The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 3 and Out - Play Tua NOW; Pac-12's Joke Season; Impressive Fanless Effort; Deeper Saints Issues; Scout Chatter; 3 for the $ Week 3 ATS Picks; Mailbag

Episode Date: September 25, 2020

In this episode, John makes the case why Tua should play for the Dolphins right now - despite Ryan Fitzpatrick's solid play, and why the Pac-12 coming back for a 6 game season is a joke, explains why he's impressed with the NFL effort level, despite not having fans, and why he thinks Sean Payton knows the Saints could be in big trouble. He also passes along some of the chatter he's hearing from his sources around the league, and gives his 3 for the $ Week 3 ATS picks, 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 IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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

84 was a wild year. It was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or 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. Constant Contact, a digital marketing platform that helps small businesses and nonprofits of all sizes build, grow, and succeed. With email marketing, contact management, industry leading list

growth tools, social media ads, and more. Constant Contact helps small businesses connect with customers, find new ones, and sell online. All from one. one easy-to-use platform. They've been trusted by millions of businesses to help improve their marketing. With a 97% deliverability rate, you can rest assured that your customers and potential customers are getting the right message at the right time. With a simple interface, constant contacts easy-to-use platform makes contact management easier than ever.

Their list growth tools help you find a bigger audience fast. Lead generation landing pages, text to join, and social media ads are proven to grow your list and drive engagement with your brand. With thousands of integrations, you can sync, Constant Contact's tools with the tools you're already using. Powerful automation tools help you send the right message to the right person at the right time every time. To start your free digital marketing trial today, visit Constant Contact.com. What is going on, everybody, John Middlecop, three and out podcast, back at it again on a Thursday night after, well, completely honest.

Stop paying attention to that Thursday night game about after midway through. the third quarter. That was terrible. I mean, that game belongs in London for us on the West Coast at that 6.30 a.m. kickoff time on Sunday. Dolphins, Jags, London, just make them play, even though they only play technically every four years, but they're always both in the last play, so they play a lot. Put that game in London.

Just put that game across the pond. Did have something that I noticed with the dolphins that I'm just interested to see how it plays out. We'll dive into that. Something else that happened, you know, kind of tonight or earlier right around kickoff time with some college football conferences. Some thoughts on something I saw with Drew Brees and the Saints earlier this week and how it might be kind of telling to where they're headed. Some NFL nuggets that I've just heard from around the league and things that I noticed. Also, three for the money. I'm four and two so far. You know, if you keep going four or two next week, you know, I'll be, what would that be? Six.

and three, we just start stacking wins, we'll make money. I'm also the guy that bet on the Jags tonight, but that's not part of three for the money, baby. Three picks every week that I like. I actually feel pretty good, really good, about two of the three. It gets a little harder as the season goes on because you get a lot more spreads, get a lot more, you know, just more legitimate. I think early in the season they kind of guess, but once we get a couple weeks of data, especially now with no fans, it's a little bit harder to pick these games.

but it's actually a pretty good week slate. I'm excited for Sunday, and the SEC's coming back, so pretty good football weekend. I play a little golf Saturday, and then early in the morning, and then just go football all afternoon. Might have to miss Lane Kiffin play Florida, but I don't think Ole Miss going to be any good.

And Mike Leach is playing out, Eddie Ogeron. I can't wait. The SEC's back. It feels like football's actually back. And then, of course, Midlough mailback at John Middlecough is the Insta. Slide in those DMs, and you'll get your question answered on the show.

You know how we do. Also, for those of you guys that listen on iTunes at John Middlkoff is... Excuse me, that's my Instagram handle. Three and out is the show's name, and you can find it on iTunes. Subscribe if you listen through Colin. And if you would leave a review,

I'd greatly appreciate it. But one quick thing I saw tonight with the Dolphins is clearly they drafted an injured player. were a player that had been injured last year. I know listening to Dilfer Talk with Colin. They had acted like he was healthy. I had saw Tua at the Combine, and he was moving around pretty well.

Now, obviously, just walking around at the Combine in February, he doesn't mean much. But to me, the most telling thing is, if he was injured, they would not dress him on game day. Because unlike all these other positions, one rolled ankle, two is in the game. You are legitimately one snap away as the backup quarterback from coming in the game.

I see two in football pads. So if something were to happen to Ryan Fitzpatrick, he would come in the game. I have no problem slow playing it with an injured guy, with a guy that had been hurt. But if he's healthy enough to be in pads, that means you think he's healthy enough to play.

And here's what I do know. Now, he had a good game against the Jaguars whose defense is atrocious. Todd Wash. Get out of here. I mean, I make fun of Vance Joseph a lot. He might be. equally as bad. Todd Wash is a joke defensive coordinator.

But listen, so Ryan Fitzpatrick is fine, bridge quarterback. I draft a guy fifth overall, and I get there's not that much talent around him, but just look around the NFL. Like Joe Burrow, there's less talent around him in Cincinnati, and they put him in the game. Why? Because you want your guy to get reps. The only way to learn is to learn by playing football, especially in 2020. I saw Colin say it on Thursday. It's the highest scoring first two weeks in NFL history.

Well, why do you think that is? I'll tell you, quarterback play. It's never been easier. It's also, there's never been more talent. Who was Tua? The guy that we all thought was going to go number one before Joe Burrow emerged. So you get this guy, which I think we all agreed, looked like a generational pass thrower through his time.

in Alabama before the hip injury, and then you sit him once he's healthy, I am just not a believer in sitting the guy. If the guy is healthy and if he is talented enough, well, check, he's definitely talented enough, and check, he's clearly healthy because you're telling me he's healthy, you're putting him in pads. And I heard this with Anthony Lynn. Now, listen, I didn't want Tyrod Taylor to lose his starting job

to a punctured lung by the trainer or doctor. I wanted to lose his job because he's Tyrod Taylor and Justin Herbert was the sixth pick in the draft and Justin Herbert is four years in Oregon of playing and the team drafted the guy six for a reason he's a big time talent you have multiple receivers you got a running back put him in the game

turns out it took a needle to the lung for Herbert to get in there which again I wasn't rooting for it to happen this way but I said from the jump I do not understand we got a plan what's your plan play the guy when you draft a guy really high he should start from the jump

why because it's never been easier to play quarterback they can't get hit you also run college concepts it's easy for these NFL teams to implement it why because most of these teams have it in their playbook it is not some foreign language to these quarterbacks or to these offensive coordinators

it's not like you know you speak Spanish and they're asking to speak Chinese, which it felt like the majority of my, especially as my youth, that's always what I heard, like when I was in junior high, elementary, high schools, like, you know, it's hard for these college quarterbacks because they play this offense, they get to the pros, it's completely different, they don't run any of the same place. Even in like the 2000s, there was like five teams that ran a quote unquote pro style offense. When I worked at Fresno State, we were like one of the handful of teams. This was 2008 and 2009. They're like, we love Pat Hill. He runs a

pro-style offense. 2020, what the hell does that mean? Lincoln Riley runs pro concepts. He runs the spread. Look at how Mike Leach's quarterbacks, Cliff Kingsbury's quarterbacks at Texas Tech. Games changed. You don't think Tua and what they were doing in Alabama translates?

Again, if he's not healthy, no issue putting him to the side. I would understand that. But they're showing us. He's sitting in pads on the sideline. I flipped the Laker game on because I couldn't. The football game was so terrible. and I had the game on TV number two,

and it was on mute, and I looked up, and there's two of us screwing around on the bench. Of course he is. He's not going to be focused or engaged. He doesn't think he's playing. It's like, come on, guys. That shit doesn't fly at Alabama.

I hear all this stuff about culture and Brian Flores. You're not going anywhere this year. Let this guy play immediately. Let him get the reps. So in a year or two, and your team has improved, and if you added skill around him, he's ready to roll.

You know how much time he's spent in the football? film room at Alabama training, like, he's going to be fine at all that stuff. He needs reps on the field against NFL speed and NFL defenses. That type of stuff bothers me

as a former front office guy. I want to see the talented guys play. I like Ryan Fitzpatrick, smart guy, fun to watch run around and die for first downs. He ain't the franchise. The other thing that happened

Thursday afternoon was the Pac-12. somehow on Thursday afternoon to about half time the Pact 12 and the Mountain West which has like Boise, Nevada, Fresno State, New Mexico, those teams they both announced they were coming back but there's a big difference the Pact 12 announced they were playing six football games now they'll tell you they're playing seven

but they're actually playing six because the seventh game like Ohio State, the Big Ten, are playing eight games and then a conference championship. So it's eight plus one. So if Ohio State plays in the conference championship game, they'll have played nine games. The Pac-12 is playing seven games. So they play their six-game schedule. Then there's the conference championship.

So let's say it's Oregon versus USC. And then all the other teams in the conference will also play that week. Like, I'm sorry, guys, that game doesn't count. How can the Mountain West play eight games, and a conference champion. So their conference champion will be 9 and 0 or 8 and 1, and yours will be 6 and 1. How is this possible?

I've said from the jump, I tip my hat. The SEC, football is a priority. What did they do? They never flinched. They waited, they figured it out, they pushed back their season a little bit, and boom, they're kicking off. The Big 10, they slow played it, they slow played it,

politically it got out of whack. But when they did come back, ended up playing eight games. The Pac-12 had, they got to watch everybody. The Big 12, the ACC, the SEC, even the Big Ten, who they followed. They would have, if the Big Ten, as you remember when your dad says, like, well, if they jumped off a bridge, would you? And the answer was always like, no, of course not, Dad.

With a Pac-12, if the Big Ten had jumped off the bridge, the Pac-12 would have followed, and they would have leaked. And if the Big Ten did a backflip or a flying squirrel or a gainer off that bridge, the PAC 12 would have copied it because we've learned they're followers. But here's what we also learned on Thursday. They're not only followers, they don't know how to make a decision on their own. Six games, that's embarrassing. No other way around it.

The Mountain West, which has San Diego State, San Jose, and Fresno State. So three teams, the Pac-12 is four in the state of California, which was one of the biggest hurdles. And they basically have teams in every state that the Pack-12 does. I have to think about that. Maybe not. but they definitely have three in California, which was one of the biggest hurdles for the Pac-12, and they announced they're playing eight games.

Honestly, as a Pac-12 fan, I don't know how I take this conference very seriously. I mean, they're called the Conference of Champions. I'm going to start calling them the Conference of Followers. And you know the team that I'm really pissed off for is Oregon had an elite team on paper. Now, they were going to play Ohio State week two. Now, the game wasn't in Eugene,

but even if they had lost that game, they were going to be so stacked before all this crap happened. And if you see all these guys that opted out in the Big Ten, they're all coming back. The star player for Purdue said today he's opting back in. Well, Oregon's star left tackle who's going to be a top three or four pick. He opted out. I would tell him, highly recommend, do not come back for the six games. Oregon had a chance to not just make the playoffs this year if the Pac-12 had done it right

and been ahead of the game and been talking about this for weeks to come. But like, make legitimate noise because they're the only team on the West Coast that recruits like the SEC or like these Big Ten big schools. They're top five in recruiting. They're recruiting all these NFL guys. They're big at the line of scrimmages. They have elite pass rushers. They got big time offensive linemen.

And they got screwed. And they got screwed. And I get UCLA and some of these presidents don't give a damn. But I'm ashamed for Oregon's program, for the players in this conference, who are treated right now like second class citizens. It's not the way they treat them, even in the Big Ten. They gave them the eight games. Obviously, in the SEC, the ACC, and the Big 12, they're not treated like that.

It's just that they were caught up in this political storm, but then eventually the politics went away. And it was just like, are you guys coming back or not? Everyone else is coming back. Make a decision. And then they made a decision. And the decision was to play six games and then a conference championship. Six games. I think I played more in Pee-Wee football.

I just am out of loss. I really am. Props to the Mountain West Conference for coming back. Props to the SEC for never pulling their foot off the pedal. Because, listen, people don't get, they don't hold... 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 Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Cliford 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 a little kill. Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J.

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

on the table right now. Thank you for finishing that sentence. 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 Clark.

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

Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open your free, iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now.

Your hand in life. If you're waiting for that, good luck waiting. Your hand's going to be out there for a long time. At a certain point in time, in any business, in any, in any, in any, you know, decision where you're a leader, you had to make a tough decision. And you can't always wait. You can't always wait to be last. Especially in this. You're not going to be the smartest one here. And it's just, there's a reason there, it feels right now like there are four power five

conferences and then the PAC 12, which is sad because Oregon is a legitimate program right now. They are not just the cream of the crop in the PAC 12, but as we saw last year, They're one of a top six or seven programs right now in the country. And if Mario keeps recruiting at this level, they, in theory, should be in the playoff discussion these next several years. But I think so many people are going to look so negatively as they should at the PAC 12 moving forward. I do think it's going to dramatically hurt their playoff chances moving forward. Shame on the Pac-12.

Ready for the new drying experience that leaves your hair shiny, smooth, and healthy looking every time you style it. Introducing smooth wrap, the revolutionary new dryer from Infinity Pro by Conair. SmoothRap uses advanced plasma technology to rebalance the natural charge of your hair, so it looks and feels fabulous. Smooth wrap wraps your hair in a new treatment to banish frizz and boost volume. And the more you use smooth wrap, the more amazing the results. The lightweight and powerful high-tork motor dries up to 50% faster than other models. And ceramic technology minimizes heat damage and maximizes sleek, silky shine. Customize your style with three heat and two speed settings.

Once your look is just right, lock it in with the cool shop button. Whatever your hair type, smooth wrap leaves it smooth, balanced, and healthy looking. Get your Conair smoothwrap dryer at Amazon.com now. the forest. Trees? Sure. Know what else grows in the forest? Our imagination, our sense of wonder, and our family bonds

grow too, because when we disconnect from this and connect with this, we reconnect with each other. The forest is closer than you think. Find a forest near you and start exploring at Discovertheforest.org. Brought to you by the United States

Forest Service and the Ad Council. And we're live here outside the Perez family home just waiting for the... And there they go. Almost on time this morning. Mom is coming out the front door strong with a double-arm kid carry. Looks like Dad has the bags.

Daughter is bringing up the rear. Oh, but the diaper bag wasn't closed. Dipers and toys are everywhere. Ooh, but Mom has just nailed the perfect car seat buckle for the toddler. And now, the eldest daughter, who looks to be about nine or ten, has secured herself in the booster seat.

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

Learn more at nhtsa.gov slash the right seat. Visit nhtsa.gov slash the right seat. Brought to you by NHTSA and the Ad Council. Okay, let's dive into something that's really jumped out to me. And I've watched a ton of NFL games. I've watched obviously all the prime time ones. I've watched all the ones I've got locally, and I've gone back on Game Pass,

and I've watched a lot of just games that weren't on CBS or Fox, you know, for me in the Bay Area. And one consistent thing has jumped out to me, and that's effort. And I don't think it, when you're in the, the entertainment business. I mean, I'm technically in the entertainment business. I say it all the time. I don't view myself as a member of the media. I just view myself as someone who sells opinions. I'm basically paid to entertain. If I don't, you turn it off and it hurts the bottom line. And I knew from day one that I got involved with Colin that, and I'd been on radio and I'd had a

number one show in the Bay Area. But in radio, it's so much different. You never truly know how many people are listening. I mean, you can even see numbers when they're big. It's all kind of made up. In podcasting, I get a tangible number of X number of people, 100,000 people listen to that episode. And now I'm somewhat numb to the amount of people listening, but I knew when I first got involved, there were going to be a lot of people listening. And it was somewhat intimidating. It also really helped me focus. And I've done a little, like, local TV, and I've gone on Collins show is the only national television I've done, but I've done some shows in the Bay Area after a or Raider Monday night football game or after the draft around here where I knew there

were a lot of people watching and you know your juices get flowing we're all human and I and listen I'm a huge sports guy so I watch you see the effort you know over the years when the golden state warriors are playing some crappy team and you know you're not on national television is a lot different than you're when you're playing on Christmas Day or Martin Luther King Day right it's just a different vibe just like there's a different vibe in baseball for opening day or the 4th of July or whatever and just some random day in August you usually get better effort from the players

you get better focus I'm sure you guys know listening if you're in sales if you know the first time you sell something whether it's $500 or $500 million your first ever sale you're pretty locked in and then you get you know it's all relative but you know selling something $10,000 a lot different selling something a million dollars

you know your 20th year is a sales guy Your juices get going for bigger stuff. We're all humans. But the one thing football always has, and I noticed it when I worked at Fresno State in college football, up until the NFL, and then watching it now. Because Belichick said something the other day when he was asked, have you ever experienced anything like no fans?

And his response, very, I mean, he was deadpan, classic Belichick, was, yes, I have. It's called practice. And in college football, you play sports. spring football where you play games and scrimmages. And you get, when you have a freshman up to a senior going up against another guy and it's live. Because football, when you are live, like in basketball you can go to a pickup game. It's full go.

But is everyone playing that hard? You know, no, because you don't necessarily have to. In football, it's hard to avoid. If you're the middle linebacker and you're in a scrimmage, whether it's college, high school, or the NFL, and they say, we're live, tackling to the ground, you just kind of lock in. I mean, it's, it obviously is a little different when you're going up against your team,

but your effort level, your focus, I mean, it's still about as close to a 10 as it can be. Because you know, if you don't, the thing with football, like in a combat sport, if you fuck around, you're going to get hit in the mouth and be on your back. So I knew I was never worried about the effort, but I've been blown, still blown away by the effort of these games.

Every single game I've watched. Now, some teams are worse than the others, like the Jets. Like, I don't think the Jets are not playing hard, I just think they stink, right? They're just not very good. For example, the Giants, their first two games, they're not any good, and they play their ass off. Because in football, whether you have 80, and there's something, I've been to countless NFL games, I'm sure people listening,

have either been to NFL games or big college football games. there's nothing like the vibe in for a football game, especially a big football game. Because in the NFL, every game matters. And in college, if you go to the right game, there's nothing like the vibe in a college crowd at Alabama, at Ohio State, at Oregon, wherever, at the Oklahoma, Texas. You guys know the thing.

I mean, you walk in, you feel it. It's a huge event because it's a one-off. You know, in baseball, I've been to World Series game with the Giants. It feels huge. But to me, the football, there's still a, series. You know you can play again. Now, I've been to a game seven in the NBA finals, the year LeBron won at Golden State, and that felt like a huge NFL football, like a playoff game, because the winner goes home. And that's what football has in the effort level has been

remarkable. These guys, because you can say, well, John, you know, they got 15 million people or 10 million people or 5 million people watch it on TV. It's not the same, right? There are, in most of these stadiums, there is nobody in the stands. It's just your coaches. But the two things football players know is one, you have to play with maximum effort when you're tackling. Right. When it's full go, when the whistle blows,

you do not have a choice. You have to go. It's not one of those situations where I'm going to make the sale no matter what. Or, you know, I'll just get this guy to the ground. Yeah, I'll just get this guy to the ground. Then it's Zeke Elliott running straight for your face. Right. So you have to be on point.

you have to be locked in. And these guys realize that the camera, the film, and the eye in the sky doesn't lie. So if they half-asset, they don't play well, this is not a scholarship leak. Money's not guaranteed. If you do not just play hard, let alone play well, but play hard, you'll be replaced. And it's one of the greatest parts of the NFL. I know people on social media, oh, guarantee all the money. To me, the urgency that creates, unlike these other sports where guys get on scholarship

and as a fan, you're stuck with a player. It's like, God, we've had the same first baseman for four years. The guy stinks. I can't rate to get rid of them. You're like, oh, yeah, we signed him to a seven-year contract. I mean, the angel's been watching Albert Pujols for eight years. He hasn't been able to run for six of them. I mean, he hasn't been good in five years.

And they still got two years left after this year. It never ends. In football, you make a disastrous signing, like the dolphins with the Domic and Sioux. It's like, yeah, he was there two years. We got rid of him. See you. Adios. Next guy in.

next man up, we'll draft another defensive tackle. Bye. I mean, it's great. You can't beat it. And it really has been a seamless transition. Not if I would have really thought about it, I would have been like, yeah, it's going to be, these guys are going to play their balls off.

But then you watch it. I'm just, I understand why sports so big, why someone who will watch, because every week you get the guy's best effort, and it's the best players in the world, and it's very entertaining. but effort does matter. I mean, look at the NBA.

They have an effort problem in the regular season. Television ratings in the tank. It's hard to watch a product in 2020 when we've never had more entertainment options. Like, I have to bring it on my podcast because if I don't, there's 10 million podcasts. Now only like 2% of them make money, but that's not the point.

If you, I don't get whether, whatever podcast you listen to if it's not mine, that's a problem. I have to be entertaining. I have to approach every podcast seriously. you've never had more things to listen to. You know, 20 years ago, if you were like the local radio afternoon drive, you had the market cornered if you talk sports.

You didn't have any competition. You didn't have any... There was no such thing as streaming. There weren't any apps. Hell, Series XM radio started what? A decade ago? You didn't even have that. So, you know, it's just...

It's never... Maybe a little longer than that. Maybe 2007, 2008. But, you know, in 15 years, things have changed in this business that I'm in. But in football, one thing... never has. When the whistle blows and you're playing an opponent,

whether there's one person in the stands or 100,000 person in the stands, you better go full go or it'll get ugly for you fast. Okay, let's dive into something that I saw this week. And it involved the Saints after their game.

They were scheduled to fly home from Las Vegas on Tuesday morning. Now, it's not like they were saying on the strip, they were saying outside of the strip, but they were going to fly back first thing Tuesday morning because the game got over so so late. I think sleeping habits, the Golden State Warriors, I remember, in the peak of their dynasty, were big on sleeping habits and would often do the same thing instead of trying to cram

into the plane, fly that night. They would stay over and fly the next day so you get a normal night's sleep. So that's not that normal. But something happened the next morning that I read flagged. And to me, any time that you have to change plans and have an emergency meeting, it's usually a problem. And growing up, I got in some trouble as a kid in elementary school and definitely junior high. By the time I got to high school, sports and stuff, you kind of had to stay on the straight and arrow. But I was often someone that had to have meetings a lot of times with the teachers.

And it usually wasn't good. Just like in my house, like, John, we need to sit down after dinner and have a serious talk about this. usually a red flag. Even in my professional life, I remember when I got to work for the Eagles, it was intense. And like the pace in which the NFL operates, I wasn't quite used to.

And those first couple months, I remember a couple times having to sit down with Louis Riddick and Howie Roseman. And it was just a lot to handle. It wasn't because I don't think I wasn't capable, but there was just a standard, it was overwhelming. And it was like, Jesus, this is what's expected.

You better be on this level. This is the big league. welcome here. Like, damn. And then you either shape up or you shape out. The Saints on Tuesday morning, instead of going right to the plane after bed, Sean Payton pushed back to plane flight.

And they had emergency meetings. And listen, the Saints have had some drip, drip, drip, drip, drip, drip stuff going on. Like, eventually, you got to go, maybe there's more going on there than we thought. And listen, the Drew Breeze situation, him talking about the national anthem, and then they'll repercussions, and then having to backtrack.

Like, that wasn't nothing, right? Regardless of where you stand on the issue, it became a huge ordeal. And then in training camp, Alvin Kamara takes off. He ultimately gets paid, but he just left camp. Now Michael Thomas, the best player on their team, has an high ankle sprain.

And then the one thing we learned during the Raider game, whose defense, I don't know if you've been watching the Raiders, I don't know, these last two decades, is consistently atrocious, and they couldn't score. And there was a picture from training camp that kind of went viral of Drew Breeze's arm looking like a grandpa's elbow with all this kind of extra flab hanging down. Like, he's 40 years old.

There's a chance that players aren't dumb. They're looking around going, I don't know if our quarterbacks that could anymore. Now, I get he's Drew Breeze. He's some Hall of Famer, and he's had this great career. But no one gives his shit about 2014 or 2016 or 2017. It's 2020, and now you're trying to beat the Packers this weekend. And then you got their defense, which is just atrocious.

Malcolm Jenkins can't cover a soul. Their corners are very hit or miss. Their pass rush with Davenport out doesn't look great. Like, they got issues. So if their offense isn't going to be elite, their defense is middle of the pack at best. They could have some problems. And I think Sean Payton knows it.

So when I see that he, before they head to the airport, spent several hours meeting as a team, meeting in groups, meeting with your unit. I'm red flagging this issue, and this is something to keep an eye on. I think he knows right now I got a boat and we got a leak. And hope to God, and this is what good coaches do, we can patch this leak and we can keep sailing right to 10, 11, 12 wins. But there is a chance, and listen, coaches are paranoid.

Sean Payton, he's an elite coach. He's definitely paranoid, even though all the success he has. And I think it's clear he's top three or four offensive months. probably the last several decades. His resume speaks for itself. He's resurrected a franchise with Breeze that was a joke my entire life up until about 2006 when those two guys showed up.

I had nothing but respect for both those two guys. But you get to a point sometimes where things snowball's on you, you have some injuries, your team's just not good, and it just falls apart. And I remember my second year in Philly, the Dream Team year we went 8 and 8, and by the following season we were 4 and 12,

and Andy Reed, who I think We all agree is a top two coach in the NFL got fired. Like shit just happens. I don't think Sean Payton's going to get fired, but who's to say maybe they're going to end up six and ten? Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque.

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

I don't care what 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-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking.

What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s.

To be clear, 84 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. 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. 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?

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 gains is we have real conversations about healing growth fatherhood pressure and purpose on my new podcast learn the hard way open your free iHeart radio app search learn the hard way and listen now because he's in this back of his mind you usually don't freak out after week two you think bellichick freaked out after week two and i know we've seen the visual of him with the holy sweatshirt.

He doesn't want to lose, but he's not holding crazy team meetings the next day. He knows they're right there. Because if you watch the game, you go, well, you played Seattle, one of the best teams in the league on the road. You had a tough loss. You were right at the one yard line. Sean Payton's going.

We just got our ass kicked by a quarterback that hasn't played well in three years, by one of the worst statistical defenses the last several years. We got issues. We don't have a little issue. We didn't just go, you know, toe to toe, right, with Kyle Shanahan or Sean McVeyn, lose on the last play.

We played the Raiders whose corners can't cover a soul, and we could not score in the second half. We have problems, and I think he knows it. And I think that's why he forced these meetings, and we're going to find out, I think this weekend, the Packers who are rolling, Rogers, who looks every bit as an MVP candidate is Russell Wilson right now,

if we're slipping, we're going to get worked. and it's a short week. Everyone's on edge, but the elephant in the room is, and we're definitely going to kind of feel at these next couple weeks, is my quarterback still good enough? Because if my quarterback's not still good enough, our defense just is what it is. It might not be that great.

But if you have a great quarterback, who cares? You can still win 10-11 games. You don't need to have a good defense. And that's where, for as much as he tries, all these coaching tactics, and he's a Parcells guy, so he's got some of these Parcellians moves, they have a limit of their impact. Like if you are leading right now,

let's say the Baltimore Ravens or the Kansas Chiefs, and for whatever reason, John Harbaugh or Andy Reid needs to do something kind of crazy in the middle of the week, it's going to have an impact because their team's really talented. And they're just better than everyone else. So it might refocus the team.

It might get guys to re-lock in. But if you do that with a team that's not good enough, and if everyone is, Listen, I don't think the Breeze thing, his resume spoke for long enough in terms of the impact with the players on the team. Like, we all know his character. It's pristine. It's way better than 90% of these idiot media guys we see tweeting craziness 24-7 online. Drew Breeze, high character guy, everyone likes them.

No one's ever had a bad word said about him. So I'm not saying that there's some holdover from what happened, you know, before the season. But there will be an issue if players on that team start thinking to themselves, is this guy not good anymore? And you keep laying eggs against defenses, and the Packers are solid, so it might not be Green Bay. But if Green Bay keeps scoring at their rate,

and the Saints offense, which has consistently been one of the better in the NFL, can't keep up, or does it even look like close to the same level, Sean Peyton can pull all these crazy moves for the next several weeks, and it won't matter. Maybe the Saints are just destined to have a comeback,

to the norm, to the medium, to where most teams are, to the mean, not the medium, to the mean. And their mean, just league-wide, you know, what if this is the 7-9 season? Now they've had that before, right, when Rob Ryan was their defensive coordinator, but that was because they had one of the worst defenses in the league. Their offense was fantastic. Well, now if their offensive defense both meet somewhere in the middle of the league, they're just going to be an average team, no longer some quote-unquote Super Bowl contender. If you love to be remembered as the person who gives the best birthday gifts,

I'm here to tell you that 1800flowers.com is your ultimate birthday gifting destination. 1,800 Flowers has thoughtful and artfully created options that are guaranteed to deliver the best birthday surprise. Shop thousands of unique gifts at 1,800flowers.com for exclusive offers and great values. To order today, visit 1,800flowers.com slash tune in. That's 1800flowers.com slash tune in. Adoption of teens from foster care is a topic not enough people know about, and we're here to change that.

I'm April Dinnwity host of the new podcast, Navigating Adoption, presented by Adopt U.S. Kids. Each episode brings you compelling real-life adoption stories told by the families that live them with commentary from experts. Visit Adoptuskids.org slash podcast or subscribe to navigating adoption presented by Adopt U.S. kids. Brought to you by the U.S. Department of Health Human Services Administration for Children and Families and the Ad Council.

Look through your children's eyes to see the true magic of a forest. It's a storybook world for them. You look and see a tree. They see the wrinkled face of a wizard with arms outstretched to the sky. They see treasure and pebbles. They see a windy path that could lead to adventure. And they see you. Their fearless guide is this fascinating world.

Find a forest near you and start exploring at Discover the Forest. Brought to you by the United States Forest Service and the ad council. Okay, let's do three for the money. But before we do three for the money, I just wrote down a couple NFL nuggets, just texted with some of my buddies that are scouts in the league, of just some things they've seen through the first couple weeks that jumped out to them. And this is what NFL people are thinking.

One thing I heard is that the Vikings taped through two weeks is embarrassing on defense, that their corners stink. They can't cover a soul. That's a pretty big issue for a team that's really kind of, you know, had defensive swag over the last four or five years. When you thought about the Vikings, you thought big time defense, good running game. And their receivers were good. But it was defense first, just kicking your ass.

Right now their defense stinks. And if their defense stinks, that means a lot more pressure puts on Kirk Cousins. And one thing we know Kirk Cousins cannot do is play Hero Ball. because like last week he'll throw picks. I think the Vikings got real, real problems. Obviously, this guy went number one. I think we all watched him at LSU, but I think people are blown away

the first couple weeks of Joe Burrow just by how good he looks, how calm he looks, how confident he looks. I mean, that team wasn't just bad last year. They won two games. And they still, when you watch them, do not have much talent. People go, AJ Green!

Hey guys, this isn't 2015, 2020. He's not very good anymore. Which, unlike other, sports like in football it happens fast you go from this famous name to just terrible never forget my second year in philly we signed ronnie brown like damn we got ronnie brown i remember first practice he was like running in quicksand it's like yeah he's shot he was shot and then last but not least listen we've all been given russ just some huge huge circle jerk and rightfully so he's got nine touchdowns. He's got 80

completed 82% of his balls. He's looked freaking awesome. Then this narrative, he's never got an MVP vote. Well, part of it's because of the tier system, he's probably win the MVP this year. But through two games, and listen, whether you like the move, whether he didn't like the move, at this point, who gives a shit?

That Jordan, drafting Jordan Love turned Aaron Rogers back into MVP Aaron Rogers. Because through two games, just texting with a scout that's watched some of his games was like, listen, man, he's, bit as good as Russ. Now, is he going to win the MVP? Probably not.

He's already got a couple. But this guy threw two games, and I would expect this to keep playing, whether it was Jordan Love, whether it's more comfort in the offense, whatever it is. And people get more comfortable in that offense in year two. He looks like a man on a freaking mission because the highlights from week one. Now, granted, it was the Vikings, who I said their defense stinks. He made him look like a high school team. Last week against the Lions, boomed down, and then he just turned it on.

he looks he looks like a just a guy on just driven to dominate you were going to throw me you were going to get rid of me for this guy a little bit like Google Montana when Steve Young showed up

he had two of the best years of his career those first two years when Steve Young was supposed to quote unquote replace him sometimes inspiration comes from weird places now this isn't necessarily a weird place just you get a backup quarterback who you know the management wants to replace you and you're a former, you still are, I mean a living legend,

you know, if you have any pride, any sort of ego, any just sort of, just deep down like MF are in you, you ain't going out like that. And I got a lot of respect for the way Rogers playing. So I'm four and two on the week, four and two on the week. I got the Niners and the Broncos last week, and I lost the Bills game because the Dolphins somehow covered. but 4 and 2 is not bad

I've actually made more money these last couple weeks than I have in a long, long time I've just been betting on just pretty easy games My philosophy has been this The games that I've actually bet And I bet my own money To opening weekend, Pittsburgh against the Giants I bet against the Jets

And I'm betting against the Giants again this week I'm taking the shittiest teams Which are the Jets, the Giants, I believe the Panthers And whenever they play a team That I think is a playoff team I put a lot of money on that one. This week, the Colts are playing the Jets. That number, as the time I'm recording this,

is depending on where you look, 11 or 1⁄2 or 12, that number's a tad bit big, and I think the Jets, I think they're one of the worst teams I've seen in the last decade. Problem is I don't know how good the Colts are, but I still would probably take the Colts.

Now, they're not one of my three for the money team, so my three for the money, I'm going here. I know is their backup quarterback, and that's Nick Mullins because Jimmy Garoppolo sprained his ankle. They lost Nick Bosa. George Kittle will be back. Brandon Ayuk got his first game last week.

I just think the Giants, who lost Saquan Barkley, and Sterling Shepard, probably not going to play either. I just don't see how the Giants keep it within four points. Now, listen, if the Niners were playing a good team, I would not feel confident they could win. But I think the Giants probably are the second worst team, and it just happens the first horse team, happens to share a stadium with them.

Now, that stadium, the turf has issues. the NFL sent people to check on the turf. Of course, they said the turf is fine. I just, I think the Niners cover. I actually, my philosophy on betting on this game, I'm not betting on the Niners, I'm betting on Kyle Shanahan versus Joe Judge, and I'll take my chances.

Second game, Eagles minus five. Now listen, there's a lot of heat already in Philly. It's just an intense football town. They hold the Eagles to high standards. And there's this kind of ghost, an elephant in the room called Nick Foles that Carson Wentz has never shook. He had the opportunity last year, but then he got hurt in the playoff game.

Then this year, two games, two picks each game. He's got four interceptions. He's 58% completion percentage. I watched the Rams game earlier this week. I mean, he's forcing balls. He's air-mailing balls. He looks like shit. But here's what I know about Carson Wentz.

He's not going to consistently play this bad. Here's what I know about Doug Peterson. He's a good coach. He's a good offensive coordinator. They will get Carson Wentz back on track. Well, how do you get them back on track? You play a terrible defense. They're playing the Cincinnati Bengals defense who just made Baker Mayfield and the Cleveland

Browns look like one of the best offenses we've ever seen. They ran it right down their throat. I think the Eagles get back on track. I think Carson Wentz gets back on track. The game's in Philly. Not like that matters. There's no crowd. I like the Eagles minus five in that game.

I just think this is the pressure is intense. I think this is a get-right game for Carson. Last but not least. The Raiders, biggest win by far under John Gruden, beating the Saints, didn't just beat the Saints, they kicked the Saints ass, worked them. First home game ever, Monday Night Football. Well, the problem with playing Monday Night Football,

that means then you immediately go to a short week. The other problem with a short week is, when you have a road game, that can get intense. Well, the Raiders' road game is pretty far. They've got to go to New England. So you're playing New England, who's also coming off a loss. But the difference is their loss, they actually played pretty well,

so there are actually a lot of positives to build off it. I think Cam's rolling. I think the Raiders defense is terrible. They have no pass rush. Their corners stink. I think Cam and the Patriots get right. And listen, I'm not some Raiders hater. I think the Raiders are going to win and make a wild card.

Maybe go 9 and 7, win that 7 spot, compete for that 6 spot. I just think this trip is difficult, given short week, feeling themselves a little bit, long road trip Patriots you saw Belichick looks like he hasn't slept because he hadn't they probably got back to New England you know like six in the morning on Monday and that's a crazy time to get back but you still get all the Monday to get ahead of the Raiders who are getting ready to play that night Cam looks freaking awesome I think Belichick they just don't lose many games in Foxboro especially with a good Cam Newton I like the Patriots minus five okay let's go a little thing we like to call middle coffee mailbag at John Middoughoff my instance firing those DMs.

Give me a follow if you want. Have some pictures from Carmel Valley this weekend. Mike'll there on Saturday. But let's start with this. Again, if you follow me on Collins Network, I greatly appreciate you subscribing to the pod on iTunes.

Also leave a little review if you like the podcast. Helps the salespeople. I thought the pumped and crowd noise was really helpful with someone who watches multiple screens. Because you get that audible cue that a big player penalty just happened. I thought it would be hokey turned out to be okay thoughts agreed I thought was it Monday night

Monday night was a little weird I thought ESPN with the Vegas Raiders were a little off on theirs I thought Sunday night was good I didn't even notice it I guess there were fans at Jacksonville tonight so it didn't you just kind of noticed natural fan noise I don't hate it at all I'm pro put in fan noise doesn't bother I'm with you I thought it was going to be weird You know, just when you hear it explain to you're like, this is never going to work. And then it happens, you're like, oh, you know, just part of watching a game, here's one thing I found. I noticed it's Seattle, and I talked about this, I think, on the last pod, at the Vegas. There are shots, we're like, God, this place is empty.

And it does take a little bit away from you. Now, then they just go back to the field and the guys are playing their ass off. You're like, this is still NFL football. But it is weird seeing, you know, no fans in the stance. The huge part of these games, you know, when you see the highlights of like European soccer or March Madness or whatever, a major, seeing old highlights like golf majors when they're doing the U.S. Open. It's a big difference when there's 30,000 people watching the final putt and then there's nobody.

It's just, a part of sports is just hearing all those people there. And listen, if you're a sports fan, you've been to a sporting event. If you're going to watch your team or you're going to watch a team you bet on, it's fun, man I was thinking about that today man I really miss having just the option to go to a game of going to a baseball game I haven't been to a baseball game in a couple years

so that's a lie I just threw that out there but definitely going to an NFL game I went to several Niner games last year they're just fun now obviously they were good I wouldn't have gone if they sucked but when it's good to go see an NFL game wherever you're listening

or you know good college in your town going to football game is fun. It's something to do on a Saturday or Sunday. Usually go with your friends or your dad or your girlfriend or your brother or whatever. Have a few drinks. It's just relaxing. In this shitty time called Corona 2020, man, can't wait for fall of 2021. I can't imagine this year's Super Bowl being fanless, but I also don't count it out as a possibility.

What do you think the probability is that we don't have fans at the Super Bowl? I honestly I can't answer that question Think about the Super Bowl's not till early February Think how much stuff is going to change over the next You know we still got October, November, December, January, February You know, I don't pretend I just see the headlines about vaccines I don't even know I don't get it

How fast it's going to happen I would imagine it's going to take a little longer Who knows, you know, with the fall flu And everything's going to be so convoluted But then I read some places at Corona's you know, the power of it is diminishing because of herd mentality, you know, I herd immunity. I mean, I don't know. I'm not a doctor.

I don't pretend. I just know, like, I turned on the Jacksonville Jaguar game. They're fans. I don't even know where the, I'd have to Google where the Super Bowl is this year. I was supposed to be in L.A.? Or is that next year? It probably depends. Is New Orleans?

I don't know. I guess obviously it was Miami last year. Like, if it was in Miami this year, there'd be fans there for sure. but would the NFL want the Super Bowl there without fans? I mean, are we still doing normal Corona shit in February? Am I still not allowed to go to a restaurant in California in February? Might legitimately be in Texas if that happens by then. What's up, Middilcoff?

Patriot fan here. I'm super excited about Cam Newton, but Edelman is clearly getting older, and Nikiel Harry hasn't really shown he can be a physical deep threat. So what do you think the Pats can pick up or trade for that will help with a deep threat? Well, here's the thing. Obviously, Jules, who went off against Jamal Adams. That's not normal.

I mean, I can't imagine how many games in his career he's had 175 yards. Nikiel Harry is not a deep threat. When you think Nekiel Harry, you got to think, like, if he pops and he hits, which I'm a fan, you got to think like Michael Crabtree. Like, to me, that's what he'll be. Like, Michael Crabtree with the Raiders. When he was catching, like, 80 balls, 7-8 touchdowns, like, that's him. Contested catches.

I was going to say Anquon Bolden, but Anquan was so good. good. I don't know if Nikiel's going to be that good. But think Crabtree with the Raiders, when he was good for like three years. Like that, that to me is Nikiel Harry. He's not going to be a deep threat. Now, who could they trade for? I mean, is there a deep threat going to become available?

I would highly doubt it. It's not usually how it happens. But Belichick's always, you know, in the trading mood. So I wouldn't discount it. But I would just, you know how Bill works. He'll take four or five weeks, see what they have.

see what they got. To me, they're going to have to run the ball, Cam run the ball, and just possession with Nikiel and Edelman. You're just not going to have a deep threat in this offense. I just think that's going to be the reality this year. We saw in week two the value of having a stud kicker like Butker or Zerline who almost single-handedly won their teams the game.

We've seen Tucker win games in the past and definitely seen kickers lose their team's games. I assume most coaches and GMs would definitely want to sign players who can add one to two win seasons. It's like a cheat code. Why is there not more robust free agent market for kickers? Is it the lack of talent or do GMs value the position? Also, salute to you and your hustle.

Perfect blend of takes, humor, insight, and can't get enough content. Well, thank you for, I probably didn't need to read that last part. But, you know, I'd like to let you guys know that people like the content. I would say this. Once you get a kicker in the league, let's use Butker as an example. is a Harrison butt kicker Butker I know Andy called him

Butt kicker When I was in Philly We got rid of David Akers And we drafted a guy Should I forget his name from Nebraska In the fourth round And David Akers went to the Niners It was Harbaugh's first year

And had a career year All pro pro bowler And was unreal And this guy we drafted During training camp It was clear The guy was going to be a bust This guy was a dominant college kicker and then came to the pros and was a bust.

Remember the dude, the Florida State kicker that Tampa drafted, Aguayo a couple years ago? That guy was a dominant college kicker. And he couldn't make a field goal at OTAs, let alone by the time the season started. I think evaluating kickers is a little bit like evaluating like pitchers in baseball. There's a reason that the amount of pitchers that come up like, oh, this guy, we drafted this guy in like the 10th round. It just hit.

You never know. It's not a tangible thing because it's so mental. Harrison Butkicker, he was a seventh round pick by the Carolina Panthers. Think about that. The Carolina Panthers. I'm going to read you his,

let me see if I can find some of his college stats. Butker played at Georgia Tech from 13 to 16 under Paul Johnson. He's the all-time leading school history, team captain his senior season in his college career he converted 208 and 2010 extra points and 43 of 60 field goals

You know he's 6,4 He's obviously a good athlete I just I don't think you ever know I mean as crazy as that sounds I just think There's so much unknown with a kicker

Because the mental capacity on these guys Once it goes it goes For example Justin Tucker, who's three-time pro bowler, all-pro, just a stud. Let's just assume, let's just say he's the best kicker in the league. The best kicker in the NFL. He went to Texas, so it's not like, well, you know, Justin Tucker went to Cal Poly and no one's, he went to Texas. He was undrafted.

Think about that. He was undrafted. And now he's a four-time all-pro. And he's got a second team. So he's five all-pros, four-first. team, one second team. I think there's just a huge randomness to it. It's not like, to me, the most random thing that happens at position players, like Gardner

Minchu is a little random, right? And even he, I think that's how good really is he. But it's like, the dude was a six-round pick, and everyone was taught. He went to the senior bowl. I think kickers kind of come out of nowhere. Someone that evaluated kickers for a couple years in the NFL, it's like they can go on good stretches, they can get really hot. I think sometimes it's just get in the right spot.

they get with the right coach, and it just blossoms. But I don't think you ever know. I don't think you ever know. Even Seabas, for as great as long as career was, if you look back, Sebastian Janikowski was not worth of the first round pick. And I was around him in Oakland. I like Seabas. I would actually love to hang out and drink with him.

But if he was on a good team, he really benefited from being on a team that sucked, and no one was really paying attention. Because he missed a sneaky amount of kicks. I'm a Packer fan from Brazil, and listen to every week on Spotify. Being realistic, could it be our chance of winning another Super Bowl this season? I'm not trying to jump on the bandwagon,

but Roger keeps playing like the MVP football. I just don't see how this team wouldn't at least go to the finals. Talking Western Conference Finals or the NFC championship game. The defense seemed better against the run as well. Cook Torch us last season. Congrats to the show. Really appreciate it if you could answer this live. No worry on your grammar mistakes.

He mentioned that. giving him hard time. He said, sorry for any grammar mistakes. I make a ton of grammar mistakes. I got terrible grammar. You'll never meet a human being with multiple degrees in worse grammar. I would be, I'm the Tom Brady of a guy with multiple collegiate degrees. I have an undergrad and a graduate, and I'd be, I have the worst grammar of any human ever with two degrees. It shows you. I mean, college is overrated. I would say, yeah. I mean, if he's, if he plays this level all season long. Like to me, last year when they played the Niners, and even in that game against Seattle,

like, I think most Packer fans would agree. He just wasn't as potent, right? Even all season. I remember being at the gym, was it week 17, and they were playing the Lions, and it was to get, like, the number two seed, and they were down early, and he was overthrowing balls. I'm like, God, who is this guy? And he had just been off most of the season, even though his numbers look pretty good.

Well, I've watched his two games this year. He looks like 2014 MVP Rogers He looks like a badass right now This Rogers is a guy They're like, yeah, I like watching this guy This guy is out for blood And is it Jordan Love? Is he just pissed off for greatness?

Is he comfortable in the... I don't know But he looks freaking awesome I mentioned it early. He looks sweet. So yeah, I mean, I... Why not? Hey bro, big fan.

Question for the show. If Russell Wilson played in New England instead of Tom Brady would Russell Wilson have more championships than TB12? It's a good question. Brady won three championships before Russell even came in the league. So, I mean, Tom played 20 and he's still playing. Now, Russell should have two right now, but he threw a pick, right?

So part of that's on Russell. I'd say this, Russell played on some fucking exceptional teams. Like, talent-wise, those early teams that Russi's. Russell was on were every bit as good as any team Tom Brady ever played on. Marchion, one of the best running backs in the league. They, there are wide receivers weren't that great, but their running game was dominant and their defense was beyond elite. They could rush the passer.

They had great linebacking play, and no one could throw on them. I mean, L.O.B was like a real thing. You could not throw on them. And he won one. But he got to another, and they lost in a game that they should have won. So I would say no. But. he would have won a couple.

I mean, he'd have two or three, right, instead of one. But these teams the last several years, obviously, in Seattle, were not as well-rounded. And I just, the difference would be Belichick is just a much better coach than Pete. And Pete's good, but Bill's better. So if you gave me, like if Rogers had played the last, if Rogers had been Bill's quarterback for the last decade, yeah, they'd probably have three. I mean, Tom won three last decade. Think about that.

Won three last decade. And how many did you go to? He went to four? What was the game he lost? I guess the Eagles? He beat the Falcons. He beat Seattle. And he beat the Rams and he lost to the birds.

So you go to four in a decade. I mean, I don't care who you're a quarterback. And Tom was pretty dominant. He won an MVP one of those years. So it's good. Listen, you give Russell, Peak Russell, Rogers, Brady, to Bill, like, he's going to win. He's just going to win.

Yeah, that's it. Okay, adios. Godspeed, enjoy the weekend. Enjoy the football for my SEC fans. We welcome back to Big Boy Conference. And stay safe and have fun. Peace. See you. If you love to be remembered as the person

who gives the best birthday gifts, I'm here to tell you that 1-800 Flowers.com is your ultimate birthday gifting gift. 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 1-800flowers.com for exclusive offers and great values. To order today, visit 1-800flowers.com slash tune-in. That's 1-800flowers.com slash tune-in. Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guide, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygle 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 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. Cliford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media.

Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Cliford Show. This is a place for raw, unfills of conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to The Cliford Show on the IHeard Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. On The Look Back at it podcast.

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

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