom Brady has weapons,

he dominates. And the last couple of years in New England, he just hasn't had the weapons. I mean, last year, Nikiel Harry, they drafted in the first round, no-show, injured. Sony-Michel, stunk, Edelman, banged up. They just, they had nothing.

Now he's got Mike Evans and Godwin. That's that wide receiver. He's got Gronk back, who looks healthy. He's got O.J. Howard. he's got an offensive coach if he can adapt his style of the Tom who sure as hell knows what he's doing Todd Bowles their defensive coordinator

Now like Seattle that division is really hard The Saints are going to be good And the thing with the Saints of the Niners They're both like three and four to one Depending on where you look I like the Saints last year I thought I mean like Seattle

They played the Niners They easily could have won the game They lost at the Superdome But to lose a playoff game At home against Minnesota I still can't believe I witnessed that. How did they lose to Kirk Cousins at home back when you could have fans? And your team was clearly loaded.

That was an embarrassing loss. So I got some question marks there. Atlanta, they always going through some shit. And Carolina is going to be terrible. I just, I ain't betting against Tom Brady if he gets in the playoffs. And I think the Tampa Bay Buccaneers haven't been in the playoffs in 12 years. Well, I think it's fair to say that's going to end this year. and then just take your chances with all that talent, you know, come January at 5 to 1, not crazy.

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and the ad council. What grows in the forest? Trees? Sure. Know what else grows in the forest? Our imagination, our sense of wonder, and our family bonds grow too. Because when we disconnect from this and connect with this,

we reconnect with each other. The forest is closer than you think. Find a forest near you and start exploring. at Discovertheforest.org. Brought to you by the United States Forest Service and the Ad Council. Okay, let's dive into the Middlekopf mailbag.

At John Middlecough, that's my name, Instagram, DMs wide open, answer your questions here. Pretty simple. You guys know the drill. Also, I gotta keep hammering this home. Leave a review, Apple iTunes, Three and Out podcast.

Also subscribe to that podcast. Appreciate if you listen through there, helps business. Amir. Hi from Tel Aviv. Ooh, going all the way around the world. Speaking on the NBA draft, I can't get over the fact that three teams passed on Luca two years ago.

The dude was killing it for three years at the highest levels beside the NBA. I dare any NCAA team to play a EuroLeague or Spanish league, they would get crushed. If you were an NFL GM and you had the choice between drafting a guy which you watched for three years, you knew he was damn good, but not necessarily a position of need. but let's say you know for sure he's going to be someone between the floor of JJ Watt and stealing of Vaughn Miller or a one and done player with lots of potential in a position of need.

Can't ever happen in the NFL. Guys don't buy into potential. They want to see video. They want to see numbers. Potential is for the fourth round. I think potential is probably, yes, third round. To get drafted high, I mean, you've got to have potential,

but you got to do it. Like, you got to kick ass. and I think Luca, I don't know. I mean, I can't pretend to study him beside YouTube. I remember watching him in the Euro League just thinking he was kind of slow, but like you said, he was dominating that league. And if you're that good, that young, I mean, listen, I watched him the other day, and I've watched him a little bit this season.

It's crossed my mind. Like, I don't know if he's the best player in the league, but you can convince me he is. He's a dominant, dominant player. and, you know, the irony, too, is like the kings are getting crushed, right? Vladi passed on Luca for Marvin Bagley, disaster pick. The 76ers had the number one, or excuse me, the number three overall pick, traded up to one, and they ended up getting Markell Fultz,

who's now not on their team. They could have had Jason Tatum, and it wouldn't be that big of a disaster. And I just think sometimes in the NBA, like in the NFL, you can overthink things, you can get obsessed with positions of need. If the Sixers just taking Jason Tatum, they'd have the best player in the draft. They didn't quote-unquote need the position because they already had like a longer guard type in Ben Simmons. Just like the Kings didn't want Luca because they already had a point guard in Deeran Fox.

Who gives a shit? This is a positionless sport. When football positions do matter, but if I had Vaughn Miller on my team, like the Broncos, they drafted Bradley Chups, smart move. I don't even know where I was going to rambling there about the Sixers. I realized that it wasn't even Lucas draft, but I was thinking about that today, the Sixers could easily have had Jason Tatum and Embed and Ben Simmons. Instead, they have Markell Fultz, who they don't even have because they traded him away,

who actually watched, I got a little spin bike, you know, just my gym in my condo complex left it open forever and they just put like a laminated sheet outside of the gym that just said do not use and I was like I'm paying for it I'll wipe it down after I use the stuff I think someone told on me at my facility because they pad locked it so I started running outside which you know let's face it maybe I'm a little soft I like the treadmill because I can watch I can do work while I work out and then it got so smoky the last couple weeks so I ordered a stationary bike and I put it in the office with a little uh I also got like one of those little ab balls. Just trying not to become fat during quarantine. Question for the pot. The NFL is all about a level playing field. So how will it handle some stadiums being allowed a certain amount of fans compared to others? Clearly it can create an unfair advantage,

although Jacksonville and L.A., I'm sure, used to be no home field advantage. Yeah, I mean, I've said this over and over. I think they should mandate it like they did the draft. You had to work from home. To me, this is easy. mandate, you can't have fans. Now, it's different because financially the pot gets split. I'm pretty sure even ticket sales gets split in the NFL.

So it just all kind of goes to the same pot. These guys love their money. I understand it's more complicated, but I do think there should be a no fan. One team should not be allowed to have fans of the other team legally can't. Like, to me, it's a no-brainer. like if it was legally everyone could and some teams chose and some teams chose too

I'd be like that's on you but like the Rams and the Niners and Seattle and the Bills and the Giants they won't be allowed to have fans so just because Kansas City can't have fans the league should take that out of there make it a level playing field don't allow anyone to have fans

that would be my take though I don't think that's going to happen with the rumor of the Ravens and the Jaguars and Trade Talks that would send Yonick to the Baltimore Ravens for a third round pick and halfback Gus Edwards. I think that was a fake rumor, but I would imagine the Ravens would want them. What does that say about the Ravens and their confidence in their running back depth as well as their confidence how J.K. Dobbins has looked in camp? How much of an addition would the impact of Nodak in Dockway

have on the Ravens defense? What does that tell us about the Jaguars and the state they are in? And finally, is the missing piece of the Ravens need to get over the hump against the Chiefs as well as their playoff troubles. I'll start with the latter. Their playoff troubles to me are Lamar related and passing game related. Their defense is fine. What was the title?

The Titan scored 28 points, if I remember correctly. Wasn't the final score like 2812? Maybe they scored like a garbage time touchdown. To me, it's about Lamar Jackson. You can't have a dominant offense and then not be able to pass in the playoffs. It happened twice.

Defense is fine. If they got Yannick and Dockway, they would be, I mean, their defense is already legit. You had him there. Holy hell. I think it's pretty simple with their running back situation. When you take a guy as high as you do, D.K. Dobbins, or J.K. Dobbins, he's coming from Ohio State. They just believe he's going to be a starter, right?

It's probably Mark Ingram's last year. Just the cost of doing business, you'll eventually have to pay Lamar and pay other guys that you need a guy on a cheap contract. J.K. Dobbins, on a second round contract, doesn't make much money. Bye-bye Mark Ingram. and J.K. Dobbins, you're starting running back. And I know a lot of people in the league that like J.K. Dobbins. Thought he was a little overhyped, but you got him in the second round. Like, that's solid.

I think there was some first round buzz, but where they got him, I just think he'll become their starting running back. I think whenever you just take a guy that high, you believe in him a lot. Would it be possible for a young college star to manipulate his NFL franchise designation by signing with a XFL team out of the university for a 12-month contract? upon completion, signed for a specific NFL franchise. Don't quote me on this, and it's in the collective bargaining agreement, but I'm pretty sure you can't avoid the draft.

I know it used to happen with the Reggie White's and the, I guess they used to get drafted too, but, I mean, it hasn't happened in so long because we haven't had these other leagues. I'll be honest, I'm not exactly sure on these rules, but I've always been, because people have always asked, like, why don't these guys just leave college and go sign with an NFL team? Because you can't.

you have to go through the draft process, to my understanding, which I think is the way it should be. You can't just have the wow-while west of guys signing with people. Now, because of the salary cap, it's not like the Cowboys can sign every player, though Jerry would probably try. I think the way going through the draft is the healthiest for the league. Like a huge reason the NFL has lapped the other leagues

is college football has become big. Look at the NBA. College basketball stinks. All we care. about now is March Madness. When I was growing up, college basketball was a big deal. You watched all the star players, Shaq, Alan Iverson, I mean, you name it. Tim Duncan playing college basketball. And with the one and done, college basketball has kind of died. Now, March Madness is fun,

but it's a one-month-a-year sport. College football is five months a year. And if you live in the South, it's 12 months a year. Or a Big Ten country, except this year, because they got no season. But I think that they want the players to do what they're doing. Like the NFL doesn't want to get into the minor league football business in terms of they like college football is basically just doing their development for them. Then they draft the guys. Your take on Jason Garrett as a head coach

holding the Cowboys back the last three or four years. Does that same philosophy apply to him as the OC, Giants fan, and worried, L.O.L. Yeah, I mean, I... Listen, I saw Jane Slater tweeted something, Jason Garrett talking to this high school coaches like camp about his high school.

school coach and you just go, I mean, it brought like tears to your eyes. He was talking about how his high school coach always told him to stand up in the pocket, but how it also worked as like a symbol for life, stand up tall and bad times. And Jason Garrett's a really, really impressive guy, Ivy League guy, Lifetime NFL or head coach, clean shaven, tall, skinny, looks the part, has the resume, everyone likes them. But for whatever reason, his teams just were not dynamic. And he was supposed to be an offensive guy and you just watched it like, I see Andy Reed, I see Calshanahan, I see Sean Payton

those guys are offensive guys and their offenses are good. Like Jason, why is your offense more explosive? But as a human, he's a really high level human. I always found myself rooting for him because I thought everyone just always shit on him and I always liked him. But I do question his ability to be a dynamic coach. And he wasn't a dynamic coach

as a head coach. Why is he going to be a dynamic coach as an offensive coordinator? He hasn't called plays in years and plus the Giants I mean, just... Eli Manning, Plexico Burris, Brandon Jacobs, ain't walking through that door. I know they have Sequin, but the entire defense knows

that they're going to give it to 26. Who else can you give it to? Is Daniel Jones any good? Big question mark, I don't know. Love the show. I was listening to a John Schneider interview from the Peter King podcast. Peter asked what John thought

about the upcoming NFL draft in the college football leagues possibly all being canceled, some already being canceled when they aired the interview. John jokingly laughed and said, trade them all like we hope. always did, referring to the Jamal Adams trade.

Is this a real strategy? I'm a Seahawks fan and we are constantly picking up guys from Utah and the Boise States of the world. It kind of makes sense when the Seahawks traded for Jamal as this year's upcoming first round. Pick will be a total crapshoot. Now, I hope they trade a few picks this year for Yannick and Daque. Thoughts on this idea. Yeah, I mean, I think that the amount of star players every year that come from the Big Ten and pack 12 i'd imagine they get drafted the first couple rounds if we just did the if i had to guess

on the top of my head the last three years how many pack 12 slash big 10 players have been drafted in the top 50 picks average each of the last three years i'd guess 15 i mean a lot from the big 10 but the pack 12 is probably adding three or four so you don't get a year of tape on these guys that is a massive massive risk and guys like john schneider when they have tape on players they trade. Belichick for years trades out of it. And John Snyder's always said that like we're always drafting in the late 20s. We only have 18 to 20 players graded with first round grades. So why would I draft a player and pay him first round money when I think he's a second round talent?

So to me it's logistically and logically, I guess logistically wrong. Logically made sense with John Snyder. Like he does not want to draft a second round player in the first round. But it gets complicated. It takes two to tango. you need someone else to agree to the trade. It's not always simple. It's not always that black and white.

But I think we'll just have to see. It's hard for me to make proclamations on what's going to happen this fall with college. Who knows? I just, I got no clue. I do know if you don't have a college season for certain conferences, what am I supposed to think about the player? Now, Penae Sewell, the left tackle for Oregon, star player, top five player. He's easy.

Most guys aren't, and we talked about this on my last podcast. like Baker Mayfield would have been a fifth round pick. Joe Burrow would have been a fifth round pick. A lot of guys use their senior year or junior year Justin Jefferson to ball out. I mean, it's a big deal for a lot. Brandon Ayuk never heard of the guy. He drafted the end of the first round. Just think about the end of the first round last year.

The guy the Ravens picked from the linebacker from LSU, Queen. He didn't even start up until I think game three or four. year. It wasn't even a starter the first month of the season. So, yeah, it's got, I don't know what the hell you do as a scout. I haven't really text a lot of my scouting buddies lately. I don't know what the hell they're doing right now. Typically right now you'd be like going to training camps for colleges. Like you'd be going to Alabama, you'd be going to LSU, be going to Ohio State, you'd be going to USC, you be going to Oregon. Are those schools, even the ones that are playing,

they let you in? You're like, are you allowed in? It's a complicated situation. Pretty new listener, loving the pot. I appreciate it. After listening to Collins' take on the Carverse Marriota, I agree that Carr is a better quarterback. Is the issue the fit with Gruden and the Vegas front office? And do you think it would be good for him to move to a system that could utilize him at a higher quality? Like Cousins move to Minnesota? Well, Derek is vastly superior to talent-wise to Marcus Marietta. He has a much better arm.

He's much more accurate. And he's proven, even he's been beat up, but he's proven to be much more. durable. Now, I do think that Gruden desires an athletic quarterback. The last good quarterback John Gruden had was Rich Gannon. Rich Gannon, when he was originally drafted, I think, in the late 80s or early 90s from Delaware, they tried to move to safety when he got to the pros. He was a big-time athlete, and John resurrected his career, made him an MVP of the league. From talking to people there over the years and just following the Raiders pretty closely, John desperately wants him to scramble more. And when I say scramble, I don't mean run past the line of

Grimmage. I mean, Keith plays a lies with his legs. He sees Marriota. He sees a guy in theory that can do that. Now, Titans fans would tell you, Mariotta doesn't do that as much you think, especially the last couple years. He's been terrible. I think Gruden would, you know, chirp back. Well, he's been injured. Well, I, listen, I was never, I always thought Marcus Mariotta was a tad bit overhyped coming out of college. And I thought Derek Carr, and I've been someone that said Derek has regressed a little the last couple years. And I know Derek has said he thought he played better last year than he did the year that he almost won the MVP. I call bullshit on that one. But I do think that Derek has moments where he's a really

good player, but he needs to be more explosive as a playmaker when the actual play call breaks down. And right now that's what he struggled with. And I think that something Gruden's really harped on. Now they have, they drafted Henry Ruggs in the first round. They got this kid Edwards from South Carolina that's been balling. They got Lynn Bowden, who was a, a great little chess piece. I saw Tyrell Williams, a dude they signed from San Diego two years ago, has a torn labrum. But unlike being a defensive guy or a lineman, you can play at wide receiver with it,

though it'll probably be really hard and they'll probably end up having to go on IRA yet surgery. But that's a pretty big blow. But they still have Darren Waller, they still have Josh Jacobs, their offensive lines good. Derek needs to be good this year. We've been talking for a while. To me, this is 100% make a break for Derek in his radar career.

He has to, they got to win nine or ten games this year. This is Gruden's third year. They have speed now on offense. I don't know if their defense is going to be good enough, but they did sign a couple linebackers. They have Jonathan Abram coming back off injury. If Lamarcus Joyner can stay healthy, I just think their defensive line is terrible.

I mean, it's just not very good. And I read Arden Keyes making plays in practice, and Cleveland Fair is bigger. I'll believe it when I see it. I'll believe it when I see it. So I think their downfall could be their defensive line. But if Derek plays well, and I know Colin thought they'd be a top 10 offense, if they were top 10 offense, they should be in the playoffs.

I know Colin thought they'd be like the 7th best offense and then not go 5 and 11. To me, if they're the 7 best offense, they'll win 8 or 9 games. I mean, they won 7 last year, and their passing offense wasn't that great. Really, their rushing offense is really good. So if their offense can take a huge step, I think they could be playoff-bound. Appreciate everyone listening. Enjoy the week. I will talk to everyone soon. Godspeed, peace.

See you. You coming to bed, hon? Yep, honey, I'll be right there. Just got to turn out the light. Ow! Some things never change. Like, your kids always leaving tiny toys on the floor for you to step on. And Geico's saving folks lots of money on their car insurance.

Sweetie, I think I left the downstairs light on. Please don't make me go. 15 minutes could save you 15. percent or more. Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel, help an

a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games.

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

A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what 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,

creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHard 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. On the Look Back at it podcast. For 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 here, 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... 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.

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